The Death of Captain Wells

Set against the turbulent backdrop of the War of 1812, this vivid account follows a conflicted frontier officer who straddles two worlds. When the fledgling United States fort at the mouth of the Chicago River faces an imminent Native American siege, the man volunteers to lead a small escort of allied Miami warriors, hoping to turn the tide for his comrades.

Born a captive of the Miami and later adopted by their famed chief, he spends his youth fighting alongside the tribe before choosing to rejoin the American army. Now a captain of scouts, he arrives at Fort Dearborn just as its commander prepares to surrender valuable arms and whisky to the besieging forces. Persuaded that handing over the supplies would only inflame the conflict, he joins a handful of officers in a daring decision to destroy the munitions and pour the liquor into Lake Michigan, sparking fierce resentment among the Potawatomi and setting the stage for a deadly showdown.