USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 38
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* Descriptive account in McAfee's History of Last War, published in 1816.
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hearts of the bravest ; yet, as soon as the troops recovered from the shock, and were formed and posted they stood their ground heroically, notwith- standing many of them had never before heard the thunders of war. The camp fires, which afforded the Indians an advantageous light in the darkness of morn, were hurriedly extinguished.
Harrison, astride of his horse, rushed towards the point of attack, where the line had been weakened, and ordered two companies from the centre of the rear line to march up and form across the angle in the rear of Barton's and Keiger's companies. Harrison, in the thickest of the fight, was now giv- ing orders. General Wells at once proceeded to the right of his command; and Col. Owen, mounted, was dashing towards the direct point of attack, when a cruel bullet struck him as he was nearing the lines and he fell from his horse among the first victims of Indian perfidy. A perfect fusillade was now on, extending along the left flank, upon the whole of the front and right flank and on a part of the rear line.
Harrison, in order to gain the left of the front line passed through camp, where Col. Daviess and his dragoons were stationed. The Colonel gained his permission to dislodge some Indians who, under the covert of trees near the line, were making it unpleasant for the troops in that quarter. Daviess called to his aid the first division of the cavalry, who failed to hear the order and but few of his men charged with him. When the charge was made two fine young fellows who had accompanied him from Kentucky were at his side, Messrs. Mead and Sanders, who subsequently served with distinction in the United States army. They had only left the lines a short distance when Daviess fell mortally wounded, with three bullet wounds in his breast ; and his lifeless body was carried back to camp by his youthful comrades.
Now, from the right a dreadful attack on Spencer's and Warwick's com- panies was made, in which Spencer and his lieutenants were killed almost instantly, and Warwick received a mortal wound. Capt. Robb's army, which had fallen back towards camp without orders, was sent by General Harrison to where Spencer fell, where they put up a brave fight, but lost seventeen men in the struggle. Capt. Prescott and a company of United States infantry closed up the gap occasioned when Robb fell back to camp, prior to taking the position where Spencer met his fate. Snelling finished the work Daviess started to do, and succeeded in dislodging the same Indians after mowing down a goodly number. The battle raged from all sides with unabated fury. The Indians fought desperately and enthusiastically, and entered into the fray with the fixed determination to win or perish in the attempt. Their ad- vances and retreats were made to the accompainment of a peculiar noise made by striking deer hoofs together.
When daylight came Capt. Snelling's company, Capt. Posey's, in charge of Lieut. Albright and Capt. Scott's, were drawn from the front line, and Wilson's from the rear, and formed on the left flank. Cook's and Baen's companies went to the right. General Wells took command of the corps formed on the left, and with the aid of some dragoons, mounted, and com-
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manded by Capt. Park, charged on the enemy in that direction, driving them into an adjacent swamp through which the cavalry could not pursue them. Cook's and Laribie's companies, with the aid of riflemen and militia on the right flank, charged on the Indians, and put them to flight in that quarter, which terminated the battle.
While the battle raged the prophet held himself aloof, and from an ad- jacent hillside sang war songs to the accompaniment of whistling bullets. His previous assurance to his followers, that the Great Spirit had decreed that none of them should die in battles fought against Americans, had at last brought anguish to their souls, and they began to look on him as the vilest impostor.
The whole number of Harrison's troops killed in this conflict, including those who subsequently died of their wounds, was fifty or more-the wounded being double that number. The Indians left thirty-eight warriors dead on the field, and buried several others in the town. The loss of the Indians, of whom a great many were wounded, was as heavy as that of the Americans. On the day before the battle Harrison's troops numbered more than eight hundred. After the battle the Indians estimated the number of their troops to have been eight hundred.
