Some British agents in the region of the Northwest Territory, still opposed to the United States, sell weapons and ammunition to the natives and encourage attacks on American settlers.
War parties had launched a series of isolated raids in the mid-1780s, resulting in escalating bloodshed and mistrust.
In the fall of 1786, General Benjamin Logan leads a force of Federal soldiers and mounted Kentucky militia against several Shawnee towns along the Mad River.
These are protected primarily by noncombatants while the warriors are raiding forts in Kentucky.
Immediately before the raid commenced, Logan had ordered his men not to kill any of the Shawnee that might choose to surrender.
Logan burns the native towns and food supplies, and kills or captures numerous natives, including the chief of the Mekoche division of the tribe, Moluntha, who had fought at the Siege of Boonesborough on the side of the British in 1778.
In 1786, threatened with war by Richard Butler and George Rogers Clark, he was among the Shawnee leaders who signed the Treaty of Fort Finney.
During the battle, Moluntha is cornered by William Lytle and surrenders to him.
Moluntha is brought into the custody of Hugh McGary, and Logan reiterates his order that the prisoners not be harmed.
McGary, who is still bitter about his defeat at the Battle of Blue Licks, asks Moluntha, "Were you at the defeat of the Blue Licks?"
The aged chief misunderstands the question and answers in the affirmative.
McGary immediately kills Moluntha with an axe.
Logan relieves McGary of command and court-martials him.
Moluntha's son, Spemica-Lawba, surviveds Logan's raid.
He is brought back to Kentucky and raised by Benjamin Logan, eventually becoming known as Captain Logan.
Tecumseh will cite Moluntha's death as an example of broken promises by the United States.
Logan's raid and the execution of the chief angers the Shawnees, who retaliate by escalating their attacks on American settlers.
