HISTORY

October 4, 1813
Battle of Chatham

Gen. Harrison pressed forward after Proctor on the morning of the 4th. Proctor fled to Chatham, where a stream, called McGregor's Creek, flows into the Thames between steep banks. There Proctor promised Tecumseh he would make a final stand. "Here," he said on his arrival, "we will defeat Harrison or lay our bones."

A bridge at the mouth of the creek, and another at McGregor's mill, a mile above, had been partially destroyed, and a considerable body of Native Americans was at each, to dispute the passage of the pursuers or their attempts to make repairs.

Two 6-pounder cannons, under the direction of Maj. Wood, soon drove the British allies from the bridge at Chatham, and a dash of Col. Johnson and his horsemen at McGregor's also sent them flying after Proctor. Johnson lost two men killed and six or seven wounded. The Indians had thirteen killed and a large number wounded.

Both bridges were speedily repaired, and the troops were about to push forward, when Walk-in-the-water, the Wyandot chief with sixty warriors, came to Harrison and offered to join his army conditionally. The general had no time to treat with the chief, so he told him that if he left Tecumseh he must keep out of the way of the American army. He did so, and returned to the Detroit River.

During their retreat the British burned a house containing almost a thousand muskets. The flames were quenched by American troops and the arms were saved. Half a mile farther up the river they burned a boat laden with ordnance and military stores; and opposite Bowles's farm, where Harrison encamped, two more vessels and a distillery, containing ordnance, naval and military stores, and other property were put to the torch. The Americans secured two 24-pounders and a quantity of shot and shell. Certain intelligence was received that the enemy were only a few miles distant, and that night Harrison built trenches around his camp and set a double guard. At midnight Proctor and Tecumseh observed the camp, but refrained from attacking it . . . there would be no repeat of Stoney Creek.