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On the 11th of October he made an effort to cross to the Canadian shore, but utterly failed. Two days were spent in preparations and by the 13th all was ready. Early in the morning, before the autumn sun had risen to glorify the gorgeous foliage of the maples, the thunder of cannon was heard. General Van Rensselaer at the head of a few brave men was attempting the passage. Two companies of the 49th, and two hundred soldiers of the York Militia were energetically opposing them. An eighteen pounder, on a place of vantage on the cliff swept the river with a deadly fire; but the Americans protected their men by a strong battery of four pieces, and the first detachment was soon across with but few casualties. Busily the boats plied, and before long thirteen hundred men were drawn up in order of battle. It was to be a fight to the death. General Van Rensselaer was no coward, and though wounded in four places cheered his men on to the conflict.

Brock was at Fort George. He had been expecting an attack, and when at daybreak he was aroused by the roar of cannon, he knew that his troops at Queenston Heights were in danger. In a few minutes he was in the saddle, and galloping furiously to the battle-field. He did not check his horse until he reached the eighteen-pounder battery that had been placed to sweep the river but which was now useless, since the Americans had crossed. Here he dismounted and swept the field with a general's eye. Suddenly the rattle of musketry above him told that the enemy had gained the height, and he and his staff were compelled to desert their position.

Captain Wool and a number of American soldiers had scrambled up a fisherman's path and had won a position one hundred and eighty feet above the river. Lustily they cheered as the Canadians deserted the gun, and calmly they awaited Williams of the 49th, who came against them with one hundred men. These soldiers were compelled to retire with great loss, but they were joined by others, and rushed again to the battle, driving the Americans to the edge of the precipice. The position was a trying one, and some of the soldiers attempted to raise a white flag but Wool tore it down in great anger and urged his men on to the fight. Brock was now at the head of a strong party, and as he gallantly rushed up the height shouting "Push

on the brave York volunteers," a ball struck him in the breast and he fell. Unmindful of himself, thinking only of his adopted country, he begged, with his dying breath, that his death should be kept from his men.

On pushed the volunteers under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell, but this noble fellow, too, received a mortal wound and the Canadians had to retire to await reinforcement; but not before the Americans had lost many brave soldiers, and so crippled were they that unless help came from the opposite shore they must either surrender or plunge into the river below.

General Sheaffe, in command at Fort George, was rapidly speeding to the fight with three hundred regulars, two companies of militia, and a few Indians. On his way he was reinforced by a number of others, and about noon he reached the Heights with eight hundred men.

The Americans were now encircled by a strong force, determined to avenge their fallen commander, and by the Niagara. Their friends offered them no assistance, and as the Canadians came to the final charge they awaited their fate like Spartans. The men were commanded to hold their fire until the enemy were within forty yards. Soldiers were stationed in the rear of the troops to shoot down any man who fired before the word was given. Steadily the foe advanced, and calmly the Americans awaited them; when they were almost upon them a deadly, telling fire swept the hill. But there was no stopping the rush and in a few minutes the Heights were won. Some surrendered; the hill was strewn with dead and dying and many brave fellows who would not yield cast themselves into the stream, and in their effort to escape perished in the ruthless waters.

The victory was a noble one, but Canada wept over it. Her heroic Brock was no more, and she deemed the battle dearly bought. England, too, had recognized his worth, and on the very day of his death the guns of the Tower of London roared forth rejoicingly over his victory at Detroit, and his sovereign made him a Knight of the Order of the Bath. Even his foes had learned to respect their brave enemy, and, on the day of his funeral, the commander of Fort Niagara hoisted his flag at half-mast, and fired minute guns, shot for shot, with the Canadian mourners.

CHAPTER XII.

TECUMSEH

Tecumseh a Bitter Enemy of the United States-Elskwatawa, a Brother of Tecumseh's, announces Himself a Prophet-Tecumseh Aims at Forming a Mighty Indian Confederacy-His Speech to His Red Brethren-General Harrison Defeats Tecumseh's Indians at TippecanoeTecumseh Joins the British in the War 1812-Proves Himself an able Leader under Brock-Favorably Impresses the General and His Staff-Captain Glegg's Pen-Picture of Tecumseh-Brock Confides His Plans of Attack on Detroit to Tecumseh-The Great Indian Warrior Draws a Map of the Country About Detroit-Humane to The Prisoners who Fell into His Hands-An Incident Showing the Generosity of Tecumseh-A Chief Mourner on the Death of Brock-The British Meet With Reverses-Proctor Retreats to MoraviantownDetermines to Give Battle to the Americans-Tecumseh on the Day of Battle-The Wretched Generalship of Proctor-Flees to Burlington Heights-The Death of Tecumseh.

