The Battle of the Thames, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was a decisive American victory in the War of 1812 which took place on October 5, 1813.
Background
In September, 1813 the American navy under Oliver Hazard Perry scored a decisive victory in the battle of Lake Erie. British General Henry Proctor , feared loosing his supply lines and was retreating, against the advice of his ally Tecumseh, from Fort Malden . American General William Henry Harrison trailed Proctor through Ontario. Tecumseh had pleaded with Proctor to stop and face Harrison several times. Finally Proctor was convinced to face Harrison at Moraviantown on the Thames River.
Forces
Harrison's force totaled about 3,800 infantry and cavalry. Future vice president, Colonel Richard Mentor Johnson commanded the American cavalry. Many of the volunteers under Johnson were from the River Raisin area and enlisted with the slogan "Remember the Raisin". Harrison's army was eager for a fight. Proctor on the other hand had about 800 soldiers along with about 1000 natives led by Tecumseh. The British soldiers were becoming increasingly demoralized and Tecumseh's warriors grew even more impatient with Proctor for his unwillingness to stop and fight. Proctor even fear a mutiny by the warriors.
The Battle
On
October 4, Tecumseh skirmished the Americans near
Chatham, Ontario to slow the American advance. The warriors were quickly overwhelmed and Proctor's aide Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Warburton lost his supplies and ammunition to an American raiding party. On
October 5 Proctor formed the British regulars in line of battle at Moraviantown and planned to trap Harrison on the banks of the Thames, driving the Americans off the road with his cannons. Tecumseh's warriors took up positions in a swamp on the British right to catch the American's in the flank.
General Harrison surveyed the battlefield and unconventionally ordered
James Johnson (brother of Richard Johnson) to make a frontal attack against the British regulars. Despite the Indians' flanking fire James Johnson broke through; the British cannon having failed to fire. Immediately Proctor and the British turned and fled the field, many of them surrendering. Tecumseh remained and kept up the fighting. Richard Johnson at the head of about 20 cavaliers charged into the Indian position to draw attention away from the main American force. 15 of the men are killed or wounded and Johnson hiumself is hit five times. Johnson's main force became bogged down in the mud of the swamp. About this time, it is believed that Colonel Johnson personally shot and killed Tecumseh.
The main force finally made its way through the swamp and James Johnson's troops are freed from their attack on the British. With the American reinforcements converging and the death of Tecumseh spreading quickly the Indian resistence quickly dissolves. Mounted troops then moved on and burned Moraviantown.
Results
The Battle of the Thames was a decisive victory for the Americans which led to the re-establishment of American control over the Northwest frontier for the remainder of the war. Harrison's popularity grew and was eventually elected president of the United States. Proctor was later court-martialed for cowardice and removed from command. The death of Tecumseh was a crushing blow to the Indian alliance he had created and it effectively dissolved following the battle.
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