Before Harrison was slinging hard cider and log cabin merch, he was out in the Indiana wilderness starring in his own chaotic war story: the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Kyle & Eric break down the buildup — broken treaties, Tecumseh’s growing confederacy, and Harrison marching his troops right up to Prophetstown. Then the fight kicks off: a surprise night attack, soldiers firing into the dark, officers scrambling, and Harrison barely holding the line.

The aftermath? Far from perfect. But here’s where the glow-up happens: Harrison’s letters about the battle leaked into the press, and suddenly voters were eating up the “Hero of Tippecanoe” storyline. Messy reality on the ground, polished reputation in print — and just like that, Harrison had the national clout that built his presidency.

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Music:

Semper Fidelis by Heftone Banjo Orchestra, Free Music Archive, license CC-BY-SA

Images:

Battle of Tippecanoe: Battle of Tippecanoe: Charles Edward,Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Tippecanoe Battlefield: Charles Edward, Public domain, viaWikimedia Commons

William Henry Harrison at Tippecanoe: Cornell UniversityLibrary, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

Prophetstown Map: Joseph S. Allen, Public domain, viaWikimedia Commons

John Parker Boyd: Benson John Lossing, Public domain, viaWikimedia Commons

Chief Tecumseh: Toronto Public Library, Public domain, viaWikimedia Commons

Tenskwatawa: Thomas Loraine McKenney (1785-1859) & JamesHall (1793-1868), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Tippecanoe account fragment: Indiana State Library andHistorical Bureau, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons