Native American Life after Prophetstown (Chapter 2)

White encroachment into Native traditional lands, caused widespread resentment, among the many tribes, occupying river villages along the Wabash. Fort Ouiatenon, stonghold of the British in 1795, lent support, to the Native people, who now struggled to keep their land.

Settlers, are beginning to lay claim, to land so close, to these Wabash river villages, that Native people begin to raid their settlements, and loot their cabins and horses.

The stage is now set for the arrival of Tecumseh, war chief of the Shawnee. Pushed from their lands, Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, Tenskwatawa, arrive in the upper Wabash river area. Invited by the Potawatomie, the Shawnee brothers begin building their war village.

Refered to by some, as Tippecanoe, others, as Prophetstown. This village becomes populated by many tribes. Miami, Kickapoo, Delaware, Fox, Mascouton, and others.

Word leaks out to General Harrison about the mission of Tecumseh and his brother. Harrison called for several meetings with Tecumseh, wanting reassurance, about his intent. Tecumseh comes to the meeting with boldness, and arrogance, uncharacteristic of most Native people.

Tecumseh denounces the chiefs, of the other tribes, who signed land away, with Harrison's, Treaty at Fort Wayne. He defiantly threatens those chief's lives, branding them as traitors.

Tecumseh, had no territorial rights, to the areas signed away in the treaty, yet, he denounced those chiefs who would sign land away, which, belonged to all the people. Without the consent of all the People, Tecumseh would not recognize the treaty's validity.

With the backing of the Wyandot's war chiefs, Tecumseh's threats became more frightening. The Wyandot's were feared by all. Living on the southern shores of Lake Erie, they ruled the surrounding lands through fear and intimidation.

Tecumseh, had several meetings with General Harrison, through the years of 1808-1811, and, most we re tense, but, one in particular was near disaterous.

In August of 1810, while attending a meeting with Harrison, words pushed their limit, guns were drawn, swords were unsheathed, and a battle came within seconds of taking place. Harrison avoided that battle in Vincennes, by ordering his men to put their weapons down.

Between all this confrontation and bravado, warriors were filtering into Prophetstown. Tecumseh travelled near and far, directing his rhetoric into the common sense of Native people, with the deftness of a surgeon. Appealing to their own pending loss of land and life, they ralleyed around him, like magnets to iron.

Directing his troops, equally as well, Harrison marshalled troops to a gathering point in Terre Haute. They built, Fort Harrison in October 1811 and moved northeasterly, towards Prophtstown. Harrison, bent on settling this Native problem once and for all moved nervously along the Wabash. He cautiously avoided areas of entrapment, k nowing that he was being watched by those who would kill him, and his troops.

Author Bio on first installment of, Native American life after Prophetstown

Author:: Luksi Humma
Keywords:: Native American, Tecumseh, General Harrison, Prophetstown, Indiana, Indians, Wars, Wabash River,
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