Chronology of American Indian History

only 21 casualties. St. Clair’s disastrous campaign is

one of the worst defeats ever suffered by American

soldiers in an Indian war. St. Clair is compelled to

resign his commission the following March. (See

also entry for AUGUST 20, 1794.)

1792

October

Six tribes meet in council on the

Auglaize River.

Members of the Sac, Fox, Shawnee, Cherokee,

Creek, and Ottawa tribes gather at the “Glaize,” a

popular area for Indian councils located along the

Auglaize River, in what is now northwestern Ohio.

The meeting is called to discuss how to stem the

tide of whites arriving in their lands. Intertribal

rivalries, however, color the discussion. When the

Glaize council breaks up, the Indians have failed to

create a plan for a unified course of action.

1793

February 27

Creek leader Alexander McGillivray dies.

Long ill from rheumatism and syphilis, Alexander

McGillivray dies suddenly at the age of 34. The great

Creek diplomat and war leader had spent his life at-

tempting to ward off white settlers intend on taking

over Creek lands (see entries for JUNE 1, 1784, and

for AUGUST 7, 1790). McGillivray worked toward

establishing a more centralized Creek government

so that the tribe could develop a coherent strategy

for dealing with foreign states. He also skillfully

played the governments of the United States, Geor-

gia, and Spain against each other to achieve his

ends. With McGillivray’s untimely death, the Creek

lose an effective leader and negotiator, who, had he

lived, may have been able to protect them from later

efforts to relocate the tribe to western lands.

Summer

Explorer Alexander MacKenzie arrives at the

Pacific Ocean.

With the help of Indian guides, a party led by Alex-

ander MacKenzie, a Scottish fur trader and explorer,

reaches the Pacific Ocean. MacKenzie and his men

thereby become the first Europeans to cross the

continent of North America. An employee of the

North West Company (see entry for 1784), MacK-

enzie is the first non-Indian to have contact with

many western tribes. His explorations will hasten

the spread of the fur trade in the West.

1794

Russian Orthodox missionaries arrive in

Alaska.

Ten Russian Orthodox monks come to southwest-

ern Alaska, inaugurating decades of missionary

work among the indigenous peoples there. Russian

Orthodox priests will help protect them from abu-

sive traders and establish a network of schools where

children are instructed in the Russian language and

academic subjects.

August 20

Indian rebels are defeated at the Battle of

Fallen Timbers.

Approximately 4,000 regular soldiers and militia-

men led by General Anthony Wayne are sent out

to the Ohio River valley to put an end to the con-

federacy of Indians headed by Shawnee leader Blue

Jacket. He took over leadership of the confederacy

after its Miami founder, Little Turtle (see entries

for OCTOBER 1790 and for NOVEMBER 4, 1791),

Opposite page: A broadside commemorating the 600
soldiers under General Arthur St. Clair who were
killed in battle by Little Turtle’s rebel warriors on
November 4, 1791 (The Connecticut Historical Society
Museum, Hartford, Connecticut.)