Indiana Forts

American Forts: East

INDIANA

Last Update: 27/SEPTEMBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Petit Fort
(Indiana Dunes State Park)
(1753 - 1779), Dune Acres
A French fur trade post located near the mouth of Fort Creek. Taken over by the British sometime after 1760, and evacuated in 1779.
(thanks to Chuck Brown for providing info)

Fort Tassinong
(1673 - unknown), Kouts
A French trading post at the Potawatomi Indian village of Tassinong.

Door Prairie Fort
(1832), Door Village
A settlers' or local militia fort located in Door Prairie during the Black Hawk War.

Fort Beane
(1832), Goshen
A settlers' town fort during the Black Hawk War, it was never completed. Marker located at Reynolds Street and US 33, near Goshen High School.
(thanks to Dave Zollinger for correct location)

LaBalme's Fort
(1780), near Collins
A British trading post on the Eel River. Attacked in 1780.

Fort Miami
(1712 - 1763), Fort Wayne
Location of the first white settlement (1686) in Indiana. The French built a fort in 1704. In 1712 they built Fort Miamis (aka Fort St. Philippe) on the east bank of the St. Mary's River (at the present-day Sherman Ave. Bridge). Rebuilt in 1722. It burned down in 1747 and was rebuilt in 1750 on the east bank of the St. Joseph River at Delaware Ave. and St. Joseph Blvd. The British gained control in 1760 and called it Fort Miami. It was burned by Pontiac in 1763, but regained by the British for only a short while longer. A marker is at the second site.

Kekionga Trading Post
(1778), Fort Wayne
A British trading post located at the Miami Indian village of Kekionga at the head of the Maumee River.

Fort Wayne
(1794 - 1819), Fort Wayne
A Federal fort located on the St. Mary's River across from old Fort Miami. The original four-gun bastioned earthwork with barracks was located at present-day Clay and Berry Streets, with a seperate blockhouse by the river bank. Rebuilt in 1800 adjacent to the original work as a stockade fort enclosing several buildings, with a blockhouse in the center of the north wall and blockhouses at the southern corners. Successfully withstood an Indian attack in 1812. Rebuilt again in 1815-16 as a square stockade with two blockhouses at opposite corners, located at Main and Clay Streets in Old Fort Park. The last structure was torn down in 1852. The present-day reconstructed fort is located in Guildin Park, restored to the 1816 period. It is owned by the city.
(additional info provided by Stanley Schmitt)

Godfroy's Trading Post or
(unknown), Peru
A trading post at the Miami Indian village of Ikkepissinnoong. Also known as Pahlonswah's Trading Post.

Gamelin's Trading Post
(1827), Logansport
Located at the junction of the Wabash and Eel Rivers.

Durett's Trading Post
(1820), near Rockfield
A fur trade post on the south bank of the Wabash River, on the east bank of the mouth of Rock Creek.

Tippecanoe
(Tippecanoe Battlefield State Memorial)
(1811), Battle Ground
An Indian stronghold attacked and destroyed by General William Henry Harrison's troops. Considered the opening salvo to the War of 1812 in the Northwest Territory.

Fort Ouiatenon (Historic Park)
(1722 - 1791), Lafayette
The first French trading post was built nearby in 1717. The second fortified post, at the present location, was built in 1722. This area was called Wea Town and was settled by Wea (Ouia) Indians. The French surrendered it to the British in 1761. Indians captured the fort in 1763. It was never regarrisoned. The remains of the stockade were then used by local trappers, and then by the Indians and British agents for raids against American settlers. It was finally burned down by American troops in 1791. The blockhouse is a 1930 reconstruction, not on the original site. Excavations in the 1950's revealed the true site closer to the river. Another web site (a) | another website (b).

Cicott's Fort or
(1817 - unknown), near Independence
A trader's fort at the old Cicott Indian Reservation. Possibly Potawatomi.

Cicott's Trading Post or
(1810's), near Independence
Located just downstream from the fort on the Wabash River.

