Tippecanoe, Battle of, was a famous 1811 battle between United States forces and Native American warriors in the Indiana Territory. During the battle, Indiana Governor William Henry Harrison led a group of U.S. army and territorial militia soldiers. His men defeated a Native American force led by Tenskwatawa, the Shawnee Prophet.
Background.
During the early 1800’s, the Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa urged Native American tribes to join in a confederacy. They sought to resist American settlement on indigenous (native) lands. Tenskwatawa was known as the Shawnee Prophet because some people believed he could predict the future. The brothers established a capital near what is now Lafayette, Indiana. The village was known as Tippecanoe or Prophetstown.
William Henry Harrison was a U.S. military leader and the governor of the Indiana Territory. In 1809, he negotiated a treaty with Native American leaders that transferred nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of land to settlers. Many tribes, angered by the treaty, united under Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa. In 1810, Tecumseh and other tribal leaders met with Harrison. They told him that they would prevent federal surveyors from entering the disputed area.
The battle.
In late 1811, Tecumseh traveled south to gather Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Creek support for his Native American confederacy. With Tecumseh away, Harrison marched a force of more than 1,000 U.S. Army soldiers and militia toward Prophetstown. Harrison’s force camped outside the village on November 6.
During a cold rain at about 4 o’clock the next morning, Tenskwatawa, with up to 700 warriors, led an attack against Harrison’s camp. The two sides engaged in an intense firefight. Later in the morning, Harrison counterattacked with his light dragoons (soldiers on horseback).
Harrison’s counterattack was successful. His soldiers defeated Tenskwatawa‘s force and then burned the Native American capital. During the course of battle, about 60 of Harrison’s men were killed and about 125 were wounded. At least 36 of Tenskwatawa’s warriors were killed.
Aftermath.
The loss at Tippecanoe was devastating to Tecumseh’s plan for a Native American confederacy. Tecumseh’s military forces would never regain their strength. He later joined the British against the Americans in the War of 1812 (1812-1815). He was killed in Canada in 1813.
Harrison received the nickname “Old Tippecanoe” following the battle. He led American forces to victories in Ohio and Canada during the War of 1812 and later became president. He is remembered as part of the famous 1840 campaign slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler too,” referring to Harrison and vice presidential candidate John Tyler. Harrison became president in 1841 but died after only 30 days in office.
See also Harrison, William Henry; Shawnee Prophet; Tecumseh.
