Tecumseh : War and Shattered Dreams Issue # 1 – Tecumseh and The Prophet
by Dave Rocha
Page One: (One Panel)
Panel One: Full page splash establishing shot. The Shawnee Village is largely uninhabited except the young, old, sick and dying. The lodges are dilapidated and crumbling. There are dead bodies everywhere. In the foreground is a single Shawnee girl about 6 years old. Her clothing is torn and dirty. She has a straw doll which is moldy and covered in flies clutched in her arms. Her long black hair is kept in a pair of tight braids that are unraveling and unkempt hanging over her shoulders as she stares at you. Her eyes are filled with tears and a single one streams down her face. Her face and arms are covered in smallpox.
1 CAP The Ohio Valley – a long time ago ….
2 CAP Through war and a succession of treaties negotiated by the few, the native peoples of the American Interior are on the verge of extinction.
3 CAP Foreign diseases such as smallpox have devastated whole communities.
4 CAP Hope is a commodity few can afford.
Page Two: (Five Panels)
Panel One: A zoomed in shot of the previous panel showing the rest of the village, with fires burning the dead in an attempt to contain the disease.
1 CAP: Smallpox has become a rampant killer as it continues to claim village after disease-strewn village…
2 CAP: … In generations past, white settlers used alcohol and virus infected gifts to cull Native populations, enabling white settlements to expand.
Panel Two: A pack of deer run to the right from the noise of an American construction site on the left. American frontiersmen are erecting a cabin in the background.
1 CAP: White Settlers are moving into ancestral hunting grounds–
Panel Three: The deer running away are shot dead from off-panel to the right. This needs to be bloody.
1 SFX: BLAM BLAM
2 CAP: –taking away the livelihood of the Shawnee people and others of the Ohio Valley.
Panel Four: Two old men are sitting at a fire while six women are toiling doing various tasks while a half burned cornfield is in the background.
1 CAP: Constant warfare has reduced crop yields due to the American practice of burning corn.
2 CAP: Wars with the whites have also reduced the number of healthy men to the point where women outnumber them 2 to 1.
Panel Five: A Shawnee man purchases a flask of alcohol from a white trader.
1 CAP: Those men that remain take to drinking to drown their sorrows.
2 WHITE TRADER: THIS RUM SHOULD HELP YOU SLEEP MY FRIEND.
Page Three: (4 Panels)
Panel One: Large Panel that takes up the left half of the page. Unwrapped deer skin map of the Ohio Valley showing the border between the USA and Indian Territory after the Treaty of Greenville. The only labels are CANADA, USA, Indian territory and the GREENVILLE LINE. The skin itself is intact and looking new indicating that the map is very recent.
1 CAP: After the Battle of Fallen Timbers, native leaders including those of the Shawnee, Wyandot and Kickapoo signed the Treaty of Greenville giving the United States control over much of the Ohio Valley.
2 CAP: One Shawnee warrior present at the battle in August 1794 was a young brave by the name of Tecumseh.
Panel Two: First panel top right. A group of the various chiefs signing the Treaty of Greenville. A young Tecumseh is in the foreground walking away from them refusing to sign the treaty. He looks quite angry and visibly wounded by what’s happening. He is waving his Tomahawk in the air and has his musket tucked into his side, the strap hanging over his left shoulder.
1 Tecumseh: I WILL HAVE NO PART OF THIS! THE GREAT SPIRIT GAVE THIS LAND TO US ALL.
Panel Three: Shawnee village in the process of being abandoned. Tecumseh, his younger brother Lalawethika and their families are all packing their personal effects onto horses for the exodus.
1 CAP: With no will to comply with the “Longknives”, Tecumseh, his brother Lalawethika and many others leave their ancestral homeland and move west to Indiana to escape the encroaching Americans.
Panel Four: New Shawnee village in Indiana. Everything seems newly built and seems to be a peaceful place to live.
1 CAP: After relocating and setting up a new village, all seems relatively normal. The reality was that the evil influences of European culture had already taken their toll.
Page 4: (6 Panels) Tecumseh revels in going back to the simple things in life such as the hunt.
Panel One: Close up of Tecumseh as he dons his warpaint
1 CAP: Indiana Territory – 1805
2 CAP: Going back to his roots, TECUMSEH provides for his village using the methods of his ancestors.
Panel Two: Tecumseh makes his way to some cover.
No text
Panel Three: Tecumseh hides in the brush and loads his bow.
1 CAP: He finds his quarry and prepares his bow.
Panel Four: Tecumseh let’s the arrow fly
1 SFX: SHOOMP
Panel Five: Arrow flying
1 SFX: WIZZZZZZZ
Panel Six: A bunny is felled, very humanely through the neck and falls to the ground.
1 SFX: THUMP
Page 5: (5 Panels) Lalawethika shows just how much of a “waste of life” he is by beating his wife and being a loser drunkard.
Panel One: Lalawethika is stumbling around drunk, knocking everything about. He is seen here wearing a mishmash of European and traditional clothing which is untucked in places. Splashes of alcohol can be seen on his clothing and he is quite dirty.
1 CAP Back in the Shawnee village, Lalawethika is a key example of one such native affected by these European influences.
2 Lalawethika (Shawnee) … FISH! … (Slurred)
3 CAP It doesn’t take long for things to go horribly wrong.
Panel Two: ANGRY EYES! Lalawethika’s scarred eye can be seen here in great detail.
Panel Three: Lalawethika’s fist is in the foreground and he is yelling from OP. Lalawethika’s wife cowers as she knows what’s coming.
1 CAP Lalawethika was a failed warrior, losing an eye in a hunting accident while young. He was a failed medicine man and a failure at being a husband and father as well.
2 Lalawethika (OP) YOU STUPID ………. (Shawnee Yelling)
3 Lalawethika’s Wife NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (Shawnee Burst)
4 CAP His only solace was at the bottom of a white man’s bottle.
Panel Four: Lalawethika watches in the background leaning in the doorway as his beaten wife runs to Tecumseh. She is bloody and beaten and her face is starting to bruise and swell up. She pleads Tecumseh for help. Lalawethika’s lodge is in the background.
1 Lalawethika’s Wife PLEASE TECUMSEH HE IS YOUR BROTHER, HE NEEDS YOUR HELP. (Shawnee)
2 Lalawethika I DON’T NEED NUFFIN … I’M FINE (Shawnee slurred)
Panel Five: Tecumseh puts Lalawethika’s wife behind him and walks over to confront Lalawethika. Lalawethika is still leaning in the doorway. The rest of the village is in the background now as the camera spins to behind Lalawethika.
1 Tecumseh LALAWETHIKA, WE NEED TO TALK NOW! THIS NEEDS TO END. (Shawnee)
Page 6 (9 Panels) Tecumseh has an impassioned chat with his brother trying to save his worthless, miserable life. This scene will take place at the village’s council fire not far from the previous scene. Tecumseh pleads with his brother while the rest of the village looks on.
