The Battle of the Thames 200th anniversary was celebrated on Saturday. The battle, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was key during the War of 1812.
The battle took place on Oct. 5, 1813 near Chatham, Ontario, Canada. A major battle two weeks earlier forced British Major General Henry Proctor to order his troops out of South Western Upper Canada. American soldiers pursued them and eventually, the British opted to stay and fight.
Americans took over the British and Native American allies during the battle. The battle allowed the U.S. to control the Northwest region.
The British had around 600 troops and 1,000 Native allies under Tecumseh, who was the Shawnee tribal leader. Techumseh was eventually killed. The battle took place after the British retreated up the Detroit River to the Thames Valley.
However, the 3,000 American troops decimated the British.
After the battle, Native Americans dissolved their alliance with the British.
When Moraviantown was destroyed, Christian-converted Natives and American troops returned to Detroit.
According to the Chatam Daily News, a number of First Nation, American, and Canadian re-enactors came to Chatham to do a mock battle on Saturday.
“Remember and honour our sacrifice,” a First Nation re-enactor said over a loudspeaker.
Tom Cole, who took part in the event, told CTV that he has been tracking his ancestors’ movements.
“My fifth great-grandfather was in colonel trotter’s cavalry regiment with the Kentucky militia and fought here at the battle of the Thames,” he said.
