A SHORT CHRONOLOGY
The War of 1812 in the Northwest
1812--WINCHESTER'S CAMPAIGN, October 2-November, early.
1812, October 2. General Harrison hears from General Winchester that
the British have retreated. He orders General Barbee to return
to St. Mary's and Colonel Poague to cut a road from Ft. Jennings to Ft.
Defiance. The rest of the army continues its march in five columns,
about 1,000 men. Harrison arrives at Winchester's camp and finds the
troops disgusted and dispirited. Ft. Winchester is laid out near old
Ft. Defiance and is built by a detachment of 250 men under the orders of
Major Joseph Robb. Harrison then returns to St. Mary's with Colonel
R. M. Johnson, where these troops are discharged October 7th. Colonel
Poague is ordered to return to the Ottawa Towns, about 12 miles above
St. Mary's and there to erect a fort (Ft. Amanda). General Winchester
receives the command of the left wing of the Northwest Army from Harrison.
1812, October 4. Before Harrison left Defiance, he ordered General
Edward Tupper to take all of his 800 mounted men down the
Maumee to the Rapids and even farther if he should find it necessary to
disperse the enemy. He was to return to Ft. Defiance or the Ottawa
Towns on Blanchard's Fork. He was supposed to leave October 5, but an
alarm in camp occasioned by the sighting of some Indians across the river
who fire into the American camp keep him at Ft. Defiance.
1812, October 6. General Edward Tupper send Logan and six other Indians
down the river to reconnoitre. General Winchester orders Tupper
to advance, but Tupper says he is awaiting the return of his spies. When
his spies come back they report seeing only about 50 Indians.
1812, October 7. General Tupper wants to go to the Rapids by way of the
Ottawa Towns on Blanchard's Fork; his force is considerably
hurt when about 300 mounted riflemen, whose terms had run out and who
were disgusted with Tupper, leave the camp for home.
1812, October 8. General Winchester orders Colonel Slimrall to return to the Ohio
settlements with his mounted regiment to recruit his horses. Orders are given to General
Tupper to begin his expedition, but many of the men did not want to serve under
Tupper. Colonel Allen tenders his services to Tupper in any capacity they would be
received. General Winchester misunderstands Allen's wishes and directs him to take
the command and march to the Rapids. Allen tells Winchester of the mistake and the
order is withdrawn. Meanwhile, most of the men have refused to march directly to the
Rapids and General Tupper marches them to the Auglaize, thence to the Ottawa
Towns, where he tells them that reinforcements are on their way from Ohio. At this
point, the troops, except for about 200, refuse to continue to the Rapids. Tupper then
proceeds by the most direct route to Urbana and discharges only those who have been
willing at all times to obey. For this Tupper is court-martialed by Winchester.
Meanwhile, Tupper has marched his remaining force as far as McArthur's fort on Hull's
trace and the court martial is delayed. When the court is held later, Tupper is acquitted.
1812, November, early. General Tupper sends a spy company under Captain
Hinkston to reconnoitre the Rapids. There the captain discovers
a British captain named Clarke and takes him prisoner. He reports that
there were 3-400 Indians and 75 British at the Rapids to gather corn.
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