Prelude to Battle

By the early morning of October 5, 1813, the American Army had forded the Thames River and was advancing quickly. The British rearguard was able to destroy Cornwall's mill, west of Sherman's farm in present-day Thamesville, Ontario, but not the mill dam over which the road ran, which aided the American pursuit. In Procter's absence, Colonel Warburton decided to move the British troops as far as Fairfield. At 1:00 p.m., however, Procter, who had met them en route, ordered battle lines to be formed near this site, two kilometres west of Fairfield. This site had the river, the road, and a small swamp to the south and a large swamp called Backmetack Marsh to the north. The higher ground in between was lightly wooded. The large marsh was described as moss-hung trees and twisted trunks, and trees fallen and rotten, overgrown with a vegetation tangled and thick. This area was taken up by Tecumseh's warriors, about 500, who were able to conceal themselves in the growth. The British, about 450, were drawn up in a loosely spaced front line with soldiers about one metre apart, with a second line 80 to 100 metres back. The soldiers had less than 60 rounds of ammunition each. One six-pound cannon was brought from Fairfield and placed on the road facing west. As the troops waited, Tecumseh visited the officers and soldiers, offering encouragement.

Ontario · Canada