Battle of Africa Point

Battle of Africa Point Part of the War of 1812 Date April 18, 1813 Location near Fort LaMotte, Illinois Territory Result None Belligerents United States Kickapoo Commanders and leaders Captain Pierce Andrews Unknown Strength 12 Many Casualties and losses 4 killed, 2 badly wounded 5 killed

In the Illinois territory during the War of 1812, there was a brief engagement between a group of rangers and Native Americans called the Battle of Africa Point.^[1][2]

On April 18, 1813, during the fortification phase of Fort LaMotte, two barrel coopers Isaac Brimberry and Thomas Kennedy went up 'Africa Point', a knoll surrounded by swamp on the Wabash River, to procure some wood. They came across Indian canoes pulled on the shore of the river. Both Brimberry and Kennedy reported their sightings to the Fort LaMotte commander, Captain Pierce Andrews.^[3]

Andrews sent up a squad of skirmishers with the timber party to look after the Indians. The rangers divided themselves into two groups, a six-man party going in advance while the other stayed back and acted as a reserve corps. On 'Africa Point' the advance group was ambushed and fired upon by the Kickapoo Indians. During the ensuing battle, the American party retreated suffering 4 dead and the 2 badly wounded who escaped back to the fort.^[4] Upon hearing rifle fire, the rear guard fell back to the fort as well. The Indians had 5 killed.^[5]

Sources

1. "Africa Point event will be more than a battle - Daily News in Robinson, Ill.". robdailynews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
2. Ferguson, Gillum (2012-01-26). Illinois in the War of 1812. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252094552.
3. "Fort Lamotte Days". www.pioneercity.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
4. "Fort LaMotte Days attracts nearly 2,000 in first year - Daily News in Robinson, Ill.". robdailynews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
5. "Interesting Incidents in Early Crawford County History". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved 2016-01-09.