°^ ^o-n ^'*-x- % ^^' ^ V . <■- '^^^.^^ O ■.V%^V ^V^^% ^-^i^.^ ^-^^ '^-^ ^•:^^^\/ %, '-NJ^ ,0' V- \ "c ^^-; ^0^ ="-*. ■^^^ : •.V "^ .x^"^' ^^^.. "^^ •y , ... . A ' - 3 ' .^ .0^ ^ -n^o^ CV 0^ -y .^' A ,^^ OX- ' ^^ , » • • ' % <> 0^ V 4 o .*^ v!> A '^-^. -« >-_ .V O^ * , , 1 • ,0 ^^ * o « o ' < \ ^. V. •<> ^°-^. ''-^ .^^ '^^. ''t^-o'^ r -*^.-.^>. .^ .•^^x> v^ V o a'^ ^. ,0^ ^ .0^ V ■A »i> - <". T* ,0^ ° " " f O ^.■-- . • ' ' t ^vC .0 •>, 4 O ..^' O -f -^' '\/^. x> o ,0 A ^ ,-^ .0 'K FORT MEIGS MONUMENT. Vff n t plhuf* n ts of THE MAUMlE valley PIONEER AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION DEDICATION OF FORT MEIGS MONUMENT SEPTEMBER 1, 1908. Description of the Monument What It Commemorates — Historic Spots to be Seen from the Shaft Treaty of 1817 The Elm Dudley's Disaster Fort Miami British Batteries Burial Grounds, Etc., Etc.. TOGETHER WITH BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO SIEGES OF FORT MEIGS IN 1813. Compiled and Prepared by C. W. Evers, Bowling Green, Ohio. Ft. Meigs Dedicatory Services. Tuesday, September 1, 1908. 1. Call to order by J. B. Wilson. Chairman of the Fort -Meigs Commission, at 2:00 p. m. 2. Singing "America" Audience Led by Waterville Choir. 75 voices. •i. Invocation Rev. J. P. Miehaelis of ^Faumee ■i. Introduction of Gov. A. L. Plarris as President of the Day, and presentation to him of completed ^Monu- ment by Chairman "Wilson, and acceptance of same by Gov. Harris. '). Singing Waterville Choir li. Address Gov. A. E. Wilson. Kentucky 7. Singing Waterville Cliorus Choir 8. Address. .. .Lieut. -(}(»v. Ro])t. S. ^Turphy. of John.stown. Pa. 9. Address Major Kobt. W. Tlnnter. of Rielimond. Va. 10. Addre.ss Senator J. B. Foraker of Oliio 11. Singing. "Star Spangled Banner". .Waterville Chorus Choir 12. Benediction Rev. R. D. Hollington Dimensions of Monument. Base — 34 feet square. Height to Shaft — 15 feet S inches. Die — 8 feet 8 inches square. Shaft at Base — 6 feet square. Shaft at Top — 4 feet square. From liase to Top of Shaft— 81 fed 8 inches. Gen. \Vm. H. Harrison. FORT MEIGS AND ITS ENVIRONS. Kxplauations: — a, grand battery, commanded by Captain Daniel Gush- ing; b, raotar battery; e, i, o, minor batteries; g, battery commanded at the second siege by Colonel Gaines; c, magazines. The black squares on the lines of the fort represent tlie position of the block houses. The dotted lines show tlie traverses, or walls of earth thrown up. The longest, the grand traverse, had a base of twenty feet, was twelve in height, and about nine liundred in lengtli. The traverses running lengthwise of the fort, were raised as a protection against the batteries on the opposite side of the river, and those running crosswise were to defend them from tlie British batteries on this side. The British batteries on the north side of the river were named as follows: a. Queen's; b. Sailors'; d, King's; and c. Mortar. The fort stood upon high ground, on the margin of the bank, elevated about sixty feet above the Maumee. The surface is nearly level, and is covered by a green sward. The outline of the fort is now well defined, and the grand traverse yet rises six or eight feet from the surrounding ground. NOTE: — The Toledo Blade of June 3, 1908, has the Larwill profile of the fort which differs somewhat in the fact that more traverse, earthworks, are shown next to the present public road. The historical reports by Wood and others show that these latter works were made during the siege to meet military emergencies; also that between the two sieges, the fort was re- duced in dimensions, being too large for proper defense by so limited a number of troops. Howe's Ohio, has a map very similar, In fact a copy of the Larwill profile, which we reproduce. It is not on so large a scale nor does it show so much of the surrounding landscape as that given in tlie Blade. 0: UJ > < 4^ I ■ III ^ 1-, d s s nO>^ en — QJ _a OJ « d utj M t. I V I ® I c O a) . I t/itl dXUc S Cto to o''^ ~ d to f* ^5tn O I o* INTRODUCTORY. "Yes Stranger, I would like to get a bit of information about this monument ; why it was placed here ; what events it commemorates and such other details of the historic sur- roundings as are obtainable. 1 have been only a casual read- er of our history, and am sorry to say my memory is a little rusty, but I am very nuicli interested to learn more right now. ' ' The above was the request and expression of a man, who, with his wife, had alighted on a recent day from an electric car and was surveying the Fort Meigs monument as the workmen were yet giving the shaft its finishing touches. His inquiry and comments were those of the thousands of others who will visit this spot as time passes. It is to satis- factorily answer such natural and proper inquiries that the following pages have been written, or compiled from trust- worthy sources. POINTS OF INTEREST. MAUMEE TREATY IN 1817. Standing at the pedestal of the monument and facing the river we look across to the town of Maumee where the memorable treaty of 1817 was made by which the United States acquired the title to the land of Northwestern Ohio, except that part consisting of the United States Reserve, which had been previously acquired by Wayne's treaty, and from which eighteen counties were afterwards formed. Of all the great treaties made with the Indians from 1795 down to 1817 this was by far the most important to Northwestern Ohio. Duncan McArthur and Lewis Cass, as the authorized agents of the United States, met seven In- dian tribes, comprising about 7,000 there assembled. Some stout o])p()sition to selling it was made < hio Indian named ;\[esh-ke-mau, who prided himself on being a British subject, was full of wrath and anger. Ifc lavcd and brandished his tomahawk over Gen. Cass, who ordered liiui taken out, which was done by several other Indians. Anu)ng the Indian warriors who were present was Ottuso, said to be a son of i'oiitiac, a most elotjuent chief, very intelligent, and (juite the equal of Tecumseh in mental qualities, and at the time of his death the last of his family, and the last war chief of his nation remaining on the .Maiimee river. There was also present at this council an old Indian wonuui, said to be a grandniece or widow of the renowned . Pontiac. !Slie was held in great veneration by the Indians. She was then very old, and bent with age, her hair perfectly wliile, and no chief would sign the treaty until she had first consented, and made her mark by touching her fingers to the pen. When the treaty was agreed upon, the head chiefs and warriors sat round the inner circle, she having a place among them. The remaining Indians with the women and children formed a crowd outside. The chiefs sat on seats built under the roof of the council house, which was open on all sides. The whole assembly kept silent. The chiefs bowed their heads and cast their eyes to the ground, and waited patiently foi- the old woman until she arose. After the treaty liad been read to all in her precsence, she went forward and touched the ]>cn to the treaty, following which liiey all signed it. INDIAN ELM .