Under the leadership of Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket and Lenape leader Buckongahelas, fifteen hundred Native warriors and a handful of Canadian Militia engaged the American Army sent to disperse the Natives.

The native force was a loose alliance of Ohio Valley tribes that were setting forts ablaze all throughout the frontier territories of the young United States. Their main complaint being aggressive United States expansion into their hunting grounds in the Ohio Valley.

The United States Army was sent to protect the settlers and disperse the natives under the leadership of Anthony “Mad Dog” Wayne. His aide-de-camp was a young Lieutenant by the name of William Henry Harrison.
Fighting with the forces of his people was a young Shawnee brave by the name of Tecumseh.

On August 20, 1794 Blue Jacket’s army took a defensive stand along the Maumee River where a stand of trees (“fallen timbers”) had been blown down by a heavy storm. Nearby was Fort Miami, a British outpost from which the Native Confederacy received arms, ammunition and supplies.

The native force was attacked by the full might of General Wayne’s army of three thousand men.
Wayne’s troops closed quickly and pressed with the bayonet. The Natives were then outflanked by American cavalry and quickly routed. They fled back to Fort Miami, only to find the gates closed. The British commander was not authorized to start a war with the Americans and closed the gates forcing the Natives to surrender. The American troops destroyed Native villages and crops in the area, and then withdrew.

The defeated Native Leaders were forced to sign the Treaty of Greenville ceding most of present day Ohio to the United States. Tecumseh refused to sign this treaty and used his memory of this event in his future dealings with both the U.S. and Britain.

Quick Facts
August 20, 1794
Near present day Toledo, Ohio
Result: Decisive United States victory

Commanders and leaders:
U.S.A.:
General Anthony Wayne
Lieutenant William Henry Harrison

Natives:
Blue Jacket
The Crane

Strength:
3,000 (U.S.A.) 1,500 (Natives)

Casualties:
33 killed and 100 wounded (U.S.A.) Approx 30 killed (Natives as reported by Alexander McKee of Amherstburg