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Battle of Fort Dearborn

Chicago, United States of America

Battle of Fort Dearborn

The Battle of Fort Dearborn (sometimes called the Fort Dearborn Massacre) was an engagement between United States troops, militia and Miami native auxiliaries, against Potawatomi Native Americans that took place on August 15, 1812, near Fort Dearborn, then part of Illinois Territory in the Chicago a

rea. The battle, part of the War of 1812, followed the evacuation of the fort ordered by the commander of the United States Army of the Northwest, William Hull. The battle lasted about 15 minutes and resulted in a complete victory for the Potawatomi. After the battle, Fort Dearborn was burned down. Some of the soldiers and settlers who had been taken captive were later ransomed. Following the battle, the federal government became convinced that all Indians had to be removed from the territory and the vicinity of any settlements, as settlers continued to migrate to the area. The fort was later rebuilt in 1816.

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