Tecumseh was one of the most remarkable men that has ever figured in
our aboriginal history. He gained an ascendancy over the minds of his
countrymen entirely by the commanding force of his character, and
the persuasive power of his eloquence. These instruments enabled him
to produce a degree of union and combination among the North-western
tribes, by no means less remarkable than the confederacies which
signalized the times of king Philip and of Pontiac. His brother, the
prophet, was a pusillanimous driveller, compared with Tecumseh; and
exerted all his influence by addressing the superstitious fears of
his countrymen; whereas the great warrior addressed himself to the
higher principles of their nature, and made successful appeals to
their reason, and even to their humanity. Of the last we have a signal
example in his arresting the massacre of the American prisoners at Fort
Meigs.
It has somewhere been observed, that “every circumstance relating to
this extraordinary man will be read with interest.” We believe it,
and therefore proceed with the following account, which appeared in a
western periodical of 1826.
“About thirty years ago (as the writer received the narrative from
Captain Thomas Bryan, of Kentucky) the said Bryan was employed as a
surveyor of the Virginia Military Lands, northwest of the Ohio river.
While engaged in completing a chain of surveys, extending from the
head waters of Brush Creek to those of Paint Creek (now the central
part of the State of Ohio), his provisions became scant, and at length
entirely exhausted. He directed his hunter—who had been unsuccessful on
a recent excursion—to make another attempt to procure subsistence, and
to meet him at a particular point then designated; where, after closing
the labour of the day, he should encamp with his chain-men and marker.
“Towards evening, the men became exhausted with hunger. They were
in the heart of a solitary wilderness, and every circumstance was
calculated to produce the greatest dejection of spirit. After making
great exertions to reach the point designated, where they were to
encamp upon their arrival, they met their hunter, who had been again
unsuccessful. Feeling for himself and his comrades every emotion
of a noble heart, he was alarmed for their situation. The hunter
declared he had used every exertion in pursuit of game, but all his
attempts were of no avail; that the whole forest appeared to him to
be entirety destitute both of birds and beasts! Under these awful
apprehensions of starvation, he knew that it would be a vain attempt
to reach the settlement;—he trembled, and shed tears. Captain Bryan,
at this critical juncture, felt his spirits roused at the reflection
of their desperate situation; he thrust his jacob-staff in the earth,
and ordered his men to prepare a camp, and make a good fire; he seizes
the gun and ammunition of the unsuccessful hunter, and darted forth
in pursuit of game. The weather had become exceedingly cold, for it
was in the depth of winter—every rivulet was bound in ice. He had not
proceeded far before he was gratified with the cheering sight of three
elks, making towards him. He succeeded in killing two, and, shortly
after, a bear. He now called for his men, and ordered his game to be
carried to the camp. No one, but those similarly situated, can conceive
the feelings excited on such an occasion.
But, perilous as the situation of the surveyor and his party might
appear, there were others who were threatened with the like appalling
distress. Three or four Indians, who had been out on a hunting
excursion, hearing the report of Captain Bryan’s gun, made immediately
in that direction, and had arrived at the camp before Bryan returned.
On his appearance there, they informed him, as well as they could (some
of them speaking a little English), of their wretched situation. They
told him that, for three days, their whole party had subsisted on one
skunk, and that was exhausted. They described the absence of the game,
in the language of the hunter, as if “the whole forest was entirely
destitute both of _birds_ and _beasts_.” They were informed by Captain
Bryan, that he had plenty for himself, his men, and themselves; desired
them to fix their camp, make a good fire, and assist his men in flaying
the bear and elks, which were now brought into camp— and then to cut,
carve, and cook for themselves. Their very looks were expressive of
the joy they now felt for a deliverance so unexpected—nor did they
spare the provisions. Their hunger was such, that, as soon as one round
was served, another—another—and another, in succession—was greedily
devoured.
A fine-looking, tall, dignified savage, then approached the surveyor’s
camp—rather young in appearance than otherwise. He very gracefully
stepped up to Captain Bryan (who was now reposing in his camp, on
account of rheumatism, occasioned by his recent exposure), and informed
him, that the old man in his camp was a Chief; that he felt under great
obligations to the Great and Good Spirit for so signal an interposition
in their favour; that he was about to make a prayer, and address the
Good Spirit, and thank him: that it was the custom, on such occasions,
for the Indians to stand up in their camp; and that his Chief requested
the captain and his men, to conform, in like manner, by standing up
in _their_ camp. The captain replied, that his men would all conform,
and order should be preserved; but, as for himself, his affliction
would compel him to keep his seat—but this must not be construed into
disrespect. The captain remarked to me, that he was not himself a
religious character, though a man of feeling.
“The old Chief raised himself upon his feet, as did those around him;
and, lifting up his hands, commenced his prayer and thanksgiving
with an audible voice. And such an address to Deity, on such an
occasion—as far as I could understand him—I never before heard flow
from mortal lips! The tone—the modulation of his voice—the gestures—all
corresponded to make a very deep impression upon us. In the course
of his thanksgiving—as I gathered from the Indians—he recapitulated
the doleful situation in which they were so recently placed—the awful
horrors of starvation, with which they were threatened—the vain
attempts they had made to procure food, until He, the Great and Good
Spirit, had sent that good White man, and had crowned his exertions
with success; and so directed him and them to meet, and to find
plenty.” Who can fully describe the abundant overflowings of a grateful
heart? He continued in this vehement strain for about half an hour,
“when,” remarked Captain B., “my own men reflecting on their own recent
situation, retrospecting what had taken place, and beholding the pious
gratitude of a ‘Child of the Forest,’ feeling the same sensations, they
were melted into tenderness—if not into tears.”
The person who so gracefully addressed Captain Bryan, in behalf of his
Chief, was TECUMSEH.