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Americans BeatenThe only battle of the Revolutionary War fought in Indiana—except George Rogers Clark’s caoture of Vincennes — was fought and lost at Little Fort in Porter county.American and French forces from Cahokia came to Niles to plunder old Fort St. Joseph, Dec. 8, 1781. They burned or otherwise destroyed what they could, and returned to tittle Fort,carrying some 20 or 30 bales of choice furs.The British Maj. De Peyster reported that Etienne Champion and a group of followers pursued the Americans and overtook them at Little Fort, where the furs were recovered.This is the last mention of Little Fort until a year later when it was recorded that “the English, finding the Little Fort untenable, abandoned it.”Not DestroyedThe structure was not destroyed, however, for Lt. Swearington, in 1803, and Gen. Hull, in 1812 both report its existence. Frances Howe mentioned no old log fort as being in existence when her grandparents came to Baillytownin 1823.When the new settlers arrived in 1833 there was no mention of a fort in any of their early history. In one instance Harvey Ball, the surveyor for City West, said in his field notes, “unearthed a quadrangle oi burned logs and ashes, on both sides oi a branch-jng creek.”Little Fort was built by theFrench soldiers, presumably in-
Newspaper Details
Valparaiso Vidette Messenger
Valparaiso, Indiana, US
Tue, May 21, 1957
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Lake C.
IN, USA 06 Jun 2022
Other Publications Near Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso Vidette Messenger
Valparaiso Torch
Valparaiso Porter County Vidette
