Battle of Bloody Run

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Bloody Run
Date July 31, 1763
Location near present Fort Detroit
Result Ottawa victory
Combatants
Ottawa Confederacy Great Britain
Commanders
Chief Pontiac Captain James Dalyell
Strength
900 250
Casualties
20 Killed
34 Wounded
Pontiac's Rebellion
Fort DetroitFort PittBloody RunBushy RunDevil's Hole

The Battle of Bloody Run was fought during Pontiac's Rebellion on July 31, 1763. In an attempt to break Pontiac's siege of Fort Detroit, about 250 British troops attempted to make a surprise attack on Pontiac's encampment.

Pontiac was ready and waiting, possibly alerted by French settlers, and defeated the British at a creek two miles (3 km) north of the fort. However, he did not accomplish the destruction of this British force which would have greatly demoralized the British and disuaded more British efforts to break the Indian siege of Fort Detroit. The creek, or run, was said to have run red with the blood of the 20 dead and 34 wounded British soldiers. The attack's commander, Captain James Dalyell was one of those killed. After learning of Dalyell's death, General Jeffrey Amherst offered a £200 bounty to anyone who would kill Pontiac.

The famous frontiersman Robert Rogers was one of the British commanders in the battle.