loss, the most distinguished for talents, and a promise of future greatness, was Joseph H. Daveiss, who died the next day of his wounds. Colonel Owen, was killed in action-and probably one or two other Kentucky volunteers, who are not known. Of Colonel Daveiss, it would be an unpardonable omission not to say more. The varied expression of regret which burst upon the public eye, in prose and verse, in elegy and eulogium, gave ample testimony of the impression which the splendour of his talents, and the elevation of his character, had made on the hearts of his associates; while the grateful reception of them by the public, gave demonstration of the admiration and esteem in which their subject was held. Says one: "Among those who are reported to have fallen in the late engagement, is Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, Esquire. Influenced by a love of country, and an ardour for military service, he joined the troops under Harrison as a volunteer. The governor gave him the command of the cavalry. His person was of the happiest castNature had stamped "the man," throughout his whole contour. In his bodily conformation, she had been bountiful; in the contexture of his mind, and all its attributes, she had been prodigal. He had improved her gifts. He was a lawyer by profession: but he was more than a lawyer; he was a statesman, and a hero. Rich in all the learning of both, he was well qualified for either: but the propensity of his mind was strongly to the military life. He had indulged that propensity, and formed himself for that life upon the best models of ancient and modern times: he could not, therefore, but be well qualified for the station in which he was placed."

Again: "In the fall of Colonel Daveiss, the nation has sustained an irreparable loss. We may truly say, in the language of an ancient people, ‘A great man has this day fallen in Israel.' With him, alas! fell many brave men, whose loss will be extensively and lastingly deplored by their friends and their country." Says another, his companion in arms: "We have lost!-how shall I express it without rending the heart unable to support the shock?-the excellent-the brave-I may say the great Colonel Daveiss is no more. The late engagement of Governor

Harrison, has proved fatal to many who followed this great and inestimable man."

Of the various elegiac poems produced by the death of Col. Daveiss, and dedicated to his memory, it is worthy of remark that one was from the hand of the reverend Bishop Badin. In another, the colonel was compared to Epaminondas, illus trated by the following note, viz: "Each in their spirit and fortune was great; both born poor, both learned, both brave, both mortally wounded in an heroic exertion to turn the doubtful scale of contest in favour of his own party, both lived to see it effected; and both died childless, exulting in the glory of their country."

The governor had now tasted of victory, sweetened with blood; which appeared to sharpen his appetite for more. His vanity more than fermented, it blubbered over; the country was filled with his letters-and the press teemed with his accounts of the battle; in which he sometimes forgot to be consistent.

Yet, all this would have been pardonable, had it not appear ed, that in seeking to justify himself, for beginning the war, his further aim was to inflame the minds of the people, and to mislead their judgments, in a most critical period of the diplomatic contest with Great Britain; by representing the Indians as acting under British influence, in committing depredations on the American citizens, and giving out, as an evidence, that they were supplied with "British muskets, and glazed powder”when it was a notorious fact at Vincennes, that they had been supplied with similar powder, at that place, with the governor's express permission. Besides, they had the right to buy their firearms, and ammunition, wherever they pleased, as well as in the store kept by the governor's partners. A continuance and extension, of the Indian war, were but the necessary consequences, of these dispositions. While it is believed, that neither truth, justice, nor the public good, were promoted by them. War, should ever be avoided, and detested, when unnecessary. 'Those of aggression are seldom otherwise. But the weak, are ever to be a prey to the strong; the ignorant, to the artful.

Could Tecumseh have written, as well as Governor Harrison history might convey the whole truth to posterity: at present it is defective.

A principal point in this narrative, has been, to ascertain the real aggressor in this war; as being equally necessary to form a right estimate of personal character, as of public jusfice: and, if possible, to inspire circumspection, in both governors, and the governed, of every degree in the United States; involving Kentucky, in all future occurrences of the kind.

