5 V r v vyrs '';0 -'VV -; V -r ''T ,'v : , . i , r; r . c i 11 ' V- '.v ..' --'v -v- i: 1 4 ' i ' ' , ; . : :j . , . ., .V, it .-v--A. j r -. v t . fhc Battle on the VabaiW "I DISPATCHES Sccrttary at JVar r - ly V- 5 V , , Tincennet, vV I 'Sir-Tn my letter uf 'he Vnl8,181t j . k. r . r ;f Tn mr eitcr ui sne u f dfrfmTefthehonorlocommunicateth S rrirt oT an action Intwen the troop Under my cornmana ana jaciuuuu,. tinnV.flndiar.t under the conrp; ofvth. Shtilnoc .Prophet.' I bad previously irfornVd you n letter, of the 2. mit. cfmy,bcedtnx prtsvicmly to my af tif ii iuhe Vn million River, vhcre I b'nd crnivd a blcxk-houit for the pro- i : lection V the boat4 which lra obliged to Umltnd a depositor? for our.hca t W bacreUe md such part of opr prA- ' 7 ' ,-rx.,rt m aions ke were unaoic io irt'K . - tV,. r,nmlnr' nf the 3'1 inst. I conmeoctd my march from the jfblock.hou;- The Wabash al ve thia ; turning cntsiderbly to theEastv rd ' . i ) 1 vis obllt in order to atoid the bro It ken and otdy . count rr v?hchinJtr h .hnn it trtrhW m CDUTSC tOlhe WCt anl of nort Hto pptn the pt ines which lie to the back of 'hose wo ds. f At tht end cf cne drjr'march; I wa enabled "to tke.the priper direction (N. Eav.) which broucht m. on the ctenin of ht h In a imall tr-ek at about 11 miles ft from-be ProDhra Town. I hd on th preceding day avoided the dDgcrous 'pass;of P necrek by inclining a fc xnilca to t hi-left where the troops and wr j;s;on ' wcrv crwsrd with xpedltion and ss&tj. Our.pute on th 6'h f r . aooui six m'ie lay inougn yr tiy c- pirated by imll potnts of woods.; , Mf order of march hitherto bi been r 1 timilar to that o-d by Gm.A jyne that is the ir Tint' r wef in tw crwumns i i .effi it cn either Mde nf the nafi and the roouTitcd rinemen and car ry ; in ' front, in the rear and on th flalks 'Where the prctmd ws unfavoraaU for . the action of' cavalry .thty w re' p'sced in the rearfbu where it was otherwiit thy were made to exrh3r.frr positidn ' with one of the mourned rifle corps m Undrstanding that the iit frvur roiie wrte open woods and the pr-bihility.be M, greater hal we should br attackrn : hi front th n on et her fl k, 1 htltrd at i .that distance frmp the 'own rwl formed ' tthe arrrr in order of battle : The U .otairs'irmmiry placed in tne centrt i l. two commoiei of Milif Infamy. irr '-" i I feme'of mU'ted ifl' men n each fllk, : j i formed the front fine. In htrjrf nf J ' Ji, this line wa's pbee'd the buggagr, dr n compactly at possible, and into: fdiatel ly brhind i: n-scrve of hrc f m- panie ci mili'ta ml. niry. lnccOdi formtd a, second line at the c'ista Je of j y ft three hundred yards in the rear n the frrnt lire, and a comnanr nfmcintrd 'riflemen the advanced euanl at th d1- . unccinirpnu i o ia"i;rate tne dijtc r the whole were then bn kfcn c ff iti h s r n e ... i ' ' eolnmn of rnmmn!. !inniii th . roost favorable for forming in'ordtro! 3 battle with ficiUty and prnision, Ourt v marcn was slow and cautious and tnucrr' ! delayed hy the examination of J Tenj ' place which seeraed.'calcuiUed fpr,an ;anbucade. Indeed the ground i?ai for tome time ao, unfavorable that I was Ob : ligcd lo change tber position of Ht St v?v. J ral corps, three time's in the distance cf - ' -f a mile. At half past 2 (clock we pasv ;f t. im?H tree k at the dittrct:? of I t 1 .Pn wood, when the a rmytW baited .and a train drawn urv fn ntiKft httt puiingthewholcofthelastdaysTnarch j Ionics pi inoians were tons' antltr about rS nd every rfTort was m-dt