Hull's surrender caused widespread panic on the frontier, including in Miami County. Indians saw that Northwest Army was defeated and many moved to support the British. The Miami Valley was now unprotected.
Accounts of Indian attacks were increasing on the frontier. Ohio Governor Meigs was at Zanesville when he received a letter from the commanding officer of the state Militia near Greenville stating:
"The people of this county are much alarmed at this time by the near approach of the Indian Prophet and his party, consisting of about 45 warriors, who are hunting about thirty miles from here. We were told by two Mingo Indians who say they are camped about ten miles from his place, that the Prophet and his party are hunting about 20 miles from here, in a western direction. They say that they were told by two of the Prophet's men who came to their camp and said the Prophet's men would kill every white man they came across. We are about to send out spies immediately to discover whether the Prophet is there or not. Our exposed position would render us an easy prey to the Indians should they attack us. The inhabitants have earnestly requested that troops be sent for our protection, and the sooner they are here, the better."
Area attacks included men killed at St. Marys, Urbana, Springfield, and Greenville. Two young girls were killed while traveling one half mile from Greenville, and two men traveling from Greenville to Preble County were also murdered. It was not long until Indians then began attacking settlers within Miami County. The double murder of Mr. and Mrs. Dilbone occurred east of Piqua was followed by the murder of David Gerard that occurred on Spring Creek.
During this time, Miami County’s men ran a line of defense from Urbana to St. Mary's, and discouraged invasion on the western border of the state. They also patrolled the areas to and from Staunton, Piqua, Covington, Greenville, Fort Loramie, St. Marys, Urbana, and Wapakoneta. Governor Meigs was on the frontier and ordered Miami’s men to perform widespread duties, including staffing detachments. Men that did not patrol manned local blockhouses.
Immediately following General Hull's surrender, Harrison marched north in his famous campaign toward the Indian Territories. He and his favored Kentucky Militia came through Miami County. He used these men because he had prior battle experience with them. It is also important to remember that Kentucky had more established settlement. 30 years on the frontier provided a more established, organized, and disciplined army.
Another factor in his choice was his distrust of the Ohio Militia after Hull's surrender. His friend and ally, Colonel John Johnston, a Federal Indian Agent located in the northern part of the county, also found the Miami Militia uncooperative. Although Johnston was representing the Federal government, he was not part of the Ohio Militia leadership hierarchy, and consequently the Militia did not always answer his requests.