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.
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