It is not supposed, that the United States should have yielded to the doctrines advanced by Tecumseh, and surrendered the land claimed, because all the Indians, or even a majority of them, had not agreed to the sale. On the contrary, the utter impracticability of the proposition, renders it inadmissible. Yet, at the same time, a war, depending upon the previous adoption of the project by all the tribes, could not be appre hended as imminent. Tecumseh's absence was suspensive of hostilities; and a proof that he did not intend its speedy commencement.

It is not, however, to be imagined, that even a strong nation, is bound by any ties of forbearance to await an actual blow, from a weak one; when it has certain information, that a determination is formed to strike at a given time, or on a certain event, near at hand. But it is contended, that a great state constantly encroaching upon one that is small, and whose very vicinity is dangerous to such small state, can never be justifiable in making war, until after proof of hostile aggression, refused to be redressed upon proper application, in a peaceable way. That any other course, and especially that adopted by Governor Harrison, implies the right, and bears the means of extirpation. A principle, as detestable, as savageism itself.

It is perceived, in the subsequent conduct of the United States, that as if ashamed of what was done, and cause they had, the 4th regiment was recalled, and Governor Harrison left to sustain the war he had created, with his militia, and upon his own responsibility. For although the Indians mani-* fested their sense of the condition in which they had been

placed, by continuing the war, early in the spring, 1812, on the inhabitants of Indiana, so that they had taken twenty, or more scalps, before the 1st of June, and returned to Tippecanoe, where they commenced raising corn, yet the governor was refused the order of the war office, to his proposal "for raising a mounted corps, with which again to assail them." In this situation, the governor, naturally loquacious, and pressed by his citizens for protection, not only filled his own territory, but Kentucky and the neighbouring states, with his cries of danger, battle, or murder! The Kentuckians, more attentive to the voice of distress, than the laws of their country, volunteered to the number of sixty or seventy men, under the command of Colonel Anthony Crockett, and Captain John Arnold, and were marched to Vincennes, to see what was the matter! And ten days after, they marched home again, to tell they knew not what-leaving the governor and his people, in the suds, which he he had made for them to beat into bubbles.

In the mean time, Tecumseh appeared at fort Wayne, grave, dignified, and reserved: he adhered to his former opinions, which were briefly expressed-and he let fall some expressions in relation to Governor Harrison; that marked his sense of injury, with a feeling of resentment, which nothing but retaliation could abate. He requested some ammunition for his own use, from the commandant. This was refused. He then said, he would go to his British father, who would not deny him. He paused-appeared absorbed in his own reflections--then giving expression to his countenance, he raised the warwhoop, flourished his tomahawk, and departed; a determined, but magnanimous foe. If some of the means lavished upon Governor Harrison, had been employed to secure the friendship of this distinguished Indian, the government could but have found him useful.

CHAP. XII.

General Harrison's official account of the battle of TippecanoeImpartial examination of General Harrison's conduct, and accounts in relation to the said battle--The last communication of Governor Scott, &c.

[1811] THE accounts of battles, always interesting to humanity, as well as to men of military science, has ever been the favourite theme of history, and cannot be omitted in this.

While it must be supposed, that although every general is not a historian, yet when he assumes the office, that as to himself at least, he has done no wrong; and intending to exhibit an examination of both his conduct, and, his account of it, when it was fresh in its laurels, the whole of both will be published, rather than either should be accused of partiality by an abridgment.

They follow in order, and will serve as a prologue to the general's subsequent achievements.

"Vincennes, 18th November, 1811. "Sir: In my letter of the 8th instant, I did myself the honour to communicate the result of an action between the troops under my command and the confederation of Indians under the control of the Shawanee Prophet. I had previously informed you in a letter of the 2d instant, of my proceedings previously to my arrival at the Vermilion river, where I had erected a block-house for the protection of the boats which I was obliged tɔ leave, and as a depository for our heavy baggage and such part of our provisions as we were unable to transport in wagons. On the morning of the 3d instant I commenced my march from the block-house. The Wabash above this turning considerably to the eastward, I was obliged in order to avoid the broken and wooden country which borders upon it, to change my course to the westward of north, to gain the prairies which lie to the back of those woods. At the end of one day's march, I was enabled to take the proper direction (N. E.)