Panel One: Tecumseh is standing in front of Lalawethika pouring his bottle into the fire as he begins his speech. He is all war painted up and has his tomahawk in hand. Lalawethika is still wearing the gross clothing from the previous scene. I think that this panel should be slightly darker than the previous page and each panel afterward should get progressively darker signifying that they are talking for quite some time. By the last panel it should be completely night time.
1 Tecumseh: OUR PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN MUCH SUFFERING SINCE THE COMING OF THE WHITE MAN, BUT NONE MORE DAMAGING THAN THIS VILE LIQUID YOU INSIST ON DRINKING. (Shawnee)
Panel Two: The fire flares up from the burning of the crudely made alcohol. Lalawethika leans back a bit as the fire flares. Tecumseh is unmovable and continues to talk to his brother.
1 Tecumseh: LOOK AT HOW THIS ANGERS THE SPIRIT OF THE FIRE. YOU ARE A DISGRACE! (Shawnee)
2 Tecumseh: YOU WERE ONCE A HOLY MAN CAPABLE OF COMMUNING WITH OUR ANCESTORS, NOW LOOK AT YOU. (Shawnee)
Panel Three: Close up on Tecumseh’s face, He is very concerned for his family and is determined to save his people. His brother MUST change.
1 Tecumseh: YOU ARE A WASTE OF LIFE! (Shawnee)
Panel Four: The camera zooms back out to show Tecumseh (who is still standing) throwing the empty bottle into the fire. Lalawethika had his head down in shame.
1 Tecumseh: WE MUST GO BACK TO THE OLD WAYS BROTHER. THESE ARE NOT OUR WAYS, THIS SICKNESS AND VILE LIQUID. (Shawnee)
2 Tecumseh: THIS IS WHAT THE WHITES WANT. THEY WANT US DEAD SO THEY CAN TAKE OUR LAND, OUR ANIMALS AND OUR AIR. (Shawnee)
Panel Five: Tecumseh reaches into a pouch on his belt and removes some herbs from it and packs the bowl of his tomahawk.
1 Tecumseh: OUR PEOPLE NEED TO BE AT ONE WITH THIS LAND. WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER. (Shawnee)
2 Tecumseh: WE NEED TO CAST AWAY THIS EVIL AND PREPARE FOR THE WAR THAT IS COMING. (Shawnee)
Panel Six: Tecumseh takes a long haul from the pipe, inhaling deeply. Lalawethika raises his head and puts out his hand to receive the pipe.
Panel Seven: Tecumseh’s exhaled smoke fills the panel and it’s now quite dark, the panel being illuminated by the fire. Lalawethika takes a puff.
1 Tecumseh: WE NEED YOU TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME. YOU MUST GUIDE US. (Shawnee)
2 Tecumseh: THE TIME FOR SELF PITY IS OVER. WE NEED YOU. (Shawnee)
Panel Eight: Closeup of Lalawethika, with tears streaming down his face. He is very ashamed by what he has become.
1 Lalawethika: YOU ARE RIGHT MY BROTHER. I AM A DISGRACE. (Shawnee)
2 Tecumseh: YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE CAPABLE OF FINDING OUT WHAT THE GREAT SPIRIT INTENDS FOR US. (Shawnee)
Panel Nine: Tecumseh walks away from his brother leaving him in silence to find his path. Lalawethika is still sitting with his head down again contemplating his brother’s words.
No Text
Page 7 (3 Panels) New scene where Lalawethika begins preparing the ritual in his lodge.
Panel One: Lalawethika changes out of his white people clothing and dons his medicine man garb consisting of feathers, beads and leather, while his wife protests.
1 Lalawethika: I MUST COMMUNE WITH THE GREAT SPIRIT AND FIND OUT WHAT MY DESTINY IS. (Shawnee)
2 Lalawethika: I WILL CALL FOR A VISION QUEST. (Shawnee)
3 Lalawethika’s wife: BE CAREFUL MY LOVE, I WILL WATCH OVER YOU WHILE YOU QUEST. (Shawnee)
Panel Two: Lalawethika begins to chant and dance around the fire inside the lodge while his wife and children cower in the background.
SFX: WAAPAKE! (Bold and Burst) – this is the Shawnee word for “see”
Panel Three: Lalawethika falls into the fire and loses consciousness.
1 Lalawethika’s wife NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (Shawnee burst)
Pages 8 (THE VISION part 1) Some type of haze over the vision pages to make it look like a dream sequence. 8 and 9 will be bleed pages and a 2 page spread. I was thinking of a simple star field for the background of the pages.
Panel One: Their village from panel one on page one except the smallpox girl is a brown bunny/girl (sketch from KRC 2012)
Panel Two: Lalawethika is drawn away from the village towards a fork in the road. On the right path stands a cougar with sunshine and happiness and partying bunnies far in the distance. The cougar is motioning for Lalawethika to join him in paradise. On the left is a sign showing a bottle filling a glass.
Panel Three: Lalawethika chooses the left path.
Pages 9 (THE VISION part 2)
Panel One: The first dark house. It will look like a log cabin or lodge that is made from charred wood. All three houses will look the same. White skinned bi-pedal sea-serpents will be herding the Shawnee-bunnies into each house.
Panel Two: Inside the first house. A bunny man is made to drink molten metal (representing alcohol) with a period New France flag hanging on the wall. Image
Panel Three: Lalawethika running towards the second house which is flying a very early American flag. Dead, scalped bunnies are everywhere. A serpent is holding a long scalping knife (representing the “longknives”.
Image
Panel Four: Lalawethika a pale white now and sweating profusely tries to the open the last house but it’s locked. The house flying this version of the Union Flag. The door is locked and a pile of food and ammunition barrels and weapons are outside.
Image
Page 10: (The conclusion to the vision 4 Panels) The future is now told to Lalawethika as he is shown the earthquake and eclipse he will predict.
Panel One:The spirit owl enters Lalawethika and transforms into Tenskwatawa. Tenskwatawa is floating in black space, curled in a fetal position as the spirit enters him.
Panel; Two: Tenskwatawa hovering in the air with one hand outstretched upwards with darkness shooting out and blackening the sun. Downwards from his other hand is an energy blast which creates a giant earthquake which is sucking an American town into the ground. A cougar is flying across the sky. Last hazy panel.
Panel Three: Lalawethika is being prepared for burial.
Panel Four: Close-up of Tenskwatawa waking up. He opens his good eye and a single tear rolls down his cheek.
Page 11 (6 Panels) Tenskwatawa sits up and declares to all present that he had a great vision and takes his new name.
Panel One: Back in the real world, Tenskwatawa is on a table being prepared for burial when he awakens and sits straight up frightening the medicine man who is preparing him.
1 CAP: Awakening after a few days, Lalawethika is surprised to see that he is being prepared for burial.
2 Tenskwatawa: I am OK… Don’t be frightened, gather all at the council fire…. (weak)
3 Shawnee Medicine Man: GASP! (burst)
Panel Two: Close up of Tenskwatawa, his face is determined as he finishes his thought. I’d like his face to be dark and shadowy here.
