Some further account of the proceedings of the army on the Wabash,

politely handed to us by Lieut. Vasquez of the regulars.

On finishing the Garrison at Terre Haute, on the Wabash, we proceeded to the Prophets town, situated about 70 miles above, on the same river, and about 140 miles from St. Vincennes.

On the evening of the 6th, November, we arrived within one hundred yards of the town where we drew up, the Cavalry on each wing, the whole forming a crescent.  Governor Harrison had at this moment some conversation with the Indian chiefs, who wished him to remove to a copies of woods, about half a mile from the town, which was found well situated for an encampment! - - they at the same time appeared friendly, and agreed to hold a general council next morning to adjust all differences; so that we retired to rest without the least apprehension of an attack.

Our camp formed an oblong square, having the militia companies on each flank and the cavalry in the centre with fires all round.  Four guards were stationed; one on each line of the square, and forty sentries were placed without the guards and extending around the camp.

About 4 o'clock the next morning the sentries on each end of the square were fired upon and driven in and the whole army were at their posts in a few minutes.  Spencer's company on the south end was pressed on with such impetuosity that they suffered a loss of 40 men, yet kept their ground to the last.  On the north of the camp next to the Indian town, Guigers Company retreated fighting, and Biggers Company was thrown in disorder and ran into the camp.  Two companies of regulars and one company of militia from the centre were ordered to reinforce Guiger and charge the enemy on that flank; unfortunately in the first charge many of the officers and men fell as the Indians rushed to the point of the bayonet, and some instances occurred where the savages attempted to catch the bayonet in order to tomahawk their opponents.  The enemy had sustained two charges and continued a heavy fire, when a third and vigorous charge was made they gave way.  At this time, day began to appear, and discovered the Indians retreating and carrying off their wounded but the army was not permitted to pursue, an ambuscade being apprehended, as some indications appeared in the movement of the Indians.

Sometime after the retreat of the savages, they were observed moving on the east side of their town.  The cavalry were ordered to reconoitre. We observed them from the camp in great force collecting their wounded, towards evening they crossed the Wabash, only leaving an old squaw in their town.  We found here about thirty log houses and a great number of bark cabbins with a considerable quantity of corn, say 5000 bushels, which were with the town immediately destroyed.

We found upwards of 40 Indians killed on the field and 13 new graves were counted at their town, two of which were opened, contained eight bodies, from one of the prisoners taken & from recent information we found that their killed and wounded exceeds two hundred.

Considerable execution was made in our ranks by the enemy's arrow, indeed most of our slain were pierced by that weapon.  The regular troops cut up the enemy in a handsome style, each cartridge being made up with fifteen buckshot.

Since the arrival of the army at St. Vincennes, seven Kicapoo [Kickapoo] chiefs came there imploring peace; Gov. Harrison told them that he could not treat of peace until the Prophet was disposed of in some way.  They left there apparently determined to bring him in, dead or alive.






Steamboat
                    Adventure
Made possible by the Rivers Institute and the
History Department of Hanover College.

 

How to cite this article:  Lieut. Vasquez, "Some Further Account of the  Proceedings of the Army," Louisiana Gazette (St. Louis, Louisiana Territory) 21 Dec. 1811, p. 4, available at http://history.hanover.edu/texts/1811.