Tecumseh's Confederacy - Tecumseh's War

Tecumseh's War

Tensions had already been rising rapidly as the Americans had become aware of Tecumseh's war aims. While he was still in the south a preemptive strike was launched against Prophetstown, defeating his brother and a force of 500–700 warriors in the Battle of Tippecanoe. The defeat was a terrible blow for the confederacy which never fully recovered.

Tecumseh returned and began to rebuild the confederacy. Allying with the British in Canada at the outbreak of the War of 1812, Tecumseh began a series of coordinated raids, attacking American posts in Indian territories. The Americans responded quickly and launched a second campaign, destroying Prophetstown a second time.

Overall, Tecumseh's Confederacy played a crucial role in the War of 1812. For instance, Tecumseh's warriors, as shock troops, assisted a small force of 700 British regulars and Canadian militia to force the surrender of 2,500 American soldiers, capturing Fort Detroit in August 1812. And Tecumseh's frontier war forced the Americans into rearguard actions, which divided their forces and prevented them from concentrating large enough numbers to successfully invade and occupy the strategically important area of Lower Canada (Quebec).

In 1813, when the Americans mounted an expedition to retake Fort Detroit, Tecumseh was killed in the Battle of the Thames near Chatham, Ontario. A small retreating British force left Tecumseh's 500 warriors (who refused to retreat further) to face alone the 3,000 strong American force (including cavalry). The death of Tecumseh had a demoralizing effect on his Aboriginal allies and his Confederacy dissolved soon after.