From the Aug. 14, 2009, Chicago Tribune "Another Fort Dearborn skirmish at the park" by Ron Grossman.
Generations of Chicago and suburban school children have been taught about "The Fort Dearborn Massacre" a sad part of early Chicago history when many early settlers and soldiers were killed by Indians during the War of 1812.
Today, a new battle brews, what to call it.
Back in 2009, a patch of ground at 18th Street and Calumet Avenue was dedicated the "Battle of Fort Dearborn Park."
This apparently is a bit of political correctness, but it sure goes against the city's legend and lore.
What took place here back on August 15, 1812, was horrible, however. Back then the U.S. and England had gone to war for a second time. Soldiers and settlers abandoned Fort Dearborn and, arriving at the site of the park, were ambushed by 500 Potawatomi warriors. Two-thirds of them, 61-63 men, women and children were killed along with 15 Indians. Ever since then, it has been called the Fort Dearborn Massacre.
The Indians won and took the survivors captive and later sold them into slavery to the British and they also burned Fort Dearborn. However, this just made the US government more sure about a complete Indian removal to west of the Mississippi River. By 1833, when Chicago was incorporated, all Indians had been removed from the area.
Of course, calling it a massacre would be insulting to Indians. Any group that massacres is always seen in a negative light in history.
More to Come. --Cooter
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