ME-Te-A Trail

2 1/2 miles Long

The Me-Te-A trail has been provided for scouters and hikers alike not only as a trail through a part of Indiana’s turbulent history but to be used as a tool for scout leaders to sharpen skills and promote advancement. This trail is named after one of the great Potawatomi Chiefs, Me-Te-A.

The Potawatomi tribe’s original home was the lake region of northern Michigan on the western shores of Lake Huron. Driven west and south by the powerful Iroquois, they moved into Illinois country and around the southern end of Lake Michigan into southern Michigan and western Indiana.

In the French and Indian war, the Potawatomi took the side of the French. After the war when the English had placed Garrisons here and there, they joined Pontiac in his conspiracy to drive the English from the Indian lands. The Potawatomi took part in the capture and massacre at Fort Miami, now known as Fort Wayne, on May 27, 1763. They also took part in the defeat of General Harmar at Kekionga in 1790 and in the massacre of General St. Claire’s army at Fort Recovery on November 4, 1791. With other Indian tribes, they were defeated at the battle of Fallen Timbers in August, 1794. The Potawatomi Indians conunued to be friendly for several years after this. However, after the battle of Tippecanoe, in which General Harrison defeated Tecumseh and in which many of the Potawatomi participated, there was a change in the attitude of the Indians. In June, 1812, the United States declared war against Great Britain.

Previously the Potawatomi joined in the battle to drive the English from their lands, but now they joined the English against the United States in the war of 1812. Fort Dearborn, now Chicago, was one of the first Forts destroyed. After this, many of the Potawatomi hastened east to join the forces besieging Fort Wayne and to follow Tecumseh in the war.

The Potawatomi made more than 40 treaties with the American Government ceding much of their land. The Potawatomi started to be removed from this part of the land in the 1830’s. They were taken into eastern Kansas. Today a reservation still exists in Kansas. 

ME-TE-A was a war Chief of the Potawatomi Indians. His tribe inhabited the region in the immediate area north and northeast of Fort Wayne. One of the villages stood at the mouth of Cedar Creek where Cedarville is now located. The other village was located where Spencerville is now. 

After being harassed by Chief Me-Te-A’s braves, General Harmar detached a number of troops under General Hardin’s command to destroy Me-Te-A’s villages at Cedarville and Spencerville. Upon successfully completing his mission, General Hardin’s troops returned by way of Eel River following the trace to Fort Dearborn. Crossing the Ecl River at Heller’s Corners, they were ambushed by the Potawatomi braves.

After Hardin’s complete defeat, General Harmar ordered the recovery of the town of Miami — this resulted in the defeat of Harmar, Just below the city on the bottom land between the St. Joseph and Maumee Rivers on October 22, 1790. With General Harrison and his troops hurrying to Fort Wayne from Fort Recovery to help in the siege of the Fort, Chief Me-Te-A and his braves planned to ambush them at “Five Mile Swamp” in Adams Township where Wayne Trace crossed the swamp. Major Mann, an advance courier, discovered the ambush in time to save the General and his troops. Me-Te-A had taken his position behind a tree, but left his elbow exposed. This having been discovered by Major Mann, Mann instantly took aim and fired. The rifle ball shattered Me-Te-A’s arm bone. Hoping to capture him, Major Mann set chase; however, Me-Te-A eluded him and Mann hastened to the Fort to warn his troops in time for them to leave without loss. Me-Te-A’s arm was so badly injured that it remained useless for life. Living in this region from 1800 to 1827 Me-Te-A met his death by poison given by some malevolent Indians, angered by his firm adherence to the terms of the treaty of Paradise Springs in 1826. Shortly after his death he was buried in a sand hill at the west end of what is now Berry street in Fort Wayne.

In conclusion, there comes a musing spirit in regards to the Indian. ‘Their day is past, their fires are out, the wild deer no longer bound before them, the plow is in their hunting grounds, the ax rings through the woods, once only familiar with the sharp crack of the mfle; the shrillness of the war whoop is supplanted by the shriller whistle of the locomotve, and the canoe by the steamer or sail vessel. Their springs are dry; civilization has consumed all these as fire devours flax. Truly, time destroys to renew and desolates to improve.