Aug. 15, 1812; Chicago: Massacre or Battle?
Usually massacres of Native Americans are listed in the history books as "battles," when they were anything but battles. Massacres of unarmed individuals, children, old men and women are called battles, implying there was a fight when there often was not. The incident of 8/15/1812 in Chicago was the exception: it was always called a "massacre" by historians probably since most of the victims were white; but a new school of thought, led by historian Ann Durkin Keating in her book Rising up from Indian Country, has come out saying the incident was a "battle," implying a legitimate fight.
Ann Durkin Keating
Skim and read the following sources to come to a conclusion about this event. Was what went down that day long ago a "massacre" or a "battle?" Write it in a QoD format (P1. Thesis, P.2 & 3. Evidence and description) referencing the articles as evidence.
from the textbook:
Read Pacyga p. 15
links to read for QoD:
- A complaint against the "battle" concept.
- A great PPT from Dr. Low which shows how the event was remembered
- Wikipedia article is a bit biased
Text to check out from primary sources:
Pittsburg, 23 October 1812 On the 9th of August last, I received orders from
General Hull to evacuate the post and proceed with my command to Detroit by
land, leaving it at my discretion to dispose of the public property as I thought
proper. The neighbouring Indians got the information as early as I did, and came
in from all quarters in order to receive the goods in the factory store, which
they understood were to be given them.
On the 13th, captain Wells, of Fort Wayne, arrived with about 30 Miamies, for
the purpose of escorting us in, by the request of General Hull. On the 14th I
delivered all the goods in the factory store, and a considerable quantity of
provisions which we could not take away with us. The surplus arms and ammunition
I thought proper to destroy, fearing they would make bad use of it if put into
their possession. I also destroyed all the liquor on hand soon after they began
to collect. The collection was unusually large for that place, but they
conducted themselves with the strictest propriety till after I left the fort.
On the 15th, at nine in the morning we commenced our march; part of the Miamies
were detached in front, and the remainder in our rear, as guards, under the
direction of captain Wells. The situation of the country rendered it necessary
for us to take the beach, with the lake on our left, and a high sand bank on our
right, at about 100 yards distance. We had proceeded about a mile and a half,
when it was discovered the Indiana were prepared to attack us from behind the
bank. I immediately marched up with the company to the top of the bank, when the
action commenced; after firing one round, we charged and the Indians gave way in
front and joined those on our flanks. In about 15 minutes they got possession of
all our horses, provisions, and baggage of every description, and finding the
Miamies did not assist us, I drew off the few men I had left, and took
possession of a small elevation in the open prairies, out of shot of the bank or
any other cover.
The Indians did not follow me, but assembled in a body on the top of the bank,
and, after some consultation among themselves, made signs for me to approach
them. I advanced towards them alone, and was met by one of the Potawatamie
chiefs, called the Black Bird, with an interpreter. After shaking hands, he
requested me to surrender, promising to spare the lives of all the prisoners. On
a few moments' consideration I concluded it would be most prudent to comply with
his request, although I did not put entire confidence in his promise. After
delivering up our arms we were taken back to their encampment near the fort, and
distributed among the different tribes.
The next morning they set fire to the fort and left the place, taking the
prisoners with them.-Their number of warriors was between four and five hundred,
mostly of the Potawatamie nation, and their loss, from the best information I
could get, was about 15. Our strength was 54 regulars and 12 militia, out of
which 26 regulars and all the militia were killed in the action, with two women
and twelve children. Ensign George Roman and Dr. Isaac D. Van Voorhis of my
company, with captain Wells, of fort Wayne, are, to my great sorrow, numbered
among the dead. Lieutenant Lina D. T. Helm, with 25 non-commissioned officers
and privates, and 11 women and children, were prisoners when we separated. Mrs.
Heald and myself were taken to the mouth of the river St. Joseph, and both being
badly wounded, were permitted to reside with Mr. Burnett, an Indian trader.
In a few days after our arrival there, the Indians all went off to take fort
Wayne, and in their absence I engaged a Frenchman to take us to Michillimackinac
by water, when I gave myself up as a prisoner of war, with one of my serjeants.
The commanding officer, captain Roberts, offered me every assistance in his
power to render our situation comfortable while we remained there, and to enable
us to proceed on our journey. To him I gave my parole of honour, and came on to
Detroit, and reported myself to colonel Procter, who gave us a passage to
Buffaloe; from that place I came by way of Presque Isle and arrived here
yesterday.
