Battle of Tippecanoe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Tippecanoe |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of American Indian Wars and Tecumseh's War | |||||||
 19th-century depiction by Alonzo Chappel of the final charge that dispersed the Indians |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Tecumseh's Confederacy |  United States |
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Tenskwatawa |  William Henry Harrison |
||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 500–700 warriors | 250 infantry, 90 cavalry, 700 militia |
||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown Estimated 50–65 killed and 70–80 wounded |
62 killed, 126 wounded |
||||||
The Battle of Tippecanoe (TIP-ee-kə-NOO) was a fight that happened on November 7, 1811. It took place in Battle Ground, Indiana. The battle was between American forces and Native American warriors.
The American forces were led by Governor William Henry Harrison. He was the governor of the Indiana Territory at the time. The Native American warriors were connected to Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa.
As disagreements and violence grew, Governor Harrison decided to act. He marched with an army of about 1,000 men. Their goal was to attack the main village of the Native American confederacy. This village was called Prophetstown. It was located near where the Tippecanoe River and the Wabash River meet.
Contents
What Led to the Battle?
Rising Tensions in the Indiana Territory
In the early 1800s, settlers from the United States were moving west. They wanted to live on lands that were home to Native American tribes. This caused a lot of conflict. The U.S. government made many treaties to buy land from Native American groups. However, many Native Americans felt these treaties were unfair.
Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa's Confederacy
Two important Shawnee brothers, Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa, wanted to stop this. Tecumseh was a strong warrior and leader. His brother, Tenskwatawa, was known as "The Prophet." He encouraged Native Americans to return to their traditional ways. He also told them to resist American expansion.
They worked together to create a large group of Native American tribes. This group was called Tecumseh's Confederacy. Their main village, Prophetstown, became a center for this movement. They wanted to unite different tribes to protect their lands and culture.
Harrison's Concerns and March to Prophetstown
Governor William Henry Harrison was worried about this growing confederacy. He saw it as a threat to American settlers and the territory. He believed that Tecumseh's group was becoming too powerful.
In the fall of 1811, Harrison decided to march his army to Prophetstown. His goal was to break up the confederacy. He wanted to show the Native Americans that the U.S. government was strong. He hoped to force them to accept the land treaties.
The Battle of Tippecanoe
The Night Before the Fight
Harrison's army arrived near Prophetstown on November 6, 1811. They set up camp for the night. Tenskwatawa was in charge of the Native American warriors at Prophetstown. Tecumseh was away, trying to get more tribes to join his confederacy.
Tenskwatawa told his warriors that they would be protected in battle. He said that the American bullets would not harm them. This made the warriors feel very brave and ready to fight.
The Surprise Attack
Early in the morning of November 7, 1811, Native American warriors launched a surprise attack. They attacked Harrison's camp before dawn. The fighting was fierce and confusing in the dark.
Harrison's soldiers were caught off guard. However, they quickly formed lines and fought back. The battle lasted for about two hours. Both sides fought bravely.
The Outcome of the Battle
The American forces eventually pushed back the attackers. The Native American warriors ran out of ammunition and had to retreat. Harrison's army held their ground.
After the battle, Harrison's troops burned Prophetstown. This was a major blow to Tecumseh's Confederacy. The battle was a tactical victory for the United States. This means they won the fight on the battlefield.
Aftermath and Impact
Losses on Both Sides
Both sides suffered losses in the battle. The Americans had 62 soldiers killed and 126 wounded. The exact number of Native American casualties is not known. Estimates suggest around 50-65 were killed and 70-80 wounded.
Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812
The Battle of Tippecanoe increased tensions between Native Americans and the United States. It also contributed to the start of the War of 1812. Many Native Americans, including Tecumseh, later allied with the British during this war. They hoped to stop American expansion.
William Henry Harrison became famous for his role in the battle. He later used his fame to become President of the United States. The battle remains an important event in American history. It shows the conflicts over land and power during the country's early years.
Images for kids
-
Joseph Bartholomew
-
Prophet's Rock near the Tippecanoe battleground about 1902. Tenskwatawa is thought to have sung or chanted from this rock to exhort his warriors against Harrison's forces.
-
A map included in the Treaty of Prophetstown and Site of Battle of Tippecanoe, 1819
-
Document released to the public after the battle, containing letters from Harrison.
-
Historical marker at the site of where the Battle of Tippecanoe took place
-
Monument near the battle site
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Tippecanoe para niños