b;the In. terpreters to speak to them, but )n vain i JT-w attempts of hz kiod'wrre now JTOJc, btxt'pr ring (equally intSVftual, a capttin Dubois of the sbtci anfrdr1. i effmog to c wi-H a flagtotht town, ! f dispatched him witB'an jnUrpfe.er to request a conference whh therrophet i ' 1 - J? momemsa roejiage wa sent - by Cpt; Dubois fo irjorrv n 5 that in X p:vauemp s ,Q advance. te Ir dims ap- I Z j V -n V- anc 'though hf had; spoken to therr ?r. ,he most frendlv manner, tki. . r" s.itKu- 'uwcr 'J?m,y deavored to q.t him ofTfrom - 7 M ,rroc cr rrminrd to -" , -r PM'dit I was K;tf-thad stance UityrigM-jiw m : t wm rr w w mm . mm. . . a i iibi v - i i k -i m p V.."1' 'MK thcen- KThse Hanks were fil 31 rJP he u rtt by j talked -iljQUnd that uartcn;s company S ,K:J,J.r- - lWIo;eomv twocornpan'is oTinwind rificmeft, a- had 'uQere4 severely apd;the, leftfof rS 1hrt4'nnform nVuXlto Vut ISO ohdthe GeigerV entirely vbrokenlJmmK . : maZZZt c , v ; 1,1 II UJd fuvorabl: that hc Indiana n front had' manifested nthing . but' hostility; ind had answered; eVerjk at(erop to hting them to a parley, with contempt Ec insolence. I was immediately advised by. jall'the ofBcers aroapcl me to'movefoC jwVd." A similar' wish,' indeed; pcrra f.'ed'all the army it was drawn up in xcdlent ordrr. and tYerjr man eppear- L d eatrcr to decide the contest imtncdi kampment might be had upon the War aiht'I yfeldedto What . appearedh'e general wiah.' aid directed the troops to' -fivance ; takincr care however. td 'avV .'iketritcrpre'ers in front. with directions u,,invue Aconiercn'e wun tny iuuiiii M.I.k. Iil.. W h'nrl nnt llaAv.nrrd atx've four hundred yards :d yards I re Indians! d (ruirdJ ipeak'-to'- M aen I ras informed that three had approached the advanced ai d harl uTrir rt ft vish lm me. 1 found upon their arrival th-f one of them was a man ia grear eMirhrv i'n uith the Prophet. He informe me ;hat the chiefs were much urnrtMl av - m Ik f ai ray advancing Upon themvao Tapm' ma; hcy were j;tven to understand ly he D law.ires and Miamies whomll had ent u them a few d.y bejord trftt I wsuld not advance to heir It wn untjM hatt Kcc'ued an answer to nTdrmar!s ma4e through them. Thar'this amrri ha bee dispatched by the Potawaiine cu'ii tiemar, who naa.accornp3cc theIum es and Ddavaraon their V turri t that tfier hjd !ft thtf PrODhrtS i two diys before wUh. design to ra.,ibut had unforturat-iy t4' n d ah trie sou h side uf the 17a I iswered that I M id no inr t - f a f ki n z the m un t d 1 " i cn-k r-d ry-4uld cot comply i h tl d.- vh I had madci-lhat I yoy!d and 4caip ot the Vabaari and morng would have an inlti view eP o bet a-d his chief? .& eipkh tn ine fctf rmina'icmfM tni fre. that In the mean time nt hos tilities should be committrd. 'H'fieem- ed much pleated wiih this artf pro misedj that ,it should be lobsei fed on thtir pirt. I f ten" resumed rnyj-porc we arurk the4 cul?ivtttec).gr?t dt a bjut 5CO ya'rdf below the tbwn-fbut as ihee et ended to the bmkortE. Wa bash, there wa ho" posMbTi'of e- ning an .encampment wh eh pro ( vidrd with' both "ood a. d watd-. My guar i and jut'-rpriters bt;ig si I ith the advanced guard, ani takine the xJ-rec ion of the town, th Jrjny fl !l w d and hidadvancrd wi'lf y atK.u lSOyards.when 50 or 60 It chafr a sallied out, and with loud 'txctematioiUjtaJletj to the cavalry nd to the militia ;nf intr which wrre on'ourngLt fla.ikt to hal I immediately advanced to the front, caused the army to halt, and directed ai intcrpiet:rfto