Siege of Fort Detroit Siege of Fort Detroit "For the action in the War of 1812, see the Siege of Detroit" The Siege of Fort Detroit was an ultimately unsuccessful attempt by North American Indians to capture Fort Detroit during Pontiac's Rebellion. The siege was led primarily by Pontiac, an Ottawa chief and military leader. Fort Detroit had been captured by the British during the French and Indian War following the Fall of Montreal in 1760. It was on territory ceded by France to Great Britain in the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and was garrisoned by a British force during Pontiac's Rebellion. On
Siege of Fort Loudoun and continued to attack frontier settlements into 1760. In February 1760, they attacked Fort Prince George in an attempt to rescue their hostages. The fort's commander was killed. The garrison, in panicked retaliation, massacred all of the hostages. And two days later the fort fired artillery into the town of Keowee. The Cherokee now attacked Fort Ninety Six, but it withstood the siege. However, settlements and lesser posts in the South Carolina backcountry quickly fell to Cherokee raids. The Cherokee were led by Standing Turkey as Principal Chief, Oconostota ("Aganstata") of Chota, Attakullakulla ("Atagulgalu") of Tanasi, Ostenaco of Tomotley, Wauhatchie