\ \ 1 ) T 1 1 E BIG RIFLE. Also in fi-ont aci-oss tlie rivei- is the site where stood 1 he gi-cal chii thai concealed ihc hidlnii sharpshooter who so ;iiiiio\('ole. about 60 feet long, which was lo be raised the following nioi-uiug. and plunged it into the well, where it has i-einaine(l t'di- more llian 6S years. Till-: Kl•:^Tl(•K^• r.iiMAi, ground. East of us on the hill. !o the I'ight of the road, may be -;een the lioin<' (»f Michael Mayes, during his life-time^ — a brick building erected by Marshall Key of Kentucky more 11 tlian fifty years ago. Between tlio east end of the fort and the Hayes brick house, up tlie sloping hill, on a little grassy plateau, is the Kentucky burial ground. There arc the sunken graves of forty oi- iil'ty of Diidlcy's slauglitcic*! soldiers. Their Itodics wci-c hrdiiiihl ;ici-(iss llic nvry hy Harrison's men after Proctor had icl'l. Miciijii-I Hayes de- serves great credit for the care and prcjtcction he gave this spot as long as he lived. THE BATTERY BEYOND THE RAVlXIv To the east of the Hayes house, across the electi'ic car track, and next to the Perrysburg cemetery, yet plainly vis- ible, is the site of the British battery captured by Colonel Miller under Geu. Harrison's direction, in this capture the Petersburg, Virginia, battalion behaved most gallantly. THE PITTSBURG BLUES. Right back of us and about 70 steps beyond Ihe idad is the burial plat of the Pittsburg Blues, embracing some loi-ty or fifty graves. THE GARRISON DEAD. To our left at the west end of the fort is the cemetery of those Avho were killed and died in Fort ]\Ieigs during the siege, and known as the Garrison Cemetery. LIEUTS. M'CULLOUGH AND WALKER. luunediately to our left, within the fort, are the graves of Lieutenants McCullough and Walker. The t'ornier was killed in the fort while in conversation with (ien. Ifarrison and the latter lost his life in a skirmish with the Indians. THE SPAFFORD GRANT. As you look to the west, oi- np river side, the lirst ground the eye rests njion beyond the foil rnins and front- ing the river, is what is known as the Spafl'ord (iiant of 160 acres, it was the first deeded land in Wood connly. The title was made to Majoi' .\nios S])alTord. then I . S. collector of customs for the Miami disti'ict. by a special act 12 of Congress in the year 1817. Major Spafford was also postmaster when the war of 1JS12 broke up the settlement. He was tlie first to hold civil otiice in the whole Mamneo valley as well as the first pcniiaiu'nt settler and land-owner ill Wood ('(iiiiity. 1 Ic and his wife were hnried on the corner of the tiai't at the angle of the two roads just beyond the fort. There is no mark at their graves. Imt slcjis luuc been taken looking to a fittini;- tablet tlici-c. BUTToXWool) ISLAND. Still above this, over a mile, in the rivei' is IJiittonwood island, where the Indians were assembled in ls;)3, where all were vaeciiiated and made read\' for deportment to the far west l)y the government. THE GALLOWS. Down in the valley between the Liowling (Jreen Rail- way and the foot hill is where the execution took place of George Porter (the first e.xeciition in Wood County) for the murder of Isaac Richardson, at Rush-de-boo in 1817. (See K'liapp's History, i». 300.) TURKEY FOOT ROCK. Away to our left about two miles, across and up the river, may be seen I*res(pie Isle hill, where is Turkey Foot Rock, now the only inoiuimcnt in commemoration of Wayne's battle in 17!»-t. Koirr DId'oslT. Still further up the river, on the north side, one mile above Watervillc, is Rush-de-boo, the rocky point on the river where Wax ne camped the night before his battle. He called this ('ainp Deposit. Hard b\ is a concrete rail- i-oad bridge, said to be the huigest but oin' in the country. ^'FaT^S TO \\K \l\-::\\KM\\V]UVA). Tlie (•oTt^^r^^lion of Lort .Meigs began February '2, 1813. The fir>l >iege of Lorl .Meigs lu'gan .\]>ril '_!7, 1813, anan July l!(), ISl,'!. .-uid lasted i\\{' days. Most of the army supplies were lirou.uiit to the fort on i)aek horses, because of the bad roads. The ordnance and military stores were removed from Fort Meigs and the |)ost abandoned by the government in 1815. THE TIYDKAUTJC DITCH. The ditch noticed down the slope toward the river was no part of the defensive works of the fort. It was used many years ago to bring water from a dam four miles or so up the river, which furnished mill power in Perrysburg, and was later abandoned. Many visitors fail to comprehend tlie full dimensions of the original fort proper. Tt embraced as first constructed about ten acres. Between the two sieges, its dimensions were cut down to suit a smaller garrison. The outlines, in ]ilaces, are nearly obliterated, but the commission plan to indicate the outlines, bastions, block houses, etc., by plain markers. The profile maps are quite a help to the stranger. The block-houses and other buildings were often made use of by the new settlers coming into the country, until they could find homes and get permanently located. In this way the fort at times was found a great convenience. But gradually the buildings fell into decay, or, through careless- ness took fire and were burned and destroyed. The picture of the fort, rear view, shows what appears to be a border of some sort strung along the fort palisades on the ground. At first view it appears to be barrels lying end to end; but it is told that hollow sycamore logs were sawed in sections, filled with rocks, headed up and so ])laced that by cutting a rope by which each was attached in.side the fort, that the logs would start rolling dowif the steep slope or bank at high speed, knocking down everything in their course. This was a precaution against a massed at- tack on the rear of the fortification. The fort was cut down to smaller dimrnsions between the two sieges to make it suitable for defense by a less num- ber of troops. 14 THC MONUMKNT AND ITS HISTORY. The nioniiiiicnt, a modest, well proportioned, plain, granite shaft 82 feet high, is symbolic of the patriotic spirit of the i)eople of today and their deej) and lasting love and gratitude t'oi' the liai'd\ men of 18r2-]3. Tiie ground upon which it stands, including the fort pro])er, excepting a point at the east end, cut off by a public road — also a strip on the south side, taken many years ago as a ])ul)rK' liigliway, but including the burial place of tlie Pittsburg Blues (some forty or more in number), about 70 steps south of the road — was purchased by tlie State of Ohio, through an act of the General Assembly, in ^iTarch, 190(5. The act autborized tbe expenditure of $25,000 for the purchase of the grounds and erection of -^ iUonument ; also provided for the appointment of a commisison by tbe (Jovernor. J. L. Pray of Toledo, C. W. Sboemaker of Waterville, and J. B. AVilson of Bowling Green, were ap- jiointed July 23, 1900, by Governor Harris, ^tr. AVilson was elected cliairuuin and AV. Coi-lett. of Waterville, appointed Secretary of tbe PK)ard. Tbe ground, on River Tracts (55 and ()(i, comprising 36 acres, was purchased of the Hayes heirs June 12, 1907, for the sum of $10,800. The contract for the monument was let in Se]>tembei-, 1907. the i»rice being $l-l-,000. This is one instance, at least, where a c(unmission did not exceed the ai>)>ro)ti'iati(ni. Februai-\ 2."). 19os. a law was enacted providing fin* the cai-e and jirotect iiui of the nioinnnent and grounds. By this law a permanent connnission of five nuunbers was provided. The (bivernoi- uanu's the commisison. the term of office be- ing H\<' \e;ir-. The law also carries with it an appropria- tion of $5,000. to c.