Battle of Tippecanoe

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Battle of Tippecanoe
Part of: Tecumseh's war
Illustration from the 19th century by Alonzo Chappel
Illustration from the 19th century by Alonzo Chappel
date November 7th and 8th, 1811
place in front of Battle Ground , Indiana
output American victory
Parties to the conflict

United States 15United States United States

Tecumseh's Confederation

Commander

William Henry Harrison

Tenskwatawa
White Loon

Troop strength
1000 regulars and militia 500+ Indians
losses

68 dead
120 wounded

50+ dead
70+ wounded

In the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 troops of the United States of America fought against Tecumseh's Indian Confederation under the leadership of then Governor William Henry Harrison . The battle took place outside Prophetstown , the main camp of the Indian Confederation near what is now the Battle Ground .

prehistory

Tecumseh, who was touring other Indian tribes in search of more allies, left his brother Tenskwatawa in charge of Prophetstown in his absence . The war leader was White Loon of the Shawnee tribe . The American leadership took advantage of Tecumseh's absence to strike a sensitive blow against the center of his Indian alliance.

course

Map of the Battle of Tippecanoe.

On November 6, 1811, the approximately 1,000 militiamen under Harrison's command reached Prophetstown. When the soldiers were within sight of the city, an Indian negotiator rode out and asked for a ceasefire until the next day so that a meeting could be held. Harrison agreed to the armistice but did not trust Tenskwatawa and had guards put up overnight.

Due to a prophecy from Tenskwatawa that they would be invulnerable, the Indians attacked the night camp of the American troops in the twilight of the next day, November 7, 1811. The American troops were able to repel this surprise attack, as well as further advances throughout the morning.

The next day, November 8, 1811, Harrison sent a small detachment of soldiers to the Indian camp to investigate. After that, the sources contradict each other. The soldiers reported that they found the camp abandoned except for an old woman. Other sources report a massacre of women and children in the camp. In any case, Harrison burned the town down and marched homeward with his troops.

See also