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FORT MADISON (1808-1813)

2009 The likely locations of the ravine and the
battlefield were relocated and several artifacts
The locations and historic importance of were recovered ranging from the prehistoric
the fort battlefield and ravine were revealed in through the early town era.
historic journals and letters.
Archaeologists also identified a wide range
In one such letter, Fort Madison’s Com- of fort-era artifact types, including:
mander, Lieutenant Hamilton, wrote that
the ravine in the battlefield provided sufficient •a portion of a buckle inlay,
cover for the Saulk Indians, led by Black Hawk, •fragment of a leather shoe,
to attack the fort resulting in soldier’s injuries •metal digging tools,
and in some cases death. These events at the •and hand-painted ceramics.
fort occurred in August of 1813 which eventu-
ally led to the abandonment of the fort later
that year.

This battlefield and ravine were not ex-
plored archaeologically until 2009 when the
University of Iowa Office of the State Archae-
ologist conducted trench excavations across
the battlefield.

A fort-era timber feature located at
the base of the ravine in Trench 4.