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Idown at the time; and, after reading them to
Gritton, causing him to append to them his sigma
ture


The young soldier, then not twenty one, was
selected as. one of the Forlorn Hope, which, as
every one knows, was led on against the Indians,
in advance of the mounted men, by Col. Johnson
in person. Next to Col. Johnson rode Col. Whit
ley. and Immediately behind him Levi Gritton-
Whitley as is we'll known, fell dead at the first
fire; and it was Gritton who afterwards carried
home to his widow the rife and shot pouch of the
fallen soldier The same fire which killed Whit
ley, brought to the ground every man of the For
lorn Hope, Col. Johnson and one other excepted
Gritton received wound in the left leg, and had
his horse shot under him. When Col: Johnson
turned round and saw the Forlorn Hope down, he
called out to the rest of his men to disinount and
fight the Indians after their own fashion. Each
man who was not disabled, then took to a tree !;
and a desultory combat was. kept up for some
quarter of an hour; Johnson's men still advancing
from tree to tree, upon the Indians. About that
time it was, that Gritton, who had taken his sta
ton behind beech, saw Col johnson ride round
the top of fallen tree about ten or twelve yards
in advance of him, and perceived an Indian whom
he instantly recognized as Tecumseh standing a
few steps from the root of the same tree. He saw
Tccumseh raise his tomahawk as in the act to
throw, and at that moment Col Johnson shot him





on the same spot. Next morning Gritton mess
knowing that he was acquainted with Tecumseh
induced him to go with them about sunrise to the
scene of the combat and there they still found
the body, where it first fell About the same time
Anthony Shane, the halfbreed Interpreter, who
had known Tecumseh for years, visited the body
and recognized it instantly


| asked Gritton whether he had ever heard it
doubted in the army, that Tccumseh was the In
dian hyy tnI Lob & caid hnI m
dignantly, "no man ever doubted or disputed it.
then. The fact was as we'll known and acllnow
lodged, that the Colonel was in the battle at all
saw the encounter with my own eyes, and am
as certain of itas of my existence"


Gritton met his old chief, during his visit to
Evansville, whittier accompanied Col. Johnson
in the autumn of 164O His eyes filled with tears
as he grasped Col. Johnson's hand, and his emo
ton was so great that he could not articuate a
word


l do not forget that as sober matter of fact, it
is of small moment whether Tecumseh actually
fell by Col Johnson's hand or not The self
devotng gallantry that induced Kentucky's ear
liest born and noblest son to head a forlorn hope
against an Indian ambush, would no whit less
merit our gratitude and admiration, had he never
encountered the chief of the enemy at Ill. Yet,
rs an interesting and authentic historical reminis
ccnce, vouchcd for by an eyewitness who vet
survives to confirm his story, trust it will be
deemed worthy of record and preservation. AS
SUCH had | been able to attend the celebration, 1
should have sought an occasion to relate it; and,
being denied that pleasure, take the liberty of
incorporating it in this communication, at the risk
of extending it to somewhat understandable
length


beg to offer to your committee my thanks for
the honor ofthe invitation so courteously extended
to me, and to repeat the expression of my regret


1 am, sir, your fellow-citizen, -.


ROBERT DALE OWEN.