Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Tecumseh On Western Wednesday...!

Did you know that Tecumseh handed the American troops their worst ever defeat? True!

Being a very sly warrior, Tecumseh was pretty good with misdirection. Here's what I mean.

Tecumseh took part in the worst defeat ever inflicted by Native Americans on U.S. forces.

In fall 1790, the Shawnee and Miami tribes repelled an assault on their villages near modern Fort Wayne, Indiana, killing 183 U.S. troops in the process. President George Washington authorized a new campaign the following year, in which he put Governor Arthur St. Clair of the Northwest Territory in charge of some 2,300 men. On the march north from modern Cincinnati, hundreds of them deserted as the weather worsened and food supplies ran low. For nearly two months, the remaining troops had little contact with native tribes. On November 3, the soldiers set up camp along the Wabash River in western Ohio. Washington had advised St. Clair to “beware of surprise,” but he posted few guards and built no barricades. The next morning, as the soldiers prepared breakfast, a force of Native Americans attacked and immediately overran them. Poorly trained militiamen fled, whereas the regulars who kept their position were decimated. When the dust cleared a few hours later, at least 623 American soldiers and dozens of camp followers were dead, and hundreds more were wounded. In comparison, fewer than 300 U.S. troops died during the much-more-famous Battle of the Little Bighorn. Tecumseh did not play a major role in the clash with St. Clair, but he scouted the U.S. soldiers during their advance north. Throughout the battle itself, in which only 21 Native Americans were reportedly killed, he watched the rear trail to make sure no reinforcements arrived.

Sounds to me as though ol' Tecumseh was best left alone. When you try and drive folks from their homes, this kind of thing is bound to happen, ya know?>

Coffee out on the patio9 again today, at least until the rain starts.

6 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

From things I've read, Tecumseh would have preferred peace, but was simply pushed too far.

linda m said...

I just watched this "history lessons" on the History Channel over the weekend. Tecumseh was a great chief and just wanted to be left alone. He really didn't appreciate strangers coming in and stealing his land. Duh, no one today appreciates it either and today they would be prosecuted. Great story and thanks for sharing. - 4 with a -22 windchill here this AM - I'm house bound today.

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorges...
That certainly can happen. Peace is often the second choice forced on us by others.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Linda...
So many of the great warriors prefered peace to war and only fought when the felt it was the last resort. Sure made his point, though.
Thanks for coming over today!

vwrobb@gmail.com said...

Through out history no one has ever liked being forced off their home lands but that is history.
That was a story I'd never heard before, thanks for passing it along!

Dizzy-Dick said...

I had heard those stories before but what really surprised me and thus learned something from your post, was the huge number of people involved.

HermitJim said...

Hey VW...
Always glad to pass on what I learned.
Many thanks for the visit today!