Hi Everyone,

I copied this from a website and posted it. I believe most of it is accurate. The part about William Caldwell being with Chief Tecumseh when he was killed - I doubt that is the way it happened. I believe it was Billy Caldwell, William Caldwell's Indian son. All of the articles and websites that I have read say it was Billy Caldwell. If anyone knows, please feel free to correct, add to, etc.

Jerry Gagnon

The Battle of Thame's River... October 5th 1813
Picture this if you will, a man races into Amherstburg on a horse, he dismounts and runs into General Henry Proctor's headquaurters. Soon afterwards news spreads that
the Lake Erie Squadron is no more. Confusion and concern starts for family and
friends of the sqaudron who all try to get information on their loved ones. But in fact
there was no other information available at this time and they would all be in for a
long wait to find out what happened to Barclay's command.
As British fortunes went on the Niagara Frontier the situation at Detroit had become
very serious, Proctor had enjoyed successes at first against the Americans, but, there
was the problem of getting supplies and it was wearing down his resolve. Added to his
supply problems was William Henry Harrison (future President of the United States)
who had just arrived with a very large force. Harrison's arrival forced General
Proctor to pull his troops back to the river at Detroit.
The defeat of the British Lake Erie Squadron made the situation grave. American control of the lake made the supply problem much, much worse.
General Proctor was nothing like General Brock at all, he had no bold plan to change
this situation around. Against the protests of the great Shawnee Chief Tecumseh,
Proctor planned to withdraw to the western part of Upper Canada. To abandon the
Detroit Frontier was to abandon the Western Indians who had fought beside the
British since the beginning of the war.
On 27 September, Proctor evacuated Detroit and Amherstburg and began the long
march up the Thames River toward far off Burlington. Along with the British troops
was the disillusioned Tecumseh and one thousand warriors.
Tecumseh was furious, and he pleaded with General Proctor to make a stand at
Matthew Dolson's farm and then again at McGregor's Creek, but Proctor would have
none of it. The column pushed on mile after mile, with the British morale dropping
with every step.
The wagons were moving slowly even know the enemy was in rapid pursuit. It was obvious Proctor was losing control of his small army. Proctor spent almost all of his
time with his family leaving the day to day command of the army to Lieutenant
Colonel Augustus Warburton. The rearguard failed to destroy the bridges after they
had crossed them and only the presence of mind of the Indians kept the bridge at
McGregor's Creek from falling into enemy hands.
The Shawnee warriors just managed to dismantle the bridge at McGregor's Creek
when their scout reported American cavalry approaching. Tecumseh placed his men in
the woods along the creek bank and waited as the American patrol cautiously moved
up to the other side. The troopers started into the creek, Tecumseh waited until the
lead horse was three quarters the way across and most of the troop was in the water.
Then the bushes erupted in a wall of fire sending the men and horses reeling. The
Americans raced up the far bank in full retreat leaving the screams and thrashing of
wounded horses and dying men to mark the effectiveness of the warriors volley.
The warriors held their ground for an hour or so until the main American force came
up and formed up for a charge to carry the Indian position. As they waded across the
creek the Indians fired one more volley and disappeared into the woods.
Tecumseh sat by the fire with Oshawna who led the Sioux and Chippewa warriors. Oshawna deferred to the Shawnee Chief as the leader of the Indian forces because of
the great respect that all the western tribe had for him. With them was William
Caldwell who had been a captain in Butler's Rangers and had settled in Essex County
after the American Revolution, he now commanded the Western Rangers sometimes
called Caldwell's Rangers. Caldwell fought along side the Indians because he had a
great deal of respect for Tecumseh.
Tecumseh considered General Proctor to be a coward, and reasoned that he would
have no choice but to stand and fight the Americans at or near the Moravian Mission
because the Americans would be so close to them. He discussed with his two friends the
tactics that they would use in the battle that was sure to come.
The next morning the British regulars formed up for battle. It was easy to see that the
long retreat had taken the fight out of the them. The ground they were holding had a
swamp on the right and a river on the left, it looked like an excellant defensive position.
Tecumseh immediately directed his warriors and the Rangers into the swamp to affect
a flank attack to the Americans as they advanced.
The American cavalry charged, and despite the flanking fire of the Indians, carried theBritish line. Tecumseh was amazed as he watched the British fire two volleys and then surrender. Tecumseh rallied his warriors and fought on, his voice could be heard over
the gun fire encouraging his warriors to fight on.
William Caldwell threw his musket hitting a Kentuckian who was running at him flush in the face. Like most of the Indians he had run out of ammunition and followed their
example of resorting to the hatchet and knife.
Caldwell looked over and saw Tecumseh directing some of his warriors to a critical point in the battle. Tecumseh was determined to erase the disgrace of the British
surrender.
Tecumseh and Caldwell's eyes met, Tecumseh moved his arm revealing a gaping chest
wound. He stumbled slightly and Caldwell signaled to two of the chiefs warriors who
rushed to his side. They carried Tecumseh deep into the swamp with the rest of the
warriors following. The American victory at the Battle of the Thames was complete.
As the fighting began Proctor had attempted to rally his troops, but soon he fled the field leaving the surrender to Warburton. Nothing lay between the American General
Harrison and the Niagara Peninsula but open country, however the season and his extended supply line forced him to turn his army back to Detroit. He then pushed on to
Fort George before leaving for Sacket's Harbor.
HISTORICAL NOTES: Proctor was court martialled for his conduct in the retreat
from the Detroit Frontier. He was reprimanded and suspended from rank and pay for
six months. Tecumseh died of his wounds and his warriors buried him in a secret grave
somewhere in the swamp in which he had fought so bravely