fort harrison was a war of 1812 era stockade constructed in oct. 1811 on high ground overlooking the wabash river on a portion of what is today the modern city of terre haute, indiana by forces under command of gen. william henry harrison. it was a staging point for harrison to encamp his forces just prior to the battle of tippecanoe a month later. the fort was the site of a famous battle in the war of 1812, the "siege of fort harrison" in sept. 1812 that was the first significant victory for the u.s. in the war. the fort was abandoned in 1818 as the frontier moved westward.