Norwich bulletin., 1921-07-11
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAS
HISTORY
THE BATTLEFIELD OF TlPPEeA'
NOE


The Battlefield OF the famous Tip
pecanoe fight is almost exactly today
as Harrison described it in his report
of the battle-'''a piece of dry oak land
rising about ten feet above the level
of marshy prairie in front, toward
the Prophets Town, and nearly twice
that heigth above a similar prairie in
the rear, though which and near to
this bank ran a small stream clothed
with willows and other brushwood.
Toward the left bank this bench OF
land widened considerabl but became
gradually narrower in the opposite di-
rection and at the distance of one hum
dred and fifty yards from the right
flank terminated in an abrupt point
1t was at this battle of Tippecanoe
in 1911 that William Henry Harrison
broke the power Of the Indian chief
Tecumseh's confereracy, and gained
that military renown which later won
for his the presidency. The scene of
the battle is only seven miles from
Lafayette, Ind, and is today reached
by a trolley along the rapidly rolling
Wabash.
Opposite the battle-ground the Indi-
| ana Methodists have a summer en-
| campment. The state has placed an
iron fence around the battlefield and
under the spread-eagle above the
| arched entrance is the single inscrip-
ton Battle Of Tippeconoe, November
Z, 1911" A fine monument has also
| been erected by the state to comment
crate the event.
This location was admirably suited
for an ambuscade, as the Prophet had
noted when he selected it. The troops
had marched up from Vincennes, to-
| day busy and progressive city, then
/ a nhtl - ~. !
1t was the capital of the new Indiana
Territory, of which William Henry
Harrison was governor.
All through the summer of 1911 and
before Harrison's scouts were bring
/ ing in runors of a great league or
] confederation of the Northwestern In
! dams being formed by two Shawnee
| brothers known as Tecumseh and the
Prophet. Tecumseh this summer went
| South to enlist his mothers people,
the Creeks and allied tribes, and his
mother the Prophet, a religious fana-
| tic, proceeded to play the mischief
with all his plans.
Before these were ripe the latter
! gathered at the village, a short dis
lance above the present backgrounds,
4 body Of Indians as large as to con-
stitute a menace to the territory, and
/ he marched up the river with 600 men
TO give them battle and dispense them.
| They were all well trained Indian
| fighters.
Upon the arrival of the troops. the
Prophet asked Harrison for an arm
istice until the net day and suggested
an eneampment for the night on the
oak ridge But Harrison was not a
Braddock to be caught by Indian wiles
and suspecting treachery. he ordered
every man to sleep on his arms. and
in such order that on springing UP he
would naturally fall into ranks. A
double line Of sentinals was placed
| around the camp.
The night was black as Erebus. The
Prophet, as soon as night fell, called
his men about him, brought out a pre-
tended magic bowl and string OF holy
beads, and holding the latter in his
right hand and a flaming medicine
torch in the other, he commanded ey-
cry brave to come forward. touch the
beans and become inYulnerable and in :
vincible. This done he made them reg.
lister a vow 20 exterfninate the white
/ man, frenzied them with war songs
and dances, and launched them, band
OF religious fanatics, on the sleeping
foe. They struck at four, the darkest
hour just before dawn.
=. The sent1nelrgAye THE alarm and sir