Billy Wells American Map of the Battle of Fallen Timbers The Fort Dearborn Massacre

The life of Billy Wells illustrates some of the difficult circumstances facing people in an era of American expansion and native resistance. Wells was captured by Miami warriors as a child, was adopted by them and raised as a warrior. He took the name Black Snake, and eventually became a leader of among his adoptive people. Wells was guilt-ridden after a battle on the Maumee in 1791, during which he killed several white men. With great sadness, Wells left his native community to rejoin the white world. Pointing to the sky, he told his friend Little Turtle, “We have long been friends; we are friends yet, only until the sun stands so high in the heavens; from that time on we are enemies and may kill one another.” Wells joined General Anthony Wayne’s American force, and fought on the white side at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. This earned him the ire of many Natives of the Northwest including Tecumseh. He rejoined his Indian family, and became a government agent and interpreter at Fort Wayne. Wells helped organize the ill-fated evacuation of Fort Dearborn in August of 1812. He seems to have predicted disaster for that adventure since he painted himself black; a native custom which could be used to signal one’s own imminent death. He was killed by the Potawatomi and Winnebago and his head was cut off. As an acknowledgment of his bravery, Wells’ heart was cut out and eaten by the warriors.