The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-28

winch we hnd MIN engaged, was the expedi-
ZION 10 TiPpecanoe. The treaty which he
had then recently made with the Indian tribes
had been violated. Tecumseh, admitted by
all, TO he the most intrepid warrior, and the
most talented chief Of the age, had prevailed
on the tribes who were parties TO that treaty,
to refuse It's execution, and for the purpose OF
insuring the success of his project. was at
tempting TO form union among all the tribes
from the lakes to the gulf Of Mexico. He
had visited the Northern tribes and had Sc
cured their cooperation, and was negotiating
with those OF the South for the same purpose.
Harrison, who was aware Of his plan, and
that he was actually engaged in the success
iul execution oil 1t, was not idle. lie COM
municated the facts 10 Mr.. Madison, stating
what would be the consequence of permitting
1t 10 be completed. The President promptly
placed the 4th regiment under the command
OF Harrison, then Governor of Indiana or
dered him to raise four hundred volunteers,
and proceed 10 the Indian country. The
order was so promptly obeyed, that our gallant
little army of 800 men arrived at Tippeca-
noe before Tecumseh had returned from the
South. When Harrison reached the settle
ment, twelve hundred warriors had already
assembled He sent for the Chiefs they
came to his camp; he told them their Great
Father had not sent him to fight, but to settle
their complaints amicably and he invited
them 10 meet him in council; they promised
10 do SO the next day, and then returned 10
their village. As soon as they were gone,
he told his officers he knew from their Ian
guage and behaviour that they intended to at
tack him before morning. Confident that this
was the council they meditated, he encamp-
ed his army in the order of battle and d.
rected his men to lie down with their clothes
on, and their arms a, their sides. His pre-
dlcl.0ns soon became history an hour or
two before day, in dark foggy night, the
attack was made with great fury. The con-
| flict lasted nearly two hours, and until day
light enabled him to see the position Of the
Indians, when vigorous charge was ordered
which terminated in their defeat and disper-
sion. The army then marched to the village
and destroyed it We may safely affirm that
this was the first instance in which American
troops have sustained themselves against SUI
perior force of Indians in night attack OF two
hours continuance. As fruits Of this victory, the
treaty was preserved and the peace and safe
ty OF the frontier secured. 1t was from this
battle, so important to the Government and
people of Indiana, and so brilliant in the
mode of its achievement, against desperate
foe, tina, General Harrison derived the appel
laion of the " Hero of Tippecanoe."
The savages on the frontier of Indiana,
having been thus defeated and scattered, and
Governor Harrison hearing that they were
| taking scaps and breaking up the settlements
on the frontier of Ohio, resigned his commits
sion Governor, and superintendent of In
dian affairs, together with their emouments,
| repaired TO Cincinnati, and volunteered in our
defence. In few months he succeeded in
scattering the savages on our borders; part
| of them he drove to the lakes, and the residue
| he compelled te remove to place of safety
within our settlements. BY this operation,
the settlers on our frontier were relieved from
! danger and hundreds who had fled TO the
denser settlements of the State for protection,
returned 10 their Improvements and occupied
them in safety. A. person who has not an &C
curate knowledge Of the condition OF the
North portion of Ohio, at the time of
| the late war, when it was an unbroken will
denness, without inhabitants, other than abort
gnes-wthout roads, bridges, ferries, or i'm
pfovemens of any kind, cannot form an idea
of the difficulties General Harrison cncoun-
tered, in feeding sustaining and keeping to-
| gether his army. The difficulties and per-
plexi,ies which beset him during all his cam
paigns are known to but few, and cannot be
Justly appreciated by any yet by unceasing
activity and by the efforts OF his powerful
mind, hepvercame them all. But it is i'm
possible 10 dwell on minute-a volume would
not contain the half of such detail, Pressed
down by all the difficulties he kept the field;
| L 4 ,,l
was the confidence reposed in his bravery and
skill, by both officers and soldiers, that their
spirits never fagged-their hopes never sunk.
1t is not generally known that the Fleet built
at Erie, by which the command of the Lakes
was obtained was project recommended by
General Harrison, and that it was adopted by
Mr.. Madison, in consequence of his unbound
ed confidence in the prudence and sound
judgment of him who proposed it. Before
the period of which am now speaking, Ge-
neral Harrison had been appointed Major
General in the militia of Kentucky, by law
OF that State, and had been appointed Major
General in the army of the United States, by
Mr.. Madison.
Passing over multitude of affairs of smaller
moment, let me point your attention to the me-
morable siege of Fort Meigs: that work Of
defence consisting of a mud embankment and
an enclosure of piquets, was defended trium-
phan,ly and successfully by about thousand
men for many days, Gf mistake not, seven
or eight,) against the attack of Proctor, who
commanded an army of British and Indians,
at least four times The number OF the besieged,
which was furnished with all the material nc
cessary for the occasion. Such was the skill,
the bravery, and the indefatigable efforts OF
General Harrison-such was the success of
the repeated sallles he made, tina, he compell-
cd The enemy To abandon the siege in despair.