be held. The ground proposed by the Indians was not such as would be chosen by a military commander for defense against the wily savages. In his report to the secretary of war, Governor Harrison thus describes it: "I found the ground destined for the encampment not altogether such as I could wish it. It was, indeed, admirably calculated for the encampment of regular troops that were opposed to regulars, but it afforded great facility to the approach of savages. It was a piece of dry oak land, rising about ten feet above the level of a marshy prairie in front, and nearly twice that height ahove 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 beach of land widened considerably, but became gradually narrower in the opposite direction, and at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards from the right flank terminated in an abrupt point."

return.

The camp of the sixth of November was arranged by the governor in the form of an irregular parallelogram, caused by the formation of the ground. Front, rear, and flanks were well protected, the men directed to sleep on their arms, and every precaution taken against surprise. The commander understood the foe with whom he had to deal, and placed no reliance on their professions of friendship. He ordered that in case of an attack, the outer line should hold its position until relieved; the cavalry to act as a reserve. A guard consisting of one hundred and twenty men, · was disposed about the camp, while all not on duty sought repose. Night passed in quietness, and at four o'clock in the morning Governor Harrison arose. As he was arranging his dress a single gun was fired by a sentry on the picket line, who had discovered the stealthy foe cautiously approaching the camp. Horrid yells from hundreds of savage throats pierced the early morning air, while a shower of bullets flew among the sleeping soldiers. A fierce onslaught followed, directed against the northeast angle of the camp, and several warriors penetrated the lines, never to Like veterans of a hundred battles the militia coolly met and repulsed the assault. The governor mounted his horse and ceaselessly directed the movements of the troops. The camp fires had been extinguished on the first alarm, as they served to guide the aim of the savages, and the only light was that given by the waning moon, which had just risen in the east. The night had developed a drizzling rain, and the morning was misty and lowering. Little could be done beside preventing an advance of the enemy, until daylight should reveal their position. Early in the action Major Jo Daviess had fallen, mortally wounded, in an attempt to dislodge a body of Indians. When daylight came, a charge was ordered, and the Indians were driven from the field. An advance was then made upon the Prophet's town, which was found deserted; provisions and cooking utensils were captured, as well as large quantities of stores, which, with the wigwams, were burned and otherwise destroyed. The American loss in the battle of Tippecanoe amounted to one hundred and eight killed and wounded. During the fight the Prophet remained on an eminence at some distance, where he was engaged in incantations and juggling ceremonies. The result of the defeat was the decadence of his

influence, and the temporary frustration of the deep-laid plans of Tecumseh. The Prophet, deserted by his followers, sought refuge with a small band of Wyandots. Soon he departed to the northwest, and among remote tribes recruited some ten thousand warriors to the cause of Tecum seh, who became an adherent of the British. His absence from the field of Tippecanoe is explained by his journey to the south, where he still remained.

In his message to Congress of December 18, 1811, in mentioning the battle of Tippecanoe and its effect upon the Indian tribes in Indiana Ter ritory, President Madison thus complimented Governor Harrison and the troops under his command:

"While it is to be lamented that so many valuable lives have been lost in the action which took place on the ninth ultimo, Congress will see with satisfaction the dauntless spirit and fortitude victoriously displayed by every description of troops engaged, as well as the collected firmness which distinguished their commander on an occasion requiring the utmost exertion of valor and discipline."

In addition to the commendation of the President, the legislatures of Kentucky and Indiana also formulated resolutions of thanks to Governor Harrison for the eminent services rendered the country in dispersing the menacing savages. The former passed the following resolution.

"That in the late campaign against the Indians on the Wabash, Governor Harrison has, in the opinion of this legislature, behaved like a hero, a patriot and a general; and that, for his cocl, deliberate, skillful and gallant conduct in the late battle of Tippecanoe, he deserves the warmest thanks of the Nation."

