USA > Indiana > Pioneer history of Indiana : including stories, incidents, and customs of the early settlers > Part 22
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Colonel Joseph Bartholomew a very valuable officer, commanded under Colonel Boyd, the Militia Infantry. He was wounded early in the action and his service was lost to me .. Major G. R. C. Floyd the senior officer of the Fourth U. S. Regiment, commanded immediately the battalion of the regi- ment which was in the front line. His conduct during the action was entirely to my satisfaction. Lieutenant Colonel Decker, who commanded the bat- talion of Militia on the right of the rear line, pre- served his command in good order. I have before mentioned to you that Major General. Wells of the fourth division of Kentucky Militia, acted under my command as Major at the head of two com- panies of mounted volunteers. The General main- tained the fame which he had already acquired in almost every campaign and in almost every battle which had been fought with the Indians since the settlement of Kentucky.
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Of the several corps, the Fourth U. S. Regi- ment and the two small companies attached to it, were very conspicuous for undaunted valor.
The companies commanded by Captains Cook, Snelling and Barton, Lieutenants Larrabee, Peters and Hawkins were placed in situations where they could render eminent service and encounter great danger and these officers greatly distinguished themselves.
Captains Prescott and Brown performed their duty entirely to my satisfaction as did Posey's com- pany of the Seventh Regiment headed by Lieuten- ant Albright. In short, Sir, they supported the fame of the American soldier and I have never found that a single individual was out of the line of duty. Several of the Militia companies were in no way inferior to the Regulars. Spencer's, Guiger's, and Warrick's maintained their post amidst a monstrous carnage as also did Robb's which was posted on the left flank, and had seven- teen men killed and wounded. Wilson's and Scott's companies charged with the regular troops and pro- ved themselves worthy of doing so. Norris' com- pany also behaved well. Hargrove's and Wilkins' companies were placed in a situation where they had no opportunities of distinguishing themselves or I am satisfied they would have done so. This was also the case of the squadron of Dragoons.
After Major J. H. Davis had received his wound, knowing it to be fatal, I promoted to the Majority, Captain Park, than whom there is no better officer.
My aide-de-camps, Majors Hurst and Taylor, with Lieutenant Adams of the Fourth Regiment, and the Adjutant of the troops afforded me the most essential aid as well in action as throughout the campaign. The arrangements of Captain Piatt, in the Quartermaster's department were highly judicious and his exertions on all occasions, particularly in bringing off the wounded, deserves my warmest thanks.
But in giving praise to the living, let me not forget the gallant dead. Colonel Abraham Owens joined me a few days before the action as a private in Captain Guiger's company. He accepted the ap- pointment of volunteer aide-de-camp to me. He
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fell early in the action. The representatives of his state will inform you that she possessed not a bet- ter citizen nor a braver man.
Major Joseph H. Davis was well known as an able lawyer and a great orator. He joined me as a private volunteer, and on the recommendations of the officers of that corps, was appointed to com- mand the three troops of Dragoons. His conduct. in that capacity justified their choice. Never was there an officer possessed of more ardor and zeal to discharge his duties with propriety and never one who would encounter more danger to purchase mil- itary fame.
Captain Bean of the Fourth U. S. Regiment was. killed early in the action-he was unquestionably a good officer and a valiant soldier.
Captains Spencer and Warrick and Lieutenants. McMahan and Berry were all my particular friends. I have always had the utmost confidence in their valor and was not deceived. Captain Spencer was wounded in the head. He exhorted his men to fight valiantly. He was shot through both thighs. and fell still continuing to encourage them. He was. raised up and received a ball through his body which put an immediate end to his existence. Cap- tain Warrick was shot immediately through the body and taken to the surgery to be dressed. As soon as it was over, being a man of great bodily vigor and able to walk, he insisted on going back to the head of his company, although it was evi- dent that he had but a few hours to live."
