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COMMANDER // 1752–1812

Little Turtle

war chief2 battles1 war

Lifespan

17521812

176017701780179018001810Northwest Indian War · 1785-1795St. Clair's Defeat — November 4, 1791 · Northwestern Confederacy · Northwest Indian WarBattle of Fallen Timbers — August 20, 1794 · Northwestern Confederacy · Northwest Indian War

Active service 1791–17942 battles across 1 war; first command at age 39.

Profile

Little Turtle was a Sagamore (chief) of the Miami people, who became one of the most famous Native American military leaders. Historian Wiley Sword calls him "perhaps the most capable Indian leader then in the Northwest Territory," although he later signed several treaties ceding land, which caused him to lose his leader status during the battles which became a prelude to the War of 1812. In the 1790s, Mihšihkinaahkwa led a confederation of native warriors to several major victories against U.S. forces in the Northwest Indian Wars, sometimes called "Little Turtle's War", particularly St. Clair's defeat in 1791, wherein the confederation defeated General Arthur St. Clair, who lost 900 men in the most decisive loss by the U.S. Army against Native American forces.

Source · Wikipedia · Q1355169

Battles (2)

Last verified June 2026
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