Upon the return of the interpreter to Vincennes, the governor, not wishing to be burthened with so large a body of Indians, despatched a messenger to Tecumseh, requesting that he would bring with him but a few of his followers.  This request, however, was wholly disregarded; and on the 12th of August, the chief, attended by four hundred warriors, fully armed with tomahawks and war-clubs, descended the Wabash to Vincennes, for the purpose of holding the proposed conference.  From a family letter written by captain Floyd, then commanding at fort Knox, three miles above Vincennes, under date of 14th of August, 1810, the following extract is made, referring to this visit of the chieftain and his war-like retinue.

“Nothing new has transpired since my last letter to you, except that the Shawanoe Indians have come; they passed this garrison, which is three miles above Vincennes, on Sunday last, in eighty canoes; they were all painted in the most terrific manner:  they were stopped at the garrison by me, for a short time:  I examined their canoes and found them well prepared for war, in case of an attack.  They were headed by the brother of the Prophet, (Tecumseh) who, perhaps, is one of the finest looking men I ever saw—­about six feet high, straight, with large, fine features, and altogether a daring, bold looking fellow.  The governor’s council with them will commence to-morrow morning.  He has directed me to attend.”

Governor Harrison had made arrangements for holding the council on the portico of his own house, which had been fitted up with seats for the occasion.  Here, on the morning of the fifteenth, he awaited the arrival of the chief, being attended by the judges of the Supreme Court, some officers of the army, a sergeant and twelve men, from fort Knox, and a large number of citizens.  At the appointed hour Tecumseh, supported by forty of his principal warriors, made his appearance, the remainder of his followers being encamped in the village and its environs.  When the chief had approached within thirty or forty yards of the house, he suddenly stopped, as if awaiting some advances from the governor.  An interpreter was sent requesting him and his followers to take seats on the portico.  To this Tecumseh objected—­he did not think the place a suitable one for holding the conference, but preferred that it should take place in a grove of trees,—­to which he pointed,—­standing a short distance from the house.  The governor said he had no objection to the grove, except that there were no seats in it for their accommodation.  Tecumseh replied, that constituted no objection to the grove, the earth being the most suitable place for the Indians, who loved to repose upon the bosom of their mother.  The governor yielded the point, and the benches and chairs having been removed to the spot, the conference was begun, the Indians being seated on the grass.