USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1879 > Part 11
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The Indians were, however, immediately and gallantly dis- lodged from their position by Captain Snelling, at the head of his company. In the course of a few minutes after the commencement of the attack, the fire extended along the left flank, the whole of the front, the right flank, and part of the rear line. Upon Spencer's mounted riflemen and the right of the rear line, it was exceedingly severe. Captain Spencer and his First and Second Lieutenants were killed, and Captain Warwick was mortally wounded. The companies, however, still bravely maintained their posts, but Spencer's had suffered so severely, anu naving originally too much ground, Harrison reinforced them with a company of riflemen, which had been driven from their position on the left flank.
The General's great object was to keep the lines entire, to prevent the enemy from breaking into the camp until daylight, which would enable him to make a general and effectual charge. With this view he had reinforced every part of the line that had suffered much, and with the approach of morn-
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ing he withdrew several companies from the front and rear lines and reinforced the right and left flanks, foreseeing that at these points the enemy would make their last effort. Major Wells, who commanded the left flank, charged upon the enemy, driving them at the point of the bayonet into the marsh, where they could not be followed. Meanwhile Captain Cook and Lieutenant Barabes marched their companies to the right flank and formed under the fire of the enemy, and being there joined by the riflemen of that flank, charged upon the enemy, killing a number of the Indians and putting the rest to a precipitate flight.
In this battle General Harrison commanded only about seven hundred efficient men, while the Indians numbered about one thousand. The loss of the Americans was thirty- seven killed on the field, and twenty-five mortally wounded, and one hundred and twenty-six wounded; that of the Indi- ans, about forty killed on the spot, the number of wounded being unknown. The battle of Tippecanoe was fought on the seventh of November, 1811. It was a decisive victory for Indiana, as for some time after her settlements enjoyed peace.
Standing on a small piece of elevated ground near by, the Prophet encouraged his warriors to battle by singing a favorite war song. He told them that they would gain an easy victory, and that the bullets of their enemies would be made harmless by the Great Spirit. Immediately after their defeat the sur- viving Indians, having lost their faith in the power of their leader, returned to their respective tribes, and thus the con- federacy was destroyed; and the Prophet, thus left without followers, took up his residence among a small band of Wyan- dotts, who were encamped on Wildcat creek. His famous town, with all that it possessed, was destroyed on the eighth of November.
Harrison's army returned to Vincennes on the eighteenth of November, 1811, where most of the troops were discharged, and when, on the same day, the Territorial Legislature adopted the following preamble and resolution complimentary to Gov- ernor Harrison, and the officers and men who served under him:
11
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
" WHEREAS, The services of his Excellency, Governor Har- rison, in conducting the army - the gallant defense made by the band of heroes under his immediate command, and the fortunate result of the battle fought with the confederacy of the Shawanec prophet, near Tippecanoe, on the morning of the seventh instant, highly deserves the congratulations of every
BAKER -CO
DAVID DANALDSON, ESQ. See page 21.
true friend to the interests of this Territory and the cause of humanity;
" Resolved, therefore, That the members of the Legislature, Council, and House of Representatives will wait upon his Excellency, Governor Harrison, as he returns to Vincennes,
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HARRISON'S CAMPAIGN, CONTINUED.
and in their own names, and in those of their constituents, welcome him home; and that General W. Johnston be, and he is hereby appointed a committee to make the same known to the governor, at the head of the army, should unforeseen circumstances not permit."
