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Arcer Bush Wars: Difference between revisions
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→Battle of Inborough
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The Lowland Campaign was seen as a tactical success, but did not achieve the strategic victory of crippling Indigenous forces' ability to regroup and send out large warbands to disrupt Arcer settlements. | The Lowland Campaign was seen as a tactical success, but did not achieve the strategic victory of crippling Indigenous forces' ability to regroup and send out large warbands to disrupt Arcer settlements. | ||
==== Battle of Inborough ==== | ==== Battle of Inborough ==== | ||
Teewkami during this period was well aware of Thompson's marauding militia forces, however had chosen not to engage them. After the humiliating defeat and casualties at the Battle of Loughton, he was hesitant to engage the Arcer and Carnish forces in open field. Tewekami marched his warband Southeast, away from the A'awaskan homeland and towards Innborough, and avoided burning settlements along the way so as not to arouse suspicion. As well, he had his warriors travel in many smaller groups and mostly at night, to avoid detection by any pickets or roving patrols from Chester-on-Moore. They convened near a small cluster of farms owned by Timothy Laweson, just Northwest of Innborough, which they attacked, killing the settlers and using the buildings as a temporary settlement from which to rest before the oncoming battle. However, one of the children they had neglected to kill managed to make it to Innborough, alerting the local garrison who sent for the company of militia to reinforce them from Chester-on-Moore. Tewekami's scouts however reported that the town had limited defenders and no cannon, and the decision was made on the morning of August 22nd, 1797 to attack. | Teewkami during this period was well aware of Thompson's marauding militia forces, however had chosen not to engage them. After the humiliating defeat and casualties at the Battle of Loughton, he was hesitant to engage the Arcer and Carnish forces in open field. Tewekami marched his warband Southeast, away from the A'awaskan homeland and towards Innborough, and avoided burning settlements along the way so as not to arouse suspicion. As well, he had his warriors travel in many smaller groups and mostly at night, to avoid detection by any pickets or roving patrols from Chester-on-Moore. They convened near a small cluster of farms owned by Timothy Laweson, just Northwest of Innborough, which they attacked, killing the settlers and using the buildings as a temporary settlement from which to rest before the oncoming battle. However, one of the children they had neglected to kill managed to make it to Innborough, alerting the local garrison who sent for the company of militia to reinforce them from Chester-on-Moore. Tewekami's scouts however reported that the town had limited defenders and no cannon, and the decision was made on the morning of August 22nd, 1797 to attack. | ||
Attacking at dawn, Tewekami's men experienced no resistance on the outer farms, all of them having been abandoned. Concerned that they had lost the element of surprise, they rushed quickly towards the town hall, which they found surrounded by overturned carts, interlocked with barrels and bags of wheat. The sixty-seven defenders were vastly outnumbered, but were constantly firing at the Indigenous forces, who attempted to breach the small building several times but were repelled. Meanwhile, Captain Edward Murray had force marched the Chester-on-Moore company of militia from the town overnight, and had reached by the evening the town of Greywater. He sent a scout ahead, and on the morning of August 23rd the scout reported that Tewekami's men had taken to rest but still maintained a loose cordon around the town hall, as they waited for their Chief's instruction. Tewekami was faced with a tough decision, as he was aware that reinforcements from Chester-on-Moore would arrive likely by the evening of August 24th. What he had not expected was the extra day's notice from his men's need to rest and their attack on Lawson's farm. He decided he would press his attack and try and capitulate the defenders of Innborough by the evening of the 23rd, and if unsuccessful burn as much of the town as he could. However he was having extreme difficulty controlling his warriors. Unaccustomed to extended visits into Occidental and Arcer towns, they had looted and pillaged much of Innborough, including a large number which had taken to emptying the Pub of its alcohol and beer stores, becoming drunk and disorderly, starting many fights between the multitude of tribes in the warband. Tewekami now had to focus on solving internal discipline issues while also maintaining pressure on the defenders in the town hall. | Attacking at dawn, Tewekami's men experienced no resistance on the outer farms, all of them having been abandoned. Concerned that they had lost the element of surprise, they rushed quickly towards the town hall, which they found surrounded by overturned carts, interlocked with barrels and bags of wheat. The sixty-seven defenders were vastly outnumbered, but were constantly firing at the Indigenous forces, who attempted to breach the small building several times but were repelled. Meanwhile, Captain Edward Murray had force marched the Chester-on-Moore company of militia from the town overnight, and had reached by the evening the town of Greywater. He sent a scout ahead, and on the morning of August 23rd the scout reported that Tewekami's men had taken to rest but still maintained a loose cordon around the town hall, as they waited for their Chief's instruction. Tewekami was faced with a tough decision, as he was aware that reinforcements from Chester-on-Moore would arrive likely by the evening of August 24th. What he had not expected was the extra day's notice from his men's need to rest and their attack on Lawson's farm. He decided he would press his attack and try and capitulate the defenders of Innborough by the evening of the 23rd, and if unsuccessful burn as much of the town as he could. However he was having extreme difficulty controlling his warriors. Unaccustomed to extended visits into Occidental and Arcer towns, they had looted and pillaged much of Innborough, including a large number which had taken to emptying the Pub of its alcohol and beer stores, becoming drunk and disorderly, starting many fights between the multitude of tribes in the warband. Tewekami now had to focus on solving internal discipline issues while also maintaining pressure on the defenders in the town hall. | ||
[[File:Settlers defend.png|thumb|The local garrison of Innborough defends themselves from an Indigenous attack, August 1797. ]] | [[File:Settlers defend.png|thumb|The local garrison of Innborough defends themselves from an Indigenous attack, August 1797. ]] | ||