Chief Tamaha
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Tamaha (c. 1776–1864), also known as Standing Moose or "L'Orignal Levé," was one of two
Mdewakanton Dakota The Mdewakanton or Mdewakantonwan (also spelled ''Mdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ'' and currently pronounced ''Bdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ'') are one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti (Santee) Dakota (Sioux). Their historic home is Mille Lacs Lake (Dakota: ''Mde Wá ...
scouts for the United States in the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
, when most
Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota language, Dakota: Help:IPA, /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribes and First Nations in Canada, First Nations peoples in North America. The ...
sided with the British. He was a member of Chief Red Wing's band and was presented with a medal and certificate by Governor William Clark of Missouri Territory for his loyalty to the U.S. The certificate was treasured by Tamaha, who called himself "the 'only' American Sioux," and can now be seen at the
Minnesota History Center The Minnesota History Center is a museum and library that serves as the headquarters of the Minnesota Historical Society. It is near downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, and is considered one of Minnesota's finest public buildings. The History Cent ...
. In 1805, 26-year-old explorer
Zebulon Pike Zebulon Montgomery Pike (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado was named. As a U.S. Army officer he led two expeditions under authority of President Thomas Jefferson th ...
referred to Tamaha in his journal as "my friend" — a reference that has cemented Tamaha's legendary status and resulted in Tahama Spring in Colorado Springs being named after him.


Early years

Tamaha was born at Prairie à l'Aile (present-day Winona, Minnesota), and was originally part of Chief Wabasha's band. There are many colorful stories about his youthful exploits. In ''Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains'' (1918),
Charles Eastman Charles Alexander Eastman (February 19, 1858 – January 8, 1939) was an American physician, writer, and social reformer. He was the first Native American to be certified in Western medicine and was "one of the most prolific authors and speakers ...
portrays "Tamahay" as a young man with "heroic proportions, herculean in strength, a superb runner; in fact, he had all the physical qualities of an athlete or a typical Indian. In his scanty dress, he was beautiful as an antique statue in living bronze." When Tamaha was seventeen years old, he had an accident that resulted in the loss of an eye. Most historical accounts refer to Tamaha as the "one-eyed Sioux";
French Canadians French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fren ...
also called him "Le Borgne" (The "One-Eyed"). Eastman says that the injury was devastating to Tamaha, who then "sought glory and defied danger with even more than the ordinary Indian recklessness." On one occasion, young Tamaha and his best friend disguised themselves as
Ojibwe The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...
warriors to flirt with Ojibwe girls. On another, he was hunting for buffalo when he was thrown off his pony and attacked by a bull. He quickly straddled the buffalo on its neck and held it by the horns, earning him the name "Held-the-Bull-by-the-Horns". According to Eastman, it was during his escapade running from the Ojibwe that Tamaha famously said to his friend, "I'll meet you at the mouth of the St. Croix River, or in the spirit land!"


Friendship with Zebulon Pike

In his journal entries on September 23 and 24, 1805, Lieutenant
Zebulon Pike Zebulon Montgomery Pike (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado was named. As a U.S. Army officer he led two expeditions under authority of President Thomas Jefferson th ...
made repeated references to "Le Original Leve" — a corruption of the French name for Tamaha, "L'Orignal Levé." Pike later compiled a table of names, in which he indicated that "Le Orignal Levé" was also known as "Tahamie" and "Rising Moose." On September 23, 1805, Pike conducted treaty negotiations with a group of Dakota to obtain land to build a
military outpost A military outpost is detachment of troops stationed at a distance from the main force or formation, usually at a station in a remote or sparsely populated location, positioned to stand guard against unauthorized intrusions and surprise attacks ...
. Pike wrote that seven Sioux "chiefs" attended the council he held that day, including "Le Original Leve," whom he lists as a "war chief." Historians have commented that not all of them were actual chiefs recognized by the Dakota. Pike himself notes that only two of the seven Sioux signed the land cession treaty (also known as
Pike's Purchase Treaty of St. Peters may be one of two treaties conducted between the United States and Native American peoples, conducted at the confluence of the Minnesota River (then called "St. Peters River") with the Mississippi River, in what today is Men ...
), including Little Crow I and Penichon. They agreed to cede approximately 100,000 acres of land where the
United States Department of War The United States Department of War, also called the War Department (and occasionally War Office in the early years), was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army, a ...
would later build
Fort Snelling Fort Snelling is a former military fortification and National Historic Landmark in the U.S. state of Minnesota on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The military site was initially named Fort Saint Anth ...
. The second objective of the council was to convince the Dakota to make peace with the Ojibwe (Chippewa). In his journal, Pike noted that the chiefs had replied and promised safe passage for the Ojibwe if he brought them back for peace talks with the Dakota, but thought that peace would be unlikely. In his letter to General
James Wilkinson James Wilkinson (March 24, 1757 – December 28, 1825) was an American soldier, politician, and double agent who was associated with several scandals and controversies. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, b ...
dated September 23, Pike noted that "Elan Levie" (interpreted by historians as "Élan Levé," another way to say "Standing Moose"), had pledged the Sioux of six villages would be loyal to the United States:
A chief by the name of Elan Levie, then told me to look round on those young warriors on the beach; that not only they, but those of six villages more, were at our command.
The next morning, Pike was furious to discover that his American flag was missing from his boat. He described how he communicated his feelings to Tamaha, whom he referred to as "my friend":
Being in doubt whether it had been stolen by the Indians, or had fallen overboard and floated away, I sent for my friend, Original Leve, and sufficiently evinced to him, by the vehemence of my action, by the immediate punishment of my guard (having inflicted on one of them corporeal punishment), and by sending down the shore three miles in search of it, how much I was displeased that such a thing should have occurred.


War of 1812

Tamaha was one of the few Sioux who actively supported the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
in the War of 1812. He retained his loyalty even after his capture by the British, during which he refused to divulge information about the Americans on pain of death (a threat which turned out to be a bluff).


Peace medal and loyalty papers

Because of his loyalty to America, Tamaha was presented a Peace Medal and Loyalty papers by William Clark. These papers can be seen at the Minnesota History Center. Tamaha carried these papers with him and would charge people to see them.


Opposition to Dakota War of 1862

Wearing his trademark stovepipe hat, he was a vocal advocate of amicable relations between whites (particularly Americans) and
Indians Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...
, Before the Dakota War of 1862, Tamaha stood before Little Crow and advised him not go to war against the whites.


Death

Tamaha died in 1864 after the Dakota War. According to Charles Eastman he died at Fort Pierre S.D.


Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamaha (Dakota scout) Mdewakanton people 1770s births 1864 deaths Native Americans in the War of 1812 Native American history of Minnesota People from Winona County, Minnesota American people with disabilities