William Henry Harrison

Military Career

With which two Native American leaders did Harrison famously battle?

Harrison, while governor of the Indiana territory, tried to negotiate with, and then battled, Shawnee chief Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa. Harrison engaged Tecumseh in negotiations, but those negotiations failed. In November 1811, Harrison and his forces defeated Indian forces at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Harrison and his forces destroyed the Indiana town known as Prophetstown, named after Tenskwatawa, who was called “The Prophet.” Harrison later became known as “Old Tippecanoe” for winning this battle.