Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-04-06

Tort, with flag Of truce, was made and failed
Governor Harrison had been urged by some of his
officers to attack the Prophets Town; but deter
mined to persevere in the pursuit Of peace and in
the spirit Of his instructions, he refused to make
the attack SO long as any possibility remained, ol
the Indians complying with the demands OF the |
Government At length, The Prophet sent three
Of his Indians TO propose q suspension Of hostll' |
ties and meeting the next.d' Y to agree upon the
terms Of peace. But Governor Harrison knew |
too well the treacherous disposition OF his adver-
sary, to allow himself to be thrown of his guard.
Two competent officers, Majors Clark aud lay
lor were employed to select suitable place to
encimp advantageously, as in the enemy's pres
cnce, and where an attack could best be repealed.
Accordingly, they examined the environs and Sc
lected an elevated spot surrounded by wet prairc,
and adequately supplied with wood and water
and as Major Taylor has since declared, the Sc
lection wasmade according 10 their hest Judgment
ratified by that Of nne-tenths Of The other cfi-
GERS Indeed, the righteousness Of the selection
they made, was proved not only by the results,
but by subsequent observation and reflection for
when the army of Gen. Hopkins was there, in the
following year says MAhee, they all united in the
opinion, that better spot TO resist Indians was
not to be found in the whole country.
Here, then, the army encamped, but with eve
ny thing ready for a night attack The troops
lay as they were to rise for battle, in all their clothes
and accoutrementS, the dragons with their swords
and pistols in their belts, and the infantry with
their arms by their sides and il was the Cover
nor's invariabe practice, says M'Ahee, TO be
ready to mount his horse at moments warning.
The entire camp, Of course, was surrounded by
Gordon OF sentinels, so posted as to give timely
notice Of any attack, and thus preclude as far as
possible the danger Of loss or confusion by sur
prise.
a.. I'll L. IL
ing ofthe 7lh-the sky being heavy with OCCASION
al rain and clouds which obscured the moon-and
sat conversng with bis aids BY the fire, awaiting
the signal, which was in a few minutes TO ha
been gwen, for the troops 10 turn out. At this
moment, one of the sentlnes gave the alarm by
firing his piece, which was Immediately followed
by the ~ar-whoop and desperate charge OF the
Indians on the LEFT flank.
AT that point, the guard giving way, the charge
Of the savagcs was received by the united regu-
lars and volunteers under Captains Barton and
Guiger, in the rear who rose, ready armed, lorm'
ed in their appointed posts, and calamity stood
their ground. Upon the first alarm, the Cover.
nor mounted his horse and proceeded TO the point
OF attack and finding the line weakened there, or
dered up two companies from the rear centre 10
reinforce il. Meanwhile the camp fires had been
cxtingnished so as not to afford light to the Indi
ans. As the Governor rode across the camp, Ma
lor Joseph III. Davies, OF Kentucky, one of the
most popular men OF The West, asked permission
TO charge n body Of Indians, concealed behind
some trees near the left Of the front line. In at
tempting this brave exploit, he fell, ns did nlso
Colonel Isaac White, OF Indiana, who served M q
volunteer under him. After which, the charge
was repeated and the Indians dislodged by Capt.
Smelling. Perceiving the attack now 20 be scvcr.
" lett on the right Hank, the Governor led M an,
other company 10 reinforce il, while doing which,
his aid, Colonel Owen, of Kentucky, fell by hin
side. BY this time the battle hal become general
and was maintained on all sides with desperate
vaor, until the day dawncd, when the right aud
left tanks having been further strengthened, II
simultaneous charge was made against the Inl-
ans on each silc, who were thus put 10 fight with
great loss, and glorious victory crowned the
tolls and dangers Of the American troops
Without taking very nclive part IN the con
test, the Prophet remained secure On near cmi-
nence, chanting war song and nnmuting his
followers with the assurance of miraculous aid
from the Great Spirit in their favor so as to ensure
to them victory, Tecumthe himself was not
present, being at the South enceavorng to com
bine the tribes in that quarter against the United
States. But, animated by the Prophet, the Indi-
ans fought with desperate and Unprecedented va l.
or, hand to hand, as to reuder the battle OF
fippecance one of the most memorable and deci-
slve engagements ever fought between Indians
and the whites. The Indians attacked boldly.
"''dhOiAS duu IdllIlI10 SOuuu, MADE
with deer hOois They were encOun cred with
corresponding vaor and resolution by Harrson's
brave and spirited men. The Governor himself
was unweared in his exertons, personally inspec-
ting and cooperating i'll all the operations of the
engagement, ordering every important movement,
repeatedly leading. the troops into action as any
change OF their position became requisite, and
sharing all the periIs of the battle not only equal
ly with the rest, but more so, because his pei son
mil bone h.
every Indian. His intrepidity and self possession
were admired BY all. In the heat of the action,
says the published journal of Adam Walker, a
private soldier in the battle, his voice was heard
and easily distinguished, giving his orders in the
same cool and collected manner, with which he
had been used to receive them on drill or parade
The confidence of the troops in the General was
| unlimited"
Indeed his exposure in the field was not the on.
ly danger he incurred. If the Indians had met
| him in council as they first contemplated, IT was
| a part OF their plan To assassnate him ; and two
Winnebagocs had undertaken the enterprise
When af erwards the Prophet concluded to attack
the Americans, negro was engaged 10 enter the
camp and murder the Governor; but he was de-
tecled in the attempt, whilst waiting near the Gov
ernor's marquee, and afterwards tried, convicted
OF the purpose, and sentenced to be shot. But al
the negro lay tied and staked to the ground await
ing the hour of execution, the Governor could no
resist the emotions o. pity which his appearance
excited, and ordered him to be discharged thu
evincing the most compassionate feelings in asso
citation with the highest resolution and courage
The victory of Tppecanoe was justly deemed
OF the greatest importance to the country,
Harrison had been beaten, the triumphant band
OF the Prophet, reinforced by other tribes recruit
ed to his standard by the influence of Tecumthe
would have poured upon the settlements, toma
hawk in hand, consigning the whole frontier L
massacre and conAagraton. The decisive bIoy
/ struck at Tippecanoe, not only broke the powe
Of the openly hostile but at once decided the wa
vering and queed the rising spirit Of the discon
! tented and restored peace and quiet to the expo
sed and alarmed frontier Indeed, the battle fel
/, of Tippecanoe, where Harrison and the militia
b, Indiana, and the volunteers of Kentucky, wo
M imnerishahle honors has hecnme classicnl nrnnn