I meant to support the infantry; a small detachment of these were, however, ready, and proved amply sufficient for the purpose. The Indians were driven by the infantry at the point of the bayonet; and the dragoons pursued and forced them into a marsh, where they could not be followed. Captain Cook and Lieutenant Larrabee had, agreeably to my order, marched their companies to the right flank, and formed them under the fire of the enemy; and being then joined by the riflemen of that flank, had charged the Indians, killed a number, and put the rest to precipitate flight. * * * * * "The whole of the infantry formed a small brigade, under the immediate orders of Colonel Boyd. The colonel, throughout the action, manifested equal zeal and bravery in carrying into execution my orders-in keeping the men to their posts, and exhorting them to fight with valor. His brigade-major, Clarke, and his aid-de-camp, George Croghan, esq., were also very serviceably employed. Colonel Joseph Bartholomew, a a very valuable officer, commanded, under Colonel Boyd, the militia infantry. He was wounded early in the action, and his services lost to me. Major G. R. C. Floyd, the senior officer of the 4th United States regiment, commanded immediately the battalion of that regiment, which was in the front line. His conduct, during the action, was entirely to my satisfaction. Lieutenant-colonel Decker, who commanded the battalion of militia on the right of the rear line, preserved his command in good order. He was, however, but partially attacked. I have before mentioned to you, that Major-general Wells, of the 4th division of Kentucky militia, acted, under my command, as a major, at the head of two companies of mounted volunteers. The general maintained the fame which he had already acquired in almost every campaign, and in almost every battle which has been fought with the Indians since the settlement of Kentucky. Of the several corps, the 4th United States regiment, and the two small companies attached to it, were certainly the most conspicuous for undaunted valor. The companies commanded by Captains Cook, Snelling, and Barton, Lieutenants Larrabee, Peters, and Hawkins, were placed in situations where they could render most service, and encounter most danger; and those officers eminently distinguished themselves. Captains Prescott and Brown

་

performed their duty, also, entirely to my satisfaction, as did Posey's company of the 7th regiment, headed by Lieutenant Albright. In short, sir, they supported the fame of American regulars; and I have never heard that a single individual was found out of the line of his duty.

"Several of the militia companies were in no wise inferior to the regulars. Spencer's, Guiger's, and Warrick's maintained their posts amid a monstrous carnage-as, indeed, did Robb's, after it was posted on the left flank. Its loss of men, (seventeen killed and wounded,) and keeping its ground, is sufficient evidence of its firmness. Wilson's and Scott's companies charged with the regular troops, and proved themselves worthy of doing so. Norris' company also behaved well. Hargrove's and Wilkins' companies were placed in a situation where they had no opportunity of distinguishing themselves, or, I am satisfied, they would have done it. This was the case with the squadron of dragoons also. After Major Daveiss, had received his wound, knowing it to be mortal, I promoted Captain Parke to the majority, than whom there is no better officer. My two aids-de-camp, Majors Hurst and Taylor, with Lieutenant Adams, of the 4th regiment, the adjutant of the troops, afforded me the most essential aid, as well in the action as throughout the campaign.

"The arrangements of Captain Piatt, in the quartermaster's department, were highly judicious; and his exertions, on all occasions—particularly in bringing off the wounded-deserve my warmest thanks. But, in giving merited praise to the living, let me not forget the gallant dead. Colonel Abraham Owen, commandant of the 18th Kentucky regiment, joined me, a few days before the action, as a private in Captain Guiger's company. He accepted the appointment of volunteer aid-decamp to me. He fell early in the action. The representative of his State will inform you that she possessed not a better citizen, nor a braver man. Major J. H. Daveiss was known. as an able lawyer and a great orator. He joined me as a private volunteer; and, on the recommendation of the officers of that corps, was appointed to command the three troops of dragoons. His conduct, in that capacity, justified their choice. Never was there an officer possessed of more ardor and zeal to discharge his duties with propriety; and never one who

would have encountered greater danger to purchase military fame. Captain Baen, of the 4th United States regiment, was killed early in the action. He was, unquestionably, a good officer and valiant soldier. Captains Spencer and Warrick, and Lieutenants McMahon and Berry, were all my particular friends. I have ever had the utmost confidence in their valor, and I was not deceived. Spencer was wounded in the head. He exhorted his men to fight valiantly. He was shot through both thighs, and fell; still continuing to encourage them, he was raised up, and received a ball through his body, which put an immediate end to his existence. Warrick was shot immediately through the body. Being taken to the surgery, to be dressed, as soon as it was over, (being a man of great bodily vigor, and able to walk,) he insisted on going back to head his company, although it was evident that he had but a few hours to live."