request spmc'T h: ;hirf to come to me. In fe nwints :ht man who Had ben with me r f re made his appearance." I inform "tl him :It. i my object for the prtasnl wh t p o cure a good piece of irouni tt encamp on, where we ccu'd gH v4pd and water !Ht -then informed me.ift herc w-. a creek io ihe NcrtVvVijji. whi;.h he thought would suit our. YtVoif-m 1 immediately dispatched i wo Ti"crs to examine it., and they rcpored tnit the "itua ion was ex-tflltnt. I then to k leave of he chief, an I a mitual pro raise was vgain made hr a,tupenslon cf hostilities until w:e oiuld jhivr an.i ttrsiew on the following day. J found 'he .ground- destined tor. the encamp ment not! altogether :,tuto as I could, wish it . It was, indeed, adturaliijcal culated for the encaipmint of regular troops that.were oppotd t regulars but it afloidcd grciK facility to tho ap proach of.savage 1 was a piece cf dry oak land, rising about tea feet ab jve Ihi lewl of W marshy prairii io1 front, (to wards ibc lndjan town) ajd nearly, twice that he-got above ftimihr:pairie in J-br rear, through which andjireaf ibs ibink ran a small strcamJclo hM with willows and other- bruh jvood.l towards ;ihe Icft-flank lhls bench of hikh lard wn an ft f runt nninttf . - - Wk r.Ukt nrA rtaf of fight fl p the fi ' 11 in I . ... . 1 - " V -fc ' . o a . . ' I y ; -i.it .'.I''- -V.': ed contiderttbiy, but betbme gradually narrower in trppoVitdlirectioni; tnu at the ditbnee cf one hurldred and Gfty, yirds from the rfghi'flaplfitcrmirat td in 1 liie tuvo 'coiutrins 01 this ground at the cistamc or aooui uc hundred and fif:yrd(op;chyh.w .l 'r r.Kri'frtrrtfMiiirx morelthan Dirt trt the plant of Mr, delightfu l Ieaf e , Vnri'd Ky party rtge.to live like Brothers, 7 iy -iUlD 4Yt JANUARY 3, 1812; " t!-thje other by Si)encer,a company of i IMUU-.ICU rtBCIIICIl, TUH-H OHIUUIHI.U - I cighryimen. The front line was-com iahfyr-under the command of Major Fld d, tlanked on thfc right by two com 'f3af m of militia', and o"n the left by one culipany. v The rear line was composed ofja battalion of the U. S. troops, under thl chmmand of Capt. Ba-n, acting a "Mijof, end four companies of militia in futry, und rLieu'-Col Decker. The u!ar trfxp of this line joined the I'tuuted "riflemen undrr Gen.W Us on n lef fl-mk, and C I. D -rker'shatta- icn to'meo an anirie wua openccra f m jmonv on the left. Two troopi of Dragoons amoununt; to in the aErceeaie ab:u' sixty men. were encamptd in the rarof the left P.ir.k, and captain Parked troop, which was larger thtn the other two, in the rear of the f ont line, Our order of cn. csmpment varied little from that above ; described, excepting when some, pecu niarily of the ground made Unnecessary Tpt d night attack the order of enramj merit wts. the order of b.ttle, and each man "slept immtdiatrly opposite to his post ii the line. In hv formation of my troops I used a single rank, or what is c-ilb: luTi-K fik bec.He in Indian wa:- fare,whtre then- isn shock tort sist,ore rank is nt-ar!y as goml as twn, and in that Und of warfare the extension of line is a matter of the first importance RaT troops alo manctuvr wi h much more facility in single than in double ranks. It wa my constant custom u a!emble all the field (hcers at my tent Overs, evenn g by signal, to g.ve them he watch woid and their instructions fr he night hose given for the ri?ght f the 6th were, that each corps w!iici f 'Trued a pait of the txteticr line of the encampment," should Held its owl. ground until reiievcW The