South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-05-07
SATURDAY. MAY Y. 1886.

petrated with the utmost audacity. Ev-
cry day brought the tidings of some
fresh massacre of helpless women and
children, and terror and dsmay over-
spread the frontier settlements. Gov.
Harrison Immediately made a repre-.
sentation to the U. s. government Of
the condition of the territory, and a
strong military force was ordered to
march against the Indians, but with
strict injunctions to avoid hostilities
farther than was indispensably neces-
sary. Psrceiving the delicacy and i'm
portaoce of the duty which mus. de-
volve upon the commander of the ex-
petition, Gov. Harrison determined TO
assume the command in person. His
situation was one Of peculiar embar<
rassment. At the head of undiscip.
linsd militia, always impatient of cons
troll and now painting for revenge, a
continued exertion Of prudence was
necessary to restrain their impetuosily.
Before hius was a numerous enemy,
prepared for wal, sand led on by an &C.
complished ief,-behind him, a long
line of scattered settlements, whose
safety depended on his success. These
difficulties would have appalled, man
Of doubtful ve,but they served only
TO stimulate Harrison to renewed ex>
ertion. With an army of 900 men,
mos, OF whom were volunteer militia,
he opened his campaign against the In
dians. On the 2Sth of October, 1911,
he commenced his march from Fort
Harrison, and on the 9Th of Novem~
Der, after encountering great difficult
ties and fatigue, the army arrived near
fiPpecanoe, the principal Indian wis
lage. Here in conformity with the in~
siructions Of the war department, he
made another effort to avoid hostil.
ties. A, negotlasion was opened, which
resulted ilsa suspension Of hostiites
for the pfsssns, and an agreement that
the Indian chiefs should meet Gov.
Harrison on the following day to con-
clude treaty of peace. Harrison did
not however suffer himself to be delu.
ded by the friendly professions of his
subtle foe. He proceeded with great
caution, TO select such situation, for
his encampment during the night, as
would enable him, with least difficulty,
to repel an assault by the savages. He
accordingly made choice of rising
ground, surrounded to some extent by
| a marshy prairie, and posted his men
10 order of battle, with directions to
lie upon their arms. The result prov
ed the necessity Of his caution, and the
wisdom Of his arrangements. About
4 O'Clock, on the morning of the 9th, a
sentinel observed an Indian stealing
towards the encampment, gave the a.
larm, and in a few minutes the whole
prairie seemed alive with savages, and
the welkin ruug with their fearful War
whoop. The attack was furious and
long continued. The Indians fought
with the utmost desperation, alternates
ly advancing and retrealing by rat
| ting signal, made with deer-hoofs, and
manifesting determination to con.
quer or die. The battle ragged for some
hours, but when daylight revealed the
position of the assailants,a gallant and
we'll directed charge was made upon
them, and they were repulsed with
great slaughter.
The battle of Tippecanoe was one
Of the most important and decisive en-
gagements ever fought between the In
dams and the Whites. They were
not only completely beaten, but their
loss was unusually great. Its immedi-
ate results were highly honorable to
the commander in chief, and benefi
cal to his country. AS the intelligence
spread from tribe to tribe, the terror
of our arms pervaded the whole from
tier. Deputaiions were sent 10 by
numerous tribes, disclaiming all con-
nexion with the enemy, and processing
unaltered attachment towards our go,
vernment.
The Kentucky legislature, notwith.
standing the gloom which was spread
over the whole state, by the untimely
death Of many of her gallant sons, in
the engagement, took the earliest OPP
portunity of testifyiug their warm -ap-
probation of the conduct of Gov. Har-
risoa by the following resolution {:
Resoloed, That in the late campaign
against the Indians on the Wabash,
Gov. William III. Harrison, has, in the
opinion of this Legislature, behaved
like hero, a patriot, and general,
and that for his cool, deliberate, skill