National Battlefields |
Tippecanoe National Battlefield |
Potawatomi 'Trail of Death' Route Indiana To Kansas, September 4 - November 4, 1838 The 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe on this site was decisive, leading to the loss of their homelands and the removal of Indians from Indiana. At gunpoint about 850 Potawatomi passed this location on September 12th, 1838 on a 660-mile trek known as the "Trail of Death" because so many, mostly children, died along the way. After two months, about 750 Potawatomi arrived at what is now Osawatomie, Kans., joining those who had gone earlier. |
A 26-year-old Potawatomi and interpreter on the trail of death was Nan-wesh-mah.
After his father died, he had been adopted by a half-white older cousin, Abraham
Burnett, a merchant at Fort Wayne, who had fought on the Indian side at the Battle
of Tippecanoe. (Burnett's creek nearby was named for him.) Nan-wesh-mah was
given his adopted father's name, was sent to school, and grew up as Abram Burnett.
He farmed near Topeka, Kansas and died in 1870, many Potawatomi were later
removed from Kansas to Oklahoma. Erected May 31, 1996 by Oklahoma descendents of Nan-wesh-mah (Abram Burnett) & by Girl Scouts, Lafayette, Indiana |
Potawatomi "Trail of Death" march: Sept. - Nov. 1838 |
Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum Tippecanoe County Historical Association |
The Battle Of Tippecanoe November 7, 1811 Here, on this site, military forces commanded by General William Henry Harrison, engaged in battle with the Indians of the Wabash country led by The Prophet, brother of the gread Indian leader Tecumseh. This battle destoryed forever the hope of Tecumseh for a complete Indian Confederacy, launched Harrison toward the Presidency of the United States twenty-nine years later, and is considered one of the primary events leading to conflict between the United States and Great Britain in the War of 1812. |
American Forces Men engaged 910 General Wm. Henry Harrison Commanding Attacked at 4:00 o'clock A.M. Indian forces led by Prophet Number engaged about the same as Americans Loss: Americans killed 37; wounded 151 Indian loss unknown |
Officers Killed ColonelAbram Owen MajorJoseph H. Daviess CaptainJacob Warrick CaptainSpier Spencer LieutenantRichard McMahan LieutenantThomas Berry CorporalJames Mitchell CorporalStephen Mars CaptainWm. C. Baen |
Honorable John Tipton Who fought in this battle Donated these grounds to the State of Indiana November 7, 1836 |
Commissioners J. Frank Hanly Job S. Sims Wesley E. Wells A.A. Jones |
James Asberry Edward Cutner Jonathan Crewell Thomas Clendennan William Davis Peter Hanks Henry Jones William King Daniel Lee William Meehan Jack Obah Kader Powell John Sandborn Joseph Smith William Tissler Ira T. Trowbridge Joseph Warnock Abraham Wood Frances Bonah |
Joseph Burditt Levi Cary Marshall Dunken Dexter Earll Henry Hickey David Kearn Abraham Kelly Daniel McMickle Isaac M.Nute John Owsley Amos Royce Samuel Sand James Summerville Lewis Taylor Joseph Tibbetts Leman E. Welch Isaac White John Yeomans John McCoy |
Privates Killed In Action |
General William Henry Harrison Erected Jointly by The Nation and the State In Memory of the Heroes Who Lost their lives in the Battle of Tippecanoe November 7, 1811 This Monument completed and dedicated November 7, 1908 |
Stricken Down In The Performance of Duty In tribute to Major Joseph Hamilton Daviess, Grand Master of Masons in Kentucky, who fell in battle here, and to the many Freemasons of General Harrison's command whose valor is held in grateful remembrance. |
Col Abram Owen Killed Nov 7, 1811 |
Capt. Wm . C. Baen Killed Nov. 7, 1811 |
Capt. Jacob Warrick Killed Nov. 7, 1811 |
Lieut. Thomas Berry Killed Nov. 7, 1811 |
Liut. Richard McMahon Killed Nov. 7, 1811 |
Capt. Spier Spencer Killed Nov. 7, 1811 |
Trees of Tippecanoe Welcome to the Tippecanoe Battlefield National Historic Landmark. The land on which you now stand was the site of a dramatic conflict between two different ways of life. Many of the trees you see around you were growing here at the time of the battle. |
Indiana's hardwood forests provided a wealth of resources to both the Native Americans
and those who were to follow. As you stroll beneath these majestic forest
relics, try to imagine the dramatic changes these silent witnesses have presided
over. |
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