Fort Dickinson facts for kids

Fort Dickinson was a small fort built during a time of conflict in Pennsylvania. It was part of the Pennamite Wars, which were fights over land. The fort had four small blockhouses and four guns. About 100 men protected it.

What Was Fort Dickinson?

Fort Dickinson was a fort used by people called "Pennamites." These were settlers from Pennsylvania. It was built during the Pennamite Wars, which were a series of fights over land. The fort had four small buildings called blockhouses. It was armed with four guns and protected by about 100 soldiers.

The Pennamite-Yankee Wars Explained

The Pennamite-Yankee Wars were conflicts in the late 1700s. They were fought between settlers from Pennsylvania (Pennamites) and settlers from Connecticut (Yankees). Both groups claimed the same land in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania. These wars were mostly about who owned the land.

Building Fort Durkee

In 1769, a man named Major John Durkee led a group of his men. They built a fort called Fort Durkee. It was located on the eastern side of the Susquehanna River. The fort was near the town of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Wyoming Forts. This map shows important forts and places during the Pennamite-Yankee Wars. Fort Durkee (later Fort Dickinson) is marked as 'A'.

Fort Dickinson's History

Fort Durkee changed hands several times during the conflicts that followed its construction. In 1783, Fort Durkee was renamed Fort Dickinson. However, it did not last much longer. The fort was destroyed by Connecticut Yankees the very next year. This happened during the Second Yankee-Pennamite War.