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'-    oc    MUL.EN    CO.,  |f4D. 


Mi 


mrint 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  02498  2594 

Gc    977.2    T49p 
Pershing,    M-    W.     1849- 
Life    of    General     John    Tipton 
and    early    Indiana    history 


\ 


LIFE  OF 

GENERAL    JOHN    TIPTON 

AND 

EARLY  INDIANA  HISTORY 

BY 
M.    W.    PERSHING 


s^ 


PUBLISHED    BY 

THE  TIPTON  LITERARY  AND  SUFFRAGE  CLUB 
TIPTON,  INDIANA 

PRICE  THIRTY-FIVE   CENTS  PER  COPY. 

Aflen  County  Public  Lii^fiQ^ 

900  Webster  Stre^ 

PO  Box  2270 

R)rt  Wayne,  IN  46801-2270 


^Ot^^^ 


GENERAL  JOHN  TIPTON 


i  INTRODUCTION. 


t*  

O 

Q  During  tlie  summer  of  1905,  the  writer  of  this  book  was  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  H.  G.  Read,  wlien  tlie  latter  asl^ed  the  question,  "What 
great  things  did  General  Tipton  do  that  our  County  and  City  and  other 
Counties  and  Cities  are  named  for  him,  and  so  little  said  of  him  in 
history?"  In  the  conversation  that  followed,  bits  of  information  was 
gleaned  until  the  subject  became  of  considerable  interest.  At  that 
time  the  Doctor  was  the  President  of  the  Tipton  Literary  and 
Suffrage  Club,  and  he  suggested  that  a  paper  on  the  life  .of 
General  John  Tipton  be  prepared  and  read  before  the  club.  Acting 
upon  this  suggestion,  the  program  committee  set  apart  a  ''Tipton 
"Night"  and  Mrs.  Sam  Matthews  was  selected  to  prepare  and  read  a 
paper  on  the  subject.  After  careful  re-search  and  much  labor,  she  pre- 
pared and  read  a  most  valuable  and  interesting  paper.  It  aroused  con- 
siderable discussion  and  much  information  was  derived.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  club  became  so  enthused  that  they  conceived  the  idea  of  rais- 
ing a  fund  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  monument,  or  tablet  or  a  paint- 
ing to  the  memory  of  the.  man  for  whom  the  County  and  City  were 
named.  Committees  were  appointed  to  adopt  a  plan  for  a  monument. 
Those  who  took  the  initiative  and  gave  life  to  the  movement  were  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  H.  G.  Read,  Dan  and  Mrs.  Waugh,  George  H.  and  Mrs.  GilTord. 
Mrs.  George  Teter,  Mrs.  Sam  Matthews,  Mrs.  W.  L.  Berrvman,  ]\frs.  W. 
H.  Ogan,  Mrs.  E.  H.Shirk,  Mrs.  Dr.  Dickey,  Mrs.  William  Standerford, 
M.  W.  Pershing  and  others  whose  names  cannot  just  now  be  recalled. 
For  some  time  the  subject  was  more  or  less  discussed,  but  no  definite 


plans  were  matured  until  during  the  last  summer,  when  Prof.  C.  F. 
Patterson,  Superintendent  of  the  City  Schools  and  L.  D.  Summers, 
Count}'-  Superintendent  of  Schools,  heard  of  the  movement  and  they 
suggested  that  as  the  project  was  of  historic  importance,  that  it  be 
brought  before  the  public  schools  and  that  it  be  made  a  County  affair. 
This  was  thought  advisable  and  it  was  made  a  special  feature  before  the 
County  Teachers'  Institute.  An  address  was  made  before  the  Teachers' 
Institute,  giving  a  brief  account  of  the  life  and  achievements  of  General 
Tipton,  from  which  the  teachers  throughout  the  County  became  deeply 
interested  and  it  was  decided  that  we  have  a  "Tipton  Day"  on  October 
25,  when  a  program  was  rendered  in  honor  of  the  great  General  for 
whom  our  County  was  named.  It  was  also  decided  that  a  history  should 
be  written  especially  devoted  to  the  life  of  the  General  and  the  under- 
signed was  selected  to  write  this  volume. 

The  history  and  biography  of  General  Ti]^ton  has  been  fully 
written  for  the  first  time  in  this  volume,  very  much  of  it  never  having 
been  in  print  before.  To  secure  this  material  difficult  re-search  was 
made,  and  considerable  correspondence  with  many  people,  who  had 
some  relic  about  their  homes  as  a  reminder  of  the  deeds  of  General 
Tipton.  Old  1  ooks,  old  pamphlets,  old  magazines,  old  newspapers,  and 
old  letters  were  hunted  up  and  read  with  little  bits  of  information 
gathered  here  and  there,  we  are  enabled  to  ]iroduce  a  volume  pertain- 
ing to  Indiana  history  and  the  life  of  a  man  whom  historians  have  paid 
little  attention.  For  a  great  deal  of  this  material  the  writer  is  indebted 
to  Lieutenant-Governor  Th.  Hugh  ]\li11er  and  George  Price,  of  Colum- 
bus, B.  F.  Lawrence,  managing  editor  of  the  Indianapolis  Star.  Hon. 
Dan.  McDonald,  of  Plymouth,  A.  0.  Reser  and  Thomas  E.  Burt,  of  La- 
Fayette,  the  latter  loaning  us  several  of  the  illustrations  appearing  in 
this  edition.  We  are  under  special  obligations  to  Reed  Beard,  of 
Lafayette,  author  of  the  "Battle  of  Tippecanoe,"  for  the  use  of  maps 
and  charts,  also  to  M.  W.  Phillips,  of  LaFayette  for  valuable  informa- 
tion heretofore  unpublished  together  with  a  letter  written  by  Judge 
Isaac  Naylor,  of  (^rawfordsville,  who  was  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe 
and  was  one  of  the  first  to  arrive  at  Pigeon  Roost  after  the  massacre. 
This  letter  was  found  quite  recently  among  some  old  papers  in  the 
])ossession  of  the  Judge's  daughter. 

The  object  in  tlie  publication  of  this  work  is  that  valuable  historic 
events  in  the  State  of  Indiana  may  be  preserved  and  that  deeds  per- 
formed and' sacrifices  made  by  Gen.  John  Tipton  may  become  more  gen- 


erally  known.  The  net  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  this  book  is  to  be  entirely 
devoted  to  .creating  a  fund  toward  the  erection  of  a  monument  to 
the  memory  of  the  man  who  was  a  citizen,  a  statesman,  an  Indian  fighter 
and  a  history  maker.  The  writer  takes  great  pleasure  in  dedicating 
this  volume  to  the  Public  Schools  and  the  Citizens  of  Tipton  County 
and  hopes  that  it  may  encourage  a  greater  interest  in  the  earlier  history 
of  the  State  and  create  a  patriotic  sentiment  for  those  who  did  so  much 
for  American  civilization. 


/prrr^_e^Jc^^ 


Life  of  General  John  Tipton. 


The  Tipton  family  is  of  Irish  lineage.  Joshua  Tipton,  the  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  horn  in  Maryland.  In  early  manhood 
he  removed  to  Sevier  County,  East  Tennessee,  then  known  as  the  terri- 
tory of  Franklin,  and  there  he  was  married  to  Jeanette  Shields.  Joshua 
Tipton  was  an  Indian  fighter  and  soon  became  a  leader  in  public  affairs 
of  Tennessee. 

There  are  stirring  stories  of  a  fued  between  the  Tipton  family  and 
the  Sevier's  (for  whom  the  County  was  named.)  It  was  waged  with 
characteristic  Southern  heat  and  the  bitter  vindictiveness  which  has 
made  each  a  tragic  element  in  the  history  of  so  many  communities  in 
the  young  South.  This  fued  ended  on  April  16,  1798,  in  the  death  of 
Joshua  Tipton,  apparently  at  the  hands  of  a  marauding  band  of 
Cherokee  Indians.  But  it  is  unwritten  history  that  the  assassination 
was  arrnna:ed  and  timed  bv  the  Seviers.  It  was  under  such  conditions 
and  such  influences  that  John  Tipton  was  born,  August  14,  1786.  He 
was  seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  When  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  mother  and  family  to  Indi- 
ana, settling  near  Bringley's  Ferry,  in  Harrison  County.  Here  he  was 
the  chief  suiiport  of  the  family,  and  by  repairina:  guns  and  working  as 
a  farm  hand,  he  was  enabled  to  buy  a  farm  of  fifty  acres.  His  mother 
died  at  Seymour  in  1827. 

John  Tipton  was  not  in  the  new  territory  long  before  his  nualities 
as  a  leader  became  recoa:nized.  The  constant  fear  of  hostile  Indians, 
horse  thieves,  counterfeiters  and  river  desperadoes  kept  the  settlers  on 


10 


LIFE      OF      GENERAI.      JOHN      TIPTON. 


,^/^/^^2^^^^- 


LIFE      OF      GENERAI-      JOHN      TIPTON. 


the  alert  and  Tipton  was  fonncl  to  be  a  man  that  could  be  relied  upon  as 
an  indefatigable  enemy  to  Indians  and  evil  doers. 

In  June,  1809,  the  Sheriff  of  Harrison  County  formed  a  company  of 
mounted  riflemen  for  active  service  in  Indian  warfares.  Of  this  com- 
pany, ''The  Yellow  Jackets,"  so  called  from  the  peculiar  color  of  their 
uniforms,  John  Tipton  became  a  member.  On  September  12,  1811,  the 
company  was  marching  on  general  orders  of  Gov,  Harrison  to  rendez- 
vous at  Vincennes.  This  campaign  was  made  against  the  hostile 
Indians  on  the  Wabash  Kiver  and  contributes  an  important  chapter  of 
Ihe  war  of  1812.  This  expedition,  while  apparently  not  imix)rtant  in 
Hself,  lies  at  the  foundation  of  a  mighty  fact  in  our  development,  for 
the  ''Battle  of  Tippecanoe"  led  the  English  to  see  that  their  Indian 
allies  were  not  to  be  relied  upon,  and  they  therefore  withdrew  from  the 
alliance  and  thus  made  it  possible  for  the  ITnited  States  to  control  the 
four  great  States  of  the  Middle  West. 

'.During  this  expedition  John  Tii^ton  kept  a  daily  journal,  the  only 
one  kept  by  any  one  during  that  long  march.  The  following  are  a  few 
extracts  from  this  diary,  the  original  of  which  is  now  on  file  with  the 
Historical  Society  at  Indianapolis.  It  will  be  observed  that  Tipton  was 
an  uneducated  man,  though  there  is  method  and  system  in  all  his 
records: 

"thirsday,  12,  of  September.  1811,  when 
the  company  departed  from  Corydon  to  Sun- 
day, 24,  November,  when  the  stragling  remnant 
of  the  company  returned." 

"An  encompt  of  the  march  and  Encamp- 
ment of  the  riflemen  of  harrison  county,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  S]uer  Spencer,  consisted  of  47 
men  besides  officers  in  Company  with  E.   m. 
heath  with  22  men." 
The  journal  gives  particulars  of  each  day  and  the  doings  of  the 
writer.     It  appears  from  the  records  that  he  was  always  ready  for 
everything  that  came  up.    It  is  written  with  evident  modesty,  but  his 
ability  and  adaptability  assert  themselves  continuall}^    Standing  post, 
scouting,  hunting  lost  horses,  repairing  guns  of  his  company,  acting  as 
a  spy,  hunting  game  for  his  mess  and  making  himself  generally  useful, 
thus  he  was  in  close  touch  with  his  comrades.    Here  are  a  few  more  ex- 
tracts that  are  very  interesting: 

"thirsday  12  of  September  1811  Left  Corry- 


12  liTFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 

don  at  3  oclock  marched  six  miles  to  governor 
harrisons  mill  and  Eneampt  had  onr  horses  in 
posture. ' ' 

' '  12.  marched  34  miles  and  on  the  way  was 
joined  by  Capt.  Berry  with  20  men  and  Eneampt 
at  a  good  Spring." 

"14.  marched  3  miles  and  Eneampt  at  the 
half  moon  Spring  was  joined  hy  Capt.  baggs 
with  a  troop  of  horses  and  in  the  Evening  hy 
Col  hartholom.ew  with  120  melitia  from  Clark 
County." 

It  must  he  remembered  that  John  Tipton  never  went  to  schaol  and 
liis  ability  to  write  at  all  was  through  his  own  efforts  and  his  desire  to 
become  a  useful  man.  From  his  diary  we  gather  a  report  of  tlie  move- 
ments of  the  army.  On  Wednesday,  November  18,  1811 ,  the  army 
reached  Vincennes,  where  the  troops  were  mustered,  and  general  orders 
issued  by  Gov.  Harrison  on  September  22,  and  Major  J.  H.  Daviess 
was  appointed  in  command  of  all  the  dragoons.  Tipton  was  appointed 
Ensign  of  the  company  to  which  he  belonged  and  it  was  ordered  as  a 
detached  corps  of  mounted  volunteers. 

The  army  under  the  command  of  Gov.  Harrison  moved  from 
Vincennes  on  September  26,  and  on  October  3,  arrived  at  Terre  Haute. 
The  events  of  the  next  few  weeks  are  here  given  in  Tipton's  own 
language: 

"thirsday  3d.  marched  at  9  four  of  our 
horses  missing  the  men  left  to  hunt  them  m_arch- 
ed  one  mile  Came  to  tare-hott  an  oald  Indian 
village  on  east  side  of  wabash  on  high  land  near 
a  Large  Prarie  Peach  and  aple  trees  growing." 

In  this  vicinity  the  Indians  had  been  very  trouble^^-o-e,  killing 
many  settlers,  stealing  horses  and  cattle  and  driving  the  whites  into 
Vincennes.  Gov.  Harrison  had  promised  the  fugitives  whom  he  met  at 
Vincennes  that  he  would  make  a  decisive  ca^-.paign  against  the  Indians. 
After  a  few  days  march  from  Terre  Haute  a  halt  was  made  and  the  army 
rngaged  in  the  building  of  a  fort,"  which  was  named  Fort  Harrison  and 
wa^s  completed  October  28.  After  the  fort  was  completed  Harrison  sent 
some  Helawarc  (liiefs  to  tlie  Pro])hei  on  a  mission  of  peace,  offering 


lilFE      OF      GENERAL     JOHN      TIPTON. 


1.S 


14  TjIFE      of      GKNKRAI.      .IOHN      TIPTON. 

terms  of  surrender,  but  the  Prophet  treated  the  proi>osition  with  scorn. 
Upon  receiving  this  refusal  the  army  marched  toward  Prophet's  Town. 
The  army  was  composed  of  about  nine  hundred  and  ten,  embracing 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  regular  troops,  sixty  volunteers  from  Ken- 
tucky and  about  six  hundred  Indiana  volunteers.  On  October  81  tlie 
army  passed  Eacoon  Creek  and  crossed  the  Wabash  River  at  the  present 
site  of  Montazuma,  in  Park  Countv,  of  which  Tipton  wrote  in  his 
journal : 

''thirsday  31st  we  took  a  north  cours  up 
the  east  of  valley  and  then  crosst  to  the  west 
with  orders  to  kill  all  the  Indians.  We  saw 
fine  news." 

His  language  here  indicates  his  hatred  for  the  Indian.  From  the 
fact  that  the  Indians  had  killed  his  father  the  young  man  was  ready  to 
obey  any  order  to  kill  all  Indians  that  came  within  his  sight.  He  was 
ever  on  the  alert  and  when  Indian  signs  were  discovered,  he  was  always 
on  the  outlook  for  them.  It  is  said  that  Tipton  never  saw  a  good  Indian 
except  a  dead  Indian.  All  Indians  were  bad  Indians  and  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  kill  them  whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself.  He  was  a 
sure  shot  and  when  an  Indian  came  in  sight  a  flint-lock  rifle  went  to  his 
!<houlder,  there  was  a  crack  of  a  gun  and  an  Indian  fell  to  the  ground. 
So  deadly  was  his  aim  that  when  the  Red  Man  heard  that  he  was  in  the 
vicinity  they  kept  well  under  cover  and  avoided  meeting  him. 

As  the  army  approached  the  historic  ground  on  which  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe  was  fought  his  journal  becomes  m.ore  interesting,  and  as 
this  is  the  only  authentic  account  of  the  march,  r..akes  it  of  more  than 
ordinary  value.  The  following  is  taken  from  his  journal  for  the  next 
several  days: 

''Sunday  the  ord  (November,  1811)  a 
cloudy  day.  we  moved  eary.  our  Company  on 
the  Right  wing  today.  Crosst  the  Big  Vermil- 
lion, through  a  Prarie  six  miles,  3  miles  through 
timber,  then  through  a  wet  Prairie  with  groves 
of  timber  in  it.  After  IS  miles  Cam])ed  in  Rich 
grove  of  timber  in  tlie  Prairie,  (^apt.  S]^encer 
very  sick  today,  at  10  oclock  tonight  the  aid 
Came  to  (^ani])  and  orec  a  sulialtern  and  the  men 
to  Parade  at  the  GoN'crnor's  tent,     at  4  in  the 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL     JOHN      TIPTON. 


15 


PLAN  OF  TIPPECANOE  CAMP,    EVENING  OF  NOVEMBER   6 


16  LIFE      OF      GENERAI.      JOHN      TIPTON. 


morning  I  was  ordered  out.  my  Company  maid 
up.  a  gun  fired  while  I  am  writing  at  eleven 
ocloek. ' ' 

"Monday  the  4th.  I  went  out  with  my 
scout.  Joined  hy  Capt.  Prince,  went  18  miles 
through  a  Prairie.  Came  to  Pine  Creek,  a  fine 
Large  Creek,  then  turned  back,  the  Day  being 
could,  Cloudy  and  Windy.  Began  to  rain  at  11 
ocloek.  we  stoped  to  make  fire.  But  the  armey 
Came  and  we  had  to  leve  it.  We  crosst  Pine 
Creek  and  Cam]id.  two  gun  fired  at  S.  it  Con- 
tinewd  Eaing  at  intervales.  T  had  one  quart  of 
whisky  yesterday  and  one  today  of  the  Con- 
tractor." 

"tuesday  the  5.  a  Cloudy  day.  we  mooved 
Earley.  a  Lieutenant  and  5  men  sent  to  scout. 
Came  to  the  armey.  no  Sine  Reed  We  went  6 
miles  through  timber  then  Prairie,  with  groves 
of  timber  and  a  number  of  small  lakes  in  it.  an 
alarm  maid.  T  was  Rent  out  with  17  men  to 
Scout.  Seed  nothino'.  a  Deer  and  a.  wolf  Killed 
in  the  line.  Cairpd  on  a  Small  Branch  after  18 
miles,  the  guns  fired  last  night  wounded  a 
horse." 

"ATednesday  the  fi.  A  vary  Cold  day,  we 
moved  Earley.  Scout  Sent  out.  they  came 
back,  had  t-eed  indijm  Sine,  we  marched  as 
usuel  till  12.  Our  Spies  Caught  four  horses  and 
Seed  son^e  indinns.  found  we  ware  near  the 
Celebrated  Prophet's  town.  Stopt  in  a  Prairie. 
the  foot  throwd  all  their  napsacks  in  the 
waggons,  we  found  in  order  for  A  Battle. 
marched  -  uiiles.  then  formd  the  line  of  Bat- 
tle, we  marched  in  five  lines  on  the  extreme 
Pight.  Went  into  a  Corn  Field,  then  up  to  the 
above  town  and  Surrounded  it.  the  met  us. 
Pled  for  Peace,  the  said  the  would  gi\e  us 
Satisfnc  in  the 'morning,  all  the  time  we  ware 
tlicic  the  kept   licllowiug.     this  town  is  on  the 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL   .  .TOHN      TIPTON.  17 

west  side  of  Wabash — miles  above  vincinnes,  oti 
the  second  Bank,  neat  built,  about  2  hundred 
yards  from  the  river,  this  is  the  main  town, 
but  it  is  Scattering  a  mile  long,  all  the  way  a 
fine  Corn  field,  after  the  above  moovement  we 
moovd  one  mild  farther  up.  Campd  in  tim(ber) 
between  a  Creek  and  a  Prairie  af  (ter)  Crossing 
a  fine  Creek  and  marching  11  miles." 

''thirsday  the  7.  agreeable  to  their 
Promise  Last  night  we  were  answered  by  the 
fireing  of  guns  and  the  Shawines  Braking  into 
our  tents,  a  Blood  Combat  Took  Plaice  Precise- 
ly 15  minutes  Before  five  in  the  morning,  which 
Lasted  2  hours  and  20  minutes,  of  a  Continewel 
fireing  whil  maney  time  mixed  among  the 
indians  So  that  we  Could  not  tell  them,  indians 
and  our  men  apart,  they  kept  up  a  fireing  on 
three  sides  of  us  and  took  our  tent  from  the 
guard  fire.  Our  men  fought  brave  and  by  the 
timely  help  of  Capt  Cook  with  a  Company  of  in- 
fantry we  maid  a  Charge  and  Drove  them  out 
of  our  timber  across  the  Prairie,  our  Losst  and 
Ki11d  and  wounded  was  179,  and  their  graiter 
than  ours.  among  the  Dead  was  our  Capt 
Spier  Spencer  and  firs  Lieut  memahon  and  Capt 
Berrey  that  had  Been  attachd  to  our  Company, 
and  5  more  Kild  Dead  and  15  wounded,  nffpr 
the  indians  arave  arround  we  Burried  our  Dead, 
among  the  Kentucians  was  Killd  may  J.  Owins 
and  may  J.  Davies  badlv  wounded  and  a  num- 
ber of  others,  in  all  Killd  and  wounded  was  179 
but  no  Company  Suffered  like  ours,  we  then 
held  an  Election  for  Officers.  T  was  Elected 
Capt.  Sam!  flauaa'an  first  Lieut  and  Jacob  Zenor 
Second  Liet.  and  Philip  Bell  Ensign,  we  then 
built  Breast  work,  our  men  in  much  confusion 
in  our  rear. 

flower  been  too  small  and  all  our  hccvs  lost. 
Last  nidit  onlev  a  half  Pations  of  whiskv  and 


18 


lilFE      OF     GENERAI^      JOHN      TIPTON. 


INDIANA   IN  1611 


Dearbor, 


Scale    of  A/'V^-s 


lilFK      OF      GENERATv      JOHN      TTPTON.  19 

no  corn  for  our  horses,  my  horse  Killd.  T  got 
memalions  to  ride.  37  of  them  had  been  Kill(^ 
wonnded  and  Lost.  I  had  one  quart  of  whis(ky) 
last  night." 

"friday  the  8th.     a  Cloudy  day  and  Last 
night  was  also  wet  and  cold,    we  Lay  all  night 
at  our  Breast  work  without  fire,    in  the  morn- 
ing Spies  Sent  out  found  the  indians  had  left 
their  town,    the  horsemen  was  all  sent  to  burn 
their  town,    to  wet  went  ann  found  grait  deal  of 
Corn,  and  some  Dead   indians  in  'the  houses. 
Tvoaded  6  waggons  with  Corn,  and  Burnt  what 
Estimated  at  2  thousand  Bushels.    9  of  our  men 
>    Died  last  night." 
The  Indians  not  returning  after  the  battle,  the  army  moved  toward 
Vincennes.    Tipton  continued  to  keep  his  diary,  but  there  was  nothing 
of  an  unusual  character  occurred  upon  the  return  trip.    After  the  dis- 
charge of  the  volunteer  soldiers  at  Vincennes,  the  following  entry  is 
U'ade  in  the  journal: 

''Sunday  Nov  24th,  a  Cloudy  and  Eainy 
morning,  we  mooved  Early.  Come  to  Corrydon 
at  half  past  10.  took  Breakfast,  mooved  up  to 
Coonrods,  found  my  Lieut  and  sick  man.  Staid 
2  hours  had  my  horses  fed,  got  some  whisky, 
met  one  of  my  neighbors,  mooved  again  and  at 
10  oclock  got  safe  Home  after  a  Campain  of  74 
days.  (signed)      John  Tipton." 

Eollowing  this  is  a  foot  note  which  completes  the  joi^i^nal  for  this 
f^ampaiaii  and  closes  the  incidents  of  the  war  with  the  Indians  and  the 
})attle  of  Tippecanoe:  ''this  Day  Book  Kept  During  the  Campain 

in  the  Year  1811.  wherein  his  Ex-Cellency  Gov- 
ernor Plarrison  was  Commander  in  Chief  and 
Col.  J.  B.  Boyd  of  the  4th  United  States  Eeige- 
ment  was  Second  in  Cominand.  Evervthing 
herein  stated  the  Subscriber  holds  his  self 
Ti<»adv  to  make  anpear  to  Bee  Fact  from  the 
best  information  Could  Bee  as  it  was  duly  Ke]it 
l^v  his  self." 
Oliver  H.  Smith  in  his  book,  "Earlv  Trials  and  Sketches."  in  writ- 


20  I.IFE      OF      GENEKAT.      JOHN      TIPTON. 

"Rg-  of  tJie  battle  of  Ti])pe('aiu)e  and  the  achievements  of  John  Tipton, 
has  the  fohowing  to  say: 

"A  dark  night  came  on.  It  was  probable  that  the  Prouhel  won  id 
strike  that  night,  if  at  all,  the  men  lay  on  their  arms,  the  officers  at  their 
j-espective  command.  'Hark!'  the  sound  of  rifles.  The  .-entinels  were 
either  shot  or  driven  in,  the  attack  was  made  ovej"  the  east  and  west 
banks  of  the  high  lands,  bordering  'the  prairies.  Tiie  moment  the  alarm 
was  given,  every  soldier  was  on  his  feet  and  the  mounted  officers  in 
tlieir  saddles.  Gen.  Harrison  ran  to  the  post  where  he  left  his  gray 
mare.  Finding  Major  Owens  bay  horse  he  liiounted,  leaving  the  gray 
for  the  Major  if  he  could  find  her.  The  Oenerai  dashed  down  to  where 
he  heard  the  firing,  rode  up  to  Capt.  Spencer's  position  at  tlie  point  of 
;•  high  ground  around  which  the  prairl^'s  mer,  where  the  enejny  had 
made  the  first  attack- — deadly  in  effect.  There  stood  the  bra^e  Ensign, 
John  Tipton,  and  a  few  of  the  surviving  men  of  tbo  co)n]iany.  In  a  loud 
voice  Gen.  Harrison  called  out: 

^''AVhere  is  the  Captain  of  this  company!' 

"To  which  John  Tipton  answered,  'Dead,  Sir.'' 

'"Where  is  the  First  Lieutenant?' 
•'"He  is  dead,  Sir.' 

'"Where  is  the  Second  Lieutenant:" 

'"He  is  dead.' 

' ' '  Where  is  the  Ensign  ? ' 

'"I  am  here,"  answered  Tipton. 

"'Stand  fast,  my  brave  fellow,  stand  fast,  and  1  will  get  relief  for 
you  in  a  few  minutes.'" 