The loss of the army under Governor Harrison was thirty-seven killed in action and one hundred and fifty-one wounded. Twenty-five of this number died afterward o their wounds. The loss of the Indians was serious but as they carried all their wounded from the field during the bat tle and their women and old men were burying their dead dur ing the battle it was hard to ascertain. According to one re port they left thirty-eight dead on the field and six more dead were found when their town was burned the next day. Major General Wells of Kentucky who took such a leading part ir that fight said to a friend that after the battle he counted
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forty-five new graves near the town and that there were fifty- four dead Indians left on the ground. An Indian woman cap- tured said that one hundred and ninety-seven Indians were missing. From the reckless exposure of their persons during the battle, they must have met with a heavy loss.
The Indians were under the immediate command of three daring chiefs-White Loon, Stone Eater, and Winamac, a Pottawattamie who was killed the next November by Logan the Shawnee scout.
The Prophet had given assurance to his deluded follow- ers that the bullets of the Americans would fall to the ground, that their powder would turn to sand. Taking his position as Commander in Chief on an eminence, some dis- tance away, (perhaps not willing to risk his own person to the protection of his prophecies against the real American bullets, ) he commenced the performance of mystic rites at the same time singing in his clear, loud voice a war song. Dur- ing the battle the Indians told him their people were being killed. He urged them to fight on saying it would soon be over and no more would be hurt.
After the battle, the fleeing Indians upbraided him for his duplicity. He, as of old, laid it on the women, saying that his wife must have touched his charms.
It has never been definitely known how many Indians there were in the battle but after gathering from all sources the best information that could be secured, it was thought the two armies had about the same number of men on the field. The Prophet's forces were gathered from the Shawnees, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawattamies, Wyandots, Kickapoos, Winnebagoes and Sacs. Immediately after their defeat the surviving Indians went back to their various tribes, denounc- ing the Prophet. His town which, contained a large amount of corn, was found and this with other provisions was des- troyed. Evidence of the British duplicity was also found. Several rifles which had been sent from Malden were found that had not been unwrapped.
Governor Harrison, on the eighth buried his dead and burned log heaps over their graves, but the Indians after-
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ward dug them up hunting for trinkets and stripped them of their clothing.
On the ninth of November the army moved from their encampment over the route they had marched to the Prophet's town. The wounded were hauled in wagons, drawn by oxen. The officers' camp chests, tents, and everything that could be. spared will burned so that room could be made for them. There was much suffering until they arrived at the blockhouse below the Vermilion river. The wounded were then put on boats and conveyed to Vincennes. Leaving Captain Snelling with his company of regulars at Ft. Harrison, the army con- tinued its march toward Vincennes where it arrived on the eighteenth of November, 1811. The' troops from Kentucky and those from the south-eastern part of Indiana Territory were discharged on the nineteenth of November.
Governor Harrison was continually exposed during the action but escaped without injury. A bullet passed through his stock or cravat and grazed his neck. The enemies of Harrison afterward charged that Colonel Abraham Owens was killed through Harrison's fault. They claimed that at the beginning of the action, Owens, on a large white horse, rode with Harrison to the point of attack and soon afterward was. killed and they charged that he changed horses with Owens. The fact was the Governor took a dark colored horse, the first one he could lay his hands on after his own white horse had broken loose and run away and the horse that Colonel Owens rode on was brought from Kentucky with him.
Another charge was that the Governor was responsible for the death of Colonel Joseph H. Davis, it being claimed that he had ordered him into the charge before his men were in shape to make it. This was not true in any sense. Colo- nel Davis was a very resolute man and when he obtained per- mission he rushed forward leading his men without having a sufficient force to protect his flanks. The Indians attacked him on the flank and Colonel Davis was killed, being a very conspicuous mark as he wore a white wool overcoat. Another very foolish charge against the Governor was that the In- dians selected his camp for him. The truth was that the
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camp he occupied was the only place suitable for an encamp- ment of his forces for several miles around. Fortunately these charges were only believed by a few.
