Ruddell’s Station

Capt. Alexander McKee surrounded Ruddell’s Station with an advance party of Native Americans and waited for Capt. Bird to arrive with artillery. Once the artillery was in place, the British fired on the log fort and Captain Ruddell surrendered the fort. 

The significance of the Battle of Ruddell’s Station and Martin’s Station were the effectiveness of six and three pound cannons against log forts and highlighted the difficulty the British faced in maintaining a campaign in the frontier. The only two forts that surrendered were attacked with cannon. It is conceivable that Bird could have continued to capture forts if the troops could have been properly supplied. The surrender of these forts produced widespread panic in the frontier. Capt. Bird returned to Detroit with about 400 prisoners. The British never again mounted such a large expedition into Kentucky, nor did they bring cannon again.