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The camp division between the regular army and the militia was emblematic of greater divisions and problems within the American force. About half of the men on the battlefield were backcountry militia, many from Kentucky, who were not very well trained and had problems with the authority of the regular army officers. <ref> Williams, p. 156</ref> Not long after the force left Fort Washington, the lack of discipline among the militia members was exacerbated by illnesses that afflicted the troops, including St. Clair. Many of the militia members deserted and St. Clair was forced to send regular army soldiers to retrieve them, decreasing the size of the American force to about 1,000 men on the eve of the battle. <ref> Williams, p. 154</ref> The American force was clearly beset by many problems, while on the other hand the Indians had many advantages going into the battle.

===Western Indian Confederacy Strengths===

Militarily speaking, the tribes of the Western Confederacy valued individualism and generally eschewed dictatorial type leadership on the battlefield. This philosophy generally cost them against the Americans, even when they had British supplied guns, but they were able to temporarily change their outlook when they faced St. Clair. The leaders of the Western Indian Confederacy all came together to assign their campaign against the Americans as a tribally mandated one, which made it a national or even a racial war. <ref> Eid, p. 82</ref> It was therefore a war that transcended individual glory and one where victory was more important than taking scalps or booty. It is believed that Little Turtle of the Miami tribe was the primary war chief and he was supported by Blue Jacket of the Shawnee tribe and Buckongahelas of the Delaware. <ref> Tanner, p. 20</ref> The chiefs relinquished some of their authority over their warriors to Little Turtle, who in turn listened to their council before and during the battle.