200th Anniversary of "Battle" Won by Potawatomi

Monica Whitepigeon in Native Challenges. Discussion »

CHICAGO – Today is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Dearborn. It was two hundred years ago today that the Potawatomi fought against Americans and won!

Battle of Fort Dearborn Memorialized in Chicago

This historical event has recently changed its title from "Fort Dearborn Massacre" to "Battle." Local Chicago American Indians fought hard with Chicago's City Council for the change claiming it was only considered a massacre because the number of white casualties was greater than the Potawatomi.

In 1812, Fort Dearborn officials received word to evacuate due to nearby skirmishes with American Indians; 56 soldiers and nearly three dozen civilians were retreating to Fort Wayne when they were intercepted by hundreds of Potawatomi. The battle lasted only fifteen minutes and resulted in over forty non-Native deaths. Potawatomi casualties are unknown.

The settlers' trek was along what is now called Michigan Avenue. Between Roosevelt Road and 18th Street, the Potawatomi divided the soldiers from the civilians and later burned down Fort Dearborn. At Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, a commemorative statue marks the gruesome battle and the lives lost.

The planned memorial walk is not meant to incite new arguments and prejudices. The walk is to promote American Indians and non-Indian Chicagoans to remember the sordid past and move forward.

posted August 15, 2012 8:50 am edt