Perhaps we ought to record, in this connection, that the sentiments of the legislature and citizens of the territory were somewhat divided on this resolution. There were those who had all along opposed Governor Harrison's administration, and, through some reason, were inclined to award to Colonel Boyd, and his small regiment of regular troops, the honor of saving the army from defeat. This, however, had no foundation outside of partisan spirit, if, indeed, it was not entirely con- fined to those who, from good reasons, were suspected of being friends of the British government. This feeling of prejudice was considerably angmented by the following joint address of the two houses of the territorial legislature, which was delivered to Governor Harrison on the fifth of December, 1811. The address was prepared by the legislative council, and was adopted in the House by a vote of four to three:
" To His Excellency, William Henry Harrison, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Indiana Ter- ritory :
" When, in the course of human events, it, becomes neces- sary for a nation to unsheath the sword in defense of any portion of its citizens, and any individual of society becomes intrusted with the important charge of leading the army of his country into the field to scourge the assailants of its rights; and it is proved by the success of their arms, that the indi- vidual possesses superior capacity, accompanied by integrity and other qualities of mind which adorn the human character in a superlative degree, it has a tendency to draw out the affections of the people in a way that must be grateful to the soldier and the man. Such is the light, sir, in which you have the honor to be viewed by your country, and one which the legislative council and House of Representatives of this terri- tory think you justly entitled to. And, sir, in duly appreci-
1
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ating your services, we are perfectly sensible of the great benefits and important services rendered by the officers and soldiers of the United States infantry under your command; and it is with pleasure we learn that the officers and militia men of our country acted with a heroism more than could be reasonably calculated upon from men, (such as they generally were) undisciplined and unaccustomed to war."
To this General Harrison made an appropriate reply on the ninth of December.
This triumph over the Indians broke up the power of the Prophet for the time being, and temporarily relieved the frontier settlements from Indian depredations. This tempo- rary relief, however, was fully ended when, in June, 1812, the United States declared war against Great Britain. This event was not unexpected by the citizens of the Indiana territory; and from the hour that it occurred, or was made known in the northwest, scattering bands of hostile Indians began to commit depredations on the frontier settlements. Tecumseh had for- saken the soil of the United States, and settled in Malden, Ontario, where, counciled by the English, he continued to excite the tribes against the Americans.
In the early part of the month of September parties of hos tile Indians began to assemble in considerable numbers in the vicinity of Fort Wayne,* and about the same time a large force attacked Fort Harrison, while other bands of Indians passed through the territory of Indiana to the counties of Clark and Jefferson, where they massacred twenty-four persons at a place which was called "the Pigeon-roost Settlement."t
The attack on Fort Harrison, which at that time was com- manded by Captain Zachary Taylor, is described by that hero in his report as follows:
" About eleven o'clock I was awakened by the firing of one of the sentinels. I sprung up, ran ont, and ordered the men to their posts-when my orderly sergeant, who had charge of the upper blockhouse, called out that the Indians had fired the
* See more complete account in History of Allen County.
t See complete account of this massacre in History of Scott County.
CHARGE OF COL. DAVIESS, AT TIPPECANOE
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lower blockhouse. * The guns had begun to fire pretty smartly from both sides. I directed the buckets to be got ready, and water brought from the well, and the fire extin- guished immediately, as it was perceivable at that time; but, from debility, or some other cause, the men were very slow in executing my orders. The word 'Fire!' appeared to throw the whole of them into confusion, and by the time they had got the water and broken open the door, the fire had, unfortu- nately, communicated to a quantity of whisky, * * and, * in spite of every exertion we could make use of, in less than a moment it ascended to the roof, and baffled every effort we could make to extinguish it. As that blockhouse adjoined the barracks that make part of the fortifications, most of the men immediately gave themselves up for lost, and I had the greatest difficulty in getting my orders executed. And, sir, what from the raging of the fire-the yelling and howling of several hundred Indians-the cries of nine women and children, (a part soldiers' and part citizens' wives, who had taken shelter in the fort,) and the desponding of so many of the men, which was worse than all-I can assure you that my feelings were unpleasant. And, indeed, there were not more than ten or fifteen men able to do a good deal; the others being sick, or convalescent; and, to add to our other misfor- tunes, two of the strongest men in the fort, and that I had every confidence in, jumped the pickets and left us. But my presence of mind did not for a moment forsake me. I saw, by throwing off a part of the roof that joined the blockhouse that was on fire, and keeping the end perfectly wet, the whole row of buildings might be saved, and leave only an entrance of eighteen or twenty feet for the entrance of the Indians, after the house was consumed; and that a temporary breastwork might be erected to prevent their even entering there. I convinced the men that this might be accomplished, and it appeared to inspire them with new life; and never did men act with more firmness and desperation. Those that were able (while the others kept up a constant fire from the other blockhouse and the two bastions) mounted the roofs of the houses, with Dr. Clark at their head, (who acted with the
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HARRISON'S CAMPAIGN, CONTINUED.
