Thursday, September 1, 2011

Ft. Dearborn.

This is coolbert:

Here from a blog we find an entry devoted the Battle of Ft. Dearborn [Chicago]. "Site of Battle of Fort Dearborn".

What was once called a massacre is now referred to as a battle. And is perhaps more properly defined as a battle. About five hundred American Indian "hostiles" allied with the British during the War of 1812 in combat with a much smaller contingent of white American settlers, those settlers escorted by an armed unit of American troops [?] among which were a party of Miami Indians all under the command of Captain William Wells.

[those Miami Indians allying themselves with the white American settlers and in opposition to the Potowatomi!]

The "battle" actually occurring about a mile or so south of the actual location of Ft. Dearborn, the site of Ft. Dearborn more or less where NOW Michigan avenue crosses over the Chicago River [modern downtown Chicago].

That bridge crossing the Chicago River at Michigan having a very famous relief sculpture associated with it, perhaps even showing the valiant and brave Captain William Wells at the moment of his death, in mortal combat with Potowatomi adversaries.



 "Below the sculptural bas relief is inscribed ...
'Defense - Fort Dearborn stood almost on this spot. After an heroic defense in eighteen hundred and twelve, the garrison together with women and children was forced to evacuate the fort. Led forth by Captain Wells, they were brutally massacred by the Indians. They will be cherished as martyrs in our early history.'"

Wells, described as dressed in American Indian garb, "his faced painted black in anticipation of death" is shown in the relief sculpture dressed in the uniform of an American army officer and wielding a sword? That portrayal and image is incorrect but only to a degree! Artistic license gone awry - -  the essence however of what occurred at Ft. Dearborn correct? You decide!

coolbert.

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