Fort Boyd
(1811), near Cayuga
A Federal blockhouse at the mouth of the Vermillion River, built by General Harrison during the Tippecanoe Campaign as a rear supply base and convalescent camp. Burned by the troops one month later as the army returned to Vincennes.
(additional info provided by Stanley Schmitt)

Lasselle's Trading Post
(1797), near Newport
Located on the south bank of the Little Vermillion River west of town.

Thorntown Trading Post or
(1820's ?), Thorntown
Located at the Miami Indian village of Thorntown, or Kahweokkioong, in the old Thorntown Reservation. The first white settler arrived here in 1828.

William Conner's Trading Post
(1802), near Fishers
Located on the south bank of the White River just north of the Marion County line.

Indianapolis Camp
(1846), Indianapolis
A Mexican-American War training camp located at the old State Fairgrounds. Camp Sullivan was located here during the Civil War (see below).

Camp Mount
(1898), Indianapolis
A Spanish-American War training camp located at the old State Fairgrounds, north of 10th Street between Delaware and Central Aves.. Now Military Park.

Fort Benjamin Harrison (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1903/1906 - present), Indianapolis
An Army infantry post, laid out in a large horseshoe, with parade ground bordered by barracks, headquarters, and Officers' quarters. Became an Officers' Training Camp in 1917. Became a Selective Service reception camp in 1940, and was home to the Army Finance School, Army Chaplain's School, Cook and Baker's School, Disciplinary Barracks, and a German/Italian POW camp. Became Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base (1948 - 1950) after WWII. After 1951 home to the US Army Finance Center, Finance School, Adjutant General School, and Defense Information School. Became the US Army Administration Center in 1973.

George Smith's Fort
(1812 - unknown, Randolph County
A settlers' fortified house.

Fort Atkinson
(1790's), Fort Atkinson
An early Federal fort.

John Conner's Trading Post (3)
(1808), Connersville
Also known as Fort Conner (1).

Brouillett's Trading Post or
(unknown), near Shepherdsville (?)
Located on the north bank of an unnamed creek west of the Wabash River.

Fort Harrison
(1811 - 1818), Terre Haute
Built by General William Henry Harrison (9th U.S. President) at the Indian town of Battelle des Illinois at the mouth of Lost Creek on the Wabash River. Also known as Camp Battelle or Camp Battelle des Illinois. Defended from Indian attack in 1812 by Captain Zachary Taylor (12th U.S. President). The fort was originally 150-feet square with two-story blockhouses at the western corners and bastions at the eastern corners, with the barracks forming part of the walls. During the attack the southwest blockhouse was burned down. Rebuilt in 1815-16 with four blockhouses at the corners. Abandoned in 1818 for Fort Wayne. A country club later occupied the site. Popularly referred to today as Fort William Henry Harrison, to distinguish it from the modern Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis.
(additional info provided by Stanley Schmitt)

Stockade Fort
(1810's), Sullivan County
An unnamed settlers' fort on the north bank Turman's Creek, north of Graysville.

Benjamin Turman's Fort
(1810 or 1811 - unknown), near Sullivan
A settlers' blockhouse located near Big Springs, north of town. May also be spelled Tierman. Used by General Harrison as a command post before the Battle of Tippecanoe (1811). Also known as Fort Turman.

Fort Azatlan
(prehistoric), near Merom
Believed to be defensive works of the ancient Mound Builders.

Halfway Fort
(1810's), near Merom Station
A settlers' fort also known as Gill's Fort.

Ledgerwood Blockhouse
(1803 - unknown), near Carlisle
A settlers' fort protecting a mill, located west of town.

Holden's and Ingles' Blockhouse
(1810's), near Carlisle
A two-family settlers' fort located west of town.

Fort Lisman
(1810 - unknown), near Carlisle
A settlers' fort located west of town on Busseron Creek.

