Battle of Fallen Timbers

Indian Battle Party

The Battle of Fallen Timbers Definition

Battle of Fallen Timbers Summary and Definition: The Battle of Fallen Timbers was a conflict fought on August 20, 1794 in Northwest Ohio at the rapids of the Maumee River near the present Toledo.
 

The Battle of Fallen Timbers was fought between the Western confederacy of Native Indian tribes led by Blue Jacket and the 1794 American Legion led by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne.

Battle of Fallen Timbers Summary
The American Legion was commanded by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne’s force which consisted of 1,700 “regulars” and 1,500 members of the Kentucky Militia whose aim was to build a series of forts between the Ohio and Maumee rivers. Nearly 1,000 warriors of the Native Indian confederacy, led by the Shawnee Chiefs Blue Jacket and Tecumseh, the Miami war chief Little Turtle and the Delaware (Lenape) Chief Buckongahelas were waiting to ambush the Americans. The Native American Indians sought camouflage among a stand of trees that had been recently felled by a tornado, hence the name, the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Less than 100 men on each side died in the brief Battle of Fallen Timbers, but the American Legion’s victory marked a major turning point in the fight for the western frontier. The American victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers led to the signing of the Treaty Greenville in 1795.

Fast Facts about the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Who fought in the Battle of Fallen Timbers? When did the conflict start and when did the conflict end? What were the causes of the Battle of Fallen Timbers? What was the significance of the Battle of Fallen Timbers? What were the results and effects of the Battle of Fallen Timbers? Interesting history and facts about the Battle of Fallen Timbers:

  • Name of Conflict: Battle of Fallen Timbers
  • Location of the Battle of Fallen Timbers: The “last battle of the American Revolution” or the final battle of the Northwest Indian War
  • Date of the Battle of Fallen Timbers started:August 20, 1794
    Combatants in the Battle of Fallen Timbers: The Legion of the United States which was an extension of the United States Army from 1792 to 1796
  • Combatants in the Battle of Fallen Timbers: Native American tribes including Delaware (Lenape), Shawnee, Mingo, Wyandot, Miami, Ottawa, Ojibwa (Chippewa) and the Potawatomi
  • Result of the Battle of Fallen Timbers: Victory for the United States of America
  • Famous Leaders in the Battle of Fallen Timbers: Major General Anthony Wayne, Chief Blue Jacket, Chief Little Turtle, Chief Buckongahelas and Tecumseh

Specific Causes of the Battle of Fallen Timbers
What were the specific causes of the Battle of Fallen Timbers? The specific causes of the Battle of Fallen Timbers at a local level were:

  • Land: Disputes over Native Indian homelands and territories increased

  • A series of forts were built to house the forces of the United States Army antagonising the indigenous tribes

  • Peace negotiations between the Americans and the Native Indians failed which led to the Battle of Fallen Timbers

History Timeline of the Battle of Fallen Timbers
This short History Timeline of the Battle of Fallen Timbers provides fast facts and information about the history, years & dates, key events and famous people who fought in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. For additional information about the Battle of Fallen Timbers refer to
The Story of Wars with the Western Indians

  • 1775: The American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783)
  • 1785: Northwest Indian War (1785–1795) in Indiana and Ohio, also known as Little Turtle's war. The Americans suffered 2 humiliating defeats by the Native Indians
  • 1791: General Anthony St. Clair’s American troops in 1791 by the Native American federation under Chief Little Turtle.
  • 1792: General Anthony Wayne was recalled as a Major general by George Washington in 1792 to lead the Legion of the United States against the Native American forces in Ohio and Indiana
  • 1792: General Wayne started training his troops in Pittsburgh.
  • 1793: The American Legion consisted of 1,700 “regulars” and 1,500 members of the Kentucky Militia
  • 1793: General Wayne's American Legion moved on to the Cincinnati region in the summer of 1793, awaiting orders. Negotiations were in progress with the Native Americans.
  • 1793: Autumn 1793: The negotiations failed. The United States refused to ban any settlement by its citizens beyond the Ohio River and the Native Indians refused to allow intruders on their territories.
  • 1793: September 11, 1793, Wayne received word to build a series of forts between the Ohio and Maumee rivers and quell the Native Americans. The expedition was planned for the spring of 1794.
  • 1793: Wayne and his troops established their base at at Fort Jefferson and went on to build Fort Recovery.
  • 1794: June 1794: 2,000 Indians attacked the Fort Recovery but were forced to retreat
  • 1794: Morning of August 20, 1794: Major Gen. Anthony Wayne led troops of the American Legion from their fort at Roche de Bout
  • 1794: Late Afternoon of August 20, 1794: After a 5 mile march from the fort the American force was ambushed by over 1000 Native Indians at Fallen Timbers
  • 1794: August 20, 1794: The fighting at the Battle of Fallen Timbers lasted for just over one hour during which time less than 100 men on each side died
  • 1794: August 20, 1794:The Native Americans were driven from the battlefield of Fallen Timbers
  • 1794: August 20, 1794::Wayne set up camp on high ground and over the following days they buried their dead at the battleground of Fallen Timbers
  • 1794: General Anthony Wayne returned to a hero's welcome in Philadelphia for his role in the Battle of Fallen Timbers
  • 1795: August 3, 1795: The Treaty of Greenville following the Battle of Fallen Timbers was signed at Fort Greenville between the American Indian tribes, known as the Western Confederacy and the United States

The Significance and Effects of the Battle of Fallen Timbers
The effects and significance of the Battle of Fallen Timbers in history is that Native American defeat hastened the collapse of indigenous resistance in the area of Ohio. The treaty of Greenville ended the Northwest Indian War in Ohio Country. the Battle of Fallen Timbers secured the northwest frontier and demonstrated the strength of the new national government following the American Revolutionary War.

Blue Jacket
Tecumseh
Little Turtle
The Indian Wars
Native Indian Tribes Index

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Updated 2018-01-01

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