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William Dudley (colonel)

William Dudley (died May 5, 1813) was a colonel in the Kentucky militia during the War of 1812. He is primarily known for his disastrous assault on the British batteries at Fort Meigs on the Maumee River in Ohio, on May 5, 1813, which resulted in heavy American casualties and his own death.

Dudley led a detachment of approximately 800 Kentucky militia in a flanking maneuver designed to spike the British cannons that were bombarding Fort Meigs. While the attack initially succeeded in disabling the guns and capturing prisoners, Dudley's undisciplined troops lost cohesion, pursuing fleeing British soldiers and Native American allies into the surrounding woods.

The British commander, General Henry Procter, and the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, quickly regrouped their forces and launched a counterattack. Dudley's men, scattered and disorganized, were easily routed. Many were killed in the fighting or captured by Native American warriors. The prisoners were later subjected to a massacre by Native American allies, despite Procter's efforts to stop it.

Colonel Dudley was killed in the rout, shot while attempting to rally his men. The defeat, often referred to as "Dudley's Defeat" or "Dudley's Massacre," was a significant blow to American morale in the Northwest Territory and contributed to the prolonged siege of Fort Meigs. Dudley's actions are often criticized as exhibiting poor leadership and a lack of control over his troops.