Blue Mounds Fort
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Fort Blue Mounds
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Sign across the river from the original site.
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| Location | Dane County, Wisconsin, United States |
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| Nearest city | Blue Mounds |
| Coordinates | 43°01′03″N 89°49′56″W / 43.01750°N 89.83222°WCoordinates: 43°01′03″N 89°49′56″W / 43.01750°N 89.83222°W |
| Built | May 10, 1832 |
| NRHP Reference # | 01001044 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 2001 |
Fort Blue Mounds, also known as Blue Mounds Fort, was located in Blue Mounds, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States.
The settlement of Blue Mounds was founded in 1828 by Ebenezer Brigham on the south slope of the eastern mound of the Blue Mounds. In 1832, when word arrived that Chief Black Hawk and his 1200 Sauk followers had crossed the Mississippi River, it was decided to build a fort to protect the settlers.
On May 10, 1832, the construction of Fort Blue Mounds began with the help of the residents of Blue Mounds, led by the newly promoted Colonel Ebenezer Brigham. The fort was built a mile south of Eastern Mound on the highest part of the open prairie, allowing for a commanding view of the open country for miles. Those who defended the fort were able to see to the east, south, and west, with the mound bounding the northern side of the fort.
Word quickly arrived at the settlement of an engagement between Black Hawk's group and the Illinois militia on May 14, 1832. In what was to be called the Battle of Stillman's Run, the Illinois militia were defeated by the Indians. This, along with the closeness of the Ho-Chunk tribe, brought fear to the settlers, and they worked quickly to complete the fort in about two weeks.
From May 20 to September 20, 1832, the settlers and miners joined General Henry Dodge's Michigan Territory Militia during the Black Hawk War.
James Aubrey was the first commander at the fort, but after he was killed by the Indians on June 6, his first lieutenant, Edward Beouchard, took command. He didn't command long before Captain John Sherman succeeded him.
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Wikipedia