Indiana Dunes: The Revolutionary War Battle of Le Petit Fort

The Revolutionary War wasn't just fought in the 13 colonies.

For instance, until I saw this historical marker last Sunday in the Indiana Dunes State Park, I was not aware that a Revolutionary War battle was fought there.

From NWI.com:

A lone marker, erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution, sits within sight of the lake front near the main pavilion at Indiana Dunes State Park.

It commemorates a battle fought in the dunes on Dec. 5, 1780 between American forces commanded by Lt. Thomas Brady and Jean Baptiste Hamlin and British forces under the command of Dahreau de Quindre.

History records it as the Battle of Le Petit Fort. Powell A. Moore, describing it in his book "The Calumet Region: Indiana's Last Frontier," writes that during the War of Independence turmoil broke out in the Northwest between the French fur traders, Native Americans and the British, who were making every effort to enlist the Indians against the Americans.

In Powell's account, "The sand dunes echoed to the sound of musket fire and war whoops as adherents of the English and Americans were locked in combat."

The British won the battle, Hamlin and three other men were killed, and Brady was captured.

Related posts:

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: Cowles Bog

Indiana Dunes

Indiana Dunes sunset

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