Near South Side in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Battle of Fort Dearborn
August 15, 1812
Photographed By Roger Clegg, December 9, 2010
1. Battle of Fort Dearborn Marker
Inscription.
Battle of Fort Dearborn. August 15, 1812. From roughly 1620 to 1820, the territory of the Potawatomi extended from what is now Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Detroit, Michigan, and included the Chicago area. In 1803, the United States government built Fort Dearborn at what is today Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, as part of a strategic effort to protect lucrative trading in the area from the British. During the War of 18 12 between the United States and Great Britain, some Indian tribes allied with the British to stop the westward expansion of the United States and to regain lost Indian lands. On August 15, 1812 more than 50 U.S. soldiers and 41 civilians, including 9 women and 18 children, were ordered to evacuate Fort Dearborn. This group, almost the entire population of U.S citizens in the Chicago area, marched south from Fort Dearborn along the shoreline of Lake Michigan until they reached this approximate site, where they were attacked by about 500 Potawatomi. In the battle and aftermath, more than 60 of the evacuees and 15 native Americans were killed. The dead included army Captain William Wells, who had come from Fort Wayne with Miami Indians to assist in the evacuation, and Naunongee, chief of the village of Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Ottawa Indians known as Three Fires Confederacy. In the 1830s, the Potawatomi of Illinois were forcibly removed to lands west of the Mississippi. Potawatomi Indian Nations continue to thrive in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Canada, and more than 36,000 American Indians from a variety of tribes reside in Chicago today.
From roughly 1620 to 1820, the territory of the Potawatomi extended from what is now Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Detroit, Michigan, and included the Chicago area. In 1803, the United States government built Fort Dearborn at what is today Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, as part of a strategic effort to protect lucrative trading in the area from the British. During the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, some Indian tribes allied with the British to stop the westward expansion of the United States and to regain lost Indian lands. On August 15, 1812 more than 50 U.S. soldiers and 41 civilians, including 9 women and 18 children, were ordered to evacuate Fort Dearborn. This group, almost the entire population of U.S citizens in the Chicago area, marched south from Fort Dearborn along the shoreline of Lake Michigan until they reached this approximate site, where they were attacked by about 500 Potawatomi. In the battle and aftermath, more than 60 of the evacuees and 15 native Americans were killed. The dead included army Captain William Wells, who had come from Fort Wayne with Miami Indians to assist in the evacuation, and Naunongee, chief of the village of Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Ottawa Indians known as Three Fires Confederacy. In the 1830s, the Potawatomi of Illinois were forcibly removed to lands west of the Mississippi.
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Potawatomi Indian Nations continue to thrive in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Canada, and more than 36,000 American Indians from a variety of tribes reside in Chicago today.
Erected 2009 by Alderman Robert Fioretti, U.S Daughters of 1812, Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, Glessner House Museum, American Indian Center, Dr. John N. Low on behalf of himself and his tribal community (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians), and the Illinois State Historical Society.
Location. 41° 51.466′ N, 87° 37.158′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in the Near South Side. Marker is at the intersection of Calumet Ave and 18th Street, on the right on Calumet Ave. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. George Pullman (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); John J. Glessner House (about 400 feet away); Visionary
Henry Herring's 1928 Sculpture “Defense” on the south western bridge tender's house on Michigan Avenue (DuSable) Bridge heroically depicts the Battle of Fort Dearborn.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 5, 2012
6. Battle of Fort Dearborn Park Sign
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2011, by Roger Clegg of Cicero, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,964 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on August 17, 2013, by John Low of Newark, Ohio. Photos:1. submitted on December 21, 2011, by Roger Clegg of Cicero, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on February 24, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on November 25, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6. submitted on February 24, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.