Tenskwatawa:
Panel Three: Scene change as we are taken outside to the council fire. The entire village is gathered around Tenskwatawa as he is clearly now dressed in the garb of a Shawnee Medicine man and is indeed Lalawethika no more. His arms are outstretched and he is speaking to all assembled. His presence is commanding and his posture should reflect that.
1 Tenskwatawa: COME BROTHERS AND SISTERS… I HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO YOU BY THE GREAT SPIRIT TO SAVE US.
2 Tenskwatawa: YOU CAN FIND SALVATION THROUGH OUR PEOPLES CONNECTION TO OUR LAND. EMBRACE THE SPIRITS OF THE LAND AND OUR ANCESTORS. FORSAKE THE WAYS OF WHITES. THEY ARE POISONING OUR LANDS,–
Panel Four: Tenskwatawa grabs a bottle out of the hand of a brave in the crowd and throws it in the fire. He is very angry.
1 Tenskwatawa: –THEY ARE POISONING US! (burst)
Panel Five: The angered fire fueled by the evil alcohol, bursts upwards in a fantastic bird shaped fireball.
1 Tenskwatawa: SEE HOW IT ANGERS THE FIRE SPIRIT? GIVE UP THIS EVIL!
2 Shawnee Brave: THANK YOU, BROTHER. I’M DONE WITH THAT.
Panel Six: The fire subsides and Tenskwatawa continues his speech.
1 Tenskwatawa: WE WILL NOT SEEK OUT VENGEANCE. WE WILL RETURN TO OUR WAYS AND GIVE NOTHING ELSE TO THE WHITES NOR TAKE ANYTHING ELSE FROM THEM. WE MUST SAVE OURSELVES FIRST AND THEN DEAL WITH THE LONGKNIVES.
2 Tenskwatawa: GO TO THE NEARBY VILLAGES AND BRING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE SO THAT THEY MAY HEAR MY MESSAGE AND BE SAVED.
3 SFX: SEGUY! SEGUY! SEGUY! (Shawnee word for agreement like Amen.)
Page 12: (6 panel) First row is Tenskwatawa preaching his ministry
Second row is Tecumseh and the Prophet’s messengers heading out.
Third row is Harrison and Madison reacting.
Panel One: Tenskwatawa is preaching his ministry. He is looking very solemn and is twitching, apparently moved by what he is saying. His hands are on his knees and he’s seated cross-legged in front of the fire. His words are almost trance-like. His eye is closed.
1 CAP: 1805
2 Tenskwatawa: ALCOHOL IS VILE AND DANGEROUS MEDICINE. IT HOLDS NO GOOD PURPOSE….. (I would like this in a font that denotes calm and tranquility, I have no idea how – Shawnee)
Panel Two: His followers who at this point mostly Shawnee and Delaware all say “seguy”, the Shawnee Amen. They are all watching intently, absorbing every word.
Follower 1: SEGUY
Follower 2 : SEGUY
Follower 3: SEGUY
Follower 4: SEGUY
Panel Three: He continues his sermon. His arms are now outstretched and he leans towards the fire.
1 Tenskwatawa: THERE ARE EVIL SPIRITS AMONGST OUR PEOPLE. PEOPLE OF BAD MEDICINE WHO WOULD SELL OUR LAND TO WHITES. THIS IS OUR LAND MEANT FOR ALL PEOPLE. IT CANNOT BE SOLD.
2 Tenskwatawa: THOSE WHO CARRY THE MEDICINE BAGS OF OLD, CLING TO THE WAYS OF THE PAST. THE ONLY SPIRITUALITY YOU NEED WILL BE PROVIDED BY ME, THE OPEN DOOR.
Panel Four: Tecumseh chooses the best followers, both men and women to head out in all directions to bring The Prophet’s message to all the local tribes. They are all dressed in native garb and some are mounting horses. Tecumseh is directing them where to go.
1 CAP: TECUMSEH CHOOSES MESSENGERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GAINING FOLLOWERS FROM THE LOCAL TRIBES.
Panel Five: Tecumseh mounts his horse and heads off. The others head in other directions.
1 CAP: SPREADING OUT, THEY FAN ACROSS THE LOCAL COUNTRYSIDE.
Panel Six: This is an interior shot of Jefferson’s office. There are the usual things such as a 15 star American flag, big oak desk, bookcase and other presidential things all around him. Jefferson is seated and Harrison is standing. Both are wearing the finest suits money can buy. The room is immaculate. It is the office of the President. Both look unworried but as all chess players are, they are both thinking five steps ahead.
1 President Jefferson: GOVERNOR HARRISON… I HEAR THAT YOU HAVE NEWS OF A NEW RELIGION IN YOUR TERRITORY.
2 Governor Harrison: YES MR. PRESIDENT. THERE IS A NEW RELIGION FORMING TOUTING A RETURN TO THE OLD WAYS AND REJECTION OF WHITE INFLUENCES IN FAVOUR OF THIS “PROPHET”.
3 Harrison: THIS IS LUDICROUS OF COURSE WE HAVE MADE OVERTURES AS ALWAYS TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND EVEN SUBSIDIES TO HELP THEM ADAPT TO MODERN LIFE.
4 President Jefferson: ARE THEY A CONCERN TO THE SAFETY OF YOUR PEOPLE?
5 Harrison: NO MR. PRESIDENT THEY APPEAR TO BE A PEACEFUL MOVEMENT. I AM NOT CONCERNED.
Page 13: (6 Panel) First row is Tenskwatawa and the Delawares
Second row is the brothers deciding to move south of the Greenville line
Third row is Harrison at his desk in Indiana.
Panel One: Large panel top 3rd of the page. It is dark and snowy. Tenskwatawa is at a fire with several Delawares, he is performing a ritual of some kind. All present are wearing furs over top of deerskin.
1 CAP: Winter, 1805
2 CAP: The Lenape people … closely related to the Shawnee and originally from the Atlantic Coast were quick to receive The Prophet…
3 Tenskwatawa: THE LENAPE WERE SOME OF THE FIRST TO BE FORCED OUT BY THE WHITES. THE LAND WAS GIVEN TO US BY THE GREAT SPIRIT FOR THE USE BY ALL. NOT THE SERPENTS FROM BEYOND THE GREAT WATER.
4 SFX: seguy seguy seguy seguy seguy (lots of these from all assembled)
5 CAP: … and follow him.
Panel Two: Returning home Tenskwatawa is welcomed by his brother and immediately they get to talking. Both are dressed warmly as it still winter. Tenskwatawa is getting of his horse.
1 Tenskwatawa: HELLO, BROTHER! THE LENAPE WILL JOIN US.
2 Tecumseh: SEGUY
3 Tecumseh: BROTHER, IN SPRING WE SHOULD RELOCATE AND PUT OUT THE CALL FOR MORE FOLLOWERS. WE WILL NEED A LARGER VILLAGE.
