Memoirs of the Generals, Commodores and other Commanders, who distinguished themselves in the American army and navy during the wars of the Revolution and 1812, and who were presented with medals by Congress for their gallant services

by Thomas Wyatt

The communication with the state of Ohio being completely blocked up, thereby preventing the transportation of supplies of provisions for General Hull’s army, he saw it necessary to turn his attention to that point, and accordingly detached from the army a part of the regular troops, numbering about six hundred men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Miller, of the fourth regiment United States infantry, for this object. Colonel Miller was permitted to take two field pieces with the detachment, one six pounder and one five and a half inch howitzer, with their appendages and ammunition.

The detachment having drawn two days’ provisions, being organized and everything prepared for the march, General Wayne was chosen to lead the spies to reconnoitre the country; these were volunteer citizens of Detroit well acquainted with the route.

At five o’clock P. M., on the 8th of August, 1812, the troops being ready to march, and drawn up in line in the main street of Detroit, Colonel Miller rode to the centre and in front of the line, and addressed the troops in the following words:—“Soldiers, we are going to meet the enemy and to beat them! The blood of your brethren, spilt by savage hands on the 5th, must be avenged by their chastisement, and by the chastisement of the enemy who employs them, more savage than they! I shall lead you—I trust that no man will disgrace himself or me—every man who is seen to leave the ranks, to give way, or fall back without orders, shall instantly be put to death. My brave soldiers! you have once faced the enemy in a hard conflict, and beaten them, and gained glory to yourselves and honor to your country! Let this opportunity be improved to add another victory to that of Tippecanoe, and new glory to that which you gained on the Wabash. Soldiers, if there are any now in the ranks of this detachment, who are afraid to meet the enemy, they are now permitted to fall out and stay behind.” At which the words, “I’ll not stay,” ran through the ranks with a “huzza.”

The detachment then moved off in order and high spirits, and exhibited so much ardor to engage in the conflict, that the anxious citizens felt perfect confidence in the success of the enterprise. The detachment arrived at the river Rouge, six miles from Detroit, about sunset. There being no bridge and the water very deep, they were conveyed over in scows, and as two only were within reach, it was ten o’clock before the whole had crossed over. The weather being somewhat rainy and very dark, it was determined to encamp there for the night. They therefore stationed their guards and picquets, and permitted the men to rest on their arms till daylight. Accordingly, at daybreak, they commenced their march, with Colonel Miller at the head of a column of cavalry, accompanied by his aids, in the road and in a line with the heads of the columns of musketry. In this order the detachment marched from the encampment, near the river Rouge, on the morning of the 9th. They proceeded through the white settlement, which was about five miles, and entered the woods.

The country, from the river Rouge to Brownstown, is generally flat, and lies a little above the surface of the river Detroit. Indian huts and fields are interspersed through the woods; at that time the fields were covered with corn, which was grown to seven and eight feet high.

When the advanced guard had arrived at the farther edge of this wood, the spies advanced into the Indian opening; they were fired upon by a party of ten Indians, who were on horseback, and had concealed themselves behind the house of the celebrated chief, Walk-in-the-water.

The spies fell back. A citizen from Detroit, who accompanied them, was killed, and fell from his horse. The guard advanced quickly towards the house, and the Indians immediately fled without receiving much injury, though the guard fired upon them while they were uncovered by the house. The Indians bore away as a trophy, the citizen’s scalp whom they had shot; and the facility with which the scalp was taken, was astonishing. There scarcely appeared to have been time for the Indian to reach the spot where the man fell, before the guard arrived and found the scalp taken off, and the Indian gone. When the firing was heard by the columns, the order was given by Colonel Miller to march on with haste, but only some scattered Indians were discovered, who had been sent out by the British to watch the movements of the Americans, and to give information of their approach towards Brownstown, where the enemy, as it appeared afterwards, then lay in ambush to receive them. The position which the enemy had chosen, lay in an open oak wood, just at the declivity of a rising ground, over which the Americans had to pass. He had thrown up a breastwork of trees, logs, &c., behind which he lay concealed in force, and in order of battle. His works were thrown up in form of a courtine with two flanks. The line of the courtine lay across the road and perpendicularly to it. The banks formed an angle with the courtine of about one hundred and twenty. The courtine was lined with British regular troops, two deep of the forty-first regiment of foot, under the command of Major Muer of that regiment, who had long been in command at Malden. The flank of the courtine, on the enemy’s right, and American left, was lined with Canadian militia and Indians, commanded by Walk-in-the-water and Marpot. Most of the militia were dressed and painted like their “brethren in arms,” the savages. The left flank of the courtine was lined entirely by savages, under the command of the celebrated Indian warrior Tecumseh, of the Shawnoese nation.

The number of the British regulars and militia amounted to about three hundred; about two hundred regulars. The Indians amounted to four hundred and fifty, making the enemy’s forces about seven hundred and fifty men. The position and strength of the enemy were entirely unknown to Colonel Miller and to the army at this time.

At twelve o’clock M. the detachment arrived at a large opening which contained four or five Indian houses, gardens, and orchards, and the army halted to take some refreshment, and to bury the man who had been killed; there they lay one hour. The village was deserted, and nothing of any consequence left in the houses.

At one P. M., the troops resumed their march, and soon reached the woods, near Brownstown, where some guns were heard by them. In a few seconds a volley was heard from Captain Snelling’s advance guard, and another instantly returned from a great number of pieces. The troops, by this time, were in preparation for battle, when Colonel Miller rode towards the centre at full speed, halted, and with a firm voice ordered the columns to “form the line of battle,” which was executed with that order, promptness and zeal, which he had expected; after the first volleys, the firing became incessant in front. Captain Snelling stood his ground till the lines were formed, and moved to his relief. He stood within pistol shot of the enemy’s breastworks in a shower of balls from the regular troops in his front, who showed themselves after the first fire, and set up the Indian yell.