Tamaha (Dakota scout)

Tamaha (c. 1776–1864), also known as Standing Moose or "L'Orignal Levé," was one of two Mdewakanton Dakota scouts for the United States in the War of 1812, when most Sioux sided with the British.

[4] Tamaha was born at Prairie à l'Aile (present-day Winona, Minnesota),[3] and was originally part of Chief Wabasha's band.

[6] 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!

"[6] In his journal entries on September 23 and 24, 1805, Lieutenant Zebulon Pike made repeated references to "Le Original Leve" — a corruption of the French name for Tamaha, "L'Orignal Levé."

In his letter to General James Wilkinson 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:[3]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.

He described how he communicated his feelings to Tamaha, whom he referred to as "my friend":[3]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.

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).