about nine hundred and ten men, and it was composed of two hundred and fifty regular troops, under the command of Colonel Boyd, about sixty volunteers from Kentucky, and about six hundred citizens of the Indiana territory. About two hundred and seventy of the troops were mounted.

With this army the Governor marched to within half a mile of the Prophet's Town, when a conference was opened with a distinguished chief who was in the esteem of the Prophet. He informed Harrison that the Indians were much surprised at the approach of the army, and had already dispatched a message to him by another route. Harrison replied that he would not attack them until he had satisfied himself that they would not comply with his demands; that he would go on and encamp on the Wabash, and on the following morning would have an interview with the Prophet. Harrison then resumed his march, and after some difficulty selected a place to encamp. The spot where the troops encamped was not altogether what could have been wished, as it afforded great facilities to the approach of savages. It was a piece of dry oak land, rising about ten feet above the marshy prairie in front (toward the Indian town), and nearly twice that height above a similar prairie in the rear, through which, and near to this bank, ran a small stream, clothed with willows and brushwood. Toward the left flank this high land widened considerably, but became gradually narrower in the opposite direction, and at a distance of one hundred and fifty yards from the right flank, terminated in an abrupt point. The two columns of infantry occupied the front and rear of this ground, at the distance of about one hundred and fifty yards from each other on the left, and a little more than half that distance on the right flank. These flanks were filled up, the first by two companies of mounted riflemen, amounting to about one hundred and twenty men, under the command of Major-General Wells, of the Kentucky Militia; the other by Spencer's company of mounted riflemen, consisting of eighty men. The front line was composed of one battalion of United States infantry, under the command of Major Floyd, flanked on the right by two companies of militia, and on the left by one company. The

rear line was composed of a battalion of United States troops, under the command of Captain Bean, acting as Major, and four companies of militia infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Decker. The regular troops of this line joined the mounted riflemen under General Wells, on the left flank, and Colonel Decker's battalion formed an angle with Spencer's company on the left. Two troops of dragoons, amounting, in the aggregate, to about sixty men, were encamped in rear of the left flank, and Captain Parke's troop, which was larger than the other two, in rear of the right line.

For a night attack the order of encampment was the order of battle, and each man slept immediately opposite to his post in the line. In the formation of the troops, single file was adopted, in order to get as great an extension of the lines as possible.

At this place they remained until the seventh of November, when, about four o'clock in the morning, just after the Governor had risen, the left flank was attacked by the enemy. But a single gun was fired by the sentinels or by the guard in that direction, which made no resistance, abandoning their posts and fleeing into camp; and the first notice which the troops of that flank had of the danger, was from the yells of the savages within a short distance of the line. But even under these circumstances the men were not wanting in courage and discipline. Such of them as were awake, or were easily awakened, seized their arms and took their stations; others, who were more tardy, had to contend with the enemy in the doors of their tents. The storm first fell upon Captain Barton's company of the Fourth United States regiment, and Captain Geiger's company of mounted riflemen, which formed the left angle of the rear line. The fire from the Indians was exceedingly severe, and men in these companies suffered considerably before relief could be brought to them. Some few Indians passed into the encampment near the angle, and one or two penetrated to some distance before they were killed. All the companies formed for action before they were fired on.

The morning was dark and cloudy, and the fires of the Americans, afforded only a partial light, which gave greater

GOV. HARRISON AND TECUMSEH IN COUNCIL, AT VINCENNES.

advantage to the enemy than to the troops, and they were therefore extinguished. As soon as the Governor could mount his horse he rode to the angle that was attacked, where he found that Barton's company had suffered severely, and the left of Geiger's entirely broken. He immediately ordered Cook's and Wentworth's companies to march up to the centre of the rear line, and form across the angle in support. His attention was then attracted by a heavy fire upon the left of the front line, where were stationed the small company of United States riflemen and the companies of Bean, Snelling, and Prescott. As the General rode up he found Major Daviess forming the dragoons in the rear of these companies, and having ascertained that the heaviest fire proceeded from some trees about fifteen or twenty paces in front of these companies, he directed the Major to dislodge them with a part of the dragoons. Unfortunately, the Major's gallantry caused

him to undertake the execution of the order with a smaller force than was required, which enabled the enemy to avoid him in front, and attack his flanks. The Major was mortally wounded, and his dragoons driven back.

The Indians were, however, immediately and gallantly dislodged 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, and having 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

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 thirtyseven killed on the field, and twenty-five mortally wounded, and one hundred and twenty-six wounded; that of the Indians, 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 surviving Indians, having lost their faith in the power of their leader, returned to their respective tribes, and thus the confederacy was destroyed; and the Prophet, thus left without followers, took up his residence among a small band of Wyandotts, 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: