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. 6 November 2010, the Indiana Society SAR erected an historical marker to commemorate the 230th Anniversary of de LaBalme's defeat. With recommendation from Benjamin Franklin, Augustin de La Balme, former French Cavalry officer, came to America to assist in the American Revolution. In November 1780, allegedly under secret orders from General George Washington, Colonel Augustin de La Balme, and a body of 104 men from Kaskaskia and Vincennes, raided the British stores at Kekionga (present day Fort Wayne). Leaving a detachment to guard the captured stores, his force marched out over the Eel River trail, the same path Colonel John Hardin followed ten years later.
	The Miami Indians, literally up in arms about this intrusion, destroyed the detachment left at Kekionga and attacked La Balme near the Eel River Trading Post. There his force was surrounded by a large body of warriors led by Chief Little Turtle. La Balme and his men fortified themselves on the banks of the Eel River just north of this location. After several days of conflict, they were defeated by an overwhelming force. The remains of Colonel de La Balme and approximately forty militiamen forever belong to the Eel River.
	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."
North Manchester Historical Society Newsletter Journal of the Illinois State historical Society Northwest Territory of the Great Lakes National Heritage Area Act of 1999