Fort Dearborn: Battle or Massacre?-- Part 1

From the August 15, 2012, Carolina (NC) Journal "A Battle or a Massacre?" by John Hood.

On August 15, 1812, the garrison surrendered and left Fort Dearborn, on the shore of Lake Michigan (current-day Chicago).  There were 55 soldiers, 12 militiamen, 27 women and children and 30 Miami Indian allies.  They were ordered to Fort Wayne, Indiana territory and had been granted safe passage by the Potawatomi Indians.

A short distance from the fort, they were attacked by 400-500 Potawatomi Indians.  The Miami Indians fled.  What took place next is a matter of debate.

The Potawatomi refer to it as the Battle of Fort Dearborn, a victory in their continuing war against encroachment and treaty violations by the United States.  Americans call it the Fort Dearborn Massacre.  Women and children were bludgeoned to death.  Some American soldiers were tortured, executed and mutilated.  Captain William Wells was killed and had his heart ripped out and eaten.

I Call It a Massacre.  --Brock-Perry

And Then, There Was "Carrot Top": William Wells-- Part 4

In 1812, Wells led a group of Miami Indians to Fort Dearborn.  Among the Americans in the fort was his niece, Rebekah Wells, the wife of the fort's commander, Captain Nathan Heald.  Both Nathan and Rebekkah were wounded in the massacre, but managed to escape and later surrender to the British.

Wells was not so fortunate,  Dressed in Indian fashion with his face also painted black in anticipation of death, he was shot and killed.  The Pottawatomi, considering him a traitor, reportedly ate his heart to gain some of his courage.

Wells Street in Chicago is named for him.  Wells County in Indiana also is named for him as is Wells Street in Fort Wayne.

William Wells played a major role in Indian-American relations in the Old Northwest Territory.  Sadly, his body was lost.

Quite a Person.  --Brock-Perry

And Then There Was "Carrot Top": William Wells-- Part 3

William Wells married a Wea woman (a member of a Miami-Illinois tribe) and had a child.  His wife and child were captured in a raid by US General James Wilkinson.  Enraged, Wells organized a 300-man suicide squad that fought with distinction at St. Clare's defeat, the Battle of the Wabash, Nov. 4, 1791.

His fighting attracted the attention of Miami War Chief Little Turtle and Wells eventually married his daughter and had four children and served as a scout in his father-in-law's wars with the United States.

In 1793, at Vincennes, Indiana Territory, he met his older brother Samuel, and traveled to Fort Nelson and met General Rufus Putnam and warned him that the British were inciting Indians to fight in the Northwest Territory.

Little Turtle gave Wells permission to join the Legion of the United States, a subgroup of the U.S. Army.  he was wounded at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.  After the Treaty of Greenville, Little Turtle asked that Wells be appointed Indian Agent to the Miami and he moved to Fort Wayne where he pressed to government to establish a trading post there.  His wife died in 1805.

In 1809, he married his third wife, and first white woman, Mary Geiger, daughter of Col. Frederick Geiger.

William Wells Certainly Had Important Connections With Both Sides..  --Brock-Perry

And, Then, There Was "Carrot Top," William Wells-- Part 2

Again, I've hard of Wells Street in Chicago many times and been on it as well, but I never knew the name was connected to the Fort Dearborn Massacre as one who died that day.

And, this William Wells led quite an interesting life. 

From Wikipedia

WILLIAM WELLS (c1770-Aug. 15, 1812)

Also known by his Indian name, "Apekonit," meaning "Carrot Top."  (I imagine because he had red hair.)  He was the son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miami tribe (who were escorting the people from Fort Dearborn).  Though a white man, Wells fought for the Miami Indians in the Northwest Indian War.

Wells was born at Jacob's Creek in Pennsylvania, son of Samuel Wells, a captain in the Virginia militia during the American Revolution.  As a young child, his family moved to Kentucky where his father was killed in an Indian raid near Louisville.  He was then sent to live with a family friend, but captured by the Miami at age 12.

Wells was adopted by the chief and raised as a son, getting the name Apekonit.  He adapted to Indian life very well and often accompanied war parties, sometimes as a decoy.  Sometime between 1788-89, he was located by his brothers and William visited them in Louisville, but chose to remain with the Miami.

An Indian Life for a White Man. --Brock-Perry

And, Then, There Was "Carrot Top", William Wells-- Part 1

Growing up around the Chicagoland area, I was very aware of one particular street in Chicago that was famous.  It is Wells Street. I had no knowledge of for whom it was named, it was just Wells Street, a great place to party and eat even back in the 60s and continuing into today.

As it turns out, it was named for William Wells who died at the Fort Dearborn Massacre on August 15, 1812.  And, this guy had a very interesting life before his untimely death, which I will get to tomorrow.

Wells Street is a major north-south road in Chicago with Comiskey Park (in Chicago,we don't call it by that "other" name) to the south and a whole lot of restaurants and bars north of the Loop.  For several blocks downtown, Wells Street is under the famous Chicago "L" elevated train tracks.  This would be where Jackson and Adams cross under it for you Route 66 fans.

If I recall right, during the old hippie days, Wells Street to the north of downtown was considered the Haight-Asbury of Chicago.  Lots of hippie folk, head shops and people looking at them hanging around.

A man and his road.

Like I Said, Wells Had a Very Varied Life.  --Brock-Perry