Was reappointed successively by Presidents Jefferson
and Madison. He organized the legislature at Vincennes in 1805. Held
frequent councils with the Indians, and succeeded in averting many
outbreaks. On September 30, 1809, concluded a treaty with several tribes
by which they sold to the United States about 3,000,000 acres of land on
the Wabash and White rivers. This and former treaties were condemned by
Tecumseh and other chiefs, and an outbreak became imminent, which was
averted by the conciliatory course of the governor. In the spring of
1811 Indian depredations became frequent, and Governor Harrison
recommended the establishment of a military post at Tippecanoe, and the
Government consented. On September 26 Harrison marched from Vincennes
with about 900 men, including 350 regular infantry, completed Fort
Harrison, near the site of Terre Haute, Ind., on October 28, and leaving
a garrison there pressed on toward Tippecanoe. On November 6, when near
that town, was met by messengers demanding a parley, and a council was
proposed for the next day. At 4 o'clock the following morning a fierce
attack was made by the savages; at daybreak the Indians were driven from
the field.
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