Something more than a temporary peace would probably have resulted from the defeat of the Indians on the field of Tippecanoe, had not the declaration of war between Great Britain and the United States, on the eighteenth of June, 1812, opened to the crafty Tecumseh a new field. On the commencement of hostilities he began anew his intrigues, and by simultaneous attacks at remote points on the frontier, plunged the border settlements into a state of alarm that for some years effectually prevented further emigration. Possessing the unlimited confidence of the inhabitants of his own territory, Governor Harrison was also recognized by the state. of Kentucky as the foremost military leader in the west, and on the twenty-fifth of August, 1812, he was commissioned, by Governor Shelby of that Sate, major-general of the militia of Kentucky. Three days ear lier President Madison forwarded him a commission as brigadier-general in the army of the United States, which commission he received September 2, while on the march with the volunteers toward Piqua. Already, on the sixteenth of August, Detroit had been disgracefully surrendered, and, on his arrival at Piqua, General Harrison learned of the investment of Fort Wayne by a large body of British and Indians. Proceeding directly to that point, he arrived on the twelfth, to find the siege raised and the enemy gone. Here he was joined on the eighteenth by General Winchester, who was chief in command. Returning, General Harrison reached

Piqua on the twenty-fourth, where he found awaiting him a dispatch from the secretary of war, in reference to a letter written regarding the acceptance of the commission of brigadier-general. The dispatch thus began: "The President is pleased to assign to you the command of the northwestern army, which, in addition to the regular troops and rangers in that quarter, will consist of the volunteers and militia of Kentucky, Ohio, and three thousand from Virginia and Pennsylvania, making your whole force ten thousand men." He was further informed that "Colonel Buford, deputy commissioner at Lexington, is furnished with funds, and is subject. to your orders." The dispatch concluded: "You will command such means as may be practicable. Exercise your own discretion, and act in all cases according to your own judgment." Never since the war of the Revolution had such latitude been given a military commander, and then only to Washington.

General Winchester had projected an expedition to the rapids of the Miami, and was already en route, when information reached him of the appointment of Harrison as major-general and commander-in-chief of the army in the northwest. While Winchester was on the march, considerable addition was made to the force then assembled at Dayton, in the arrival of three regiments of infantry and three companies of mounted riflemen from Kentucky, as well as a battalion of mounted men from Ohio, under Colonel Findlay. The supplies with which Winchester's troops were provided becoming exhausted, they were reaching the point of starvation, when Colonel Jennings, in command of an escort conveying provisions, arrived at the camp near Defiance and relieved their immediate necessities. Harrison now arranged a plan for an autumn campaign, which had in view the seizure and occupancy of the strategic point at the Maumee rapids, and offensive operations directed against Malden, and looking to the recapture of Detroit. Difficulties arising from conflict of authority between regular and volunteer officers produced a measure of discouragement and discontent that detracted from the efficiency of the army, and the results of the campaign were slight.

Establishing his headquarters at Franklinton, the months of October, November and December were occupied in making plans and concentrating troops, munitions and supplies in readiness for an effective winter campaign. On the thirteenth of October he wrote the secretary of war: "I am fully sensible of the responsibility invested in me. I accepted it with full confidence of being able to effect the wishes of the President, or to show unequivocally their impracticability. If the fall should be very dry, I will take Detroit before the winter sets in; but if we should have much rain, it will be necessary to wait at the rapids until the Miami of the Lake (Maumee) is sufficiently frozen over to bear the army and its

* On the west bank of the Scioto, included in the present limits of Columbus, Ohio.

"

baggage.' The plan he proposed was to march to Detroit with a large force, capture that fort and, making that a base of supplies, take the offensive on Canadian soil. On the eighteenth of January a detachment from General Winchester's force captured Frenchtown; three days later occurred the bloody massacre of the River Raisin, resulting in a total loss of nine hundred and thirty-four, of whom one hundred and ninety-seven were killed and missing. This expedition was commanded by General Winchester in person, who was alone to blame for the disastrous result. As soon as he was informed of the advance upon Frenchtown, General Harrison dispatched a battalion of three hundred men to the support of Winchester, and himself proceeded to the rapids to learn personally the situation of the troops. On his arrival he was informed of Proctor's attack on the force at Frenchtown, and immediately departed, with all the available troops at his command, to their relief, but was soon met by fugitives from the field of disaster, from whom he learned of the defeat and capture of Winchester and his men.

