The British & Native Americans
Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant and other Native Americans had concerns about their lands becoming entangled in the events of the American Revolution. As a result, several important battles involving Native Americans took place along the western frontier. Some Native Americans helped the Patriots, but more sided with the British. For them, the British seemed less of a threat than the Americans. For Native American groups such as the Iroquois Confederacy, the American Revolution acted as a tool of separation. The Iroquois Confederacy fell apart during the American Revolution due to fighting among its members.
West of the Appalachian Mountains, the British and their Native American allies raided American settlements. Joseph Brant led a number of brutal attacks in Southern New York and northern Pennsylvania. Henry Hamilton, British commander at Detroit, was called the "Hair Buyer". He earned this nickname because he paid Native Americans for settlers' scalps. The death of Jane McCrea portrays the awful violence on the frontier during the American Revolution.
However, the Americans did enjoy some success against the British and their Native American allies in the West. Prior to the Battle of Saratoga, British General Barry St. Leger, who had enjoyed a strong partnership with his Native American allies, soon was abandoned because the Native Americans did not agree with the British fighting style. Coupled with reinforcements sent by Benedict Arnold, the British were unable to capture Fort Stanwix and thus stopped St. Leger's army from joining with John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga.
In response to raids by Native Americans on American settlements, George Washington sent portions of his army to destroy all Native American towns and crops. This was done to limit the military threat posed by the British-Native American alliance. In addition, George Washington sent George Rogers Clark, a lieutenant-colonel in the Virginia militia, to end the British attacks on western settlers. In July 1778, Clark and 175 soldiers sailed west on the Ohio River. After a march of about 120 miles, the Patriots seized the British post at Kaskaskia in present-day Illinois. They then captured the British town of Vincennes in present-day Indiana.
British troops under Henry Hamilton's command recaptured Vincennes that December. Clark vowed to get it back. In February 1779, Clark and his troops led a surprise attack against the British and forced Hamilton to surrender. George Rogers Clark's victory at Vincennes strengthened the American position in the West.
West of the Appalachian Mountains, the British and their Native American allies raided American settlements. Joseph Brant led a number of brutal attacks in Southern New York and northern Pennsylvania. Henry Hamilton, British commander at Detroit, was called the "Hair Buyer". He earned this nickname because he paid Native Americans for settlers' scalps. The death of Jane McCrea portrays the awful violence on the frontier during the American Revolution.
However, the Americans did enjoy some success against the British and their Native American allies in the West. Prior to the Battle of Saratoga, British General Barry St. Leger, who had enjoyed a strong partnership with his Native American allies, soon was abandoned because the Native Americans did not agree with the British fighting style. Coupled with reinforcements sent by Benedict Arnold, the British were unable to capture Fort Stanwix and thus stopped St. Leger's army from joining with John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga.
In response to raids by Native Americans on American settlements, George Washington sent portions of his army to destroy all Native American towns and crops. This was done to limit the military threat posed by the British-Native American alliance. In addition, George Washington sent George Rogers Clark, a lieutenant-colonel in the Virginia militia, to end the British attacks on western settlers. In July 1778, Clark and 175 soldiers sailed west on the Ohio River. After a march of about 120 miles, the Patriots seized the British post at Kaskaskia in present-day Illinois. They then captured the British town of Vincennes in present-day Indiana.
British troops under Henry Hamilton's command recaptured Vincennes that December. Clark vowed to get it back. In February 1779, Clark and his troops led a surprise attack against the British and forced Hamilton to surrender. George Rogers Clark's victory at Vincennes strengthened the American position in the West.