The Battle of Piqua
August 8, 1780 at Bethel Township, Clark County,
near Springfield, Ohio
Battle Summary
The Battle of Piqua, (aka Battle of Pekowee or Pekowi) was part of the Western Theater campaign during the Revolutionary War. Led by Brigadier General George Rogers Clark, over 1,000 soldiers (among them Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton) crossed the Ohio River near present-day Cincinnati and burned five Shawnee villages, including Old Chillicothe, along the Little Miami River. Peter Loramie's Store, a British trading post-located in what was later Fort Loramie, Ohio in Shelby County, Ohio, was also burned by Clark's men.
The Shawnee gradually withdrew during the first few days before finally engaging American forces 7 miles west of Springfield, Ohio on August 8. Joseph Rogers, a cousin of George Rogers Clark, had previously accompanied him to Kentucky and was later captured by the Shawnee near Maysville. Despite having been adopted by the tribe, he was killed during the battle while trying to join American forces.
After several hours of fighting, both sides suffered moderate casualties before scattering the small Shawnee rearguard. The campaign against the Shawnee in the Miami River Valley was intended to discourage further raids against Kentucky and other parts of the American frontier, and while no further raids were made by the Shawnee for the remainder of the American Revolutionary War, hostility greatly increased among the tribes living in the Ohio Country for years afterwards.
The battle was the only major engagement fought in Ohio during the Revolutionary War.
Facts about the Battle of Piqua
- Armies - American Forces was commanded by Gen. George Rogers Clark and consisted of about 1,050 Soldiers. Shawnee Forces was commanded by ?? and consisted of unknown number of Indians.
- Casualties - American casualties were estimated to be 42 killed and 40 wounded. Shawnee casualties were about 5 killed.
- Outcome - The result of the battle was an American victory. The battle was part of the Western Theater.