Tales, Traditions and Romance of Border and Revolutionary TimesEllis, Edward Sylvester
History
Tales, Traditions and Romance of Border and Revolutionary Times
Ellis, Edward Sylvester
Frontier and pioneer life -- United States -- Anecdotes; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Anecdotes
all the fury of a tigress divested of her young. Seizing one by the
throat, and another by the breast, he hurled them to the ground, and
thus, one after another, he beat them back with a strength which nothing
could withstand. Taking his station in front of the remnant of the band
which still remained alive, and raising his tomahawk high above his
head, while his whole figure dilated to a greater height by the passions
which raged within his bosom, he dared them, in tones which thrilled
through them like electricity, to strike another blow. None were found
so bold as to tempt his arm or disobey his command, and the prisoners
were saved. Looking around for Proctor, he espied him as he approached,
and demanded why he had not stopped the massacre. "Sir," said he, "your
Indians are not to be commanded." "Begone!" replied Tecumseh, as a look
of the greatest disdain and contempt swept over his swarthy visage, "you
are unfit to command; go and _put on petticoats_!"
This Proctor, the British commander, had already branded himself with
indelible infamy at the battle of the River Raisin, in January of the
same year. In reference to this battle, we will briefly state the object
of General Harrison's campaign was to take Detroit, and expel the
British from the territory of the United States—and to protect the
extensive frontier; also to furnish such protection as was possible to
the settlers in Ohio, Indiana, etc., from the savages in the pay of the
British. The points to be defended were scattered over a vast region of
country; and though the care of it fell upon General Harrison, officers
in the different sections were frequently obliged to act for themselves.
It was thus that General Winchester, failing to receive counter-orders
sent after him by Harrison, and unaware of the full force of the enemy,
was induced to make an imprudent, though brave, movement against a body
of English and Indians who were coming from Malden and the Raisin to
attack his camp at the rapids.
He pressed forward and found the enemy prepared to meet him at
Frenchtown; they were posted among the houses, but were soon dislodged
and driven to the woods. Here a short, desperate engagement took place,
and the English were driven two miles before the continual charge of the
brave Kentuckians, though the latter had made that day a forced march of
over eighteen miles over ice. In reporting the action, afterward,
General Harrison said: "The troops amply sustained the double character
of Americans and Kentuckians."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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