Written in 1814 by Lieutenant Linai T. Helm One of the survivors WITH LETTERS AND NARRATIVES OF CONTEMPORARY INTEREST Edited by Nelly Kinzie Gordon     RAND McNALLY & COMPANY CHICAGO       NEW YORK Copyright, 1912, by Nelly Kinzie Gordon To my Native City Chicago WHOSE MARVELOUS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT I HAVE WATCHED WITH PRIDE AND UNFAILING INTEREST SINCE THE YEAR 1835 I dedicate this book...

The narrative of Lieutenant Linai T. Helm, one of the two officers who survived the Chicago Massacre, mysteriously disappeared nearly one hundred years ago. This manuscript has lately been found and is now in the possession of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, by whose kind permission it is here presented to the public, together with letters explaining its loss and its recovery. It is the earliest extant account given by a participator in the fearful tragedy of August 15, 1812. It was

"Territory of Michigan," October 8th, 1812. Sir: It is already known to you that on Saturday the fifteenth day of August last, an order having been given to evacuate Fort Dearborn an attack was made by the savages of the vicinity on the troops and persons appertaining to that garrison on their march, at the distance of about three miles from the Fort, and the greater part of the number barbarously and inhumanly massacred. Three of the survivors of that unhappy and terrible disaster having since

Flemington, New Jersey, 6th June, 1814. Dear Sir:— I hope you will excuse the length of time I have taken to communicate the history of the unfortunate massacre of Chicago. It is now nearly finished, and in two weeks you may expect it. As the history cannot possibly be written with truth without eternally disgracing Major Heald, I wish you could find out whether I shall be cashiered or censured for bringing to light the conduct of so great a man as many think him. You know I am the only officer

Some time in April, about the 7th-10, a party of Winnebagoes came to Chicago and murdered 2 men. This gave sufficient ground to suppose the Indians hostile, as they have left every sign by scalping them and leaving a weapon, say a war mallet, as a token of their returning in June. Mr. Kinzie sent a letter from the Interior of the Indian Country to inform Capt. Heald that the Indians were hostile inclined and only waiting the Declaration of War to commence open hostilities. This they told Kinzie

John McKenzie, or, as he was afterwards called, John Kinzie, was the son of Surgeon John McKenzie of the 60th Royal American Regiment of Foot, and of Anne Haleyburton, the widow of Chaplain William Haleyburton of the First or Royal American Regiment of Foot. Major Haleyburton died soon after their arrival in America, and two years later his widow married Surgeon John McKenzie. Their son John was born in Quebec, December 3, 1763. In the old family Bible the "Mc" is dropped in recording the birth