Blackberry Campaign facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackberry Campaign |
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| Part of the Northwest Indian War, American Indian Wars | |||||
 Charles Scott |
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| Belligerents | |||||
 United States |
Wabash Confederacy | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Charles Scott, James Wilkinson |
Civilians | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 5 wounded | 32 killed, 41 captured | ||||
The Blackberry Campaign was a military trip in May 1791. It was led by Charles Scott. His goal was to fight Native American groups in the lower Wabash Valley. These groups included the Wea, Kickapoo, Miami, and Potawatomi.
The campaign aimed to show that Native American villages in the Northwest Territory could be attacked. Soldiers also hoped to capture people. These captives could then be used in talks to make peace. The campaign also aimed to keep the Western Confederacy busy. This was to prepare for a larger attack planned for later in 1791. That bigger attack would be led by Arthur St. Clair. The name Blackberry Campaign came about because soldiers stopped to pick berries. They used the berries to add to their food supplies during the trip.
Why the Campaign Happened
After a loss in the 1790 Harmar campaign, the United States planned a new attack. This attack was against Native Americans in the Northwest Territory. The main army would come from Fort Washington. It would be led by Arthur St. Clair.
Leaders of the Kentucky militia were told to organize their own attack. This attack was meant to distract the Native American forces. Charles Scott was a well-liked leader in Kentucky. He quickly gathered almost 1,000 mounted militia members. So, he was given command of this force.
Scott's campaign had several goals. It aimed to show Native American nations that the U.S. could reach them. It also wanted to stop raids on U.S. settlements. And it was meant to draw attention away from St. Clair's main campaign. United States Secretary of War Henry Knox also wanted to capture "as many as possible." He especially wanted to capture women and children. Their freedom could then be used in future peace talks. St. Clair said the raid would also "gratify the people of Kentucky." It was a chance for them to feel better after their defeats the year before.
The Campaign Begins
St. Clair's main army was delayed. They needed more time to recruit, train, and get supplies. But the militia's time of service was ending soon. So, St. Clair allowed the Kentucky militia to start their campaign on their own.
Scott's mounted force crossed the Ohio River on May 19, 1791. They crossed near the mouth of the Kentucky River. On May 23, the militia began marching north. They burned villages as they went. Native American forces knew an invasion was coming. They thought Scott's target was Kekionga, just like the Harmar Campaign had been. A British agent named Alexander McKee reported that about 2,000 warriors gathered at Kekionga. They were ready to meet the invaders.
On June 1, Scott's forces were seen about 5 miles from Ouiatenon. This Wea town was on the Wabash River. It was a hundred miles away from Kekionga. Once spotted, Scott ordered his groups to move quickly. A smaller group led by John Hardin went to attack two smaller Kickapoo villages. Scott led the main attack on Ouiatenon.
Some people escaped to a Kickapoo village across the river. But Scott reached the town before everyone could leave. A group led by James Wilkinson rushed to the river. They fired into the crowded boats that were trying to escape. Scott later reported that this "virtually destroyed all the occupants of five canoes."
After the Attack
Scott had the town of Ouiatenon burned. He also had the crops destroyed. He reported that 32 Native Americans were killed. Only 6 prisoners were taken at Ouiatenon. But Hardin returned with 52 more prisoners from the two smaller villages. Most of these were women and children.
Scott did not know that most warriors were waiting for him at Kekionga. He thought they had run away in fear. He believed they had left their women and children unprotected. Scott wanted to continue to Kithtippecanunk, a village to the north. But the militia's horses were too tired for the 18-mile trip.
Instead, Wilkinson led 360 men on foot to Kithtippecanunk. They destroyed the village. Wilkinson's group returned to Ouiatenon 12 hours later. Wilkinson said Kithtippecanunk had French and Native American people. It had about 70 "well finished" houses. He also noted that "by the books, letters, and other documents found there" it was "in close connection with, and dependent on, Detroit."
The militia stayed near Ouiatenon until June 4. They burned several more villages. They arrived near Louisville 10 days later. Scott released 16 of the weakest captives. He sent them with a message. The message said the remaining prisoners could be returned. This would happen if the Native Americans reported to the U.S. fort on the Great Miami River. There, they would "bury the hatchet and smoke the pipe of peace." On June 15, 41 women and children were given to Captain Asheton. He was from the First American Regiment. They were sent to Fort Steuben, near the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
What Happened Next
The Native American forces gathered at Kekionga began to leave in mid-June. This was because the United States army did not arrive. One group heard rumors that Scott's forces had gone to Vincennes. On their trip down the Wabash River, they found the destroyed villages. They first chased the militia. But they could not keep up with Scott's mounted forces.
Native American leaders complained that the British had encouraged them to fight. But the British had not given them enough weapons. McKee sent a letter to Sir Guy Carleton. He wrote that "little attention will be now paid" to any peace talks. Joseph Brant had supported a calmer approach with the United States. But he then joined the rush to Kekionga. He wrote that the Shawnee and Miami had promised not to talk peace with people "so wicked."
In Kentucky, the raid was seen as a big success. Many people wanted another raid before the end of summer. That August, James Wilkinson led a similar trip. He had been offered a job in the regular army after his role in the Blackberry Campaign. His new trip started from Fort Washington. It led to the Battle of Kenapacomaqua.
Henry Knox thought the raids were a success. He wrote that showing the Native Americans were "within our reach" would help establish peace. People felt more confident about the main 1791 campaign. Shares in the Ohio Company went up a lot. However, Beverley Randolph, the governor of Virginia, wrote that the trip only made the Wabash Confederacy more angry at the United States.
Both the Blackberry Campaign and Wilkinson's later raid were meant to be a distraction. They were supposed to draw Native American forces away from General Arthur St. Clair's main army. But they had the opposite effect. They united Native American forces against the United States. This led to St. Clair's Defeat.
Members of the Wea tribe went to Fort Washington and Fort Knox. They wanted to get their imprisoned family members back. But they were told that peace would only be given if all the Wabash nations came and promised peace. They were also told to act like adults, not children. The captured villagers were not released for almost a year.
