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War Along the Wabash: The Ohio Indian Confederacy's Destruction of the US Army, 1791
On November 4, 1791, a coalition of warriors determined to set the Ohio River as a permanent boundary between tribal lands and white settlements faced an army led by Arthur St. Clair—the resulting horrific struggle ended in the greatest defeat of an American army at the hands of Native Americans.
The road to the battle of the Wabash began when Arthur St. Clair was appointed to lead an army into the heart of the Ohio Indian Confederacy while building a string of fortifications along the way. He would face difficulties in recruiting, training, feeding, and arming volunteer soldiers. From the moment St. Clair’s shattered force began its retreat from the Wabash the men blamed the officers, and the officers in turn blamed their men. For over two centuries most historians have blamed either the officer corps, enlisted soldiers, an entangled logistical supply line, poor communications, or equipment. The destruction of the army resulted in a stunned Congress authorizing a regular army in 1792.
This book, the result of 30 years’ research, puts the battle into the context of the last quarter of the 18th century, exploring how the central importance of land ownership to Europeans arriving in North America resulted in unrelenting demographic pressure on indigenous tribes, as well as the enormous obstacles standing in the way of the fledgling American Republic in paying off its enormous war debts.
This is the story of how a small band of determined indigenous peoples defended their homeland, destroyed an invading American army, and forced a fundamental shift in the way in which the United States waged war.
The road to the battle of the Wabash began when Arthur St. Clair was appointed to lead an army into the heart of the Ohio Indian Confederacy while building a string of fortifications along the way. He would face difficulties in recruiting, training, feeding, and arming volunteer soldiers. From the moment St. Clair’s shattered force began its retreat from the Wabash the men blamed the officers, and the officers in turn blamed their men. For over two centuries most historians have blamed either the officer corps, enlisted soldiers, an entangled logistical supply line, poor communications, or equipment. The destruction of the army resulted in a stunned Congress authorizing a regular army in 1792.
This book, the result of 30 years’ research, puts the battle into the context of the last quarter of the 18th century, exploring how the central importance of land ownership to Europeans arriving in North America resulted in unrelenting demographic pressure on indigenous tribes, as well as the enormous obstacles standing in the way of the fledgling American Republic in paying off its enormous war debts.
This is the story of how a small band of determined indigenous peoples defended their homeland, destroyed an invading American army, and forced a fundamental shift in the way in which the United States waged war.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 24, 2023
If asked to name the blackest day in American military history, many might suggest the reduction of the Alamo on March 6, 1836, the destruction of the Seventh Cavalry at the Little Big Horn on June 26, 1876 or the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The correct answer is November 4, 1791 when 1,500 regulars and militia, the bulk of American armed forces of the time, under the command of Maj. General Arthur St. Clair were defeated by a numerically inferior force of Native American warriors along the Wabash.
The stakes were huge and the interests irreconcilable. Settlers were determined to possess lands west and north of the Ohio River, revenue from land sales was needed to finance the U. S. government and Native Americans could choose either war or withdrawal.
Author Steven P. Locke has crafted a work that combines breath in scope and in depth in research. He sets the scene by explaining the American world of 1791, the military preparations and initiatives after the Revolution, the land that was contested and the Eastern Woodland Indians who inhabited it. He introduces the characters, the American commander and Governor of the Northwest Territory, Arthur St. Clair, Indian leaders, Buckongahelas, Little Turtle and Blue Jacket and subordinate figures.
In 1791, America lacked a ready-to-fight army. In order to pursue its mission of establishing an American military presence in the Northwest territory, St. Clair first raised an army of volunteers preparatory to commencement of the march. The American effort was beset by a series of misfortunes, many self-inflicted. The St. Clair was a native Scot who came to America as an officer in the British Army, resigned his commission, joined the rebels, served as an officer in the Revolution and as President of the Continental Congress before appointment as governor. Laid low by gout at the start of the campaign, he often traveled in a hammock suspended between horses. He seems to have been more seriously disabled than Gen. Shafter during the Cuban campaign of 1898. Mutual contempt between St. Clair and the second-in-command, Gen. Richard Butler, led to destructive non-communication. Commencing with a force half the planned size, its numbers were drained by enlistment expirations and desertions, individual and en masse, and insufficient supplies. Expecting that no large-scale attack was imminent, St. Clair has sent some of his regulars on another mission and failed to entrench the army’s last camp. Ironically, it was Indian tribes, with centuries long histories of raids and warfare against each other, who united to repulse the American threat.
The description of the battle is detailed, but easy to follow. Supplemented by maps, the Indian strategy of pre-dawn attack, the American counter-attack, devastating defeat and humiliating retreat are well narrated.
St. Clair’s defeat was similar to, and relatively close to the site, of Braddock’s in 1755 from which George Washington had led the retreat. Like any disaster, the aftermath was varied. The Indians enjoyed a short-lived respite. President Washington was furious. St. Clair was forced to resign his commission but was allowed to retain his position as governor. Never able to revive his reputation, he died in poverty, while Little Turtle was treated as successful war leader by President Washington, Vice-President Adams and Gen. Kosciuszko. Congress investigated the massacre and authorized a larger standing army.
The text is well footnoted, the index assists in locating topics and the bibliography is a guide to further reading.