General  Harrison  always  s]ioke  of  Ensign  Tipton  as  the  coolest  and 
lu-avest  officer  he  had  in  his  connnand.  Standing  there  with  sword 
drawn,  facing  tlie  oncoming  Indians,  looking  at  death  and  seeing  his 
comrades  falling  all  about  him,  he  held  the  position  until  relief  came 
.md  the  Indians  were  driven  back.  The  day  was  saved.  The  great 
Tecumseh  federation  had  failed  and  the  great  Prophet's  heart  was 
broken.  Ft  was  Ti]'>ton  that  stood  between  savagery  and  civilization, 
ft  was  he  that  made  it  possible  that  the  ]>ower  of  the  Indian  was 
broken  and  the  great  states  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigaii  and  Wiscon- 
sin freed  of  hostile  Indians  and  brought  under  the  domination  of  Anglo- 
Saxon  government.  The  British  government  bowed  to  the  inevitable  and 
withdrew  its  sui)p()i-t  from  the  Indians.  The  Pro])het  Tecumseh  went 
{(•  Detroit  wlicrc  iic  scx'ci'ed  liis  relations  with  the  P>ritish  government 


I.IFK       OK      (JKXKKAL       .lOIlN       TIPTOX. 


n.^Sft. 


■<xSi^ 


INDIAN    WAR    DANCE. 

[Fi'oin  Fam   us  I'rontiersmcii.   Pioucfis  and  Sc'oiits  ;  imhlislKvl  by  W.  H. 

I.iirrisnn,  .It-.,  I'lililisniii;^  ('.>..  Chicaico.] 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 


and  went  to  Canada,  wliere  he  lived  the  life  of  an  exile,  hated  and 
despised  by  both  whites  and  reds,  and  died  a  mi  serai)!  e  death  alone  and 
unattended. 

In  1839  the  bones  of  the  soldiers  that  fell  in  the  battle  of  Tippe- 
canoe, which  had  been  disinterred  by  the  Indians  for  revenge  and  rob- 
bery, were  gathered  together  and  buried  again.  The  battle  grounds 
was  purchased  by  Gen.  Tipton,  the  deed  being  recorded  at  Grawfords- 
ville.    After  holding  it  a  few  years  he  donated  it  to  the  State  of  Indiana. 

The  Legislature  had  ]iassed  an  act  commanding  the  Grovernor  to 
negotiate  with  Gen.  Tipton  for  the  purchase  of  the  battle  ground  land, 
consisting  of  about  thirteen  acres.  On  another  page  we  reproduce  an 
autograph  letter  written  by  Gov.  Noble  to  Gen.  Tipton  asking  him  to 
sell  the  land  to  the  state  and  on  another  page  appears  Tipton's  reply 
in  his  own  hand  writing,  offering  to  donate  the  ground.  The  convey- 
ance of  the  gift  is  recorded  in  the  Recorder's  office  at  L-' Fayette.  The 
records  show  that  the  transfer  was  made  on  November  7,  1836,  the 
twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  famous  battle.  The  record  was  lost  and 
for  several  years  there  was  a  dispute  over  the  title.  Alva  O.  Reser,  of 
L.aFayette,  became  interested  in  the  history  of  the  battle  and  while 
preparing  an  address  to  be  delivered  before  the  Battle  Ground  Chau- 
tauqua he  went  to  Logansport  and  by  the  assistance  of  a  grand-daughter 
of  Gen.  Tipton,  found  the  original  letters  neatly  tied  in  a  bundle  and 
kept  in  an  old  trunk  owned  by  her  grand-father.  Among  these  papers 
were  documents  that  quieted  the  title  to  tlie  battle  p,Tounds.  On 
February  4,  1837,  a  year  after  the  doration  of  the  battle  grounds,  a 
resolution  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  instructing  the  Governor  to 
offer  a  suitable  i^remium  for  a  design  for  a  monument  to  be  erected  on 
the  battlefield,  i)ledging  the  faith  of  the  state  to  complete  the  same. 
This  promise,  iiledged  seventy  years  ago,  is  still  unfulfilled. 

Gov.  Noble  went  out  of  office  in  1837  and  after  the  death  of  Gen. 
Tipton  in  1839,  the  project  was  forgotten.  Fven  the  ground  was  not 
taken  care  of,  cattle  roamed  over  the  burial  ])laces  of  the  heroic  dead 
and  their  hallowed  mounds  were  trampled  upon.  The  historic  oaks, 
showing  bullet  marks  of  the  rifles  were  cut  down  in  manv  instances, 
until,  finally  at  the  meeting  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1850, 
when  on  Satui'day,  December  ?],  John  Pettit,  a  ivember  of  the  Conven- 
tion from  Tippecanoe  County,  introduced  a  resohition  to  incorporate  a 
section  in  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  article  4,  section  10.  which  reads 
as  follows:     "It  shall  be  tlic  dntv  of  tlie  General  A^seniblv  to  lu'ovide 


TjIFE      of      GENERAX,      JOHN      TIPTON.  28 

for  the  permanent  enclosure  and  preservation  of  the  Tii^pecanoe  Battle- 
field." 

In  1873,  sixty-two  years  after  the  battle  was  fought,  an  appropria- 
tion of  $24,000  was  made  by  the  legislature  to  enclose  the  ground  with 
an  iron  fence  and  to  otherwise  provide  for  the  care  of  the  grounds. 
Only  $18,000  of  the  amount  was  expended  and  $6,000  reverted  to  the 
State  Treasury.  In  1837  an  appropriation  of  $3,500  was  made  for  paint- 
ing the  fence  and  other  work.  There  is  now  in  force  a  permanent 
ai)propriation  calling  for  $300  a  year  to  take  care  of  the  grounds,  to  be 
expended  by  the  County  Commissioners,  a  trust  which  is  faithfully 
carried  out.  Congressman  E.  D.  Crumpacker,  from  the  Tenth  District, 
introduced  a  bill  in  Congress  asking  for  an  appropriation  of  $25,000 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  those  whose 
bones  are  buried  on  this  historic  battlefield.  By  an  earnest  appeal  he 
s'ucceeded  in  getting  the  last  session  of  Congress  to  make  the  appropria- 
tion and  now,  nearly  a  century  since  the  battle  was  fought,  a  suitable 
monument  is  to  be  erected. 

The  battle  ground  is  now  the  property  of  the  state  and  surround- 
ing it  is  a  high  iron  fence.  It  is  a  beautiful  grove  of  native  forest  trees 
r.nd  thousands  of  ]ieo]:>le  assemble  near  by  every  year,  attending  the 
battle  ground  camp  meetings.  The  writer  of  this  book  was  there  a  little 
over  a  year  ago  with  several  hundred  news])a]ier  publishers  from  neai-ly 
every  State  in  the  Union.  Nearly  all  of  them  knew  of  Gen.  Harrison 
and  of  the  great  battle,  but  very  few  had  ever  heard  of  Gen.  Tipton. 
Ca})t.  DeHart  and  William  R.  Wood  made  short  addresses,  in  which 
they  told  of  the  battle,  pointing  out  the  positions  of  the  Indians,  the 
l^lace  of  attack  and  the  spot  where  nearly  two  hundred  American  citi- 
zen soldiers  fell  for  the  advance  of  civilization. 

The  battle  of  Tippecanoe  established  Capt.  Tipton's  fame  as  an 
Indian  fighter  and  he  was  regarded  as  a  leader  to  be  depended  upon  in 
those  troubleous  tii^^es  when  the  Indian  was  a  continuous  menace  to  the 
(Constantly  encroaching  settlers. 

The  Indians  were  more  or  less  troublesome  during  the  years  1811 
and  1812.  They  would  assemble  and  invade  settlements,  killing  men, 
won^en  and  children.  On  one  occasion,  in  Scott  County,  a  band  of 
Shawnee  Indians  made  a  raid  on  a  settlement  on  Pigeon  Eoost  Creek, 
and  killed  every  settler.  It  was  one  of  the  most  atrocious,  startling  and 
cruel  massacres  ever  chronicled  in  the  annals  of  Indiana. 

On  Septembpr  3,  1812,  J.  Payne  and  a  man  named  Coffinan  were  out 


£4  I.IFR      OF      GENKRAT.      JOHN      TIPTON. 


e^^^  px  ^<^^  tV  ^^  '^r'J^ 


I.IKK      OK      GRNKRAI.      .TOHX 


Translation  of  Governor  Noble's  letter  to 
Gen.  Tipton,  requesting  terms  upon  which  the 
Tippecanoe  Battle  Grounds  could  be  purchased. 
See  co])y  of  original  letter  on  opposite  page. 


Indianapolis,  Nov.  1st,  1834. 
The  Hon.  John  Tipton, 
Sir 

The  last  legislature  of  our  State,  by  a  joint- 
resolution,  made  it  the  duty  of  the  Governor  to 
ascertain  the  terms  u]ion  which  you  would  sur- 
render the  grounds  on  which  was  fought  the 
memorable  Battle  of  Tippecanoe.  With  the 
events  of  that  struggle,  honorable  mention  has 
been  made  of  your  name,  of  your  fellow  officers 
and  soldiers  who  survived  by  the  line  General  who 
commanded,  as  well  of  those  who  were  slain,  and 
knowing  your  high  estimate  of  the  courage  and 
]n-ivate  virtues  of  your  companions  who  fell  and 
whose  remains  render  that  a  sacred  spot,  I  need 
say  but  little  to  induce  you  to  appreciate  the 
motive  which  prompts  the  measure  that  of  a  just 
regard  for  the  memory  of  the  lamented  dead. 
Allow  me  to  refer  you  to  the  resolution  and 
reouest  an  answer  as  eai'ly  as  your  convenience 
will  permit 

I  am  Sir 

With  Great  P^steem 

Your  Obt.  Svt., 

N.  Noble. 
(Resolution  to  be  f(mnd  in 
last  volume  of  our  laws.) 


26  T.IFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 


K X  K HAJj      J () f r  N      T [  PT( ) N .  27 


Translation  of  (len.  John  Tipton's  letter  in 
answer  to  that  of  Governor  Noble  requesting 
terms  n])on  wliich  the  Tip])ecanoe  Battle  Grounds 
eonld  he  purchased.  See  eoi)Y  of  original  letter 
on  opposite  page. 


Falls  (if  the  Waliash  7th  of  Nov.  1S:]4. 
His  Exev  N.  Noble 

Sir 

I  have  the  honor  to 
acknowledge  the  reeei])t  of  your  favor  of  the  first 
of  this  month  informing  me  that  by  a  resolution 
of  the  last  legislature  it  was  made  the  duty  of  the 
Governor  to  ascertain  ui)on  what  terms  I  would 
surrender  to  the  state  the  ground  upon  which  was 
fought  the  memorable  Battle  of  Tippecanoe,  and 
in  reply  1  have  to  inform  you  that  in  purchasing 
the  battle  ground  T  was  actuated  l)y  no  other 
motive  than  that  of  possessing  it  in  order  to 
preserve  the  bones  of  my  com])anions  in  arms  who 
fell  there,  and  that  it  will  afford  me  great 
pleasure  to  convey  the  battle  ground  to  the  State 
of  Indiana,  free  of  all  charge,  whenever  it  is  signi- 
fied to  "me  that  the  State  wishes  it  so  conveyed 
for  that  ))ur])ose. 

(Signed  John  Ti])ton.) 


US  T^TFR      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TTPTOX. 

l»oe  hunting  ill  the  woods  and  were  surprised  and  killed  by  a  band  of 
iwelve  Indians.  About  sunset,  on  the  same  day,  this  party  of  Indians 
attacked  the  Pigeon  Eoost  Settlement,  and  in  the  space  of  one  hour, 
killed  one  man,  five  women  and  sixteen  children.  The  bodies  of  some 
were  burned  in  the  fires  which  consumed  the  cabins.  But  one  woman 
\vith  three  small  children  escaped  the  awful  massacre.  She  walked  all 
night  and  arrived  at  the  home  of  a  neighbor,  several  miles  away,  the 
next  morning.  The  Indians  followed  her,  but  the  man  with  whom  she 
took  refuge  was  prepared  for  them,  and  with  his  rifle,  succeeded  in  driv- 
ing them  away.  A  company  of  Home  Guards  was  organized  and  the 
country  scoured  for  Indians,  but  they  had  gone  so  far  away  that  the 
chase  was  abandoned.  Gen.  Tipton  was  notified  and  for  several  months 
he  awaited  the  order  to  go  to  the  rescue  of  the  Settleirents.  The 
massacre  of  Pigeon  Roost  is  of  such  historical  importance  that  a  few 
years  ago  the  Legislature  made  an  appropriation  for  the  purpose  of 
preserving  the  ground  where  it  occurred.  A  well  built  fence  surrounds 
the  scene  of  the  massacre  and  appropriate  inscriptions  mark  the  graves 
of  those  who  were  killed. 

We  find  in  Ti])ton's  journal  of  1812,  an  account  of  an  expedition 
made  to  Driftwood  Ford,  of  White  River,  where  the  Indians  were  giving 
the  farmers  much  trouble.  On  the  oOtli  day  of  June  they  sent  a  call -to 
Gen.  Tipton  to  come  and  drive  the  Red  Men  away.  On  July  5  he  started 
Avith  nine  men,  five  more  following  in  a  few  days.  The  next  day  they 
arrived  at  Fort  Pleasant  and  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day  they  came 
itpon  Fort  Defiance.  The  next  day  thev  divided  their  forces  and 
scoured  the  country,  but  the  Indians  had  heard  that  Capt.  Tipton  was 
after  them,  and  knowing  what  kind  of  a  Red  Skin  hunter  he  was,  they 
stole  away  and  never  returned  again.  This  ex])edition  lasted  in  the 
neighborhood  of  twenty  days. 

