Natives versus Settlers: Battle of Brownstown, August 5, 1812

Fighting a colonial war was always costly in money, men and materiel for any European power.  In North America, the French and British made frequent use of their Native auxiliaries, often sending trusted warriors to fight directly with soldiers of the other country, or the Americans, when resources were spread then.  During the War of 1812, the British had need of effective fighting men and commanders to lead them.  Tecumseh, a warrior with a proven track record, was a valuable asset. 

Brownstown was a Wyandot village located on Brownstown Creek near Fort Detroit, in what is now Gibraltar, Michigan.  The Wyandot of this village supported the U.S. and likely Major Thomas van Horne, on the way to the Raisin River to pick up beef on the hoof to return to Major General William Hull at Fort Detroit, thought he was safe enough.  Tecumseh and Roundhead, with 25 Shawnee, Chickamauga and Wyandot warriors quickly set him straight, ambushing Van Horne's party of 200 troops.  Van Horne's men, most of them untrained militia, lost their nerve and scattered, 18 killed, 12 wounded, and 70 missing.  Most of those missing later trickled in to Fort Detroit in the next few days.  Shawnee losses totaled 1 killed. 

The fact that Tecumseh was able to scatter a much larger force with his own was a testament to his own skill as a leader, the coordination of his troops, and the psychological effect of Native warriors on almost any battlefield.  It also showed up the lack of efforts by American forces to maintain this portion of the frontier against British and American attack.  Later, Hull would surrender Fort Detroit to the British after a badly handled siege that would lead to charges of misconduct.  He was later court-martialed and sentenced to death.  President James Madison pardoned him and his career was over.