The First Battle of the War of 1812 happened IN Indiana

In 1811, as tensions with Britain grew over many grievances, not the least of which was the assumption that Britain was arming indigenous groups to go after settlers, an indigenous man named Tecumseh moved to halt the rapid expansion of the United States into their land by creating a confederacy of Native American nations. He created Prophetstown, named after his brother, as its capital and went to strengthen their new nation by recruiting warriors from the "Five Civilized Tribes."

The governor of the Indiana Territory, soon-to-be President William Henry Harrison, led a small band of 1,000 militia to burn Prophetstown and destroy the rebellion. As they arrived, Prophetstown raised a white flag and asked for a ceasefire as Tecumseh was not there. Harrison agreed and retreated to a nearby hill where he set himself in a defensive position. That night, Tecumseh's brother, Tenskwatawa, “the Prophet,” roused his troops to attack the American army preemptively using prayers and chants he promised would save them from the bullets.

They ambushed the Americans in the morning and were then defeated. William Henry Harrison torched Prophetstown, and when Tecumseh returned, he realized what had happened. This led the indigenous people to believe that their only hope for Freedom lay with the British. This would soon be called the Battle of Tippecanoe and is credited as the first battle of the War of 1812.

Learn More about the War of 1812 IN Indiana

Several other battles occurred in the area that would become Indiana, including the Siege of Fort Harrison (modern-day Terre Haute) and the Battle of Mississinewa (modern Marion). Indiana played a central role in the War of 1812, and there is a lot more to discover about it. With so much to explore, we made exploring easy with our map. Find your location and explore what is near you or plan a trip to see some of the amazing locations throughout Indiana.

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