In late 1811, Shawnee leader Tecumseh, was away recruiting additional tribes to his Pan-Indian Confederacy. He left his brother, Tenskwatawa (“The Prophet”), in charge at Prophetstown. As the settlement grew in size and influence, it alarmed Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison, who believed that military force was the only effective response. Harrison assembled a force of roughly 1,000 soldiers and militia and marched toward Prophetstown.
On November 6, 1811, Harrison’s troops arrived near Prophetstown. A follower of Tenskwatawa met them with a white flag, asking for a ceasefire and a meeting before any fighting. Harrison’s men camped along Burnett’s Creek, forming an irregular rectangular perimeter, posting guards, and keeping fires burning through the rainy night, weapons close at hand.
Tenskwatawa chose to launch a preemptive strike, rallying his warriors from Prophet’s Rock and performing incantations to protect them before the battle began.
In the pre-dawn hours of November 7, 1811, scattered gunfire awoke Harrison’s men, as the sentries encountered the opening attacks by the warriors, who had surrounded Harrison’s camp. The initial attack came on the northern side the camp and along the line facing towards Prophetstown, which proved to be mostly diversionary. The fiercest fighting occurred in the camp’s rear, where Captain Spencer’s Indiana Yellowjackets, a group of riflemen who wore light colored buckskin, were positioned. After Captain Spencer was struck down by multiple gunshot wounds, Harrison shifted two reserve companies to that area to bolster the line.
A second wave of attacks hit both the northern and southern sides of the rectangle, which led to a lot of fierce fighting. The battle lasted about two hours. As the sun rose and ammunition became scarce, the unsuccessful attacks slowed and the outmatched warriors disappeared into the woods, with Harrison’s men in pursuit.
On November 8, 1811, Harrison and his troops entered Prophetstown to find it abandoned. They burned the village and destroyed the food supplies. When Tecumseh returned three months later, he found his settlement in ruins. The Battle of Tippecanoe pushed Tecumseh to form an alliance with the British during the War of 1812.
The Battlefield Today
The 16-acre battlefield was donated to the State of Indiana by John Tipton, a veteran of the fight, on November 7, 1836, marking the 25th anniversary of the battle. In its early years, the site hosted several major political gatherings, the most notable being May 29, 1840, when 30,000 people attended a rally supporting William Henry Harrison’s presidential campaign. Of course, most will recognize his campaign slogan, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too,” capturing his fight in the battle and his running mate, John Tyler. The 85-foot marble obelisk battle monument that stands here today was dedicated on November 7, 1908, honoring those who fought there.
Check out my visit to Tippecanoe Battlefield!