08/20/2026
The Battle of Fallen Timbers (This Day in History 1794):
"On August 20th the advancing army reached the place on the river bank, near the British Fort, known as Fallen Timbers, because the land was strewn with the rows of dead trees of a former thick forest, over which a hurricane some two years previous had swept. The night before the encounter, the plan of battle was outlined by Lieutenant William Henry Harrison, then on the staff of Wayne. It was early in the morning when Wayne’s columns confidently moved into line opposite the Rapids. The order of the advance as stated by Wayne in his subsequent official report was: “the legion on the right, its right flank covered by the Miamis [Maumee] one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brigadier General Todd, the other in the rear, under Brigadier General Barbie. A select battalion of mounted volunteers moved in front of the legion, commanded by Major Price, who was directed to keep sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely notice for the troops in case of action, it being yet undetermined whether the Indians would decide for peace or war.” We let Wayne’s report in the American State Papers relate the succinct but authentic account of the battle: “After advancing about five miles, Major Price’s corps received so severe a fire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat. The legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close thick wood, which extended for miles on our left, and for a very considerable distance in front, the ground being covered with old fallen timber, probably occasioned by a tornado, which rendered it impracticable for the cavalry to act with effect, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their mode of warfare. The savages were formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other, and extending for near two miles, at right angles with the river. I soon discovered, from the weight of the fire and extent of their lines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite ground, and endeavoring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance and support the first, and directed Major General Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole of the mounted volunteers, by a circuitous route; at the same time I ordered the front line to advance and charge with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and when up, to deliver a close and well directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again. I also ordered Captain Mis Campbell, who commanded the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, and which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. All these orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude; but such was the impetuosity of the charge by the first line of infantry, that the Indians, and Canadian militia, and volunteers, were drove from all their coverts in so short a time, that, although every possible exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the legion, and by Generals Scott, Todd, and Barbie, of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positions, but part of each could get up in season to participate in the action, the enemy being drove, in the course of one hour, more than two miles, through the thick woods already mentioned, by less than one half their numbers.”
The shrewd scheme of Wayne was most successful. The sudden and systematic attack upon the Indian lines at all points, stampeded the savage warriors and forced them into a general and promiscuous flight, which their chiefs in vain strove to check. The disorderly retreat, with the Americans in close pursuit, continued three or four miles, to within range of the guns of Fort Miami, the gates of which were closed barring admission to the warriors, much to their rage and dismay for the British had promised them the protection of the fortress. Bitterly denouncing the treachery of their alleged Canadian allies, the tribesmen fled on to the inland forests and vanished no one knew whither."
- E. O. Randall, History of Ohio, the Progress of an American State
(Image: Battle of Fallen Timbers by R. F. Zogbaum, 1896)
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