The  following  year  Capt.  Ti]iton  was  ])romoted  to  the  rank  of  Major 
r.nd  lie  was  located  at  Fort  Vallonia,  near  where  Indians  were  committ- 
ing many  depredations.  Ti])ton  had  under  his  command  twenty-nine 
men,  and  on  one  of  his  scouting  ex])editions  he  met  a  party  of  Indians  on 
an  island  in  AYhite  river.  He  engaged  them  in  battle  and  pressed  the 
attack  with  such  energy  that  the  enemy  fell  back  and  were  soon  running 
for  their  lives,  throwing  their  eruns  and  blankets  awav,  jum]nng  into 
the  river  and  swimming  to  the  other  shore.  Several  Indians  were  killed 
and  wounded  and  a  few  more  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  swim 
ncross  the  river.    Ti])i()n  lost  no  men  killed  or  wounded. 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 


Tii)ton  was  a  (lisei})linai*ian.  He  enforced  order  and  obedience  and 
was  not  slow  to  punish  any  one  who  would  disobey  his  connnand.  Dur- 
ing this  engagement  on  the  island  he  ordered  that  there  must  be  no 
talking  and  that  absolute  silence  must  prevaij.  While  creex)ing  up  onto 
the  Indians,  a  great  big  fellow  kept  talking.  Tipton  went  up  to  him, 
took  his  gun  from  him  and  tied  him  to  a  tree  among  the  tall  horse 
weeds.  He  could  not  move  and  bullets  from  the  enemies  guns  whizzed 
near  him,  keeping  him  in  constant  fear  and  he  was  glad  to  promise  to 
"be  still."  Tipton  loosened  the  strings  and  he  went  to  the  front  and 
fought  like  a  hero.  This  battle  is-  known  to  this  day  as  the  "Battle  of 
Tipton's  Island." 

In  the  early  part  of  1813  Indians  were  still  troublesome  toward  the 
north,  and  Tipton  was  sent  to  subdue  them.  In  April,  with  thirty-one 
men,  an  engagenient  was  had  with  the  Indians  in  which  two  men  were 
killed,  however,  the  Indians  were  severely  punished  and  began  to  make 
a  rapid  retreat.  Then  Gen.  Tipton  pushed  forward,  and  on  Salt  River, 
now  in  Brown  County,  a  running  fight  was  kept  up  and  there  was  more 
or  less  shooting  every  day.  However,  the  Indians  were  severely  ]iun- 
ished  and  by  the  middle  of  the  summer  all  signs  of  trouble  disappeared. 

It  was  in  this  year  that  peace  was  declared  with  Great  Britain  and 
no  more  trouble  was  apiu'ehended  and  the  people  went  to  work  to 
develop  farms,  build  roads  and  locate  towns.  Emigrants  flocked  into  the 
country  and  it  was  but  a  few  years  until  all  the  wild  Indian  waste  was 
brought  under  cultivation,  and  evidences  of  prosperity  prevailed  in  all 
Southern  Indiana.  At  tlie  declaration  of  peace  Tipton  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Brigadier-General  by  l^resident  Monroe,  and  he  returned  to 
his  home  at  Corydon,  which  city,  had  during  his  years  of  Indian  war- 
fare, become  the  seat  of  the  Territorial  Ca]iital,  it  ])reviously  bein<4' 
located  at  Vincennes. 

In  1816  Indiana  because  a  state,  the  nineteenth  territory  to  enter 
the  ITnion.  At  the  first  election  held  in  ?Iarrison  County  John  Tipton 
was  elected  Sheriff  and  he  was  re-elected.  In  the  State  election  held  in 
August,  1819,  he  was  elected  a  Representative  to  the  State  Legislature, 
and  to  this  office  also  received  a  re-election.  On  January  11,  1820,  the 
Governor  appointed  a  Comndssion,  consisting  of  Ti])ton,  George  Hunt, 
Johii  (^onner,  Jolm  Gilliland,  Stephen  Ludlow,  Joseph  Bartholomew, 
Jesse  E.  Durham,  Frederick  Rapp,  William  Prince  and  Thomas  Ennner- 
son,  to  select  and  locate  a  site  for  the  new  capital  for  the  State.  Vin- 
cenness,  Corvdon,  IMadison,  Terre  TIaute,  Vallonia,  Strawtown.  Indi- 


;jo 


LIFE      OF      GKNFKAI.      .rOHX      TIPTON. 


GOVERNOR    NOAH   NOBLE. 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL,     JOHN      TIPTON.  81 

anapolis  and  other  towns  were  petitioners  for  the  capital  and  the  eoni- 
niissioners  visited  all  of  them.  The  merits  and  demerits,  the  advantages 
and  disadvantages  of  all  sites  were  carefully  investigated.  After  a  con- 
siderable time,  the  Commission  met  at  Indianapolis  to  determine  the 
site.  The  bids  had  narrowed  down  between  Strawtown  and  India- 
napolis, with  a  strong  inclination  toward  Strawtown,  due  to  the  efforts 
of  William  Conner,  then  an  influential  citizen.  General  Tipton  was 
favorable  to  Indianapolis  and  to  head  off  further  discussion  and  delay, 
he  made  a  motion  that  Indianapolis  be  made  the  site  of  the  new  capital. 
Great  excitement  prevailed  in  this  meeting,  which  took  place  in  the 
home  of  John  McCormick,  the  grand-father  of  Nicholas  S.  Martz,  of 
Tipton.  When  the  vote  was  cast  and  counted,  Indianapolis  was  selected 
by  a  close  margin. 

In  1821  Tipton  was  appointed  a  Commissioner  by  the  Legislature, 
with  a  like  Commissioner  from  Illinois,  to  locate  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  two  States.  But  for  an  error  made  by  the  surveyor,  who 
failed  to  establish  a  true  meridian,  the  great  city  of  Chicago,  would, 
today  be  in  the  State  of  Indiana  instead  of  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  Gen. 
Tipton  insisted  at  the  time  that  the  territory  comprising  Cook  County 
belonged  to  Indiana,  but  the  surveyor's  notes  had  a  stronger  influence 
than  Ti])ton's  argument,  and  Chicago  was  lost  to  Indiana. 

It  was  during  this  ]ieriod  of  the  history  of  the  State  of  Indiana  that 
extensive  improvements  were  inaugurated  all  over  the  United  States. 
A  great  national  road  was  being  built  through  Indiana  from  Baltimore 
to  St.  Louis.  During  this  session  of  the  Legislature  a  public  highway 
was  conceived  a  hundred  feet  wide,  running  from  Lake  Michigan  to  the 
Ohio  River.  Gen.  Tipton  took  great  interest  in  these  improvements 
and  he  was  one  of  a  Committee  to  negotiate  with  the  Indians  for  a  stri]) 
of  ground  through  their  reservations  for  the  road.  Evidences  of  this 
undertaking  are  still  in  existence,  for  in  every  town  through  which  the 
road  ]iasse(l,  the  streets  are  one  hundred  feet  wide.  This  accounts  for 
the  great  width  of  the  main  street  in  Eochester  and  other  towns  along 
the  old  Michigan  Road.  At  this  time  canals  were  also  being  constructe<l 
and  Ti])ton  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  who  planned  and  had  sur- 
veyed a  number  of  canal  routes,  among  them  the  Wabash  and  Erie  (^anal 
and  the  WhiteAVater  (/"anal  near  Richmond. 

In  1823  Gen.  Ti]iton  was  appointed  Indian  Agent  by  President 
Monroe  for  the  Pottawatomie  and  Miami  Indians.  He  was  located  at 
Fort  Wavne,  and  made  his  home  in  the  old  block  house,  where  he  was  at 


32  LIFE  ..  OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 

all  times  safe  from  attacks  by  the  Indians.  It  was  here  i7i.l824  that 
Allen  County  was  organized  and  at  Gen.  Tipton's  suggestion  the  County 
was  named  in  honor  of  Col.  James  Allen,  of  Kentucky,  who  was  killed 
at  the  Indian  massacre  at  tlie  River  Raisen.  While  he  was  performing 
his  duties  as  Indian  Agent  the  President  appointed  him,  together  with 
Gen.  Lewis  Cass,  of  Detroit,  and  Governor  John  B.  Ray,  to  negotiate  a 
treaty  with  the  two  tribes  over  which  the  General  was  agent.  A  treat;^ 
was  made  at  Paradise  Springs,  on  October  16,  1826,  at  the  junction  of 
the  Mississiniwa  and  Wabash  Rivers,  by  which  the  Indians  ceded  all 
the  north-west  part  of  Indiana  to  the  government.  This  cession  in- 
cluded a  part  of  Tipton  County,  the  reserve  line  running  through  the 
town  of  Tipton.  After  the  treaty  was  made  many  of  the  Miamis,  who 
lived  on  the  border,  and  therefore  were  not  present,  became  restless 
and  dissatisfied.  They  did  not  understand  the  terms  of  the  treaty  and 
threatened  troul)le.  David  Foster,  of  Kokomo,  did  all  he  could  to  make 
them  understand  that  the  treaty  was  a  fair  one  and  that  they  should 
r;l)ey  it  and  join  in  the  great  removal  that  was  soon  to  take  place.  But 
they  were  stubborn  and  sullen.-  They  could  not  give  up  their  old  hunt- 
ing grounds.  They  had  been  so  often  deceived  and  disappointed  that 
they  thought  that  this  meant  their  final  extinction.  The  traditions  of  a 
long  ancestry  a])]iealed  to  them  and  th.ey  were  very  bitter  toward  the 
Government  and  the  Big  Chiefs  that  consented  to  the  treaty.  To  give 
them  a  better  understanding  of  the  nature  of  the  treaty,  upon  the  sug- 
gestion of  David  Foster,  it  was  arranged  that  Gen.  Ti])ton  come  and 
ex]ilain  to  them  the  conditions  of  the  treaty.  A  day  was  set  and  a  great 
barbacue  planned.  Hundreds  of  Indians  assembled  and  a  l)ig  dinner  was 
served.  Wild  meats,  corn  bread  and  other  luxuries  of  that  day  were 
s])i-ead  u])on  the  ground  and  Gen.  Tinton  and  a  few  other  white  guests 
sat  and  ate  with  the  Red  Men.  Gen.  Ti])t()n  then  s])oke  to  the  assembly. 
He  succeeded  in  making  the  terms  of  the  treaty  ])lain  and  they  were 
satisfied  and  when  the  day  can^e  for  them  to  go  to  the  far  west  they 
(piietly  submitted,  not,  however,  without  many  regrets.  Many  tears 
were  shed  and  more  than  once  they  turned  and  looked  back,  and  with 
bowed  heads  bade  "farewell,  farewell,  old,  old,  home.'' 

Many  years  ago  the  writer  had  frequent  talks  with  David  Foster 
about  the  early  settlement  of  this  county,  and  as  nearly  as  we  can  deter- 
mine the  place  Avhere  the  barbacue  was  held  i;.  in  the  field  about  a  half 
mile  north  and  west  of  Tipton,  near  the  old  ?^lari'/  canning  factory. 

This  ]>rnc1i('ally   ciKhMl  all   the   hidiaii   wars  in    liidinna,  exec])!   in 


T^IFE      OF      GENERAL,      JOHN      TIPTON.  88 

1<S38,  when  trouble  arose  over  tlie  removal  of  the  Pottawatomies  from 
their  reservation  in  Marshall  (\mnty,  near  Twin  Lake  and  the  Yellow 
River,  and  then  it  was  only  by  the  timely  arrival  of  Gen.  Tipton  that 
blood-shed  was  averted.  Twenty-two  sections  of  good  and  fertile  land 
were  es])ecially  reserved  to  the  Pottawatomie  Indians,  presided  over  by 
four  Chiefs,  named  Menominee,  Pipinawa,  Nakata  and  Macatawmaaw. 
Menominee  was  the  oldest,  a  peaceable  and  pions  Indian,  always  friend- 
ly to  the  whites.  Early  in  life  he  forsook  his  pagan  religion  and  became 
a  Christian,  joining  the  Catholic  chnrch  under  the  guidance  of  Father 
Theodore  Badin,  who  was  the  first  Catholic  Priest  ordained  in  the 
United  States.  In  1828  a  (liapel  was  erected  with  an  upstairs  room 
where  the  Priest  resided.  A  little  village  grew  up  around  it  and  an 
effort  made  to  agriculture. 

The  reservation  was  in  the  path  of  the  proposed  Michigan  road  and 
frequent  efforts  had  been  made  by  the  whites  to  get  possession  of  it,  and 
by  continued  bartering  they  succeeded  in  getting  the  three  younger 
Chiefs,  made  stupid  with  drink,  to  sign  their  rights  away.  These  three 
received  14,080  silver  dollars  for  their  share.  Menominee  did  not  sign 
the  treaty,  nor  did  he  ever  sign  it.  By  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  the 
entire  tribe  was  to  be  removed  to  the  Osage  country,  west  of  the 
]\rissouri  RiA^er  and  the  6th  day  of  August,  1888,  was  the  date  fixed  for 
their  departure.  As  the  day  approached  the  Indians  became  restless 
and  there  were  mutterings  and  resistance  threatened.  To  make  matters 
worse  and  to  precipitate  a  conflict,  a  squatter  named  Waters,  settled  on 
the  reservation.  This  so  enraged  the  Indians  that  in  the  dead  hour  of 
night  tliey  made  an  attack  on  his  cabin  and  chopped  the  door  down,  but 
were  driven  away  without  the' shedding  of  blood.  A  re])ort  of  threat- 
ened trouble  was  made  to  Gov.  Wallace,  who  rode  all  the  way  from 
Indianapolis  to  Twin  Lake  on  horse  back  to  investi^'ate.  It  was  evident 
to  him  that  there  would  be  an  outbreak  among  the  Indians  unless  they 
were  overawed  by  soldiers,  so  he  called  Gen.  Tipton.  With  one  hundred 
soldiers,  Tipton  arrived  at  the  little  village,  finding  nearly  all  the 
Indians  near  the  Chapel  attending  worship  and  listening  to  the  counsel 
of  the  good  and  wise  Chief  INfenominee.  Tipton  carried  out  his  instruc- 
tions and  the  poor,  oppressed  Indians  were  surrounded  and  overpow- 
ered. Dejected  and  humiliated,  they  were  forced  to  obey.  General 
Tipton.  Abel  C.  Pepi)er,  the  Government  Indian  Agent,  and  the  Catholic 
Priest,  Father  Petit,  counseled  ]ipace  and  a  consent  to  their  removal. 


