LaBalme's Defeat was a military engagement which occurred on November 6, 1780, between a force of Canadien settlers under the command of French officer Augustin de La Balme and British-allied Miami warriors led by chief Little Turtle during the American Revolutionary War.

La Balme had led the hastily recruited force of irregulars to attack British-held Fort Detroit, but was ambushed by a group of Miami warriors after sacking their town of Kekionga on the way.

La Balme arrived in Kaskaskia as a French officer and was "greeted as Masiah" by the local Canadien residents,[6] who had been living under British rule for over a decade.

[2] He coordinated a diversionary attack against Fort St. Joseph,[8] then began his journey to Detroit, recruiting militia from among the Canadian citizens of Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes.

[2] He gathered available warriors and attacked La Balme's camp at dawn on 5 November, before he reached the Eel River trading post[13] and just 3 miles from Little Turtle's village.

[18] In another subsequent operation a small detachment under earlier orders from La Balme was defeated by Miami forces on December 5, 1780, at Petit Fort, Indiana.

In a log entry dated 13 November, Major Arent DePeyster, in command of the British garrison at Detroit, recorded that "A detachment of Canadians from the Illinois and Post Vincennes arrived Kekionga about 10 days ago, and entered the village, took the horses, destroyed the horned cattle and plundered a store I allowed to be kept there for the convenience of the Indians, soon after assembled and attacked the Canadians, led by a French colonel...

The Miami resisting the fire of the enemy, had five of their party killed, being, however, more resolute than savages are in general, they beat off the enemy, killed 30 and took La Balme prisoner with his papers … I expect the Colonel in every hour … [19] The Spanish Governor at St. Louis, Francisco Cruzat, wrote that "I am very sorry for what has happened to Monsieur La Balme ... [he] having, perhaps, attempted with imprudence an undertaking which needed more time, more strength and better circumstances..."