Fort Ouiatenon - British Period

British Period

After the surrender of New France to the British in September 1760, Robert Rogers dispatched troops to occupy Ouiatenon. a contingent of British soldiers led by Lieutenant Edward Jenkins arrived in 1761, capturing and occupying the fort.

On June 1, 1763, during Pontiac's War, the Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten peoples captured Ouiatenon. They surprised Lieutenant Jenkins and his men and captured Fort Ouiatenon without firing a shot. Seven similar posts were also captured in the widespread Indian uprising against the British presence.

The British made little use of Fort Ouiatenon after the French and Indian War; it was never garrisoned. In the mid-1770s, the fort was described 70 yards from the Wabash river.

The Ouattanon nation of Indians is on the opposite side, & the Kiccaposses are round the Fort, in both villages about 1000 men able to bear arms.

As late as 1778, Ouiatenon was a staging ground for war parties fighting on behalf of the British government.

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