34 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON, 


\^-F^ 


f-#^ 


'T^^i^t'^"^'^ 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON.  85 

In  answer  to    their  argument,    Chief  Menominee    made  the   following 
speech :  *^  ^  P  ^  *-^  *^ 

"Your  President,  tie  does  not  know  the 
truth.     He  does  not  know  Menominee  did  not 
sign  the  land  away.    He  does  not  know  Menom- 
inee's people  want  to  be  peaceable  and  do  not 
want  the  whiskey  of  the  white  man.    He  does 
not  know  the  Young  Chiefs  were  drunk  and 
foolish  when  they  signed  the  land  away.    Your 
Chief,  the  President,  is  a  good  man,  and  if  he 
could    know    the    truth    he    would    not    take 
Menon'inee   away   from  his   home,  tied   like   a 
dog.     He  has  not  heard  the  counsel  of  the  wise 
Chiefs.    He  has  heard  only  the  young  Chiefs." 
With  that  he  sat  down  and  the  silence  that  followed  was  oppre- 
sive.    Finally,  he  arose,  passed  the  ''pipe  of  peace"  to  General  Ti])ton 
and  counseled  the  tribe  to  obey  the  mandates  of  the  white  man.     On 
September  4,  1838,  General  Tipton  started  to  the  far  west  with  859  men, 
women  and  children.     Before  leaving  the  tribe  went  to  the  graves  of 
their  fathers  where  they  wailed  piteously.     An  old  French   woman, 
seventy-two  years  old,  was  their  only  friend  that  gave  them  comfort 
and  consolation.    Her  sympathies  reconciled  them  and  in  her  presence 
ihey  kissed   the   cross   and  made   ready  for  the   long  journey.      The; 
women,  children,  the  old  and  infirm  were  put  in  big  Government  wagons 
and  the  start  was  made,  single  file.     Tt  was  a  sad  and  sorrowful  sight, 
like  a  funeral  procession.     Not  a  word  was  s]ioken,  each  being  sullen, 
crestfallen  and  heartbroken.    On  the  way  156  died  of  chills,  fevers  and 
malarial  diseases.     A  few  years  later  Menominee  died   of  a  broken 
heart.    This  was  the  last  of  the  Pottawatomies  in  Indiana. 

This  is  the  sad  side  of  the  Indian  story  and  it  creates  a  feeling, 
that  after  all,  the  Indian  was  not  so  uuich  to  blame  for  his  savagery, 
when  his  hon]e,  his  land  and  his  hunting  ground  were  taken  from  him, 
sometimes  honestly  and  sonietii>^es  dishonestly.  At  the  session  of  the 
Legislature,  in  1907,  Hon.  Daniel  McDonald,  of  Plymouth,  succeeded 
in  gettinir  a  bill  passed,  a])propriating  4'--500  for  the  purpose  of  restor- 
ing the  old  Mission  Church  and  the  erection  of  a  monument  -to  the 
memory  of  the  good  pious  old  Indian  Chief,  Menominee. 

In  all  the  Indian  wars.  General  Tipton  was  foremost  in  all  contests, 
and  while  lie  had  a  bitter  hati'ed  for  the  Indian  and  was  readv  to  take 


LIFK      OF      GENERAL,      JOHN      TIPTON. 


arms  any  time  against  them,  he  always  fought  them  fair.  He  never 
killed  an  Indian  because  he  was  an  Indian,  but  he  fought  them  in  a 
cause  that  demanded  the  possession  of  a  country  for  a  civilized  and 
progressive  race.  His  removal  of  the  Pottawatomies  is  the  only  evi- 
dence of  cruelty,  however,  he  was  acting  under  orders  and  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  deported  tribe  were  unavoidable.  It  was  the  only  season  of 
the  year  that  they  could  be  removed  with  as  little  exposure  as  possible 
and,  perhaps,  they  fared  better  than  they  would  had  the  removal  taken 
l^lace  earlier  or  later  in  the  season. 

In  the  spring  of  1828  General  Tipton  moved  the  Indian  agency 
from  Fort  Wayne  to  the  "Mouth  of  Eel  River,"  near  the  junction  with 
the  AVabash,  where  the  town  of  Logansport  had  just  been  surveyed. 
The  town  had  not  been  named  and  Tipton  suggested  that  it  bear  the 
name  of  "Mouth  of  Eel  River."  (^ther  na  lies  were  suggested,  one  of 
them  being  in  honor  of  the  great  Indian  Chief  Logan,  who  had  been 
friendly  to  the  whites  throughout  all  the  Indian  wars.  To  arbitrate  the 
matter  it  was  decided  that  Tipton  and  Col.  Duret  should  shoot  at  a 
mark,  and  the  one  coming  nearert  to  it,  four  shots  out  of  seven,  was  to 
have  the  honor.  Duret  won  by  coming  nearest  the  mark  four  times, 
therefore  the  town  was  named  Logan.  The  suffix,  "port,"  was  after- 
ward affixed,  making  it  "Logansport." 

On  February  26,  1831,  Gen.  James  Xoble,  a  United  States  Senator 
from  Indiana,  died  in  Washington.  Ti])ton's  name  was  vigorously 
advocated  to  fill  the  vacancy,  but  Gov.  Ray  appointed  Hon.  Robert 
Hanna,  who  served  until  the  meeting  of  the  next  Legislature,  when 
Tipton  was  elected  in  spite  of  the  efforts  to  elect  Hanna.  At  the  next 
session  Tipton  was  elected  Senator  to  serve  a  full  term  of  six  years. 
While  in  the  Senate  he  became  a  fast  friend  of  President  Andrew  Jack- 
son, and  upon  more  than  one  occasion,  he  was  the  President's  guest  at 
the  Hermitage,  in  Tennessee.  This  friendship  continued  until  the  ques- 
tion of  the  renewal  of  the  charter  of  the  United  States  Bank.  Tipton 
was  in  favor  of  the  re-chartering  of  the  banks,  while  the  President  bit- 
terly opposed  it.  Tipton  argued  hard,  for  he  believed  that  the  renewal 
of  the  charter  would  be  of  great  advantage  to  the  new  States  in  the 
west.  The  bill  passed,  but  when  it  went  to  the  President,  he  vetoed  it, 
thus  ending  one  of  the  bitterest  contests  in  Congress  on  financial 
questions. 

The  President  of  the  Senate  ap])()inted   Tipton   Chairman   of  the 
Committee  of  Indian  Affairs  and  it  was  he  and  OlivtM-  H.  Smith  who 


IK      GKNERAL      JOHX      Til 


l)roc*iired  the  jiassage  of  a  bill  to  purchase  the  Miami  Indian  Reserve. 
making  it  possible  for  Tipton  C'ounty  to  be  organized  and  become  a  })art 
of  the  great  State  of  Indiana.  In  a  volume  of  biographical  sketches  of 
[""nited  States  Senators,  among  the  archives  now  in  Washington, 
appears  the  following:  "John  Tipton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  has 
been  noticed  as  the  Ensign  hero  of  C'apt.  Spencer's  company  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Tippecanoe.  He  is  of  medium  height,  well  set,  short  face,  round 
head,  low  wrinkled  forehead,  sunken  gray  eyes,  stern  countenance,  good 
chest,  stiff  sandy  hair,  standing  erect  from  his  forehead.  He  is  the 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Indian  Affairs,  a  position  he  is  eminently 
qualified  for,  having  been  for  many  years  Indian  Agent  and  well 
acquainted  with  most  of  the  western  tribes.  He  is  a  man  of  great 
energy  and  character,  is  a  most  faithful  Senator,  always  in  his  seat 
ready  to  vote.  He  is  not  what  is  called  an  eloquent  debater,  still  he  is 
plain  and  strong  as  a  speaker.  He  sees  a  question  clearly  and  marches 
directly  at  it  without  rhetorical  flourishes." 

After  his  retirement  from  tlie  United  States  Senate  Tipton  refused  a 
re-election,  his  life  had  been  a  busy  and  strenuous  one,  and  he  had  a  de- 
sire to  return  to  private  life.  He  believed  in  Indiana  soil  and  at  different 
times  owned  land  in  Harrison,  Bartholomew,  Allen,  Huntington,  Cass 
and  Tippecanoe  Counties.  He,  jointly  with  Col.  Dnret,  his  brother-in- 
law,  entered  a  large  tract  of  land  between  Eel  and  Wabash  Rivers,  the 
present  site  of  the  City  of  Logans])ort.  He  became  deeply  interested  in 
educational  affairs  and  donated  ground  for  school  ])ur]30ses,  the  effect 
still  being  felt  in  that  thriving  City.  He  donated  property  to  the  order 
of  Eree  Masons  and  to  churches  and  other  ])ublic  institutions.  In  addi- 
tion to  these  gifts  he  was  liberal  in  all  the  towns  in  which  he  was  in- 
terested. He  donated  ground  on  which  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  was 
fought  to  the  state.  He  donated  thirty  acres  of  ground  to  Columbus, 
the  County  Seat  of  Bartholomew  County.  He  gave  freely  to  Eorl 
Wayne,  Huntington  and  Logansport.  He  built  a  dam  across  Eel  River 
at  Logansport,  which  is  still  in  existence,  and  made  many  other  gifts 
for  benevolent  and  educational  pur]ioses. 

General  Tipton  was  also  prominent  in  the  Masonic  order  in  Indiana. 
In  1817  he  received  the  Master  Masons  degree  at  Corydon  and  the  next 
>'ear  lie  was  a  Be]n'esentative  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  held  January  12, 
1818,  at  Madison.  He  was  elected  Senior  Warden,  being  the  first  man 
in  the  State  to  hold  that  office.  In  1819  he  was  elected  He^mty  Grand 
blaster  and  in  1820  was  elected  Grand  ^klaster,  at  JeffersotuiHe.     I"p':n 


88  LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 

liis  removalto  Fort  Wayne  he  proceeded  to  organize  a  lodge  of  Masons 
there,  the  first  meeting  being  held  in  his  room  at  the  fort.  When  the 
lodge  was  organized  he  was  elected  its  first  Senior  Warden.  He  was 
again  made  a  Representative  to  the  grand  lodge,  which  met  at  Indi- 
anapolis and  was  again  elected  Grand  Master.  Upon  his  removal  to 
Logansport,  in  1828,  he  immediately  organized  a  lodge  of  Masons  and 
in  his  honor,  the  lodge  was  nan^.ed  Tipton  lodge,  No.  33.  Again  he  was 
a  Representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  He  was  also  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason,  having  taken  the  degree  at  Louisville  in  1827. 

General  Tipton  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  his  cousin, 
]^Jiss  Jennie  Shields,  daughter  of  John  Shields,  who  became  famous  in 
ilie  Lewis  and  Clark  Expedition.  She  was  the  mother  of  two  sons,  one 
being  Spier  S.  Tipton,  who  became  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  a 
Captain  of  Dragoons  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  who  died  in  Mexico 
shortly  after  peace  was  declared. 

The  second  wife  of  General  Tipton  was  Miss  j\Tatilda  Spencer,  a 
daughter  of  his  old  neighbor  and  commander,  who  fell  in  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe.  Three  children  were  born  to  the  last  marriage,  George, 
John  and  Hariett.  George,  who  managed  his  father's  estate,  died  in 
Logansport.  John,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  died  in  California  at  the 
be2:inning  of  the  rebellion,  a  Captain  in  the  United  States  Army,  and 
ITariett,  who  umrried  Thomas  S.  Pumont,  of  Logansport,  died  soon 
nfter  the  Civil  War  in  .Oregon. 

On  February  14,  1839,  Mrs.  Matilda  Tipton,  wife  of  General 
John  Tipton,  died  and  on  April  4,  less  than  two  months  afterward, 
lier  husband  died  after  a  very  brief  illness.  While  superintending  a 
])roposed  improvement  of  his  extensive  water  privileges  he  contracted 
a  severe  cold  from  exposure,  and  on  the  next  day,  after  a  few  hours  of 
unconscious  su^'^ering,  he  died.  He  was  buried  at  Logansport  on  Sun- 
dav.  April  7,  1839,  with  military  honors  and  the  rites  of  the  Masonic 
order. 

