Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-28
HISTORIC TEE DEAD.
The Famous old Cotton wood, Where
the Fort Dearborn Massacre Be
gan. is Dead.
The Terrible Fight With the POttawa
tonnes in Whose Territory the
Fort Stood.
The Garrison Deceived by the Indians
Placed Itself Under Their
Protection.

Placed Itself Under Their
Protection.
The attention of the Chicago Historical
society, Of all old settlers, and of all
citizens with a relic-preserving proclivity
is called to the fact that the old cotton.
wood tree near George M. Pullman s barn,
on Eighteenth street, between Prairie
avenue and the Illinois Central tracks, is
dead and is about to pass away.
The tree marks the spot at which be-
gan the most tragic event in Chicago's
history--the massacre Of the garrison OF
Fort Dearborn, in 1872 This claim is not
made recklessly and without reason. The
subject has often been investigated and
the claim confirmed, the last time by
Captain A. T. Ankraas, when COMPILING
his History of Chicago" He secured
the statements of Mrs. Juliette A. Kinzie.
Mrs. Henry W. Kinff. Hon. Isaac \
Arnold A ] Galloway, Charles H4rpcll.
Mrs. Mary Clark Williams, and a nual btr
of others, whose recolections and opin.
ions are conclusive; and they all agree that
the commonly received tradition is correct.
On the other hand, no one has disputed
its correctness.
1t seems that this tree is the survivor
Of ciump of trees, which stood. not in
the middle of the battlefield, which ex
tended much father to the south, but at
the point at which the fight began. 1t
is a genuine reii and has Teen an object
of sad and thrilling interest for eighty
years.
Fort Dearborn was built in 1868 by
Captain John Whistler and company Of
United States regulars, in consequence Of
the cessi0n OF a tract of land, SIX miles
square, at the mouth of the river, by the
Indians, at the treaty OF Greenville. Ohio,
Anthony Wayne. In 1910 Captain
Nathan HeaId. The United States da
clared war against England on June Is,
1912. On August 9, an Indian runner
named Winnemeg, arrived at the fort
with dispatches from General Hail, at
Detroit, ordering Captain Heald to evac-
uate the fort, and retreat by land to
Detroit, and leaving the disposition of
the government property TO bis discretion.
This placed Captain Head in a very
embarrassing position. The Pottawato-
mics, in whose country the fort stood, had
become disaffected, through the intrigues
or the English, and 1t was equally dan
gerQus to please them or to dispiaase
them. They soon learned that the cvac-
uation was to occur and that consider
able government property had TO be iart
behind; and the expectation of pluuuur
drew about 500 or 800 of them to the
neighborhood of the fort. What thew
particularly wished to get hold of was tie
whSkey and the ammunition.
Instead of retreating as soon as he got
his orders, Captain Head tempo Zad
and waited six days. He promised the
Pottawatomies all the plumber in return
for an escort to Detroit. Then he weak
ened, ana destroyed all the whiskey and
ammunition In the river. This gave
great oH8nse to the indians, who, how
ever, concealed their wrath and pre-
tended to furnish the promised escort and
protection.
The garrison consisted Of Capt. Head.
Lieutenant Helm, Ensign Roman, fifty
-FOUR privates, twelve militia, twelve women
and twenty children. Ga August Is they
were reinforced from Fort Wayne by
Captain Wells and thirty friendly Miamis.
At 9 a. n. August Is, the gates were
thrown open and the entire party left the
fort and marched toward the south. Cap
tain Wells and fifteen Miauis formed tne
van, then IN succession came the garrison,
the other fifteen Miamis. md last the So
called escort of 500 Pottawatomies. The
line of march lay close to the lake, and
was 1anked on the west by sand hills,
which shut OUT the view Of the prairie.
The whites marched east of those sand
bills, but the Indians on the west of
them.
When Captain Wells with his vanguard
reached the spot marked by the cotton
wood tree, he looked over the sand hill
and saw the Indians preparing for an at
tack. He galloped back and gave the
alarm, and Captain Head and his co,npa-
ny instantly mounted the sand hill and
delivered a voIley The Miamis had fed,
and were never heard from again, but the
Pottawatomies closed in around the garri-
son and their families, and a hand-to-
hand conflict ensued, which soon became
a mere massacre.
After terrible slaughter, Captain Heald
and the surviving whites gathered on d
knoll cut on the prairie, from which par
ley with the Indians took place. The In
dians promised to spare their lives If they
would surrender. They surrendered, and
were saved. All that was left of the par
~ unhurt were twenty-five non-commis-
stoned officers and privates, and clever
women and children.
Nothing in the history of Chicago is so
romantic and tragic as this story, and it
is not surprising that the old tree, which
is the only remaining relic of the event,
should possess a great fascination fer the
present generation. This tree seemed to
possess considerable vitality until lately,
but the pavings of the street shut out the
moisture from its roots. and it is now rap
idly passing away.
No leaves adorned it last summer, and
none will ever be seen on it again. It is
in state Of decay, and high win may,
at any time, level it to the ground
Whether it should be strengthened and
preserved, or removed and more endur-
ing monument of stone be put in IFS place,
is question; but all are agreed that one
or the other course should be taken. - Chi
cago Post
Early Lambs.