A Fifth of This War's Deaths Happened on a Michigan Battlefield

Monroe — When you think of great American Indians, icons like Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse come to mind. But the upper Midwest was home to greatest Native American of all time—the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, who played an important role in the War of 1812.

Southeast Michigan is full of dazzling stories featuring American heroes like Oliver Hazzard Perry and William Henry Harrison. But the Michigan Territory had more than just red coats and blue coats. In an ironic twist of history, the British united with Native American tribes, some of whom were their former enemies in the French and Indian War (1756-1763). Most noteworthy among these tribes was the Shawnee of Ohio.

America’s historic wars are interconnected. The French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years War) bled into the War for Independence, which eventually spilled over into the skirmishes of 1812. This is because the British never completely left after 1783. In the build up to 1812, the British supplied Indian tribes with firearms and ammunition and encouraged them to attack American settlers. This was necessary for the British because most of their troops were dealing with Napoleon in Europe.

The Michigan Territory was a prominent battleground in 1813. Many of the names and events defined the state as we know it today, as well as Northwest Ohio. The southern Michigan border used to be a blurry line. What was formerly called the “Michigan Territory” used to involve some of modern-day Toledo. Even if Tecumseh’s history involves Ohio, it is inherently connected to Michigan. The name is carried on today in the town of Tecumseh, named after the great chieftain because of his role in Michigan’s 1813 battles.

Tecumseh was the first “noble savage.” White historians have a way of making non-white revolutionaries into heroes, like they’ve done with Saladin, for example. But Tecumseh is different. He wasn’t a revolutionary or jiahdist.

Born in the West Ohio Valley, Tecumseh grew up learning the art of war. In 1774, the young Shawnee watched his father, Pukeshinwa, die at the Battle of Point Pleasant, an effort led by Chief Cornstalk trying to prevent the Virginia militia from advancing into Ohio. Pulled off the battle field and severely wounded, Pukeshinwa spoke to Tecumseh’s older brother, Cheeseekau, making him promise to uphold the family honor as warriors and to never give in to the American settlers.

From that point on, Cheeseekau mentored Tecumseh with that solemn promise. But after Cheeseekau died defending Indian territory from settler invasion in Tennessee, Tecumseh became the new leader of the Shawnee warriors.

In 1794, Tecumseh would help the Indians fight against General “Mad” Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, near present-day Toledo. The settler forces crushed the natives. Tecumseh’s future arch nemesis, the young William Henry Harrison, was at the battle. Both sides of the battle then signed The Treaty of Greenville which ceded most of the Northwest Territory to the American settlers.

Tecumseh refused to sign. He reasoned that the land was held by many tribes of Indians and should not be given away in a simple signing. Just like his older brother, he was determined to keep the American military from pushing any further west. That included southeast Michigan.

Eventually, Tecumseh moved to modern-day Lafayette, Indiana, where he and his brother founded a settlement called Prophetstown, and became the leaders of a new confederacy of natives, united to defend their remaining land.

Tecumseh’s influence began to spread too broadly. He recruited fellow Indians from various tribes, calling them to unite despite their differences against the white invaders. In 1811, while he was away recruiting, William Henry Harrison marched with his soldiers to Prophetstown. Against the warnings of Tecumseh, Tenskwatawa led the Indian confederacy against Harrison.

When Tecumseh returned, he was enraged that his brother had engaged Harrison. The confederacy had been damaged and Prophetstown was destroyed.

Tecumseh gathered his remaining forces and joined the British in Michigan, aiding in the American embarrassment of the Siege of Detroit. Frenchtown, a settlement along the River Raisin, was included in the surrender. As Tecumseh continued to build his Indian confederation, he decided to make the River Raisin area his headquarters.

American General James Winchester led 660 Kentucky militia from the Miami River (today’s Maumee) up to the Raisin and marched on frozen Lake Erie. They easily regained Frenchtown, sending the Native, British, and Canadian alliance running. But on January 22, Native and British Forces of 1,400, led by Col. Henry Procter and Chief Wyandot, returned to retake the settlement. Winchester and his men were taken by surprise. The second Battle of the River Raisin was the deadliest defeat of the War of 1812. Only 33 American soldiers escaped.

Then, on January 23, Indians slaughtered wounded prisoners and burned buildings in sadistic revenge. One-fifth of the men who died in the War of 1812 fell at the Raisin.

But Tecumseh wasn’t there. Historians wonder what could have happened if he had been. John Buckley, a Monroe historian, said of Tecumseh, “He was not at the Battle of the River Raisin or Frenchtown... had he been there, it is the general belief of those who knew the great chief, that the massacre of the Kentucky troops and of the French settlers would not have taken place.”

Before the Indian massacre, there were accounts that Tecumseh stopped his own Native warriors from plundering the French-Canadian settlers and scolded British troops for failing to honor prisoners. The Chief hated American westward expansion, but he still respected his fellow man.

In 1813, at the Battle of the Thames in Ontario, Gen. Harrison led an army of zealous soldiers against Col. Procter and Tecumseh’s forces. The American’s battle cry was “Remember the Raisin!” These men killed Tecumseh, which scattered his hard-earned Indian confederation. The high point of the British opposition had come to a close, and America regained control over the Michigan Territory.

Though enemies, William Henry Harrison said this about Tecumseh: “If it were not for the vicinity of the United States, he would perhaps be the founder of an empire. No difficulties deter him. Wherever he goes he makes an impression favorable to his purpose.”

Modern historians and critics would do well to model the great chieftain’s ways. Instead of writing tendentious history, historians should recognize that red- and white-skinned men are both fallen. Indians scalped Americans. Americans mutilated corpses. Atrocities are to be expected.

Modern critics draw hard lines that are actually blurred. They hate William Henry Harrison and his soldiers for killing Indians. But Tecumseh didn’t hate his enemies, and he witnessed the bloodshed.

He fought the enemy at hand. He was loyal to his people. He had integrity. He was willing to forgive. Because of this, he was the only Native who almost held off American westward expansion. Is there any honor in bitterness?