beries, murders, and other excesses repeatedly occurring, even down to the termination of the war of 1812.

A circumstance related by Hall, exhibiting the purity of character of the governor, occurred about this time. It appears, a person, having imbibed a feeling of hostility toward him in consequence, of the active part he had taken in elevating the territory into the second grade of governments, made some malicious insinuations in reference to the integrity of his negotiations with some Indian tribes; when Harrison, conceiving it proper to have a full investigation of the charge while the subject was fresh and the testimony within his reach, brought a suit against the defamer in the supreme court of the territory. In order that the utmost fairness might be observed, two of the judges left the bench during the trial, one being the personal friend of the governor, and the other of the defendant. An impartial jury was impannelled by a mode satisfactory to both parties. The trial had not advanced far before the defendant's counsel abandoned their plea of justification, and contended simply for a mitigation of damages. The jury, after an hour's consultation, returned a verdict for four thousand dollars; an immense verdict in a new country, where money was scarce, and where juries seldom gave heavy damages in cases of this description. The property of the defendant was levied upon, sold, and in the absence of the governor, bought in by his agent. Two thirds of the property were, however, afterwards returned to the defendant by General Harrison, and the remainder given to the orphans of some of the gallant citizens who fell victims to the service of their country. Indeed, such was the high estimation with which his conduct as governor was regarded, that for a period of thirteen years, at the termination of every successive term of office, he was re-appointed at the earnest solicitation of the people of the territory, and with the public expression of the most flattering approbation on the part of the chief executive; and this, notwithstanding the revulsion which had transpired during that time in the reigning politics of the country-his first appointment having been made by Mr. Adams, his second and third by Mr. Jefferson, and the fourth by Mr. Madison. Did the restricted limits of this brief sketch admit of extracts from the numerous public documents of the time, they would be found to contain reiterated expressions of the most unqualified commendation of his conduct and character; but our object not being to indulge in indiscriminate panegyric, it will suffice to record the leading events of his public life, and leave them to speak his eulogy.

By the treaty with France, Louisiana had now already become annexed to the territory; the jurisdiction of the governor consequently became again greatly increased. During the year 1806 the plans of the general

government for the civilizing and conciliating the tribes were entirely frustrated by the intrigues of the Indian prophet, Ollinachica, with his brother Tecumseh, whose aim was to induce all the surrounding tribes to form a common league against the United States- a plan which resulted in the most calamitous consequences. A variety of circumstances invested the former with a prodigious influence over the tribes; he is said, indeed, to have possessed the faculty of appealing to them more eloquently and gracefully than almost any other Indian. He resorted to every imposture and stratagem of which even an Indian is capable for the fartherance of his project; asserting, amongst other absurdities, that he possessed the power of averting the bullets of the enemy from taking effect upon his adherents. A curious anecdote is related by Mr. Dawson, which we extract as illustrative of the stubborn bravery of the Indian character:

"At a conference held at Vincennes, Tecumseh was present, and also a noted Potawatamie, called (on account of his being deaf) the Dead Chief. Tecumseh on that occasion, being charged by Governor Harrison with hostile intentions against the Americans, disclaimed the accusation. The next day the Dead Chief called upon the governor and asked why he had not been required to confront Tecumseh. He said he would have willingly asserted the truth before all the Indians. The Shawanee having heard this, gave word to his brother to have the Dead Chief despatched, which the latter again hearing of, put on his war dress, painted himself, took his arms, and at once paddled his canoe directly to the camp of Tecumseh. Mr. Baron, the governor's interpreter, was in the tent of the Shawanee at the time the Dead Chief arrived. The latter upbraided Tecumseh for having given the order for his assassination; telling him it was cowardly and unworthy a warrior; but here I am,' cried the old Indian, 'come and kill me; you and your men can kill the white people's hogs, and call them bears, but you cannot face a warrior.'" He went on to insult and provoke Tecumseh, calling him the slave of the English, and a base dog. Wearied at length with his useless efforts to draw out his adversary, he gave the war-whoop of defiance and paddled off again in his canoe. "There is reason to believe, however," adds the narrator, "that the order of Tecumseh was obeyed, as the Dead Chief was never seen afterwards."

In the course of the subsequent year, Governor Harrison received intelligence of the hostile demonstrations of the congregated tribes, in consequence of which he sent a messenger to the Shawanees, strongly reprehending their conduct, and warning them to refrain from farther listening to the fatal instructions of the prophet, whom he characterized as a "fool, not speaking, as they believed, the words of the Great Spirit,

