Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-01-09
BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.

BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.
The following graphic description of the
battle is from an old work. We think there
may be many who, though having read ii,
will read it again, with peasnre:-
On the morning Of the 18th Of November
Gen. Harrison rose at quarter before A
o'clock, and, surrounded by his aids, was
dressing himself in his tent. 1t was
standing order to call up the men by tap OF
the drum, to stand at their arms at four
O'Clock. The orderly musician had called
at the Generals marquee, and asked weth-
err the hour had arrived for commencing
the beat. mot yet" he replied, "but
presently. Wait till draw on my boots
Maj Taylor, who acted as volunteer aid,
and some of the other officers composing
his family. were at that moment engaged
in conversations with him on the probablli-
ty Of an attack There were various opia.
ions, but the General adhered to that
which he had expressed the proceeding
evening. The orderly mus ician had
scarcely left the door of the tent when the
attack commenced. accompanied by horrid
yels. "There. by Heavens" exclaimed
the General, we have it p His servant
could not at the moment fnd his horse. and
he mounted that of Major Taylor The
latter in few moments followed the COM
handing General, whose voice was clearly
di,tingushable on that part of the line,
where the Indians had broken in. Gen.
Harrison usually rode a white horse; the
Indians had remarked this during the march
Col. Owen also rode a white horse, and was
shot down early in the action.
When Major Tay lor, therefore rode to-
wards the point attacked on the horse of
Gen. Harrison-''return instantly" said
he, "and exchange your horse the Indians
will be able to distinguish his color; and
you will certainly be killed. ''ThereW he
exclaimed, pointing Giles Owen!" But
before this officer could leave the ground,
the horse was shot down, and fell upon
HIM in such manner that he could not
eXtricate himself and he lay for some time
exposed to the most eminent danger
The American army was encamped in
the form of a hollow square, or rather
para'lelogram, which was the order of
march, and the order Of battle in case of
an attack. As the men slept upon their
arms, they had only to rise, and step few
PAGES in trout, to form the lines. All the
baggage and horses were placed in the
centre. The flank of this square, that
fronting the rippecanoe river, was com
posed of militia, who. instead of forming in
front Of the tents, ran precipitately toward
the centre. The Indians broke in with
such sudden fury and horlid wells, that they
had nearly reached the centre OF the camp
before they could be checked. Had they
known the advantages that this gave them,
they must have broken the American ranks
in every quarter, and driven their horses
loose among them. But seeing themselves
between two ranks, they concluded the
the situation perilous, and retreated little
toward the line they had first broken. At
this moment the militia rallied under Col.
Geiger and the first fire they made, seen
amidst the darkness of the night, rolled
like a sheet of fame toward the enemy
The latter recoiled before it; and this line,
through the exertions of Cen Harrison,
was soon formed, and maintained its posi-
ton. =......
Col. Davies was impatient from the first
to charge the enemy, and begged permits
sion of the commanding General. But it
was dark, and there existed some confu-
sion among the horses, he. could not wait
to mount, but made charge on foot with
about 16 Dragons. 1t was rash step,
and he paid for his temerity with his lie
but his fall is said to be more particularly
attributable to a white blanket coat which
distinguished him from his men.
So long as the darkness continued, the
action seems to have been in favor of the
assailents, and it was circumstance OF
much advantage to them that while they
remained within the American lines, the
latter were prevented in great degree,
from firing upon them;-for no body OF
men in square, with the usual military