Siege of Fort Wayne

After the British had successfully captured the city of Detroit, they had received the news that the Indians had surrounded an American Fort. Around 200 men under the command of Adam Muir marched towards the Fort from Detroit, eventually encamping near Fort Defiance. In the night, six Indians and an interpreter entered the camp and stated that they had found an American camp that evening and had taken the five soldiers there prisoner. Whilst marching them off, the interpreter overheard the officer say to his men "Kill four of the Indians, and make your escape". The Indians proceeded to kill all of the soldiers and presented five scalps, the officers ears and a silver dagger to he British as proof.

The next morning, the Indians brought an American prisoner to camp. The prisoner stated that he was a quartermaster-sergeant of an American regiment, and was out hunting for honey. He also stated that they had around nine thousand soldiers in their camp. Upon hearing of the much superior American numbers, Captain Muir ordered a retreat and sailed back to Fort Malden.[9]

Morning 5 September, the siege began when Chief Winamac's forces attacked two soldiers returning from an outhouse.[10] The Native Americans assaulted the fort from the east side and burned the homes of the surrounding village. The Indians constructed two wooden cannons and were able to trick the garrison into thinking they had artillery besieging the fort as well.

Captain Rhea was again drunk, and "took to his quarters, sick."[8] The Indian Agent at Fort Wayne, Benjamin Stickney, was recovering from an illness, but took command of the fort with Lieutenants Daniel Curtis and Phillip Ostrander organizing the defense.[11] Chief Winamac came to the gate again, that evening, and was admitted- unarmed- with thirteen of his men. As they talked, Winamac revealed a knife that he had hidden, and a fur trader, Antoine Bondie, jumped forward to save the life of Stickney. Winamac left the fort, and the Native American forces opened fire at about eight o'clock PM.[12] Winamac's forces tried to set the fort on fire, and while the garrison- about 70 soldiers and some civilians-[13] tried to keep the walls wet, they returned fire with muskets and howitzers.[12] The battle lasted until three o'clock in the afternoon on 6 September, when the American Indian forces retired to a safe distance from the fort.[12] The fighting resumed at nine o'clock that night.[13]

Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison led the relief effort to Fort Wayne.

Efforts were already underway to reinforce Fort Wayne after the news of Fort Detroit reached Newport Barracks. General James Winchester was commander of the Northwestern Army, but Kentucky Governor Charles Scott had just appointed Indiana Territory Governor William Henry Harrison as Major General of the Kentucky Militia and authorized him to relieve Fort Wayne, and Harrison was at Newport Barracks to assume command of the militia.[14] Harrison wrote a letter to Secretary of War William Eustis explaining the situation and apologizing for taking unauthorized action,[15] then quickly organized a militia force of 2,200 men and marched North to the fort. A small scouting party led by Fort Wayne settler William Oliver and Ohio Shawnee Captain Logan arrived at Fort Wayne during a lull in the fighting, and raced through Winamac's army into the fort. They delivered the news that a relief effort was underway, and again rode through Winamac's siege to report to Harrison that the Fort was still under U.S. control.[16]

Although the scouting party came with welcome news, Harrison also received a report that a force of 400 Native Americans and 140 British regulars under Tecumseh was marching towards Fort Wayne.[15] Harrison now raced North in an attempt to beat Tecumseh to Fort Wayne. By 8 September, Harrison had reached the village of Simon Girty on the St. Marys River, and was joined by 800 men of the Ohio militia under Colonel Adams and Colonel Hawkins at Shane's Crossing.[15]

On 11 September, Winamac attempted one last attack on Fort Wayne, and suffered severe casualties. Suddenly, on 12 September, the attack was broken off, and Winamac's forces crossed the Maumee River and disappeared into the woods.[17] Harrison's relief army marched towards the fort, uncontested by Winamac.[18] The Potawatami/Miami force retreated into Ohio and Michigan Territory.