Brownstown

On August 5, 1812, Shawnee warriors ambushed Maj. Thomas Van Horne’s 200 Ohio Militia troops who were attempting to meet and escort Capt. Brush’s troops to Fort Detroit. Horne’s entire force was routed losing about 30 men killed and wounded.

A significant outcome of this small engagement was the British/Native American capture of the mail and important dispatches from Gen. William Hull that revealed the weakness of American forces at Fort Detroit. Gen. Hull appeared shaken by this defeat which contributed to his surrender of Fort Detroit.