HISTORY

First Siege of Fort Madison, September 5, 1812

Fort Madison, deep in the wilderness in Iowa, was primarily a trading post (It actually had factory buildings) with a small military presence mostly behind wooden palisades. It had suffered a number of partial and full sieges by the local native population.

The September siege was intense, and the fort was nearly overrun. Significant damage resulted to fort-related buildings, and the attack was only stopped when cannon fire destroyed a fortified Indian position. Chief Black Hawk participated in the siege, and claimed to have personally shot the fort's flag down.

US – Native American relations during the period was exceptionally poor, especially with the military. Native Americans employed no facilities for prisoners and the treatment of prisoners (notably poor in this period) would be unmatched for cruelty until WWII.