The Tippecanoe Battlefield Monument
Did you learn about ‘Tippecanoe and Tyler too’ in school? I not only learned about the slogan but I also got familiar with the site of the battle that gave William Henry Harrison the nickname Tippecanoe. The battleground was adjacent to a church camp that I attended several years as a youngster.
The Battle of Tippecanoe came about because of the efforts of two Shawnee indian brothers, Tecumseh and the Prophet. The Prophet led a spiritual movement to encourage the Indians to return to traditional ways, while Tecumseh worked to form a confederation among the various tribes. In 1808 the brothers moved their followers to Prophetstown near the Tippecanoe River in the Indiana Territory. By 1811 such a large number of natives lived at Prophetstown that white settlers in Ohio and the Indiana Territory demanded that the government do something to proptect them. William Henry Harrison, governor of the Indiana Territory led an army against Prophetstown in the fall of 1811.
The Prophet, against the advice of Tecumseh who was absent, attacked the Americans after telling his followers that the white’s bullets would not harm them. The Indians attacked Harrison’s men before daybreak on the morning of November 7, 1811. Harrison’s army defeated the Indians, but they suffered heavy losses: 62 men killed and 126 wounded. The Indian’s losses are not known, but the Americans did drive off the natives and burn Prophetstown to the ground.
The Battle of Tippecanoe
The defeat fatally weakened Tecumseh’s confederation, but Harrison became known as “Old Tippecanoe”. In 1840 Harrison used his reputation as a successful Indian fighter to run for President of the United States. His campaign slogan was “Tippecanoe and Tyler too!”
Senior Moments 
November 7, 2009 at 7:36 am |
Thank you for the history lesson — I really know so little about American history. Especially about your many battles. This is such a sad piece of history though.
November 7, 2009 at 11:08 am |
I have never heard this story/history lesson before. Or maybe I did and forgot? Great synopsis George…great photo.
November 7, 2009 at 11:30 am |
Interesting topic!
November 7, 2009 at 11:48 am |
Great info George, never heard of him before.
Interesting.
November 7, 2009 at 12:07 pm |
George: Neat history, you did better with this account then trying the ABC’s on Betsy’s blog.
November 7, 2009 at 12:34 pm |
Love the history, George! I am familiar with the battle and the area, but you had some details that I didn’t know and I always love to learn something new and particularly about history! Great post!
Enjoy your day and thanks as always for your visits and kind comments, they’re much appreciated!
Sylvia
November 7, 2009 at 1:59 pm |
Great infoas always, George. Although I did read it with sadness for both sides. Love thy brother? MB
November 7, 2009 at 2:02 pm |
I had heard of it but didn’t know the details. Thanks for the history lesson.
November 7, 2009 at 4:46 pm |
I had heard the phrase before but never knew its origin. Thank you for sharing, I do enjoy your history lessons.
November 7, 2009 at 6:43 pm |
Very interesting history lesson George! So sad though – all these battles and wars! I had never heard this phrase before either. My boss’ name is Tyler – now let me see how I could use this one day, lol. Thanks always for your visits and encouraging comments. Much appreciated.
November 7, 2009 at 10:32 pm |
I haven’t heard that in years. Now I’m wondering just what it was exactly I learned – a poem, a limmrick…. 🙂
Gotta put my thinking cap on.
November 8, 2009 at 12:20 am |
I like this shot in B&W–it suits it.
I was wondering if you had read any of James Alexander Thom’s books–you might like some of them. Panther in the Sky is about Tecumseh and From Sea to Shining Sea is about George Rogers Clark–just a couple of examples.
March 7, 2010 at 5:07 pm |
i am doing a report on that in 8th grade
March 7, 2010 at 5:13 pm |
that is funny how most of you replyed on the same day but diferent year the day the war was fought