The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-06-01
From the Frankfort Il (Ky.) Argus.
GENERAL HARRISON.

late meeuug oi cueiDy Couhty ""'I"S
at one fell svoop, conferred upon Gen. Har-
rison the title of " HERO OF TIPPEcANoE,
the MAuMEE, THAMEs," &c. &C., a con-
else glance at his military career may nei-
thcr be uninteresting or unProfitable.
And frstof fTippecanoe.-in august 1871,
n large meeting of the citizens OF Indiana
Territory, (of which Harrison was then
Governor.l was held at Vincennes, the seat
of Government. After full discussion of
the outrages committed by the Indians, it
was agreed among other resolutions, as the
solemn opinion of the meeting, that the
persons and property of this frontier can
never be secured but by the BREAKING UP
Of combination formed by the Shawanee
Prophet on the Wabash"
BY the first of November, force amply
sufficient for the purpose, composed of the
United States regulars, Kentucky and In
diana volunteers, rendeZvoused at Vim
cennes, and marched under the command
of Gen. Harrison, against the confedera-
ton of Indians under the Shawanne Proph-
et-on the 9th the army reached the pro-
phet's village in high spirits, and eager to
consummate the purpose for which they had
come. But alas the Generals ignorance
and imbecility prevented it, and the fatal
termination of the campaign is thus des-
cribed in Harrison's own letter to the Sec
retary of Wa-:
"Our march was slow and cautious, and
much delayed by the examination of every
place which seemed calculated for an am
buscade.
- During the whole of the last days
r T.. ..,I.
about US, and every effort was made by the
interpreters to speak to them, but in vain.
New attempts of the kind were now made,
but proving equally Intellectual. Captain
Dubois, of the spies and guards, offered to
go with n flag to the town. ] despatched
him with an interpreter, to request a con-
ferncc with the Prophet. In few mo-
ments n message was sent by Captain Du-
bois to inform me, that in his attempt to adj
vance, the Indians appeared on both his
flanks, and altho' he had spoken to them
in the most friendly manner, they refused
to answer, and constantly endeayored to
cut him off from the army"
After these repeated efforts, and the hos
tile disposition evinced by the Indians, no
general should have hesitated a moment to
advance on the town. And if any thing
was lacking to stir up the troops, who,
knowing the purpose for which they had
turned out, and the perfdy of the foe with
whom they had to deal painted for the on
set. Their spirit is thus described by Iiar-
rison in his letter to the Secretary of War.
Would to God that their general had pos
sessed some portion Of it himself!
Major Daviess, who commanded the
dragons, came up to inform me that he
had penetrated to the Indian fields, that the
ground was entirely open and favorable
that the Indians in front had manifested
nothing but hostility, and had answered ev-
cry attempt to bring them to parley with
contempt and inso!ence. 1t was imme-
dately advised by all the officers around me
to move forward. A similar wish pervaded
nil the army. 1t was drawn up in excel
lent order, and every man appeared eager
to decide the contest immediately"
The general then reluctantly consented
that the army should move towards the
town. All the facts incontestibly prove
that he was not for fght-althoueh he
had marched a long way under pretence of
seeing one! Notwithstanding he had
marched to g break up the combination on
The eWabash"-notwihstnnding :he sea
gerness Of his troops to decide the contest
all were again disappointed,
for when within $50 yards of the town, the
general commanded halt In his letter
10 the Secretary of War, he says:
81 Immediately advanced to the front
,aused the army to halt, and directed the
Interpreter to request some of the Chiefs to
,ome. in-
or,ned him (thc Chief that my object for
he present was to procure good piece of
ground to cncamp on, where we could get
pood and water. He informed me that
here was n creek to the north west which
e thought would suit cur purpose"
The general, after being thus directed by
lis enemy where to encamp, does so BY
elerence to the first extract from his letter,
will be seen that he says his march was
low aud cautious, and much delayed by
he examination of ambuscade, &c. and
'ct nc encamps in the vicinity of his cne-
ny's town, on ground selected by the enc
ny himself! and which he thus describes
n his letter to the War Department:
81 found the gronnd destined (by the In-
lians) for the encampment not altogether
IS could wish. 1t was indeed admirably
calculated for the encampment for regulars
hat were opposed to regulars, but it affor-
ed great facilities to the approach of the
avages. 1t was piece of dry oak land,
sing about ten feet above the level on the
larshy prarie in front, towards the indian
wns,) and nearly twice that height above
small prairie in the rear, through which
nd near this bank run a small stream, cloth