Old Vincennes' contribution to American arms on this memorable field was large and effective. The troops she furnished had been carefully drilled in military tactics, and impressively told of the horrors of war, by General Harrison himself, and they made a gallant fight. The names of the officers and men with the casualties that befell them are as follows: Luke Decker was the lieutenant colonel commanding; Noah Purcell, major; Daniel Sulli- van, lieutenant, acting adjutant ; William Reed, sergeant-major; James Smith, quartermaster; Edward Scull, surgeon. In Wilson's company, the officers were Walter Wilson, captain; Benj. V. Beckes, lieutenant; Jasper Malcomb, ensign; Jolin Decker, Isaac Minor, Thomas White and James S. Withers, sergeants-(the two last named being seriously wounded) ; Daniel Risley, William Smuck and Peter Prenton, corporals; the privates being Baptiste Sharalae, Asa Thorn, Thomas Chambers, John Chambers, Joseph Harbin, Andrew Harris, Joseph Jordon, Joshua Anthis, James Walke, Na- than Baker, John Barger, Louis Friderick, Louis Reel, Robt. Guentrer, Samuel Clutter, Jacob Anthis, Peter Barger. S. Almy, Moses Decker (badly wounded), Joseph Boodry, Wolsey Pride, Robert Brenton (deserted during seige) Jonathan Walker, David Knight and John Purcell. In Parke's com- pany of light dragoons, the officers were Benjamin Parke, captain; Thomas Emerson, first lieutenant ; George Wallace, second lieutenant; J. Balthis, bugler ; Christopher Graeter, William Harper, Henry Ruble, John McClure, sergeants; William Donica, Charles Allen (wounded), R. Sullinger, Levi Elliott, corporals ; John Braden, saddler. The privates were Charles Smith, Peter Jones, Joel Bond, Pariner Becker (deserted), Jesse Slawson, Tous- saint Dubois, Theodore Randolph (killed), John McDonald (wounded), Miles Dolahan, Thomas Dolahan, John Elliott, Matthias Rose, Jr., Henry
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Dubois, Jesse Lucas, William Berry, William Purcell, John Crasby, Leon- ard Crasby, William Mehan (killed), Samuel Drake, Samuel Emison, Na- thaniel Emison, Nathaniel Harness, Daniel Decker, Hanson Seaton, John D. Hay, Hiram Decker, Ebenezer Welton, John T. Neeley, John McBain, Pierre La Plante, James Steen, Andrew Purcell, John Pea, Albert Bodollet, Josiah S. Holmes, W. W. Holmes, Thomas Coulter, Charles McClure, Jacques André, Thomas McClure, Thomas Palmer, Geo. W. Johnson, Wm. A. Mc- Clure, Archy McClure, James Neal, Jolin Wyant, Charles Scott, James S. Petty, Isaac White (killed), William McClure, Henry J. Mills, James Neal, George Croghan (aid-de-camp), Albert Hines, Ben Louders, James Nabb, John O'Fallon ( wounded), William Luckett, Landon Carter, Robt. Buntin, Jr., John Smith, Robert Sturges and James Harper. Captain Toussaint Du- bois commanded a company of Spencer's guards, composed of the following members: Silas McCulloch, G. R. C. Sullivan, William Brown, William Polke, Pierre Andrè, Ephriam Jordon, William Shaw, (wounded), William Hogue, David Welkins, John Hollingsworth, Thomas Sevins, Joe Harbin, Abe Decker, Samuel Jones, David Mills, Stewart Cunningham, B. Child- ress and Thomas Jordon. Scott's company was commanded by Luke Decker. The other officers and privates were John Purcell, first lieutenant ; John Scott, ensign; John Welton, first sergeant; Francis Mallett, second sergeant ; S. Johnson, third sergeant ; Samuel Rignet, fourth sergeant ; John Moore, Abe Westfall, A. C. Duschene, Charles Bono, corporals; Jesse Wells, James McDonald, J. Hornback, William Denny, William Young, William Jones, John Collins, Jr., William Bailey, Charles Mehl, Richard Westhorp, Thomas McClain, Joe Risley, Harry O'Neal, Joe Alton, Boples Topar, Antoine Jerome (wounded), Michel Richardville, Charles Dude- van. John B. Bono, J. Bouchie, H. Marceau, Angel Lature, Louis Abner, Charles Loudnett, Ambrose Daslicy, Francis Beabo, Francois Bono (killed), Samuel Boulonger, Louis Loneau, Medal Cardinal, Antoine Chenniette, Francis Arpah, Joe Sansusee, Nicholas Velmare, Eustace Lev- eron, Joseph Rene, I. Denneau, Joe Obie, John B. Cardinal, Antoine Ravel- lette, Antoine Comia, D. Page, Louis Boyeau, Joseph Beeson, Pierre De- lourea, Sr., Pierre Delourea, Jr., Jolin Momimee, Francois Boyeau, Louis Lovelet, Thomas McCoy (killed), Zebulon Haynes, Andrew Westfall, Wm1. A. Clarke, William Welton (wounded), Walter Neal, Henry Lane, Abram Wood (killed), John Cullins, Sr., William Williams, Samuel Risley, Will- iam Cullins (wounded), Charles Fisher, Robert Johnson and H. A. Thorn.