Dragoons were directed to parade dismounted it case of anight attack, with! heir pitnl in thur belts, and to act as a corp dr reset ve. The camp was def-nded by wo captains guards, consisting each f f ur non-commissioned officers and 42 privates J'nd two sub-dtfin gtnrds of tweoty noncommissioni.d u (hcers and. privates. The whole u-.der the com mand of a fiJd efficer of iheday. The troops were recularly called up an hour before day, and made to continue under arms until it was quite light. )n the morning of the 7th, I had risen at a quarter past four o'clork, and fhe signal fjrcjllin out he men would have been given in two minutes, when ihejittaclt. commenced. Ir began on ourTft flartfc bu1 a sinvile gun was fired Dy, the cen tinelsor by the gu.rd in that dirtci-m wvhich made n t the least resistance, but abandoned th irrffi er and fled into vintnp, and the first notice which the troops of that flank had oF the danger, was from the y.lls of thjc.savages wih ii a sh rt riisiaicf. of the line but evt'n under thper cirrmnstances the men Vere not wanting ta themselves or to the occasion. Such of 'hem as were a- wak;- or were easily awakened, seized tneir arms no too tneir;statir,m ; - o- 'hers wh'ch Avere more 'tardy, had to contend with the enemy in the ddotsof Iheir tents. The storm first frll upon capt. Barton's company of the 4; h U. S. regiment, and capt. G'.igerscompa ny of mdunted riflern n 'which formed the left angle of the rear hoe. The fire upon these was excessively severe and thty suffered constderub y b fore relief could be brought to them. ; Some few Indians passed into jihe encampment ntar the angle and one or two pene trated to some distance before they were killed. I believe all the other compa nies were under arms - and tolerably formed before. they were firedlori. The morning. .was- dai k and cloudy our fires afforded a partial light, which .if it gave us some opportunity of tkii)g our posi livens, was sum rqore .aavantageous to thdenemyt affbrdtng them the means of taking a surer aim thewere there ford extinguished as ; s6on as possible. Under all these discouraging' circum stanceV the. 'troops (niKeteeniwehrieths' of whom had.neverbeen jriV fore) behavedjih o rhannerfthat can tip yer be too much applauded Thy took their places withput ncn?e' andjthless confusion than couldhave been ttpfXX' ed from" Veterans placed in a'sinnilar;si- tuatloni:'; As soon asI Could, nicuht niy hr)rse; I fodetd; thenglithaVw fit k i. ' r.'j ' ... :: ... .- . .. a. ' Peters,, to be brought up from the cen tre of the rear line, where the 'ground was much more defensible,1 and formed across the argle in supporffof Barton's and Geiger's.-' My attention was there engaged by a heavy firing upon the left f the front line, where were stationed the small company of U S. rtiflemen (then however armt-d wiih' muskets) and the companies of Baen, Snelling,. hd Prescott of the 4th regimt nt. I : found J major jLiiviess lormmg tne ara goons ui the rear of those companies, and under standing that 'he heaviestj part of thej e riemy's fire proceeded from some trees about fifteen or twenty pace in front of those- companies, ! directed the major to dislodge them with a part of the dra goons. Unfortunately the major's gal lantry determined him to tx cute the order with a smaller forcel than was suf fHent, which enabled the enemy to a v id. him in front, and attack hts flanl-. The major was mortally1 uundedi aria nis party driven back. The Indians were