The Territorial Legislature was in session when the army returned to Vincennes. There was great rejoicing among the citizens that the Indians had been defeated and that the Prophet's town and provisions had been burned and destroyed. His confederated bands of Indians, having lost faith in the Prophet's fallacies, went back to their different tribes. The Prophet, a fugitive, took up his residence among the Hurons.
The Territorial Legislature adopted the following pre- amble and resolutions on the eighteenth of November:
"WHEREAS, The services of His Excellency, Governor Harrison, in conducting the army, the gallant defense made by the heroes under his im- mediate command and the fortunate result of the battle fought with the Confederacy of the Shawnee Prophet near Tippecanoe on the morning of the seventh of November, highly deserves the congratulations of every true friend to the interest of this Territory and the cause of humanity-
'RESOLVED THEREFORE, that the members of Legislative Council and House of Representatives will wait upon His Excellency the Governor, as he returns to Vincennes, and in their own name and of those of their constituents, welcome him home.
"AND that General W. Johnson be, and is here- py appointed a committee to make the same known to the Governor, at the head of the army, should not unforeseen causes prevent."
At this period there were a few members of the Ter- ritorial Legislature and quite a number of the citizens who were inclined to award Colonel Boyd and his small regiment of regular troops the honor of saving the army from defeat and destruction at the battle of Tippecanoe. Among this. class of citizens were some who were known as the avowed enemies of Governor Harrison and who steadily opposed his. administration of Territorial government, especially his pol-
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icy in making Indian treaties. Colonel Boyd could not help but feel indignant that malice and envy would lead people to such lengths in their opposition to successful rivals. The action of these people dwarfed the great achievements that had been accomplished by the small heroic army. His regiment did its full duty and was ably seconded by three times its number of militia of Indiana and Kentucky. He knew that there were no shirks-that every man of that army acquitted him- self honorably. The Legislature, in its attempt to ignore the militia and give the regular troops the praise for the vic- tory, belittled themselves and placed a cloud over the regular troops by attempting to award them an unmerited compli- ment.
The following joint address of the two Houses of the Territorial Legislature was delivered to Governor Harrison on the fifth of December, 1811. This address which was pre- pared by the Legislative Council was adopted in the House of Representatives by a votc of four to three.
To HIS EXCELLENCY, WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON,
Governor and Commander -in-Chief in and over the INDIANA TERRITORY.
When in the course of human events, it be- comes necessary for a nation to unsheath the sword in defense of any portion of its citizen and any in- dividual of society becomes intrusted with the im- portant 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 individual possesses superior capacity accom- panied by integrity and other qualities of the mind which adorn the human character in a superlative degree, it has the tendency to draw out the affec- tions 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 Representa- tives of this Territory think you are justly entitled to. And, Sir, in duly appreciating your service,
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we are perfectly sensible of the great benefit and important service rendered by the officers and sol- diers 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 calculat- ed upon from men such as they were, undisciplined and unaccustomed to war."
On the ninth of December, Governor Harrison transmit- ted the following reply to the foregoing address:
TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Fellow Citizens:
"The joint address of the two houses which was delivered to me on the fifteenth inst. by your committee, was received with feelings which are more easy for you to conceive than for me to de- scribe. Be pleased to accept my sincerest thanks for the favorable sentiment you have been pleased to express of my conduct as Commander-in-Chief of the expedition and be assured that the good opinion of the people of Indiana and their representatives will ever constitute no small portion of my nappi- ness. If anything could add to my gratitude to you, Gentlemen, it is the interest you take in the welfare of those brave fellows who fought under my command. Your memorial in their favor to the Congress of the United States does equal honor to the heads and hearts of those in whose name it was sent and is worthy of the Legislature of the Ind- iana Territory."