Panel Three: Tenskwatawa is now off of his horse and standing face to face with Tecumseh.
1 Tenskwatawa: WHERE? IT NEEDS TO BE A PLACE OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR OUR PEOPLE.
2 Tecumseh: AND IT NEEDS TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE LONGKNIVES. WE SHOULD MOVE BACK TO WHAT OUR LANDS WERE BEFORE FALLEN TIMBERS–
3 Tecumseh: –ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR “GREEN VILLE LINE”. WE RECOGNIZE NO SUCH BORDER.
Panel Four: Bottom of page. Back to Vincennes, Indiana. Interior shot of the Council Chamber in Grouseland. Harrison is seated by himself at the table and is writing a letter. He looks stalwart as always but is starting to show a little concern.
1 CAP: Christmas Eve. 1805, Grouseland, Indiana.
2 CAP: Concerned about Indian agitation, Harrison writes to the Secretary of Defense.
3 CAP: “… The Delawares are indeed extremely restless and uneasy, they are much dissatisfied with the Miamies … the young men are very desirous to join their countrymen in the west … The chiefs and old men wish to remain where they are … I have have returned them no answer because I wish to be informed whether their stay or removal would best comport with the views of the President. ”
Panel Five: Same place a few weeks later. Harrison is reading the reply.
1 CAP: … His reply is received a week later.
2 CAP: “Decr. 28th. I have had difficulty in assembling the chiefs and bringing them to reasonable terms … The Treaty will however be signed this day or tomorrow and will be forwarded by mail. The Honble HENRY DEARBORN Esq. Secretary of War”
Panel Six: Close up of Harrison deep in thought. In his hands is President Jefferson’s policy letter. The text of the letter is here in case a few lines are visible.
President Thomas Jefferson to William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Indiana Territory, 1803
You will receive from the Secretary of War … from time to time information and instructions as to our Indian affairs. These communications being for the public records, are restrained always to particular objects and occasions; but this letter being unofficial and private, I may with safety give you a more extensive view of our policy respecting the Indians, that you may the better comprehend the parts dealt out to you in detail through the official channel, and observing the system of which they make a part, conduct yourself in unison with it in cases where you are obliged to act without instruction. Our system is to live in perpetual peace with the Indians, to cultivate an affectionate attachment from them, by everything just and liberal which we can do for them within the bounds of reason, and by giving them effectual protection against wrongs from our own people. The decrease of game rendering their subsistence by hunting insufficient, we wish to draw them to agriculture, to spinning and weaving. The latter branches they take up with great readiness, because they fall to the women, who gain by quitting the labors of the field for, those which are exercised within doors. When they withdraw themselves to the culture of a small piece of land, they will perceive how useless to them are their extensive forests, and will be willing to pare them off from time to time in exchange for necessaries for their farms and families. To promote this disposition to exchange lands, which they have to spare and we want, for necessaries, which we have to spare and they want, we shall push our trading uses, and be glad to see the good and influential individuals among them run in debt, because we observe that when these debts get beyond what the individuals can pay, they become willing to lop them off by a cession of lands. At our trading houses, too, we mean to sell so low as merely to repay us cost and charges, so as neither to lessen or enlarge our capital. This is what private traders cannot do, for they must gain; they will consequently retire from the competition, and we shall thus get clear of this pest without giving offence or umbrage to the Indians. In this way our settlements will gradually circumscribe and approach the Indians, and they will in time either incorporate with us a citizens or the United States, or remove beyond the Mississippi. The former is certainly the termination of their history most happy for themselves; but, in the whole course of this, it is essential to cultivate their love. As to their fear, we presume that our strength and their weakness is now so visible that they must see we have only to shut our hand to crush them, and that all our liberalities to them proceed from motives of pure humanity only. Should any tribe be foolhardy enough to take up the hatchet at any time, the seizing the whole country of that tribe, and driving them across the Mississippi, as the only condition of peace, would be an example to others, and a furtherance of our final consolidation.
1 Harrison: I must speak to these Delawares. (thought bubble)
Page 14: (3 Panel)
-Tenskwatawa Witch Hunter!
-Tecumseh starts the move to Greenville.
-Harrison’s speech to the Delawares
Panel One: Tenskwatawa is dressed to the nines in his finest Medicine Man gear. Tenskwatawa returns to the Delawares and starts to take out his native enemies by branding them as witches. This can be a cool action sequence of Tenskwatawa taking out other “False Chiefs”. He should look VERY intense.
1 CAP: 1806
2 CAP: The Prophet is petitioned by the Delawares to return and purge their lands of Witches and False Chiefs who sign their lands away.
3 CAP: TENSKWATAWA WITCH HUNTER!
Panel Two: Tecumseh and a bunch of his warriors that can include Blue Jacket, Black Hawk and Oshawana start to build their new capital on the U.S. side of the Greenville Line in direct defiance of the United States. None of them seem worried.
1 CAP: Tecumseh and his men start build a new village on the U.S.A. Side of the Treaty Line in Ohio.
Panel Three: Harrison is on the far right of the panel and he is on a platform speaking to the Delawares. The Delawares are NOT happy to see him. This is a long speech and most of the panel will be taken up with the text of said speech.
1 Harrison: “My Children … My heart is filled with grief, and my eyes are dissolved in tears, at the news which has reached me. You have been celebrated for your wisdom above all the tribes of red people who inhabit this great island. Your fame as warriors has extended to the remotest of nations …
… From what cause, then, does it proceed, that you have departed from the wise councils of your fathers, and covered yourselves with guilt. My children, tread back the steps you have taken, and endeavor to regain the straight road you have abandoned…
… But who is this pretended prophet who dares to speak in the name of the Great Creator? Examine him. Is he more wise or virtuous than you are yourselves? …
.. Demand of him some proofs at least of his being the messenger of the Deity. If God has really employed him he has doubtless authorized him to perform some miracles…
… If he is really a prophet, ask of him to cause the sun to stand still! …
… Else drive him from your town.”
Page 15: The eclipse!!!! (8 Panels) – Row 1 Tenskwatawa, Row 2 Tecumseh, Row 3 Harrison
Panel One: Tenskwatawa is dancing and chanting. He is the witch hunter and prophet in the extreme. There is no one more powerful! He’s got dead animals and all kinds of cool native ritual stuff.
No Text
Panel Two: Tenskwatawa howls at the sun!
1 SFX: HOWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Panel Three: A close up of the FULL ECLIPSE!!!
No Text
Panel Four: Tecumseh is on his horse on a hill watching a Wyandot village packing up and heading west towards Greenville. The Eclipse is in the background. He is so happy his face bursts into as much of a smile as he is capable of.
No Text
Panel Five: More of the abandoned village, birds are roosting and other animals are lying down in their ensclosures.
CAP: The eclipse was so complete that the animals believed it night time.
Panel Six: Final row. Harrison is now extremely worried as he sees the eclipse and sees that he fouled things up with his challenge. He is pacing in the Council Room at Grouseland.