Note: by Captain Heald, letter to The Secretary of War
Following speech by The Great Shawnee Warrior and Statesman, Chief Tecumseh, as
included in the following magazine article by Simon Pokagon, Pokagon Band of
Pottawatomie Nation:
Published, 1899, (Tecumseh's speech spoken c.1800) "Harpers New Monthly
Magazine"
Vol. XCVIII, No. DLXXXVI, March 1899, pp. 649-656
THE MASSACRE OF FORT DEARBORN AT CHICAGO
By Simon Pokagon: Chief of the Pokagon Band of Pottawatomie Nation
He (Tecumseh) generally spoke as follows:
"Before me stand the rightful owners of [this beautiful land].
"The Great Spirit in His wisdom gave it to you and your children to defend, and
placed you here.
"[alas!] the incoming race, like a huge serpent, is coiling closer and closer
about you.
"And not content with hemming you in on every side, they have built at
She–gog–ong (Chicago), in the very center of our country, a military fort,
garrisoned with soldiers, ready and equipped for battle.
"As sure as [the heavens] are above you they are determined to destroy you and
your children and occupy this goodly land themselves.
"Then they will destroy these forests, whose branches wave in the winds above
the graves your fathers, chanting their praises.
"If you doubt it, come, go with me eastward or southward a few days' journey
along your ancient [trails], and I will show you a land you once occupied made
desolate.
"There the forests of untold years have been hewn down and cast into the fire!
"There be–sheck–kee and waw–mawsh–ka–she (the buffalo and deer) pe–nay–shen and
ke–gon (the fowl and fish), are all gone.
"There the woodland birds, whose sweet songs once pleased your ears, have
forsaken the land, never to return.
"And waw–bi–gon–ag (the wild flowers), which your maidens once loved to wear,
have all withered and died.
"You must bear in mind these strangers are not as you — they are devoid of
natural affection, loving gold or gain better than one another, or ki–tchi–tchag
(their own souls).
"Some of them follow on your track as quietly as maw–in–gawn (the wolf) pursues
the deer, to shoot you down, as you hunt and kill mé–she–bé–zhe (the panther)."
"But a few years since I saw with my own eyes a young white man near the O-hi-o
River who was held by our people as a prisoner of war. He won the hearts of his
captors with his apparent friendship and good-will, while murder was in his
heart.
"They trusted him as they trusted one another. But he most treacherously betrayed their confidence, and secretly killed not less than nech-to-naw (twenty) before his crimes were detected, and then he had fled...".
Shaubena's Adventure At Chicago
Reminiscences of Bureau County : in two parts.
Matson, N.. Princeton, Ill.. Republican Book and Job Office. 1872.
Shaubena, while in conversation with the writer, gave an account of a visit to
Chicago, in 1812, at the time of massacreing the troops under Capt. Heald. He
said "It was in the afternoon of the fatal day, a few hours after the battle,
when in company with twenty-two warriors, he arrived at Chicago. Along the beach
of the lake, where the battle was fought, lay forty-one death bodies - the
remains of soldiers, women and children, all of which were scalped, and more or
less mutilated. The body of Capt. Wells was lying in one place, and his head in
another; these remains were gathered up by Black Partridge, and buried in the
sand where he fell. The prisoners were taken to the Indian encampment and
closely guarded, to prevent their escape. John Kinzie, an Indian trader, whose
house stood on the north side of the river, opposite Fort Dearborn, had been for
some years trading with the Indians, and among them he had many friends. By
special favor, he was allowed to return to his own house, accompanied by his
family, and the wife of Lieut. Helm, who was badly wounded."
"That evening about sundown, a council of chiefs was called to decide the fate
of the prisoners; and it was agreed to deliver them up to the British commander
at Detroit, in accordance with the terms of capitulation. After dark, many
warriors from a distance came into camp, who were thirsting for blood, and were
determined to murder the prisoners, regardless of the stipulated terms of
surrender. Black Partridge*, with a few of his friends, surrounded Kinzie's
house, to protect the inmates from the tomahawks of these blood-thristy
savages". Shaubena further said "that he, with other warriors, were standing on
the porch, with their guns crossing the doorway, when a body of hostile
warriors, with blackened faces, rushed by them forcing their way into the
house."
"The parlor was now full of Indians, who stood with their tomahawks and scalping
knives, awaiting the signal from their chief, when they would commence the work
of death. Black Partridge said to Mrs. Kinzie, "We have done everything in our
power to save you, but all is now lost: you, and your friends, together with all
the prisoners at the camp, will be slain." At that moment a canoe was heard
approaching the shore, when Black Partridge ran down to the river, trying in the
darkness to make out the newcomers, and at the same time shouted, "Who are you
friend or foe?"
