Forts of Vincennes, Indiana
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the French, British and U.S. forces built and occupied a number of forts at Vincennes, Indiana. These outposts commanded a strategic position on the Wabash River. The names of the installations were changed by the various ruling parties, and the forts were considered strategic in the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, the Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812. The last fort was abandoned in 1816.
| Fort Vincennes, Fort Sackville, Fort Patrick Henry | |
|---|---|
| Vincennes, Indiana | |
| Type | Fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | New France Kingdom of Great Britain United States |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1731-32, 1736 |
| In use | 1732-1736, 1736-1766, 1778-79 |
| Materials | wood |
| Battles/wars | First Battle of Vincennes;Battle of Vincennes |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Leonard Helm, Henry Hamilton, George Rodgers Clark |
| Garrison | 90 |
Fort Knox II Site | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
Reconstructed palisades at the site of Fort Knox II | |
| Nearest city | Vincennes, Indiana |
|---|---|
| Area | 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) |
| Built | 1803 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000045 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1982 |
The settlement around the forts was best known as the territorial capital of the Northwest Territory (later, the Indiana Territory). The best known event was Gen. William Henry Harrison's mustering of forces at Vincennes just prior to his campaign against the Indian capital at Prophetstown in Tippecanoe, culminating in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 during the War of 1812.
The former site of what is known as "Fort Knox II" has been marked and preserved as a state historic site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.