-nry into elTect such improvements as ari' nei-essai> in the way o\' fences. sliaer- manent commission for the first year tlie folio wiiiu iKinwd gentlemen: D. K. HoUenbeck, Perrysburg; J. L. Piay, To ledo; William Corlett and C. AV. Shoemaker. Waterville; J. B. Wilson, Bowling Green. It may be proper here, in this cc^iinei-tion. as a iiiatler of information, to say that aside fi'oni the ])ur('hase of around made here bv the state, that the Maumee Valk-y Pioneer and Historical Association owns about eight and one-half acres adjoining the state's purchase, on the east and including the Kentucky l)uiial ground; also the little point of the fort fortification that extends east of the road leading to the bridge. KentucV has had a bill before its legislature for an appropriation for a memorial of some kind for the graves of her dead whose ashes repose there. Some of her leading men took a lively interest in the matter, when a committee of the Association called on them at Frankfort two years ago, and gave assurance that Kentucky would see that the graves of her dead should be properly marked. But some of the leaders suggestively inipiired why Ohio, too, had not done something for her dead at Fort Meigs. That question has since been answered by Ohio, in the fine shaft she has raised on the fort grounds. And now it is confidently hoped that not only Kentucky, but Pennsylvania, and ])ossibly Virginia — all of whom have l)urials there— will see that fitting memorial tablets will mark the resting places of their soldier dead. It is fitting, too, that a word of eonmiendation be spoken for the unselfish and devoted work of the :\Iaumee Valley Pioneer and Historical Association to reclaim and preserve these historic grounds and care for the graves of those who perished in defense of their country. Some of its members have for years lent their influ- 16 ence and put fortli their best efforts in this work, at pe- ciiniarv loss and often under the most discouraging circum- stances. And now, that tlieir indomitable^efforts are likely to be crowned with success, no one has more reason to re- joice than thns(' faithful and indefatigable old workers, who for so many years have devoted themselves to this labor of patriotism and love. TTithout these efforts Fort ^feigs would never have had a nioniiincnt. and the hundreds of graves thereabouts would have remained unmarked in the pasture fields as they have been in the scores of years past. All honor to the Pioneer Association and their co-workers, as well as to those of the Ohio Assembly, through whose patriotic action this tardy act of justice to our heroic dead was made possible. Especial appreciation is accorded Governor A. L. TTar- ris, himself an ex-soldier, for his kindly interest, helpful advice and judicious suggestions in aiding the commission to economically and successfully bring about the purchase and make the construction of the monument possible. The Maumee Valley Pioneer Association was organ- ized in isn4. Tts first President was General John E. Hunt. It has held annual reunions since that time and embraced in its membership many of the leading citizens of the Mau- mee A'alley. Tt 1ias kept alive and stimulated the interest in social and patriotic advancement. As the years rolled by. it was found that to accomplish inoi-e i)ra('tical results, money was needed to purchase sites, etc. So in 1002 the Maumee Valley Pioneer and Historical .\ss(M'iali(>n was incorjtorated under th(» laws of Ohio, and unuy the Kentucln- burial ground. It was un.jer this business-like method that most of the i-eal pi-ogress has been made and so mucli has been a('('()m])lislied. This ('(irporation is still in s]>lendid working order, not for gain or jirofit ( for not an oHieer receives a dollar for his 17 services), but to aid in every way possible to ])roserve and mark the historic spots in tlie Manmee VaUey and to mark tlie Imrial places of tlie soldiers who laid down their lives in reclaiming the land from savagery and from the rule of kings in Europe. As snch, may not this Association claim, without over- stepping the bounds of modesty, this fine monument over- looking Fort Meigs and the graves of its dead, as one of its prond achievements? But there is much yet to do. Still, with the aid Ohio has already given, the Association ex- pects to be able to accomplish very much in the future. With these unselfish and worthy motives the Association is cer- tainly entitled to public confidence and substantial support. SHORT ORDER. SKETCH. Fort Meigs, in the year b^l3. lay in the track of war. The United States in June, 1812, had, for good cause, de- clared war against England. She planned to invade Can- ada. One division of her army was to strike from Detroit. That division, composed of Ohio militia and United States regulars less than 3,000 in all, was put under command of an old Revolutionary officer. Gen. William Hull. That army, starting from Dayton, made direct for Detroit. Short- ly after leaving Urbana, in what is now Cham]>aign county, they had passed all white settlements. They were on grounds yet owned by the Indians — uninhabited by whites, until they struck the embryo settlement on the Maumee — in the Twelve Mile Square Reserve, bought of the tribes 17 years before at Wayne's Greenville treaty. That little army cleft its way through unbroken forests and swamps day by day, passing through what is now Findlay, where they built a stockade: still northward, passing through the present corporate limits of Bowling Green about where the track of the T. & 0. C. railroad lies to Ridge street, when 18 they veered a little to the west, striking the ridge on the west side of the Perrj-sburg road nearly two miles north of fowling Green. That ridge, near what was then a fine meadow of wild grass prairie, was a favorite camping place for the amiy during the war and afterwards for the early settlers. Keeping this course nortli by a few degrees west, Hull stniok the Manmee at a ravine about a quarter of a mile up- rivor from the south end of the present Waterville wagon Iti-idge. Passing down the river below the high banks, he rested his army two or throe days at what was then known as the "Big Flats." Wlien the march was resumed the army forded the river just below Presque Tsle hill to the north side and continued down the river through the little white settlement at ^fiami. that had been started there some five years pre- viously. The settlers were overjoyed and importuned Gen. Hull to leave a detachment of soldiers there as a protection against the Indians, of whom there were several thousand in the vicinity, some of w1i(~)m were already showing signs of hostility, under the malign influence of some of the head chiefs who had been offered inducements to join the British in case of war. The General approved the request for a dcfnil and an officer and S(|uad of soldiers was left, with supplies and with orders to fortify themselves in a stockade. Details of Hull 's route or line of march have been given for two reasons — First: "TTull's trace." as it was long after called, was the ]^ioueer road in Wood, Hancock and Hardin counties. .\s a rule, it lay (^n the dryost. most favorable ground. Second : Some of the profile maps, or plans of Fort Afeigs show two roads only, from and to the fort ; the Upper SaiKbisky and the TiOwer Sandusky roads. Hull's road did not come to the fort but as we have seen crossed the Mau- m(^e uearly four Tuiles froin it. Then comes the query, what and wliei'e was the T"^pper Sandusky road, shown on Lieut. 