In the bow of the approaching canoe, stood a tall, manly personage, with a rifle
in his hand; and as the canoe came to shore, he jumped off on the beach,
exclaiming, in a loud clear voice, the musical notes of which rang forth on the
still night air: "I am the Sau-ga-nash!" +
"Then," said Black Partridge, "hasten to the house, for our friends are in
danger, and you along can save them." Billy Caldwell, for it was he, ran to the
house, entering the parlor, which was full of hostile Indians, and by threats,
and entreaties, prevailed on them to abandon their murderous designs; and by him
Kinzie's family, with the prisoners at the fort, were saved from death."
+Billy Caldwell, called by the Indians Sau-ga-nash, was a half-breed, and said
to have been a son of Col. Caldwell, a British officer. He was one of the
principal chiefs among the Pottawatamies, and was well known by the early
settlers of Chicago.
*Black Partridge had a village on the Illinois river, a short distance below the
present site of Henry. According to the statement of Shaubena, he was an Indian
of more than ordinary intellect, and was always a friend of the whites. The
reader will recollect an account of him, given in Mrs. Kinzie's book, saving the
life of Mrs. Helm, at the Chicago massacre, by taking her away from a savage,
and bearing her off, wounded and bleeding, into the lake. Also his interview
with Capt. Heald, on the morning of the fatal day. On entering the fort, Black
Partridge said to the commanding officer, Capt. Heald: "I have come to deliver
up to you this metal which was given to me by your people, as a token of
friendship. Our young warriors are resolved to imbrue their hands in blood: I
cannot restrain them, and I will not wear an emblem of friendship while I am
compelled to act as an enemy." Notwithstanding Black Partridge's friendship for
the whites, a few weeks afterwards, his village and cornfield were destroyed,
ponies and camp equipage carried off, many of his people killed, and the
remainder of his band driven off to a strange country. A brief account of the
destruction of Black Partridge's village, communicated to the writer by an
eye-witness, Gen. Whitesides, will be found in another part of this work.
[Source: "Indiana Magazine of History", submitted by Dale Jordan, transcribed by
K. Torp]
..."When Hull's order reached that garrison asking that cooperation be given to
Captain Heald in carrying out the evacuation of Fort Dearborn, Captain William
Wells, a famous Indian scout and the uncle of Mrs. Heald, volunteered his
services. At the head of a band of Miami warriors he left Fort Wayne for Fort
Dearborn. Jordan, who bore the rank of corporal, also accompanied him.
Apparently they started on August 8, arrived on the 13th and departed on the
15th. Jordan was present at the massacre. Being among the survivors, he became a
prisoner of the Indians, escaped and returned to Fort Wayne. He was present when
that fort was besieged and when it was relieved by William Henry Harrison. After
these harrowing experiences he wrote two or possibly three letters. On October
12, 1812, he wrote to his wife "Betcy" and on December 17, 1812, he wrote to
Joseph Hunter of Mercer County, Penn. He may also have written a second letter
to his wife on October 19.
[Note: Items in brackets were unreadable
in the original letter and were supplemented from a newspaper clipping in the
possession of the family. Original spellings and punctuation are maintained]
Letter of October 12, 1812....
Betcy I now lift my pen to inform you that I am in a good State of health after
a long and (sore) Journy threw the indian Cuntry I Started (from) fort wayn on
the 1 of august With Cap Wells and (100) pretended indian friends to goe to fort
dearbourn on lake michigan wich is 200 miles from fort wain to gard in Cap Hell
[Heald] and his Company to fort wain as he was in danger of Being takin By the
British and had received orders to avacuate that fort and march to fort wayn.
Wee got to fort dearbourn (on the 10th of) august unmolested destroyd all that
wee Could not fetch With-us and prepard for a march on the morning of th[e] 15
the morning of the 15 now arives the Most Limentable Day I Ever Saw
Heels men Consists of 100 men 10 -- woman and 20 Children total amounting
--130--. Wels and my-Self and our 100 pretended friends making in all 232 now
Wee leave fort dearbourn about 8 O Clock inthe morning Bound for fort Wayne and
Marched about 1 mile when we wore atacked with 500 kikepoos and winabagoes
indians and our pretended friends (joined) them. our engagement last about 10
(minutes) When there was Every man wooman and Chid (killed) But 15 and thanks be
to god I was one of them tha first Shot the fether out of my Cap the nex Shot
the appolet of my Shoulder and the 3 Broke the handle of my Sword I had to
Surrender My Self to 4 Damd yallow indians that Marche up to whar Wells Lay and
one of them Spok English and Said Jordan I now you you gave me some to Bacco at
fort wain you Shant Be kild but See What I will doe with your Captain.
