| While the bulk of
his Army was in Canada Hull learned that the Fort at Mackinaw had been taken by the
British. This brought many Indians into the war on the side of the British whom Hull had
been able to keep neutral up until then. Hull’s problems continued to mount as the
local Wyandotts under Roundhead through in with the British and cut Hull’s supply
route south of Detroit. Hull sent a contingent of approximently 100 mounted Ohio Rifles to
open the road and escort a shipment of badly needed supplies that awaited at Frenchtown.
The Commander of the supply train, Captain Henry Brush, reported that the road was
effectively blocked by Indians and that he could not proceed without reinforcements. The
Ohio men proceeded down the road that they had just created through the Black Swamp to
bring the supplies into Detroit. Arriving at Brownstown Creek they where ambushed while
crossing by a much smaller force of Indians. The Ohio Rifles where thrown into complete
confusion and they battle turned into a rout and stretched over approximently a mile.
(Portions of Hull’s wood plank road can still be seen under the modern Jefferson Ave.
in Trenton and Brownstown Michigan, The Battlefield of Brownston is located within the
modern Lake Erie Metropark) Tecumthe arrived in the area shortly after this battle bring
with him those warriors whom had stayed with him after their defeat at Tippacanoe. While
Hull was still out of supply he began to plan for another expedition to gain his much
needed supplies. The British were just as firm that this second effort would not succeed. |
