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| Siege of Fort Madison | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the War of 1812 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
Sauk Winnebago | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Lt. Thomas Hamilton | Black Hawk | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Less than 45 regulars[1] | Around 200 Winnebago and Sauk warriors[2] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
1 killed[3] 1 wounded[4] |
unknown, speculated to be several killed[5] unknown wounded | ||||||
Background
edit
Aftermath
editFollowing the withdrawal of the Native American forces on September 8, the garrison remained in control of the fort. However, the destruction of the civilian trading house during the siege ended the site's role as a government-run trading post or "goverment factory".[6] Hostilities continued into the following year. In early June of 1813, the garrison at Fort Madison consisted of 42 men and the 44 new ex-riflemen recruits swelled the company to over 80 men.[7] Despite these reinforcements, the garrison was still in a precarious situation, trapped by repeated attacks and pressure by indigenous warriors and, more critically, the failure of a government contractor to supply food in sufficient quality and quantity.[8] With winter approaching and rations reduced to rotten pork, Lieutenant Hamilton was forced to abandon the post. Under cover of darkness and using a secretly dug trench to the river, the garrison evacuated and set the fort on fire, arriving at Belle Fontaine on November 25, 1813, having avoided detection by hostile natives.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Captain Stark Company descriptive book, RG 98 NARA 223/130 "
- ↑ Jackson, Black Hawk, p 59
- ↑ Jackson, Black Hawk, p 59
- ↑ Lt Vasquez to Benito Vasquez, September 16, 1812 MHS, Vasquez papers.
- ↑ Sketches of The War between the United States and the British Isles: Intended as a Faithful History. Volume I and II Rutland, Vt. Published by Fay and Davison. 1815. p 78
- ↑ Wesley 1935, p. 40.
- ↑ Captain Starks Company Book. RG 98 NARA There are various reports that Starks company was about 42 men as of June, 1813 before it received the ex-riflemen recruits. Reviewing the Descriptive book confirms that number.
- ↑ Captain John Cleves Symmes to Brother November 25, 1813 Symmes Papers 1WW No.54, Drapers Collection. Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison Wisconsin. Captain John C. Symmes was at Belle Fontaine when he wrote that the Fort Madison Garrison had just arrived, and like the St. Louis newspaper, blamed the contractor for the evacuation.