Battle of Brownstown

In this vicinity on August 5, 1812, six weeks after the outbreak of war, an Indian force, led by the famous Shawnee chief Tecumseh, ambushed about two hundred Americans under Major Thomas Van Horne who were on the way south to the River Raisin. There supplies vitally needed by Hull’s army in Detroit were awaiting an escort through the Indian blockade of the River Road. Tecumseh opened fire as the Americans forded Brownstown Creek. Van Horne, overestimating the Indians’ numbers, ordered his men to fall back. The retreat soon became a panic-stricken flight back to Fort Lernoult. Seventeen Americans were killed, twelve wounded, and two captured and murdered. One Indian was killed.