Colonel Augustin de La Balme's Defeat Indiana Revolutionary War Battle 2005 Commemoration Event Photos Colonel Augustin de LaBalme - The Rest of the Story
	In northeast Indiana, near the Allen – Whitley County line, along the Eel River, is a little known, yet important historical site. A brass and stone marker placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1930, reads: "In memory of Col. Augustin de La Balme and his soldiers who were killed in battle with the Miami Indians under Little Turtle at this place, Nov. 5, 1780."
	La Balme, a former French Cavalry officer, came over with Lafayette to assist in the American Revolution. In 1777, he was appointed as the Colonial Army’s Inspector General of Cavalry. In 1780, allegedly under secret orders from General Washington, he traveled down the Ohio River to Kaskaskia, where he met with George Rogers Clark. The success of Clark’s capture of Vincennes suggested and inspired La Balme to attempt a similar feat against the British fort at Detroit. With a body of men from Kaskaskia and Vincennes, La Balme started up the Wabash River. He had little opposition until reaching Kekionga (present day Fort Wayne). Here he successfully raided the British stores, but subsequent foolishness proved his demise. Learning of a trading post on Eel River, he sought to gain possession of that also. Leaving some twenty men to guard the captured stores at Kekionga, his force marched out over the Eel River trail, the same trail Colonel John Hardin followed ten years later. La Balme’s fate was even more unfortunate.
	The Miami Indians, up in arms about this intrusion, destroyed the small group of men left at Kekionga and attacked La Balme before he reached the Eel River trading post. There he was surrounded by a large body of warriors led by Chief Little Turtle. La Balme and his men fortified themselves on the banks of Eel River. There’s some confusion as to the length of the siege. Accounts of the siege vary from several days to several weeks. They were eventually defeated by an overwhelming force.
	The Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution, in conjunction with the Indiana Historical Bureau, is organizing the placing of an official State of Indiana marker to commemorate La Balme's efforts. The La Balme Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution have been invited to also participate.
North Manchester Historical Society Newsletter Journal of the Illinois State historical Society Northwest Territory of the Great Lakes National Heritage Area Act of 1999