A SHORT CHRONOLOGY
The War of 1812 in the Northwest
1812 --HARRISON'S FIRST CAMPAIGN, September 11-September 19
September 11 cont.
of Harrison's army. There is no loss of men. The army is within 20 miles
of Ft. Wayne.
1812, September 12. Harrison's army arrives at Ft. Wayne where they are
joyously greeted. The Indians had fled the evening before.
They had invested the fort for the ten days previous. As a ruse against
the defenders of the fort, the Indians had made several pieces of wooden
cannon by boring out pieces of timber and strengthening them with iron
hoops, not very effective. The army encamps around the fort where were
the remains of what had once been a thriving little village, which had
been burned by the Indians.
1812, September 13. William Henry Harrison decides to divide the army
into two divisions to be sent to the Indian towns. The first
division is composed of the regiments of Lewis and Allen, plus Garrard's
horsemen and is placed under the command of General Payne. They are
directed to go to the Miami Villages at the forks of the Wabash. The
other division is composed of one battalion of Johnson's men and the
Ohio mounted men of Adams, to be commanded by Col. Wells. They are to
destroy the Pottawattamie village on Elk Hart River. This latter division
did not want to go; wanted to go home. Of these, General Lytle and Major
Dunlap, with 150 men, decide to stay, while the others returned home.
1812, September 15. Payne's division arrives at the forks of the Wabash
and find the village deserted, but destroyed the houses and
crops. After destroying some other villages, they return to Ft. Wayne
on the 18th.
1812, September 16. Wells' division goes to Elk Hart village, but finds
it deserted. The town and fields of Five Medals Town [Elk Hart
village] are destroyed and the division arrives back at Ft. Wayne on the
18th.
1812, September 17. Colonel James Simrall arrives at Ft. Wayne with
320 dragoons and a company of riflemen under Capt. Farrow
of Montgomery County, Kentucky. Harrison next day sends them to Little
Turtle's Town to destroy all of it except those buildings built by the
United States for Little Turtle. This is done and the detachment returns
to Ft. Wayne on the 19th. Farrow's company is then placed under Major
Johnson, whose battalion thus becomes some 250 strong.
1812, September 18. General James Winchester arrives at Ft. Wayne to
take command of the first troops which had marched from Kentucky
to reinforce the Northwest Army.
1812, September 19. General James Winchester takes over the command of
the Kentucky troops and Harrison returns to the rear area to
take command of the forces gathering there.
1812, September 20. William Henry Harrison with mounted men and
Jennings regiment arrive at St. Mary's; the balance of the
infantry have not yet arrived. The regiments of Barbee, Poague, and
Jennings arrive at Newport early in September with Simrall's dragoons, but
are detained until they can draw arms, etc. Dragoons had to be armed with
muskets, as no swords or pistols are available. All foot troops have
arrived by September 20th.
Previous Page || Index || Next Page
|
