Fort Dearborn-- Part 4: Day of Battle

THE FIGHT SPLITS

The charge had scattered the Pottawatomi, but it cut the soldiers off from the poorly defended wagons.  Here the action split into two parts: the soldiers at the sandbank and the militiamen, women and children at the wagons.


MASSACRE AT THE WAGONS

At the wagons, the defending Americans had time to fire off only a single volley before the Indians overran them.  Several women found swords and fought with the men, and two were killed.  At one point, a young warrior named Benac climbed into a wagon containing the younger children and killed 12 with his tomahawk.  The two soldiers at the wagons were killed, and every member of the civilian militia was mortally wounded.


AMERICANS SURRENDER

Back at the sandbank, the Indians offered to meet with the American soldiers, and Heald surrendered.  The soldiers were marched back to the wagons and were shocked by the scene.  The Indians had beheaded many of the men, women and children at the wagons.

Definitely a Massacre.  --Brock- Perry