In the years following independence, the newly-formed United States of America look westward for their expansion, hoping to conquer territory and sell off land to eager European settlers.
Its first target is the vast, resource-rich ‘Northwest Territory’, stretching from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River. But this is not vacant land – thousands of native people from numerous tribes call these valleys and forests home, and will fight to protect it.
As violence flares along the frontier and negotiations fail, President Washington and the US decide to take the territory by force… but they have fatally underestimated their enemy.
This is the full story of the ‘Northwest Indian War’ and the Battle of the Wabash… America’s first military defeat.
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📚 Thank you to Osprey Publishing for kind permission to use several of their images in this video.
You can discover more about this campaign, Native American and frontier military history in these great books:
Wabash 1791: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/wabash-1791-9781849086769/
Fallen Timbers 1794: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/fallen-timbers-1794-9781780963754/
American Woodland Indians: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/american-woodland-indians-9780850459999/
The United States Army 1783–1811: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/united-states-army-17831811-9781841760872/
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🎨 Thank you to the artists who kindly gave permission to use their artwork in this video. Visit their websites to find more great artworks of the old American frontier:
John Buxton https://www.buxtonart.com/
Todd Price https://www.lordnelsons.com/
Bryant White https://www.whitehistoricart.com/
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28 Comments
We are pleased to share the all-parts compilation of our foray onto the Northwestern frontier! This video tells the story of two US campaigns known as Harmar's Defeat, and St.Clair's Defeat. They were the USA's first major military expeditions since independence, and became their first defeats. More men were lost at St.Clair's Defeat than at Custer's Last Stand. We hope you enjoy the video, and learn something new. And many thanks to all the artists who gave permission for their work to be included – check out their links in the video description to see more fantastic art from 'the old frontier'.
What’s with the unnecessary aside to provide false information about scalping? In this context, the settlers adopted scalping from the natives in retaliation to it being done to them. Not saying that the settlers didn’t commit mass atrocities against the natives, but let’s get our facts right on how and why the practices occurred. It’s a fact that you wouldn’t have made an aside about this topic if it was the other way around.
I wish you guys would do a series on the 30 yrs war or the three kingdoms era in China
genocid
I’m really glad they have this American series!
love this series keep it going!!!
This… this is the rooted why the US supports Israel. Add UK and Australia to this rootedness – Manifest Destiny and Neo Colonialism. Truth can be uncomfortable and inconvenient but if we ignore history we keep repeating them.
This is excellent. Thanks.
This era of American history is fascinating. But you’ve GOT to change the narrations voiceover.
Stolen land, never taught in school that we are living on stolen land.
Do you have any videos on WW2. your videos on WW1 were brilliant 👏
The US must come to help these indian tribes to protect their land from the agressor…😏
Every American should know this and watch this video… very cool
Well made presentation about the native defending. Thank you.
Thanks for your work and time ❤a new subscriber
🎯 Key points for quick navigation:
00:00 🗽 The US is struggling to build a new nation after independence, facing political and economic turmoil.
00:57 🌍 The Northwest Territory is a vast, untamed region that the US plans to sell to settlers to pay off Revolutionary War debts.
02:18 🔫 Native American tribes, including the Miami, Shawnee, and Lenape, fiercely resist the US invasion of their ancestral homeland.
06:20 🇺🇸 President Washington is determined to deal with Native Americans fairly, but also allow nothing to stand in the way of US security and expansion.
08:51 🪖 General Harmar's expedition is made up of poorly trained and equipped militia, in contrast to the skilled Native American warriors.
14:24 🥉 Harmar's expedition is a major defeat for the US, known as "Harmar's Defeat," and his reputation never recovers.
16:28 🔍 President Washington orders a second expedition under General St. Clair to "teach a severe and unequivocal lesson" to the Native Americans.
18:22 🪖 The Northwestern Confederacy assembles a large, well-armed force of around 1,400 warriors to defend their homeland.
22:26 🛠️ St. Clair's expedition is plagued by supply issues, desertion, and poor progress, hampering its ability to reach the target.
29:33 💥 The Native American forces secretly assemble just miles away, poised to launch a devastating attack on St. Clair's camp at dawn.
32:24 🔫 Native American sharpshooters pick off US gun crews and officers, causing heavy casualties in 30 minutes.
32:53 🗡️ Lieutenant-Colonel Darke leads a bayonet charge to clear the rear, but his men are cut off and surrounded.
33:48 💀 Shawnee warriors attack the camp, overwhelming the perimeter and killing wounded soldiers and civilians.
34:21 🩹 Major Heart's attack is successful but he is killed, and the US suffers heavy losses of regular officers.
35:23 🔥 Little Turtle and the war chiefs rally their men for a final attack against St. Clair's force.
36:23 🏃♂️ The US troops break out in a mad dash, leaving behind dozens of wounded to their fate.
37:59 💥 Two-thirds of St. Clair's army are killed, wounded or missing, while Native American losses are only around 20 dead and 40 wounded.
38:56 🤔 General Harmar had expressed grave concerns about the army's composition and preparation, which proved to be well-founded.
40:17 🔍 The next US general, "Mad Anthony" Wayne, would implement major reforms to the army before taking on the Northwestern Confederacy.
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Tą białą chrześcijańską chołote trzeba było wyżynać od razu jak tylko postawiła swoją nogę na ziemi Indian. Biały człowiek to jest łach , który nie liczy się z niczym i nikim , jest to istota , której zawsze jest wszystkiego mało ale tubylcy tego nie rozumieli i bardziej ich interesowały ganianie się między sobą niż biali. Istnienie tego państwa udowodniło że to protoplaści nazizmu, masowych zbrodni i narzucania swojego zdania innym . I tak jest do dzisiaj liczy się tylko kasa i my mamy zawsze rację.
Hello! My name is Marta, I am a student at the Moscow State University, Faculty of History, at the lecture I would like to talk about your channel as an example of a bright and interesting historical source, I would like to learn more about its author. Can you please write about yourself and your historical sources
How do you not include the battle of fallen timbers?
Little turtle was half MOHICAN! My people! Love that dude.love America and trump as much too! Thank your/ our vets!!!! Avoid the woke virus.!!!
When's the next Nelson video comming out, are you working on it?
This is a great channel, but I'm surprised it's done nothing on the North American War of 1812.
It's so sad that americans annihilated millions of Natives
I want the previous narrator better 😢
Very interesting, greetings from the North Sumatra Museum
Can't wait for you to release another Napoleonic Wars series! Big fan of your channel and i like history.
I wish you would go back to covering antiquity. Your series on Alexander the great was one of the best pieces of media I've ever seen.. These new videos lack the 3d battles you used to show, it's a watered down version of what you used to do.
What's up , Epic History !
How about doing a video about Great Northern War ?
Love your videos guys ❤