but those of the devil." The deluded and superstitious Indians, however, disregarding the admonition, continued to collect in great numbers in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, and, having entirely neglected their cornfields, they soon began to find themselves in a state bordering upon starvation. Again, in the hope of conciliating them, the governor, with his accustomed humanity and policy, ordered them supplies forthwith from the public stores. The prophet had now selected as his residence, a spot situated on the upper part of the Wabash, called Tippecanoe, where his infatuated followers soon rejoined him. In July he visited the governor, when, with a cunning and duplicity common to his race, he loudly protested against the evils of war, and the use of spirituous liquors, and affected the greatest desire for amity with the Americans. The governor was, however, too shrewd to be thus imposed upon by these specious pretences, and in his reply, told him, that he might come forward and exhibit any title he might have to the lands transferred by the treaty, and that if it was found to be just and equitable, they would be restored, or an ample equivalent given for them. But the results of the interview proved anything but satisfactory to the absurd requirements of the prophet, as he claimed all the lands that had formerly belonged to the several tribes, and insisted that their disposal could not have been valid but with the consent of all the tribes in common. Accordingly, he redoubled his exertions for the concentration of the western tribes, studiously guarding his movements from the governor, however, lest he should become apprized of his intentions. He had about him, at this time, one thousand warriors, and these continued to commit the most atrocious deeds of depredation along the frontier, till at length even the governor's house was scarcely considered secure from their hostile attacks. In September, 1809, a council was convened at Fort Wayne, at which Governor Harrison negotiated with the Miamies, Delawares, Potawatamies, and Kickapoos, for purchasing a large tract of country on both sides of the Wabash, extending along that river more than sixty miles above Vincennes. Tecumseh, who was at this time absent on a visit to some distant tribes, expressed, on his return, great dissatisfaction, and threatened the lives of some of the chiefs who had concluded the treaty. On hearing this, the governor invited him to come to Vincennes, with the direction that he should not be allowed to bring with him more than thirty warriors; this restriction, however, he evaded, on the pretext of suspecting some treachery on the part of the Americans, and he, instead, brought with him four hundred, armed. This circumstance alone was sufficient to excite the suspicions of the governor; but when, added to this, the chief refused to hold the council at the appointed place, which was under the portico of the governor's house,

and insisted on having it take place under some adjacent trees, his apprehensions were still greater. At this council, held on the 12th of August, 1810, Tecumseh again complained of the alleged injustice of the sale of their lands; to which the governor replied, that as the Miamies had found it to their interest to make the disposal, the Shawanees, from a distant part of the country, could have no just ground for remonstrance, or right to control them in their disposing of the property. The interpreter had scarcely finished the explanation of these remarks, when Tecumseh fiercely exclaimed, "It is false !" and giving a signal to his warriors, they sprang upon their feet, and seizing their war-clubs and tomahawks, they brandished them in the air, ferociously fixing their eyes upon the governor. The military escort of Harrison on the occasion numbered only twelve, and they were not near his person, having been directed by him to retire for shelter from the heat under some adjacent

trees.

In this critical moment of excitement, the guard immediately advanced, and would have instantly fired upon the infuriated Indians, had it not been for the coolness and self-possession of Harrison, who, restraining them, and placing his hand upon his sword, said, in a calm, but authoritative tone, to Tecumseh, "You are a bad man: I will have no farther talk with you. You must now take your departure from these settlements, and hasten immediately to your camp." On the following day, however, finding he had to deal with one so dauntless, he solicited another interview, apologizing for his insolent affront. The precaution was now taken to defend the town, and place the governor in an attitude more likely to command their respect, by having two companies of militia in attendance. At this council, the chiefs of no less than five powerful tribes rose up, declaring their determination to stand by Tecumseh ; to which the governor replied, that "their decision should be reported to the President;" but adding, that he would most certainly enforce the claims of the treaty. Still anxious, if possible, to conciliate rather than coerce the haughty savage, he paid him a visit the next day at his camp, when, repeating in substance what has already been given, Tecumseh replied, "Well, as the great chief is to determine the matter, I hope the Great Spirit will put sense enough into his head to induce him to direct you to give up this land. It is true, he is so far off that he will not be injured by the war: he may sit still in his town and drink his wine, while you and I will have to fight it out." Shortly after this, the Shawanee chief withdrew to Tippecanoe, the residence of the prophet, where he is said to have formed a combination of several tribes.

In July, 1811, another messenger was sent, commissioned by the

governor to demand the surrender of two Potawatamie murderers who were at Tippecanoe, but without the desired effect. Indeed, such were the lawless and daring outrages which they now committed upon the more exposed settlements on the frontier, that at length, through the earnest solicitations of the people, directions were forwarded from the federal government to the governor to march forthwith against the prophet's town with an armed force, with this injunction, however, "to avoid hostilities of any kind or degree not absolutely necessary." These instructions rendered the situation of Harrison one of great delicacy and responsibility, being equivalent to allowing the Indians the right of commencing the action.

The receipt of the governor's authority was hailed by the settlers with great enthusiasm, as they had long suffered severely from the incursions of these ruthless marauders, and, reposing unlimited confidence in the skill and courage of their commander, they viewed the measure as the only one which could ensure to them the continued possession of their property, and even of life itself. Accordingly, a hastily-assembled force, consisting of about nine hundred men, commenced its march from Fort Harrison, which was situated about sixty miles above Vincennes, on the 28th of October. After a protracted and somewhat difficult advance, through open prairies, thick woods, and deep ravines, constantly on their guard against surprise, they arrived within sight of the Indian town. Here the enemy began to appear in considerable numbers. Wearied with the fatigue of their expedition, after a brief conference, the troops encamped; every precaution having been taken, however, to prevent surprise by the savages, as they apprehended an attack during the night.

In conformity to a general order, the troops rested in their clothes and accoutrements, their loaded muskets by their sides, and their bayonets fixed. The officers, of course, rested like the soldiers the governor being ready to mount his horse in an instant. The night passed without a sound, and the governor and his aids rose a quarter before four, and were conversing around their fire. The new moon had risen, but afforded little light, the sky being obscured by ragged clouds, from which a drizzling rain fell at intervals. In a few minutes the signal would have been given to call the men to arms, when a blaze from Indian rifles lighted up the scene. The savage warriors had crept up as near the sentries as possible in the darkness, intending to rush forward and despatch them without noise, and then fall upon their sleeping comrades in the camp. But one sentinel discovered what he rightly suspected to be an Indian creeping through the grass, and instantly gave him the contents of his musket. That discharge settled all doubts. Our men were