Difference between revisions of "Michikinikwa"
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− | <p>Little Turtle was a war leader of the Miami natives. He was born | + | <p>Little Turtle was a war leader of the Miami natives. He was born around 1752 twenty miles northwest of modern-day Fort Wayne, Indiana. His Native American name was Michikinikwa. Little is known of his life before the 1790s, although he did help the British in the American Revolution.</p> |
<p>With the Treaty of Paris (1783), England gave up all claims to the Ohio Country. Settlers rapidly came across the Appalachian Mountains to the Northwest Territory. Little Turtle played a leading role in Native American resistance to the newcomers. In 1790 General Josiah Harmar led 1,400 soldiers into land claimed by the Miami natives and the Shawnee natives. In October, Little Turtle and his followers, including the future Shawnee chief Tecumseh, succeeded in driving out Harmar's men. This battle became known as Harmar's Defeat. In 1791, General Arthur St. Clair led two thousand U.S. soldiers against the natives in western Ohio. Once again, Little Turtle led the natives to victory at a battle known as St. Clair's Defeat. This was one of the worst defeats ever sustained by the U.S. military in their conflicts with Native Americans. During 1794, Little Turtle led attacks against supply trains belonging to the United States army. These trains were trying to supply the numerous forts that General Anthony Wayne had ordered built. They were to serve as staging areas for future campaigns against the Native Americans living in western Ohio. </p> | <p>With the Treaty of Paris (1783), England gave up all claims to the Ohio Country. Settlers rapidly came across the Appalachian Mountains to the Northwest Territory. Little Turtle played a leading role in Native American resistance to the newcomers. In 1790 General Josiah Harmar led 1,400 soldiers into land claimed by the Miami natives and the Shawnee natives. In October, Little Turtle and his followers, including the future Shawnee chief Tecumseh, succeeded in driving out Harmar's men. This battle became known as Harmar's Defeat. In 1791, General Arthur St. Clair led two thousand U.S. soldiers against the natives in western Ohio. Once again, Little Turtle led the natives to victory at a battle known as St. Clair's Defeat. This was one of the worst defeats ever sustained by the U.S. military in their conflicts with Native Americans. During 1794, Little Turtle led attacks against supply trains belonging to the United States army. These trains were trying to supply the numerous forts that General Anthony Wayne had ordered built. They were to serve as staging areas for future campaigns against the Native Americans living in western Ohio. </p> | ||
<p>Little Turtle also tried to seize Fort Recovery in 1794, but his men failed to do so. Following this defeat, Little Turtle realized that the British had no desire to help the Native Americans against Wayne's army. Little Turtle encouraged his followers to negotiate with the United States. He understood that the U.S. far outnumbered the Native Americans and had many more weapons.. Other native war leaders refused to listen, and insisted that Wayne's army must be fought .</p> | <p>Little Turtle also tried to seize Fort Recovery in 1794, but his men failed to do so. Following this defeat, Little Turtle realized that the British had no desire to help the Native Americans against Wayne's army. Little Turtle encouraged his followers to negotiate with the United States. He understood that the U.S. far outnumbered the Native Americans and had many more weapons.. Other native war leaders refused to listen, and insisted that Wayne's army must be fought .</p> |
Revision as of 14:17, 31 March 2015
Little Turtle was a war leader of the Miami natives. He was born around 1752 twenty miles northwest of modern-day Fort Wayne, Indiana. His Native American name was Michikinikwa. Little is known of his life before the 1790s, although he did help the British in the American Revolution.
With the Treaty of Paris (1783), England gave up all claims to the Ohio Country. Settlers rapidly came across the Appalachian Mountains to the Northwest Territory. Little Turtle played a leading role in Native American resistance to the newcomers. In 1790 General Josiah Harmar led 1,400 soldiers into land claimed by the Miami natives and the Shawnee natives. In October, Little Turtle and his followers, including the future Shawnee chief Tecumseh, succeeded in driving out Harmar's men. This battle became known as Harmar's Defeat. In 1791, General Arthur St. Clair led two thousand U.S. soldiers against the natives in western Ohio. Once again, Little Turtle led the natives to victory at a battle known as St. Clair's Defeat. This was one of the worst defeats ever sustained by the U.S. military in their conflicts with Native Americans. During 1794, Little Turtle led attacks against supply trains belonging to the United States army. These trains were trying to supply the numerous forts that General Anthony Wayne had ordered built. They were to serve as staging areas for future campaigns against the Native Americans living in western Ohio.
Little Turtle also tried to seize Fort Recovery in 1794, but his men failed to do so. Following this defeat, Little Turtle realized that the British had no desire to help the Native Americans against Wayne's army. Little Turtle encouraged his followers to negotiate with the United States. He understood that the U.S. far outnumbered the Native Americans and had many more weapons.. Other native war leaders refused to listen, and insisted that Wayne's army must be fought .
Shortly after rejecting Little Turtle's call for peace, the Native Americans lost the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. In 1795, Native Americans living in western Ohio sent representatives to Fort Greene Ville where they met in council with the U.S. After lengthy discussion, they signed the Treaty of Greenville. The natives, including Little Turtle, agreed to give all but the northwestern corner of modern-day Ohio to the United States. Little Turtle refused to take up arms against the United States ever again. He became a celebrity among the United States public. He visited many eastern cities and even met George Washington in 1797. He urged his fellow natives to keep the peace and also encouraged them to give up alcohol. During the early 1800s, he played an important role in preventing the Miami natives from joining Tecumseh's Native American confederation. He died on July 14, 1812, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
See Also
- Josiah Harmar
- Arthur St. Clair
- Tecumseh
- Anthony Wayne
- American Revolution
- Battle of Fallen Timbers
- Miami Indians
- Shawnee Indians
- Siege of Fort Recovery
- Northwest Territory
- Ohio Country
- Treaty of Paris (1783)
- Harmar's Defeat
- St. Clair's Defeat
- Fort Recovery
- Fort Greene Ville
- Treaty of Greeneville (1795)
- Tecumseh's Confederation
- Greenville, Ohio
- Appalachian Mountains
References
- Anson, Bert. The Miami Indians. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1970.
- Carter, Harvey Lewis. The Life and Times of Little Turtle: First Sagamore of the Wabash. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1987.
- Hurt, R. Douglas. The Ohio Frontier: Crucible of the Old Northwest, 1720-1830. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1996.
- Young, Calvin M. Little Turtle (Me-she-kin-no-quah): The Great Chief of the Miami Indian Nation; Being a Sketch of His Life Together with that of Wm. Wells and Some Noted Descendants. Greenville, OH: Calvin M. Young, 1917.