Battle of Bloody Run

For the 1656 Battle of Bloody Run in Virginia, see Battle of Bloody Run (1656).

Battle of Bloody Run
Date July 31, 1763 Location Parent's Creek hence Bloody Run, near Fort Detroit, New France (now in Detroit, Michigan) Result American Indian victory
Belligerents
Pontiac's confederacy	Kingdom of Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Pontiac	Captain James Dalyell † Major Robert Rogers
Strength
~300	250
Casualties and losses
~7 killed ~12 wounded	~20 killed ~34 wounded

The Battle of Bloody Run was fought during Pontiac's War on July 31, 1763 on what now is the site of Elmwood Cemetery. 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 Parent's Creek 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the fort. However, he did not accomplish the destruction of this British force which would have greatly demoralized the British and dissuaded 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 and was henceforth known as Bloody Run. 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 this battle.

See also

• List of battles won by Indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Council Point Park

External links

• Michigan Historical Marker: Battle of Bloody Run