Hardin's Defeat was a battle in the Ohio Country on October 22, 1790, between the United States Army and two tribes of Native Americans. It was part of General Josiah Harmar's campaign in the Northwest Indian War. The Northwest Indian War (1785-1795), often known as Little Turtles War in older reference works, was a war fought between the United States and a large confederation of Native Americans (Indians) for control of the Old Northwest, which ended with a decisive U.S. victory at the Battle... Combatants American Indian confederacy United States Commanders Michikinikwa Blue Jacket Arthur St. ... Combatants United States {See US Army section Legion of the United States 1791-1797} Blue Jackets confederacy Commanders Anthony Wayne Blue Jacket Buckongahelas Strength 3,000 1,500 Casualties 33 killed 100 wounded total: 133 40 The Battle of Fallen Timbers (August 20, 1794) was the final battle of... The Ohio Country, showing the present-day U.S. state boundaries The Ohio Country (sometimes called the Ohio Territory) was the name used in the 18th century for the regions of North America west of the Appalachian Mountains and in the region of the upper Ohio River south of Lake... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... An Atsina named Assiniboin Boy Photo by Edward S. Curtis. ... Josiah Harmar (November 10, 1753 - August 20, 1813) was an officer in the United States Army. ... The Northwest Indian War (1785-1795), often known as Little Turtles War in older reference works, was a war fought between the United States and a large confederation of Native Americans (Indians) for control of the Old Northwest, which ended with a decisive U.S. victory at the Battle...

Prelude to battle

President George Washington and Secretary of War Henry Knox ordered General Harmar to launch a campaign into the Shawnee and Miami Indian country in retaliation for the killing of over 1,500 civilians in Kentucky, along the Ohio River, and at the few settlements north of the Ohio from the mid to late 1780's. The primary objective of the campaign was the destruction of the large, main Miami village of Kekionga (present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana), where the St. Joseph and St. Marys Rivers join to create the Maumee River. The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799), was the Commander in Chief of American forces in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and, later, the first President of the United States, an office he held from 1789 to 1797. ... The Secretary of War was a member of the Presidents Cabinet, beginning with George Washingtons administration. ... Henry Knox was an American bookseller from Boston who became the chief Artillery officer of the Continental Army and later the nations first United States Secretary of War. ... The Shawnee, or Shawano, are a people native to North America. ... The Miami are a Native American tribe originally found in Indiana and Ohio. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Ohio River viewed from Liberty Hill in Ripley, Ohio. ... Capital of the Miami Indian nation. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Summit City Location Location in the state of Indiana, USA Government Country  State   County United States  Indiana   Allen Founded October 22, 1794 Mayor Graham Richard (D) Geographical characteristics Area    - City 204. ... Saint Joe River flowing west from Elkhart (top) through Osceola (middle) and into Mishawaka (bottom). ... The St. ... The Maumee River at Grand Rapids, Ohio. ...

The campaign was launched from Fort Washington (Cincinnati) in the southwestern Ohio Territory. At 10:00 a.m., on October 7, 1790, General Harmar began the march north, along the Great Miami River, with 320 regular U.S. Army troops and 1,133 volunteer militia, for a total of 1,453 men. Also deployed were three 6-pounder wheel-mounted, horse drawn cannon. By October 14, Harmar's force had marched to within 25 miles of Kekionga (Fort Wayne). At that point, Kentuckians serving as scouts for the army captured a Shawnee. After some intense interrogation (and possible a little torture), the Indian informed Harmar that the Miami and Shawnee were gathering at Kekionga, preparing for his army's advance. Before dawn on October 15, a detachment of 600 men under Col. John Hardin was dispatched north on a 25-mile forced march to "surprise" the Indians at Kekionga. When Colonel Hardin's detachment arrived, they found the village abandoned and burned it, and camped south of the destroyed town. Cincinnati, Ohio viewed from the SW, across the Ohio River from Kentucky. ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years). ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Great Miami River (also called the Miami River) is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 160 mi (257 km) long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... A small American Civil War-era cannon on a carriage A caun is any large tubular firearm designed to fire a heavy projectile over a considerable distance. ... October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in Leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years). ... John Hardin (1753-1792) was an officer in the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. ...

Hardin's expedition

On October 20, General Harmar arrived at the camp and immediately sent out a detachment of 300 men under Ensign Phillip Hartshorn northward to reconnoiter the Indian force's trail. Eight miles above Kekionga, Hartshorn was ambushed by a large war party, which killed him and 19 of his men. Instead of advancing immediately to attack the Indian force, Harmar pulled back, several miles south of the village, not even permitting a burial detail to bury their twenty dead. Morale by now had plumetted, and the men were enraged at the cowardice of their commander. Hardin then demanded that he be allowed to take 400 men and attack the Indian force, or at the very least, bury their fallen comrades. October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ...

At dawn on October 22, Hardin reached Kekionga to find a force of approximately 1,050 warriors encamped there. Hardin immediately sent a dispatch to Harmar requesting reinforcements. When the courier told Harmar (who was rumored to have been drunk) about the size of the enemy force, he became visibly shaken and ordered his 800-900 remaining men into a hollow defensive square and refused to come to Hardin's aid, leaving him alone to face an enemy more than twice his number. Colonel Hardin, expecting reinforcements at any time, formed his troops into a line just under 3/4 of a mile long and waited for the Indian attack that he knew was coming. He did not have long to wait. Soon the Shawnee and Miami force was attacking Hardin from three sides. Still holding out for reinforcements from Harmar, Hardin's men put up a valiant defense, holding the Indians at bay for over three hours before finally falling back to join the rest of the army. October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ...

The army forces reported 129 men killed in action (14 officers and 115 enlisted men) and 94 wounded. Estimates of Indian casualties range from 120 to 150 total.