Harrison decided to destroy it before it could grow stronger.

Tippecanoe: The Battle That Forced The Crisis

In November 1811, William Henry Harrison marched a force of approximately 1,000 soldiers up the Wabash River toward Prophetstown.

Tecumseh was not there.

He had gone south on one of his great diplomatic missions, trying to bring the Creek and other southern nations into the confederacy.

He had specifically told Tenskwatawa not to fight in his absence — that the confederacy was not ready, that the numbers were not sufficient, that the time was not right.

Tenskwatawa did not follow this instruction.