Fort Dearborn massacre

Fort Dearborn massacre

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Fort Dearborn massacre
partof=the War of 1812


caption=
date=August 15, 1812
place=Chicago
result=Indian & British victory
combatant1=Potawatomi,
United Kingdom
combatant2=United States
commander1=Chief Blackbird
commander2=Nathan Heald
strength1=500+
strength2=69 military + civilian dependants
casualties1=15
casualties2=39 military + 27 civilians

The Fort Dearborn massacre occurred on August 15, 1812, near Fort Dearborn, Illinois Territory (in what is now Chicago, Illinois) during the War of 1812. The massacre followed the evacuation of the fort as ordered by the U.S. General William Hull. This event is also sometimes known as the Battle of Fort Dearborn.

Fort Dearborn's commander Captain Nathan Heald ordered all whiskey and gunpowder to be destroyed so it would not be seized by the local Indian tribes allied with the British, although he had agreed to these terms a few hours before. He then prepared to abandon his post. Heald remained at Fort Dearborn until support arrived from Fort Wayne, Indiana, led by his wife's uncle, Captain William Wells. A column of 148 soldiers, women and children then left Fort Dearborn intending to march to Fort Wayne. However, about one and a half miles (2 km) south of Fort Dearborn, at around what is now 18th Street and Prairie Avenue, [cite book|author=Chicago School of Architecture Foundation |coauthors=Prairie Avenue Historic District Committee |title=Prairie Avenue Historic District |accessdate=2007-11-14|year=1975 |month=June ] a band of Potawatomi warriors ambushed the garrison, killing more than fifty and capturing the remainder as prisoners to sell to the British as slaves. The British purchased the captives and released them immediately afterwards.

Fort Dearborn was burned to the ground, and the region remained empty of U.S. citizens until after the war had ended. The massacre is commemorated on the flag of Chicago as the first red star. [ [http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/red1.html First Red Star] ]

Survivors' accounts differed on the role of the Miami warriors. Some said they fought for the Americans, while others said they did not fight at all. Regardless, William Henry Harrison claimed the Miami fought against the Americans, and used the Fort Dearborn massacre as a pretext to attack Miami villages. Miami chief Pacanne and his nephew, Jean Baptiste Richardville, ended their neutrality in the War of 1812 and allied with the British. [Birzer, Bradley J. " [http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/825.html Miamis] ." Encyclopedia of Chicago.]

References

External links

* [http://www.prairieghosts.com/dearborn.html The Fort Dearborn Massacre]
* [http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org Encyclopedia of Chicago] . ©2005. Chicago Historical Society.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Massacre de Fort Dearborn — Le massacre de fort Dearborn se déroula lors de la Guerre de 1812, le 15 août 1812, près de Fort Dearborn (lieu qui fait aujourd hui partie de la ville de Chicago). Le massacre se produisit après l évacuation du fort, ordonnée par le général… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Massacre de fort Dearborn — Le massacre de fort Dearborn se déroula lors de la Guerre de 1812, le 15 août 1812, près de Fort Dearborn (lieu qui fait aujourd hui partie de la ville de Chicago). Le massacre se produisit après l évacuation du fort, ordonnée par le général… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fort Dearborn — Fort Dearborn, named in honor of Henry Dearborn, was a United States fort built on the Chicago River in 1803 by troops under Captain John Whistler. It was on the site of the present day city of Chicago. The site of the fort is a Chicago Landmark… …   Wikipedia

  • Dearborn Massacre — The term Dearborn Massacre refers to two historical events: The Fort Dearborn massacre in 1812 The shooting of protesters at the Ford Hunger March in 1932 This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an intern …   Wikipedia

  • Bataille de Fort Dearborn — 41°51′28″N 87°37′9″O / 41.85778, 87.61917 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Indian massacre — This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries. In the history of the European colonization of North America, the term Indian… …   Wikipedia

  • Fort Shelby (Michigan) — Infobox Military Structure name = Fort Shelby (Fort Lernoult, Fort Detroit) location = Detroit, Michigan built = 1778 ndash;1779 used = 1779 ndash;1826 demolished = 1827 type = Fort builder = British materials = Wood, earth commanders = Richard B …   Wikipedia

  • Indian Creek massacre — Part of the Black Hawk War An 1878 depiction of the massacre …   Wikipedia

  • Copus massacre — The Copus massacre is a name given to a skirmish occurring on September 15, 1812, between American settlers and Indians on the Ohio frontier during the War of 1812. Reverend James Copus and 3 other settlers died while defending the Copus… …   Wikipedia

  • Olde Fort Erie — This article is about the fort and historic site. For the nearby town, see Fort Erie, Ontario. Fort Erie Location Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada. Type Historic Site Niaga …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”