McNair Scholars Journal

Volume 5 | Issue 1 Article 2

Winter 2001 Main Poche: The Last of the Traditional Potawatomi War Chiefs Jeff hiC vis Grand Valley State University

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Recommended Citation Chivis, Jeff (2001) "Main Poche: The Last of the Traditional Potawatomi War Chiefs," McNair Scholars Journal: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 2. Available at: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/mcnair/vol5/iss1/2

Copyright ©Winter 2001 by the authors. McNair Scholars Journal is reproduced electronically by ScholarWorks@GVSU. http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/ mcnair?utm_source=scholarworks.gvsu.edu%2Fmcnair%2Fvol5%2Fiss1%2F2&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages Main Poche: The Last of the Traditional Potawatomi War Chiefs

'-'IJ'-_.L.L.L.L·.L"-. years of the 19th century; Most Indians believed that

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that we now refer to as the Midwest individuals received such r1Di-r\VOlr-Y\lf-1Dor' of the United States. the leaders The Great in return for granting of the Indians who these deformities to intrusion into their territories were the them so that the Great Spirit could brother if they ever came into

LJ.L.LLA vv .L. .L,",,,", Prophet. contact. is one Main Poche written these two achieved his influence amongst the in American tribes of this era (Draper 1814-1827). (Sugden but other leaders also Another way Main Poche achieved Jeff Chivis ,",.L.L.L_,",.Lj;.... V'-'L during this time that have not great was through his father, been as well researched. One of these is who was, a Potawatomi the Potawatomi wabeno and war chief, war chief and intensely anti-American. Main Poche. This paper briefly describes All the Potawatomi villagesin Michigan Main Poche, his role in Potawatomi and northern Indiana were anti-American; and offers several to thus, Main Poche up hating white account for why he is not as well known Americans. Main Poche was taught the Janet G. Brashler, Ph.D. as other Indian leaders of this period. art of warfare at a very young age, and Faculty Mentor At the time of European contact, the the fact that his father was a great war Potawatomi occupied lands in the chief only increased his odds of southern Great Lakes area (Clifton '-',","~'-'.LJL.L.L.L.L.f"-.. a great warrior chief him­ 1998). The Potawatomi subsisted with a self. Therefore, Main Poche gained influ­ mixed economy of hunting and ence through his numerous successful gathering corn, beans, raids against the Osage tribe and the and squash agriculture. As Europeans American settlements. The Potawatomi moved into areas west the believed these accomplishments Appalachians seeking fertile farmland, showed that the successful warrior the Potawatomi and numerous other leader possessed great spirit powers. groups fled and/or attempted to resist Remarkably; the first time Main Poche the intruders. was injured was in 1810 on a raid Main Poche was born in the mid- against the Osages. By this time, Main I 760s in southern Michigan. Early on, Poche was probably in his mid-40's. he was recognized as being a powerful When the Indians saw that Main Poche figure because of his deformity that was injured, they believed that the mus­ helped him to gain respect and power ket that wounded him was made from a amongst his people. "Main Poche," in great Manitou (Draper 1814-1827). French, means Withered Hand. This Being a great, eloquent speaker was name stems from his deformity-he was another way Main Poche gained born with no fingers or thumb on his influence amongst the Indians. Main left hand. Many Indians believed that Poche "was an excellent orator with the Main Poche was not born of a woman, ability to mesmerize his audience" but that the Great Spirit, himself, created (Edmunds 1985:261). He persuaded him. They believed that he sprung out Indians through his eloquent oration to of the ground and, as a consequence of believe everything he said. providing Main Poche with his special Shortly after 1795, Main Poche powers, the Great Spirit "marked" him moved to Illinois to establish his own with his deformity or clubbed hand village at the crossing of Rock Creek and (Draper 1814-1827). the Kankakee River (Edmunds

