Colonel Jean-François LaBalme, a French officer who had served in the American Revolutionary War, sought to establish a presence in the western territories by coordinating an offensive against Native American tribes allied with the British. In late 1780, he gathered a group of French-American militia and set out towards the Miami tribe's territory, near present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana. LaBalme's objective was to disrupt British influence and encourage local tribes to align with the American cause. His strategy hinged on the idea that the Miami would be caught unprepared by a swift assault.

On November 5, LaBalme's men approached the Miami settlement with the intention of launching a surprise attack. However, Chief Little Turtle, a prominent leader of the Miami and known for his strategic ingenuity, had received intelligence about LaBalme's movements. As the French-American forces advanced, they were ambushed by Little Turtle's warriors, who were well-prepared and displayed formidable resistance. The battle quickly turned in favor of the Miami, who utilized their knowledge of the landscape and superior tactics to inflict heavy casualties on LaBalme's troops.

Despite their intentions, LaBalme's forces were overwhelmed and defeated, with a significant number of soldiers killed or captured. This defeat was a stark reminder of the resilience of Native American leaders and their ability to unite against external threats. The encounter effectively stymied LaBalme's ambitions and reinforced Little Turtle's reputation as a formidable leader among native tribes. This confrontation not only highlighted the tensions between European settlers and Indigenous populations but also underscored the complexities of alliances in the broader scope of the American Revolutionary War, where local conflicts often mirrored larger geopolitical struggles.