Native Troops in the War of 1812

Although British regulars bore the brunt of fighting and casualties on the British side, the importance of their native allies and also Canadian troops should not be understated. Though natives were usually present only in small numbers in most battles, the American troops were generally terrified of natives. The Americans had very small numbers of natives on their side in several actions (Chippawa was the exception with several hundred). The actions in the far West has larger groups of natives with 500 to 2500 native allies on the British side.

The Shawnee and Tecumseh's Confederated Western Warriors

  This group of natives under Tecumseh fought for the British from 1812 until the Battle of the Thames (aka Moraviatown). Tecumseh formed an alliance with the British to try and gain their own state in the present day mid-United States. These natives were from the Shawnee, but also from other groups of natives.

                              Brock and Tecumseh meet just prior to hostilities. 

When the War began in 1812 Tecumseh and Brock immediately attacked the Americans at Detroit. They bluffed the Fort into thinking there were many more troops than there were, and convinced them to surrender. Afterwards, Brock went to the Niagara where he was killed at Queenston Heights.  

  Tecumseh stayed with the British after the death of Brock. His warriors took part in the victory and massacre at Frenchtown (Tecumseh was not present). He took part in the protracted failed Seige of Fort Meigs. He also pressured the British into a futile attack on Fort Stephenson. After the British navy on Lake Erie was destroyed, the British had no supply line to South Western Ontario. The natives did not want to be abandoned by the British so forced them to fight a battle at Moraviatown / Thames. 

Tecumseh was killed and a large number of his Warriors were defeated along with the small Western British army at The Battle of the Thames (Moraviatown). The majority of natives from Tecumseh's confederacy, made peace with the Americans after the Battle of the Thames.

The natives would have fought in trade shirts, deer skins or with just war paint. The above example is fairly representative of most native allies. 

Mohawk Warriors

The Mohawk Warriors fought under several Chiefs. Most notably, John Norton was at almost every engagement in the Niagara. When the Americans captured the Niagara in the spring of 1813, John Norton kept fighting alongside the British when all of the other native allies abandoned them. The Battle of Stoney Creek stopped the Americans advance, its success was partly due to Norton and his natives. The Battle of Sacket's Harbour also distracted the Americans from the Niagara.  Without Norton and the Mohawks, Stoney Creek may not have been a success, and the British may have lost all of Upper Canada.

John Norton, Mohawk Chief

A Mohawk in cold weather clothing at Chateauguay. 

A Mohawk Reenactor

Other Native Allies / Western Warriors

  In1812 a group of several hundred natives and voyageurs with a few British soldiers captured Mackinac Island from the Americans. They held it until the end of the war. They defended it against a superior American force in 1814. These were Ojibwe, Odawa, Sioux, Winnebago and Menominee. The natives were lead by Robert Dickson (aka The Red Haired Man). 

  Hundreds of Western Warriors helped defend the Niagara in 1814. 

Black Hawk, Sauk War Chief

The Creek War 1813-1814

A recreation of the end of the "Creek War". The Americans defeated the Creek Indians from 1813-1814. They were not affiliated with the British or Tecumseh, but did try to resist American expansion during the War of 1812. This was a civil war for the natives the area with natives on both sides. The Americans generally consider this to be part of the War of 1812, but the rebel Creeks were not allied with Tecumseh or the British.