CAP: Seeing that The Prophet answered the challenge successfully, HARRISON sets out on a letter writing campaign to save some of the chiefs still siding with the United States.
Panel Seven: Harrison sits down and starts to write. He looks very pensive here.
CAP: His first letter is to the Kickapoo.
Panel Eight: Close up of the letter as it’s being written:
“My Children, be wise; do not follow the advice of those who would lead you to destruction; what is it they would persuade you to? — To make war upon your Fathers, The Seventeen Fires?”
There should be a pen drawing the question mark and the writing should be in scale to the pen. He is still writing it.
Page 16: (6 Panels – 3-1-2 )This page will deal with the spring and summer of 1807. It starts to become apparent over this page that the coming war will be a three way struggle. The brother’s village grows incredibly, making Wells at Fort Wayne take notice. The British open hostilities against the United States. Wells and Harrison react.
Panel One: The Prophet’s village spring of 1807. The Prophet and Tecumseh are sitting at a fire (which is pretty much normal for them). Corn is being harvested in the background and bread and dried meat is being served to the large numbers of natives now flocking to the village.
1 CAP: The Prophet’s Village in Ohio, 1807.
1 Tecumseh: THE LONGKNIVES AT FORT WAYNE ARE GETTING NERVOUS.
2 Tenskwatawa: THEY HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. WE HAVE MADE IT KNOWN OUR PEACEFUL INTENT
Panel Two: Close up of the villagers eating, looking happy and well fed.
1 Tenskwatawa OP: WE HAVE FORSAKEN THEIR WAYS AND THEY FEAR OUR INDEPENDANCE.
2 Tecumseh OP: MOST OF THE FEAR I THINK CAN BE QUIETED TEMPORARILY BY MOVING BACK TO INDIANA
Panel Three: Close of Tecumseh looking worried but in control.
1 Tecumseh: WE WILL FOUND A NEW VILLAGE IN THE FALL WHERE THE WABASH AND TIPPECANOE RIVERS MEET.
2 Tecumseh: WE SHALL NAME IT “THE PROPHET’S TOWN”. THERE WE CAN BUILD OUR VILLAGE WITHOUT THE FEAR OF AN IMMINENT ATTACK.
Panel Four: Newspaper headline and artist’s rendition of the small skirmish. HMS Leopard flying the Union Jack opens fire on the USS Chesapeake flying the 15 Star Flag.
1 CAP: June 22, 1807
2 CAP: The USS Chesapeake, loaded with supplies departs Norfolk where it encounters a British Squadron. The British were blockading a French merchant fleet flying Napoleon’s colours with whom the King was at war.
3 CAP: The British Captain requests that they come aboard The Chesapeake to search for deserters. The American Captain refuses and the Leopard opens fire. Three crew members were killed and eighteen wounded.
4 CAP: In response President Jefferson, bans all British ships from American ports leading to the embargo act which devastates the US economy by preventing trade with England.
Panel Five: Inside Fort Wayne, Wells talks to Harrison about the surge of Indians coming through his fort on route to The Prophet’s Village in Ohio. He is very worried and should look very nervous as opposed to Harrison’s stoicism.
1 CAP: Fort Wayne Indiana, 1807.
2 CAP: William Wells, US Indian Agent for Fort Wayne.
3 Wells: INDIANS HAVE BEEN COMING THROUGH HERE IN DROVES ALL SPRING AND SUMMER. THEY ARE MOSTLY FROM THE TRIBES TO THE NORTH AND WEST, ALTHOUGH SOME MIAMIS AND SHAWNEE HAVE BEEN RETURNING ON A PILGRIMAGE TO MEET THIS “PROPHET”.
Panel Six: Harrison and Wells continue to talk.
1 Harrison: IF THEY ARE NOT YET VIOLENT THEN WE SHOULD PUT THEM ON THE SHELF FOR NOW BUT SEND A MESSENGER TO ARRANGE A MEETING SO THAT WE CAN FIND OUT THEIR ENDGAME.
2 Wells: BY TIME WE FOUND OUT THEIR ENDGAME, IT COULD BE TOO LATE. I HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST TECUMSEH AT FALLEN TIMBERS. HE IS AN EXTREMELY ADEPT MILITARY LEADER AND WE SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE HIM. IF THE BRITISH WOULD HAVE LET THEM IN, WE MAY HAVE LOST THAT WAR.
Page 17: (8 Panels 3-2-3) This page will continue the narrative from the previous page. Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh. Tecumseh meets with the British. Harrison and Wells.
Panel One: Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh are in the same place as they were in Row one on the previous page – Their village in Ohio. It is now Fall. They are packing.
1 CAP: Fall 1807
2 CAP: Harvest comes and along with it, the village packs up once again–
Panel Two: The scene zooms out for us to see the entire village moving West. People are tiny in this shot.
1 CAP: –and moves back to Indiana.
Panel Three: Map of Indiana showing the location of Prophet’s Town at the confluence of the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers. Fort Wayne and Vincennes are also on the map.
No text beyond what’s on the map.
Panel Four: It is now winter and our heroes are sitting at the council fire with Blue Jacket (Old Shawnee Man – his fighting days are behind him), Roundhead (Older Wyandot Chief – older than Tecumseh, but still a fearsome warrior), Black Hawk (Young Sauk Chief – mid 20s) and Oshawana (Young Ojibwe warrior late teens). They are at Prophet’s Town.
1 CAP: Prophet’s Town, Indiana, Winter 1807.
2 CAP: BLUEJACKET
3 CAP: ROUNDHEAD
4 CAP: BLACKHAWK
5 CAP: OSHAWANA
2 CAP: Tecumseh gathers with some of his most trusted warriors.
Panel Five: Same scene except Tecumseh just exhaled his pipe so the scene is much more smokey.
1 Roundhead: ME AND BLUEJACKET HAVE HEARD MUCH ANTI-BRITISH TALK IN DETROIT.
2 Bluejacket: IT FEELS JUST AS IT DID BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION… THE LONGKNIVES WILL ATTACK.
3 Blackhawk: ONCE THE LONGKNIVES HAVE CONQUERED THE EAST THEY WILL COME WEST.
4 Tecumseh: I FEAR THAT THEY MAY DO BOTH AT ONCE
5 Blackhawk: THAT’S WHY WE SHOULD ATTACK THEM NOW!
6 Oshawana: NO… WE SHOULD MEET WITH THE BRITISH FIRST.
7 Tecumseh: I AM UNSURE IF THEY WILL TURN THEIR BACKS TO US AGAIN BUT WE MUST TRY.
Panel 6: Wells and Harrison are meeting again at Fort Wayne. Wells is in a panic and wants to fight but Harrison tries to calm him down. Both are in their uniforms.
1 Wells: I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN SIR!
2 Harrison: CALM DOWN, MR. WELLS. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
3 Wells: THE BRITISH …
4 Harrison: WILL NOT BREAK THE PEACE UNLESS PROVOKED. THEY FEAR A WAR WITH US.
Panel 7: Close up of Wells stating his case. He is VERY agitated.
