Prophets Town and Tippecanoe B.G., 1840

Prophet's Town

Description:	Prophets Town and Tippecanoe B.G. 1840. (title from verso of last page; this copy obviously written later than that date, in 1860s or early 1870s.) AMs, 8p. (written on back of preprinted insurance forms)Standing upon the site of Tecumsehs wigwam, one overlooks to the southwest an extensive prairie, and directly below is the Wabash with its heavily wooded banks. The Prophets wigwam stood just west of Tecumsehs. G.W. sketched this scene, the features of which were pointed out to him by Mr. Shaw. A wild cherry tree now stands on the edge of the area occupied by Tecumsehs wigwam, among the stones of the hearth (some of which have also been taker for use in a sugar camp). From this spot the Prophet saw the government army advance on the evening of August 6, 1811. Shaws son pointed out the spring where Harrison found the tomahawked body of a government spy. The remains of the forge of a blacksmiths shop are also visible, and Shaw gave G.W. a pony shoe, hatchet, knife, and iron scraps found at that spot. A few mounds of earth and bits of decayed bark mark the old Indian burial ground. Prophets Town originally stood on 45 cleared acres; since Shaw has owned the land, much underbrush has grown up, obscuring the park-like vistas through the great oaks. G.W. attempted to cross the Wabash in a canoe to sketch Shaws cabin on the bluffs from across the river, but he ran into an overhanging branch and was lucky to get back to close to his original embarcation spot. Nonetheless, he did a good sketch from a point on the near bank, with a grassy field in the foreground and the bluffs, of various shades of green, rising behind. He delights in the sunny day, the wild flowers, the sweeping prairie, and all the beauties of nature. At this spot, the army made its closest approach to Prophets Town during its march. Harrison, Tipton, Walter, and Wilson revisited Prophets Town some years later and rehashed the events that occurred there. The messengers sent by Harrison to discuss terms with Tecumseh and the Prophet braved great hazards to accomplish their missions; G.W. has heard Barron speak of these journeys. Prophets Town at that time was full of activity, as Tecumseh prepared and gathered his forces. Canoes and armaments were prepared, and warriors from many tribes were assembled, as Tecumseh stiffened his resolve to defend the Indian lands from white incursions. G.W. spent the day sketching all these historic scenes, and in the evening returned to the Battle Ground.
Origin:	1860; 1861; 1862; 1863; 1864; 1865; 1866; 1867; 1868; 1869; 1870
Created By:	Winter, George, 1810-1876;
Publisher:	Tippecanoe County Historical Association
Source:	http://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/cdm/ref/collection/gwinter/id/274
Collection:	George Winter
Copyright:	Images in the George Winter Collection should not be used without written permission from the Tippecanoe County Historical Association. To obtain reproduction rights and prices, contact the Tippecanoe County Historical Association at info@tippecanoehistory.org
Subjects:	Tippecanoe Battlefield (Battle Ground, Ind.) Prophetstown (Ind.) Drawing

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