COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (Nov. 7, 2009) – The wind was more than brisk – it was bitterly cold – but that didn’t stop people from across the state from showing up Saturday afternoon to commemorate the 239th anniversary of the only known Revolutionary War battle fought in Whitley County in 1780.
Bundled in winter coats and hats and gloves, the crowd – which included a large number of Children of the American Revolution (CAR) – watched as the Anthony Halberstadt Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Chapter and Colonel Augustin de la Balme Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Chapter conducted the ceremony.
The site is located at 7175 East de la Balme Road, near Old Trail Road, and is marked by a large stone and plaque bearing this inscription: “In memory of Col. Augustin de La Balme and his soldiers who were killed in battle with the Miami Indians under Little Turtle at this place November 5, 1780.”
Leading the ceremonies was Roger and Martha Barnhart of Churubusco. Both are longtime members and national officers in the SAR and DAR.
“Many lives were lost here, Roger Barnhart said. “We are here to honor and pay homage to the men who died here.
“We are here to remember our warriors and their families,” Martha Barnhart said. “Never forget. Never become complacent.”
The Indiana SAR Color Guard in their Revolutionary War uniforms performed the flag ceremony as well as the dedication of the wreaths. Members of the Fremont American Legion Post Color Guard also participated in commemorating the dead of both sides of the battle.
In addition to the Barnharts, several officers from various state chapters of SAR and DAR spoke and placed wreaths on the memorial. The Children of the American Revolution state vice president and local chapter president, Jacob Weaver, 16, of Shipshewana, also addressed the crowd.
“As a descendant, my birthright brings the responsibility to carry on the word, to never let people forget,” Weaver said.
Members of some of the state chapters of DAR and SAR attended the event, traveling from different cities including Kokomo, Indianapolis, Shipshewana, Angola, Muncie, Kendallville and Fremont.
Around the corner from the battle site is the former site of the Miami Trading Post and British Fort, and a separate nearby monument marks the last known home of Miami’s Chief Little Turtle. The British Trading Post became the home of Chief Little Turtle following the Treaty of Greenville.
Patriots vs British; Indians vs Indians
The bloody battle along the banks of the Eel River occurred when Colonel Augustin de La Balme and his troops were massacred by Chief Little Turtle and his warriors, who were sympathetic to the British crown.
With a letter of recommendation from Benjamin Franklin, La Balme, the former French Cavalry officer, came over a few months before Lafayette to assist in the American Revolution.
The Indians were literally up in arms about this intrusion and chose sides. The Indian tribes were split and fought against one another – some alongside the British and some alongside American Patriots. The Miami Indians aligned with the British, while other tribes from Northwest Ohio and parts of northern Indiana aligned themselves with the Colonies.
On, or about October, 27, 1780, after making his way from Canada to Detroit and then to northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, La Balme started out over the Eel River trail (the same trail Colonel John Hardin followed ten years later) to capture a second trading post. He had already captured, secured and left about 20 men guard the captured stores at Kekionga (Fort Wayne).
The Miami Indians destroyed Kekionga and killed the men guarding the trading post. They then attacked La Balme near the Eel River Trading Post. A few days later, surrounded by a large body of Indians under Little Turtle, La Balme negotiated with the white traders to leave the place and return all captured materials. He even offered his own supplies and equipment to the traders and the Indians. The Indians, however were determined to punish the intruders.
A few hundred yards from the trading post, La Balme was attacked by Miami warriors. La Balme and his men fortified themselves along the banks of the Eel River. They were attacked for several days before being completely defeated by an overwhelming Indian force.
LaBalme’s watch, double barreled gun, spurs, regimentals, and some papers are now housed in the British Military Museum.
Story, photos by Vivian Sade for buscovoice.com
