VAN WERT COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY: County history, Chapter 1 - Battle of the Fallen Timber (part 8) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitted by: Email: 1whitedove@home.com Date: August 6, 1999 *********************************************************************** from History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens Edited and compiled by Thaddeus S. Gilliland Van Wert, Ohio Battle of the Fallen Timber On the 13th of August, General Wayne sent a messenger of peace in the person of Christopher Miller, who had lived among the Shawnees, offering terms of peace. After waiting three days for word from Miller, Wayne ordered an advance and met Miller, who said that if the army would wait at Fort Defiance ten days the Indians would decide whether it would be peace or war, but Wayne refused to return. The Indians had chosen as the battleground the place that gave the name to the battle-field. "Fallen Timber", as a cyclone had recently passed and the fallen timber was a protection against the use of cavalry. On the 20th the army moved forward to attack the Indians, who were encamped at Fallen Timber on the bank of the Maumee, at a place called Presque Isle, about two miles south of the present Maumee City, and four miles south of the British fort, Miami. This fort had been occupied by a garrison sent from Detroit in the spring of the same year, although the country had been ceded to the United States 11 years before. General Wayne had about 3,000 troops and the Indians numbered about the same. As he approached the Indian encampment, he sent forward a battalion of mounted riflemen, with orders if attacked to retreat in apparent disorder so as to draw the Indians away from their chosen position. This was done and the Indians fell into the trap. When fired on, the troops fell back in apparent disorder and were pursued by the Indians, and when they reached the ground chosen by Wayne, the battle opened. After hard fighting, the victory was complete, about 100 Indians being killed. After being fully satisfied that the Indians were dispersed, General Wayne ordered a stockade built below the mouth of the junction of Swan Creek and the Maumee, and placed in charge of Capt. J. Rhea, and a sufficient force to hold the same. Thereupon the army returned to Fort Defiance, destroying the villages and crops on the way. On the 14th of September, after leaving a sufficient force to garrison Fort Defiance, the army took up its march to the Miami villages, where a fort was constructed and placed in command of Lieutenant Colonel Hamtranck, who christened it "Fort Wayne" . On the 28th of October, General Wayne , having fully accomplished his mission, returned to Fort Greenville. Gen. Anthony Wayne was called "Mad Anthony," but was there ever more method in madness? There was never a precaution left untaken, and caution was as much a characteristic as that of dash when all was ready. The Scout, Capt. William Wells. It is said that one of the most valuable aids to General Wayne was Capt. William Wells, captain of the spies connected with Wayne's army. He was captured by the Indians when 12 years old and adopted by the Miami tribe. He married the sister of the great war chief Little Turtle. After the war he was joined by his wife and family and settled, near the junction of the St. Marys and the St. Joseph, on a small stream that bears the name of Spy Run. War of 1812 By the surrender of General Hull, at Detroit, August 16,1812, the whole Maumee Valley, except Fort Wayne and Fort Harrison, was again in the possession of the British and the Indians. Early in September Fort Harrison was attacked, and was defended by Zachary Taylor,who was afterwards elected President in 1848. On the 17th of September, 1812 En. William Henry Harrison was appointed to the command of all the forces in the Northwest. He repaired to St. Marys where about 3,000 men were collected for the purpose of an expeditions against Detroit. While at St. Marys he was informed that a large force of British and Indians with artillery was passing up the left bank of the Maumee toward Fort Wayne. General Harrison immediately determined by a rapid march, to Fort Defiance at the junction of the Auglaize and the Maumee, to try to intercept the return of this detachment, knowing it would be met in front by the return of General Winchester. He had with him the Ohio cavalry under Colonel Finley, the Kentucky cavalry under Col. R. M. Johnson, and the infantry regiments of Poague, Barbee and Jennings. Jennings was then at Fort Jennings, where he had been sent to build a fort between St. Marys and Defiance. On the 30th of September, General Harrison set out on the march and head of the cavalry, having ordered the infantry to remain in camp, thing it would be a hindrance. On the third day the General was met by an officer from General Winchester, who informed him of the arrival of Winchester at Fort Defiance, and that the British had retired down the Maumee. *************OH-FOOTSEPS Mailing List***************************