The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-10
THE FIELD OF TIPPECANOE
The Bloody Battle-Ground Where Will
lam Henry Harrison Won His Laurels.
Prophets Rock. Reynolds Oak. the French
Fur-Traders' Apple Tree-Scenes Where the
Title to Indiana Was Written in Blood.

Here William Henry Harrison won his laurels
and his nickname. A strip OF high ground ex-
tends into the Wabash bottom. On one side OF it
is the little valley through which Burnett creek.
named for an Indian chief, flows. On the other
side 10 broader section of lowland The strip
OK high ground narrows to point, and there
was fought on the morning of the 9Th day Of
November, 1911, the Battle Of Tippecanoe.
A grateful State has perpetusted the memory
OF the event This is Tippscanoe county to
begin with The point and SO much much more
OF the headland as Governor Harrisonis forces
and the Indians fought over is q reservation in
closed by high iron fence. The underground
ana the weeds have been cleared away The
tall oaks. which were here In 1911 and bear
Upon their trunks the well-dshned scaV of bat
te' are carefully preserved. A green sward has
been encouraged with successful result
The State of Indiana owns the reservation and
appropriates money for q custodian and for i'm
provements. Just above the reserved tract is
the quiet little town of Battle Ground Visitors
reach this spot of historic interest either by the
Monon route between Louisville and Chicago, or
oy finely graveled turnpike which follows the
high west bank of the Wabash, seven miles ND
turnpike one has an illustration of the reverence
with which all that pertains to the campaign Of
Ilppeeanoe Is held in these parts. About half
way between Lafayette and Battle Ground
there stands q magnificent oak. fully sixty feet
to the branches. 1t is in the center of the road
which wlders into driveway on either side
According to tradition Gen. Reynolds. who
co mmanded part of the troops under Gen.
Harrison csmpsd beneath this tree on the
night after the expedition left Tippecanoe to re-
turn TO Vincennes. The turnpike was laid out
ana Quilt by son Of General Reynolds, and
when 1t was found the tree stood just on the
center line Of the road. the younger Reynolds
directed that 1t should be preserved. And his
order has been respected to this day. The road
is as straight as an arrow for long distance.
and this gigantic oak standing in the center Of
1t, makes 1T a conspicuous landmark.
Indiana can well afford to cherish the memory
OF Tippecanoe battle ground There Harrison
struck the blow which made her. He was
the Governor of Indiana Territory by ap-
pointment of the federal government Vim
cennes his headquarters For several
years negotiations hsd heen going on
with the Indians for treaties which would give
the United States control of this Northwest
country. But back of the Indians, instigating
them TO the encroachmeuts were British in
hueuces. The war of 1872 was then in the near
future Between the tribes who occupied In
diana and the British authorities in Canada
there was close communication and utilization.
The active agents of these British influences
II.
and his brother, the Prophet Tecumseh trav-
eled from tribe to tribe. melting them to stand
against the Americans. and urging them to in
eist on making the Ohio river the northern
boundary of the United States so far as Indiana
WAS concerned. His influence was very great.
Some tribes of friendly instincts who had signed
treaties recognizing the rights of the United
State north of the Ohio he induced to abrogate
those treaties, urging that none of that country
could be given up without the consent of all the
tribes
He was a wonderfully sharp-toneued fellow,
this Tecumseh. Once he was at Vincennes on
the invitation of Governor Harrison, who was
trying to conciliate him. AS the coupcil was
about to open, the Governor invited the chief
to come up and sit beside Ibis white father"
my fatherP CALCULATED Tecumseh. THE sun
is my father and the earth is my mother. On
her bosom l will repose." and he sauatted on the
ground.
The Prophet was fine running-mate for his
talented brother. He set himself up as the pos
SCISSOR of supernatural powers. He had been q
very dissipated Indian for many years. Sud
denly he reformed. began to preach temperance
and to give out communications from the Great
Spirit Some white man put the Prophet on to
the date of a coming eclipse and the Prophet
foretold the event with great ceremony. When
the eclipse came the Prophet shouted in thunder
tones:
Behold! Darkness has shrouded the sun.
Did not prophesy truly"
Very naturally. after that the Prophet came
to have great power over the superstitious Indi-
ans. The principal settlement OF the Shawnees
was known as Prophets Town. and there Ts-
cumseh drew in his allies gradually aud estab-
lished Capitalization of power which was felt
among all the tribes, from the lakes to the Ohio
river. In the days of his wild oats sowing the
Prophet was known as Lawe- wasikaw. which
meant Loud voice." After the power of
prophecy came to him he changed his name TO
Pems-quat-a-wah.
TEE EXPEDITION TO TIPPECANoE.
Governor Harrison viewed the growing infu-
ence of Tecumseh and the Prophet with good
deal of disgust, and one day he sent the Indians
this message:
Ny children. This business must be stopped.
Your conduct has much alarmed the white settlers
you. will no longer suffer it. You have called
| number of men from the most distant tribes TO
| listen to a fool who speaks not the words OF the
Spirit but of the evil Esprit and of the
| British agents. Let him go 70 the lakes. lie can
| then hear the British more distinctly
| But Tscumseh aud the Prophet grew more
| and more beligerent. The gathering of war
| riors at Prophets Town became more and more
| formidable. The time came when blow must
| be struck At the head OF go regulars sixty
Kentucky riiemen and 600 Indiana Territory
| volunteers, Governor Harrison left Vincennes
and started up the Wabash to penetrate to the
heart of the Indian country and to bring the
Indians to terms. The emergency was desper-
ate or an expedition would not have started at
| the night of November 6, just below where La
| fayette is now, and cut off a lot of timber to
| guard against surprise. That camping spot is
| still pointed out.
In a letter to the Secretary of War. written
| on the 18th of November. eleven days after the
| battle. Governor Harrison told the story of his
approach on Prophets Town, and OF the selec-
| ton of the battle ground.
1--WE struck the cultivated grounds about 500
yards above the town." he wrote, but as these
| extended TO the bank of the Wabash. there was
| no possibility of getting an encarnpment which
| was provided with both wood and water. My
guides and interpreters being still with the sd-
| vanced guard, and taking the direction of the
| town, the army followed, and had ad-
vanced within about $50 yards when
| fifty or sixty Indians sailed out
and, with loud exclamation. called TO the cavalry
| and to the militia infantry, which were on our
| right flank. to halt. / Immediately advanced to
the front, caused the army TO halt and directed
/ an interpreter TO request some Of the chiefs 10
| come u me. In few moments the who
| had been with me before made his appearance.
| Il informed him that my object, for the pres
! emit was procure a good piece of ground TO
| encamp on. where we could get wood and water.
| He informed me that there was a creek to the
| northwest which he thought would suit pur-
pose. immediately dispatched two officers to
| examine il. aud they reported that the situation
was excellent. then took leave of the chief
| and mutual promises were again made for sus-
pension of hos,ilities until we could have in
| terview on the following day.
81 found the ground destined for the encamp-
i man, not 81 euch / coi1ld wish II