Thus  ended  an  eventful,  busy,  useful  and  honorable  life.  In  his 
early  childhood  he  realized  that  there  were  great  possibilities  and  with 
that  energy  that  marked  his  entire  career  he  succeeded  in  whatever  he 
undertook.  He  never  forgot  those  who  were  in  arjus  against  the 
Indians  with  him  and  his  respect  for  his  dead  comrades  was  so  strong 
Miat  when  a  new  county  was  organized  he  urged  that  it  be  named  for 
ono  of  them.  His  appeal  was  often  listened  too  and  as  a  result  the 
counties   of   Floyd,   Posey.    Scott,   Warrick,    Spencer,   Wells  .  Daviess, 


LIFE      OF      GENERAI.      JOHN       TIPTOX.  89 

Parke,  Harrison  and  Bartholomew  were  named  for  men  who  were  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  Tipj^ecanoe.  He  was  so  unselfish  that  he  never 
asked  that  any  county  be  named  for  himself  and  it  was  never  suggested 
during  his  life.  The  nearest  he  came  to  having  his  name  perpetuated 
was  when  he  donated  thirty  acres  of  ground  to  Bartholomew  County 
for  a  County  Seat,  with  the  understanding  that  the  town  be  named 
"Tiptona,"  but  for  political  reasons  the  name  was  changed  to  Colum- 
bus. Tipton  was  very  much  chagrinned  over  the  change  and  lost 
interest  in  his  town,  and  it  is  said  that  he  never  visited  it  again.  Rather 
than  pass  through  it,  in  going  from  one  place  to  another,  he  would 
make  a  detour  around  it. 

Five  years  after  his  death,  Tipton  County  was  organized,  and  some 
one  who  knew  the  General  suggested  that  his  name  be  honored  and 
perpetuated  by  naming  the  new  County  Tipton.  Thus  is  was  that  after 
he  had  passed  from  an  eventful  career,  he  was  honored  by  the  naming 
of  a  County  and  City  to  his  memory.  The  citizens  of  Tipton  and  Tipton 
County  are  proud  of  the  name.  They  honor  him  for  whom  it  was 
named  and,  now,  seventy  years  after  his  death,  it  is  proposed  to  erect 
a  monument  that  future  generations  may  know  that  a  '^listory  maker, 
an  Indian  fighter,  and  a  public  spirited  citizen,"  helped  to  make  it  pos- 
sible that  the  Great  Central  Northwest  developed  into  the  richest  and 
most  prosperous  section  of  country  in  the  entire  Union.  It  is  proper 
that  the  citizens  of  Tipton  County  take  cognizance  of  this  and  commemo- 
rate the  name  of  General  John  Tipton  by  the  erection  of  a  suitable 
monument  to  his  memory.  It  is  a  spirit  of  patriotism  and  a  recognition 
of  the  value  of  men  to  the  country  and  welfare  of  all  the  people. 


40  LIFE      OF      GENERAL     JOHN      TIPTON. 


A  Letter  Written    by  a  Tippecanoe  Battle  Hero. 


The  writer  of  this  work  had  the  good  fortune  to  eeciire  a  copy  of  a 
letter  written  by  Judge  Isaac  Naylor,  of  Crawfordsville,  who  died  in 
1873.  The  Jndge  was  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  and,  alpo,  was  one  of 
the  first  to  arrive  at  the  Pigeon  Roost  massacre  after  the  Indians  had 
left.  Mr.  M.  W.  Phillips,  of  LaFayette,  who  is  devoting  a  good  deal  of 
time  and  energ>^  to  hunting  up  facts  and  traditions  of  the  early  history 
of  the  state,  recently  met  a  daughter  of  the  Judge,  and  by  her  permis- 
sion he  looked  over  many  letters  tiled  away  by  the  old  warrior.  Among 
the  pile  of  letters,  he  happened  to  find  one  giving  a  clefr,  vivid  and 
interesting  account  of  incidents  connected  with  this  memorable  march 
up  the  Wabash  and  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  It  is  throuorh  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  Phillips  that  we  are  able  to  re-produce  it  in  tliis  volume: 

*'I  became  a  volunteer  member  of  a  company  of  riflemen  and,  on 
the  twelfth  of  September,  1811,  we  com.menced  our  march  toward  Vin- 
cennes,  and  arrived  there  in  about  six  days,  marching  120  miles.  We 
remained  there  about  a  week  and  took  up  the  march  to  a  point  on  the 
Wabash  river  sixty  miles  above,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  where 
we  erected  a  stockade  fort,  which  he  nan^ed  Foi't  Hnr^'ison.  This  was 
three  miles  below  where  the  City  of  Terre  Haute  now  stands.  Col. 
Joseph  H.  Daviess,  who  conmmnded  the  dragoons,  named  the  fort.  The 
:';lorious  defense  of  this  fort  nine  months  after  by  Captain  Zachariah 
Taylor  was  the  first  stey)  in  his  brilliant  career  that  afterward  uiade 
liit]i  President  of  the  T"^nitod  States.     A  few  days  later  we  took  up  the 


IjIFE      ok      GKNERAI.      JOHN      TIPTON.  41 

march  again  for  the  seat  of  hidiaii  warfare,  where  we  arrived  on  the 
evening  of  November  6,  1811. 

"When  the  army  arrived  in  view  of  Prophet's  Town,  an  Indian 
was  seen  coming  toward  General  Harrison,  with  a  white  flag  snsj^ended 
on  a  pole.  Here  the  ar^r-v  halted,  and  a  parley  was  had  between  Gen- 
eral Harrison  and  an  Indian  delegation,  who  assured  the  General  that 
they  do?ired  peace  and  solemnly  promised  to  meet  him  the  next  day  in 
council  to  settle  the  terms  of  peace  and  friendshij)  between  them  and 
the  United  States. 

"General  Marston  G.  (lark,  who  was  then  Brigade  Major,  and 
Walter  Taylor,  and  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  General  Court  of  the  Terri- 
tory of  Indiana,  and  afterward  a  Senator  of  the  United  States  of 
Indiana,  (one  of  the  General's  aides)  were  ordered  to  select  a  place 
for  the  encampment,  which  they  did.  The  army  then  marched  to  the 
ground  selected  about  sunset.  A  strong  guard  was  placed  around  the 
encampment  commanded  by  Capt.  James  Bigger,  and  three  lieutenants. 
The  troops  were  ordered  to  sleep  on  their  arms.  The  night  being  cold, 
large  fires  were  made  along  the  lines  of  the  encam]mient  and  each 
soldier  retired  to  rest,  sleeping  on  his  arms. 

"Having  seen  a  number  of  squaws  and  children  at  the  town,  I 
thought  the  Indians  were  not  disposed,  to  fight.  About  10  o'clock  at 
night  Joseph  Warnock  and  myself  retired  to  rest,  he  taking  one  side  of 
the  fire  and  I  the  other.  The  other  members  of  our  company  being  all 
asleep.  My  friend  Warnock  dreamed  the  night  before,  a  bad  dream, 
which  foreboded  something  fatal  to  him,  or  to  some  of  his  family,  as  he 
told  me.  Having  myself  no  confidence  in  dreams,  I  thought  little  about 
the  matter,  although  I  observed  that  he  never  smiled  afterward. 

"I  awoke  about  4  o'clock  the  next  morning,  after  a  sound  and  re- 
freshing sleep,  having  heard  in  a  dream  the  firing  of  guns  and  the 
whistling  of  liullets  just  before  I  awoke  from  my  slumbers.  A  drizzling 
rain  was  falling  and  all  things  were  still  and  quiet  throughout  the 
camp.  I  was  eiigaged  in  making  a  calculation  when  I  should  arrive 
at  home. 

"In  a  few  moments  I  heard  the  crack  of  a  rifle  in  the  direction  of 
the  point  where  now  stands  the  Battle  Ground  House,  which  is  oceu- 
nied  by  Captain  DuTiel  as  a  tavern.  I  had  just  time  to  think  that  some 
sentinel  was  alarmed  and  h?d  fired  his  rifle  without  a  real  cause,  when 
I  heard  the  crack  of  another  rifle,  followed  by  an  awful  Indian  yell  all 
around    the  encaiv]mient.     In    less  thru    a  minute  I    '  aw  tho    In''i;'ns 


lAVK      OF       OKXKKAJ. 


charging  our  line  most  furiously  and  shooting  a  great  many  rifle  balls 
into  our  camp  fires,  throwing  the  live  coals  into  the  air  three  or  four 
feet  high. 

"At  this  moment  my  friend  Warnock  was  shot  by  a  rifle  ball 
through  his  body.  He  ran  a  few  yards  and  fell  dead  on  the  ground. 
Our  lines  were  broken  and  a  few  Indians  were  found  on  the  inside  of 
the  encampment.  In  a  few  moments  they  were  all  killed.  Our  lines 
closed  up  and  our  men  in  their  proper  places.  One  Indian  was  killed  in 
the  back  part  of  Captain  Geiger's  tent,  while  he  was  attempting  to 
tomahawk  the  Captain. 

"The  sentinels,  closely  pursued  by  the  Indians,  came  to  the  lines  of 
the  encampment  in  haste  and  confusion.  My  brother,  AYilliam  Naylor, 
was  on  guard.  He  was  pursued  so  rapidly  and  furiously  that  he  ran  to 
the  nearest  point  on  the  left  flank,  where  he  remained  with  a  company 
of  regular  soldiers  until  the  battle  was  near  its  termination.  A  young 
man,  whose  name  was  Daniel  Pettit,  was  pursued  so  closely  and  furi- 
ously by  an  Indian  as  he  was  running  from  the  guard  fire  to  our  lines, 
that  to  save  his  life  he  cocked  his  rifle  as  he  ran  and  turning  suddenly 
round,  placed  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  against  the  body  of  the  Indian  and 
shot  an  ounce  ball  through  him.  The  Indian  fired  his  gun  at  the  same 
instant,  but  it  being  longer  than  Pettit 's  the  muzzle  passed  by  him  and 
set  fire  to  a  handkerchief  which  he  had  tied  around  his  head. 

"The  Indians  made  four  or  five  most  fierce  charges  on  our  lines, 
yelling  and  screaming  as  they  advanced,  shooting  balls  and  arrows  into 
our  ranks.  At  each  charge  they  were  driven  back  in  confusion,  carry- 
ing off  their  dead  and  wounded  as  they  retreated. 

"Colonel  Owen,  of  Shelby  County,  Kentucky,  one  of  General 
Harrison's  volunteer  aides  fell  early  in  action  by  the  side  of  the  General. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Colonel 
Daviess  was  mortally  wounded  early  in  the  battle,  gallantly  charging 
the  Indians  on  foot  with  his  sword  pnd  pistols,  according  to  his  own 
request.  He  m.ade  this  request  three  tii^^es  of  General  Harrison,  before 
he  permitted  him  to  make  the  chara:e.  This  charge  was  made  by  him- 
self and  eight  dragoons  on  foot  near  the  angle  formed  by  the  left  flank 
and  front  line  of  the  encampment. 

"Colonel  Daviess  lived  about  thirty-six  hours  after  he  was 
wounded;  manifesting  hi;"  ruling  passions  in  life,  ambition,  patriotism 
and  an  ardent  love  of  military  glory.  During  the  last  hours  of  his  life 
he  said  to  his  friends  aronnd  him,  that  he  had  but  one  thing  to  regret, 


LIFE      OK      GENERAI.      JOHN 


tbat  lie  liad  military  talents;  that  he  was  about  to  be  cut  down  in  the 
meridian  of  life  without  having  an  opportunity  to  display  them  for  his 
own  honor  and  the  good  of  his  country.  He  was  buried  alone  with  the 
honors  of  war  near  the  right  flank  of  the  army,  inside  of  the  lines  of 
llie  encampment,  between  two  trees.  On  one  of  these  trees  the  letter 
''D"  is  now  visible.  Nothing  but  the  stump  of  the  other  remains.  His 
grave  was  made  here  to  conceal  it  from  the  Indians.  It  was  filled  up  to 
ilie  top  with  earth  and  then  covered  with  oak  leaves.  I  presume  the 
Indians  never  found  it.  This  precautionary  act  was  performed  as  a 
mark  of  peculiar  respect  for  a  distinguished  hero  and  patriot  of 
Kentucky. 

''Captain  Spencer's  company  of  mounted  riflemen,  composed  the 
j'ight  flank  of  the  army.  Captain  Spencer  and  both  his  Lieutenants 
were  killed.  John  Tipton  was  elected  and  commissioned  as  Ca^jtain  of 
this  Company  in  one  hour  after  the  battle,  as  a  reward  for  his  cool  and 
deliberate  heroism  displayed  during  the  action.  He  died  at  Logans- 
port  in  1839,  having  been  twice  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States 
from  the  State  of  Indiana. 

''The  clear  and  calm  voice  of  General  Harrison  was  heard  in  words 
of  heroism  in  every  part  of  the  encampment,  during  the  action.  Colonel 
Boyd  behaved  very  bravely  after  repeating  these  words:  'Huzza!  ^My 
sons  of  gold,  a  few  more  fires  and  victory  will  be  ours!' 

''Just  after  daylight  the  Indiaiis  retreated  across  the  ]->rairie 
toward  their  town,  carrying  off  their  wounded.  This  retreat  was  fro^n 
the  right  flank  of  the  encampment,  composed  of  two  rifle  companies, 
commanded  by  Captains  Spencer  and  Eobb,  having  retreated  from  the 
other  portions  of  the  encampment  a  few  minutes  before.  As  their  re- 
treat became  visible,  an  almost  universal  shout  was  raised  by  our  men. 
'Huzza!  Huzza!  Huzza!'  This  shout  was  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the 
savages  at  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  ours  was  the  shout  of 
victory,  theirs  was  the  shout  of  ferocious,  but  disappointed  hope. 

"The  morning  light  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  killed  and  wounded 
of  our  army,  numbering  between  eight  and  nine  hundred  men,  amounte  1 
to  one  hundred  and  eighty.  Thirty-six  Indians  were  found  dead  near 
<mr  lines.  Many  of  their  dead  were  carried  off  during  the  battle.  Thi'^ 
fact  was  proved  by  the  discover^^  of  many  Indian  graves  recently  made 
near  their  town.    Ours  was  a  bloody  victory,  theirs  a  bloody  defeat. 

