Battle Of Fallen Timbers

It seems strange to me that some of the Native American Indians decided to side with the British against the fledgling United States. The British were notoriously harsher than the pilgrims and life would have been so much worse for the Indians under British rule. Nevertheless, they did just that…side with the British, bringing about the Old Northwest Indian War and the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Ohio, on August 20, 1794, was the final battle of that war. The Native Americans involved in the war were the tribes affiliated with the Northwestern Confederacy and their British allies. The fight was for control of the Northwest Territory.

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the Revolutionary War but included a clause allowing the British to stay in the Northwest Territory until the United States resolved land disputes with Native American tribes, who had allied with the British. That opened up the opportunity for tribes like the Chippewa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Shawnee, Delaware, Miami, and Wyandot to form a federation to resist United States expansion into their lands. President George Washington faced a significant defeat of Saint Clair’s troops by the Native American Federation led by Chief Little Turtle in 1791. So, he appointed General Anthony Wayne, a distinguished officer from the Revolutionary War, to lead the Legion of the United States. The 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers ultimately became the turning point in securing U.S. control over the Old Northwest Territory.

As most of us are aware, the main threat to American security and settlers moving west of the Allegheny Mountains in the 1780s was Native American resistance. This was aside from minor domestic issues like Shay’s Rebellion in 1786. Shays’s Rebellion was an armed uprising that took place in Western Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787. It was led by Daniel Shays and other Revolutionary War veterans in response to economic hardship, particularly high taxes and aggressive debt collection practices that threatened farmers’ livelihoods. The rebellion aimed to prevent the trial and imprisonment of debt-ridden citizens and resulted in the closure of several courts. Ultimately, it highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and contributed to the call for a stronger federal government. Spurred on by British agents from Canada, who encouraged them to attack American settlers, some British officials sought to establish an “independent” Native American state between the Ohio River and the Great Lakes, which would have simply been a puppet state under British control. Meanwhile, British troops continued occupying several forts in the Northwest Territory, deemed crucial for the fur trade, in direct violation of the treaty that ended the war with Britain. It was like they were given an inch, so they decided to take a mile.

Of course, the federal government had no choice but to suppress the attacks on American settlers. So, they launched military expeditions into what is now Ohio. The first attack was led by Brigadier General Josiah Harmar. It included an expanded First American Regiment and 1,500 militiamen from Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Starting from Fort Washington, near present-day Cincinnati, Ohio, Harmar’s force moved north toward the Miami Villages. Almost immediately, issues arose with supplies and incorporating the militia into his forces. Deep in Indian territory, Harmar divided his troops, which weakened his army significantly. Miami Chief Little Turtle led attacks on Harmar’s forces on October 19 and 22, 1790, at the meeting of the Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Rivers. There were heavy losses to the militia and regulars from these attacks. Harmar was forced to retreat to Fort Washington, and the chaotic withdrawal only emboldened the Indian warriors further. Another expedition was launched to address the threat facing Major General Arthur Saint Clair, the governor of the Northwest Territory and a Continental Army veteran. Alongside the First American Regiment, a second infantry regiment was also formed to join the mission. Kentucky militiamen and a handful of cavalrymen brought Saint Clair’s Army to a total of about 1,400 troops. Despite being ill and unfit for command, Saint Clair began leading his army north from Fort Washington on September 17, 1791.

The march moved at a sluggish pace, and by November, the expedition had only covered 90 miles. Saint Clair further weakened his forces by sending the First Regiment to search for his overdue supply train. On November 4th, Chief Little Turtle led a surprise attack against the expedition near the upper Wabash River. The battle ended in disaster, as Saint Clair’s already weakened forces were completely overwhelmed. Over 600 men were killed, along with many civilians traveling with the group. Those wounded and left on the battlefield were brutally scalped. In desperation, Saint Clair ordered a full retreat, and the battered troops made their way back to Fort Washington. This crushing defeat highlighted the urgent need for major reforms…if the Army was to effectively defend against the Indians or any other threats to the young republic. As would naturally happen when a fledgling nation finds its Army is insufficient, Congress decided to reorganize the Army in 1792, officially approving the formation of the Legion of the United States on March 5th. The Army was divided into four sub-legions. Each of these were made up of 1,280 men and led by a brigadier general. Each sub-legion included two infantry battalions, one battalion of riflemen, one company of artillery, and one of dragoons. This structure was designed to offer greater tactical flexibility in battle. The name “Legion” also carried sentimental value, as early American leaders often compared their young republic to the Roman Republic.

President George Washington and Secretary of War Henry Knox considered several candidates to lead the reorganized Army, including Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee and Daniel Morgan. However, it quickly became clear that Anthony Wayne was the best choice. On the same day the Army reorganization was approved, Wayne was promoted to major general and appointed as the commanding general of the Legion of the United States. Wayne was given ample time to train his soldiers and shape the Army under his leadership. For nearly two years, American delegates tried to negotiate with the Indians, but their efforts failed. Once again, American troops would have to confront hostile Indians, but this time, they would at least be well-prepared for the challenge.