19 Larwill's excellent profile of tlie fort as recently published in the Toledo Blade? i\rr. Foster Pratt, for more tlian 80 years a resident less than three miles distant from the fort, recently gave what seems the only plausible explanation, namely, that the Tapper Snndusky road, after leaving the fort on the high ground in a westerly and southerly course, intersected Hull's road jnst south of where the army struck the Mau- mee, thence following Hull's route to Findlay, then by direct course to Upper Sandusky. This is the only explanation of a road to Upper San- dusky. That there was such a road is shown not onh- by the engineer's profile of the fort and surroundings, but by the oflficial reports of of!icers during the war. Hull's road, if road it might be called, was the most direct route to the southern part of the state, but because of the swampy na- ture of the country it was impassable two-thirds of the year, except for horsemen. Tt will be noticed, too, by the profile of the fort that an- other road is shown leading from the west line down to the river bottoms. This road led up the river on the low ground to a good fording place at Buttonwood island, and on beyond and was practical, except in high water. Xow a word about the Lower Sandusky road. .\s noted by the profile, this road led from the south gate of the fort in a southerly course for a mile or so, when it veered to the east several degrees in almost a direct course to the forks of the Portage river, now Pemberville, holding thence the most direct practical route to Lower Sandusky, now Fre- mont. This was a much more favorable, though longer, way than either Hull's or the TTpper Sandusky roads. The other and better known route was Wayne's road from Greenville, in Darke county, by way of Defiance (now), thence down the ^Nfaumee. So much for the military roads of that period. Roads have always been to a great extent determining factors in war. Grouchy failed Napoleon be- 20 cause of heavy roads and Waterloo was lost. These notes on roads will aid in making more intelligent the campaign of 1813, in which the fate of Fort Meigs and the whole Ohio frontier was involved. Back aways we left General Hull and his army at IMi- ami. Here lay a little vessel, the Cuyahoga. She was char- tered and the wives and baggage of the officers placed on board, including TTull's official rolls and army papers, for Detroit. The boat was captured by the English. It should be stated that war had not yet been declared when Hull started north with his army, though it was generally known that war was coming soon. The restless hostile actions of the Indians indicated this only too plainly. Hull, in his on- ward march, was overtaken before he reached the River "Raisin, July 2d, by a messenger with the news that war had been declared June 17th. The English by a longer route had gotten the news one day sooner than Hull and that is how they came to capture Hull's vessel and official papers. There is little more to be said of Hull that an American cares to hear. He took about ten days or two weeks to get to Detroit, when three davs was ample if he had wanted to serve his country well. He could, with prompt action, have captured Maiden and that part of Canada, whipped all the English troops stationed there and cowed their allies, the Indians. He had a seasoned lot of men, some of whom fought with Harrison at Tippecanoe the year before. But now he was an arrant old coward. The tooth of time, whisky and tobacco had unmanned him. He dress paraded and dawdled away valuable time until the enemy gathered up some militia and with a bic: showing of their breech clout allies, the Indians, made a bluff at the cowardly American commander and to the eternal disgrace of a country he had served faithfully in the days of the Revolution, he sur- rendered liis army. Tie was later court-iiiai'tialcd and sentenced to be shot, but before the sentence was carried out he was, because of 21 his previous good record, pardoned, dismissed from tlie army and died in merited obscurity. That practically ended the campaign of 1812, as the Northwest was affected. Fort Dearborn and Mackinaw fell into the enemies' hands. The Indians were raiding tlie frontier and the outlook was gloomy indeed. Especially was this so in the Detroit and Maumee country, the princi- pal seat of the Indian power, then guided by their Chief Tecumseh, whom the English had made their ally. The little settlement of whites at the Rapids, a few hundred all told, had to flee for their lives, leaving cornfields and cabins ; some in boats by the river, others by Hull's trail and Wayne 's route to the interior of Ohio, and the Maumee and swampy stretches to the south of it became the border line. STORY OF TWO WOMEN AT THE RAPIDS. HESTER PURDY GREEN. Rather pathetic is the story of Hester Purdy Green, whose father located at the Rapids, 1810. She says ; ' ' My father, Daniel Purdy, state of New York, with his family came to the Maumee in 1810. Several families came with us by the lakes and river. My father lived near the river. Fish were very plenty. Large ones could be caught with hook and line. We would throw them on the bank as we caught them, then selectitig the finest for the table we would leave the rest for the pigs. Among the varieties were sturgeon, bass, muskalonge and pickerel. Indian neighbors were plenty. I have seen as many as fifty lodges camped here on their way to Maiden, Canada, to get their presents. "Game was abundant; live stock was easil}^ raised on the jDrairies and we led a free and easy life until the mut- terings of war began to fill us with alarm. Then the ar- rival of Gen. Hull and his army reassured us. He left a small command who built a fort for our protection. Then we lived in security for a time until one day a messenger 22 came and told us Hull bad sold his ai-my to the English and that we would all have to leave. "Then all was fright and confusion. AVe, and most of the others, excepting the soldiers, gathered what we could handily and left. We stopped at Blalock's a short time, and an Indian messenger arrived telling us to come back, as they would not kill us, but only wanted some of our property; lookiug around until he found Blalock's gun, he took it, went out and got a horse my mother had ridden to this point, and departed. We went back and remained three days, in which time the Indians were pretty busy in driving off our live stock (we lost sixteen head), and plundering the houses of such as had not come back. "But our stay was short, only three days, when the commandant of the stockade informed us that he would burn the fort and stores and leave, inviting us to take such of the provisions as we might need. Cousternation again seized upon us, and we hastily reloaded our wagons and left. We stayed the first night at a house eight or ten miles south of the RajDids. In the Black iSwamp, the load became too heavy and they rolled out a barrel of flour and a barrel of meat, which they had obtained at the fort. Mr. Hopkins, John Carter, Mr. Scribner and William Race went back the next fall to gather their crops, and they were all killed by the Indians. John Carter was attacked while in a boat on the river, and they had quite a hard tight before they got his scalp. After many years the government gave the Purdys $400 for the croj)8 and stock left behind in their flight." MRS. PHELOTHE rL.