The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-11-14
RAISE HERO'S MONUMENT ON HIS.
TORIC BATTLEFIELD.
dwelling today on Field Where Gen.
Harrison Broke the Power of Te-
cumseh's COnfedaracy 1911,

cumseh's COnfedaracy 1911.
Lafayette, Ind, Nov. 7.-On the IA
nous old battlefield of Tippecanoe,
where on November Z, 1911, General
William Henry Harrison and his little
band of pioneers vanquished the In
dams under the Prophet and thus
gained an empire for the whites, a
handsome monument was dedicated
today. Today is the ninety-seventh
anniversary of the historic conflict in
which General Harrison broke the
power Of Tecumseh's confederacy and
gained that military renown which
later led him to the White House.
Thousands of people gathered on the
battle-ground and the dedicatory cere-
monies were of an imposing nature.
Addresses were delivered in the
morning by Congressman e. D. Crum-
packer and other we'll known men.
The formal dedication took place this
afternoon. Job s. Sims, chairman of
the monument commission, presented
the monument to the state and ma
ton. Governor Hanly accepted in be-
half of the state, and General Luke
Wright, secretary of war, represented
the national government. Music was
furnished by bands and trained Choir
US. The battlefield was deliberately
decorated with flags. The monument
was too large to veil and unveil, and
only the sttaue of General Harrison
in front was unveiled at the cere-
monies.
The Tippecanoe battle-ground, where
Harrison gained victory which gave
to the whites the whole vast region
once called the Northwest territory,
now comprising the states of Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and part
of Ohio, is about seven miles from this
city. 1t was acquired some years ago
by the state of Indiana. An iron fence
surrounds it, and above the arched en-
trance Is the single inscription, BAT
tie Of Tippecanoe, November 7, 1911"
The erection of the monument dedi-
Gated today is the first important step
toward making tlre battle-ground a
place Of national interest.
The ground is almost exactly today
as Harrison described it in his report
of the battle-''a piece of dry oak
land rising about 10 feet above the
level of a marshy prairie in front, to-
ward the Prophets town, and nearly
twice that height above a similar
prairie in the rear, through which
and near to this bank ran a small
stream (Burnet's creek clothed with
willows and other brushwood. To-
ward the left flank this bench of land
widened considerably, but became
gradually narrower in the opposite
direction, and at the distance of $50
yards from the right flank, terminal
ed in an abrupt point"
It is all there today, the creek in
the rear, clothed with brushwood, the
abrupt point, the low ground in front,
now cultivated, extending to the Wa
bash, nearly a mile distant, and
IuIOu6h tuC tIOilGJ AhC
and the railroad tracks. 1t was ad-
mirably situated for an ambuscade, as
the Prophet had noted when he Sc
lected it. The troops had marched up
here from Vincennes, first on one
bank of the Wabash and then on the
other. Vincennes, today a busy and
progressive city of some 1000 souls
and a railroad center, was then a col
lection Of log cabins and fort II
was the capital Of the new Indian
Territory of which William Henry
Harrison was governor. All through
the summer Of 1911 and before, his
scouts were bringing in rumors Of Q
great league of confederation of the
northwest Indians being formed by
two Shawnee brothers, born of 9
Creek woman at q birth, known al
Tecumseh and the Prophet. Tecum
sch this summer went south to enlis
his mothers people, the Creeks ant
allied tribes, In his project, and hi
brother, the Prophet, a religious IA
matte. proceeded to play the mischie
with all his plans. Before these wer'
ripe the latter gathered at his village
short distance above the presen
backgrounds, a body Of Indians 81
large as to constitute In Harrison'
opinion a menace to the territory, an,
he marched up the river with 300 mel
to give them battle and disperce them
He had two battalions of regulars, tn
rest being volunteers from Ohio, Ken
lucky and the territory, but traine'
Indian fighters and well aware of wha
was at stake.
When he arrived on the evening o
November 6. the Prophet sent a mes
sage asking for parley, which beinI
granted, he proposed an arnistice un
til the next day. solemnIy promising
to take no advantage Of It. Harrison