Siege of Fort Wayne

Siege of Fort Wayne
Part of the War of 1812
Fort Wayne[1]
Date September 5–12, 1812 Location Fort Wayne, Indiana Result United States victory
Belligerents
Miami Potawatomi	United States
Commanders and leaders
Chief Winamac Chief Wannangsea	James Rhea Philip Ostander William Henry Harrison
Strength
500 warriors	100 (garrison) 3,000 (relief force)
Casualties and losses
About 25 killed[2]	Hundreds

The siege of Fort Wayne took place from September 5 – September 12, 1812, during the War of 1812. The stand-off occurred in the modern city of Fort Wayne, Indiana between the U.S. military garrison at Fort Wayne and a combined force of Potawatomi and Miami forces. The conflict began when warriors under the Potawatomi Native American Chiefs Winamac, and Five Medals killed two members of the U.S. garrison.^[3] Over the next several days, the Potawatomi burned the buildings and crops of the fort's adjacent village, and launched assaults from outside the fort. Winamac withdrew on 12 September, ahead of reinforcements led by Major General William Henry Harrison.^[4]

The attack on Fort Wayne was one of several attacks on U.S. military outposts by the Potawatomi in September 1812. Other coordinated attacks occurred at Fort Dearborn, Fort Harrison, Pigeon Roost, and Fort Madison.^[5][6]