A SHORT CHRONOLOGY
The War of 1812 in the Northwest
1813--WINCHESTER'S CAMPAIGN, January 19-January 31.
1813, January 19. Colonel Lewis is determined to hold the town and
await reinforcements. Meanwhile, Winchester with 250 men be-
gins his march for the River Raisin. When Harrison learns of Lewis'
campaign, he orders Perkins' Brigade at Lower Sandusky to march to the
Rapids.
1813, January 20. General Winchester arrived at the River Raisin and
encamps on the right of the detachment. Colonel Wells commands
the reinforcement. Winchester establishes himself on the south side of
the river, 300 yards from the lines.
1813, January 21. A place for encampment of the whole of Winchester's
army is found and plans are made to fortify it the next day.
Meanwhile, reinforcements are on their way. Major William Cotgreave
and the artillery are on their way, but only get to Maumee Bay because of
bad weather. Early the next morning they resume their march and get as
far as 15 miles from the River Raisin. At the Rapids, Harrison receives
a dispatch from Winchester asking for 1000-1200 more troops. Perkins'
brigade arrives at the Rapids on the evening of the 22d and the remaining
Kentuckians under General Payne are ordered to join Winchester, which they
do on the 22d. The entire force thus was larger than even Winchester had
deemed sufficient.
1813, January 22. This is the day of the River Raisin defeat. The Amer-
icans lost upwards of 290 killed, massacred, and missing. Only
33 escaped. The British took 547 prisoners, the Indians took about 45.
About 3-400 of the British force were killed or wounded. The total
British-Indian force had amounted to about 2,000.
1813, January 23. Colonel Procter arrives at Amherstburg with the American
prisoners. They are kept there until the 26th when they are
divided into two parties. One group leave the 26th, the other the 27th.
They go cross country to Ft. George where they are paroled and sent home
by way of Erie and Pittsburgh. General Winchester and Major Madison are
sent to Montreal and thence to Quebec where they are confined until the
spring of 1814. Meanwhile, the blockhouse at the Rapids is destroyed by
the retreating Americans, who flee to Portage, 18 miles away and there
establish a fortified camp.
1813, January 31. Dr. Samuel McKeehan of the Ohio Militia is sent with
a flag to Malden to determine the situation of the wounded. He
is abused and arrested by Procter, then he is sent to Montreal by
by way of Ft. George and Kingston, March 2d.
1812--THE MASSACRE OF FT. DEARBORN
1812, August 3. THE MASSACRE OF FT. DEARBORN. William Wells
sets out for Ft. Dearborn from Ft. Wayne, arrives there on the 12th.
1812, August 14. Captain Nathan Heald, the commander of Ft. Dearborn,
distributes stores to the Pottawattamies and Winebagoes gathered
there. Black Patridge, an Indian chief, tells Mr. Griffith, an interpreter,
that "leaden birds had been singing in his ear," that that they (the
Americans) ought to be careful on the march they were going to take. He
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