Fort Dearborn

During the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, local Pottawatomie and Ottawa bands (Native Americans), seized on the chance to displace the USA from the area. In August of that year, the fort was sneak attacked and burned to the ground by Chief Blackbird. No effective resistance was mounted; over 50 US Army soldiers and civilians were massacred. The fort's commander and his wife became British prisoners of war, while Blackbird was awarded a medal by the crown for this feat.

Re-built after the war, the fort saw military use twice more: in the Winnebago war (circa 1828) and the Black Hawk war (circa 1832). The buildings were finally destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Fort Dearborn is commemorated by the first star of the flag of Chicago and by the historical marker located near the Michigan Avenue bridge.

Source: Chicago Historical Society

DEFENSE
Fort Dearborn stood almost on this spot.
After an heroic defense in eighteen hundred
twelve, the garrison together with women and
children was forced to evacuate the fort. Led
forth by Captain Wells, they were brutally massacred
by the Indians. They will be cherished as martyrs
in our early history.

Erected by the Trustees of
the B.F. Ferguson Monument Fund
1928

The inscription on the marker on the west side of Michigan Avenue on the north side of the bridge:

THE PIONEERS
John (rest of line unreadable)
This (most of line unreadable) seventeenth
century. One of a band of courageous pioneers, who,
with their lives at stake, struggled through the
wilderness, breaking soil for the seeds of
future civilization.
Presented to the city by
William Wrigley Jr
1928

The inscription on the marker on the east side of Michigan Avenue on the south side of the bridge:

REGENERATION
The Great Chicago Fire in October eighteen
hundred and seventy one devastated the city.
From its ashes the people of Chicago caused
a new and greater city to rise, imbued with that
indomitable spirit and energy by which they have ever been guided.
Erected by the Trustees of
the B.F. Ferguson Monument Fund
1928

The inscription on the marker on the east side of Michigan Avenue on the north side of the bridge:

THE DISCOVERERS
Joliet Father Marouette, Lasalle and Tonti
will live in American history
as fearless explorers who made their way
through the great lakes and across
this watershed to the Mississippi
in the late seventeenth century
and typify the spirit of brave adventure
which has always been firmly planted
in the character of the Middle West.
Presented to the city by
William Wrigley Jr.
1928

The actual inscriptions are in all caps, so the choice of capitalization is mine, as are most of the line breaks for the first two inscriptions, which I didn't accurately record. I'll update this writeup once I go back downtown.