Included in the above roster will be found many names, familiar to the present generation, of soldiers who did active military duty in subsequent years in the settlements, and at the Old Post, up to the time of their death. Many of the men mentioned have lineal descendants living in all parts of Knox County who are proud of the fact that their ancestors were partici- pants in the famous battle of Tippecanoe. Towards the beginning of the second war with Great Britain, the Wabash Indians, who had ceased mo- mentarily their depredations, were incited by the British to renew their hos-
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tilities in the settlements. As a means of affording the settlements greater protection against the forays of the savages,* in the earlier part of the year 1812 Capt. Russell raised a company of fifty men, and subsequently Capts. Perry and Modrell each raised a company in the vicinity of the old town. About the same time Capt. Beckes commanded a small company of rangers, or scouts. Fifty years ago there was a census taken of the surviving soldiers of Vincennes who had done military service in the Wabash country under Perry, Modrell and Beckes, and the 'muster roll' of 1861 contained only the following names : Piere Brouillette, J. B. Bono, D. Page. Jacob Pea, George Catt, W. N. Cowper, John Vankirk, William Raper, M. Richardville, John Moore, Thomas Johnson, R. G. McClure, H. Decker, Francois Bouchie, John Palley, J. Maney, Henry Fox, Capt. J. Steffen, Ben Robinson, David Ritchie, Pierre Cabassie, Laurient Bouchie, Amabel Bouchie and Anthony Carey.
The battle of Tippecanoe was a remarkable conflict in more ways than one. It was undoubtedly the fiercest and, at the same time, one of the best conducted actions recounted in all the annals of Indian warfare. In this contest, contrary to their usual custom, the Indians made a standing fight, meeting the enemy face to face, and hand to hand. The equality in numbers and the similarity of the weapons of the contending forces rendered the en- gagement both interesting and peculiar. The Indians fought with desperate valor, and handled their arms with as much dexterity and as effectively as their white brethren. Every man's life hung in the same balance, and why more were not killed is a mystery. General Harrison constantly subjected himself to the greatest personal danger, riding up and down the lines is- suing orders ; and how it were possible-after one bullet passed through the rim of his hat, another struck his saddle, and glancing, hit his thigh, while a third severely wounded the horse on which he rode-for him to have come off the field uninjured has forced the conclusion in the minds of many that he was controlled by a supernatural power.
Had the victory of Tippecanoe been reversed it would have certainly re- sulted disastrously to the country at large. It would have made it possible for Tecumseh, with his powerful confederacy of Indian nations, to have come into full possession for awhile at least of a vast scope of country ex- tending from the lakes to the gulf. Had General Harrison delayed his at- tack on Prophet town, Tecumseh would have shortly made himself an in- vincible foe to the United States, and retarded the growth of the country for many years. The result of the battle of Tippecanoe proved to be the down- fall of Tecumseh and the prophet, and came as a divine blessing to all the settlements northwest of the Ohio river as well as the country generally. The various tribes over whom he had wrought a magic spell had nothing but denunciation for Tecumseh, and disclaimed all connection with him. Shortly after the clouds of battle had disappeared, when a deputation from
* Goodspeed, History of Knox and Davies Counties, p. 210.
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all the tribes waited on Governor Harrison to treat for peace on terms of actual submission, they promised as soon as it were possible for them to lay hands on the prophet they would deliver him into the custody of the United States ; and having made these declarations, they left the presence of his excellency resolved "not to commit hostilities again, until a favorable op- portunity offered." Tecumseh, in the winter of 1811-12 put in an appear- ance at Fort Wayne, and demanded ammunition of the commandant at that post. He was refused, whereupon he announced he would go to his "Brit- ish father" for it, when, of course, it would have been forthcoming for the asking. After staying around several months, in sullen and gloomy silence, he uttered a savage war whoop and went forth to become lost in the shades of the forests. Without doubt Tecumseh was one of the greatest Indian characters that ever lived. While he had every trait that belongs to his race, he was endowed with a lofty intelligence and possessed talents far above any of his tribesmen. Having all the cunning, treacherous and hostile in- stincts belonging to the savage nature, his bearing was generally heroic, chivalrous and honorable. His courage was sublime, and his skill and tact, as a warrior were superb in one of his race. His language, full of poetic expression, ofttimes appeared to be that of a scholar instead of the utter- ances of an untutored savage. As an orator he was forceful, pleasing and dramatic, thrilling his listeners with his matchless eloquence. Judge Law, who had ample opportunity to obtain his information direct from persons who were present