Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-03-08
Historical Sketches Of Ind
iinT.-HO. 9.
BY wAEREN TAYLOR.

Ii is more than probable that Gov
Harrison did not place very strong re-
lance on the professions of the Indians;
but acting. as it is supposed, under the in
structiOnS of the President. not Ia
commence hoS,ilities, until negotiation had
become hopeless, he concluded TO await
the issue of another day, Meanwhile two
or three officers. who had been sent out
for the purpose reported favorable spot
for an encampmcnt about two miles 10
the northwest, and To this place the army
now moved. According to Harrison s
Official report the location was not alto
gethcr what tc desired. but no better one
could be found, and the army cncampcd
on what has ever since that time been
famous in the history of Indiana as the
Battle ground of Eippccanoe Though
an attack during the night was not prnba-
by expect el,ycl knowing The nature of the
foe, every precauion was taken 90 prcven:
il surprise. \ strong body ofscniiac> were
posted. and every soldier slept with his
arms in his hands. ready To- rise mt any
moment ii circumstances dcmlndcd. and
rcpei the enemy. A. the sequel prove |
many of our brave troops were destined
never Ia behold the dawn of another day
Olly Il few hours interviewed lctween
them and death.
the ground on which the battle was
fought presents rather singular features.
though similar locations are frequently 10
b. seen in the west. II is what might be
termed bench of land, elevated little
above the surrounding country on all
points except the north. On the east Is a
wet prairie. and on the west is a rather
narrow bottom. through which flows Il
snail creek. From The prairie on the east
and the bottom on the west. the ground
rises abruptly. forming a short but very
s.eep hill, from fifteen to twenty fee,
high. Between these bluffs Is IL level
tract of ground varying in width. and
covered at that time with tall white oak
timber. On this the battle was fought
Towards The south. this bench of Ian Il
,rows narrower. on account of the con
vcrging courses of the prairie and creek
bottom. and terminates in point in The
immediate vicinity of the extreme South
crB line occupied Ivy the encanpmcn,
Towards the north this level tract grows
wider AMI maintains about the same
y L. L. y.
The morning of Nov. eth, 1911, WAS
cloudy. and at times there was some rain.
Gov. Harrison rose at half past fDur. AMI
few minutes afterwards he was joined
hy several officers. Al about a quarter
before five. the report of firearms, mingled
with the well known war whoop annOun-
ced the hostile presence oftIlc foe. Though
The most of our troops had never sea an
action before, and maay at tie first alarm
were asleep. vet without confusion they
seized their arms took their positions anti
fought like veterans.
The attack of the Indians was furious
ROusctl To frenzy under the Influence of
the Prophet. who had assured them OF
victory. and whose voice. during tic
battle could plainly he heard from AN ada
cent emincncc. they i0ushljwith a reckless
ness and desperation seldom equalcd The
whites soon began TO suffer terribly from
loss. and their lines in some places were
considerably broken under the obstructive
fire of the enemy. But these points were
reinforced. and the svages were held in
check in spite of their desperate efforts.
Daylight at length came, and the contest
then was soon decided Under a coniin-
ucd and vigorous charge the Indians were
routed at all points, having suffered a loss,
e. was afterwards ascertaincd. of two
hundred warriors. OF the whites. thirty
seven were killed on the field, add about
one hundred and fifty were wounded,
twenty five of whom afterwards died
Among the slain were Colonies DIvicss
and Owen, Captains Warrick. Spencer.
Bacn. and other officers of promise. Thus
ended the battle of Tippccanoe. After
destroying The Prophets town. and send
ing the wounded down the river i'm boats,
the troops returned to Nincennes by the
route which they took in their advance
to the Indian Territory.