however immediately! and g'altanfliy dialfKlgexl from their advantageous posi tion, by captain Snelling jit the head -of his comnanv. In the course of a few minutes after the commencement of the attack, the fire extended al ng the left flank, the whole of the Tront, the right flank,: and par. of the rear lire. Upon Spencer's, mounted riflemen, and ' tht' right of Warwick's' company i which wa posted on the right of the rear line, it was excessively Sc vi:re : captain apen. cer and his first and second tieutenants Wr Tf killrrt. anH r not ft in VVarwirtc mortaJ'v wounded thoSe comnanie however still bravely maintained their posts, but Spencer had suffered so se verely, and bavirg originally too much ground to occupy. I reinforced them with R bb c -mpany of r.fkmen which titd been drYen,or by mistake ordered from their position o.i the Uf' flank to ward v the centre of the c.-pip. and fiiird I he vacancy that had been occupied by Ro;b and Prescott's compbtiy of the U. S. regiment, ly grirat obj- ct was to ktp the lines entire, to proven: the enemy fnim breaking into the camp un til day light, which sh -uld enable-me t make a general and effecu:I charge.-- VYiin.ini'i view k naa remiorcea every part of the lim ;har-hd sufftred much i and as soon as the approach of morning discovered itself, 1.,'Lhdrew from the I front line SnellinsrfcPpsey's (under lieut. AJbriRh') and ScqfCs,- and from the rear line, Wilson's companies, and drew them up upon the left flank, and at the same time I ordered Cook's ind Bach's companies, the former from the rear and the latter from the front line to retnf rce the: light flank ; foreseeing a. i . : t. . .i i i - mac at tnese points me jenemy wouin make: their la t efforts. Mjor W-ells who commanded on the left a ink, no knowing my intentions precisely, had aken the command of these companies, lad ciiargedVhe enemyi petore 1 rui brmcd tht? body of Dragoons wi'.ji Xvhicrr I meoni to support the infantry ; a smail detafdament ot these were how ever rt-ady, and proytd amply- sufficient for the purpose, 'ihe.llndians were driven by the infantry atf the point! cf the, b yonrf,;and the drrfgqtns pursued and forced them into a' narsh where they'eould;Uiot be followecli Captain Cor.R ai'd Liieut- Larebee; h df agi eea: bly to my order, marched their coropa nies tolthe right flahkj'had formec them under the fire of: the 'enemy, an be.c' then ioined by the ; riflemen of that flanft, had charged the Indi-jhs, kil led a number, and put the rest to precjf Sr. ate .flight., ;A favorable opportunity as here rffered to1 pursue the enemy with 'dragponsbut being engaged at that time on the other flank, L did not ooscrve it uniu u was ioj iaic. - - ;- f. ha ve thus, sir rvn-you the parti? culars of iix action ; which! wascerlayily maintained with the greatest obstinacy and ers5verahceby ho:hp IrioHanamanttested iWferocitir! (incm? mon even;WttH themQheirsavage lury : ou r trpopsj: ppposea inavcooianG (that of nariung to yyu the corpse tw my. Oiviaujiiay no par iicu luny: uisuuguisuecj thernsclyia yptJtP be jpiffdrmedi-. There' is5 howe vert' i consirSriiel Sifli i cul typ ln-itw herfcm er tl w&s, spcom mon Itia almostimwissibleito discnniK dation)rnany bf:"the; ofliceslandcompa n: .unaer.ms xuninianu,; aup panicu 1 i li thstingutshes i ColBoyti tndhis ia- deliberate valor ;wfitch is tcharactensti ;'v Tb mostvpleasing parbf: rny duty ' u -L-'- T" i -AV . - '"taaaWaBWnBaWMgta '"j" "" Clarkand his ' aid MrK: r fa,ntry, Mjor, Clark;" and