The Fort Dearborn Massacre-- Part 6

The U.S. Army determined to shorten its defensive perimeter and orders were sent to Fort Dearborn to evacuate, according to General Hull, if it was safe to do so.  Captain Heald said he was simply told to proceed to Detroit.  Either way, the orders came at the same time as 500 Indian warriors arrived, who had learned of the order.

I have read that Heald was going to Fort Wayne in Indiana and that the main reason orders to evacuate the fort happened because of the fall of Fort Mackinac earlier in the summer.

Some of the Indian chiefs argued against attacking the Americans.  One brave, Nuscotnumeg, argued: "Now's the time--we have them within our grasp; we must kill them all."  This answers my earlier thought, news of the fall of Fort Mackinac swayed the Indians to attack and Heald was going to Fort Wayne and then from there to Detroit.

The Americans left the fort and into history on August 15th.  The site of the tragedy is now covered with high rises along Lake Shore Drive, just west of Soldier Field, where the Chicago Bears play.  The Americans were following the lake shore, but it has since been filled in considerably.

In the middle of the buildings is the Battle of Fort Dearborn Park.

In 1835, the Potawatomis assembled in Chicago to receive a final payment from the government for agreeing to move westward.  Before leaving, in full regalia, 500 warriors brandishing tomahawks had a procession through the city and past the rebuilt Fort Dearborn.

Brock-Perry