On the twenty-fifth of November the Territorial House of Representatives passed some joint resolutions which, on account of the strong, special and somewhat exclusive praise, which they bestowed on Colonel Boyd and his regiment, were disagreed upon in the Legislative Council on the twenty-
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seventh of the same month. The same resolutions were, however, adopted by the House of Representatives on the fourth of December.
"RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory that the thanks of this house be given Colonel John P. Boyd the second in com- mand, to the officers, non-commissioned officers,. and private soldiers, comprising the Fourth U. S. Regiment of Infantry together with all the United States troops under his command, for the disting- uished regularity, discipline, coolness and undaunt- ed valor so eminently displayed by them in the late brilliant and glorious battle fought with the Shaw- nee Prophet and his confederates on the morning of the seventh of November, 1811, by the army un- der the command of His Excellency, William Henry Harrison.
"RESOLVED, that the said Colonel John P. Boyd be requested to communicate the foregoing to the officers and non-commissioned officers and private belonging to the said Fourth Regiment and that a copy of these resolutions signed by the speaker of this house be presented to the said Col- onel Boyd by a committee of this house.
"RESOLVED by the House of Representatives, of the Indiana Territory that the thanks of this house be presented to Col. Luke Decker and Col- onel Joseph Barthelomew, the officers, non-com- missioned officers and men composing the militia corps under their command, together with the of- ficers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers com- posing the volunteer militia corps from the State of Kentucky, for the distinguished valor, heroism and bravery displayed by them in the brilliant bat- tle fought with the Shawnee Prophet and his con- federates on the morning of the seventh of Nov- ember, 1811, by the army under the command of His Excellency, William Henry Harrison."
The following reply to these resolutious was sent to the House of Representatives by Colonel Boyd:
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"United States Troops Main Quarters, Vincennes, December 4, 1811.
"To the Honorable House of Representatives, Ind- iana Territory.
Gentlemen:
"I have the honor for myself, the officers, and soldiers comprising the fourth regiment, the rifle company attached, and the small detachment of Posey's company, to return you thanks for the dis- tinguished notice you have been pleased to take of our conduct in the battle with the Shawnee Pro- phet and his confederates on the morning of the seventh of November, 1811, by your resolution of this day. If our efforts in the discharge of our duties shall have resulted in advancing the public good we are gratified and to believe that we have merited this tribute of applause from the assembl- ed representatives of this very respectable portion of our country, renders it peculiarly flattering to our honor and our pride."
Five days after the passage of the resolutions to which Colonel Boyd made the foregoing reply, Governor Harrison sent the following message to the House of Representatives.
"Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:
"Your speaker has transmitted to me two re- solutions of your house, expressive of your thanks to Colonel John P. Loyd and the officers and sol- diers of the Fourth U. S. Regiment, to Colonels Bartholomew and Decker and the officers and pri- vates of the militia under their command; also the Kentucky volunteers for their bravery and good conduct in the action of the seventh of November at the battle of Tippecanoe.
"It has excited my astonishment and deep re- gret to find that the mounted riflemen of the Ter- ritory, who so eminently distinguished themselves and the squadron of Dragoons whose conduct was also so highly meritorious have, on this occa- sion, been totally neglected.
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"I cannot for a moment suppose gentlemen, that you have any other wish than that of render- ing impartial justice to all the corps. I cannot be- lieve that you have the smallest tincture of that disposition which certainly elsewhere prevails to disparage the conduct of the militia and to deprive them of their share of the laurels which have been so dearly purchased by the blood of some of our best and bravest citizens.
"No! I can never suppose that it was your in- tention to insult the shades of Spencer, McMahan, and Berry by treating with contempt the corps which their deaths have contributed to immortalize, nor will I believe that a Davis, a White, a Ran- dolph and a McMahan have been so soon forgotten, nor that the corps to which they belonged and which faithfully performed its duty was deemed unworthy of your notice.
