Battle of Brownstown
Battle of Brownstown | |
---|---|
Part of the Brownstown Township, Michigan | |
Result | Tecumseh Confederate victory |
Essex Militia
12 wounded
70 missing
The Battle of Brownstown was an early skirmish in the War of 1812. Although the United States military outnumbered the forces of Tecumseh's Confederacy 8 to 1, they lost the battle and suffered substantial losses while Tecumseh's forces were almost untouched.
The battle occurred near Brownstown, a Wyandot village south of Fort Detroit on Brownstown creek. Brownstown was also known as "Sindathon's Village". Carlson High School in Gibraltar, Michigan, is near the site of the battle.
Background
Assisted by the
On August 5, 1812,
Battle
As the U.S. Forces forded Brownstown creek, the 200 U.S. soldiers were set upon by two dozen Native Americans led by the Shawnee war chief Tecumseh, Chickamauga war chief Daimee, Wyandot chief Roundhead, as well as a detachment from the Essex Militia. Faced with such opposition, Van Horne ordered a retreat, whereupon the untrained American militia scattered in a panic. Van Horne was able to save only half of his command; 18 men were killed, 12 were wounded, and 70 went missing. Most of those listed as "missing" were dispersed during the battle and returned to Detroit during the ensuing days.
Aftermath
Josiah Snelling, known colloquially as the Prairie Chicken, was cited for gallantry for his actions during the Battle of Brownstown, and promoted to Major. Later, after Hull surrendered Fort Detroit to Tecumseh, Snelling's testimony was used at Hull's court-martial.
One minor chief, Blue Jacket, died in the battle. This was not the famous Shawnee chief Blue Jacket, but most likely was one of his sons.[2]
By an act of the United States Congress on June 1, 1813, the widows of those men killed in the battle were awarded half pay for five years. In at least one case, that of Jacob Pence, $953.43 was paid in October 1832 and $422.53 in April, 1839, for a total of $1,375.96.[3]
References
- ISBN 1-55002-626-7
- ^ "lineage_of_blue_jacket_list". shawnee-bluejacket.com.
- ^ Brackenridge, Henry Marie (1839), History of the Late War, Between the United States and Great Britain: Comprising a Minute Account of the Various Military and Naval Operations, pg. 35, California: C. H. Kay & co