True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1839-12-30
TIE BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.
Opinions Of Mr.. Madison. and of the Lcgisiasure
Of Indiana and kentucky, upon the brove

~ A"oso"n una he"0Chy, upon tne OF0Ue
Harrison's conduct.
The groun' selected for the encampmeu nj was niece
OF dry oak had, rising 'sn feet above the n,arshy pra
in front towards the Indian town, and about twenty
SINH lar prairie in the rear, along the edge Of which
towards the elevation small stream, hose bucks
wsrc covered with willow and brush wood. Towards
the left This bench Of high land widened considc raby,
but FROM the ri h' flank about $50 yards, it narrowed
ana Terminated il, MI ntupt point. The two columns
OF infantry occupied the trout ind Of This ground,
l5lyards from each other tho left and about 8, on
the rgL, n,nk These la"ks filed up, the firstly
two c"upa ICES e mounted remcn, number ing l2D men,
under the connan1 Of Major General Wells Of The Ken
lucky militia, who served major; the other by
Spencel's company Of mounted ref .mcr amounting to
81 men, he font line, towards the II, compo.
sed of one but alton Of u. Stnts lhfanry under the
command Of Major Floyd, nankcd the right by two
companies OF sn, and on the left by one company.
The rear line was CONFUSED If II battalion of U. Stuos
ronps, under Captain Captain Baen, acting ior.
and four companies ofiniun,ry under lieutenant Colonel
Baker.
The rss"'nr troops Of The line joined the mounted
rlfsmen under General Wells, the left flank, and
Col pechcr's battalion fnmed angle with Sprncer's
company on the left. Two troops 81 Drusoons, about
81 men in ALL wer. encamp.d in the OF the left
flank, aud Captain 'kers troop, lrger than The other
two, in the rear of The front line. For nigh, attack
the order Ut encnnp nent the order Of battle, nnd
each man slept Immediately opposite his post in the
line. The placed in sing rank, bee &C. in
Indian warfare, where there is shock resist,
tension # line is Ct the highest Importance. und besides
raw troops manoeusre better in single file than in doub
lc ranks.
1t was always custom with Governor Harrison tc
assemble his field rfctrs every night at his tent and
give then Tie watch word and their instructions for
the night The order Civ for the night Of The 9th u.s.
that each corps which formed part Of the exterior
line 81 the enca pn!snt, should hold it's ground
~ relieved; The Drasoons were di'sctcd to pande
disnoun'et, in the ca-e Of light attack, with lhe
pistols in their belts, and a. CORDS de rrsetve-
The ouposts were occupied by two Captains guard,
and % prvate.s"d two s"buI,erns guards Of 20
commissioned officers and privates; the whole under
| the command Of field officer Of the day.
One Of the customs Of the General call up the
troop" a" hour before day. and to make them continue
on the morning Of the 7h november at quarter after
O'Clock, and the signal for cung out the men would
have been given IN Two minutes when the attack Of the
IL began the left flank The centnes fred but a
single gun and fed into camp The first notice which
the troops on the left flank h,. ofhe, danger, the
furious shout and yes of the >avnges, within few
yards OF the Inns. But the not wanting 10
themselves. Those who We're awake or easily AVA
kens, seized their arms, and took their stations. The
m"re tardy "d to the enemy ut the doors Of their
tents hand 10 hand. few n,u,nxl:s mnrc aud every
man was at his post. The first fell upon Cap
tai" baton" company OF the 18th u. 5. regiment, and
formed the lei angie Of the line. A gauIl;ns fire
was poured in upon them. and they suffered severely
before reIi' fcond be brought to them Some few Of
the Indians broke through the line and rushed into the
camp, but they were Instantly despatched.
| The morning is dark, Loudly and lowering. A few
glramns fires burning within the American lines,
ODJeCtS III lNulln deadly AIM. thfy
are extnsni,hed; yeIls from tn" savages rend the ali,
While the brave troops Opposed 10 them, noiselessly and
w'h'V e"nf''si"n. obey the o'de,s Of their c"nm1n~
drrs, and return the enemies fire with vsor. The brave
Harrison, mounted his horse rode to the angle that
was attacked He found I'arton's company suffering
severely, ind the left OF Geyers entirely broken I'm.
Captain Wontwor,Is be brought up from the centre
Of the line. A heavy firing was now heard upon
the left Of the front line, where were stationed the small
company OF United Sta,es ulennn and the companies
Of Baen, Smelling and Prescott ufthe i,h Tie Cover.
lnsted 10 the spot and found Mnjur Davess FORM
ing his Dragons i'll the of, these companies 1t was
perceived that the heaviest fire Vroce eded from some
trees, twenty PAGES in front fteSe companies, and the
Governor directed Major I!avcss to dsldge the enc
NY from that position. The Majur CALAMITY led on to
the attack, hut took with him too small n ioce so that
the enemy avoided his from and ckel his flank. liz
was driven back morally wounded. But Captain
Smelling, the head Of lis company followed ui the
attack, and completely routed the enemy from his strong
| hold
The fire was row raging uons all the lines. II fell
with great havoc upon SI,iccis mounted rifrmcn, aud
the right Of Warwick's company, which posted
the right the line Captain Spencer mud his frs,
| and second l.icuienaEts were shot down. Cap
! tain Warwick fell MORALLY wounded The compan .s
OF these gallant soldiers remained unnovcd. The Go.
vernon seeing this ordered kob's company the, re
lief, AMI filed the vacancy accustomed by removing the
latter, with Pressco,rs company Of the i,h.
Tht great object Of G"vern.r Harrison was to keep
| the lines entire. This he effected. So soon as the
morning broke, he niorccd the left flank with or
| companies and the right with two Major Wells COM
man ing The lei flank, supported by small party Of
the drogoons charged upon the enemy with great spi.
rt and drove him into tsr marsh. At the moment
the left flank under Captain Cook put the Indians to
| route i'll every direct ion, killing great number.
The obsinacv and perseverance, Of both parties are
described by General Han ison rs unequul!ed. lie
| says:-" Tie Indians manifested ferocily uncommon
even with them 10 their savage fury our troops on,
posed that co"l aud deliberate vaIor which is
i>tc of the Christian soldier" Not ofti,e Amer
leans was taken prisoner. The killed and wounded
Were 1885, Governor Harrison shot through the
hat, and slightly wounded in the head.
Tn the receipt If Governor larrsos letter. detailing
the particulars ofrhis great battle, Mr. Madison sent
message to Congress Dec ~, 1911 in which occurs the
following language. awhile ii is deSply lamentel
that iuny valuable lives have been k.i in the &c
tion which took place the 7'l ulrimo Congress will
wi satisfaction the daunle spirit and ,r,itude
VIGOROUSLY displayed by every pio Of tie troops
engaged, az rel as The collected hrmnesraeA dstia.