Fort Dearborn, a famous American fort, was built near the mouth of the Chicago River, close to Chicago’s present Michigan Avenue Bridge (officially DuSable Bridge). Soldiers commanded by Captain John Whistler built the fort in 1803. It was named after General Henry Dearborn. The double stockade had blockhouses on two corners, enclosed log barracks, stables, and an Indian agency.
A garrison of soldiers at Fort Dearborn protected the few settlers on the frontier from attacks by indigenous (native) people. Soon after the War of 1812 began, the troops and settlers were ordered to move to Fort Wayne for greater safety. The soldiers feared being attacked by Native Americans on the way and urged Captain Nathan Heald to stay within the stockade. The captain insisted on obeying orders. He destroyed all of the ammunition that could not be carried and left the post with about 100 troops and settlers on Aug. 15, 1812.
That day, a force of 500 Potawatomi and allied groups attacked the evacuees near the fort (at the eastern end of Chicago’s present 18th Street). They killed more than half of the evacuees, captured the rest, and burned the fort the next day. Fort Dearborn was rebuilt about 1816 and torn down in 1836. By then the danger of attacks by indigenous people in the area had passed.
