University of Virginia Library

[It]

is estimated that at the beginning of the seventeenth century the Algonquins numbered at least 250,000. Their survivors number probably not more than 30,000. Originally they occupied nearly all that portion of Canada and the United States lying west of the Mississippi River. They suffered more from advancing civilization than all the other tribes.

[It]

is said that the treaty made by William Penn with the Indians was the only treaty never sworn to and never broken, and that during seventy years not a war-whoop was sounded in Pennsylvania.

[At]

the time of this battle, Tecumseh was a brigadier-general in the English army, with Proctor. I have seen in United States histories pictures of Tecumseh, tomahawk in hand about to strike a soldier named Johnson, who claimed that he shot the dreaded chief with his pistol. But I have repeatedly heard old Indian warriors say: "After the British infantry gave way, they came to an open or clear spot in the woods, and here Tecumseh ordered his men to halt and fight the Americans once more. Just then the open space was swept by American musketry; and Tecumseh fell, saying, 'Me-daw-yo-em o-kawd (My leg is shot off). Hand me two loaded guns. I will have the last shot. Maw-tchawn'we-wib (Be quick and go).' These were the last words of Tecumseh." Our fathers believed that neither the Americans nor the Indians knew who fired the fatal shot.

My father, Leopold Pokagon, had been a Pottawattamie chief thirteen years before this battle, and so remained until his death, twenty-seven years after. Most of his band were sent West in 1837. He and some five hundred of his people, having embraced Christianity, were permitted to remain in Michigan. In 1866, they numbered three hundred and fifty: nearly all were of pure Indian blood. At the present time, they number two hundred and seventy-one: nearly one-half are of mixed blood.

[Certain]

it is that the families of Harrison, Rolings, Rogers, and many others tinctured with the Indian blood of Pocahontas are superior in health to, and fully as strong intellectually and morally as, those families from the same branch of pure white blood. John Randolph of Roanoke, a near descendant of this Indian woman, and strongly marked with our race lines, was several times Congressman from Virginia, once United States Senator, and minister to Russia. In his time his speeches were more read than any others. His masterly arguments were the pride of his party and the terror of his opponents.