GVSU McNair Scholars Journal VOLUME 5.2001 59 1985: Because of his anti-American no rivals. Using his great influence, he Besides performing his own unique reputation, Main Poche's village soon publicly destroyed other wabenos. If this skills, he could also do anything that a attracted other anti-American Indians was not effective enough, Main Poche medical and chaskyd could do and became a major meeting place for used poison, such as arsenic, to kill his (Clifton 1998: American raiding. During this time, rivals (Blair 1911:203). Even in Much of a TTT"ho....'"\r"\'c Main Poche married several women. Potawatomi terms, Main Poche was related to fire. Main Poche "always had three wives, considered to be "a rogue male, a man performed and at one time had six" (Draper 1814-­ with an insatiable desire for killing" dark. \J\/"f""\D ''''\C O,...~ 1827). This further demonstrates the (Clifton 1998:194). which 0r"\...... , ....Dr1 power and wealth of Main Poche. One Main Poche was the most powerful world .. had to be very powerful and wealthy to Potawatomi wabeno or shaman. A spints, a and support a family of this size. wabeno was skilled in many areas. A provided important information. At wabeno used sleight-of-hand tricks and night, a wabeno was joined in feasts by Main Poche was described as a ventriloquism to increase his influence followers at which point, they chanted among his people. A wabeno was also a and used special drums and rattles. This figure of commanding presence ... "fire handler" who possessed magical kind of ritual impressed a wabenos A huge, muscular man with long powers that enabled him audience by providing a contrasting black hair, Main Poche had a effect of dark from the night and light 'surly and brooding countenance' to hold hot coals, place their from the flames. In addition to highlighted by dark piercing eyes hands in campfires, and even to transforming into human fireballs, ....a monster who was distinguished exhale flames from their mouth wabenos were also believed to be by a girdle, sewed full of human and nostrils ... and could thrust shapeshifters. They could "assume the scalps, which he wore around his their arms into boiling water or shape of animals and prowl the waist, and strings of bear claws vats of steaming maple syrup Potawatomi villages or the surrounding and the bills of owls and hawks without any apparent injuries countryside after dark" (Edmunds round his ankles (Edmunds (Edmunds 1985:259). 1985:259). (1985:260-261,269). A wabeno, such as Main Poche, This medicine made it possible possessed a medicine bundle that Main Poche used another tactic to for wabenos to transform themselves included sacred objects in it that gain influence amongst the tribes of his into human fireballs that could attack protected him during the rest of his life. era. Drinking whiskey, Main Poche their enemies. This medicine bundle also enabled him became an alcoholic at a young age. He Being a wabeno, Main Poche was to cure diseases. He was believed to be told his tribesmen the Great Spirit told highly respected or feared by everyone able to change the weather and cast him that he must constantly drink this that he came into contact with. The spells on certain people or events. Some "spirituous liquor" and kill as much as Potawatomis also recognized two other of these spells were directed towards possible in order to keep his great types of shamans. The medical specialist, increased "success in hunting, while powers. If he did not perform these curer, or sucking doctor was skilled in others were particularly effectivein rites, Main Poche would lose his powers sleight-of-hand tricks that captured the winning lovers or obtaining sexual and become inferior to other powerful faith of the ill and their family members. favors" (Edmunds 1985:259-260). Indians (Draper 1814-1827). This doctor actually sucked out the bad Wabenos were highly respected and Main Poche, however, displayed a "medicine" or illness that was harassing feared by the tribesmen. Evil powers negative side while drinking. When his patients. He then presented his from other medicine men were blamed intoxicated, he raped any woman that patients with an object that was blamed for all misfortunes that happened to a crossed his path and fought against his for the illness. A chaskyd (Diviner) tribal member. The Potawatomi and friends and family This created intra­ captured the attention and faith of his other tribes, as a result, allied themselves tribal bloodshed, which rarely happened audience through ventriloquism, sleight­ with a powerful wabeno. In this way, and was considered to be the worst of-hand tricks, foretelling future events, individuals hoped that they might obtain action within the Potawatomi tribal and locating lost objects or loved ones. some of the wabeno's medicine and the society But Main Poche, even sober, A wabeno (Dawn Man), however, was shaman shielded them from any possessed a violent temper and tolerated the most powerful of all shamans. misfortunes that other shamans cast