\RK, Among other reminiscences, says: "In the spring of 1812 my father planted potatoes and corn on the island in the river. The army made use of it, and he got his pay for it from the government. There was a company of soldiers stationed near us, Imt tiiey left iumiediately after we heard (»r lluH's sunciKlrr. A Iniiish officer, with a few soldiers 23 and a band of Indians, came to take possession of what pub- lic stores there were at that place. The Indians plundered a few houses, took all the horses and mules they could find, and left. The inhabintants had to leave — some of them in open boats. Our family, in company with twelve other families, left by land. We took the road to Urbana, cut through by General Hull's army. After a toilsome journey of two weeks through the mud of the Black Swamp, nearly devoured by mosquitoes, sometimes with no water except what stood in the cattle tracks, we arrived safely at Urbana, where we drew government rations until we separated for our several destinations." A NEW COMMANDER. And now as we close this year of misfortunes and dark records, we cannot but wonder if it would not have been different if an Andrew Jackson or an Anthony Wayne had led that army of Hull's? But soon a new commander came. Hope, and new life and activity came and the year 1813 was to be crowned with great deeds. For the time the Maumee Rapids was to be the stage on which all eyes centered ; where the bloody drama of war was to be played in all its merciless, hideous aspects. General Harrison, now in command, was hurrying sup- plies forward to this point and even had planned a winter campaign; but this was frustrated, however, by the rash, unauthorized action of one of his subordinates. General Winchester, resulting in a disaster at the River Raisin which changed Harrison's plans, but only crippled him tem- porarily, as we shall see: 24 STORY OF FORT MEIGS. FROM AX EYE WITNESS. Brevet Lieut. -Colonel Eleazer D. Wood, Captain of the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, and in honor of whom Wood county was named, was with Gen. Harrison at Ft. Meigs as constructing engineer, continued with Harrison into Cauada and was finally killed at Erie. He has left a most interesting journal of the scenes and incidents in which he participated in the Northwestern campaign of 1812-13. The student of history is much iudebted to Brevet Major (jciu'ial (Jeorge W. Cullum, Colonel of the Corps of En- gineers U. 8. Army, for rescuing from oblivion and giving to the world the journal of this brave officer, and from which the following synopsis can not fail to prove of much interest : Major General William H. Harrison, having been ap- pointed to the command of the Northwestern army, arrived at Upper Sandusky early in January, 1813, with two brig- ades of militia, together with a few regulars and volunteers — in all about 1,500 men. This force was denominated the right wing of the army. The object was to establish the security of the Northwestern frontier, by expelling the in- vaders from our territory. This force of raw troops was to be licked into shape and discipline. It was also necessary to await the arrival of the field battering train of artillery, the latter consisting of five 18-pounders, together with pro- visions, forage and ordnance stores. A large portion of the troops were on daily duty, in l)uiMing block houses and store-houses, the latter to deposit the supplies in, ami the former for protection. About the 12th, the artillery came into camp, and large quantities of every kind of supplies were constantly arriving. Thus Upi»cr Sandusky was estahlishcd as the principal depot of the army. That place is 7lri-, in ('(iiimiaiiil of the left wing of the army, was dircclcd to take tlu- route of Fort Wayne for strengthening that point. Parties had been sent ahead from I'pjx'r Sandusky to open roads, hriduc creeks, and prepare the way as innch as possihlc The artillei'y had already an-l\-ed and been sent on lowai'ds the ivapids. About the 15tli of January intelligence was ))rought to camp that General Winchester had already arrived at the Rapids and proposed advancing immediately to the River Raisin. General Harrison was astonished at the impudence and inconsistency of such a step, which could be viewed in no other light than one attended with the inevitable destruc- tion of the corps. Gen. Harrison dispatched tw(j brigades to the support of Winchester, who arrived at tlie River Raisin on the 18th, fought a battle, in which he claimed a victory, but on the morning of the 22d he was overwhelmed with the British and Indians, and there followed that in- discriminate and barbarous slaughter of brave men, whose lives were wretchedly sacrificed to the imprudence of their rash commander. When General Harrison reached the Rapids, he had the pain and mortification to meet the fugitives flying from the bloody tragedy of the River Raisin. He at once fell back upon the Portage River (near Pemberville), a distance of 15 miles, as well for the purpose of eoveriiig the artillery, then in the swamp, as to meet the reiid"orcements, already far advanced from Upper Sandusky, on their way to tiie Rapids, lie remained at the Portage from the L'4tli of January to the 1st of l-'ebiuaiy. when the artilh'ry and re- inforcements having arrived, the army returned to the Maumee. There General Harrison, with his command, encami)ed 26 on a beautiful ridge near the foot of tlie Rapids, on tlie riglit bank of tlie river and about 150 yards distant from it. The camp was situated about two miles above Fort Miami, and about three miles below the site on wliich General Wayne gave the Indians such a hitler (liiilil»iii<>- in 1794. It was a wise choice uuule by General Harrison and Captains Gratiot and Wood of the engineers. Here lay the army with its rear to the river, covered by a considerable ravine in front, wliicli extended arnuiid and cimnminieated with another very deep and wide one. w liieli passed the hd't. and eutii'ely secured it. Here General Harrison directed that a camp for 2.000 men sliould l)e laid out and strongly fortified witli hhx'k houses, batteries and palisades, in such manner as to stand the test of British artillery. This work was continued in a state of progression, the lines of the construction were at once designated, and a hirge portion of labor assigned among every cori)S or regiment in the army. p]aeh brigach^ or regiment commenced that particular portion of work as- signed it with patriotic vigor and spirit. A fine train of artillery, consisting of five 18-pounders, six 12-pounders. six six-pounders, and three how it/ers, together witli a small supjjly of aummnition, having an-i\ed in camp, the little army brightened in appeaiauce and began to feel en- couraged. The eani}) was ahont I'.onil yards in eii'eum Terence, whieh distance, with the exception of several small intervals, left for the block houses and batteries, was every foot pick- eted with timber, 15 feet long, from ten to twelve inches in diameter, and set three feet in the ground. To complete this picketing, to put up eight block houses,' of double tim- bei', to elevate four large batteries, to bnild all t1ie store- houses and magazines reiiuii-ed foi- the sui)i)lies of the army, togeth(M- with the ordinary duties and fatigues of the camp, was an nmlei'lakiiiL; of no small magnitude. Aside from all this, an immense deal of labor was perfornuHl in exca- \atinii' ditches, makini^' abatis, and cleariui;- awav the wniod 27 about the camp, and all this was done, too, when the weather was intensely severe, and the ground so iiard frozen, that it required the most strenuous labor to ()i)en it with spad*' and pick-axe. It seemed that the use of axe, mattock and spade comprised all the militai'v knowledge of the army. They continued to work and bury themselves as rapidly as l)ossible, and still heard nothing of the expected enemy. At this time the army enjoyed a fair degree of health, and was well provided with bread and