US ResearchConflictsEarly Republic and War of 1812Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation
Early Republic and War of 1812

Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation

1813
Iowa
Era
Early Republic and War of 1812
Year
1813
Location
Iowa
Status
Verified engagement
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
United States
Forces
Fort Madison garrison (~70)
VS
Victor
Sauk / British
Forces
Sauk and Fox warriors (~500)
Outcome
Garrison evacuated and burned fort to prevent capture; first U.S. fort on Upper Mississippi lost.
The Battle

History & Significance

The siege of Fort Wayne took place from September 5–12, 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.

Duration
8 days (September 5, 1812 – September 12, 1812)
Historical context

The early republic period saw the United States move from the weak Articles of Confederation to the federal Constitution ratified in 1788, with the Bill of Rights added in 1791. George Washington served two terms as president (1789–1797), establishing precedents for executive authority, and the federal capital moved permanently to Washington D.C. in 1800. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the nation's territory for roughly $15 million, opening vast trans-Mississippi lands to American expansion. The War of 1812 against Britain ended inconclusively but produced a surge of American national identity and eliminated most British support for Indigenous resistance east of the Mississippi. The Northwest Indian Wars (1785–1795) and the Creek War (1813–1814) broke Indigenous confederacies that had resisted US expansion. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily balanced slave and free states as the nation expanded westward, but embedded the contradiction of slavery in every subsequent territorial debate.

Casualties & Losses

American: 4 killed

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation take place?
Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation took place in 1813. 8 days (September 5, 1812 – September 12, 1812).
Where was Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation fought?
Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation was fought in Iowa, United States.
What was the outcome of Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation?
Garrison evacuated and burned fort to prevent capture; first U.S. fort on Upper Mississippi lost.
What was the significance of Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation?
The siege of Fort Wayne took place from September 5–12, 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.
Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Passenger and Freight Complex Historic District
Listed · 0.2 mi
Cattermole Memorial Library
Civil War · 0.5 mi
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Battle of Bad Axe River Crossing (Iowa side)
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Black Hawk War — Fort Madison Raids 1832
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Battle of Springfield (Iowa) 1857
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All battles in Iowa
Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Wikipedia source.

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