Legends of Chief Cobmoosa & Pres. A.J. - 22

       "Those who quit learning get old, but those who keep learning are young forever," said Chief Seattle.  Cobmoosa never stopped moving and was quick to learn about Washington.
       So when father and mothers of the 21st century ask their young sons and daughters what they learned in public or private schools today never let them say "nothing".   Challenge them.  Nothing is the wrong answer. 
       They should be learning and memorizing 6 new things everyday of their life, because the older they get without instructions the harder it is to make sense out of life.  Young children should be like sponges and soaking up life lessons for future reference.  Learning nothing drives nails in their coffin before life began.  It shows lack of respect for elders, the cultures and tradition necessary for survival.
       This is why it is so important to learn lessons from past history - the good and bad times, but bad lessons learned are sometimes just as beneficial depending on what is remembered.  Just don't make the same mistakes twice as those who never learned the first time.
       Cobmoosa's life lesson with Chief Noonday and Chief Saginaw made him a better man of courage, skill and valor.  Courage was never in doubt.  He outperformed others and for that he became a trusted Indian who stood his ground in adversity.  He faced bigger threats, but he could hold his own when wrestling.  He taught Wabasis how to defend himself.  Both were tall with squared shoulders, bulky but a moving mass of muscles.  He was someone you didn't want to fight with in the dark.  He was built like Mr. T. only taller.
       In 1834, a tribal renegade named Maxsauba started thrusting tomahawks and spears into the ground besides a bonfire in the presence of Cobmoosa.  He wanted Ottawa power to strike down incoming settlers and wage war with Washington, but Maxsauba couldn't attain the power.  Screaming in defiance at Washington he did his own version of dancing around village campfires.  He tried acting like a "bigshot," but his appeals for war were met with sharp criticism from Chief Cobmoosa, Chief Kewaycooshcum prior to 1836, Jaun Boshaw and Chief Wabasis.  All except Boshaw were chiefs.
       Time and time again Maxsauba thrust tomahawks and spears into the ground near fires, but that was the chief's job and he wasn't chief of any tribe.  He tried to insight fear in newly arriving settlers with blood curdling thirsty talk, but failed miserably and gained a bad reputation as being a "weak mouse" or as some referred called him the savage "little Mississauga rattlesnake."  His soft rattle did scare a few incoming settlers.
       Still war words had gotten to President Andrew Jackson.  He received letters from missionaries (spies) at the "rapids" who stated their concerns and warned him that the nightly sounds of beating drums got louder and the bonfires were getting larger and the night sky was glowing orange. 
       Jackson felt Maxsauba could be arranging a war party and those in Michigan warranted a U.S. Army detachment from Washington.  A small detachment with two 4-pound cannons was dispatched and they made it to the banks of the Grand River  above Portland.  When crossing the thinning ice the two cannons fell through thin ice and lodged in the bottom.  The soldiers retrieved one,  which disappeared into the bush not knowing its true destination.  The other sank in the mud.
       When Cobmoosa heard about renegades inciting war he sent runners to Wabasis and Boshaw, too, for an impromptu council meeting.  Often they arrived within days by canoe or horseback and settled hostilities and stop the fighting before it began to avoid Washington interference.  Cobmoosa would arrive for weeks because he'd walk.
       History doesn't say why Cobmoosa was terrified of water.  Somewhere in his life he witnessed the drowning of friends, family member or the near drowning of himself.  Maybe something in his childhood frightened him.  Water had to be shallow - ankle to knee deep water that had no strong current otherwise he would not cross.  Not many of those locations in the Grand River.  Whatever the trouble Wabasis, Boshaw and Cobmoosa sprang into action.  Moss was trounced under their feet.  (continued)