1808, late April
Tecumseh and his brother, The Prophet, move their followers
from western Ohio. To escape white settlers, they
travel down the Mississinewa River to north of present day
Lafayette of the Tippecanoe River near the mouth of the Wabash
River. Their village, named Prophetstown, poses a
major threat to Gov. William Henry Harrison's line of
communication between Vincennes and Fort Wayne.
1809, September 30
Gov. Harrison negotiates the Treaty of Fort Wayne with the
Delaware, Potawatomi, Miami, Wea, Kickapoo and the Eel River
tribes, giving the United States title to more than 2 million
acres in the southern third of Indiana. Tecumseh is angry
at the tribal chiefs' land giveaway.
1811, November 7
Prophetstown Indians attack Gen. William Henry Harrison's
force of 760, killing 60 and injuring 128 people. Harrison
estimates more than 100 Indians are killed. The Kickapoos
say 25 of their tribe are killed. Harrison destroys the
stronghold and cornfields at Prophetstown, angering and
scattering Tecumseh's followers.
1812, May 15
Twelve Indian nations hold grand council with Tecumseh at
Mississinewa village at the junction of the Wabash and
Mississinewa rivers near present-day Peru. The Wyandots,
Miami, Potawatomies, Delaware and Kickapoos urge Tecumseh to
restrain his young warriors lest all tribes suffer at the hands
of the whites. Tecumseh denies that his followers are a
threat to the whites and rebukes the chiefs for selling their
people out at the Treaty of Fort Wayne.
1812, June 19
The United States declares war on Great Britain.
1812, July 14
Miami war chief Little Turtle dies and with his death United
States' influence upon the Miami Indians and other tribes in
Indian territory evaporates.
1812, July 17
The British capture the fort on Mackinac Island with the aid
of the Indian tribes. For all practical purposes,
the United States loses control of lakes Michigan and Huron.
1812, August 15
Potawatomi force the surrender of Fort Dearborn (Chicago)
and massacre most of the garrison being evacuated by William
Wells, adopted son of Little Turtle.
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1812, August 16
In a devastating blow to the United States, Gen. William
Hull surrenders Fort Detroit and the Army of the Northwest to
forces led by British General William Brock and
Tecumseh. Most tribal chiefs lose control over their
young warriors as Tecumseh emerges as the new Indiana leader in
the Northwest Territory. Armed whites and Indians attack
each other throughout Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Killing
becomes commonplace among the two peoples.
1812, August 18
Unable to control their warriors, tribal chiefs refuse
Harrison's invitation to attend a peace council at Piqua, Ohio.
1812, September 3
The Shawnees led by Missilimeta ravage the Pigeon Roost
settlement in southern Indiana, killing 20 whites.
1812, September 6
Indians attach Fort Wayne and Fort Harrison
(Vincennes). The Americans successfully withstand the
attacks. In turn, the Americans raid and destroy Indian
villages north of the Wabash River.
1812, September 24
Harrison is given command of the second Army of the
Northwest, replacing Gen. James Winchester.
1812, October 11
Indiana Agent B. F. Stickney advises Harrison that trader
John Conner has informed him that the Miamis, Between Sept. 13
and Oct. 2, have sent nine messengers to the Delawares, inviting
them to join them in war against the United States.
1812, October 26
Harrison seeks approval from Secretary of War William Eustis
to attack the Indian towns on the Mississinewa River.
1812, November 5
Secretary Eustis advises Harrison that "the Miamis, as
well as the other Indians, must be dealt with as their merits
and demerits may in your judgment require."
1812, November 15
Informed of Gen. Samuel Hopkins' defeat in Illinois and the
growing confidence of the Indians in attacking the Army's supply
lines, Harrison advises Eustis that he will command Col. John B.
Campbell to direct an expedition against the Miami town of
Mississinewa. It will be the rendezvous where the
Indians are certain to receive provisions and assistance in
launching attacks on every military convoy in Ohio between St.
Mary's and the Miami Rapids (present-day Maumee).
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1812, November 22
Gen. Hopkin's force destroys Prophetstown along with
deserted Winnebago and Kickapoo villages along the Tippecanoe
River. The Indians ambush and kill 16 of Hopkins' force on
Wildcat Creek, north-west of present-day Kokomo.
1812, November 25
Harrison orders Campbell to attack and destroy the Miami
village at Mississinewa. Campbell is advised to try
to spare chiefs Richardville, Silver Heels, White Loon, Charley
and Pecon, and the sons and daughters of Little Turtle if it can
be done without risk to his force. He is also advised to
guarantee the safety of the Indian women and children who are to
be captured and conducted back to settlements in Ohio--a
condition that will eventually cost Campbell severe losses among
his troops.
1812, December 14
Campbell's force of nearly 600 mounted troops, guided by
William Conner, departs Fort Greenville, Ohio, on an 80-mile
forced march to the Miami towns on the Mississinewa
River. The snow is knee deep, and the weather is
bitter cold.
1812, December 17
Campbell's force surprises and attacks the first of four
Indian villages on the Mississinewa River near present-day
Jalapa. Eight Indians and one African-American are
killed. Forty-two Indians, including 34 women and
children, are captured. Two American solders lose
their lives.
1812, December 18
Just before dawn, a force of about 300 Indians
counterattack, killing eight soldiers and wounding 48,
Fifteen Indians are killed. Faced with bitter cold
weather, mounting casualties due to frostbite and the loss of
109 horses killed in battle, Campbell withdraws his forces to
Greenville.
1812, December 24
His troops decimated by freezing weather, Campbell's force
arrives at Greenville, More than 300 of his troops
are victims of frostbite when Campbell allows the Indian women
and children to ride captured Indian horses on the return
trip. The captives are escorted in Indian settlements at
Piqua.
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