T

ECUMSEH, the friend of the British, was born about the same year as Brock, and was a member of the Shawnee tribe, living in the valley of the Miami, in Ohio. The Americans had for years been encroaching on the Indian lands, and from his youth Tecumseh endeavored to put a stop to their inroads. Before his twenty-fifth year he had several times faced the "long knives," as he called the American soldiers, and had proved himself a valiant foe. In 1794 the Indians suffered a severe defeat, and were compelled to surrender a large portion of their territory. This made Tecumseh an even bitterer enemy of the Americans than he already was, and, with a vigor and intelligence not often seen in a savage, he endeavored to form a league among the Indians to compel the white men to surrender the land already seized, and to keep them from advancing farther west.

In 1804 his brother, Elskwatawa, announced himself a prophet, and warned his red brethren that if they wished to regain their old power they must lead the life of their fathers who inhabited this continent before the whites appeared among them; that they must cast away their woollen garments, and clothe themselves in skins; and that they must entirely give up the use of ardent spirits.

The fame of this prophet soon spread through the Indian villages and a vast concourse of savages came to dwell near one who was believed not only to be sent by the Great Spirit, but who, it was held, had the power of working miracles.

It is difficult to tell whether Tecumseh believed in his brother's supernatural powers, but at any rate he used the belief of others to unite all in his confederacy. The authorities, becoming alarmed, ordered Tecumseh and his brother to change their homes, and they removed to the Wabash, where the work of uniting the people went on.

A brief extract from a speech delivered by Tecumseh before a large assemblage of braves will give some idea of the character of the man and his aims.

Brothers,-We are friends; we must assist each other to bear our burdens. The blood of many of our fathers and brothers has run like water on the ground, to satisfy the avarice of the white men. We ourselves are threatened with a great evil; nothing will pacify them but the destruction of all the red men.

"Brothers,-We must be united; we must smoke the same pipe; we must fight each other's battles; and more than all, we must love the Great Spirit; he is for us; he will destroy our enemies, and make all his red children happy."

In 1811 the Americans under General Harrison met Tecumseh's Indians at Tippecanoe in the absence of their chief, and utterly defeated them. This defeat rankled in the breast of Tecumseh, and, when, in the following year, war was declared between the United States and Britain, he was one of the first to rush to the British standard; with him went an immense following, ready to fight to the death against their lifelong enemies.

'Tecumseh was soon to see active service. General Brock was unable to proceed to the scene of action at once, and so dispatched Colonel Proctor with a number of men to take command at Amherstburg. Proctor, wishing to strike the enemy a blow, sent across to Brownstown-a village twenty-five miles from Detroit-a part of the Forty-First Regiment and a number of Indians under Tecumseh. Major Van Horne was known to be on his way from

Detroit with important papers, and Tecumseh and seventy of his braves lay in ambush hoping to take him prisoner. When the Americans reached their place of hiding the Indians suddenly sprang upon them, and in the short battle that followed the troops were completely routed. Many of them were killed and the important dispatches were seized by Tecumseh. In a few days Hull, in command at Detroit, sent a strong force against the foe at Brownstown, and compelled them to retreat to their own side of the river.

On the 13th of August Brock reached Amherstburg, and the Indians, learning that so brave a soldier had arrived, began firing their guns to show their joy. But powder was scarce, and Brock, anxious to save it, sent for their chief, for whom he ever after had the greatest admiration. Tecumseh came, and after a short conversation with Brock saw that the firing ceased.

The chief made such an impression on the General and his staff that one of the aides-de-camp, Captain Glegg, has given us a faithful pen-picture of him. "Tecumseh's appearance was very prepossessing; his figure, light and finely proportioned; his age I imagine to be about five and thirty; in height five feet, nine or ten inches; his complexion, light copper; countenance, oval with bright hazel eyes, beaming cheerfulness, energy and decision. Three small silver crowns, or coronets, were suspended from the lower cartilage of his aquiline nose; and a large silver medallion of George the Third, which I believe his ancestor had received from Lord Dorchester, when Governor-General of Canada, was attached to a mixed colored wampum string, that hung round his neck. His dress consisted of a plain neat uniform, tanned deer-skin jacket, long trowsers of the same material, the seams of both being covered with neatly cut fringe; and he had on his feet leather moccasins, much ornamented with work made from the dyed quills of the porcupine."

On the following day Brock called a council at which about one thousand Indians were present. Brock spoke lovingly to the red men, and told them that their great father over the ocean had sent him to aid them in their fight against the "long knives"; he finished his speech by saying that he soon hoped to drive Hull from Detroit. His speech was joyfully received by the warriors, and with one voice they called upon Tecumseh as a fitting brave to

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