In this vicinity on Aug. 5, 1812, six weeks after the outbreak of war, an Indian force led by the Shawnee chief Tecumseh ambushed about 200 Americans under Major Thomas Van Horne as they headed south to the River Raisin, where supplies urgently needed by Hull's army in Detroit awaited an escort through the Indian blockade of the River Road. Tecumseh opened fire as the Americans forded Brownstown Creek, and Van Horne, overestimating the Indians' numbers, ordered his men to fall back. The retreat soon became a panic-stricken flight back to Fort Lernoult. Seventeen Americans were killed, 12 wounded, and two were captured and murdered, while one Indian was killed.