Battle of Fort Dearborn Park (Chicago, Illinois)

USA / Illinois / Chicago / Chicago, Illinois / South Calumet Avenue, 1801
 park, place with historical importance, massacre
On August 15, 1812, Potawatomi warriors ambushed a column of 148 soldiers, settlers and their families who were evacuating Fort Dearborn during the opening days of the War of 1812 and killed 39 soldiers and 27 civilians, including some children. Those they did not kill were sold to the British. The Potawatomi force of about 500 lost about 15 men.

The loss of the Fort Dearborn garrison was preceded by the quick capture of Fort Mackinac and the mass surrender a month later of the main American army at Detroit. In less than three months, the British were able to push American forces from the Great Lakes almost back to the Ohio River, with almost no losses, an amazing strategic move.

It would take the disorganized and scattered U.S. forces almost three years to recover the lost territory. Fort Mackinac alone remained in British hands until the war's end.

A historic marker has been installed and the spot is now know as Battle of Fort Dearborn Park
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/Battle-of-Fort-Dearbo...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Dearborn_massacre
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   41°51'28"N   87°37'9"W

Comments

  • The Illinois Central train tracks were placed right on the original beachfront, so the eastern boundary is certainly the tracks. The Potawatomi supposedly laid in wait behind a very low dune west of the path of the evacuees, and were seen anyway.
This article was last modified 9 years ago