braced the opportunity which it afforded, not only to promote his long
meditated public views, but to avenge his private injuries; and,
hastening with his warriors to Upper Canada, he had soon the
gratification of witnessing, at Detroit, the surrender of the 4th U.S.
infantry, (or heroes of Tippecanoe, as they were then denominated,)
which regiment claimed the principal merit of having, the preceding
year, defeated his followers and destroyed his settlement.

Previously to the battle of the Thames, already noticed, the position
chosen to await the attack of the American army, and the disposition of
the British force, were approved of by Tecumseh, and his last words to
General Proctor were: "Father, tell your young men to be firm, and all
will be well." He then repaired to his people, and harangued them before
they occupied their post. While the white troops were so quickly
overcome, Tecumseh and his warriors almost as rapidly repelled the
enemy; and the Indians continued to push their advantage in ignorance of
the disaster of their allies, until their heroic chief fell by a rifle
bullet, while in the act of advancing to close with Colonel Johnson,
who was on horseback commanding his regiment of mounted riflemen.

Of the many Indian chiefs who distinguished themselves in the wars of
the whites, Tecumseh was undoubtedly the greatest since the days of
Pontiac. Sir Isaac Brock has expressed his warm admiration of him, and
it is well known that the feeling was mutual; but it is said that after
the death of his friend and patron, Tecumseh found no kindred spirit
with whom to act. In early life he was addicted to inebriety, the
prevailing vice of the Indians, but his good sense and resolution
conquered the habit, and, in his later years, he was remarkable for
temperance. Glory became his ruling passion, and in its acquisition he
was careless of wealth, as, although his presents and booty must have
been of considerable value, he preserved little or nothing for himself.
In height he was five feet ten inches, well formed, and capable of
enduring fatigue in an extraordinary degree. His carriage was erect and
commanding, and there was an air of hauteur in his countenance, arising
from an elevated pride of soul, which did not forsake it when life was
extinct. He was habitually taciturn, but, when excited, his eloquence
was nervous, concise, and figurative. His dress was plain, and he was
never known to indulge in the gaudy decoratio