The Life and Times of the Star-Spangled Banner

The Battle of the Wabash

This is the battle at Tippecanoe that made William Henry Harrison famous. The Indian chief Tecumseh was not the first to dream of an Indian alliance to stop the advance of white settlers, and he would not be the last. He was one of the most effective. Tecumseh's brother, known as The Prophet, was a charismatic, mystical leader. Harrison decided to destroy Prophetstown, located where the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers join. With Tecumseh away, the Prophet indulged himself in fiery speeches. When Harrison arrived with the intention to destroy Prophetstown, he needed an excuse to attack. The Prophet obliged him by attacking Harrison's superior force. The result was the destruction that Harrison desired.

The battle was hailed as a great victory. A quarter of a century later, the Whigs, in need of a hero, nominated Harrison for president in 1840. He won the election by a narrow popular vote, but an overwhelming majority in the electoral college. A month after taking office, he caught a cold which developed into pneumonia. He was the first president to die in office. The Battle of the Wabash is sung the the Anacreon tune. Notice how the refrain echoes that of Key's When the Warrior Returns.

• Home
• The Song and Its Development
  • Star-Spangled Banner
  • When the Warrior Returns
  • To Anacreon in Heaven
• Other Early Political Songs
  • Adams and Liberty
  • The Congress
  • Ye Parliament Of England
  • The Battle of the Wabash
  • Death's Gloomy Angel
• Another Tune that can be Used for the Words
  • Paul Jones
  • An Appeal To Loyalists
  • Newgate's Garland
• Other American Anthems
  • Hail Columbia
  • America
  • Yankee Doodle
  • America the Beautiful
  • God Bless America
  • This Land Is Your Land
• National Songs from other English-speaking Nations
  • God Save the King
  • O! Canada
  • Waltzing Matilda
• What If We Could Pick the National Anthem?
• Sources
• Acknowledgements
• Buy the Book

The Battle of Tippecanoe

Tune

The Battle of the Wabash

In the dead of the night, when aloud on the air,

Through darkness the war whoop was heard fiercely yelling.

Like lions just wild from the gloom of the lair

Our chiefs found their foe on their slumbers impelling:

While the mantle of night

Hid the savage from sight

Undismay'd were our warriors slain in the fight;

Then the laurel shall ever continue to wave

And glory thus bloom o'er the tomb of the brave.

Great Davies and Owen, bright offspring of Fame,

Rushed on to the battle, with bosoms undaunted;

And e're bearing death the dread rifle ball came

In the breast of the foe oft their weapons they planted,

Gallant chieftains adieu,

Tears your destiny drew,

Yet shall rise o'er your tombs neither cypress nor yew

Then the laurel shall ever continue to wave

And glory thus bloom o'er the tomb of the brave.

Long, Warwick, McMahon and Spencer and Baen,

And Berry, 'mid darkness , their banners defended;

But when day drew the curtain of night they were seen,

Covered o'er with the blood of the savage, extended!

Though Freedom may weep,

Where they mouldering sleep

Yet shall valour their deaths as a Jubilee keep,

While the laurel shall ever continue to wave

And glory thus bloom o'er the tomb of the brave.

Ye chiefs of the Wabash, who gallantly fought,

And fearlessly heard the dread storm of war rattle;

Who lived to see conquest so terribly bought

While your brothers were slain in the uproar of battle.

Still fearless remain,

And though stretched on the plain,

You shall rise on the records of Freedom again,

For the laurel shall ever continue to wave

And glory thus bloom o'er the tomb of the brave.

Ye sons of Columbia, when danger is nigh,

And liberty calls round her standard to rally;

For your country your wives, and your children to die,

Resolve on your foes, in stern valour to sally;

Ev'ry hero secure,

That his fame shall endure,

'Till eternity, time in oblivion immure;

For the laurel shall ever continue to wave

And glory thus bloom o'er the tomb of the brave.