Fort Harrison was the site of the first significant US victory in the War of 1812, during the September 1812 siege.
Key Facts
- Constructed
- October 1811
- Location
- Overlooking the Wabash River, Terre Haute, Indiana
- Commanding Officer
- General William Henry Harrison
- Key Battle
- Siege of Fort Harrison, September 1812
- Abandoned
- 1818, as the frontier moved westward
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the War of 1812 era, American forces under General William Henry Harrison needed a fortified position on the Wabash River frontier. In October 1811, Harrison constructed Fort Harrison on high ground to serve as a staging point before the Battle of Tippecanoe and to secure the northwestern frontier against Native American and British threats.
Fort Harrison, built in October 1811, became the site of a notable siege in September 1812 when Native American forces attacked the stockade. US defenders successfully repelled the assault, making it the first significant American victory in the War of 1812. The fort had also served as Harrison's encampment immediately prior to the Battle of Tippecanoe a month after its construction.
The successful defense of Fort Harrison boosted American morale early in the War of 1812 and helped secure the northwestern frontier. The fort continued to serve military purposes until 1818, when it was abandoned as American settlement expanded westward and the frontier line moved further into the interior of the continent.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
William Henry Harrison.
Side B
1 belligerent