Battle of New Orleans.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Two Attacks At the Narrows

From Wikipedia.

While not a huge fight, it was part of the overall action at Fort Harrison in Terre Haute, Indiana.

A group of 13 soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Fairbanks of the 7th Infantry escorted a supply wagon with flour and meat from Vincennes' Fort Knox to Colonel Russell at Fort Harrison. 

On September 13th, they were ambushed by the Pottawatomi at a part of the trail called the Narrows near present-day Fairbanks, Indiana (named after the lieutenant), which had many ravines from the tributaries of Prairie Creek.

The draft horses panicked and ran away with the wagon.  Only two Americans, wagoneer John B. Cook and Private Edward Perdue, managed to escape back to Fort Knox alive, but Perdue was later discharged because of severe wounds.  Fortunately, the Pottawatomi had elected to pursue the wagon instead of them.

Eleven soldiers were killed and all provisions lost.  Several Indians were killed or wounded as well.

Two days after the first relief wagon left, a second group also headed for Fort Harrison.  Lt. Richardson had 15 soldiers and two wagons and followed the same trail, unaware of the fate of the first group.  The Pottawatomi ambushed them September 15th and the Americans retreated, losing the wagons, seven men were killed and one wounded.

Beware the Narrows.  --Brock-Perry

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for this information. It is important that we not forget. It would be appropriate for us to know a list of the men that perish at both attacks.

    ReplyDelete