The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-17

Inc chicago @flDune says tndt SONIC
Indianians are planning to ask Congress
to appropriate $4,000 to erect monument
on the Tippecanoe battlefield to commemo-
rate what they call the victory won there
over the Indians by William Henry Harri-
son." and adds:
There can be no objection to the erection
OF monument on this historic spot, but
the victory" which was won there was
nothing to brag Of General Harrison
marched at the head of 1,1OO men, regulars
and volunteers, 10 break up the settlement
made by Tecumseh at the mouth of Tip
pecanoe creek The Indians were not At
war with the whites, but some of the lat
ter had adopted resolutions demanding
a demonstration against Tecumseh and his
followers. When the little army reached It's
destination. instead of attacking the town
at once and destroying ii, ii went into camp
for the night. No attempt was made to
intrench or paliSade. The Indians made Il
night attack which cost Harrison 1SS killed
and wounded. The Indians loss was not
50 great The Indians retreated, and their
village was burned. General Harrison
abandoning camp furniture and private
baggage, but bringing off his wounded,
made his way back to Vincennes as ex-
peditiously as he could. This little cam
paign made General Harrison the inevI-
table leader of future campaigns in the
Northwest. That was all it accomplished.
This perversion of history looks very
much like attempt to revive the anti
Harrison clamor that was buried in the
early part of the nineteenth century. One
might as well attempt to belittle the battle
of New Orleans as the battle of Tippea
battle it was a decisive one. Some of the
errors of the foregoing statement are
fragrant. General Harrison did not have
100 NEIL One authority places his force
at $50 men, another at 500, third at 900
and fourth at 1000 The latter is doubt
mated by contemporary writers at 100. 1t
is true the latter were not at war with the
whites at the time but they were massing
and preparing for hostilities. The Cover
rors of Missouri and Illinois Territories
both united in advising Harrison to break
up Prophetstown. The statement copied
above intimates that Harrison's camp was
unprotected. that the Indian attack was u
surprise ard that the Americans got the
worst of it. 1T Is true the latter did not
erect defenses, but they slept on their
arms, and when the attack came it was
promptly met and vigorously repealed. The
American loss is correctly stated above, but
all contemporary writer's agreed that the
loss of the Indians was as great or greater
They left thirty-eight dead on the field
besides carrying off many possible
Their repulse was complete, and they aban-
ocned their town, which was looted and
destroyed by the Americans. AS that was
<rn oil ok Of =
completely successful and there was nothing
left for Harrison to do but return to Vim
cennes. His return was in no sense a re-
treat, as intimated. He abandoned camp
ecuipage because his wagons were needed
for the wounded, all of whom were brougE.
pecanoe were not great ones in the mod
err sense, but their moral effect at the
time was very great The Indians had never
be fore been defeated in a fight with nearly
equal numbers, and in this instance their
defeat was decisive. The significance Of
Harrison's victory was fully appreciated
at the time, The public authorities at Vim
cennes passed resolutions of thanks, as did
the legislatures of Indiana territory ami
Kentucky. President Madison sent a spe-
cial message to Congress congratulating
the country the outcome of the battle.
and said 1T may reasonably be expected
that the good effects of this critical de-
feat and dispersion of a combination Of
savages. which appears to have been
spreading to a great extent, will be ex-
perienced not only in cessation of the
murders and Expectations committed on
our frontier. but in the prevention of any
hostile incursions otherwise to have beer
apprehended." The next year the secretary
OF war directed Harrison to take command
ct all the troops of Indiana and Illinois Ter
ritories and to call on the Governor of
Kentucky for any portion of its quota ne
might need
These facts are recalled because the ar
ticle quoted from the Tribune seems IN
tended to belittle Harrison's campaign and
the results OF the battle of Tfppecanoa
battle tut they were inspired by per-
sonal jealousy or political hostility and were
effectually refuted by the voluntary testi-
II ony of nearly all the surviving officers
who served under Harrison and by cor
temporary historians and public records.
Congress could well afford to erect mon
ument on the Tippecanoe battlefield. 1t is
historic ground.