Wabash 1791: St Clair’s defeat

Osprey Campaign #240

by John F. Winkler

Osprey's Campaign title for the battle that marked Major General Arthur St. Clair's downfall in the Northwest Indian War (1785-1795). In 1791, the US Army conducted its first important operation. St. Clair led an American army of about 2,000 into what now is Ohio. On 4 November 1791, the campaign ended in what was, in proportion to the size of the US Army at the time, by far the greatest disaster in American military history. At the battle of the Wabash, also known as St. Clair's Defeat, more Americans died than in any prior battle, more than would fall on any field prior to the Civil War. In the tactical masterpiece of their military history, an Indian army destroyed a force that was larger, encamped on high ground, supported by artillery, and led by many of the best American officers of the Revolutionary War. This highly illustrated and detailed title illuminates all aspects of this historic campaign.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good account of one of America's worst military disasters. The maps were particularly helpful and the account is detailed.

[Mel Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

St Clair's defeat was an historic event for many reasons. Americans faced possibly the largest force of Native Americans gathered in one engagement up to that time. It is generally considered one of the worst defeats of the American military in history. America's disastrous defeat led to the first "cabinet meeting" of Washington. It also led to soul-searching regarding the motley patchwork system of military recruitment and procurement that had proved unable to orchestrate and support such a major endeavor as St. Clair's.
This book is a great resource for getting the facts and background on this engagement. Particularly helpful are the many detailed maps.
If you are looking for compelling historical narrative, this will not be it. Though at times there are well-narrated anecdotes, it reads more like an atlas or encyclopedia article. Unlike those references, however, there are unfortunately no footnotes to reference sources, which would have been valuable.
In the Chapter Opposing Plans, the author does a great job laying out the different objectives and general strategies of Natives as opposed to European warfare, in a way that goes beyond just citing Natives' use of "guerilla tactics."

[Bruinrefugee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overall good read into a little-known defeat of the early US Army in the Ohio territory. Portions of it are a little dry, but good diagrams, maps and illustrations make it fairly clear even as levies, militias and others come and go before the battle at the end.

[Liam Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this on my new Kindle Fire. I still want to own hard copies of books, but many new books will be ebooks. I've long since ran out of shelf space, my books are piling up on the floor.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book about St. Clair's Defeat.