Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-03-15
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY
The Canadian Exhibition Of 1914.

Although relatively little space is
allowed to it in most histories, the
Battle of the Thames was one Of the
most important in the war of 1872. 1t
came about Immediately after the VIC
tory of Perry on Lake Erie had given
Gen. Harrison that chance for which
he had been so long waiting and the
result was a brief, but brilliant cam
paign in which the American general
DESTROYED the British power in one
part OF Canada, regained Michigan
for the United States, put an end to
the career of the great Indian lead
er, Tecumseh, who had been Amer
ica's most dangerous enemy in the
West, and finally broke up the con-
federation of the tribes that had been
assisting the forces of the English.
Harrison, having gained about 5000
men near Sandusky. dispatched John
sons cavalry by land to cross the
river at Detroit, and, taking ali the
other troops by boat as far as Am
herstburg, at once marched upon and
took Maiden. Here it was learned that
the enemy, under Proctor, to the num-
Der of about 1900 men-of whom 1900
were Indians - were retreating along
Lake st. Clair and up the Thames and
in pursuit of this force Harrison at
once set out.
h The armies met near Morayian
Town, at a point where the road ran
between the river and a strip OF
rnarshy land. Proctor and his artfl-
lery commanded the highway, support
! ed by his reserves, while the Indians
under Tecumseh, formed a line near
| the march and also stood ready ia
execute flank movement upon the
| Americans. Harrison advanced slow
| ~, his cavalry in front, behind two
| thirds of his infantry, while the rest
of the force was thrown back at an
angle to face the Indians. With the
/ first IRE Of the British, the pace was
| Quickened and a. cavalry charge order
1 ed. The American horse ploughe6
[ through the English artillery and, ther
| Immediately reforming, turned about
and rode back again, doing consider
able damage. This was done with such
i celebrity that the entire left wing o.
the British was thrown into confusion
and, the infantry in reserve being un.
i able to fix their bayonets before tn,
/ descent of the cavalry, 40 men anC
/ ofhcers surrendered on the spot.
The Indians, however, were NOR
wary of attack. As the American
rode against them, the redskins re
served their fire until the lines hA,
] drawn close together and when the.
were within e few PAGES, gave then
a destructive volley. Finding that tn
| nnarshy ground was unsuitable 70
horses, the Americans dismounted, an
for ten minutes there was hard fight
ing, at close range, with the rife an,
soon the savages began to give way
Their chief soon fell and the savage
: then broke and fed. When the saw
: | ages in front were defeated, those tina
had been posted in the edge Of tn
great marsh vanished through tn
. woods.
Proctor. when he saw his line
broken, abandoned the field and droy
|. Off with all possible speed in his car
riage, accompanied by mounte
E bodyguard. He was conscious that h
: deserved no quarter for his cold
Z blooded massacres. and feared if h
fell into the hands of the American
he might get his deserts. A detach
: ment sent in pursuit of him presse
: him so closely that he abandoned h
: carriage, leaving his sword and pr
= Vate papers in it, and, taking to tn
woods, escaped. Yet though he ha
escaped the Americans, Proctor coul
y not escape his own Government. Il
z was Court martialed and suspende
4 4 for six months.
In this action the Americans To-
about fifty killed and wounded; IL
English about 200 killed and wounde
p and nearly all the remainder We
It made prisoners. Among the spells
: the victory were several brass car
non, which had been captured Wi
Burgoyne, at Saratoga, surrendered |
q Hull at Detroit, and now came a sc,
= ond time into the hands of the Anne
: leans. The battle itself was brief, b
y decisive. and by the rising of the u
on October s, 1873, Harrison had pra
tica1ly accomplished the entire pu
Z pose Of his expedition.
o (Tomorrow-Attempt Abduction
3 Gen. Schuyler.)