60 Main Poche: The Last of the Traditional Potawatomi War Chiefs them. Tribal members would with a red wampum belt or strip of red This tactic worked exceptionally well approach the wabeno and offer their cloth hanging in the center. Wampum against the British, and with of liquor, was a woven belt used by different tribes Americans. groups were trained to the to invite another tribe or individual to line up accordingly and on side with warrior in war. This belt command. But, these attacks would be painted red. The warrior created panic and they were unable to would then wait in wigwam follow this happened, the volunteers to join his war party This Potawatomi followed up immediately 1~t>r1 main warrior to be OV'Y'\Or1on with a of close reasons Potawatomi went to in war or recognized as a warrior leader. combat. weapons included war. A very important motive for the In fact, the leader of the war party did shields, ball-headed war clubs, individual was to obtain prestige and not have to possess any war experiences tomahawks, flat war clubs, knives, wealth. This was achieved by taking at all. This is how Main Poche and every spears, and lances. In this way, the their defeated enemies' women, horses, other warrior started out (Clifton Potawatomi achieved their goal of losing or other materials. They also took 1998:174). very few casualties and defeating a larger prisoners from their enemy groups. The With sufficient support from his enemy group (Clifton 1998:174-75). second reason was to defend and clan, the warrior and his volunteers A victorious Potawatomi war leader expand the tribal territory Specifically; fasted, abstained from sexual intercourse such as Main Poche was in charge of all the tribe defended and increased their and other sources of "pollution," the prisoners. The leader ordered the hunting grounds, fishing sites, garden dreamed and compared their dreams, prisoners to be tortured and killed, lands, and village locations. The third stored up their magical powers, and which further insulted the enemy group. reason to go to war, as fashioned by worked up their courage before going to Or, they adopted them into the tribe. If a Main Poche, involved the effort to war. By doing this, a Potawatomi war clan lost a family member due to death restore the power and energies of the party formed a kind of magical­ or any other reason, they may have warrior and his clan. When a clan supernatural pact with one another. adopted a prisoner or other member of member received an insult, such as They also agreed to eat portions of any the tribe who then acquired the same death or any other kind of injury; this enemy they might kill. This symbolized name as the lost child. At the time of the "insult" was felt as a blow to the entire their rage. The Potawatomi believed adoption, a naming ritual was clan. It was an insult, which they when they did this, they acquired the performed. This ritual was believed to believed, weakened the magical power personal spirit-power of the fallen transform the adoptee into the identity and energy of the clan. Such an injury enemy warrior, thus increasing the of the lost family member and he/she did not have to be an actual event. For strength of their own spirit-power acquired the soul of the lost family example, an insult could be received in a (Clifton 1998:174). member. Thus, after the ritual, the dream or vision. To the Potawatomi, this The war party's main objective was adoptee was believed to be the same was sufficient enough to wage war to kill as many enemies and capture as person the clan had lost, both in body against their enemies (Clifton many prisoners as possible, while at the and spirit. Interestingly; the adoptee 1998:173). same time, avoid any losses to believed this too and even went to war Once this injury was actually themselves. The Potawatomi and other against his former tribe or group experienced or dreamed of, the Indians believed that if a warrior killed (Clifton 1998:176). Potawatomi warrior painted his face and and ran away; he would receive glory Successful warriors were rewarded body black and red. The color black is and be available for combat for another in several ways. Eagle feathers were the traditional symbol of approaching day For this reason, Main Poche and the given to warriors who had killed an death or catastrophe. Before leaving for Potawatomi were masters of the surprise enemy The tribe made songs or legends war, the warriors shaved their heads, ambush. This military tactic involved about the successful warrior. The feats "leaving only a scalp lock and often using bows-and-arrows or muskets. The involving man-to-man combat were adding a roach of deer or porcupine hair Potawatomi tried to surround the enemy noted on coup sticks or on a special adorned with an eagle feather" (Edmunds group and fire their weapons from a kind of war-club shaped like the stock of 1978:17). The warrior made his distance (Clifton 1998:174-75). an antique French wheel-lock musket. intentions publicly known to the whole This long-range tactic would create These were ways in which the warrior tribe, and made a temporary wigwam an initial shock for the enemy group. obtained prestige among his clan-mates.

GVSU McNair Scholars Journal VOLUME 5.2001 61 1-1 rY{"XTD'[TDY there was one act that was Indiana on the River. Main Because Main looked down If a successful Poche said that the new site held more Poche was considered to be so

warrior home any kind of and was less vulnerable .L.L.L.LJ...... ' ...,Je.L ... .L ...... L, the United States IT"'''TDy...,yy\D"l1t trophy or souvenir from the event, the invited him to of man was believed to be weakened and polluted forces. He through a a to convince Main to stop the and to 1998: unwelcome. settle down. Jefferson told Main Poche Because of his successful raids replied that the "Great backed his that the Potawatomi tribe should .L~ against the and the .L...... L"-'.L.L"-'\A.L.L'-', venture. " and it was not in the of become farmers and raise domestic Main Poche influence mortals to obstruct it. .. Main animals. Main Poche refused Jefferson's among Ojibwas, Poe and other Indians him, and decided to back to his Ottawas, Kickapoos, and and he (Main had invited them village

