John B. Campbell-- Part 2: Rising Through the Ranks

War of 1812 Service

On March 12, 1812, he was appointed from Kentucky as a lieutenant-colonel of the 19th Infantry and brevetted to colonel on December 18, 1812, for gallant conduct versus the Mississineway Indians.  On April 9, 1814, he was promoted to colonel and transferred to the 11th U.S. Infantry.

After his raid on Port Dover, British Major General Phineas Riall addressed the U.S. commanding officer by letter accusing the Americans of "acts of outrage on private property" there.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell-- Part 1: Born in Virginia, Moved to Kentucky

From Wikipidea.

March 13, 1777 to August 28, 1814

Famous for his expedition to destroy the Miami Indian villages along the Mississinewa River in Indiana and his infamous order to destroy private houses and other property in Dover, Canada, including stores of grain and mills.

This led to a Canadian Court of Enquiry and an unprecedented letter to the enemy explaining himself.

Mortally wounded at the Battle of Chippawa in July 1814.

Born in Virginia and his family moved to Kentucky around 1807 and became a lawyer in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

He was the son of Colonel Arthur Campbell who fought in the American Revolution and Indian Wars.  Campbell County, Tennessee, was named for him.  He had a brother named James H. Campbell who also fought in the War of 1812 and died at Mobile, Alabama.

--Brock-Perry

The Encampment Called Greene Ville-- Part 3: Abandoned and Reused in War of 1812

The site was abandoned after 1796.  Later, the buildings were burned for the nails to be reused in Dayton, Ohio.  What was left of the encampment began to rot.

During the War of 1812, sections of what was left of the enclosure were refitted and it was reused briefly as a supply depot and a staging area (used by Col. John B. Campbell's force preparing to attack the Miami Indians at Mississinewa).

After the war, it was abandoned again.

--Brock-Perry

Greenville and Fort Greenville, Ohio-- Part 2

I found that both the city of Greenville and Fort Greenville were located in the southwestern part of Ohio.  This would make it fairly close to the Miami Indian village of Mississinewa, which would make sense for the path Col. Campbell would have taken.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Greenville, Ohio-- Part 1: Some Difficulty Finding It

From the Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

Last week, I was writing about John B. Campbell and his December attack on the Miami Indians village of Mississinewa in 1812.  He left from a Fort Greenville in Ohio.  I looked it up but couldn't find much about any Fort Greenville.

There is, however, a city of Greenville, Ohio.  Perhaps this was the site of the old Fort Greenville?

There were two markers listed in Greenville.  One was for the Colonel Campbell Campaign and the other for Second Fort and Second Treaty.

According to the commission, neither was completed.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell and the War in Indiana-- Part 5: Ordered to Destroy Miami Village of Mississinewa

NOVEMBER 25, 1812--

Harrison orders Campbell to attack and destroy the Miami village of Mississinewa.  Campbell is advised to try to spare chiefs Richardville, Silver Heels, White Loon, Charley and Pecon, and the sons and daughters of Little Turtle if it can be done without risk to his force.

He is also advised to guarantee the safety of the Indian women and children who are to be captured and conducted back to settlements in Ohio -- a condition that will eventually cost Campbell severe losses among his troops.

--Brock-Perry