Video
Guns Across the Lakes: Battle of the Thames
Transcript
This video looks at the War of 1812 more specifically the fall of 1813 where we see the British army vacate Amherstburg, Sandwich, and Detroit to retreat up the Thames river in Upper Canada. The American pursuit will culminate in what has been known as the Battle of the Thames or the Battle of Moraviantown. Through this series of events and actions we will see a future president of the United States, a future vice president, the ruination of a long-standing military career, and the death of a famous Shawnee leader and warrior.
Hi i'm Tom Fournier from the Crown Forces staff. Also I used to command the 41st regiment of Foote military reenacting group. So you're going to find this perspective is going to have a decided British look to it. I've drawn heavily upon the court martial transcripts from Major General Henry Proctor. Behind me you'll see the Thames river or as the French called it the River Tranchée literally the trench. So this is a big topic covering nearly two weeks in time lots of big names and personalities. The retreat covered 90 miles in distance and we got a whole lot to fit into a very small segment. I'm sure there's going to be parts we overlook or skim over but please bear with me we'll do the best we can.
The British army under the command of Major General Henry Proctor were in three garrisons Amherstburg, Sandwich, and Detroit. They also had a considerable number of indigenous warriors and their families to support and feed. They had no money. Soldiers were six months in arrears in their pay. This was literally the end of the road. With limited roads often in very poor condition control of the lake and access to shipping was vital to support and sustain their position. With the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813 it meant a difficult situation had become untenable. Not only was there the loss of the fleet but also a loss of a considerable number of soldiers of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and the 41st Regiment who were pressed into action on the badly undermanned fleet.
Proctor felt he had to make a retreat he had planned to retreat to the Thames River hoping to preserve the alliance with the indigenous warriors and their families. The retreat did not begin until September 22nd nearly two weeks later. The initial plans were to ready the area around Dolson's just before Chatham for a stand. While defenses were being prepared at the forks of the Thames in Chatham. September 27th William Henry Harrison and the American forces landed near Amherstburg and marched into town unopposed. At the same time a large mounted contingent was also moving along the opposite shore towards Detroit.
On the retreat a debate arose as to whether to make a stand at the forks or at Dolson's. Dolson's was chosen with the idea that ground could be used to throw up a battery and loopholes could be cut into the wooden buildings. But the tools could not be found. They were upriver somewhere in the boats. Tecumseh pressed for a retreat to the fork of the Thames. Where he was led to believe that there would be fortifications. Upon arrival the forks it was found that no fortifications had been established. Tecumseh was extremely upset.
Preparations were made for a stand to be made at the forks but after a council with his chiefs Tecumseh said he would like to retreat to Moraviantown. With the Americans now in close pursuit the retreat continued with boats being scuttled to block the river boats and stores being abandoned or destroyed and stragglers being captured by the Americans. By October 4th the soldiers had no bread and if meat was available it was raw with no means to cook it.
We are at the site where Moraviantown stood. As the retreat was being mismanaged and chaos ensued it became apparent that Moraviantown is where the British army was going to make a stand. The initial plan was to cut loopholes in the buildings like this. This ravine stood at the end of the Longwoods Road as a cut through Moraviantown. The plan was and actually they did have the British guns sighted at the top end of the ravine. So the idea was soldiers would defend the huts and fight have a fighting withdrawal back through the ravine where the Americans would face the battery of guns. Why this never occurred is impossible to tell. As the column approached Moraviantown it was suddenly stopped and halted. Some testimony indicates that it was actually turned and marched back half half a mile towards the Americans.
The expectation was that the Americans were close and the stand was going to be prepared. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Evans of the 41st regiment estimated that he had 280 men of the 41st to stand. Why such a low number well quite a number were lost in the Battle of Lake Erie. Then there were men with the baggage guarding that. There was quite a number of sick ahead of the column on the road between Moraviantown and Delaware and also there were quite quite a few men still with the boats with their supplies in the rivers. The men were not issued bread that day they were given raw meat but they had no kettles to cook it in and no time to cook. As all of a sudden the column was up and moving as they prepared to stand to fight word came back that 150 men were captured with the boats and with the boats was captured all of their ammunition.
We stand here on the battlefield this is the ground chosen by the British to stand and fight the British line would be anchored on its left by the river. To its right was a swamp where the indigenous warriors were situated with the march to Moraviantown, the halt, and counter-march back to this ground the formations were hopelessly jumbled. The grenadiers and light company normally on the flanks of the line were in the center. There are reports that the rear rank stood in front of the front rank. At this point it was decided to adjust the defensive position. The grenadier company and the light company were pulled from the second line and moved considerably back to form a second line. Now neither line had enough men to cover the space. The files were extended considerably. This is not how these soldiers were trained to drill and fight. Tired, hungry, confused, short of ammunition, and reportedly considerably outnumbered the British soldiers stood and waited for an attack that was imminent.
Only the attack was not coming they stood in position for two or three hours awaiting the Americans. No attempt was made to create defensive works like felling trees in front of their positions. Likely the tools were unknown as to their location. A distant bugle sounded. Then the bugle sounded again even closer. The Americans attacked with mounted riflemen. They targeted the right of the British line hitting it with heavy fire and charging their horses through the gaps. Soon there were riflemen between the two lines rounding up survivors of the first lines other soldiers were running desperately back to and through the second line. The rifleman hit the second line it fired but very quickly fell apart. Eighteen men were killed 22 were wounded in mere moments the battle was over. Cavalry and mounted staff including Henry Proctor fled away on horseback. So now the Americans can turn their attention to Tecumseh and indigenous warriors. It's really confusing, there's a lot of mixed accounts just how many were there. Quite a few melted away during the course of the retreat. There were also a significant number back in Moraviantown seeing to the safety and security of their families. The best estimates were maybe 500 warriors stood against the Americans. The Americans organized a forlorn hope, that is a small group of men who were going to rush the indians soak up their fire and before they could reload then the main attack would happen. The forlorn hope occurred, the attack ensued and then reportedly Richard Mentor Johnson, a future vice president of the United States killed Tecumseh. With the death of Tecumseh the indigenous forces melted away. It was a dramatic American victory under William Henry Harrison, a future president of the United States. With the victory effectively the pursuit of the British had ended. The Americans had over 600 British captives. Those from the battle, those captured along the route of the retreat, and then stragglers that continue to come in at the end of the battle. With the battle Tecumseh died along with his dreams of an indigenous confederacy. Henry Proctor would see his military career in ruins. He would face a court martial and was found guilty of a want of energy and judgment. He was suspended six months without pay. But this effectively ended his military career.
Description
This week we travel to the north side of Lake Erie to follow the UK and their natives allies as they retreat up the Thames River.
Duration
10 minutes, 57 seconds
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