greatest firmness and presence of mind the whole time the attack lasted, which was about seven hours,) under a shower of bullets, and in less than a moment threw off as much of the roof as was necessary. * * * Although the barracks were several times in a blaze, and an immense quantity of fire against them, the men used such exertions that they kept it under, and before day raised a temporary breastwork as high as a man's head, although the Indians continued to pour in a heavy fire of ball and an immense quantity of arrows during the whole time the attack lasted. * * After keeping up a constant fire until about six o'clock the next morning, which we began to return with some effect after daylight, they removed out of the reach of our guns. A party of them drove np the horses that belonged to the citizens here, and, as they could not catch them very readily, shot the whole of them in our sight, as well as a number of their hogs. They drove off the whole of the cattle, which amounted to sixty-five head, as well as the public oxen."
Mr. Dillon informs us in his history of the Indiana terri- tory that "when information of the attack on Fort Harrison was received at Vincennes, about twelve hundred men, under the command of Colonel William Russell, of the seventh Regi- ment United States Infantry, marched from that place for the purpose of punishing the Indians, and carrying relief to the besieged fort. The force under the command of Colonel Rus- sell was composed of Colonel Wilcox's Regiment of Kentucky volunteers, three companies of rangers, and two regiments of Indiana militia, commanded respectively by Colonel Jordan and Colonel Evans. When these troops, without meeting with any opposition on their march, reached Fort Harrison on the sixteenth of September, the Indians had retired from the neighborhood of that place. On the fifteenth of September, however, a small detachment composed of eleven men, under the command of Lieutenant Richardson, and acting as an escort of provisions sent from Vincennes to be delivered at Fort Harri- son, was attacked by a party of Indians at a place which was then called " the Narrows," and which lies within the present limits of Sullivan county. It was reported that seven of the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
men composing the escort were killed and one wounded. The provisions fell into the hands of the Indians. The regiment of Kentucky volunteers, under the command of Colonel Wilcox, remained at Fort Harrison. The two regiments of Indiana militia, and the three companies of rangers, which had marched to the relief of the fort, returned to .Vincennes."
In this connection we do not enter into any account of Gen- eral Harrison's second campaign against the British and Indi- ans in the war of 1812, partly because that part of the war which directly concerns Indiana is noticed in the history of the county where it took place, and partly because we desire to include in this volume only the history of Indiana, and not the history of the States around it.
CHAPTER XV.
CIVIL MATTERS.
THE history of the Indiana territory closes with an account of the administration of Acting Governor Gibson, and Governor Posey. William Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the territory at its organization, in 1800, but in 1812, owing to General Harrison's absence on military duty, the functions of the executive devolved on John Gibson, the secretary of the territory.
On the first of February, 1813, the legislature of the terri- tory was convened at Vincennes. In his message on the occasion, General Gibson used the following language: "The Governor of the territory having been for some time absent from us, the gubernatorial functions consequently devolving upon, have been exercised by me. In my discharge of this important trust, I have been actuated by none other than a wish to preserve public rights and protect private property. If I have, at any time, failed in my official duties, or erred in
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my plans, you must attribute in to the head and not the heart. My address to you, gentlemen, shall be laconic, for I am not an orator, nor accustomed to set speeches; and did I possess the abilities of Cicero or Demosthenes, I could not portray in
Chauny Rose
See page 21.
more glowing colors, our foreign and domestic political situa- tion, than it is already experienced within our own breasts. The United States have been latterly compelled, by frequent acts of injustice, to declare war against England. I say com-
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pelled; for I am convinced, from the pacific and agricultura disposition of her citizens, that it must be a case of the last necessity that would induce such a measure. For the detailed causes of the war, I beg leave to refer you, gentlemen, to the message of his excellency, the President, to Congress, at the commencement of the present session. It is highly worthy the serious perusal of the sage and the patriot. It does honor to the head and heart of Mr. Madison. Although I am not an admirer of wars in the general, yet, as we are now engaged in a necessary and justifiable one, I can exultingly say that I am happy to see, in my advanced days, our little but inimit- able navy riding triumphant on the seas; but chagrined to find that our armies by land are so little successful. The spirit of '76 appears to have fled from our continent; or, if not fled, is at least asleep, for it appears not to pervade our armies gen- erally. On the contrary, lassitude-and, too often, schisms - have crept in and usurped the place of patriotic ardor.
