, ▁Illinois , ▁under ▁orders ▁from ▁August in ▁de ▁La ▁Bal me , ▁set ▁out ▁for ▁British - control led ▁Fort ▁St . ▁Joseph ▁in ▁south west ▁Michigan , ▁led ▁by ▁Jean ▁Bapt iste ▁Ham elin ▁and ▁L t . ▁Thomas ▁Br ady , ▁a ▁former ▁British ▁officer ▁and ▁Indian ▁Agent ▁who ▁now ▁supported ▁the ▁reb elling ▁Americans . ▁ ▁The ▁party ▁rec ru ited ▁from ▁front ier ▁settlement s ▁along ▁the ▁way , ▁and ▁double d ▁in ▁size ▁to ▁about ▁thirty ▁men . ▁ ▁The ▁company ▁travel led ▁up ▁the ▁Illinois ▁River ▁and ▁K ank ake e ▁River , ▁port aged ▁near ▁modern - day ▁South ▁B end , ▁Indiana , ▁and ▁continued ▁down ▁the ▁St . ▁Joseph ▁River ▁to ▁Fort ▁St . ▁Joseph , ▁which ▁they ▁pl under ed . ▁ ▁The ▁ra id ▁was ▁tim ed ▁while ▁local ▁Indians ▁would ▁be ▁away ▁hunting , ▁but ▁La ▁Bal me ▁also ▁hoped ▁to ▁create ▁a ▁dist raction ▁for ▁his ▁journey ▁up ▁the ▁W ab ash ▁River ▁to ▁attack ▁Fort ▁Detroit . ▁ ▁The ▁ra iders ▁returned ▁by ▁way ▁of ▁the ▁Sau k ▁Tra il ▁with ▁pack - h ors es ▁loaded ▁down ▁with ▁pl under , ▁mostly ▁trade ▁f urs . ▁ ▁British ▁L t . ▁D ag re aux ▁Du ▁Qu indre , ▁however , ▁learned ▁of ▁the ▁ra id ▁and ▁quickly ▁formed ▁a ▁band ▁of ▁loyal ist ▁trad ers ▁and ▁Pot aw atom i ▁under ▁Chief ▁An aqu iba ▁and ▁his ▁son , ▁Top ene ble . ▁They ▁followed ▁Br