Battle of Chillicothe facts for kids

The Battle of Chillicothe was a fight during the American Revolutionary War. It happened in May 1779 in the Ohio Country. This area is now part of Ohio.

This battle was part of the "western theater" of the war. This means it took place in the lands west of the main colonies. It involved American settlers and Native American tribes.

This picture shows the site of the Shawnee village of Old Chillicothe. The battle happened near this spot, which is now Oldtown.

What Was the Battle of Chillicothe?

The Battle of Chillicothe was a military action led by American colonists. They attacked a village belonging to the Shawnee people. The Shawnee were a Native American tribe. The village was called Chillicothe (also known as Chalahgawtha).

Who Fought in the Battle?

The main group fighting for the Americans was the Kentucky County militia. A militia is a group of citizens who act as soldiers. They are not part of a regular army.

• Colonel John Bowman led the Kentucky militia.
• He was joined by Benjamin Logan and Levi Todd.
• They had between 160 and 300 militiamen.

The Shawnee people defended their village. Their leader was Chief Blackfish.

What Happened During the Battle?

In May 1779, Bowman and his men marched to Chillicothe. They planned to attack the village. They split their forces into two groups. Bowman and Logan attacked from different sides.

However, the Shawnee fought back strongly. The American militia was pushed back. They could not get the Shawnee out of their strong blockhouse. A blockhouse is a small fort.

Since they couldn't capture the blockhouse, Bowman decided to burn much of the village. They also took many horses. They left with about 30 to 300 horses. These horses were worth a lot of money.

What Was the Result of the Battle?

At first, some people thought Bowman's attack was a failure. The militia had eight to ten casualties (people killed or wounded). But later, many saw it as a big victory for the Kentuckians.

The destruction of the Shawnee village was a major blow. Also, Chief Blackfish died during or after the battle. His death was a big loss for the Shawnee.

This battle helped stop more Shawnee war parties. These groups had been moving against the Kentucky colonists. The attack made it harder for them to continue.

Historians like Theodore Roosevelt have noted its importance. He said it achieved more than a later attack by another American leader.