" At your last assemblage, gentlemen, our political horizon seemed clear; our infant territory bid fair for rapid and rising grandeur; our population was highly flattering; our citizens were becoming prosperous and happy; and security dwelt everywhere, even on our frontiers. But, alas! the scene has changed; and whether this change, as it respects our territory, has been owing to an over anxiety in us to extend our domin- ions, or to a wish for retaliation by our foes, or to a foreign influence, I shall not pretend to decide. But that there is a change, and that, too, a distressing one, is evident. For the aboriginees, our former neighbors and friends, have become our most inveterate foes. They have drawn the scalping knife and raised the tomahawk; and shouts of savage fury are heard at our threshholds. Our former frontiers are now our wilds, and our inner settlements have become frontiers. Some of our best citizens, and old men worn down with age, and helpless women, and innocent babes, have fallen victims to savage cru- elty. Our citizens, even in our towns, have frequent alarms and constant apprehensions as to their preservation. I have not been inattentive to my duty, gentlemen; but have hith- erto, and shall continue to exert every nerve to afford to our
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citizens all possible protection; and it is to be hoped that the all-wise and powerful Creator and Governor of the Universe will not forget his people, but cover us from our savage and sanguinary foe by IIis benign interposition."
During the session the seat of government of the territory was declared to be at Corydon. This session was prorogued by Governor Gibson to meet at Corydon, the new capital, on on the first Monday of December, 1813. During this year the territory was almost defenseless. Indian outrages were of common occurrence, but no general outbreak was experienced. The militiamen that were called into service during this year were cach armed with a rifle and a long knife, and many of the rangers carried tomahawks.
In 1813, Mr. Thomas Posey, who was at that time a senator in Congress from the State of Tennessee, and who had been an officer of the army of the Revolution, was appointed Gov- ernor of the territory of Indiana, to succeed General Harrison. The new Governor arrived at Vincennes, and entered upon the discharge of his official duties, on the twenty-fifth of May, 1813. During this year there were several expeditions set on foot in the Indiana territory, against the Indian settlements, but these will be considered so fully in the SECOND PART of this work as to make a reference to them here inexpedient.
The general assembly of the Indiana territory met at Cory- don, in December, 1813, where the new Governor delivered his first message, in which he remarked: "The present crisis is awful, and big with great events. Our land and nation is . involved in the common calamity of war. But we are under the protecting care of the benificent Being, who has, on a former occasion, brought us safely through an arduous struggle and placed us on a foundation of independence, freedom, and happiness, He will not suffer to be taken from us what he, in his great wisdom, has thought proper to confer and bless us with, if we make a wise and virtuous use of his good gifts. * * Although our affairs, at the commencement of the war, wore gloomy aspect, they have brightened, and promised a certainty of success, if properly directed and conducted, of which I have no doubt; as the president and heads of departments of the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
General Government are men of undoubted patriotism, talents and experience, and who have grown old in the service of their country. * * It must be obvious to every thinking man,
Joseph't, utile.
See page 21.
that we were forced into the war. Every measure consistent with honor, both before and since the declaration of war, has tried to be on amicable terms with our enemy. * * * You
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who reside in various parts of the territory have it in your power to understand what will tend to its local and general advantage. The judiciary system would require a revisal and amendment. The militia law is very defective, and requires your immediate attention. It is necessary to have good roads and highways in as many directions through the territory as the circumstances and situation of the inhabitants will admit of-it would contribute very much to promote the settlement and improvement of the territory. Attention to education is highly necessary. There is an appropriation made by Con- gress, in lands, for the purpose of establishing public schools. It come's now within your province to carry into operation the design of the appropriation."
