OCR Text |
Show "PUT ON PETTICOATS." The Indian custom is to butcher prisoners taken in battle. Such, however, was not the practice of Tecumseh, the great chief who, as an ally of the British, fought against us in the war of 1812. He hated the Americans, but he fought as a warrior, and not as a Thug. In 1813, Col. D. ???? attempting to relieve Fort Meigs, where Gen. Harrison was besieged by British and Indians, was defeated with great slaughter. As usual, the Indians began killing the American prisoners. General Proctor, the British commander, looked coolly on and made no effort to restrain them. Suddenly a voice sounded like a clap of thunder, and Tecumseh, mounted on a foaming horse, dashed among the butchers. Two Indians were in the act of killing a prisoner. Springing from his horse, Tecumseh seized one Indian by the throats and the other by the breast and threw them to the ground. Drawing tomahawk and scalping knife, he dared any Indian to touch another prisoner. A chief disobeyed, and Tecumseh brained him with his tomahawk. The Indians sullenly desisted. "What will become of my Indians?" he exclaimed. Then turning to Proctor, who stood near, he sternly demanded why he had not put a stop to the massacre. "Your Indians cannot be commanded," replied the general. "Go away! You are unfit to command. Put on petticoats!" was the scornful reply. |