My interest was heightened by the light it sheds on Arthur St. Clair, namesake of my native St. Clair County, Illinois. War Along The Wabash is an excellent introduction to the Washington Administration’s Indian policy as well as that of the post-revolutionary United States and a guide to a significant, but often overlooked battle of the early Indian Wars.
I did receive a free copy of this book without an obligation to post a review.
The stakes were huge and the interests irreconcilable. Settlers were determined to possess lands west and north of the Ohio River, revenue from land sales was needed to finance the U. S. government and Native Americans could choose either war or withdrawal.
Author Steven P. Locke has crafted a work that combines breath in scope and in depth in research. He sets the scene by explaining the American world of 1791, the military preparations and initiatives after the Revolution, the land that was contested and the Eastern Woodland Indians who inhabited it. He introduces the characters, the American commander and Governor of the Northwest Territory, Arthur St. Clair, Indian leaders, Buckongahelas, Little Turtle and Blue Jacket and subordinate figures.
In 1791, America lacked a ready-to-fight army. In order to pursue its mission of establishing an American military presence in the Northwest territory, St. Clair first raised an army of volunteers preparatory to commencement of the march. The American effort was beset by a series of misfortunes, many self-inflicted. The St. Clair was a native Scot who came to America as an officer in the British Army, resigned his commission, joined the rebels, served as an officer in the Revolution and as President of the Continental Congress before appointment as governor. Laid low by gout at the start of the campaign, he often traveled in a hammock suspended between horses. He seems to have been more seriously disabled than Gen. Shafter during the Cuban campaign of 1898. Mutual contempt between St. Clair and the second-in-command, Gen. Richard Butler, led to destructive non-communication. Commencing with a force half the planned size, its numbers were drained by enlistment expirations and desertions, individual and en masse, and insufficient supplies. Expecting that no large-scale attack was imminent, St. Clair has sent some of his regulars on another mission and failed to entrench the army’s last camp. Ironically, it was Indian tribes, with centuries long histories of raids and warfare against each other, who united to repulse the American threat.
The description of the battle is detailed, but easy to follow. Supplemented by maps, the Indian strategy of pre-dawn attack, the American counter-attack, devastating defeat and humiliating retreat are well narrated.
St. Clair’s defeat was similar to, and relatively close to the site, of Braddock’s in 1755 from which George Washington had led the retreat. Like any disaster, the aftermath was varied. The Indians enjoyed a short-lived respite. President Washington was furious. St. Clair was forced to resign his commission but was allowed to retain his position as governor. Never able to revive his reputation, he died in poverty, while Little Turtle was treated as successful war leader by President Washington, Vice-President Adams and Gen. Kosciuszko. Congress investigated the massacre and authorized a larger standing army.
The text is well footnoted, the index assists in locating topics and the bibliography is a guide to further reading.
My interest was heightened by the light it sheds on Arthur St. Clair, namesake of my native St. Clair County, Illinois. War Along The Wabash is an excellent introduction to the Washington Administration’s Indian policy as well as that of the post-revolutionary United States and a guide to a significant, but often overlooked battle of the early Indian Wars.
I did receive a free copy of this book without an obligation to post a review.
October 23, 2025
Outstanding!
Being from Fort Recovery, the site of the defeat, I thought the book was excellent. It went into a lot of detail about the before, during, and after the defeat. I knew much of the history being a former executive director of The Fort Recovery Museum, but I still gained some new information about the defeat. Highly recommend this book if you are interested in this period of time.
Being from Fort Recovery, the site of the defeat, I thought the book was excellent. It went into a lot of detail about the before, during, and after the defeat. I knew much of the history being a former executive director of The Fort Recovery Museum, but I still gained some new information about the defeat. Highly recommend this book if you are interested in this period of time.
February 29, 2024
A little drawn out at parts, but very interesting approach in examining St Clair's past experiences that shed some light on his 1791 Campaign decisions. Definitely appreciated learning more about this important battle and its ripple of effects in the Northwest Indian War and War of 1812.
May 9, 2025
A well reached narrative that leaves no character without fault.
Thoroughly enjoyed the book, my 1st military history book and it won't be my last.
Worth a read and a page turner throughout
Thoroughly enjoyed the book, my 1st military history book and it won't be my last.
Worth a read and a page turner throughout
Read
June 7, 2025Well done
War Along the Wabash was well written with a compelling narrative. His afterward was brilliantly done, I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject
War Along the Wabash was well written with a compelling narrative. His afterward was brilliantly done, I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject
September 8, 2025
Good book, kept my interest throughout it. Never knew about the November 4, 1792 Indian massacre in Ohio. This book was well researched.
September 17, 2023
Outstanding!
If I could give this book six stars, I would.
Extremely well written and researched.
Deep dive into the opening, and struggles, of settling the Northwest Territory. Very balanced perspective of both the Americans and Native Americans.
For those interested in the history of the early republic this is an excellent book.
If I could give this book six stars, I would.
Extremely well written and researched.
Deep dive into the opening, and struggles, of settling the Northwest Territory. Very balanced perspective of both the Americans and Native Americans.
For those interested in the history of the early republic this is an excellent book.
May 17, 2023
Well researched look at the Ohio Country in the 1790s
Researched account of the men (Indians and soldiers) that fought and died for America! Provided a new perspective on Arthur St Clair and the sacrifices all made in untamed lands.
Researched account of the men (Indians and soldiers) that fought and died for America! Provided a new perspective on Arthur St Clair and the sacrifices all made in untamed lands.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews