The Seige of Fort Meigs Fort Meigs and Vicinity

The Seige of Fort Meigs After they surrendered, the Americans were marched downriver towards British Fort Miami, the First Nations warriors relieving them of their clothing and possessions along the way. At the fort, some of the warriors began to kill prisoners. It was beginning to look like the River Raisin Massacre all over again. But Tecumseh suddenly arrived and addressed his warriors. Soon, the miscreants were leaving with their heads hung in shame. By the force of his personality Tecumseh had single-handedly prevented a massacre. Fort Meigs’ walls were protected by thick earthen embankments that rendered cannonballs largely harmless. Though well over a thousand cannonballs were hurled at the fort, little actual damage was done. The British couldn’t break into the fort, and the Americans couldn’t break out of it: it was a stalemate. Tecumseh’s warriors were not willing to stay for a long siege, and neither were Procter’s Canadian militia. It was spring planting time, and if they didn’t get the crops into the ground they and their families would surely starve the following winter. Procter had no choice but to lift the siege. The winter and spring campaign of 1813 ended in a winless draw. Map of The Seige of Fort Meigs