CHAPTER VI. Reach the Mouth of Tippecano River. Facts respecting the Battle of Tippecano. A Biographical Sketch of the Life of Tecumseh. Natural History. Reach Settlements. Village of Clinton. Ar the computed distance of fifteen miles below Winemac's Village, we reached and passed the mouth of the Tippecano. This stream presents a fine width at the point of junction with the Wabash, and its waters are clear and placid. We did not learn how far this width is preserved. The name, as we were informed, is derived from a species of fish of the pike kind, called pe ́cano. This fish abounds in its waters. We landed a short distance below the junction, at the site of the Prophet's Town; and devoted some time to viewing the scene of the noted and sanguinary action fought here in the year 1811. Having procured a plan and description of the ground, from a person who was present in the action, we were enabled to identify the position, but not without considerable fatigue, owing to the distance of the field of battle west from the river, and the luxuriant growth of grass, vines, and shrubbery covering the prairie. The country has a beautiful sylvan aspect. It is diversified with gentle eminences, which give variety to the pros pect, and is not so exclusively a prairie country as to preclude the appearance of limited forests, and open groves. Of the quality of the soil, the firm sod of grass, prevented our forming any decisive opinion. In the few spots where we examined it, there appeared to be a considerable admixture of sand. Of the Prophet's Town, nothing but the carbonaceous remains were visible. A log tenement has been erected on the site, intended as a wintering station for some trader in peltries: but this building was deserted. We had been previously informed, that this building stands on the precise spot, formerly occupied by Tecumseh's lodge. The site is airy and elevated. We also had directions for visiting a favourite spring of this noted chieftain, but did not succeed in finding it. BATTLE OF TIPPECANO. This action was fought about a mile west of the Wabash, and about half that distance south of the Tippecano river, near a small brook tributary to the latter. The spot on which the American army was encamped on the night preceding the engagement, was perhaps as good as any other in that vicinity, although this will continue to be the subject of various opinions. A belief has been entertained that Gen. Harrison had been governed in the choice of this position by the advice of the Indians. This is not however the fact. The spot was selected by Majors Taylor and Clark, independently of the wishes or directions of the Indians. Col. Snelling is of opinion, that "the ground on which the army encamped, combined the advantages of wood, water, and a defensible position, in a greater degree than any other ground in that section of country." Such also appears to be the opinion of the principal officers who served in this expe dition. Having received a number of facts respecting this battle, from several officers and gentlemen who were present, we shall present them in connexion, presuming they will be found to embrace some interesting particulars which have never before appeared in print. The army of Gen. Harrison, in order to reach the Prophet's Town, had marched too far on the day of its arrival there, and appeared before it at a late hour -too late to enable the troops to fortify the camp by felling trees, which had been the invariable practice during the march. Col. Daviess advised an immediate assault of the town, and some other principal officers were eager to inflict a summary chastisement on an enemy, in pursuit of whom, they had marched so far. But the prudence of Gen. Harrison saved the army from a repulse, which, under the circumstances, it is thought he certainly must have sustained. It has already been observed, that the troops were fatigued by a long day's march. The Indians, on the contrary, were well prepared to receive them. They had fortified their town with a massy log wall, laid in a zigzag form, so as to present salient angles, and this wall was raised a sufficient height to answer all the purposes of a breastwork. Behind this wall, they had dug trenches to sit in, and port-holes were cut at regular intervals in the logs. They were about six hundred strong, and well supplied with arms and ammunition. "We should inevitably have been defeated," said an officer of the army with whom we conversed at Vincennes, "if we had attempted to storm the Prophet's camp that night!" It was the intention of the Indians to have attacked * Dawson's Historical Narrative of the Civil and Military services of Maj. Gen. W. H. Harrison,-Cincinnati, 1824. the Americans at an earlier hour, but the Prophet had been engaged in the performance of some ceremonies that night, which lasted an hour later than was contemplated. No night was ever more favourable for such an attack. It was so perfectly dark, that objects could not be distinguished at the shortest distance. An hour deducted from the duration of an action, under circumstances so favourable to the assailants, was an immense advantage to our troops. * When Gen. Harrison reached the vicinity of the Prophet's Town, he made several unsuccessful efforts to open a negotiation with the Indians. When the army came so near, that a distant prospect of the openings made by the low ground of the Wabash could be seen, an officer was despatched to the Prophet, inviting him to comply with the terms which had so often been proposed to him. But this officer met with no better success, than the interpreters had experienced on the march, and narrowly escaped with his life. Gen. Harrison now moved the army forward slowly, in the order of battle. He had not however proceeded far, when a deputation of Indians met him, with protestations of friendship from the Prophet, and anxious inquiries respecting the object of his march into their country. At the short conference held with this deputation it was agreed, that a general council should be held next day, at which all the chiefs should be present, when the subject of their mutual complaints would be discussed and settled. But this pacific overture of the Indians, turned out a mere russe de guerre. "At midnight the Prophet paraded his magic bowl, and pronounced, that * Journal of two Campaigns of the 4th Regiment U. S. Infantry, in the Michigan and Indiana Territories. By Adam Walker. Keene, N. H. 1816. |