[CRUIKSHANK] GENERAL HULL’S INVASION OF CANADA IN 1812 243 
would remain neutral. He had removed the brig Adams to Detroit, 
where she would be armed and equipped for service, giving him com- 
_mand of the upper Lakes.t 
Two days later he reported the result of this council, which had 
been attended by representatives of the Six Nations and eight western 
tribes. Five leading chiefs, of whom the Wyandot, Walk-in-the-Water, 
was one, had made great exertions to detach the Indians from the Brit- 
ish, and Tecumseh and Marpot were the only chiefs of consequence 
who still remained at Amherstburg. He had requested them all to 
proceed at once to another council at Piqua.? 
Tecumseh, in fact, had indignantly declined to be present, saying: 
“I have taken sides with the King, my Father, and I will suffer my 
bones to bleach upon this shore rather than cross that stream to join in 
any council of neutrality.” As a last resort he had sent off a carefully 
wrought belt to summon his adherents to his assistance from Indiana 
and Illinois. This belt was described as being six feet long and three 
feet wide, painted red as an emblem of war, and known as the King’s 
Broad Axe, which was intended to cut down everything that stood in 
its path. The bearer was instructed to dissuade the Indians from 
attending the proposed council at Piqua, and warn them that their 
villages would probably be attacked in their absence. Stickney, the 
Indian agent at Fort Wayne, attempted to intercept his messengers 
without success.2 About the same time, the Shawnee Prophet with 
a band of nearly a hundred Indians made his appearance at that place, 
where he remained for a week. They made strong professions of friend- 
ship and stated that they had rejected an invitation from the British 
to take up the tomahawk.* 
General Hull also took the precaution to address a special pro- 
clamation to the Six Nations residing at the Grand River: “The 
powerful army under my command is now in possession of Canada,” 
he said. “To you who are friendly, it will afford safety and protection. 
All your lands, and all your rights of every kind will be guaranteed 
to you if you will take no part against us. I salute you in friendship 
and hope you will now act such a part as will promote your interest, 
your safety, and happiness.” 5 

1Hull to the Secretary of State, 19th July, 1812; Defence of General 
Dearborn, by H. A. S. Dearborn, pp. 10-11. 
MÉUIMEOMENSES Waite abby I. Viel oye alae 
5B. F. Stickney to John Johnson, 20th July, 1812; National Intelligencer 
of Washington, 27th August, 1812; Federal Republican, 29th August, 1812. 
*TIbid, Wells to Harrison, 12th July, 1812. 
5 Hull to the Six Nations, 18th July, 1812, in New York Gazette, 20th 
August, 1812. 