"The omission was certainly occasioned by a mistake but it was a mistake by which, if it is not rectified, the feelings of a whole county and part of another, now abounding with widows and or- phans the unhappy consequece of the late action, will be wounded and insulted.
"The victory of the seventh of November, Gentlemen, was not gained by any one corps but by the efforts of all. Some of them indeed, more par- ticularly distinguished themselves and of this num-' ber was the U. S. Regiment. In my official report to the Secretary of War I have mentioned them in such terms of approbation that if stronger are to be found in the English language, I am unacquaint- ed with them, but I have not given them all the honors of victory. To have done so I should have been guilty of a violence of truth, of injustice and of a species of treason against our Republic itself whose peculiar and appropriate force is its militia.
"With equal pride and pleasure, then do I pro- nounce that, notwithstanding the regular troops behaved as well as men ever did, many of the mil- itia companies were in no wise inferior to them. Of this number were the mounted riflemen, com- manded by Captain Spencer. To them was com- mitted the charge of defending the right flank of the army. That it could not have been committed
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to better hands, their keeping their grounds, (in- deed gaining upon the enemy) for an hour and a half with unequalled arms, against superior num- bers, and amid a carnage that might have made veterans tremble, is sufficient evidence. Nor can I say that Captain Robb's company after it was placed by the side of Spencer's was at all inferior to it. It is certain that they kept their post and their great loss shows that it was a post of danger. The dragoons also did everything that could have been expected from them in the situation in which they were placed. Before they were mounted, they certainly kept the enemy for a considerable time from penetrating the camp by the left flank and when mounted, they remained firm at. their post although exposed to the fire of the enemy at a time when they were necessarily inactive and con- sequently placed in a position most trying to troops.
'The failure of the charge made by Major Davis was owing to his having emyloyed too small a number, but even with these, it is more than prob- able that he would have been successful if he had not unfortunately mistaken the direction in which the principal part of the enemy lay. A successful charge was made, by a detachment of the dragoons at the close of the action and the enemy was driven into a swamp into which they could not be fol- lowed.
"You may perhaps, Gentlemen, suppose that I ought to have given you the information necerssary to your forming a correct opinion of the merits of each corps. Military etiquette however and the custom of our country forbade this. It is to the Government of the United States alone that a de- tailed account of an action is made. In this com- munication I have given you such information only as was necessary to enable you to correct mistakes which, I am sure, were unintentional on your part.
"My sense of the merits of the other corps of the army will be known when my official account is published."
. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, Governor of Indiana Territory.
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In the Terriorial House of Representatives the commit- tee to whom the forgoing message was referred reported the following answer to the Governor which was adopted by the House on the seventeenth day of December, 1811.
"His Excellency, WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Indiana Territory. Sir:
"When this house addressed that portion of the troops to which you refer in your communica- tion of the ninth inst. it was not the intention of this body to cast a shade over any portion of the troops which were under the command of Your Excellency in the late engagement nor to take from the Commander-inChief, any of that honor which he so nobly acquired in the late victory.
In the joint addres of both houses to you theit notice of the militia in general terms was thought sufficient as it was out of their power to notice every man who distinguished himself therefore it was considered that any evidence of respect paid to the Commander-in-Chief was an evidence of appro- bation to all. It is not to be supposed that those gentlemen to whom particular respect has been paid. have done any more than their duty, or that they distinguished themselves any more than many private soldiers. Those gentlemen who fell, some of them did well and some others had not the op- portunity, being killed to early in the battle, but there is not an individual in this body but acknow- ledges that it was a well fought battle and that praises are due; but they generally agree that the laurels won principally, ought to be the property of the Commander-in-Chief.
ROLL OF THE ARMY THAT FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE, NOV. 7, 1811.
GOVERNOR WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF GENERAL STAFF.
William McFarland, Lieut. Col. and Adjutand General.
Abraham Owen, Col. and Aide-de-camp, (killed Nov. 7, 1811.)
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