Indiana Civil War Camps
(various locations, north to south)

Camp Valparaiso (1864), Valparaiso, located at the fairgrounds.
Camp Anderson (2) (1864), Michigan City, located at Michigan Blvd. and Carroll Ave..
Camp Colfax (1861), LaPorte, western side of town.
Camp Jackson (1861), at "Stanton's Grove" (location ?) in LaPorte County.
Camp Rose (1861 - 1862), Mishawaka, located at the old fairgrounds. Marker at Portage and Leland Streets.
Camp Mitchell (1863 - 1865), Kendallville.
Camp Allen, Fort Wayne, located southwest of Main Street Bridge, opposite Swinney Park.
Camp Wabash (1862 - 1865), Wabash.
Camp Pettit (1862), near Wabash, south of town.
Camp Logan (1) (1861), Logansport, located at present-day Third and Ottawa Streets.
Camp Orth, Battle Ground.
Camp Tippecanoe (1861 - 1864), Lafayette, located south of 4th and Kossuth Streets. Also used as a Confederate POW camp in 1862.
Camp Sample, near Lafayette, a POW camp.
Camp Stilwell (2) (1863 - 1864), Kokomo.
Camp Ross (1) (1861), Portland.
Camp Anderson (1) (1861), Anderson, located at the present-day country club. Renamed Camp Stilwell (1).
Camp Bridgeland (1861 - 1862), Indianapolis, located four miles northeast of downtown on Fall Creek. Originally named Camp Bullock.
Camp Morton (1861 - 1865), Indianapolis, located at the site of the old State Fairgrounds between 19th and 22nd Streets, and Talbott and Delaware to Central Ave. Became a Confederate POW camp after 1862.
Camp Sullivan (1862 - 1864), Indianapolis, located at the old fairgrounds, now Military Park.
Camp Reynolds (2) (1862), Indianapolis, located between the canal and the White River, one and one-half miles from Camp Carrington.
Camp Fremont (1863 -1864), Indianapolis, located near Fountain Square, east of Virginia Ave. and south of Prospect Street.
Camp Carrington (1862, 1864 - 1865), Indianapolis, located near present-day West 15th and Missouri Streets. Originally known as Camp Murray in 1862. Replaced Camp Morton as the main training camp when the POW camp was established.
Camp Robinson (1861, 1864), Indianapolis, located at the southern end of Thomas Taggart Riverside Park, on Cold Spring Road.
Burnside Barracks (aka Camp Burnside) (1862, 1864), Indianapolis, at 7th and Tinker (16th) Streets.
Camp Noble (2), Indianapolis, located west of Camp Burnside. Also known as Camp Floyd.
Camp Morris (2) (1861), Indianapolis, located on the White River on the south-side of Washington Street.
Camp Bill Taylor (1861), Indianapolis, located on West Washington Street near Camp Morris.
Camp Oak Glen (1865), Indianapolis, located at West and Georgia Streets.
Camp Streight (1861), Indianapolis, located at Central Ave. and 11th Street.
Camp Vajen (1861), Indianapolis, located on Meridian Street by the present-day Vajen Building.
Camp Holloway (1862), Indianapolis.
Camp Joe Holt (2), Indianapolis.
Camp Kimball (1861), Indianapolis.
Camp Lafayette (1861), Indianapolis.
Camp Shanks (1862 - 1864), Indianapolis.
Camp Wood (1861), Indianapolis.
Camp Harrison (1) (1861), Irvington, originally named Camp McClellan.
Camp Wayne (1) (1861 - 1864), Richmond, located at the old fairgrounds.
Camp Wayne (2) (1862), Cambridge City.
Camp Rushville (1862), Rushville.
Camp Greencastle (1861), Greencastle.
Camp Hughes (1861), Gosport, marker at site.
Camp Vigo (1861 - 1862), Terre Haute, at or near the fairgrounds.
Camp Harrison (2) (1862), Terre Haute.
Camp Linsay (1863), Terre Haute, located one-half mile south of town.

Thanks to Marvin Atchison for providing info and maps on the early settler forts and trading posts of Indiana.

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