On the first of February the army amounted to eighteen hundred men; a winter camp was established at Fort Meigs, while General Harrison proceeded to Cincinnati to secure and forward needed supplies. In the early spring of 1813 the general received information that a large force of British and Indians were en route to attack Fort Meigs. Hastily assembling a force consisting of three thousand Kentucky volunteers, he himself reached the fort just in time to receive the attack. For five days a terrible fire was kept up against the garrison, who were well protected by the defenses. The arrival of reinforcements decided him upon making a sortie from the fort, when followed a severe struggle, lasting nearly an hour, in the course of which the enemy, though nearly double the number of the assailing party, were driven from their guns and forced to retire. The attack of the reinforcements was disastrous; of one detachment of eight hundred men, but one hundred and seventy ever reached Fort Meigs. Two months later, early in July, the fort was again attacked, this time by a combined force of five thousand British and Indians. To protect his supplies at Upper Sandusky, Harrison erected fortifications at Senecatown, nine miles up the river. The enemy were unable to effect the capture of Fort Meigs, and after a few days' siege abandoned the enterprise and divided their force, a detachment attempting the capture of Fort Stephenson (now Fremont). Here they were again foiled and forced to embark their command and depart, having suffered severe loss in the attack on Fort Stephenson. The succession of defeats that had followed the British arms thus far had an effect upon the Indian allies, who departed in large numbers. Tecumseh, however, yet remained true to British gold and the rank of brigadier-general that had been conferred upon him, and with him remained a considerable body of Indians.

On the eighteenth of August arrived Commodore Perry, with a fleet of eight vessels, and took post at Put-in-Bay. On the tenth of September he attacked the British fleet under Barclay, and, after a severe engagement, lasting three hours, captured every vessel in the enemy's fleet. On the twenty-seventh, Harrison's army was landed on the shores of Canada; then followed the descent upon Malden, which was easily captured, the British general, Proctor, hastily departing toward Sandwich. A council of general officers was then held, at which General Harrison informed them that there were but two ways of accomplishing their object (the defeat or capture of Proctor), one of which was to follow him up the strait by land; the other, to embark and sail down Lake Erie to Long Point, then march hastily across by land twelve miles to the road, and intercept him." The former proposition was approved and the army rapidly advanced up the Thames. On the fifth of October the enemy was overtaken, posted in a strong position, the right flanked by a swamp, the left by the river Thames. The swamp was occupied by Tecumseh and his warriors. Immediate preparations were made for battle. Having disposed of his force in the best possible manner, as it appeared from his position, at the last moment General Harrison ordered a change. He was informed that the enemy was drawn up in open order, and instead of advancing to the attack with a body of infantry, he ordered Colonel Johnson to the front with his mounted riflemen. Space for manoeuvring being limited, that brave officer, on the sound of the bugle, advanced with the second battalion of his regiment only, and, receiving the enemy's fire, boldly dashed forward to the charge. The British line was broken and the foe scattered in every direction, followed by a destructive fire from the pursuing horsemen. So furious was the onslaught that the frightened soldiers threw down their arms and cried for quarter. Within five minutes almost the entire British force, consisting of some eight hundred men, was captured. Fifty soldiers, under Lieutenant Bullock, alone escaped. General Proctor was pursued in his carriage, escorted by a small body of dragoons, Indians and his personal staff, and only escaped by abandoning the vehicle and taking to the woods. The Indian allies made a desperate resistance, but the superior military training of the riflemen and infantry was more than a match for their undisciplined numbers; to this may be added the disheartening effect produced by the death, in the early part of: the action, of Tecumseh. They fled in disorder, leaving thirty-three of their dead on the field. The American loss was fifteen killed and thirty wounded; the British lost eighteen killed, twenty-six wounded, and six hundred prisoners. Altogether the Americans captured about five thousand small arms, besides several pieces of artillery.

The victory was complete, the battle short and decisive, the loss small, and the result great in many ways. The Americans had gained more than