"Soon  after  breakfast  an  Indian  Chief  was  discovered  on  the 
l)rairie,  about  eighty  yards  from  our  front  line,  wi'apped  in  a  piece  of 


44  LIFK      OF      GENERAI.      JOHN      TIPTON. 

white  cloth.  He  was  found  by  a  soldier  by  the  name  of  Miller,  a  resi- 
dent of  Jeft'ersonville,  Indiana.  The  Indian  was  wounded  in  Oxie  of  his 
legs,  the  ball  having  penetrated  his  knee  and  passed  down  his  leg, 
breaking  the  bone  as  it  passed.  Miller  put  his  foot  against  him  and  he 
raised  up  his  head  and  said:  'Don't  kill  me,  don't  kill  me.'  At  the 
same  time  five  or  six  regular  soldiers  tried  to  shoot  him,  but  their 
muskets  snapped  and  missed  fire.  Major  Davis  Floyd  came  riding 
toward  him  with  dragoon  sword  and  pistols  and  said  he  'would  show 
then  how  to  kill  Indians,'*  when  a  messager  came  from  General  Har- 
rison, commanding  that  he  should  be  taken  prisoner.  He  was  taken 
into  the  camp,  where  the  surgeons  dressed  his  wounds.  Here  he  re- 
fused to  speak  a  word  of  English  or  tell  a  word  of  truth.  Through  the 
aiedium  of  an  interpreter  he  said  that  he  was  a  friend  to  the  white  peo- 
|)le  and  that  the  Indians  shot  him,  while  he  was  coming  to  the  camp  to 
tell  General  Harrison  that  they  were  about  to  attack  the  army.  He  re- 
fused to  have  his  leg  amputated,  though  he  was  told  that  amputation 
was  the  only  means  of  saving  his  life.  One  dogma  of  Indian  supersti- 
tion is  that  all  good  and  brave  Indians,  when  they  die,  go  to  a  delightful 
region,  abounding  with  deer  and  other  game,  and  that  to  be  a  success- 
ful hunter,  he  should  have  all  his  limbs,  his  gun  and  his  dog.  He  there- 
fore preferred  death  with  all  his  limbs  to  life  without  them.  In  accord- 
ance with  his  request  he  was  left  to  die,  in  company  with  an  old  squaw, 
who  was  found  in  the  Indian  town  the  next  day  after  he  was  taken 
iirisoner.    They  were  left  in  one  of  our  tents. 

"x\t  the  time  this  Indian  was  taken  prisoner,  another  Indian,  who 
was  wounded  in  the  body,  rose  to  his  feet  in  the  middle  of  the  prairie, 
and  began  to  walk  toward  the  woods  on  the  opposite  side.  A  number 
of  regular  soldiers  shot  at  him  and  missed  him.  A  man  who  was  a  mem.- 
ber  of  the  same  company  with  me,  Henry  Huckleberry,  ran  a  few  steps 
into  the  prairie  and  shot  an  ounce  rifle  ball  through  his  body  and  he  fell 
dead  near  the  margin  of  the  woods.  Some  Kentucky  volunteers  went 
across  the  prairie  immediately  and  scalped  him,  dividing  his  scalp  into 
four  pieces.  Each  one  cutting  a  hole  in  each  piece,  putting  his  ramrod 
through  the  hole,  and  ])lacing  his  part  of  tlie  scalp  just  behind  the  first 
thimble  of  his  gun,  near  its  muzzle.  Such  wps  the  fate  of  nearly  all  the 
Indians  found  dead  on  the  battle  ground,  and  such  was  the  disposition 
of  their  scalps. 

"The  death  of  Owen,  and  the  fact  that  Daviess  was  mortally 
wounded,  with  the  remembrance  also  that  a  large  ))oi'tion  of  Kentucky's 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL,     JOHN      TIPTON.  45 

best  blood  had  been  shed  by  the  Indians,  must  be  their  apology  for  this 
barbarous^conduct.  Such  conduct  will  be  excused  by  all  who  witnessed 
the  bloody  scenes  of  this  battle. 

"Tecumseh  being  absent  at  the  time  of  battle,  a  chief  called  White 
Loon,  was  the  chief  commander  of  the  Indians.  He  was  seen  in  the 
morning  after  the  battle,  riding  a  large  white  horse  in  the  woods  across 
the  prairie,  where  he  was  shot  at  by  a  volunteer  named  Montgomery, 
who  is  now  living  in  the  southwest  part  of  this  State.  At  the  crack  of 
his  rifle  the  horse  jumped  as  if  the  ball  had  hit  him.  The  Indian  rode 
off  toward  the  town  and  we  saw  him  no  more.  During  the  battle  the 
Prophet  was  safely  located  on  a  hill,  beyond  the  reaeh  of  our  balls, 
praying  to  the  Great  Spirit  to  give  the  victory  to  the  Indians.  Having 
previously  assured  them  that  the  Great  Spirit  would  change  our  powder 
into  ashes  and  sand. 

"We  had  about  forty  head  of  beef  cattle  when  we  came  to  the  bat- 
tle ground.  They  all  ran  off  the  night  of  the  battle,  or  they  were  driven 
off  by  the  Indians,  so  that  they  were  all  lost.  We  received  rations  for 
two  days  on  the  morning  after  the  battle.  We  received  no  more  rations 
until  the  next  Tuesday  evening,  being  six  days  afterward.  The  Indians 
having  retreated  to  their  town,  we  performed  the  solemn  duty  of  con- 
signing to  their  graves  our  dead  soldiers,  without  shrouds  or  coffins. 
They  were  placed  in  graves  about  two  feet  deep,  from  five  to  ten  in 
each  grave. 

''General  Harrison  having  learned  that  Tecumseh  was  expected  to 
return  from  the  south  with  a  number  of  Indians  whom  he  had  enlisted 
in  his  cause,  called  a  council  of  his  officers,  who  advised  him  to  remain 
on  the  battlefield  and  fortify  his  camp  by  a  breastwork  of  logs  around, 
about  four  feet  high.  This  work  was  com]ileted  during  the  day  and  all 
the  troops  were  placed  immediately  behind  each  line  of  the  work  when 
they  were  ordered  to  pass  the  watchword  from  right  to  left  every  five 
minutes,  so  that  no  man  was  permitted  to  sleep  during  the  night.  The 
watchword  was  'Wide  awake,'  'Wide  awake.'  To  me  it  was  a  long, 
cold,  cheerless  night. 

"On  the  next  day  the  dragoons  went  to  Prophet's  Town,  which  they 
found  deserted  by  all  the  Indians,  except  an  old  squaw,  whom  they 
])rouHit  into  the  camp  and  left  her  with  the  wounded  chief  before 
mentioned.  The  dragoons  set  fire  to  the  town  and  it  was  all  consumed. 
castiuQ-  ui-»  a  brilliant  lia:ht  amid  the  darkness  of  the  ensuing  night.  I 
arrived    at  the  town    when  it  was  about   half  on  fire.      I   found  large 


OF      GENKRAI.       TOHX      TIPTON. 


quantities  of  corn,  beans  and  peas.  I  filled  my  knapsack  with  these 
articles  and  carried  them  to  the  camp  and  divided  them  with  the  mem- 
bers of  our  mess,  cconsisting  of  six  men.  Having  these  articles  of  food 
we  declined  eating  horse  flesh  which  was  eaten  by  a  large  portion  of 
our  men." 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 


M^m 

Mttjg^p. 

^^KS 

JT^ 

~^;      jjl^ 

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m 

^^-^^ 

"^^^^^^ 

>  c-         ■--   - 

TEGUMSEM. 


48  LIFE      OF     QENEBAL     JOHN      TIPTON. 


Life  of  Tecumseh  Kamskaka. 


It  was  Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet,  his  brother,  that  fomented 
trouble  between  the  Indians  and  the  white  settlers  throughout  Indiana. 
Nearly  all  the  other  Indian  nations  were  disposed  to  become  friendly, 
but  by  the  intrigue  of  the  British  government,  the  Indians  were  slow 
to  obey  the  mandates  of  the  American  government.  The  war  of  1812 
was  brewing  and  it  was  the  policy  of  Great  Britain  to  cause  as  much 
unrest  among  the  Indians  in  the  west  as  possible,  to  make  it  all  the 
more  possible  for  them  to  carry  on  war  in  the  east.  Great  Britain  found 
a  great  friend  in  Tecumseh  and  it  took  a  bloody  battle  and  a  humilat- 
ing  defeat  to  convince  the  Indians  that  they  could  not  assist  England, 
maintain  their  tribal  relations  and  hold  possession  of  so  rich  a  country 
as  Indiana.  It  is  not  certain  that  the  warrior  Tecumseh  was  in  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe,  (for  there  is  no  evidence  that  he  was  near.)  Some 
writers  have  said  that  had  he  been  there,  results  would  have  been  quite 
di^prent.  Perbans  it  wonld  be  of  interest  to  produce,  iri  connection 
with  the  life  of  General  Tipton,  a  biographical  sketch  of  the  lives  of 
these  two  noted  Indian  Chiefs. 

Tecumseh  Kamskaka,  (signifying  a  wildcat  springing  on  its  prey,) 
wa«  born  of  Shawnee  parentasre,  at  Old  Piqua.  near  Sprinsrfield,  Ohio, 
-•'Pd  was  one  of  the  boldest  and  most  active  of  the  braves  who  opposed 
"^^ad  Anthonv  Wavne  in  1794-95  and  was  at  the  treatv  at  Greenville. 
.\«  earlv  as  1804,  be  bad  begun  the  execution  of  a  scheme  in  connection 
>^'ith  his  brother,  ''The  Prophet,"  for  confederatino:  the  we<^terTi  Indians 
for  the  purpose  of  exterminating  the  white  people.     He  visited  many 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON.  49 

tribes  with  his  brother,  who  pretended  to  be  a  Commissioner  from  the 
Great  Spirit.  He  was  partially  successful,  when  his  plans  were  de- 
feated by  General  Harrison  at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  He  next  sought 
an  alliance  with  the  Seminoles,  in  Florida,  the  Creeks,  in  Alabama  and 
Georgia,  and  tribes  in  Missouri.  Not  meeting  with  success,  he  returned 
to  Indiana.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  together  with  his  brother, 
"The  Prophet,"  he  made  another  trip  to  the  south.  He  took  his 
brother  with  him,  partly  to  employ  him  as  a  cunning  instrument  in 
managing  the  superstitious  Indians,  and  partly  to  prevent  his  doing 
mischief  at  home  in  Tecumseh's  absence.  About  thirty  warriors  ac- 
companied them.  His  mission  was  to  engage  the  barbarians  as  allies 
for  the  British  and  against  the  colonists.  The  Choctaws  and  Chick- 
asaws,  through  whose  country  Tecumseh  passed,  would  not  listen  to 
him,  but  the  Seminoles  and  Creeks  lent  him  willing  ears.  He  addressed 
the  Creeks  for  the  first  time  in  the  lower  part  of  Alabama,  late  in 
October.  Soon  afterward,  having  addressed  the  Creeks  at  different 
points,  he  approached  a  great  council  called  by  a  United  States  Indian 
Agent,  at  Toockabatcha,  the  ancient  Creek  capital,  where  fully  5,00',) 
of  the  barbarian  nations  were  gathered.  Tecumseh  marched  with 
dignity  into  the  square  with  his  train  of  thirty  followers,  entirely 
naked,  excepting  their  flaps  and  ornaments,  their  faces  painted  black, 
their  heads  adorned  with  eagles'  feathers,  while  buffalo  tails  dragged 
behind,  suspended  by  bands  around  the  waists.  Like  appendages  were 
attached  to  their  arms,  and  their  whole  appearance  was 
as  hidious  as  ]K)ssible,  while  their  bearing  was  uncommonly  pompous 
and  ceremonious.  They  marched  round  and  round  in  the  square,  and 
then  approached  the  Creek  Chiefs,  gave  them  the  Indian  salutation  of 
a  handshake  at  arm's  length  and  exchanged  tobacco  in  token  of  friend- 
ship. They  kept  up  this  pretense  daily  until  the  Indian  Agent  departed. 
That  night  a  council  was  held  in  the  great  I'ound  house.  It  was  packed 
with  eager  listeners.  Tecumseh  made  a  firery  and- vengeful  speech,  ex- 
horting the  Creeks  to  abandon  the  customs  of  the  ])ale  faces  and  return 
to  those  of  their  fathers  for  it  was  unworthy  not  to  follow  the  footsteps 
of  the  noble  hunter  and  warrior.  He  warned  them  that  the  whites  \veve 
seeking  to  exterminate  them  and  possess  their  country,  and  he  told 
them  that  their  friends,  the  British,  had  sent  him  from  the  Great  Lake 
to  invite  them  to  the  war  path.  The  wily  Prophet,  who  had  been  told 
by  the  British  when  a  comet  would  appear,  told  the  excited  multitude 
that  thev  would  see  the  arm  of  Tecumseh,  like  ]iale  fire,  stretched  out 


50  I. IKK      »)K      GKXKHAK      .lOHN      TIl'ION. 

in  the  vault  of  Heaven  at  a  certain  time,  and  thus  they  won  Id  know  by 
that  sign  when  to  begin  the  war.  The  people  looked  upon  him  with 
awe,  for  the  fame  of  Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet  had  preceeded  them. 
Tecumseh  continued  his  mission  with  partial  success,  however,  he  met 
with  opposition  here  and  there.  Among  the  most  conspicuous  of  the 
opposition  was  Tustinuggee-Thhicco,  the  Big  Creek  Warrior.  Tecumseh 
tried  every  art  to  convert  this  big  chief  to  his  purpose.  At  length  he 
said,  ' '  Tustinuggee-Tlilucco,  your  blood  is  white.  You  have  taken  my 
redsticks  and  my  talk,  but  you  do  not  mean  to  fight.  T  know  the  reason, 
you  do  not  believe  the  Great  Spirit  has  sent  me.  You  shall  believe  it. 
I  will  leave  directly  and  go  straight  to  Detroit.  Yvlien  I  get  there,  I 
will  stamp  my  foot  upon  the  ground  and  shake  down  every  house  in 
Toockabatcha."  Strangely  enough,  at  about  the  time  Tecumseh  must 
have  arrived  at  Detroit,  there  was  heard  a  deep  run^bling  under  ground 
all  over  the  Alabama  region,  and  there  was  a  heaving  of  the  earth  that 
made  the  houses  of  Toockabatcha  reel  and  totter  as  if  about  to  fall.  The 
startled  savages  ran  out,  exclaiming  "Tecumseh  is  at  Detroit!  Tecumseh 
is  at  Detroit!  We  feel  the  stamp  of  his  foot!"  It  was  the  shock  of  an 
earthquake  that  was  felt  all  over  the  gulf  region.  At  the  same  time, 
the  comet,  "the  blazins:  arm  of  Tecumseh,"  appeared  in  the  sky.  These 
events  made  a  powerful  impression  on  nearly  the  whole  Creek  nation, 
but  it  did  not  move  the  "Big  Warrior"  from  his  alligeance  to  the 
United  States.  The  Creeks,  however,  rose  in  arms,  and  in  less  than  two 
years  their  nation  was  ruined.  Tecumseh 's  visit  lirouglit  dreadful 
calamity  u]ion  them. 

