Battle of Tippecanoe

The Battle of Tippecanoe was a decisive victory by U.S. forces led by General William Henry Harrison over the forces of Tecumseh’s growing Native American confederation. The battle took place outside Prophets Town, near present-day Battle Ground, Indiana.

On November 6, 1811 approximately 1,000 riflemen under the command of Harrison approached Prophets Town. Their march intentionally coincided with Tecumseh’s absence; he was traveling through the southern states in an attempt to recruit more tribes to his alliance. Tecumseh left Prophets Town under the leadership of his younger brother, Tenskwatawa, also known as the Prophet. Field command was given to a Shawnee chief named White Loon. Less than a thousand warriors plus women and children occupied the village.

When Harrison’s forces came into view late on November 6 a young Indian on horseback rode out from the town waving a white flag. He carried a message from the Prophet requesting a cease fire until the next day when the two sides could hold a peaceful meeting. Harrison agreed but was wary of the Prophet’s overture and kept a number of sentinels on duty over night.

Although existing accounts are unclear about exactly how the skirmish began, Harrison’s sentinels encountered advancing Indians warriors in the pre-dawn hours of November 7. As the soldiers awoke to scattered gunshots they discovered themselves almost encircled by the Prophet’s forces. Fierce fighting broke out as the Indians broke through Harrison’s lines and entered the camp. As the sentinels fled back to camp the volunteers quickly regrouped and repulsed the advance while securing their own lines. Throughout the morning Harrison’s troops fought off several charges before the Indian forces finally retreated. 37 soldiers were killed and 126 wounded; Indian casualties were unknown.

Fearing Tecumseh’s imminent return with reinforcements, Harrison ordered his men to fortify their position. The next day, November 8, he sent a small group of men to inspect the town. Accounts differ as to what happened next. The soldiers claimed to find the town deserted except for a single elderly woman. Other accounts claim a number of women and children were slaughtered. Eventually Harrison’s troops burned Prophets Town and left.

The Battle of Tippecanoe crushed Tecumseh’s dream of a unified Indian confederacy. The Prophet, having prophesied that the weapons of Harrison’s men would not be able to hurt his warriors, was disgraced by his failure and fled to Canada. Following the battle the various tribes that had united under Tecumseh were dispersed.

External links

• Tippecanoe County Historical Association
• A soldier's account of the Battle of Tippecanoe.

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