Skirmish at the Forks

Skirmish at the Forks. Monday, October 4, 1813. On October 2, 1813, Tecumseh moved his warriors up-river to the Forks where he had been led to believe that fortifications would be prepared for a full-scale confrontation with harrison's army. When Tecumseh arrived, he was enraged to find no fortifications and only three or four dismounted cannon and a log cabin containing small arms., Despite his dismay, Tecumseh convinced his warriors to stage a rearguard action at the Forks on October 4 to slow the American advance. That morning, the warriors attempted to burn the main bridge across McGregor Creek but the wood was too wet from heavy rain to ignite. They then began dismantling the boardwalk of the bridge to make it impassable. When the American army approached the south shore, the warriors hiding in the woods across the creek opened fire., The skirmish lasted for about two hours. Two Americans were killed as were several warriors. Tecumseh was struck in the arm by a musket ball. The skirmish ended when the American artillery fired their cannon and drove the warriors off, but not before they set fire to the cabin containing the stored arms., Through the commotion, one of Tecumseh's allies, Walk In The Water, and his warriors abandoned the retreat, as did several Shawnee, Wyandot, and Delaware.