Battles of the Old Northwest Vol. III - A Dark & Dastardly Fight, Tippecanoe 1811

By early 1811, tensions in the western portion of Ohio and the remaining Northwest Territory were increasing almost daily. Conflict with Great Britain loomed, and the Native American inhabitants were also alarmed regarding increasing US settler encroachments on their lands in violation of the 1795 Treaty of Greenville. Tecumseh and his brother, Tenskatawa (who many Americans nicknames “Prophet”), traveled amongst the various tribes and nations seeking to unite the diverse native inhabitants into a force that could counter the growing US threat. Many of the followers of the brother’s messages flocked to Prophetstown, where Tenskatawa took up residence, in the Indiana Territory. US General William Henry Harrison, alarmed at the growing force of Native American warriors, assembled an army and began moving towards Prophetstown. Tecumseh counseled that war had to be avoided until the British initiated hostilities with the US, which he believed would occur in 1812. However Tenskatawa claimed in his visions that an earlier battle with Harrison’s army would be successful. When Tecumseh set out in late October 1911 to travel one more time to meet with Native American leaders that were not at Prophetstown, the Prophet took the opportunity to order a daring night time attack on the American army encamped nearby. One of the most epic battles fought between the US and the Native Americans was about to take place. Can you do as well, or better?