on that occasion, in describing the celebrated "pow-wow" at Vincennes in which Harrison and Tecumseh were the central figures, draws a fine pen picture of the great warrior: "Tall, athletic and manly, dignified, but graceful, he seemed the beau ideal of Indian chieftain. In a voice, at first low, but with all its indistinctness, musical, he commenced his reply (to Harrison). As he warmed with his subject his clear notes might be heard, as if 'trumpet-tongued,' to the utmost limits of the assem- bled crowd who gathered around him. The most perfect silence prevailed, except when the warriors who surrounded him gave their gutteral assent to some eloquent recital of the red man's wrong, and the white man's injus- tice. Well instructed in the traditions of his tribe, fully acquainted with their history, the councils treaties and battles of the two races for half a century, he recapitulated the wrongs of the red man from the massacre of the Moravian Indians, during the Revolutionary war, down to the period he had met the governor in council. He told him 'he did not know how he could ever again be the friend of the white man.' In reference to the public domain he asserted that 'the great spirit had given all the country from the Miami to the Mississippi, from the lakes to the Ohio as common property to all the tribes that dwelt within those borders, and that the land could not, and should not be sold without the consent of all. That all the tribes on the continent formed but one nation ; that if the United States would not give up the lands they bought from the Miamis, the Delewares, the Pottawat- tomies, and other tribes, that those united with him were determined to fall
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on those tribes and annihilate them; that they were determined to have no more chiefs, but in future to be governed by their warriors; that unless a stop was put to the further encroachment of the whites the fate of the In- dians was sealed. They had been driven from the banks of the Deleware across the Alleghanies, and their possessions on the Wabash and the Illinois were now to be taken from them; that in a few years they would not have ground enough to bury their warriors on this side of the Father of Waters; that all would perish-all their possessions taken from them by fraud, or force, unless they stopped the progress of the white man further westward. That it must be a war of races in which one or the other must perish. That their tribes had been driven towards the setting sun like a galloping horse (Ne-kat-a-cush-e Ka-top-o-lin-to.) That for himself and his warriors, he had determined to resist all further aggressions of the whites, and that, without his conesnt or that of the Shawnees they should never acquire an- other foot of land.' "
The address, of which the foregoing is but a brief outline, occupied more than an hour in delivery, and was delivered in Shawnee, a language which, says Law, is the most musical and euphonious of all the Indian languages of the west, and which sounds, when spoken rapidly by a fluent speaker, more like the scanning of Greek and Latin verse than any thing else to which it can be compared.
Tecumseh, before leaving the Wabash country for the south and south- west, repeatedly impressed upon the mind of his brother, the prophet, the absolute necessity of feigning friendly relations with the whites until he had succeeded in conciliating and confederating the tribes that dwelt on both sides of the Ohio river with those dwelling on the Mississippi. He had, he thought, made plain to him the incalculable benefits to be derived from such an alliance and the wonderful power and prestige to be obtained from such a confederation in all future controversies or conflicts with the white race. The chief was desirous that no aggressive move should be made on the part of the prophet and his followers, and especially that no blow should be struck at the white people in the Wabash and Illinois countries until the contemplated Indiana alliance had proceeded far enough to make possible, if needs be, their complete annihilation or their banishment to domains be- yond the borders of the Ohio river. The prophet had consented that during the absence of Tecumseh no warlike measures would be undertaken; that while strengthening his forces by the acquisition of new adherents to his cause, he would exercise the utmost precaution and make his declarations for peace and friendship with the whites to General Harrison so loud and strong that his sincerity of purpose could no longer be questioned by the general, and whatever suspicions the latter might entertain would be dispelled by the cleverness of the deception. In short, there was a tacit understanding between Tecumseh and the prophet that while the former was in the south planning for his great confederation the latter would take no steps not con- sistent with a friendly disposition towards the United States. In short no
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move was to be made, no expedition planned, until Tecumseh had consum- mated his grand scheme of centralization of the tribes of the northland and the southland, for the sole purpose of wreaking vengeance on the whites and driving them from the vast scope of country in which they had settled to impart the first touch of civilization by felling forests and furrowing fields which the Indians felt by inherent right to belong to them.
