Maguaga, battle of.
After the evacuation of
Canada in 1812,
General Hull sent 600 men, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, to repair the misfortunes of
Van Horne and afford a competent escort for
Captain Brush and the army supplies under his charge at the
Raisin River.
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Maguaga battle-ground. |
When the troops were placed in marching order,
Lieutenant-Colonel Miller said to the
Ohio militia: “Soldiers, we are now going to meet the enemy and beat them.
The reverses of the 5th must be repaired.
The blood of our brethren, spilt by the savages, must be avenged.
I shall lead you. You shall not disgrace yourselves nor me. Every man who shall leave the ranks or fall back, without orders, shall
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be instantly put to death.
I charge the officers to execute this order.”
Turning to the veterans of the 4th Regiment of Regulars, he said: “My brave soldiers, you will add another victory to that of
Tippecanoe—another laurel to that gained on the
Wabash last fall.
If there is now any man in the ranks of the detachment who fears to meet the enemy, let him fall out and stay behind!”
They all cried out, “I'll not stay!
I'll not stay!”
and, led by
Miller, they pressed southward, in an order ready for battle at any moment, until, about 4 A. M. on Aug. 9, they reached the vicinity of Maguaga, 14 miles below
Detroit.
Spies had led the way, under
Major Maxwell, followed by a vanguard of forty men, under
Captain Snelling, of the 4th Regiment.
The infantry moved in two columns, about 200 yards apart.
The cavalry kept the road in the centre, in double file; the artillery followed, and flank guards of riflemen marched at proper distances.
In the
Oak Woods, at Maguaga, near the banks of the
Detroit, they received from an ambush of British and Indians, under
Major Muir and
Tecumseh, a terrible volley.
This was a detachment sent over from Fort Malden by
General Proctor to repeat the tragedy at
Brownstown, cut off the communication between the
Raisin and
Detroit, and capture Brush and his stores.
Snelling, in the advance, returned the fire and maintained his position until
Miller came up with the main body.
These were instantly formed in battle order, and, with a shout, the gallant young commander and his men fell upon the foe. At the same time, a 6-pounder poured in a storm of grape-shot that made sad havoc.
The battle soon became general, when, closely pressed in front and rear, the
British and
Canadians fled, leaving
Tecumseh and his warriors to bear the brunt of battle.
The white men gained their boats as quickly as possible and sped across the river to Fort Malden.
The
Indians soon broke and fled also, pursued by the impetuous
Snelling more than 2 miles, on a powerful horse, with a few of the cavalry.
The rout and victory were complete.
The
Americans lost eighteen killed and fifty-seven wounded.
Miller, though injured by a fall from his horse, wished to push on to the
Raisin, but
Hull sent a peremptory order for the whole detachment to return to
Detroit.
The
British were gathering in force at
Sandwich, and threatening the fort and village of
Detroit.
