SOLON ROBINSON, 1841 169 



bled upon that dreadful day — there was, notwithstanding 

 the happy results of the battle, many a widow and or- 

 phan left to mourn the hard fate of husbands and fathers. 

 How much, sir, it is impossible to say how much, the 

 "Great West" owes to the results of that battle. Then, 

 the battle ground was an extensive march into the In- 

 dian country. Now, it is in the heart of the rich and 

 populous state of Indiana. Not far from the spot where, 

 less than thirty years ago, the bones of heroes lay bleach- 

 ing in a savage wilderness, is the flourishing town of 

 Lafayette, a steamboat port on the Wabash. And nearer 

 still runs the Wabash and Erie canal, one of the great 

 links of union between the "father of waters" and the 

 great inland seas of North America. Far, far beyond 

 what was then the border of civilization, now flourish 

 cities, towns, villages, and all the accompanying arts and 

 improvements of civilized life. You, sir, can well remem- 

 ber where the "Far West" then was. Can you tell where 

 it now is? 



Is it to be wondered at, that the keen sagacity of the 

 Indian made a desperate attempt to place a barrier to the 

 impending wave that he saw rolling westward, on the 

 banks of the Tippecanoe ? Is it to be wondered at, that 

 when the Indian saw that barrier broken down, that he 

 then viewed, and has since viewed it impossible for him 

 to erect a barrier strong enough to stop the rolling wave 

 of white men? Is it to be wondered at, that the immense 

 number who now compose that wave, which has rolled 

 over and far beyond that battle field, should feel a strong 

 disposition to do honor to the names of the heroes of that 

 (for the great West) great day? 



But few have a correct idea of the importance attached 

 to that battle, by the Indians, because in their nature 

 they are so taciturn, that they rarely communicate their 

 ideas to those whom they look upon as enemies. But 

 once gain their confidence, and they will pour out their 

 feelings in the strongest manner. It was my fortune to 

 gain that of an old Indian who took a conspicuous part 



