Campfire Stories of Indian Character 501 



race, but prisoners and the defenceless knew well that they 

 could rely on his honor and humanity and were safe under his 

 protection. When only a boy — for his military career began 

 in childhood — he had witnessed the burning of a prisoner, and 

 the spectacle was so abhorrent to his feelings that by an earnest 

 and eloquent harangue he induced the party to give up the 

 practice forever. In later years his name was accepted by 

 helpless women and children as a guaranty of protection even 

 in the midst of hostile Indians. He was of commanding figure, 

 nearly six feet in height and compactly built; of dignified 

 bearing and piercing eye, before whose lightning even a British 

 general quailed. His was the fiery eloquence of a Clay and the 

 clear-cut logic of a Webster. Abstemious in habit, charitable in 

 thought and action, he was brave as a lion, but humane and 

 generous withal — in a word, an aboriginal American knight- 

 errant, whose life was given to his people. — (14 Ann. Rep. 

 Ethn. p., 681.) 



During the four years 1807 to 1811 he went from tribe 

 to tribe urging with all his splendid powers the need for in- 

 stant and united resistance. 



His younger brother, Tenskwatawa the Prophet, was 

 with him and helped in his way by preaching the regener- 

 ated doctrine of the Indian life. The movement was 

 gaining force. But all Tecimaseh's well-laid plans were frus- 

 trated by the premature battle of Tippecanoe, November 

 7, 1811. In this his brother, the Prophet, was defeated 

 and every prospect of an Indian federation ended for the 

 time. 



The War of 18 12 gave Tecumseh a chance to fight the 

 hated Americans. As a British general he won many 

 battles for his allies, but was kiUed leading his warriors 

 at Moraviantown, near Chatham, Ontario, on October 5, 

 1 8 13. His personal prowess, his farseeing statesmanship, 

 his noble eloquence, and lofty character have given him 

 a place on the very highest plane among patriots and 

 martyrs. 



