Revolutionary War Colonel defeated in the Fort Wayne area.
- Aboite name origin in LaBalme Visit to Fort Wayne by Tom Castaldi, local historianpublished April 12, 2016 in History Center Notes & Queries blog.
- La Balme's Defeat on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
- Reexamining the LaBalme Massacre Reexamining the LaBalme Massacre by Keith Layman on page 32 in the Summer 2017 Old Fort Palisade newsletter.
November 5, 2015 post by the Revolutionary War and Beyond on Facebook:
On this day in history, November 5, 1780, a Revolutionary War battle known as De la Balme's Defeat or De la Balme's Massacre takes place when retired French cavalry officer Augustin de la Balme is killed near present day Fort Wayne, Indiana in a battle with Miami Indians. The officer had been appointed in 1777 as the Continental Army's Inspector of Cavalry, but resigned this position due to his dislike for Polish General Casimir Pulaski, the Commander of the United States Cavalry.
In 1780, De la Balme left on a voyage down the Ohio River on a mission to capture the British Fort Detroit. Historians are uncertain whether he undertook this mission on his own or if he was acting on secret orders from General George Washington. De la Balme gathered Canadian colonists who had been living under British rule along the way in Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes (in what is now Indiana).
De la Balme's men moved north toward Fort Detroit and when they arrived in Kekionga (modern day Fort Wayne, Indiana), they found an unoccupied British and Indian trading post, the British and their Miami Indian allies having left the post, apparently on a hunting mission. De la Balme occupied the post and began to raid other British posts in the area. On the 5th, De la Balme set out for a post along the Eel River.
In the meantime, a group of Miami hunters returned to Kekionga, killed the 20 men De la Balme had left there and spread the word among the local Indians. Chief Little Turtle, who lived on the Eel River nearby, attacked De la Balme's party before he could reach the trading post. de la Balme's men entrenched themselves along the river, but were eventually overcome. De la Balme and most of his men were killed, with only a few escaping to tell the tale.
Chief Little Turtle would go on to become a successful war chief against the Americans in the Northwest Indian Wars of the 1790s and, in spite of De la Balme's failure, the British would post a group of Rangers at Kekionga to protect it from further attack. Fort Detroit would remain in British possession until the signing of the Jay Treaty in 1794.
November 5, 2022 post by The Founding of the United States on Facebook:
On This Day in History > November 5, 1780:
De La Balme's Defeat
"On November 5, 1780, a Revolutionary War battle known as De la Balme's Defeat or De la Balme's Massacre takes place when retired French cavalry officer Augustin de la Balme is killed near present day Fort Wayne, Indiana in a battle with Miami Indians. The officer had been appointed in 1777 as the Continental Army's Inspector of Cavalry, but resigned this position due to his dislike for Polish General Casimir Pulaski, the Commander of the United States Cavalry.
In 1780, De la Balme left on a voyage down the Ohio River on a mission to capture the British Fort Detroit. Historians are uncertain whether he undertook this mission on his own or if he was acting on secret orders from General George Washington. De la Balme gathered Canadian colonists who had been living under British rule along the way in Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes (in what is now Indiana).
De la Balme's men moved north toward Fort Detroit and when they arrived in Kekionga (modern day Fort Wayne, Indiana), they found an unoccupied British and Indian trading post, the British and their Miami Indian allies having left the post, apparently on a hunting mission. De la Balme occupied the post and began to raid other British posts in the area. On the 5th, De la Balme set out for a post along the Eel River.
In the meantime, a group of Miami hunters returned to Kekionga, killed the 20 men De la Balme had left there and spread the word among the local Indians. Chief Little Turtle, who lived on the Eel River nearby, attacked De la Balme's party before he could reach the trading post. de la Balme's men entrenched themselves along the river, but were eventually overcome. De la Balme and most of his men were killed, with only a few escaping to tell the tale.
Chief Little Turtle would go on to become a successful war chief against the Americans in the Northwest Indian Wars of the 1790s and, in spite of De la Balme's failure, the British would post a group of Rangers at Kekionga to protect it from further attack. Fort Detroit would remain in British possession until the signing of the Jay Treaty in 1794."
November 12, 2020 post with several photos by the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution on Facebook:
The annual ceremony to honor Colonel De La Balme, a French Calvary officer who served during the American Revolution, was held in Whitley County at the site of the battle between his company of men and Chief Little Turtle and his Miami Warriors. This battle occurred around November, 1780.
Charlotte Blain, Indiana State Regent, introduced and thanked DAR, SAR, and C.A.R. members that were in attendance.
Mary Penrose Wayne Regent, Linda Stafford, placed a wreath for the Chapter.
A 1911 newspaper article references a monmuent for the "LaBalm Massacre."
July 15, 2019 post by Military History of Fort Wayne on Facebook:
The Aboite area of Fort Wayne draws its name from a massacre of French soldiers by Miami Indians southwest of present day Fort Wayne in 1780.
“103 men were massacred west of Fort Wayne, Indiana at a place called Aboite. The Miami Indians left the mutilated bodies to rot, which resulted in the French calling the site, "The Slaughterhouse" - alternately known as LaBalme's Defeat.
A slaughterhouse, also called by the French word abattoir. Today the site is still called the "Slaughterhouse" in the name of a small town and township in Allen County, Indiana called, Aboite”.
The battle itself took place on the grounds of the Vermilyea House off of Redding Road.
Aboite, Indiana Named For Indian Massacre and French Word For Slaughterhouse posted by Fritz Zimmerman September 11, 2013 on Blood on the Ohio Tales of the Frontier blog.
November 4, 2023 post by the SAR - Anthony Halberstadt Chapter on Facebook:
Col de la Balme annual Revolutionary War Commemoration in Columbia City, IN on Nov 4, 2023. Pictured are members of the IN State SAR Colorguard, along with two guardsmen performing a rifle salute. The IN State DAR are also pictured below.
A beautiful ceremony today (November 2, 2024) at the Col de La Balme ceremony near Columbia City, Indiana. The ceremony...
Posted by SAR - Anthony Halberstadt Chapter on Saturday, November 2, 2024Saturday, November 2, 2024 post by the SAR - Anthony Halberstadt Chapter on Facebook:
A beautiful ceremony today (November 2, 2024) at the Col de La Balme ceremony near Columbia City, Indiana. The ceremony included the DAR, SAR and CAR, and remembered the over 100 patriots killed by the Miami Indians in the Revolutionary War battle.
Compatriot Jeffrey Jones presenting the history of the Col de La Balme battle at DAR/SAR/CAR commemoration on Nov 2, 2024.
Posted by SAR - Anthony Halberstadt Chapter on Saturday, November 2, 2024Saturday, November 2, 2024 post by the SAR - Anthony Halberstadt Chapter on Facebook:
Compatriot Jeffrey Jones presenting the history of the Col de La Balme battle at DAR/SAR/CAR commemoration on Nov 2, 2024.