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

KILLED AND WOUNDED AT TIPPECANOE-PROCEEDINGS OF TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE-PROPOSITION TO FORM A STATE GOVERNMENT.

AT the battle of Tippecanoe, the loss of the army, under the command of Governor Harrison, amounted to thirty-seven killed in the action, and one hundred and fifty-one wounded-of which number twenty-five afterward died of their wounds. Colonel Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, Colonel Abraham Owen, Captain W. C. Baen, Captain Jacob Warrick, Captain Spier Spencer, Lieutenant Richard McMahan, Lieutenant Thomas Berry, Thomas Randolph, esq., and Colonel Isaac White, were among those who were killed or mortally wounded in the battle. Lieutenant-colonel Joseph Bartholomew, Lieutenantcolonel Luke Decker, Dr. Edward Scull, Adjutant James Hunter, Lieutenant George P. Peters, Lieutenant George Gooding,

Ensign Henry Burchstead, Captain John Norris, and Captain Frederick Guiger, were among the wounded.

The number of the Indians who were engaged in the battle of Tippecanoe can not be stated with any degree of certainty. The reports which, soon after the battle, were circulated among the people of the territory, by Indians and Indian traders, were contradictory. Some of these reports fixed the number of fighting men at, 560-other accounts placed the number at 732; and, while a few persons asserted that the number of warriors did not exceed 350, others estimated the Indian force at one thousand fighting men. The loss of the Indians, in killed and wounded, was, probably, about equal to the loss which was sustained by the army under the command of Governor Harrison. Thirty-eight Indian warriors were killed on the field of battle.

Standing on a small piece of elevated ground, near the scene of action, the prophet, whose voice was remarkably loud, encouraged the Indians, by singing a war song. He told his followers that they would gain an easy victory; and that the bullets of their enemies would be made harmless. When he was informed, during the engagement, that some of the Indians were killed, he said that his warriors must fight on, and they would soon be victorious. His force, having been gathered from different tribes, was composed of Shawanees, Wyandots, (or Hurons,) Kickapoos, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawattamies, Winnebagoes, Sacs, and a few Miamis. Immediately after their defeat at the battle of Tippecanoe, the surviving Indians having, with a few exceptions, lost their faith in the power of their leader, returned to their respective tribes; and the Prophet, thus left almost without followers, took up his residence among a small band of Wyandots, who were encamped on Wildcat creek. His deserted town, which contained a large quantity of corn, was destroyed on the 8th of November.

On the next day the army moved from its encampment on the Tippecanoe battle-ground, and, returning on the route by which it had marched toward the Prophet's Town, it reached the vicinity of Fort Harrison on the 14th of November. The wounded, having been placed in boats, were sent forward to Vincennes. Leaving Captain Snelling with his company of regulars at Fort Harrison, the army continued its march

toward Vincennes, at which place it arrived on the 18th of November. The troops from Kentucky, and those from the southeastern parts of the Indiana territory, were discharged at Bosseron creek, on the preceding day.

The territorial legislature adopted the following preamble and resolution on the 18th of November:

“WHEREAS, The services of his excellency, Governor Harrison, in conducting the army-the gallant defense made by the band of heroes under his immediate command, and the fortunate result of the battle fought with the confederacy of the Shawanee prophet, near Tippecanoe, on the morning of the 7th instant, highly deserve the congratulations of every true friend to the interests of this territory and the cause of humanity:—

"Resolved, therefore, That the members of the legislative council and house of representatives will wait upon his excellency, Governor Harrison, as he returns to Vincennes, and, in their own names, and in those of their constituents, welcome him home; and that General W. Johnston be, and he is hereby appointed, a committee to make the same known to the governor, at the head of the army, should unforeseen circumstances not prevent."

At this period, there were a few members of the territorial legislature, and a considerable number of the citizens of the Indiana territory, who were inclined to award to Colonel Boyd, and his small regiment of regular troops, the honor of saving the army from defeat and destruction at the battle of Tippecanoe. Among this class of citizens, there were some who were known as the avowed personal enemies of Governor Harrison-some who had steadily opposed his administration of the territorial government, especially his policy in the making of Indian treaties, and in the general management of Indian affairs; some who had, with a good deal of activity, and, perhaps, with humane motives, opposed the organization of the expedition which was formed for the purpose of breaking up the settlement of Indians at the Prophet's Town; and some-but not many-who, on very slight grounds, were suspected of being the friends, if not the agents or emissaries, of the British government.