 Following the Battle of Fallen Timbers the Northwest
settled into an uneasy peace. The Miami and Delaware Nations settled onto reservations but
not all Indians accepted defeat. Tecumthe leading a small band of followers does not move
to the Government Reserves. Tecumthe believed that Americans were weakening the
Indians. He saw the problems that liquor caused among the Indians, and he knew first hand
that the desire for furs was decreasing the number of animals in the forest. Tecumthe
abhorred the turning away from the Indian way and wanted the Indians to return to their
previous way of existence, one of living off the land and not at the mercy of traders.
Tecumthe, while recognizing the gunpowder and the rifle as powerful weapons,
believed that the tomahawk and the bow and arrow were the true weapons of the Indians.
Tecumthe knew that Indians could not manufacture lead or gunpowder and had to rely on
traders for their hand-outs. Tecumthe did not want the Indians to have to rely on anyone a
anytime.
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