During this session of the territorial legislature several laws were passed, and the general welfare of the settlements pro- vided for. In the following year owing, principally, to the great success of the army under General Harrison, in the northwest, the settlements in Indiana began to improve. The fear of danger from the incursions of the hostile Indians had, in a great measure, subsided, and the tide of eastern emigra- tion again began to flow into the territory. In January, 1814, about one thousand Miamis, in a state of great destitution, assembled at Fort Wayne for the purpose of obtaining food to
prevent starvation. They met with ample hospitality, and their example was speedily followed by others. These, with other aets of kindness, won the lasting friendship of the Indians, many of whom had fought in the interests of Great Britain. General treaties between the United States and the northwestern tribes were subsequently concluded, and the way was fully opened for the improvement and settlement of the lands.
CHAPTER XVI.
REVIEW OF CIVIL AND POLITICAL EVENTS.
L ET us review, in this short chapter, some of the affairs of the Indiana territory-which, owing to the press of mili- tary operations, we have neglected in the previous chapter - and then pass on to the events in the history of the STATE OF INDIANA. The well known ordinance of 1787 was designed for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio, and when, in 1800, this large territory was divided for the purpose of forming the Indiana territory, Congress declared that there should be established in Indiana a govern- ment similar in all respects to that provided by the ordinance of 1787, and that the inhabitants of the territory should be "entitled to and enjoy all the rights and privileges, and advantages granted and secured to the people by the said ordinance." And yet, with all these privileges and rights, the people of Indiana, at that time, did not enjoy the full blessings of a republican form of government. "I find, how- ever," says Mr. Dillon, " that these general terms did not confer upon the people of the territory a right to exercise any great degree of political power. The authority to appoint territorial governors, territorial secretaries, and judges of the superior court of the territory, was vested in the President of the United States and the national Senate. The organization of a territorial legislature or general assembly, depended upon the vote of a majority of the freeholders of the territory Before the organization of such a legislature, the governor and the judges of the territory, or a majority of them, were invested with power to adopt and publish such laws, civil and criminal, of the original States as might be best suited to the circum
(174)
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REVIEW OF CIVIL AND POLITICAL EVENTS.
stances of the people; but laws thus adopted and published were subject to the disapproval of Congress. A freehold estate in five hundred acres of land, was one of the necessary qualifi- cations of each member of the legislative council of the terri- tory; every member of the territorial house of representatives
-
John Campbell
See page 21.
was required to hold, in his own right, two hundred acres of land; and the privilege of voting for members of the house of representatives was restricted to those inhabitants who. in addition to other qualifications, owned, severally, at least fifty
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acres of land." The governor of the territory was vested with the power of appointing officers of the territorial militia, judges of the inferior courts, clerks of the courts, justices of the peace, sheriff's, coroners, county treasurers, and county surveyors. He was also anthorized to divide the territory into districts; to apportion among the several counties the members of the house of representatives; to prevent the passage of any territorial law; and to convene, prorogue, and dissolve the general assembly of the territory, whenever, in his opinion, it might be deemed expedient to exercise such authority. It may now be stated, to the honor of the territo- rial governors of Indiana, that neither of them ever exercised these extraordinary powers arbitrarily. Nevertheless the peo- ple were constantly agitating the question of the extension of the right of suffrage. Five years after the organization of the territory, the legislative council, in reply to the governor's message, said: " Although we are not as completely independ ent in our legislative capacity as we would wish to be, yet we are sensible that we must wait with patience for that period of time when our population will burst the trammels of a territorial government, and we shall assume the character more consonant to republicanism. * * * The confidence which our fellow citizens have uniformly had in your adminis- tration has been such that they have hitherto had no reason to be jealous of the unlimited power which you possess over our legislative proceedings. We, however, can not help regretting that such powers have been lodged in the hands of any one, especially when it is recollected to what dangerous lengths the exercise of those powers may be extended."
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