Battle of Dearborn - August 15, 1812 |
A Horrible MassacreThe Battle of Dearborn, on the site of present-day Chicago, Illinois, was an important port on Lake Michigan during the time of the war. In August of 1812, American General William Hull ordered an evacuation of American forces at Fort Dearborn because he feared a British attack. 66 soldiers, 18 children, 30 women, and nine Miami Indian warriors left the fort and began their journey east to Fort Wayne. About two miles south of the fort, Potowatomi Indians under the command of Chief Blackbird, angry about the increasing encroachment of White settlers on their land, ambushed the evacuees and killed half of them. Twelve of the eighteen children were killed by a single Potowatomi warrior. Fort Dearborn was subsequently burned to the ground and the region remained free of Americans until after the war. The survivors remained prisoners of the Potowatomi for more than a year. Some of the prisoners were sold to the British who promptly freed them. A Horrible MassacreThe Battle of Dearborn happened in what is now Chicago, Illinois, near an important port on Lake Michigan during the War of 1812. In August 1812, General William Hull ordered the evacuation of Fort Dearborn because he feared a British attack. The AttackA group of 66 American soldiers, 30 women, 18 children, and 9 Miami Indian allies left the fort, heading for Fort Wayne. About two miles from the fort, they were ambushed by Potowatomi warriors led by Chief Blackbird, who were angry about settlers taking their land. The AftermathHalf of the group was killed, including 12 children who were killed by a single warrior. The Potowatomi burned Fort Dearborn to the ground, and the area stayed free of Americans until after the war. Prisoners and ReleaseSurvivors were held as prisoners by the Potowatomi for over a year. Some were later sold to the British, who eventually set them free. |
