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The Battle of Moraviantown (The Battle of the Thames)
Further Reading An Overview of the Battle of Moraviantown The First Nations at Moraviantown British Retreat From Amherstburg To Moraviantown
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First Nations Retreat From Amherstburg To Moraviantown“We are going to follow the British and I feel that I shall never return” - Tecumseh For Tecumseh and his native alliance, the retreat to Moraviantown is a trail of disillusionment and betrayal. The warriors don’t want to withdraw from Amherstburg. Tecumseh isn’t concerned about British strategy; he wants to fight his arch-enemy William Henry Harrison. Tecumseh has heard the gunfire from the Battle of Put-in-Bay. But Procter treats him like a fool, refusing to say who has won the engagement. When the general finally talks to the Natives, he lies to cover up the British defeat. The Natives become increasingly angry when they see the British preparing to abandon Fort Malden. Tecumseh resents being kept in the dark about Procter’s plans. He calls Procter, “a miserable old squaw,” and invites his followers to a meeting. In a dramatic confrontation with Procter, Tecumseh compares the British to a, “fat animal,” that likes to show off but which, “drops its tail between its legs,” when the time comes to fight. Tecumseh’s speech has such a strong effect on the warriors, that some of them jump to their feet to attack the British on the spot. The warriors don’t understand the British lack of resolve. Tecumseh’s followers outnumber their allies three-to-one and are threatening to massacre the British unless Procter stays to fight the Americans. Tecumseh is trapped. Certain tribes are already making peace with the advancing U.S. Army. Whether Tecumseh likes it or not, Procter has decided to retreat. The Shawnee leader has little choice but to follow. When Procter promises to make a stand against the Americans at Chatham, Tecumseh persuades his alliance to join the withdrawal. But the Shawnee leader makes the decision with a heavy heart. “We are going to follow the British,” he says, “and I feel that I shall never return.” The one consolation is that Procter has said he will fortify a strong defensive position at the forks of the Thames River.
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