He then Cut of his head and Stuck it on a pol while another tuck out his hart
and divided it among the Cheiffs and tha Eate it up raw When that Cupled
[scalped] all tha gatherd in a round ring with With [sic] us poore Devils in the
midle and had like to fall out hoo Should have the prisoners But my old Chief
The White Racoon held me by the hand th[ey] striped all of us to our Shirts and
Trowsers and Evyry family tuck one as long as wee Lasted and then Steard for
thare Towns Evyry man to his tent O Israel but I will Just inform you when I got
to my strange lodging I loke about Like a cat in a Strange garrett. (But I) made
My Self as Comfortable as possible I [could] under My present SircumStance nite
Came on tha [tied me] hard and fast and plased a guard over me I laid down [and]
slep Sound till morning for I was tired tha untied me in the Morning and Set me
to parching Corn. I worked all day very atentive at nite my old Chief told that
if I would Stay and not run away that I Should be a Chief But if atemped to run
away tha would Catch me and Burn me alive I told him a fine Story So th[ey] did
not ty me that nite as for the particulars I havnt room to [write them] but I
[made my escape] on the 19 and Stole one of thare horses and Came to fort Wayn
on 26th Being 7 days in the wilderness Whare I was recvd Joyfully on 28th the
indians attacked fort wain so tha Cut of all interCours tha thaut to Starve us
out but one friend indian Came in and wee Sent him to govrnor harrison Witch Cam
to our relief on the 16 of Septem With 3 thousand volenteers When the governor
came on he Broke our Captain for Cowardise I Just mention this that if it is my
lot to fall that you may now how to Comat at my rite I Belong to Captain James
Rhay the 1 Ridgement of infantry our paymaster was [manuscript torn] Detroit So
I have not recevd one Cent of pay but half of [my bounty] witch was 8 dollars I
now am 3 Sargent my pay if [7 dollars] a month I onely Served 15 days as a
privet What Spare time [I have] I assist the Comosary So that keps me in tee
Sugar and so forth after all my funn I weigh 190 one word to you Betcy for if I
was now speaking to you it would my Languague I have two litters of yourn Before
me and Some of the soft hair of yor head and Some in a Small plat round mY neck
I must just that I am Sorry to See your pen Breath ridicule for if I diserve it
it wont cure it dont conclud from those words that I am tired of your letters
But tell me how you live and the Childern is and fo God Sake try to Send
Mountford to scool it ant on time in ten that I can rite to you But you Can rite
When you pleas. I gave 50 cents for this paper. Dirct your Letter to the Care of
Lieutanant ostrander for we have no Cap now tell me if the men is Drafted in
your Cuntry You will do W K Jordan favor if you send Hunter a copy of this Leter
So give my Comps to all inquiring friends give my Best respects to your father
and mother and all your brothers and this Line of kises to my Harts Delite
----------------
and the Boys tell them what you please and these for your Self ----------------
- So I ConClud With My Best Resects to you till death or till I see [you] So I
Subscribe My name this 12 nite of October 1812.
W.K. Jordan Sergent
According to the records of the War Department, Walter K. Jordan was born at
Washington, Penn. and was enlisted on March 10, 1812 at Pittsburgh, age 29. The
family bible lists the marriage of William Jordan and Elizabeth Wort and the
members of her family from 1748 to the present. The Orderly Books of the
garrison of Fort Wayne contain several references to him. He was appointed
corporal on July 24, 1812 by Captain J. Rhea, the commandant. On December 26,
1812 he was charged with neglect of duty on the previous evening, to which he
pled guilty and prayed the mercy of the court. He was reduced to the rank of a
private, but was reinstated as a corporal on Jan. 7, 1813, at the request of the
officers of the company. ... He served as a witness at a court martial on
January 25 and June 16. On August 23, 1813, he was charged with couterfeiting
and forging a permit to buy one pint of whiskey. For this he was again reduced
to the rank of a private. [The last pages of the orderly book are missing and it
is not known whether he was reinstated or not.]... Jordan did not live to rejoin
his family, his death occurring on April 6, 1814. ...