meat, as the woods were literally alive with beeves, hogs and paek horses loaded with tiour. On the 4th of March Captain Wood was sent to con- struct some additional works at Lower Sandusky, where he spent some 15 days or more, and then returned to the Rapids. General Harrison, foreseeing the lamentable sit- uation in which the army would be placed on account of the near approach of the time w-hen the terms of service of many of the militia would expire, went to Chillicothe on the 6tli of March, to arrange for supplying the army and to take seasonable measures for getting a reinforcement of militia. Without going into details, suffice it to say that General Harrison's instructions w'ere disregarded during his ab- sence, and progress in the work of fortifying the works en- tirely ceased. The officer left in command proved utterly unfaithful to his trust, and was culpably negligent and dis- obedient. Toward the latter end of March it was learned through a trustw^orthy source that General Proctor had issued a proclamation directing his militia to assemble at Sandwich on the 7th of April, for the purpose of aiding in an expedi- tion against Camp Meigs. It was further learned that tiie principal plan of attack was as follows: On arriving before the camp the Indians were to be immediately thrown in our rear, or rather they were to invest the camp, and cut otT at once all communication, while the troops were to be em- ployed on the opposite side of the river in preparing the 28 batteries and mounting the guns to cannonade and bombard tlie camp — and tliat in a very few hours after the batteries were opened uinm the Americans, they would be compelled to seek safety by flying to the swamps, when the Indians would accomplish the rest of tiie engagement. It was now the 1st of April, when all were convinced that in a very few days a visit might be expected from his PLxcelieucy General Proctor, accompanied by the great Te- cumseh and their ivtiuue. About 15U of the patriotic militia from Pennsylvania were prevailed on to remain fifteen days longer. Un the eiglith Lieut. -Colonel Ball, with about 2U0 dragoons, arrived at the Kapids, and iu tine time to af- ford the assistance, very much wanted, in the completion of the works. Soon afterwards General Harrison arrived with a small corps of regulars and militia. About the 20th the fifteen days' volunteers from Penn- sylvania were paid otf, highly complimented in general or- ders, and permitted to return home. The whole number of troops in camp at this time, was about 1,200 or 1,300, of which not more than 850 were reported fit for duty. They were better than half regulars and volunteers, and the rest Kentucky and Ohio militia, who had just been drafted into service, and of course were quite ignorant of their duty. Our block-houses, batteries, magazines and connecting lines of defense were now generally completed, and the ap- pearance of the camp in its every feature was such as to in- spire confidence in those who were to defend it against the assault of the invaders of our country. Fuel for the garri- son and timber to repair breaches and to make bombproof s, should it be found necessary, were brought into camp in great abundance. Also, two or three wells were instantly commenced — in fact everything was done that possibly could lie tlnuiulit (if to ]il;U'e the camp iu the best situation to sustain a long siegi'. On the 25111 the (Muuhiiied l*>i-itisli and Indian forces con- sisting of S(t() militia, 5()i» regulars and 1,500 Indians, all un- 29 dcr command of ricnci'al Procto]'. anixcd ;il llic moutli and landed on the left slior(» of llic Maunu'c and instantly a party of Indians was thrown across tlie river to observe and watch the conduct of our ti'oops, shonld any of tlicin he sent ont to reconnoitre, as was tlie constant practice. Tlic following- day Proctor's army was pnt in motion, keepinj? its left to the river, and arrivinu,- with the uuiihoats and bat- teries, in which were the artillery and oi'dnance stores. an indnstrionsly employed until morning, when their works showed good progress. When these nocturnal works were discovered, our guns that conld be brought to bear opened upon them and those works of the night were completely destroyed. Understanding now the enemy's plan of attack, ant in them constantly, who were re- lieved CNciy tliicc li(iui> liy t'icsh ones. In this way we con- tiim('(l our ()))('iati(»ns. while General Harrison was extreme- ly active, and was everywhere to be seen in the trenches, Hi-irinu: on the woi'k, as well by example as precept. He slept but little, and was imconnnonly vigilant and watchful throngli the night. The first thing commenced to shield the troops against cannon, was n traverse, abont 2(1 feet base, laid parallel with tlu' rivoi". on the most elevated ground, which was near the middle and i-unning the whole length of the camp. Tt was fi-om 10 to 15 feet high, and was eom])leted early on the morning of the first of ^Nfay, just as it was discovered that the enemy had finished three of his principal batteries, had liis guns in. and was tlu^n loading and bringing them to battery. Orders were now given for all onr tents in front to be instantl>- sti-uck and carried to the rear of the traverse. Tt was done in almost a moment, and that prospect of beat- ing np onr quarters, which but an instant before presented itself to the view of the eager artillerists had now entirely fled, and in its place snddenlx a]^]^eared an immense shield of eai'th, obscni-ing from the sight of the enemy everv tent, every horse, of which there were 200. and everv creature be- longing to the camp. .\l 11 o'clock a. m.. the r)ritish batteries were opened, and a most ti-emendous cannonading an<1 bombardiuent was cojiimenced and ke])t u]). the former until dark and the latter until 11 o'clock at niuiit, when all was again silent. Our loss was one or two men killed, and five or six wounded— the lat- ter princijially by the Indians. Our ammunition being in- ade(|uate to the necessity of a long sieoe. we fired verv little, contfmting oui-selv(»s in safety and listeninir to the music furnished by the enemy. 31 Ou tlie second at dawn, the cannonade coinmenced ap^ain witli g-reat vigor, and tlie iiattories continued to ])Iay with nuicli l)i'iskness tlirougli the day, and with al)out the same effect as on the iircccdjiig day. A •_*4 pdund sliot struck the roof of one of out- magazines. >\11 tlic l)att('ri('S were in- stantly directed u])on it. tlie traverse not heing of sufficient height to })rotect the roof, which was blown off by a .slielh No damage of conseqnence was done When firing ceasecl in the evening Captain l>radt'(>ily an iuniiense waste of powder and ball and would ultimately ])rove of no avail. About iL' o"<'lock (m the night of the f(»urtli. Major Oliver, who had left cam]) on the 28th of .