Young Tobacco
Encyclopedia
Young Tobacco was the English name given to a Piankeshaw
chief who lived near Post Vincennes
during the American Revolution
. His influence seems to have extended beyond his own village to all those along the Wabash River
.
George Rogers Clark
, in his memoir, refers to him as "Tobacco's Son", and British Lt-Governor Henry Hamilton's journal often refers to "Old Tobacco
and his son." The relationship of the two chiefs, Old Tobacco and Young Tobacco, seems probable but is not certain. It may be that the British and Americans presumed Piankesaw leadership passed from father to son, but this was not common among Miami tribe
s.
Clark's memoir describes Young Tobacco as being very dedicated towards the American cause, declaring himself to be a "big knife". When Hamilton recaptures Vincennes and occupies Fort Sackville with the American prisoner Captain Helm
, Young Tobacco declares openly that Helm is his brother, and voluntarily imprisons himself to stay with Helm. Knowing the influence of Young Tobacco among the area natives, Hamilton offers him several gifts to regain his favor, which Tobacco accepts for himself and his brother (Helm) to use.
As Clark and his army nears Vincennes to recapture it, Young Tobacco musteres a large band of native warriors and requests permission to join Clark's army. This offer is declined, but Tobacco continues to favor the Americans during the siege of Fort Sackville.
Hamilton's journal offers a contrasting view of Young Tobacco. Rather than being an open supporter of the Americans, Young Tobacco seems to favor whoever is in power at the time. He offers excuses to Hamilton for his lack of loyalty when the residents of Vincennes first rebelled in favor of the Americans. In a war council meeting, Young Tobacco blames this on other chiefs for not coming to his support, and declares that he was too weak to resist the Americans and too young to make such decisions on his own. Hamilton seems suspicious of Young Tobacco in his journal, but does not describe any open acts of resistance to British authority.
After the Americans had secured Vincennes, they had trouble with Delaware
along the White River
. Clark ordered a punitive expedition
against them, and Young Tobacco brokered a peace deal, accepting responsibility for future Delaware raids but promising retaliation if they again attacked Americans.
Clark says that Young Tobacco died two years after the battle for Fort Sackville, and was carried to Kaskaskia
and buried with military honors.
Piankeshaw
The Piankeshaw Indians were Native Americans, and members of the Miami Indians who lived apart from the rest of the Miami nation. They lived in an area that now includes western Indiana and Ohio, and were closely allied with the Wea Indians...
chief who lived near Post Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. His influence seems to have extended beyond his own village to all those along the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
.
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
, in his memoir, refers to him as "Tobacco's Son", and British Lt-Governor Henry Hamilton's journal often refers to "Old Tobacco
Old Tobacco
Old Tobacco was the English name given to a Piankeshaw chief who lived near Post Vincennes during the American Revolution.Old Tobacco may have been the father of an influential chief known as Young Tobacco....
and his son." The relationship of the two chiefs, Old Tobacco and Young Tobacco, seems probable but is not certain. It may be that the British and Americans presumed Piankesaw leadership passed from father to son, but this was not common among Miami tribe
Miami tribe
The Miami are a Native American nation originally found in what is now Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States...
s.
Clark's memoir describes Young Tobacco as being very dedicated towards the American cause, declaring himself to be a "big knife". When Hamilton recaptures Vincennes and occupies Fort Sackville with the American prisoner Captain Helm
Leonard Helm
Leonard Helm was an early pioneer of Kentucky, and a Virginia officer during the American Revolutionary War. Born around 1720 probably in Fauquier County, Virginia, he died in poverty while fighting Native American allies of British troops during one of the last engagements of the Revolutionary...
, Young Tobacco declares openly that Helm is his brother, and voluntarily imprisons himself to stay with Helm. Knowing the influence of Young Tobacco among the area natives, Hamilton offers him several gifts to regain his favor, which Tobacco accepts for himself and his brother (Helm) to use.
As Clark and his army nears Vincennes to recapture it, Young Tobacco musteres a large band of native warriors and requests permission to join Clark's army. This offer is declined, but Tobacco continues to favor the Americans during the siege of Fort Sackville.
Hamilton's journal offers a contrasting view of Young Tobacco. Rather than being an open supporter of the Americans, Young Tobacco seems to favor whoever is in power at the time. He offers excuses to Hamilton for his lack of loyalty when the residents of Vincennes first rebelled in favor of the Americans. In a war council meeting, Young Tobacco blames this on other chiefs for not coming to his support, and declares that he was too weak to resist the Americans and too young to make such decisions on his own. Hamilton seems suspicious of Young Tobacco in his journal, but does not describe any open acts of resistance to British authority.
After the Americans had secured Vincennes, they had trouble with Delaware
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
along the White River
White River (Indiana)
The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...
. Clark ordered a punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
against them, and Young Tobacco brokered a peace deal, accepting responsibility for future Delaware raids but promising retaliation if they again attacked Americans.
Clark says that Young Tobacco died two years after the battle for Fort Sackville, and was carried to Kaskaskia
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. In the 2010 census the population was 14, making it the second-smallest incorporated community in the State of Illinois in terms of population. A major French colonial town of the Illinois Country, its peak population was about...
and buried with military honors.