Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-04-09
DEMOCRATIC WING NOMINATIONS.
FOR PREs!DENT:
WILLIAM HENRY RRTSON,
Of Ohio.
ron VICE PR EsIDENT:
j O ii N T Y l. Err,
of Tirginia.
Original Correspondence
WILLIAM III. HARRISON.
Y L n D Z R TIL ri Z.

MUM THREE.
The troops for this expedition against the
Prophets town amounted to nine hundred men,
being composed of the fourth regiment of United
States Infantry, ana about $50 volunteers, nearly
one hundred of whom were from Kentucky, and
the remainder principally from the Indiana terri
tory They were assembled at Fort Harrison on
the Wabash, where the governor spent some time
in personally drilling the forces and preparing
them for the field. He commenced his march
from Fort Harrison on the goth of October ISL,
proceeding with great circumspection and taking
every precaution to guard against being surprised
In order to deceive the Indians, Harrison advan-
cel for some miles on the South side of the
Wabash, when shifting his course, he crossed the
river and accomplished the rema ming distance
on the North bank. BY this step lie secured an
unmolested march, seeing nothing of the Indians
until the 9th of November. On that day the ar.
my was within five miles of the Prophets town.
when several detached parties of the enemy APP
peared with whom Harrison underworld to open
a communication by means of his interpreters
They returned no answe-, but, on the contrary,
attempted to,cut of the Interpreters and the Off
Ger who attended them with lag of truce, who
were in consequence, obliged to return. When
about three miles from the town, two competent
and experienced officers were despatched to Sc
lect suitable place of encampment for the night.
They soon reported that they had found a spot,
three quarters of mile from the town, which
offered every convenience, and at the time
was capable of being successfully defended
gainst any attack. Accordingly the army there
encamped. The soldiers were posted in the form
of hollow square, and went to rest in their
clothes, with their arms by their sides, ready, At
moments notice to rise in order of battle and
repel any assault which might &c made upon
them. But the night passed of without any
alarm On the morning of the It'll there we've
occasional showers, and the sky was filled with
clouds, SO that The moon afforded no light. Be-
fore the dawn governor Harrison had risen, and
was sitting near the fire co-versing with his aids,
awaiting the signal for the troops to turn out
which in a few moments was to be given. At
this time-about fifteen minutes before, four one OF
the sentinels discovered Indian creeping to-
wards him through the grass, and gave The alarm
by firing his musket. This was instantly follow
cd by the war whoqp and an impctuous charge
on the left Hank of the encampment by the In
dams At the first fire the troops had formed in
order, and the guard at the point first attacked
having given way, the enemy were received by
the united regulars and volunteers under Cap
tains Barton and Guiger, who steadfasty main
tanned their ground and returned the fire of the
savages with great effect. AT the first the gov
ernor had ordered the camp fires to be extinguish-
ed, as they afforded benefit to the Indians and
none to his troops, and proceeded to the point of
attack which he strengthened with two more
companies. The engagement quickly became
general-the Indians fighting with desperation,
and an enthusiasm inspired BY the Prophet, who
had promised them that he would charm the A
merican balls so that they should be harmless,
and who stood on a neighboring eminence -out
of danger however-singing war song. The
governor was constantly employed in giving di-
rections, and encouraging the troops; he passed
from one part of the field to another, and was
always1ound where the battle was the hottest
Numbers were killed at his side, among whom
was the brave and lamented Colonel Owen o.
| Kentucky, one of his aids, and his own hair wa,
! cut by ball which passed through his hat AT
ter daylight appeared, simultaneous charge wa:
made against the savages on each side of the
camp, which terminated the battle-many Of tht
Indians being slain, and the remainder put tt
flight The killed on the part of the American.
amounted to sixty one, and the wounded to a
Al ba Ipd;
| about the same.
! The victory at Tppecanoe was of great impor
lance to the western country. Had Harrison
been defeated, the whole frontier would have
been ravaged by the bands of Tecumseh and tht
Prophet flushed with victory and strengthens,