Fort Jefferson (Ohio)
Encyclopedia
Fort Jefferson was a fortification
erected by soldiers of the United States Army
during the Northwest Indian War
. Built to support a military campaign, it saw several years of active fighting. Today, the fort site is a historic site
.
in far western Ohio
, the fort was built under the direction of General Arthur St. Clair
in October of 1791 as an advance post for his campaign from Fort Washington
against local Native Americans
. A square of approximately 100 feet (30.5 m) on each side, the fort was built of wood and intended primarily as a supply depot
; accordingly, it was originally named "Fort Deposit." