A SHORT CHRONOLOGY
The War of 1812 in the Northwest
1812--WINCHESTER'S CAMPAIGN, November 10-January 11, 1813.
1812, November 10-13. General Edward Tupper prepares a detachment of 650
men and goes from Ft. McArthur toward the Rapids. He has a
6-pounder, but must leave it because of bad roads. When he arrives at the
Portage River, 20 miles from the Rapids, he sends forward a spy detail to
look for the enemy. This detail returns that night; reports that the
British and Indians are encamped in a close formation. The entire force
then crosses the Portage River, prepared to attack them next day.
1812, November 14. General Tupper's force has a difficult time trying to
cross the river. The current is swift and many men are washed down-
stream with their guns. Tupper sends to General Winchester asking for a
reinforcement, then tries to lure the Indians away by a decoy move with
his spies. This fails and he marches the whole army against the Indians.
They are frightened and flee and then Tupper marches his army back to his
camp.
1812, November 15. General Winchester sends a detachment of 450 men
under Colonel Lewis to reinforce Tupper. Ensign Todd is sent
to Tupper asking that a place of rendezvous for the two forces on the
north side of the river be decided upon, with a view of attacking the
Indians while they were encamped next morning. However, when the ensign
reached Tupper's camp and found it abandoned, he got the impression that
Tupper had been defeated and said so to Colonel Lewis. At this point,
Lewis' detachment returns to Winchester's camp.
1812, November 22. Chief Logan is sent on a spying mission and is
attacked along the Maumee by a group of Indians, among whom
was the Pottawattamie, Winemac. In the skirmish, Logan is shot and
the spies return to Winchester's camp where Logan dies on November 25.
1812, December 22. General Winchester's force receives provisions and
prepares to march.
1812, December 30. General Winchester's force commences its march to
the Rapids from Ft. Winchester [Defiance]. While on the march,
Winchester receives another dispatch from General Harrison recommending
that his march be abandoned and that he fall back to Ft. Jennings. Win-
chester, already on his march, thinks it not necessary to follow this
instruct ion.
1813, January 10. General Winchester's force arrives at the Rapids. A
detachment of 670 men are sent ahead under General Payne to
attack a body of Indians supposedly on Swan Creek, but they find nothing.
Winchester makes his encampment on the north bank of the Maumee, above
Fallen Timbers, on a "handsome eminence." An Indian camp is sighted
nearby and Captain Williams with 25 men is sent to look it over. A few
Indians are discovered, a few shots are fired, and the Indians flee, but
there are some wounded on both sides.
1813, January 11. General Winchester sends a message to General Harrison
telling him that his force has reached the Rapids, but the
message was delayed and did not arrive at Upper Sandusky until after
Harrison had left. A large storehouse is built within the encampment at
the Rapids to secure the provisions and baggage.
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