The Story of Tonguish

After the peace of 1815 the Pottawattomie Indians were disaffected and troublesome, Whether from any specific grievance or from their natural habits of lawlessness, they frequently committed little depredations on the sparse settlers along the river Rouge, west of Detroit. They manifested no desire to engage in open hostilities, but were indifferent to the rights of the whites, where they conflicted with their own wants or caprices. Tonguish was their chief and also their leader in these acts of lawlessness. In his relations with the whites he was arrogant and imperious. Followed by his band he entered the houses of settlers and demanded of the occupants such articles as his need or caprice indicated, and by intimidation secured his plunder.