From M. M. Munson

As printed in 1881

FROM M. M. MUNSON, GREENVILLE.

3 GREENVILLE, July 28, 1880. F. M. Howes, Esa.:

My Dear Sir: Yours of the 27th is at hand, and I have given the subject matter some consideration. At the present writing I am not able to give you any further historical account of the battle fought at “Old Piqua” between the Kentuckians under Gen. George Rogers Clark and the Shawnee Indians, which occurred August 8 and 9, 1780.

I am aware that there are conflicting accounts of that battle and the circumstances that attend it. You refer to those given in Howe's His. Col. Ohio. One is from “ Bradford's Notes on Kentucky.” This work is generally admitted as good authority in pioneer history. "This book is out of print and quite rare. The other is Reminiscences of Abraham Thomas, published in the Troy Times, in 1839.

The reminiscences were written by a Mr. Bosson and were received as reliable, as Mr. Thomas was a man of truth. I furnished them to Mr. Howe for his book in 1846-47. Several things combine to make your celebration on this spot of interest and importance. First—Tecumseh was born here in 1865 or 1866." May we not trust that a more complete life and muster conception of the character of Tecumseh will be brought out by your people on that occasion? One of the Drakes has given us an extended life of the chief, but from its reading a wrong impression of his character is made upon the reader. A good deal of poetry and romance has been from time to time interwoven with his life. Sayings and doings and many incidents are largely colored by McDonald and subsequent writers. I knew an old gentleman who spent much of his time in Troy. He was Gen. Harrison’s Secretary, and was at the treaty of Vincennes in 1870. His impression of Tecumseh was not favorable. His description of his personal appearance, his action, voice or speech, and a general analysis of his character, I recollect, were quite elaborate and thorough. Some allowance should be made for my old friend, for he lived in those “perilous times," “a part of which he was," and was an old man. Second—The battle which your coming celebration is to commemorate. This is an important historic event, and a complete and reliable historical account should be secured before it is too late. I trust every effort will be made by your people to this end. Third —This spot once aspired to be the county seat of Clark County; once was the rival of your now beautiful and thriving city.

Mr. Smucker, the pioneer historian, lives in Newark, and is the Secretary of our Pioneer Society. I will try and see him in a day or two and have a personal interview with him upon the subject to which you refer in yours of the 27th. Books and documents treating upon early history or pioneer matters are rare, and most that were attainable in your county have been deposited in our society rooms in Newark. If I cannot go to Newark in time, I will inclose yours with a note to Mr. Smucker, who will write you or your committee. Mr. S. is the best posted historian in certain lines of pioneer history in Ohio, and then he has access to all published matter in this field at Newark, where we have them deposited. From what I have said of Tecumseh, I don't wish you to think he is by any means an unimportant personage—far from it. On the other hand, I look upon him as being the greatest Indian characters that has been known upon the American continent. I only want a just portraiture of him. What do you say to a parallel in part between he and Jeff. Davis? I am your obedient servant, M. M. Munson.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.