Natives versus Settlers: Bird's Invasion of Kentucky, 1780

By 1780, the stakes against the British in North American had upped considerably.  France and Spain were now allies of the future United States, and the British knew that France would take Quebec and New France (from Quebec City all the way to New Orleans) back in a heartbeat.  The Spanish, eager to secure their possessions in Florida, which now included St. Louis, Mobile and New Orleans, would be on hand to help.  The British decided on a bold scheme to stop the French and Spanish in their tracks.

While General John Campbell, Duke of Argyll, attacked New Orleans from Pensacola and proceeded up the Missippi to Natchez, he would rendezvous with another British force striking down the Illinois River and take St. Louis.  Another British force would retake Vincennes and hold down Illinois country.  Meanwhile, Major Henry Bird was given command of a force of 1,000 Native auxiliaries along with units of British Regulars and Canadian militia.  He was to amuse (distract, keep busy), George Rogers Clark, who was known to be convening a force to march on Fort Detroit and was currently at the Falls of the Ohio. 

And it all fell apart from there.  Bernardo de Galvez bottled Argyll up in Pensacola, insuring that he never reached Mobile or New Orleans.  Militia composed of settlers in Illinois dealt with the other two British forces.  The Natives marching with Bird reached the junction of the Ohio and Great Miami Rivers and learned that Clark was nearby with a larger force than they anticipated and that he was NOT amused, not one bit.  The Native force was composed of Shawnee, Delaware, Miami and other tribes whom the British lumped together as Lake Indians, under the command of Blue Jacket along with Alexander McKee, Matthew Elliott, and the man every American settler couldn't hate enough, Simon Girty.  They decided to leave Clark alone and raid some American settlements. 

They traveled down the Licking River and, on June 21, 1780, arrived at Ruddle's station.  Like most of these frontier stations, it was a log palisade with a blockhouse.  This was one of the few occasions where the British had thought to bring along artillery and the cannons quickly reduced the walls to kindling.  Isaac Ruddle, the commander of the station, demanded to be allowed to surrender to the British, and not the Natives.  Bird agreed to this but the Natives were not to be denied and quickly took possession of the prisoners (about 200), dividing them up amongst the various bands in the usual way.  Bird reasserted his authority and let the Natives know that, next time, he was taking charge of the prisoners.  They proceeded on to Martin's Station, which quickly surrendered.  Bird and the Regular units took charge of 150 prisoners. 

At this point, the Natives felt willing to take on Clark, having heard that his force wasn't as powerful as they'd originally though it was.  Bird overruled them again, citing low food supplies, not enough water in the Licking River to transport the cannon and other excuses.  They retraced their steps.  As they crossed the Ohio River on August 4, 1780, most of the Natives left the expedition.  They took some prisoners, but left most behind with Bird's column (around 300).   The British would never again mount such a serious attempt to take the North American backcountry.  If it was any consolation, Clark never got to act on his plan to take Fort Detroit.  All the Natives got for their trouble was more retribution from American settlers, who blame them (and Girty) for all the violence.