Battle of Fort Dearborn

Battle of Fort Dearborn
Part of the War of 1812
The Battle of Fort Dearborn is commemorated on the site of Fort Dearborn with Defense a 1928 sculpture by Henry Hering that adorns the southeastern tender's house of the DuSable Bridge
Date August 15, 1812 Location Present-day Chicago, Illinois Result Potawatomi victory
Belligerents
Potawatomi	United States
Commanders and leaders
Chief Blackbird	Capt. Nathan Heald (WIA) Capt. William Wells †
Strength
400–500	66 military + 27 dependents
Casualties and losses
15	Military 38 killed 28 captured Civilian 14 killed 13 captured

The Battle of Fort Dearborn (sometimes called the Fort Dearborn Massacre) was an engagement between United States troops and Potawatomi Native Americans that occurred on August 15, 1812, near Fort Dearborn in what is now Chicago, Illinois (at that time, part of the Illinois Territory). The battle, which occurred during the War of 1812, followed the evacuation of the fort as 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 Native Americans. 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 rebuilt in 1816.