After  being  driven  out  of  Indiana,  Tecumseh  joined  the  British 
army  and  was  commissioned  a  Brigadier-General.  Pie  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Thames,  in  Canada,  October  5,  1813.  It  is  supposed  that  his 
.^layer  was  Col.  Richard  M.  Johnson,  of  Kentucky,  who  was  afterward  a 
candidate  for  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

It  was  not  long  before  his  death,  when  his  glory  was  at  its  heighth 
and  he  was  meting  out  revenge  on  the  Americans,  that  Commodore 
Perry  fought  the  great  battle  of  Put-inBay,  the  report  of  which  coined 
the  famous  phrase,  "We  have  met  the  enemy  and  they  are  ours."  At 
one  time  during  this  great  battle  of  the  lakes,  the  British  were  gaining 
an  advantage  and  were  hurling  shot  thick  and  fast  into  Perrv's  flagshi]i. 
It  appeared  that  it  would  sink,  when  Perry  jumped  to  the  flagstaff  and 
in  full  view  of  the  British  guns,  cried  out,  "Don't  give  up  the  ship." 
Each  man  vied  with  the  other  to  do  his  best  and  soon  the  British  bea:an 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 


to  show  signs  of  weakening  and  when  the  American  ships  pressed  upon 
tlieni,  they  hoisted  the  white  flag,  tlie  battle  was  over  and  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  waved  from  the  topmost  mast,  signalling  "victory"  to  all  the 
world.  Two  ships,  two  brigs,  one  schooner  and  one  sloop  were  captured 
and  others  went  to  the  bottom  of  the  lake.  The  result  of  this  had  a 
dejn-essing  effect  upon  Tecumseh  and  he  resolved  that  he  would  never 
surrender  nor  give  himself  up  to  the  Americans  and  when  he  saw  fate 
staring  him  in  the  face  he  boldly  stood  before  the  sword  of  a  Kentucky 
Colonel  and  allowed  himself  to  be  cut  to  his  death. 


52 


L.IFE      OF      QENEBAIi      JOHN      TIPTON. 


THE  PROPHET. 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON. 


Life  of  The  Prophet  Elkswatawa. 


The  Prophet  was  also  born  near  Piqua,  Ohio,  and  in  his  early  life 
was  a  worthless,  drunken  vagabond.  He  was  ugly,  quarrelsome  and 
lazy.  In  a  fight  with  a  neighbor  Indian,  he  lost  an  eye,  an  accident 
which  ever  afterward  gave  him  a  hidious  appearance.  This  deformity 
he  turned  to  account  and  used  his  bad  eye  to  frighten  the  impression- 
able and  superstitious.  As  early  as  1805  he  pretended  to  be  supernat- 
nrally  guided.  He  assumed  the  character  of  a  "Medicine  Man,"  and 
claimed  to  be  directed  by  the  Great  Spirit.  He  cleverly  began  his 
scheme  by  falling  suddenly  one  night  while  lighting  his  pipe,  and  laying 
apparently  dead  until  he  was  borne  away  for  burial.  Then  he  opened 
his  eye  and  said:  ''Be  not  fearful,  I  have  been  in  the  land  of  the 
Blessed.  Call  the  nation  together,  that  I  may  tell  them  what  T  have 
seen  and  heard."  An  assembly  was  summoned  and  he  told  a  marvelous 
story  of  the  land  he  had  seen  and  the  instructions  and  warning  he  had 
received.  From  that  time  he  was  a  preacher  and  was  called  "The 
Prophet."  So  great  was  his  influence  that  his  disciples  believed  he 
possessed  many  of  the  powers  of  the  Great  Spirit.  He  told  wonderful 
1ales  of  his  doings,  saying  that  he  could  make  pumpkins  as  large  as 
wigwams  spring  from  the  ground,  and  corn  so  large  that  one  ear  would 
feed  a  dozen  men.  So  great  was  his  fame  at  one  time,  that  the  southern 
shores  of  Lake  Superior  and  Michigan  were  almost  depopulated  and 
traders  were  compelled  to  abandon  business,  such  throngs  flocked  to 
hear  The  Prophet.     Not  more  than  one-third  of  the  deluded  fanatics 


54  LIFE      OK      GRNRKAT.      JOHN      TIPTON. 

jeturned,  the  greater  part  having  perished  of  hunger,  cold  and  fatigue. 
On  the  evening  before  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  after  having  prom- 
ised General  Harrison  to  give  an  answer  the  next  morning  as  to  accept- 
ing terms  of  peace,  he  surrounded  himself  with  his  dupes  and  prepared 
for  treachery  and  murder.  He  brought  out  a  pretended  magic  bowl. 
In  one  hand  he  held  a  "sacred  torch,"  in  the  other  a  string  of  "holy 
beans,"  which  was  accounted  miraculous  in  their  effects.  His  followers 
were  all  required  to  touch  this  talisman  and  be  made  proof  against  harm 
and  the  white  man's  bullets,  and  then  to  take  an  oath  to  exterminate 
the  pale  faces.  When  this  was  accomplished  The  Prophet  went  through 
a  long  series  of  incantations  and  mysterious  movements.  He  danced 
around  the  fire,  appearing  to  be  in  intense  agony,  groaning  and  wreath- 
ing and  twisting  himself  into  all  kinds  of  contortions.  Then  turning 
to  his  highly  excited  band,  about  700  altogether,  he  told  them  that  the 
time  to  attack  the  white  man  had  come.  ' '  They  are  in  your  power, ' '  he 
said,  holding  up  the  holy  beans  as  a  reminder  of  their  oaths.  "They 
sleep  now  and  never  will  wake.  The  Great  Spirit  will  give  light  to  us 
and  darkness  to  the  white  man.  Their  bullets  shall  not  harm  us,  your 
weapons  shall  be  always  fatal. ' '  Then  followed  war  songs  and  dances, 
until  the  Indians,  wrought  up  to  a  perfect  frenzy,  rushed  forth  to  attack 
Harrison's  camp  without  a  leader.  It  was  these  orgies  that  Ensign 
Tipton  heard  while  standing  guard  and  he  gave  the  alarm  that  the 
Indians  were  upon  the  camp.  Stealthily  the  treacherous  Indians  crept 
through  the  long  grass  of  the  prairie  in  the  deep  gloom,  intending  to 
surround  their  enemy's  position,  kill  the  sentinels,  rush  into  camp  and 
massacre  every  one.  The  story  of  the  battle  is  too  well  known  to  repeat 
here,  but  the  result  caused  the  Indians  to  doubt  The  Prophets  inspira- 
tions by  the  Great  Spirit.  When  he  cunningly  told  them  that  his  predic- 
tions concerning  the  battle  had  failed  because  his  wife  had  touched  the 
sacred  vessels  and  broke  the  charm,  they  cursed  him  with  reproaches. 
Even  Indian  superstition  could  not  accept  that  flimsy  falsehood  for  aii 
excuse,  and  The  Prophet  was  deserted  by  his  disappointed  followers 
and  he  was  compelled  to  seek  refuge  among  the  Wyandottes.  His 
power  and  influence  were  gone  and  he  went  to  Canada  where  he  died  a 
miserable  death. 


LIFE      OF      GENERAL      JOHN      TIPTON,  55 


Events  Leading  Up  to  The  Battle  of  Tippecanoe. 


August  20,  1794, — Battle  of  the  Maumee  Eapids,  where  General 
Anthony  Wayne  disastrously  defeated  the  united  Indian  tribes.  In 
this  battle  Harrison,  serving  as  aid  to  General  Wayne,  first  met  in  com- 
bat the  young  chief  Tecumseh,  who  led  the  Shawnee  Indians, 

August  3,  1795. — Treaty  at  Greenville,  Ohio,  between  Wayne  and 
eleven  Indian  chiefs,  ceding  to  the  United  States  the  disputed  lands  in 
the  Maumee  River  Valley.  Tecumseh  refused  to  attend  the  council  and 
never  recognized  the  terms  of  the  treaty. 

1795-1801. — Wm,  H.  Harrison  made  Captain  in  1795;  secretary  of 
'he  North-West  Territory  in  1798;  delegate  from  that  territory  to 
Congress  in  1799;  and  governor  of  the  newly  formed  Territory  of 
Indiana  in  1801. 

1803- '05. — Treaty  between  Harrison  and  the  Indians. 
1804- '05. — British  agents  inciting  northwestern  Indians  to  enmity 
against  the  Americans. 

1805. — The  Shawnee  chief,  Tecumseh,  and  his  brother,  The  Prophet 
began  the  formation  of  the  confederation  of  western  Indian  tribes  for 
the  recovery  of  their  lost  domain.  The  Prophet  claimed  to  represent 
the  Great  Spirit  and  wielded  a  powerful  religious  influence  on  the 
Indians  of  various  tribes,  while  Tecumseh  moved  from  tribe  to  tribe 
from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Gulf,  advocating  the  principle  that  the 
Indians  were  one  people  and  that  the  lands  being  common  property 
could  not  be  sold  by  one  tribe  without  the  consent  of  all. 

Spring  of  1808. — By  invitation  of  the  Kickapoos  and  Pottawatomies 
Tecumseh  and  The  Prophet  removed  with  their  tribe  of  Shawnees  to 


56  LIFE      OF      QENERAl.      JOHN      TIFTON. 

tlie  junction  of  the  Tippecanoe  and  Wabash  rivers  where  Prophet's 
Town  was  built  and  the  headquarters  of  the  Indian  confederacy, 
established. 

August,  1808. — The  Prophet  visited  Governor  Harrison  at  Vin- 
cennes  and  disclaimed  evil  intentions  in  his  influence  over  the  Indian 
n-ibes  of  the  west. 

September  30,  1809.— Treaty  at  Fort  Wayne  in  which  Harrison 
purchased  from  the  assembled  chiefs  title  to  two  large  bodies  of  land. 
Tecumseh  was  absent  when  this  treaty  was  made  and  on  hi;^  return  pro- 
tested against  the  validity  of  the  sale,  even  threatening  with  death  some 
(if  the  chiefs  who  took  part  in  the  council. 

July,  1810. — Harrison  sent  a  conciliatory  message  to  The  Prop!  ■' 
at  Prophet's  Town. 

August  12-22,  1810. — Tecumseh  visited  Governor  Harrison  at  Vin- 
lennes  accompanied  by  seventy-five  armed  Indians.  Frequent  inter- 
views were  held  in  which  Tecumseh  protested  against  the  sale  of  lands 
at  the  last  council  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  openly  told  the  governor  of  the 
powerful  confederation  he  was  forming,  and  of  an  intended  visit  to  the 
British  while  on  a  trip  to  the  Huron  tribe.  The  conference  on  August 
20  nearly  ended  in  open  hostility. 

1810- '11.— Numerous  minor  attacks  were  made  on  settlers,  who 
retaliated.  Early  in  1811  the  British  Agent  of  Indian  Affairs  took 
active  steps  to  incite  the  northwestern  Indians  to  discontent.  In  June, 
1811,  Harrison  sent  a  warning  message  to  Tecumseh  at  Prophet's  Town, 
and  on  July  27,  Tecumseh  appeared  at  Vincennes,  accompanied 
by  a  considerable  band  of  Indians,  enroute  to  southern  tribes  to 
complete  his  confederation.  Anticipating  this  visit,  the  Governor  had 
a  review  of  the  militia,  numbering  about  750  men.  Tecumseh  soon  left 
for  the  south,  and  Harrison  understanding  that  he  would  return  in  three 
months  time,  determined  to  move  at  once  on  the  Indians  at  Prophet's 
Town  and  strike  a  blow  at  the  confederation. 

October  7,  1811. — The  blow  was  struck,  the  Battle  of  Tippecanoe 
was  fought,  won  and  the  Four  Great  North-W^est  Territories  saved  from 
the  British.  It  was  in  this  battle  that  the  fame  of  Ensign  John  Ti]:)ton 
became  noted  as  a  warrior  and  an  Indian  fighter.