The Battle of Fort Dearborn ended in about 15 minutes. On August 15, 1812, an engagement between United States troops, militia, and Miami native auxiliaries against Potawatomi Native Americans resulted in a complete victory for the Potawatomi. After the battle, the fort was burned down.
The U.S. Army constructed the fort in 1803 on the south bank of the Chicago River. At the time, the area was seen as wilderness, with one commander describing it as so remote from the civilized part of the world. It was commissioned after the Northwest Indian War and the Treaty of Greenville, which had seen the Western Confederacy turn over large parts of modern-day Ohio and other parcels of land to the United States.
As the United States and Britain moved towards war, tensions between settlers and Native Americans increased. Following the fall of Fort Mackinac, General William Hull ordered Captain Nathan Heald to evacuate Fort Dearborn. Hull instructed Heald to destroy all arms and ammunition and give remaining goods to friendly Indians in hopes of obtaining an escort to Fort Wayne.
Today, a metal memorial plaque is located in the Loop community area of downtown Chicago. It marks the site of the fort, which was later rebuilt in 1816. The battle eventually convinced the federal government that all Indians had to be removed from the territory as settlers continued to migrate to the area.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Friendly Jane
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