other Indians. For this reason, Main to join at his new town" \'-''-'''''-'-'L''-'.L.L Main Poche never completely joined Poche was courted by groups who 1985:167). Once the Miamis learned forces with the British, or the were seeking his allegiance. The most that Main Poche endorsed this plan, Shawnee brothers. The fact that Main important of these were the retired in defeat. Main Poche was Poche had to drink and go to war with Shawnee brothers and the also in contact with Tecumseh. Main the Osages and the Americans only Shawnee Prophet), the British, and the Poche traveled into Canada with benefited the British. But the British United States. Tecumseh to recruit more warriors for were not enough to keep their Tecumseh and the Shawnee Prophet the Shawnee Prophets cause. And on promises. After Tecumseh's death on preached against the white ways. They several occasions, Main Poche joined October 5, 1813, the chances of a united believed that all Indians should not Tecumsehin raids against the Americans. Indian army faded away Realizing the accept any part of the white American The British also wanted Main Poche war was over, Main Poche retired to his culture and should go back to living the to be their ally The British went about it camp called the Manesti, on the Yellow traditional life. They tried to wipe out the way, however. They were River in Indiana. Here, Main Poche the Americans by forming a united more concerned in using the Indians to drank heavily and deaf. In the Indian army They both knew that Main fight their own wars for them against the spring of 1816, he died while hunting in Poche, because of his great influence, Americans. They encouraged Main Michigan. Main Poche's "death in 1816 could be the to their success. Poche and the Potawatomis to continue is significant in that the incorrigible old Main Poche met with the Shawnee raiding American settlements. The British warrior was the last of the traditional Prophet late in October 1807 in told the Indians that war was inevitable war chiefs. His way of life had ended. Greenville, Ohio. He spent almost two with the Americans and promised that The new leaders among the tribe would months with the Shawnee Prophet and they would join them in war against the be men skilled in diplomacy, not warfare. agreed with him that the Americans Americans. The British never really Some would be full-bloods, and some were the "children of the Great Serpent, followed through with their promises. would be of mixed lineage, but all or Evil Power, and evidently subscribed Later, made peace with the would be masters of accommodation" to Tenskwatawas teachings that the Americansafter realizingthe strength of (Edmunds 1978:206). Indians should use no products of the United Statesmilitary (Clifton 1998). Even though Main Poche often was American manufacture" (Edmunds Main Poche hated the Americans, at the center of Indian-white relations, 1985:262). However, Main Poche was but they, too, tried to win him over. most historians and scholars overlooked unwilling to stop his drinking and United States Indian agent, William his accomplishments for several reasons. refused to cease his raids against the Wells, described Main Poche as being As far as personal influence over Indian Osage tribe. Despite this, Main Poche "the greatest warrior in the west ... the tribes, Main Poche was overshadowed did agree to spread Tenskwatawas new pivot on which the minds of all the by Tecumseh and the Shawnee Prophet. religion. He also invited the Shawnee Western Indians turned ... , (he) has 'Iecumsehs influence was extensive and brothers to move their village to western more influence than any other Indian" he was highly respected, but Main Poche

62 Main Poche: The Last of the Traditional Potawatomi War Chiefs was also respected, though perhaps it These are spelled differently as well. was respect derived from fear. As a Because of such confusion regarding his maj or Indian religious figure, Main name, some historians and scholars have Poche has been overshadowed the referred to Main Poche as being two or Shawnee Prophet, partly because more different Indians (Edmunds Tenskwatawa was associated with 1985:269). images Tecumseh. Shawnee Prophet also Main Poche not be as well Potawatomi predicted an of the sun in June known as other prominent Indians of his abundantd~.~,n~~.~~~'h~'~ 1806. Again, Main Poche was time he does not fit the image of and of perceived also to be a powerful the noble savage (Edmunds 1985:269). this time. wabeno with great power derived from The image of noble savage was Finally; because so little has been a number of spiritual sources and constructed by historians of the 19th documented about Main Poche, it is material substances. century and has been carried forward possible that accounts of his activities Another reason why Main Poche into contemporary times. This image were slanted or biased by writers such as may not be as well known is that he is characterizes Indians as dignified and Forsyth and others writing in the early hard to find in the historic record. His virtuous in their speech, relationships to 19th century A careful and extensive name, "Main Poche," has over a dozen each other and to the land. Main Poche review of literature from this time needs different known spellings. These also was perceived as a ruthless person, to be undertaken to more fully have different English translations such possessing few qualities that Americans understand the character and role of as Lame Hand, Crippled Hand, admired. Compared to Main Poche, Main Poche, one of the last great Withered Hand, or Swelled Hand. Tecumseh was seen by white Indian Potawatomi war chiefs. Besides these names, Main Poche also agents and traders as being a "good has at least two other names, such as Indian," or a savior, and he has been Winibiset (Crafty One) and Wapakee. immortalized for it. Main Poche lacked

References Cited

Blair, Emma H. ed. 1911 The Indian Tribes of the UpperMississippi Valley and the Region of the Great Lakes. 2 vols. Arthur H. Clark Co. Cleveland.

Clifton, James A. 1998 The Prairie People: Continuity and Change in Potawatomi Indian Culture, 1665-1965. University of Iowa Press. Iowa City

Edmunds, R. David. 1978 The Potawatomis: Keepers of the Fire. University of Oklahoma Press Norman.

Edmunds, R. David. 1985 "Main Poc: Potawatomi Wabeno." American Indian Quarterly, Vol. 9. 259-272.

Draper, Lyman Copeland (compiler) 1814-1827 Thomas Papers: "Letter-book, 1814-1827" Vol. 4. Draper Manuscripts. Wisconsin State Historical Society Madison Sugden, John. 1985 Tecumseh's LastStand. University of Oklahoma Press. Norman.

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