his'aidIr, Cr Well Captains :and'; HawkihsVaridthtiir i cbmriiniea tiiffftS Capts. Prescpt arid ' Brwn and ' I : a il:.L;' 'i 9:.Stt. ftl. '"-; w i-?; rt-4.J':i supported Othe fame -of t heintixev' gular?v ano) I have not heard tHtLtm0k' ' glein.d i vid ual :vas;f ind ut of thline;':;;: of hi! duty. ; Several ofthem)liti panies- Were Jn no ' wise ririferior -toShe wick's and Kobb's ,maintaUied?theiif postVamrdstra monstrous rcamagei-WM wi th i-the regulars i and .pibeiitlieniS selveslf worthy ; of 3o1rig distinguishes Cants.; Norris;! Hapivhrr'-k Parke, who succeeded ?ol.i Daviess. fif u.iv,-.4.u VVIIIllllli WUT ondvhis aidseam&iMajots HuritaricI' goes on to .'tnehttdtl "iui 4Sewarti(icst terms Cel.; Owen) of &enit;cky$ .who tife? i oyiur.-- -7ut.yjtov.rnar.risppl!i; givmg- merited praised me not " fbfgt- the "gallant dcaatid34 -UTed .a s a private ;Vomnte?;-j5.iy ess, Capts; ftaen, ' Spencer 'and-Var?' wjcKj ij ieuts.'iVlahanejry,v5cc.j 1 3 inese gtroucmen, siri capu uacot ' . excepted, h a ve left wive Sr ;and tfi ve of 1 them large T famtfies of childrcm the cae toowith many 'of ;h?iySrel among the militia who fell In iheiltfiDlffQlfJ or who have died since'pjijiri Will the boumyeftheircod held from their helDlessbrransTOanifc f whom vill be in the ;.most ties condition and perhaps aht eye the:ne f wcs54iicai'i me : yv ii it regpet . .p me - number of, Indians that wefe'eriWt'ed a.ri' gainst us,! I am riostssed of m Aj&iZSfyj which l can torm.a corrccrstatemenK; who were unwble to do us fnuch -set tu was very -IitIe abeve 700 irrtttiisl; M , mW - ! K , f ? It .musty however, have? be:ett;;ceafeV?f Jiu ble and perhaa oouch'.in j own ; which deducting; tbilrVfeitnIf I aionea omcers &naqpriyaifc;iW!a:5i vinced there were at iei'strtV The Prophet hadthreecW 450 of his own ; prdper-'folld wit-S Mribn)''.. .induced to believe that, hewSljoiheoi! a n u mber ? ; if t he lawless SPMM I ve on the Illinois rirer - mm mi Amm' ? aV - wt re seen coming Indeed I shall not lniit description came out fmhwTsr-ahC sppke to me; the night' bJorejifeUwh m. iicuiowauraiccmvi wnomjgnneio ed to have;been. winded .ppivak Tn;.myietterSD siher aa arfjtfi ti.ailsW.r-?-1 froro. t iat; djrfc'triD : be rs ur jriied iummmwi some; of ihpse whKpriKd tUipMm atmesi inenasniD tor as wer rt.vprt ii 6 i j against us His cenafiihat Ope f,f this on the; bauIe:j?rr;brid,-6feriiSi f.( an we care cji ninr m , my f. $ --V.tt.n;&-tftty que sied himo -pfbrm ;;ihr3eof 10' Tjf tribe who had -ioiri; d 'the Erb'SStrV i- K)i a me rrount the Kjckanoos and W ineb TrotSWi they . woWd;immedicjyy Prophet ahj return their nk'st conduct weuld be frhrlyt had dcrieVHe suVe .jaifyhfelil Prophet to deaths thin uDorr ttow thai, there wHl be'no'ftWhattiesS but of thiaT shall e enahledHri :Vrt.mita do so, and that there i'Ws;n6 '?Mwt!4"rf their com pli abce JrelediiS h hk$C. he wascertair?4haUtheKoul some more certain iniariMiam k ,; The troops 1 (I'the bMtlerPtote the 9th iristy iti:to)fclevet7g npohenrj the approacli of the enemv to Ptr Catn rV 'df the ffitrA .vti ncreessari Ivtl&k &ZitiMl It-:meihpi'beim tto nave rnaac a more ear ly tiisctitct y mi. a--Jsw.Vs;T i empioy t;qiwp;iniro a;; pi tne-arftiyraipuCiXrr; iQndioe.ftnto . thVtiip'IWct werei there isnppthtt ipiotiwav6idthffry WclosfetottieKthit'ib TaM'-atweenru f mm&m) reupl JarmCt hppl . , . Jfe 4felr;a'tc1)Utmew36 by- thiaridesiiapdy lit mrTjt r ? x ' .eVep-thtyiete::! 'doty-SvVii' V Id .,$'.. tut. ID i . - mm v:-.r- 1 . k i : j t t