\pril. brought wonl that (leneial Clay was ahout eight miles above with 32 1,200 militia. General Tlaii-ison tlien planned to have the batteries across the river stormed, the o:iins spiked and the ina,i>azine destroyed. Colonel Dudley was fnrnislied with .si)ikes for the purpose. According to tlie orders received General Clay landed 800 of his men to storm the batteries, witli Colonel Dudley in counnand. After tlie accomplish- ment of their work ihey were ordered to retnrn at once to the Fort. With a great yell they stormed the batteries, the artillerists fled with great precipitation. Colonel Dudley was then in complete possession of the guns. Only a portion of tlieiu were spiked and the magazine was left untouched. The Kentuckians, elated with their victory, pursued the Indians into the woods, in defiance of the orders of General Harrison that they should destroy the battery and at once return to the Fort. While pursuing the Indians a column of British regulars marched up from Fort Miami, and at- tacked the rear of Colonel Dudley's badly demoralized force. Thus between two fires and surrounded by over- whelming numbers his fate and that of the brave men under him was inevitable. Of the SOO men thus entrapped only about 100 escaped— 80 or more reached Fort ]\reigs, the bal- ance escaped to Fort Wayne, some 60 or 70 were killed and the rest were taken prisoners. About 600 were marched under an escort of Indians to Fort Miami. The Indians were then ]->ermitted by General Proctor to assemble upon the surrounding ram]iart, and there at tlieir leisure amuse themselves by firing at the prisoners until at length they preferred slaughtering tlieir wretched \ictiiiis in a iiiauiici- more suitable to tlioir savage hatred. Tlicy laid aside tlicii- rifles, went into tlie slaughter pen, seized those they ] (leased, and leading them to the gatewav tomahawked and scalped them without m(Mcy and without restraint. Xine bodies were found lying in one pile near the gate of the Foil after (icnei-al Proctor left the ^Faumee. Afany were found in other ])laces tomahawked and scalped, and their bodies mangled in the mi^st inhuman and barbar- 33 ons manner. Colonol Dudley was found on the field scalped, liis breast cut open and his heart taken out. Such was the result of a disobedience of orders. A^Hiile this was going on the balance of General Clay's command met with considerable opposition from the In- dians. But with sharp firing the Kentuckians pushed on, aided by 200 dragoons and a battalion of infantry sent from the Fort. They completely repulsed the Indians before they reached the Fort, with the loss of 15 or 20 killed. The gims which Colonel Dudley failed to spike were played upon our camp, and the rear of our troops during the skirmish with tlie Indians, with much vigor and considerable effect. Colonel Miller of the 19th Regulars, with 350 men, stormed the batteries in the ravine at our left in the most gallant manner, soon had complete possession, and the gims were dismounted, the enemy being pursued some distance. In this assault our loss was 30 killed and three times that number wounded. Captain, (afterwards Colonel) Croghan was particularly distinguished in this action, while the vol- unteers from Petersburg (Va) were highly commended for their cool and intrepid conduct while approaching the bat- teries under a heavy fire of musketry. During the siege General Proctor had the audacity to summon General Harrison to surrender, and was very properly told that if he ever got possession of Fort Meigs, it would be under such circumstances that would give him greater claims upon the gratitude of his countn* than he possibly could have by the Fort being surrendered— or nords to that effect. General Proctor, without troubling us further, on the morning of the ninth, raised the siege and left for Maiden. The prisoners he had taken were carried down to Huron nnd there landed. Having many sick and wounded after the close of the siege of many days (five days batteries open) and our force greatly impaired, such measures were taken as might tend 34 to restore the army to liealtli and vigor. The block-houses about the lines were cleared of guns and stores and wer6 <^onverted into temporary hospitals. Tents were pitched with arbors about them and such arrangements made to al- leviate distress as the circumstances would admit. For some time, as might he expected, the camp exhibited a mel- ancholy spectacle. But the brave men bore up most patient- ly under their anxiety and gloom with the consciousness of having faithful Iv done their dutv. SECOND SIEGE OF FORT MEIGS. On the 20th of July, at the solicitation of Tecumseh, General Proctor returned with a larger force, while General Harrison was at Lower Sandusky. Tt was to be attempted, according to Tecumseh 's plan, to draw the garrison from the fort by a ruse, as it proved too strong and well equipped to be taken by assault. The force of the enemy that had ascended the Maumee under the command of General Proctor and Tecumseh, was 5,000 men, while the number of Indians was greater than ever before assembled on any occasion during the .war, while the defenders of Fort ]\reigs amounted to only a few hundred under command of General Green Glav. CAPT. :\rcCUNE'S NAKPOW ESCAPE. General Harrison was at Lower Sandusky, now Fre- mont, and Captain McCune was sent to apprise Gen. Harri- son of the situation. He did so and was ordered by Gen. Har- rison to return and inform rien. Clay to be particularly cau- tious against surprise, and every effort would be made to re- lieve the fort. Captain AfcCnno arrived near the fort about day break on the morning of the 2f>th. accompanied by James Doolnn. a French Canadian. As t1ioy h^ft the woods they were intercepted by a party of Indians. luuuediately they retreated at full gallo]-) on the high bank of the river for several miles, pursued by the Indians also mounted. 35 Coming to a deep ravine they put up from the river in a southerly direction, when they turned to the river bottom, but soon found themselves confronted by an impassable swamp. The Indians seeing their dilemma galloped to tlie ravine to head them off. McCune and his companion turned upon their own track for the fort, gaining several hundred yards from their pursuers. The Indians followed witli all speed. Just as they ueared the fort McCune dashed into a thicket across his course, on the opposite side of which other Indians were huddled, awaiting their prey. When this party of Indians had thought them to be their prisoners, McCune suddenly w:heeled his horse, followed by Doolan, escaped from the thicket by the passage he had entered, and galloped around into the open space between them and the river, where the pursuers were checked by the fire from the block- house at the western angle of the fort. After their arrival their horses dropped from fatigue. The arrival of McCune, who brought the intelligence that Harrison would not come with any troops unless the enemy lay regular siege to Fort Meigs, undoubtedly saved them from the ingeniously devised stratagem of Tecumseh, as that scheme was at once entered into by the enemy. FAILURE OF TECUMSEH'S PLOT. In the afternoon of the same day the British infantry were secreted in the ravine below the fort, and the cavalry in the woods above, while the Indians were stationed in the forest, on the Sandusky road, not far from the fort. About an hour before dark they began a sham battle among them- selves, to deceive the Americans into the belief that a battle was going on between tliem_and reinforcements for the fort, in the hope of enticing the garrison to the aid of their com- rades. It was managed with so much skill that the garrison instantly flew to arms, impressed by the Indian yells, inter- mingled with the roar of musketry, that a severe battle was beiug fought and the lives of the reinforcement were in dano-er. Some of the officers insisted on being suffered to 36 march out to the rescue. General Clay satisfied the oflScers that no troops were to be sent to Fort ]\Ieigs until there would be further necessity for it. But the men were highly indignant that they were prevented from going out to share the dangers, as