One of the accounts previously referred to narrates the departure of Captain
Wells from Fort Wayne for Fort Dearborn and refers to "one of our soldiers" who
went with him. Since the other accounts of the massacre do not mention Jordan,
this reference to "one of our soldiers" is the only known confirmation of his
claim to have gone to Fort Dearborn that has come to light. [Source: "Indiana
Magazine of History", submitted by Dale Jordan, transcribed by K. Torp]
[Here is a letter submitted from researcher Jason Foster who says it's from
Walter Jordan (though the writer does not sign the letter with that name), sent
to Joseph Hunter, who the researcher says is Walter's brother. The original of
the letter has been donated to the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
From Researcher Mary W. Bowden: the original of this letter appeared in the
"Niles' Weekly Register" for May 8, 1813, p. 160]
Sir after my respects
I now lift my pen you all that I am just now sitting by a good fire in a warm
room in Fort Wayne Garrison after a troublesom (sic) summer with the Indians, I
wrote a full account of my being taken prisoner with the Indians. I told Betsy
to send you the letter or the copy of it, and I wished one of you to send an
answer and as yet I have got none, I now will just mention some of the
particulars. I started from Fort Wayne on the 4th of August to go to Chicago 200
miles distant from Fort Wayne with Capt Wills and 100 friend Indians to conduct
Captain Hull and his company to this place. We arrived there on the 9th and
started on the 15th for Fort Wayne. Marched about two 2 miles when we were
attacked with about 500 Indians and then our friend Indians joined them. Then
there was 600 Indians against 100/30 men women & children. Our engagement lasted
about 20 minutes then our 130 was reduced to 15 souls of which thank God I was
one. During the engagement the feather was shot out of my cap the epullet off my
shoulder and the handle broke of my sword, but received no bodily harm. They
scalped all of the dead and wounded and then joined to divide the prisoner??
When one Indian came up to me and said Jordan no hurt you. You gave me tobacco
at Fort Wayne but see what I will do to your captain he then cut off his head
and stuck it on a pole then cut him open and took out his heart and gave a piece
of it to each chief that stood around him. Now the prisoners are divided and I
go to the River ?Depas? With my chief the White Racoon. When I came to the camp
I look like a cat in a strange garret, as for what happened I can't now tell you
all. I stayed 3 days & nights the 4th night I started now being about 300 miles
distant from Fort Wayne. I need not stop here to tell you how I got to Fort
Wayne but it is thank God I got safe here where I was received with joy this
being the 28th day of August. On the 29th the garrison was surrounded with about
9010? hundred Indians they kept us in the garrison till the 14th September
during this time we lost 10 men all our intercourse was cut off here in the
woods hemmed up by the Indians. The Indians had taken 2 forts before and was
determined that Fort Wayne should be the same. There was only 45 fighting men in
the garrison Officers and all. I don't know what you may think of the fight but
I thought it long enough. The garrisons that was taken is Mackinaw and Chicago
when to the latter I was witness but Governor Harrison came to our relief with
3000 volunteers which soon dispatched the Indians and gave us liberty to see the
out side of the garrison again. There is one thing that I am sorry to say that
my Captain Rhay broke for cowardice our 2 lieutenants and ensign confined him to
his room and when the General came he was broke. I have nothing to tell only
that I was raised from a private to a sargent. I would not wish to live better
than I do. I have good warm cloths (sic) and plenty of them and the solders
(sic) has to cut wood and cook so that all I have to do is to ?momet?? guard
every 5 nights I can't give you news about our army for we have not had an
express for this two months on the account of the high water. We now send an
express today to hear what they are doing. Please to write concerning the drafts
whether they are heavy or not and don't forget to tell me how the last election
?went? I have not read one cent of pay as yet, but I will have a hand full when
it comes I was appointed sargent last July I assist the commissary some and that
helps me some in pocket money. One request is to try and to find out how the
children is coming on and don't write any thing about them you don't know to be
true if God spares us both it is likely we will talk face to face in about 5
years. Yes please to excuse the silence of my pen to you ?slugh? I long for a
line from your hand for I suppose ?walls? To full of fun Sally, Robert, & John
is to little. If you get this letter give Betsy word of it and see if she got
any that I sent her and let me know with this I conclude with my best respects
to all inquiring friends N.B. I am commanded by Capt ?Hugh? More.
To Joseph Hunter Send Betsy this letter
Walter K Hunter Sargent
Dec 17th, 1812