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Tecumseh 1768-1813
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2009
Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted September, 2011
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2009
Plaque Location
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent
On Road 2 (Longwoods Road) at street number 14376
4.2 km east of Road 21 in Thamesville
Coordinates: N 42 33.920 W 81 55.834 |
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Plaque Text
Born in a Shawnee village in what is now Ohio, Tecumseh became in the 1770s co-leader with his brother, the Prophet, of a movement to restore and preserve traditional Indian values. He believed a union of all the western tribes to drive back white settlement to be the one hope for Indian survival and spread this idea the length of the frontier. Seeing the Americans as the immediate threat, he allied himself with the British in 1812, assisted in the capture of Detroit and was killed near here at the Battle of the Thames on 5 October 1813, while retreating with General Proctor from Amherstburg.
Another plaque at this location
Battle of Moraviantown, 1813 (Battle of the Thames)
Related Ontario plaques
New Fairfield 1815
Skirmish at McCrae's House
Fairfield on the Thames
The Capture of Detroit
More
Information
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First Nations
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War of 1812
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted November 20, 2013
"Hah-Tee-Toh" (Hello). The term "great" has been laid upon many renowned Native patriots who fought for our human rights on this Mother Earth. However, the name Tecumseh is a leader among those great ones. Born to pre-U.S.A. Native America, he lived a life of resistance and defended the Native beliefs. He crossed-over to the Spirit-World in battle in Canada and his resting place will never been known. His battle cry will live on in infamy, "Weshe-catwello Kewshela-waypa!" (Let us be strong in doing right!), not only Shawnee, but for all Native and right minded human beings who honour the indomitable quest for justice and freedom.
"Nee-yah-way" (thank you), a descendant
> Posted July 18, 2012
Tecumseh didn't care too much for the British as they reneged on a promise to help the Shawnee tribes during the battle of Fallen Timbers (1794). After the French lost Canada to the British in 1763, the natives were treated like dirt. This inspired Pontiac another great chief to lay siege on all the British forts in the Great Lakes. Tecumseh did not trust the British and would have rather thrown out the American settlers with his own band of tribes. Unfortunately he had no choice but to side with the British. Ultimately the biggest losers of the 1812 war was the natives as they lost all rights to their homeland as the British gave it all away back to the U.S. Ironically Tecumseh has been honoured more in the States with his name reflected in towns and memorials. Perhaps today people can appreciate someone who had fought so bravely and sacrificed so much to save his homeland.
> Posted September 28, 2010
I agree with the previous post. There should be a statue of Tecumseh among the other great political and military leaders of Canada. Canada was saved from U.S. invasion because of a combination of British regulars, Canadian militia and Indian warriors, yet Tecumseh is largely forgotten for the role he played in leading these warriors and uniting many tribes. The role General Brock played in the war cannot be diminished, but he himself recognized the value of Tecumseh's contribution.
> Posted September 12, 2010
Why is there no Statue of this GREAT Canadian Hero in Ottawa? General Brock could not have held back the US if it where not for this Leader, Chief, and Man. Our nation owes a lot to the Natives that have served in its good name.
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