they believed, of their commander-in-chief and their brother soldier. A shower of rain ended tiiis sham battle. The enemy remained around the fort but one day after tliis, wlieu on the 28th they embarked with their stores aud proceeded down the lake, and on to Fort Stephenson where they met with such a terrible repulse. That fort was defended by one gun and 160 young men commanded by Major George Croghan, a boy less than 22 years of age. Proctor's force comprised 3,300 British and Indians and six pieces of artillery. A THRILLING ALTERNATIVE. The information was given out by a volunteer aid of General Clay, who was in the fort during the second siege, that preparations were made by General Clay to fire the magazine in case the enemy succeeded in the attempt to storm the fort, and thus involve all. friends and foe alike, in one common fate. This terrible alternative was deemed far preferable to that of suffering the barbarities of their relentless foes, and finally perish under the tomahawks and scalping knives of those fiendish savages. BRITISH POWER HUMILIATED This concludes the fighting at Fort Meigs, and suou after Proctor received severe chastisement at Fort Stephen- sou. This was followed by Commodore Perry's brilliant victory on the lOtli of September, 1813, which swept the Lakes of the enemy and enabled General Harrison to pursue Proctor's force into Canada, gaining a complete victory at the battle of the Thames, in which Tecumseh was slain and the British forces routed. Thus was England's second at- tempt to subdue the colonies and disrupt the young republic forever frustrated. In 1815 the government removed the ordnance and stores and abandoned Fort ]\Ieigs. 37 FORT MEIGS IN 1840. Probably one of the most ])(>])iilai- and iiii[)Osiiig demon- strations in the history of tlic I'nited States took place ai Port Meigs in Jnne, 184U. Xo more enthusiastic and ini- pressive pageant lias ever occurred in the history of this country. There were assembled on these grounds al that time thousands of visitors from almost every quarter of the Union. The great gathering was variously estimated at from thirty-tive to forty thousand. All classes and <'oiidi- tious, rich and poor, young and aged were involved in the enthusiasm of that day. General Harrison with his veter- ans, many of the country's leading statesmen, oi-ators and humorists were there to honor the hero who had so skillfully defended this broad land from savage brutality and British oppression. General Harrison was the Wliig nominee for the presi- dency and to do him honor, the merchant left his store, the farmer his fields, the mechanic his tools, to join in the shouts of applause and exultation, while cannon, musketry, church bells and martial music gave vent to the joyful occasion. All nature smiled her prettiest, the scenery of the Maumee had donned its loveliest garb, the rippling waters of the beauti- ful river, gleaming tiags and streamers waving over Mau- mee and Perrysburg, as well as over the fort and the site of the British batteries— all conspired to give the celebration a vividness that would impress the visitor for all time. Some came on foot, some on horseback, some in wagons, in every kind of conveyance, and the surrounding hills and plains were dotted with tents of every description, in which they slept and ate, and did ample justice to the appetizing food that the good women of the household had prepared in abundance for the occasion. Aside from General Harrison many orators graced the occasion, among them Hon. E. Cook,. Hon. Robert C. Schenck, John R. Osborn and others. General Harrison's address was more than usually impressive as he dwelt on 38 some of the incidents of 1813. Hon. Thomas Ewing, Gen. AVoodbridge, Gen. Ford, Hon. Oliver Johnson, Dr. Smitli, George C. Bates, of Michigan, and many others honored the occasion. Mr. Saxton, an okl revolutionary soklier from Connecticut, was jjrescnt. Among other names recorded among the .si)eakers were Colonel Todd and Chu-kson of Kentucky, wiio wci'e officers under General Harrison during the siege. Rev. Joseph Hadgcj', the Chaplain in 1813, 85 years of age in 18-10, offered the opening piayer. Among tlie iiiililai'v coiiiin;ni(l> present were a I)attali()ii fi-om Buffalo, emhracing the Bulfaio Flying Artillery; the Buffalo City Guards, La Fayette Guards, Washington Guards; the Toledo Guards, undei- the command of Cai)t. ( '. W. Hill ; the ( 'levelaiid ( I i-e>s, under ('apt. Ingraham ; the Sunnnit Guards from Akron ; Log Cabin boys in primitive uniform from Geauga County, and an Indian company. The steamboats conveying a large portion of the great crowds asseiiiltle(l on this ineiiiorabie day were the Commo- dore Perry, General Wayne, (ienei-al Scott. Ignited States, Rochester, Stai', Huron, Macomb. Jefferson, Sandusky, Commerce, Lady of the Lake. \'ance and Chesapeake. The occasion proved to lie one to be long remembered })y these who were })resent. a number of whom are still living in this vicinitv. M ■* - 3 81 39 SOME OF THE KILLED. Efforts to olttaiii a list of the losses of tlie different troops eiigaiicd Iiave not been sneeessfnl exeei)t as Ix'Iow in- dicated : BURIED INSIDE THE FORT. Lieutenant ^FcCullondi. Lieutenant Walker. KIIJ.EI) rX CAPTAIN RICHARD McRAE'S COM PA XV PETERSBURG VOLUNTEERS. Corporal George T. Clough. Private Jolin Shore. Private George Booker. Private David Williams. Private Nicholas Masunl)arg COLONEU DUI T.ist of killed, as far as Colonel W'ni. Dudley. Thomas liiurrough. Jesse Polly. George Clark Nicholas Moran. Daniel Sloan. Ewel Wallace. Edward Dyhouse. Joseph Statin. Henry AViiite. James Pebles. Benjamin Helberson. Robert PTelberson. Sergeant Joseph (Jeorge. Corporal Anthony Sanmul Lieutenant )UEY'S COMMAND. can l)e obtained : Joseph Clark. James Elliott. John Stevenson. Capt. Thomas Lewis. Private AMiitfteld Bannn. Private Silas Fitzgerald. Capt. John C. Morrison. Private William ^Nfartin. Private Joshua Weathers. Private John Daugherty. J'rivate John Johnson. Private AValter Gregory. Private Theodore Mass. Private James Simpson. Sergeant Scott. McClintock. 40 PIONEER PROGRAM Dedication of Fort Meigs Monument September 1, 1908. I'idiiccrs of MauiiKM' N'jillcy will meet at Fort .Meigs SepteiiilxT 1 for a picnic. All the old i-csidciits in the valley are invited. The fete will be held under the auspices of the ]\raumee Valley Pion- eers' Association. The pienic will be^in at 10 o'clock a. m.. and in the afternoon the Fort Meigs monument will l)e luiveiled. An excellent pr<^- gram has been arranged to precede the basket feast at noon. Anionp: the speakers will be Gen. Rennet II. Young, of Kentucky. an ex-Confederate officer. Gen. Young answered an invitation to address the pioneers here several years ago. but rain cut his speech short at the most interesting point. Several other speeches are on the program, and the invocation will be delivered by Rev. N. R. C. Love, of Perrysburg. D. K. Hollenbeck. of Perrysburg. will call the gathering to order. The outing takes the place of the annual affair of the pioneers, usually held on September 10. the date having been changed to September 1 in ors distant, by trolley liiu^ every 30 minutes. \ - ,_ ^ <'V <• • -, y \ .** ^c»^: -X <>* v:^ "'" , ' "^ o V :; , ^° •^<^. -< • ' x^^ ... ^^ ' v^o^ -bV" .0^ ^^ .. ^-* A^'^ .0 1 • a" <=>, * o « o ' .0 ^^ » <^ 0^ ,..0, ''^ ■f <^ ' • • « ^G^ .0' 7 ^° ''•^ V » V V *' '* ''- ^VPS^ ^ " " V OOMS 180$. • * "^D ^ ^^-J- >V . I ' . , -»^ '-^-^f^^ t ' ST. AUGUSTINE ■ ^^^ FLA. 5 „ „ ^32084 <^ 4,0