The War of 1812 has been regarded by many historians as a "small naval war" of little importance. Not so to the Native American tribes of the Old Northwest, who joined the British attempt to hold off the expansionist American armies in a desperate effort to retain their tribal lands, promised to them by the British in return for their alliance. The Native American force numbered some sixteen hundred warriors-Shawnees, Winnebagoes, Kickapoos, Potawatomis,...