1 Wells: WHILE WE WAIT, THIS PROPHET IS RAISING AN ARMY TO OPPOSE US. AND HIS POWER BASE IS ON OUR LAND.
2 Wells: WE NEED TO WIPE THE INDIANS AND THE BRITISH BOTH OUT BEFORE THEY START TO RAID OUR SETTLEMENTS TOGETHER.
Panel 8: Close up of Harrison and his rebuttal. He looks very composed and calm.
1 Harrison: MR. WELLS I AM NOT GOING TO DECLARE WAR ON BRITAIN, I’LL LEAVE THAT TO CONGRESS.
2 Harrison: WHAT I CAN DO IS MEET WITH THIS PROPHET. ARRANGE IT
3 Wells (OP): YES SIR.
Page 18: ( Panels 3-2-3) Tenskwatawa journeys to Vincennes to meet with Harrison.
Tecumseh and 5 companions travel to Fort Amherstburg to meet with the British
Tecumseh meets with Matthew Elliott at Fort Amherstburg.
Panel One: Tenskwatawa arrives at Grouseland. The house is in the background and Tenskwatawa is making his way to the porch where Harrison stands with arms crossed behind his back, prepared to meet him.
CAP: Grouseland, Indiana 1808 – Residence and Office of Governor Harrison.
Harrison: HELLO TENSKWATAWA OF THE SHAWNEE, I AM GOVERNOR HARRISON.
Tenskwatawa: WE HAVE MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.
Harrison: YES OF COURSE, WOULD YOU HAVE A SEAT WITH ME ON THE PORCH.
Panel Two: Full panel close-up of Tenskwatawa sitting on the ground being defiant.
Tenskwatawa : I WOULD PREFER TO SIT ON THE GROUND.
Harrison (OP): AS YOU WISH… I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT YOU HAVE SOME GRIEVANCES WITH OUR GREAT FATHER, CHIEF OF THE SEVENTEEN FIRES.
Tenskwatawa: I HAVE NO DESIRE TO MAKE AN ENEMY OF YOUR CHIEF. WE WANT NO WAR. MY PEOPLE ARE IN NEED SINCE COMING BACK TO INDIANA.
Panel Three: Harrison looks genuinely surprised by his plea for help. He was expecting a crazy Indian Medicine Man and what he got was a man asking for his help. Harrison is now sitting on the steps across from Tenskwatawa who is seated on the ground in front of the porch.
Harrison: WHAT DO YOU NEED?
Tenskwatawa: WE NEED CORN, AND POWDER AND SHOT FOR HUNTING.
Harrison: CONSIDER IT DONE. I WILL SUBTRACT IT FROM THE ANNUAL ANNUITIES FOR THE SHAWNEE.
Panel Four: 5 canoes are seen paddling from Bois Blanc (Bob-lo to us natives) Island across the Detroit River to the council house in front of Fort Amherstburg. Tecumseh’s boat is in the lead, Oshawana, Roundhead and two generic Wyandot warriors are with him. They are traveling in a ‘v’ formation. Matthew Elliott is waiting on the shore with ropes to tie up the canoes.
1 CAP: Meanwhile at the Canadian border, Tecumseh intends to propose an alliance with the British.
Panel Five: Matthew Elliott shakes Tecumseh’s hand who is now on the shore. The pair are smiling both having met the other on several occasions. Elliott is wearing the “Elliott Coat” seen at present day Fort Malden.
1 Elliott: WELCOME BROTHER! (In Shawnee)
2 Elliott: YOU WILL HAVE TO MEET WITH GORE. I AM NO LONGER THE ONE WHO SPEAKS FOR OUR FATHER THE KING. HE IS DUE TO ARRIVE THREE DAYS FROM NOW. (Also in Shawnee)
3 Tecumseh: I UNDERSTAND… YOU WILL SHARE OUR FIRE WHILE I WAIT FOR THIS GORE.
Panel Six: Tecumseh’s fire, Bois Blanc Island. Matthew Elliott, Tecumseh, Roundhead, Oshawana and several others at Tecumseh’s fire. All are sitting and passing around a pipe tomahawk. No alcohol is present. Elliott is wearing civilian clothes now.
1 CAP: Tecumseh’s camp, Bois Blanc Island.
Panel Seven: Tecumseh’s fire again yet the panel is smoky showing that they’ve been smoking for a while.
1 Tecumseh: WILL GORE HELP US? IS HE AS INCOMPENTANT AS THAT DRUNK MCKEE THAT SPOKE FOR THE KING?
2 Elliott: I WILL RAISE THE WISH OF MY RETURN TO THAT STATION WITH HIM WHEN HE ARRIVES.
3 Tecumseh: I AM NOT HAPPY THAT I AM MADE TO WAIT FOR BRITISH ASSISTANCE. THIS BETTER NOT BE LIKE FALLEN TIMBERS. I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN MATTHEW.
4 Elliott: I WILL MAKE CERTAIN THAT HE LISTENS TO YOU.
Panel Eight: Close up of Tecumseh and Elliott discussing important events.
1 Tecumseh: THE CANADAS CANNOT REPEL AN AMERICAN INVASION ALONE.
2 Elliott: AND YOU CANNOT TAKE THE OHIO VALLEY BACK WITHOUT US. IT’S A NATURAL ALLIANCE. WE WILL NOT FAIL YOUR PEOPLE THIS TIME.
3 Tecumseh: IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF YOUR COUNTRYMEN CARE AS MUCH AS YOU, BROTHER. YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED AT FALLEN TIMBERS, I WILL NOT LET THE BRITISH BETRAY US AGAIN.
Page 19: (2-3-2) End of the three thread narrative – conclusion of all three plots.
Panel One: Close up of Tenskwatawa with his eye open. He is at his best when his eye is closed and he is channelling the Great Spirit as is common when he gives a religious speech. He is explaining to Harrison what his movement is about and does not want to frighten him by doing his holy man bit.
1 Tenskwatawa: THE RELIGION I WHICH I HAVE ESTABLISHED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN ATTENDED TO BY THE DIFFERENT TRIBES OF INDIANS.
2 Tenskwatawa: THOSE INDIANS WERE ONCE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOW BUT ONE.
3 Tenskwatawa: THEY ARE DETERMINED TO PRACTICE WHAT I HAVE COMMUNICATED TO THEM… OUR RACES SHOULD LIVE TOGETHER PEACEFULLY, RESPECTING THE DIFFERENCES OF THE OTHER.
4 Tenskwatawa: WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT CONSUMING FIRE WATER IS DANGEROUS TO OUR PEOPLE AND WOULD LIKE IT NOT SOLD TO US.
Panel Two: Close up of Harrison looking serious yet calm and unworried. He may actually feel slightly sorry for the plainly dressed man before him.
1 Harrison: NOW THAT I HAVE TALKED TO YOU IN PERSON, I BELIEVE YOUR PURPOSES ARE PEACEFUL AND ONLY MEAN TO REFORM YOUR PEOPLE.
