Northwest Territory's First Governor

The Northwest Territory's first delegate to Congress was the son of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and from one of Virginia's most prominent families.  William Henry Harrison had been in the army as an aide to Anthony Wayne during the Fallen Timbers battle (see previous post about that battle).  Harrison was serving as Secretary for the Territory and Lieutenant Governor when elected to Congress.

William Henry Harrison was only twenty-six years of age, but his first victory in 1800 was to divide the Northwest Territory into two distinct governments.  The east side was Ohio and the west side was Indiana.  Harrison was made governor of Indiana and resided in Vincennes.  In 1802 Ohio would become the first state from the Northwest Territory.

Meanwhile, the white population was growing rapidly.  By 1810 Indiana had grown from a mere 2,500 people to 25,000.  In this new rush of pioneers, the rights of Indians were barely considered.  The great hunting grounds of deer, bear and buffalo had been laid waste by civilization by 1810.  The Congress had done little to uphold the law to protect natives and their property.  There were laws meant to prevent the sale of liquor to the Indian, but the courts only uphold them outside the boundaries of the state and the territory.

For the most part, the Northwest Territory ignored laws concerning Indians.  In a report, Harrison, known for his distaste for the native race, wrote that only 600 warriors were found on the Wabash and they consumed 6000 gallons of whiskey a year.  The effect was drunken brawls so often that the killing of natives by natives was no longer considered a crime.

Harrison made treaties with remnants of the Miami and Delaware (and smaller tribes) in the early 1800s which he viewed as "a body of the most depraved wretches on earth."  In 1809 Harrison acquired in the Treaty of Fort Wayne, 3 million acres up the Wabash.  This territory, more rich in game than any region south of Lake Michigan, was one more crisis for the natives in the long-brewing conflict with the white man.

Harrison as governor of the white settlers, would be put to the test by one young warrior arising from the Indian tribes...

Next time. Tecumseh calls for union
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On April 2, 1670, the Hudson Bay Company is chartered by King Charles II.  A permanent charter to a group of French explorers that opened the North American fur trade to London merchants, the charter conferred not only a trading monopoly but also control of the Hudson River and surrounding areas.

Early in the War of 1812

According to Congressman Henry Clay, "the militia of Kentucky alone is competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada at your feet."   If you read more about Henry Clay, the man, you learn he is quite temperamental and prone to going on tirades about things he believed regardless if they were true...

Congress declared war on June 18, 1812 and once again challenged the powerful British.  Not all agreed with the decision.  New England was openly opposed to "Mr. Madison's War."  They sent no militia, vowing to let the West and the South do the fighting.


William Hull, the Governor of Michigan territory, was the choice for the Canadian campaign.  Hull's utter lack of enthusiasm was second only to his retreat.  Britain, on the other hand, lead by Issac Brock, joined Tecumseh warriors and went on the offensive.

On August 15, 1812, the British surrounded Detroit and demanded surrender.  Hull tamely complied without fight and 2000 Americans laid down their arms. Hull became a prisoner of war and America suffered a humiliating defeat.

In the West, General William Henry Harrison's army was busy fending off Indian and British attacks on Fort Wayne, Fort Harrison and other forts.  No time to be offensive. 

Next time - Harrison's march to Canada
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Today in Pioneer History: "On February 25, 1848, Edward Harriman, the controversial savior of the transcontinental Union Pacific Railroad, is born in Hempstead, New York.  The son of an Episcopal minister, Harriman disliked school and dropped out to become a broker’s boy when he was 14. To the amazement of the stockbrokers on Wall Street, the young Harriman demonstrated an uncanny ability to pick winning stocks, and he had his own seat on the stock exchange by the age of 21.

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.