The battle of Tippecanoe, as has already been stated, defeated Tecuin- seh's grand scheme of confederation, with all the blighting effects it would have wrought to mankind and civilization. He immediately returned from the south on learning of the event, and going to Prophet town heaped upon the devoted head of his hypocritical brother, whose actions were the ulti- mate cause of the occurrence, all the vile vituperation to be found in the Shawnee vocabulary, denouncing him for his treachery, duplicity and cow- ardice ; and it is said he died without forgiving his brother. He did not long remain with his tribe, feeling too keenly the humiliation of a defeat he could have himself averted had he been present to linger with the proud spirits of his clan who had reposed in him the most explicit confidence. When the war between Great Britain and the United States broke out in 1812 he joined General Proctor's forces at Malden with a large band of trained war- riors. At the battle of the river Raisin he was slain; but by whom, there seems to be a doubt among some historians, while others contend that he fell from the thrust of a sword in the hand of Col. Jas. Johnson.
General Harrison was the one man capable of coping with Tecumseh and the versatility of the genius possessed by that wonderfully versatile red man. Like all the truly great, he was a man of destiny, and, therefore, appeared upon the scene at a most opportune time. When the General came the In- dians were the real monarchs of the land they surveyed. His intelligence, bravery, honesty, skill, humanity, permitted him to handle the Indian ques- tion as it should be handled. They enabled him to treat intelligently and humanely with the Indians, and to conclude treaties which meant much, very much, to the United States from a monetary view point, but which were an hundredfold more valuable when considered along social, political and economic lines. In the discharge of every official duty General Harrison was a faithful and obedient servant, and in every walk of private life he portrayed gentleness, honesty and virtue. He has bequeathed to the na- tion untold blessings that are the outgrowth of wise statesmanship and di- plomacy, patriotism, unselfishness and integrity, and has left unsullied an honored name which is a joy and inspiration to posterity.
William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia, at Berkley, on the James river, about twenty-five miles below Richmond, February 9, 1773. He was the third son of Benjamin Harrison, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and subsequently governor of Virginia. Young Harrison was educated at Hampden Sydney college, and by the advice of friends turned his attention to the study of medicine. About the time he had com- pleted his education the northwestern frontiers had become the scenes of
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Indian depredations and barbarities of such a character as to excite the en- tire country. The fever of excitement attacked the young medical student and he forsook his studies to join the armed forces which were preparing to march in defense of the Ohio settlements. The very life had been crushes! out of some of the border settlements in the northwestern frontiers, and rap- ine, conflagration and wanton destruction of life and property were the ap- palling scenes prevailing in others. Numerous expeditions had gone forth to quell the savages, only to be repulsed with disastrous losses. Brigadier General Harmar, trained in the advanced schools of militaryism, had met with greater reverses than all the rest, and the few experienced officers of his command who had escaped the terrible slaughter administered to his troops were so fatigued and harassed by battles in the wilderness and horri- fied at barbarities they produced, that they resigned their commissions. The settlements both north and west were in the throes of the intensest ex- citement and a feeling of despair, consternation and dread pervaded the land. And this was the dark and gloomy picture that appealed to William Henry Harrison, and caused him to leave his home, with all its luxurious surroundings, to go into the wilderness and jeopardize his life in defense of his country and his fellow-countrymen.
In the autumn of the year 1791 he applied for and received a commis- sion as ensign in the United States artillery, when he was only eighteen years old, and hurriedly joined his regiment then stationed at Fort Wash- ington. Only a few days before his arrival at that post Gen. St. Clair had suffered his humiliating defeat near the Miami villages, at the hands of the celebrated chief Little Turtle and his confederation of Indian warriors. St. Clair had lost nearly a thousand men in this engagement, killed or taken prisoners, and in consequence of such a disastrous loss the whole of the northwestern frontier was practically exposed to the outrages of the blood- thirsty savages, which condition only added to the consternation of the ter- ror-stricken inhabitants.
At this turn in the tide of affairs the government became alarmed as well as the people, and determined to take decisive action to stop the shedding of blood by savage butchers in the western and northern settlements; and that gallant old hero of Revolutionary fame, General Anthony Wayne, was chosen to head an expedition for that purpose. His army (Wayne's Le- gion) in the summer of 1792 was organized and in November of that year went into winter quarters at Legionville, on the Ohio river, a short dis- tance below Pittsburg. Harrison had just been promoted to a lieutenancy, and he joined Wayne's Legion. The soldiery bearing of the youth com- pletely captivated the rigid disciplinarian, who ere long appointed him one of his aids-de-camp, at the age of nineteen. Harrison acted as one of the aids to Wayne through the whole of his ensuing campaigns, which were closed August 20, 1794, with the battle of the Miami, resulting in the over- whelming defeat of the Indians and their allies. Wayne, in speaking of Harrison's conduct on this occasion, complimented him highly for render-
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