2 Harrison: I WILL MAKE A PROCLAMATION FORBIDDING OUR MERCHANTS FROM TRADING ALCOHOL TO YOUR PEOPLE. RELIGION WILL NEVER BE THE CAUSE OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US.
3 Harrison: I WILL ALSO ISSUE YOU AMMUNITION, CORN AND OTHER SUPPLIES AGAINST THE SHAWNEE’S ANNUAL ANNUITY. THEY WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU AT FORT WAYNE. I WILL MAKE SURE MR. WELLS TREATS YOU CIVILLY.
Panel Three: Panorama of Fort Amherstburg and the Detroit river as seen from Bob-lo Island. The British Flag and Upper Canada flag are being flown from the flag pole. Cannons are firing from both bastions into the river. Muskets are being fired into the air from inside the fort as well.
CAP: July 11, 1808 – Francis Gore’s arrival at Fort Amherstburg is announced to all by the firing of cannons and muskets.
Panel Four: The view closes in on the council house on the outside of the fort. Gathered are several groups of natives, Tecumseh is visibly the leader of one of these groups. Gore is standing before them addressing the groups. Elliott is beside him translating.
1 Gore: ASSEMBLED CHIEFS AND WARRIORS, I AM FRANCIS GORE AND OUR FATHER THE KING HAS AUTHORIZED ME TO SPEAK TO YOU, HIS RED CHILDREN WITH THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING YOU WITH PROVISIONS, AMMUNITION AND SUPPLIES.
2 Gore: WE WISH TO RESTABLISH THE CHAIN OF FRIENDSHIP BY PRESENTING THIS WAMPUM.
3 Tecumseh: OUR FATHER THE KING HAS MADE THIS PLEDGE BEFORE AND THEN CLOSED ITS DOORS ON US AFTER THE BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS.
Panel Five: Close up on Tecumseh looking stern but holding the belt in his hands.
1 Tecumseh: YOU WILL GET NO PROMISES FROM YOUR RED CHILDREN UNLESS YOUR AID IS GIVEN IN RETAKING OHIO, INDIANA AND MICHIGAN. THOSE LANDS BELONG TO ALL, WE WILL NOT BE BETRAYED AGAIN.
2 Gore (OP): YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE KING DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE AMERICAN BOUNDARIES AS THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOT MADE WITH THE CONSENT OF ALL. WE DO HOWEVER RECOGNIZE THE CLAIM OF THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOR GENERATIONS.
Panel Six: Gore, Elliott and several other officers are dining at the officers mess at the fort with about 20 or so chiefs around a large table.
1 CAP: Governor of Upper Canada, Francis Gore invited the assembled chiefs to dine with him and continue the negotiations in a more intimate setting.
2 Gore: AS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, MCKEE IS QUITE INEFFECTUAL IN HIS POSITION AS SUPERINTENDANT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. FROM THIS MOMENT FOWARD , MATTHEW ELLIOTT HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED.
3 Tecumseh: THIS PLEASES US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AGAIN MATTHEW.
Panel Seven: This panel goes outside the Mess Hall where Elliott and Tecumseh are speaking privately. Tecumseh hands Elliott the white wampum belt while holding up the British wampum up in the air while talking about it.
1 Tecumseh: AFTER TALKING TO THE OTHER CHIEFS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO PASS THIS BELT AROUND TO THE VARIOUS TRIBES AFTER PRESENTING IT TO THE PROPHET’S FOLLOWERS WHEN I RETURN HOME TO PROPHETSTOWN.
2 Elliott: THANK YOU FRIEND. I WILL KEEP THIS WAMPUM YOU GIVE IN RETURN FOR MY ALLEGIENCE TO YOUR CAUSE.
Page 20: 8 Panels (3-2-1) Tecumseh returns to Ohio. Tecumseh gets pissed at news of the new treaty.
Harrison negotiates and signs the treaty.
Panel One: Tecumseh and some other warriors head out on horseback.
1 CAP: Tecumseh heads out on his first recruitment tour for the purpose of assembling warriors.
2 CAP: The war is coming and it’s time to put religion aside.
Panel Two: Tecumseh arrives at his old homeland in Ohio and immediately heads for the council fire. The fire should be muted as I want it to flare symbolically in a few panels. There will be a few Shawnee warriors and women sitting at the fire.
1 CAP: His first stop is the Shawnee’s traditional homeland in Ohio.
2 Tecumseh: BROTHERS AND SISTERS, HAVE THE LONGKNIVES TREATED YOU WELL?
Panel Three: Same scene, Tecumseh is now sitting as one of the warriors at the fire replies to him.
1 Shawnee Warrior: OUR CHIEFS KEEP GIVING MORE LAND TO THEM IN YOUR ABSENCE.
2 Tecumseh: THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! WE HAVE NO MORE LAND TO GIVE.
Panel Four: Close up of the same Shawnee Warrior handing Tecumseh a piece of paper.
1 Shawnee Warrior: WE AGREE, BROTHER. LOOK AT THIS.
Panel Five: Tecumseh flips out and throws the summons in the fire causing the fire to flare as if the great spirit disagrees.
1 CAP: The paper contains a summons to Fort Wayne to discuss the cession of more Native land to the Americans.
2 Tecumseh (Burst): NOOOO!
3 SFX: FOOM
4 Shawnee Warrior: OUR TOMAHAWKS AND MUSKETS ARE YOURS TO LEAD BROTHER.
Panel Six: Large panorama of the interior of Fort Wayne showing various chiefs signing the treaty with Harrison grinning ear to ear and shaking hands with one of the chiefs.
1 CAP: In September of 1809, The Delaware, Potawatomi and Miami sign the treaty of Fort Wayne ceding three million acres of more land to the United States.
2 CAP: …. A Treaty Too Far!
Page 21: 3 Panels (1-3-2) End of three thread pages.
Panel One: Map of the great lakes with the name of tribes superimposed over the areas they inhabited in 1810.
1 CAP: Tecumseh visits the tribes who have historically banded together under PONTIAC and THAYENDANEGEA in an attempt to revitalize the alliance he knew as a child.
Panel Two: Joseph Barron and Tenskwatawa meet at Prophet’s Town. Barron is dressed in simple clothing and Tenskwatawa is dressed in his finest Shaman garb. Tenskwatawa is pointing at the ground, Barron is holding a letter.
1 CAP: Prophet’s Town July,1810.
2 Barron: I HAVE COME WITH A MESSAGE FROM HARRISON.
3 Tenskwatawa: YOU ARE A SPY AND THAT IS YOUR GRAVE!
Panel Three: Tecumseh bolts out of his lodge and runs towards the pair, his blade is drawn.
1 Tecumseh: WAIT BROTHER!
Panel Four: Tecumseh is now standing in between his brother and the messenger. He is speaking and looks stern and unforgiving as he tries to diffuse the situation.
