The Battlefield

Since 2010, the Applied Anthropology Laboratories in Ball State University's Department of Anthropology, funded by the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program, has conducted archeological research that reshaped understanding of this battlefield. Using the American Battlefield Protection Program's KOCOA analysis, based on the U.S. military's method for evaluating terrain and the use of landscape in battle strategy, researchers examined American Indian movements to better understand how the American Indian alliance used the landscape to soundly route St. Clair's army. Combined with artifact locations and historical research, this analysis expanded the previously defined battlefield to 787 acres, including the high ridge where the American Indians formed their strategic crescent, St. Clair's encampment, and the area of St. Clair's retreat to the southeast. A possible path shows how an estimated 1,400 American Indians from nine tribes could have moved to surround St. Clair's army in 15 minutes with the least chance of being seen by approximately 1,000 U.S. soldiers. As Major Ebenezer Denny wrote, within a few minutes the men were engaged in every quarter as the enemy filed off to the right and left, completely surrounded the camps, killed and cut off nearly all the guards, and approached close to the line.

Fort Recovery, Ohio · United States