Fort Wayne (fort) facts for kids

Historic Fort Wayne, seen here in 2014, is a recreation of the 1815 garrison.

Fort Wayne was the name for three different military forts built from wood logs. These forts stood between 1794 and 1819 in what is now the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. They were located where the St. Mary's and St. Joseph Rivers meet in northeastern Indiana. These forts were built after an older fort called Fort Miami, which was near a main village of the Miami tribe.

The first Fort Wayne was built in 1794 by Captain Jean François Hamtramck. He was following orders from General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. This was part of a war against the Miami tribe called the Northwest Indian War. The fort was built to protect the land won in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, where General Wayne had recently won. On October 22, 1794, the fort was almost finished. The U.S. Army officially named it "Fort Wayne" with 15 cannon shots. This honored the 15 states in the country and marked four years since an earlier battle.

On September 5, 1812, Fort Wayne was attacked during the War of 1812. This event is known as the Siege of Fort Wayne. After this war, towns began to grow around the fort. The fort itself was a simple wooden fence (stockade) with a few buildings inside. The first fort was located near where Berry and Clay streets are today.

In 1819, the fort was no longer needed because the fighting with Native American tribes had stopped. The modern city of Fort Wayne was then planned out in 1823. Today, there is a copy of the 1815 fort in a different part of the city. It is called "The Old Fort" and is a popular place for tourists to visit.

What Was Fort Wayne Before?

Fort Wayne took over from a series of forts called Fort Miami. These earlier forts were controlled by the French, and sometimes by the British. The first Fort Miami was a small trading post built around 1706 by a French-Canadian soldier named Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sieur de Vincennes.

Building and Life at Fort Wayne

Map of Fort Wayne, circa 1795.

General Wayne's army arrived at Kekionga on September 17, 1794. Wayne himself chose the spot for the new U.S. fort. He wanted a very strong fort. It needed to be able to stop attacks from Native American tribes and even a possible attack by the British from Fort Detroit. The fort was finished by October 17. It was strong enough to resist large cannons. It was named Fort Wayne and put under the command of Major Jean François Hamtramck. He had been in charge of Fort Knox in Vincennes. The fort was officially named on October 22. This day is seen as the founding day of the modern city of Fort Wayne.

About 100 soldiers and their families usually lived at Fort Wayne. In 1796, the soldiers were ordered to march down the Maumee River. This was to stop a British show of force. The army took over Fort Miami (Ohio) from the British. After this, Colonel Hamtramck was moved to Fort Detroit. This place later became another Fort Wayne and is near the future town of Hamtramck, Michigan. Colonel David Strong took over as commander of Fort Wayne for two years. He was a veteran of the American Revolution.

Colonel Thomas Hunt became commander of the fort on May 16, 1798. He had fought in the Battles of Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill. He built a large new fort a few hundred yards north of the first one. This new fort was near what is now the city's Old Fort Park. The new fort had several guard houses and "factories." These "factories" were actually trading posts for Native Americans. The first fort was torn down around 1800.

Fort Wayne During the War of 1812

During the War of 1812, Fort Dearborn (which is now Chicago) was emptied. Its residents tried to reach Fort Wayne with William Wells. But they were attacked and many died before they arrived. This event is known as the Battle of Fort Dearborn. Fort Wayne was then attacked by Native American forces led by Tecumseh. This was the Siege of Fort Wayne. Captain James Rhea was in charge of the fort. He was ill and thought about giving up. But his two lieutenants took over his duty. General William Henry Harrison arrived on September 12, 1812, and ended the attack. Captain Rhea was officially removed from his command. One of the lieutenants, named Ostrander, was given official command of the fort. After the war, a town started to grow around the fort.

A third fort was built in 1815 and 1816 by Major John Whistler. The fort was officially closed on April 19, 1819. Its supplies were sent to Fort Detroit. The last parts of the old fort were torn down in 1852 to make room for the growing town.

Commanders of Fort Wayne