1 Tecumseh: YOU WILL NOT BE HARMED. WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE HERE?
2 Barron: I BRING WORDS FOR THE PROPHET FROM GOVERNOR HARRISON
3 Tecumseh: COME INSIDE AND GIVE THOSE WORDS TO ME INSTEAD.
Panel Five: Interior of Tecumseh’s lodge, Barron reads the letter from Harrison.
1 CAP: “I know your warriors are brave… do not think the redcoats can save you … our flags would be soon waving over all of the forts of Canada.”
2 CAP: “We only want peace with you, and would be willing to hear your grievances over the Treaty of Fort Wayne. I could even arrange for a meeting with our Great Father, President Madison.”
Panel Six: Tecumseh states his case to Barron. He is serious and calm but not angry.
1 Tecumseh: I DO NOT WANT WAR BUT I CANNOT REMAIN AT PEACE WITH PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO TAKE OUR LAND WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF ALL.
2 Tecumseh: I WILL CHOOSE ONLY THIRTY MEN TO COME WITH ME TO VINCENNES. I CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT MORE WILL NOT FOLLOW.
Panel Seven: 80 canoes are traveling down the Wabash. Every one of the canoes carries a fully equipped warrior with supplies and ammo. All are from various tribes and are dressed for battle and wearing warpaint.
1 CAP: August 12, 1810. Tecumseh sets off down the Wabash with eighty warriors to confront Harrison.
Page 22: 3 Panels (I was thinking for the layout of this page to have panel one in the top right, panel 2 is full page, panel three bottom right.)
Panel One: I have a photo of this posted in this thread. Tecumseh will be at the head of a line of canoes and will be getting out of his canoe. All warriors present are in war paint. There’s a collection of warriors from various tribes of the great lakes (southern tribes aren’t part of his army yet). Tecumseh of course is wearing red Shawnee paint of a very simple design.
1 CAP: August 15, 1810. Tecumseh arrives for his meeting with destiny.
Panel Two: Tecumseh is standing face to face with Harrison with a fire in between them. Behind Harrison is a company of his US Regulars and the Grouseland mansion. Behind Tecumseh is all 80 of his warriors sitting cross-legged on the ground under a grove of trees. On the ground beside Harrison is his native translator playing with paired flintlock pistols. Harrison is wearing his dress uniform with sword and pistol, both are holstered and sheathed. Tecumseh is holding his Tomahawk but it is not raised. All of Tecumseh’s dialogue is in English.
1 Tecumseh: BROTHER, I WISH YOU TO GIVE ME CLOSE ATTENTION…
2 Tecumseh: …WE CONSIDER THE LAND THE PROPERTY OF ALL THE FIRES. YOUR STATES HAVE SET AN EXAMPLE OF FORMING A UNION OF ALL THE FIRES…
3 Tecumseh: … BROTHER I CAN SAY THIS FOR I AM CHIEF OF THEM ALL.
4 Tecumseh: SELL A COUNTRY! WHY NOT SELL THE AIR, THE CLOUDS, AND THE GREAT SEA, AS WELL AS THE EARTH? DID NOT THE GREAT SPIRIT MAKE THEM FOR THE USE OF ALL HIS CHILDREN?
5 Tecumseh: I WILL PROVE THAT THOSE WHO DID SELL DID NOT OWN THE LAND. DID THEY HAVE A DEED? A TITLE? NO! YOU PRETENDED TO BELIEVE THEIR CLAIM ONLY BECAUSE YOU WISHED TO HAVE IT.
7 Tecumseh: NOW, BROTHER, EVERYTHING I HAVE TOLD YOU IS THE TRUTH. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT TAKING OUR LAND? TELL ME BROTHER, I WANT TO KNOW..
Panel Three: Close up of Harrison’s reply.
1 Harrison: THESE TREATIES WERE NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE INHABITANTS OF THOSE LANDS. INDIANS ARE NOT ONE PEOPLE…
2 Harrison: HAS NOT THE GREAT SPIRIT GIVEN THEM DIFFERENT TONGUES?
Page 23: 2 Panels
Split page with the top being the conclusion to the council and the bottom being the last leg of his recruitment tour.
Panel One: Tecumseh flips out and Harrison calls off the meeting for the night. Tecumseh has his hatchet raised and Harrison draws his sword. The translator is now standing right next to Harrison with pistols leveled at Tecumseh. The rest of Tecumseh’s warrior are now standing with weapons brandished and are hooting and hollering.
1 Tecumseh: YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TONGUE THAN WE DO AND YET YOU COME HERE TO TAKE OUR LAND! (In Shawnee)
2 Harrison (quietly): What is he saying?
3 Interpreter: IT’S NOT GOOD, WE SHOULD CONTINUE THIS TOMMORROW.
4 Harrison: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THIS COUNCIL IS OVER FOR THE NIGHT.
5 CAP: … for the next three days they argued with no resolution.
Panel Two: Tecumseh finishes his recruitment tour in the deep south. Tecumseh is speaking to a group of creeks who are all listening intently.
1 CAP: Tecumseh, being aware of the upcoming war heads south to put a master stroke to his work.
2 Tecumseh: WHEN THE TIME HAS COME TO FIGHT THE LONGKNIVES, THE PROPHET WILL CAUSE THE GROUND TO SHAKE AND SWALLOW UP WHOLE VILLAGES.
3 Tecumseh: THIS WILL BE THE TIME TO FIGHT TO TAKE OUR LANDS BACK. WE WILL GATHER AT DETROIT ONCE THE SIGN IS GIVEN.
Page 24: (4 Panels) The page will be sprinkled with 4 images telling the story back in Indiana. This page will be the leadup to the battle of Tippecanoe.
Panel One: Harrison’s Camp – Small Panel showing Harrison handing a message to a native.
Panel Two: Prophetstown – That messenger hands the message to Tenskwatawa. The following Caption can be over top both Panels One and Two.
1 CAP: Back in Indiana, General Harrison marches on Prophetstown with a message for Tenskwatawa to meet with him in the morning or face the might of the US Army.
Panel Three: Council Fire – A larger panel leaving a little room for some dialogue. An escaped slave will be trying to convince the chiefs to assassinate Harrison. An escaped slave, the prophet and a Kickapoo chief will be discussing the day’s events
1 Slave: MY MASSA WUN BE ‘ESPECTIN AN ATTACK. I CAN TAKE YA DERE.
2 Tenskwatawa: MY BROTHER HAS NOT YET RETURNED. WE MUST TRY TALKING TO HARRISON.
3 Kickapoo Chief: IT IS TIME TO STRIKE NOW! YOU CAN PROTECT US WITH YOUR MAGIC.
4 Tenskwatawa: LET US ATTACK AT ONCE. THE BULLETS OF THE LONGKNIVES WILL NOT HARM OUR WARRIORS WHILE I AM DANCING.
Panel Four: Tenskwatawa with his arms raised doing a dance
2 CAP: Tenskwatawa begins his ritual as his forces descend on Harrison’s Camp.