WAR!
WAR! WAR!
THE BLOW IS STRUCK.
We hasten to lay before
our readers the following account of a Battle between
the troops under Governor Harrison and the Indians.
Louisville,
Nov. [15?]
We stop the press to announce the following important
intelligence brought by Doctor John M. Scott, who
arrived this evening direct from Vincennes. This
gentleman has politely favored us with the following
particulars of a BATTLE [the Battle of Tippecanoe]
between the troops under Governor Harrison and the
Indians. Captain Dubois of Vincennes arrived at
that place express from the Governor - - states, that on
the 7th inst. the Prophet
[Tenskwatawa] and his party consisting of about 190
Indians after professing friendship on the sixth in the
evening, that they would the next morning come into the
Camp of Governor Harrison, with a white flag, and take
him by the hand in friendship; made an attack on his
army about 4 o’clock in the morning of the 7th, and
continued the Battle until 6, when they were put to
flight. There were left dead on the ground about
fifty or sixty Indians with some wounded. It is
supposed they suffered considerably in their wounded,
but the number is not known as the Indians are in the
habit of carrying them off together with as many of
their dead as possible.
The Governor sustained an injury as report says, of
about one hundred and twenty. Some say there were
160 or 70 killed and wounded.
The governor in a letter to Doctor Scott states that
among the killed were Col. A. Owen, of Shelby County,
Kentucky, aid to the governor, Col. Joseph H. Daviess,
of Lexington. Col. Isham White, formerly the United
States’ agent at the Saline Saltworks. Capt. S.
Spencer of Corrydon, (I.T.) and his two subalterns,
Capt. Warrick Thomas Randolph, esq. and Mr. Mahon of
Vincennes. - - That the prophet’s town was burnt on the
morning of the 8th inst. the corn, amounting as was
supposed, to 5000 bushels taken or destroyed - - that he
expected to commence his march on the 9th to Vincennes,
but it would be slow on account of the wounded, and the
precautions necessary to prevent annoyance from the
enemy. Captain Dubois reports, that Capt Berry was
also killed in the engagement; that the troops under the
governor’s command behaved with great bravery. Too
much cannot be said in favour of Col. Boyd’s regiment of
regulars and Major Floyd’s detachment who sustained the
heat of the action, and acquitted themselves like
heroes. Indeed the whole army did wonders
considering the disadvantages under which they labored;
for an attack was not contemplated by the troops
generally, after the professions made by the Indian
Chiefs on the 6th. That Colonel Daviess lived nine
hours after the action, and that Captain Bane of the
regular troops, was not dead, but expected to die every
moment, from his wounds, that the governor received a
shot through his hat which scratched the skin on the
side of his head, and his horse wounded; Judge Taylor,
of Jeffersonville, by the side of the governor, had his
horse killed which fell on him, and he remained in that
situation until relieved by a person pulling the horse
off him.
It will be particularly noticed, that the troops under
Gov. Harrison did not exceed the number of the Indians
at the time of the engagement, he having been obliged to
leave troops at the different forts on his way up.
-
- - - - -
We have just had a sight of a letter received by
mail, from a gentleman in the army; from which we
make the following extracts.
‘Battle ground one half mile
from the Prophets Town Nov. 8th 1811.’
Yesterday morning 4 o’clock,
etc.
(Stating the particulars
above mentioned.)
Mars and Somerville are
killed, with many others. The number of
wounded is very great. Geiger and myself
(Capt. Hunter) are slightly wounded. The most
of our men from Kentucky are safe or not badly
wounded. The rascals have got all our beef,
and many of our horses. Such a battle has
never been fought. We have killed many of
their Warriors—the most that we have found are old
men; they were all through our camp. An old woman
was left in the Town, who says, that we have killed
many of them, and wounded many more. We are
all in high spirits.
Another letter, received as above, states that the
army was on the watch—that they were momently
expecting another attack, etc. From the
situation and circumstances of the army, we think
another attack by the Indians is very probable. - -
Will our government act; or, will they always
sleep? Surely this is enough to arouse them
from lethargy. In our next we will be enabled
to give our readers a more particular statement of
the battle, together with what may have happened
subsequently.
[Note that this article appeared as a half-sheet extra
edition of the newspaper.]
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