Frontier Tension Mounts

Before the end of 1811, the Prophet was back at Tippecanoe, the village was rebuilt, and the white settlers were once again in danger.  Tecumseh returned in early 1812 after a successful visit to the Creek, Choctaw, and Cherokee.  He talked of his long-delayed visit to Washington to discuss peace.  Tecumseh claimed that had he been in Prophetstown there would have been no Battle of Tippecanoe.

By spring of 1812, ominous events began to happen.  Two settlers were murdered within three miles of Fort Dearborn and an entire family was massacred five miles outside of Vincennes.  The frontier was in a panic, as a general uprising was thought imminent.  Farmers abandoned their farms, taking refuge in temporary forts hastily built.  Many fled to Kentucky.

Tecumseh blamed the troubles on the Potawatomi who had not joined his confederation, and continued to talk of his friendship with his "white brothers."  Still, he made no effort to visit Washington to broker peace as promised, nor did he do much to restrain his allies.  Rumor had it that he was a British sympathizer.  The commander of Fort Wayne reported to Governor Harrison in Vincennes that "if the country should have a war with Britain, it must be prepared for an Indian war as well."  The year was 1812.

Governor Harrison immediately asked to raise an army which would "scour" the Wabash territory.  The War Department hesitated for fear of driving the Indians straight to the British side.  In no part of the country was war more popular and no where did the mass of able-bodied settlers show more desire to join the fight that in the Old Northwest.

There were only five garrisoned posts between the Ohio River and the Canadian border - Fort Harrison with 50 men, Fort Wayne with 85, Fort Dearborn with 53, Fort Mackinac with 88, and Detroit with 120.  A total force of less than 400 men to defend Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and the Ohio River! 

Next time...As war develops, so do the obstacles
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Today in Pioneer History: "On May 16, 1849, New York City finally establishes a hospital for cholera before the epidemic ends, killing 5,000 people.  The poor conditions of the rapidly growing city, along with the constant influx of immigrants from around the world would eventually lead to the first street-cleaning plan,  but not before the disease visited homes of all levels of society. 

The Battle of Tippecanoe

William Henry Harrison led his "army" of volunteers toward the Indian settlement of Tippecanoe in late 1811.  He was able to lead his forces with a few hundred yards of the headquarters of Tecumseh's brother, the Prophet, called Prophetstown.  Tecumseh was traveling south to Creek country to gain their support for his confederation of tribes. 

Harrison's arrival was unexpected and was met with professions of peace and the wish to negotiate with the Americans, but Harrison didn't believe there was anything to discuss.  He agreed to a council the next day.  He also knew of the natives propensity to attack in the early morning hours so he took steps to prepare.

At four in the morning of November 7th, he awoke his men.  They barely got their boots on before rifle shots were heard, followed by the Indian war cry.  Before the men could get out of their tents, the natives were upon them.  It was rifle butt and tomahawk hand-to-hand combat for two hours. 

Sixty-one of Harrison's officers and men were killed, 127 suffered serious injury.  The Indian losses were few.  Harrison actually owed his life to the fact that in the confusion early on, he mounted a bay horse rather than his own white stallion.  The rider of that horse was one of the first shot. 

On November 8th when they arrived at the Prophetstown, it was deserted but fully stocked, proving that the natives had fled in a hurry.  After much needed supplies were gathered, Harrison ordered the village burned.  He set out for Vincennes,  leaving a company of men at Fort Harrison (present day Terre Haute).  He believed that Tecumseh's backbone of the confederation was broken and that he and his brother would soon surrender to the United States.

The legislatures of Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois formally thanked Harrison for his service.  It was the glamour of Tippecanoe that 30 years later carried Harrison into the White House.

Next time...No surrender!
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Today in Pioneer History: "On May 13, 1607, the Jamestown settlers arrive along the west bank of the James River in Virginia to found the settlement of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America.  The first colonial council was held with seven settlers who were chosen and sealed in a box by King James 1.  Edward Wingfield was the first president, and council members included Captain John Smith.  

Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison

November 11, 1811 an army under William Henry Harrison (Governor of Indiana Territory) defeated Tecumseh's warriors at the Battle of Tippecanoe.  The Indians had attacked Harrison's army, but with Tecumseh absent they lost.

Tecumseh's brother, named "the Prophet" wielded great spiritual influence.  His headquarters were at Prophetstown.  Harrison had it burned. Tecumseh was traveling - recruiting tribes to his confederation when Prophetstown was lost.

The causalities were high for Harrison. (40 Indians to 61 Americans) He claimed the Indians were armed with British weapons which only heightened already anti-British feeling.  British were violating Americans right on the high seas at this time, leading to the War of 1812.

When the war broke out, Tecumseh led his warriors onto the British side.  They had notable victories at Detroit and Raisin River, but Tecumseh was killed at the Battle of the Thames River.  With him died all hope of an Indian nation.

Next time...Blood on the Frontier
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Today in Pioneer History: "On February 22, 1828, the first printing press designed to use the newly invented Cherokee alphabet arrives at New Echota, Georgia. The General Council of the Cherokee Nation had purchased the press with the goal of producing a Cherokee-language newspaper. The press itself, however, would have been useless had it not been for the extraordinary work of a young Cherokee named Sequoyah, who invented a Cherokee alphabet.