Nathan Heald
Encyclopedia
Nathan Heald was an officer in the United States Army
during the War of 1812
. He was in command of Fort Dearborn
in Chicago at the time of the Battle of Fort Dearborn.
Heald was a captain stationed in Fort Wayne
, Indiana
prior to his appointment at Fort Dearborn, where he relieved the fort's first commander, John Whistler
in 1810. The following year, Heald traveled back to Fort Wayne in order to marry Rebecca Wells and returned to the fort with his bride.
On August 9, Heald received orders from General William Hull
to evacuate the troops from Fort Dearborn, leaving behind all the supplies at the fort. This meant that the Potawatomi
would take the supplies and sell them to the British. Heald decided, therefore, not to leave the fort. On August 15th, a group of Miami Indians led by his wife's uncle, Captain William Wells
, arrived from Fort Wayne to provide assistance. A band of Potawatomi
attacked the column, killing many civilians and soldiers. The ones they did not kill were held for ransom and sold to the British who then set them free. Heald and his wife were both wounded, Heald being shot through the hips.
The Heald's made their way across Lake Michigan
and eventually arrived at Fort Detroit
, then in British hands, where they surrendered. The British transported them to Buffalo
, New York
, where they were ransomed back to the Americans. Heald was promoted to major, was given a disability discharge and a pension. He and his wife returned to Fort Wayne.
In 1817, Heald moved to O'Fallon, Missouri
and purchased the former Fort Zumwalt. He and his wife had three children, Mary, Darius and Margaret. Heald Square
in Chicago is named after Nathan Heald.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He was in command of Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of...
in Chicago at the time of the Battle of Fort Dearborn.
Heald was a captain stationed in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
prior to his appointment at Fort Dearborn, where he relieved the fort's first commander, John Whistler
John Whistler
John Whistler was a soldier, born in Ulster, Ireland. He ran away from home when a boy, enlisted in the British army, and served under General John Burgoyne during the American Revolutionary War. After the surrender at Saratoga, John returned to England and was honorably discharged...
in 1810. The following year, Heald traveled back to Fort Wayne in order to marry Rebecca Wells and returned to the fort with his bride.
On August 9, Heald received orders from General William Hull
William Hull
William Hull was an American soldier and politician. He fought in the American Revolution, was Governor of Michigan Territory, and was a general in the War of 1812, for which he is best remembered for surrendering Fort Detroit to the British.- Early life and Revolutionary War :He was born in...
to evacuate the troops from Fort Dearborn, leaving behind all the supplies at the fort. This meant that the Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
would take the supplies and sell them to the British. Heald decided, therefore, not to leave the fort. On August 15th, a group of Miami Indians led by his wife's uncle, Captain William Wells
William Wells (soldier)
William Wells , also known as Apekonit , was the son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miami. He fought for the Miami in the Northwest Indian War...
, arrived from Fort Wayne to provide assistance. A band of Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
attacked the column, killing many civilians and soldiers. The ones they did not kill were held for ransom and sold to the British who then set them free. Heald and his wife were both wounded, Heald being shot through the hips.
The Heald's made their way across Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
and eventually arrived at Fort Detroit
Fort Detroit
Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Détroit was a fort established by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701. The location of the former fort is now in the city of Detroit in the U.S...
, then in British hands, where they surrendered. The British transported them to Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where they were ransomed back to the Americans. Heald was promoted to major, was given a disability discharge and a pension. He and his wife returned to Fort Wayne.
In 1817, Heald moved to O'Fallon, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and purchased the former Fort Zumwalt. He and his wife had three children, Mary, Darius and Margaret. Heald Square
Heald Square Monument
Heald Square Monument is a sculpture depicting Robert Morris and Haym Salomon, the two principal financers of the American Revolution, along with George Washington. The sculpture was designated a Chicago Landmark on September 15, 1971. It is located in the Michigan–Wacker Historic District and in...
in Chicago is named after Nathan Heald.