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Prepared by:
G. Michael Pratt
Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor Inc.
April 1995
The Battle of Fallen Timbers
On the morning of August 20, Wayne's Legion marched down river from its encampment at Roche de Bout (present Waterville, Ohio) in five parallel columns, each spaced approximately 200 yards apart. In the center column Wayne and his headquarters staff, accompanied the army's artillery companies, extra ammunition and supplies, and at least some light infantry and dragoon companies. Two hundred yards on either side of this column marched the right and left wings of the army, each composed of two Sub-Legions of about 10 infantry companies, marching by company but with the files doubled. Two hundred yards beyond each of these columns marched a flank column of Light Infantry and Riflemen. On the march, the army covered a front more than 800 yards wide. Behind the Legion rode some 1500 Kentucky militia.
The right wing marched along the crest of the valley bluff line through an "open woods" and was hampered by numerous ravines that crossed its line of march. The left wing found the ground level, but poorly drained and was hampered by dense forest and underbrush. A screen of 150 mounted Kentucky volunteers marched some 400 yards in front of two companies of regulars, who formed the front guard. These companies marched about 200 yards in front of the main columns.
After marching about five miles the mounted volunteers stumbled into the center of an ambuscade line of as many as 1100 warriors. The front screen collapsed and fled around the front guard of regulars. The front guard attempted to retreat while returning fire but eventually fled the field. The soldiers of the front guard were closely pursued by a large force of warriors intent on assaulting the main columns. The momentum of their attack was stemmed by a hastily formed Light Infantry skirmish line that forced the attacking warriors to seek shelter in an area of tornado-felled timber.
A sustained fire fight developed along this skirmish line and the Legionnaires were slowly forced back some 80 yards under the weight of superior fire. During this skirmish, the remainder of the Legion deployed from its columns into line of battle. This maneuver required each company to undouble its files and move forward and obliquely to the left to form on the left of the preceding company. On the right wing, the 1st and 3rd Sub Legions formed a single line while on the left, the 4th Sub Legion formed on the battle line, with the 2nd Sub Legion formed as a reserve.
During the fifteen or so minutes that the Legion required to form, only the Light Infantry and Artillery companies in the center column joined the battle. The Artillery opened fire with shot and shell and switched to canister as the warriors pressed to within about 80 yards of their positions.
As the fire fight spread along the length of the U.S. line, Dragoons were ordered to ride to the river and flank the Indian line. This charge, lead by Capt. Robert MisCampbell, originated from the crest of the bluffs, but may have carried into the prairie below. MisCampbell was killed almost immediately and the cavalry charge quickly faltered when the troopers encountered heavy fire from concealed warriors.
On the left side of the line the reserve (2nd Sub Legion) was ordered forward to extend the line and protect the left flank. Before this move could be completed the entire Legion was ordered to charge. The charge was little contested except on the left of the U.S. line where a party of Wyandots and elements of the Canadian "Queen's Rangers" attempted to fight a delaying action.
The Wyandots and their allies suffered heavy losses before being driven from the field. On the right, some of the Light Infantry were ordered into the flood plain, but were quickly recalled to the uplands due to their inability to get forward through the tall grass. As the charge developed the mounted Kentucky militia was ordered forward to extend and cover the left flank, thus extending the battle front beyond that formed by the infantry itself. The thick woods slowed their progress and prevented a major extension of the U.S. front, however, clearly once the charge was underway, hundreds of mounted men were moving forward on the left flank of the Legion's line. Wayne's charge carried the army one to two miles downstream and was halted when the resistance dissipated and the charge became disorganized.
The Legion was brought to a halt, reformed and remained in a defensive posture for several hours. No Indian counter-attack developed, and after selection of a campsite, the army moved to the high ground overlooking the Foot of the Rapids and within sight of Fort Miamis and its garrison.
Continue to "Historical Evidence of the Location of the Battle."
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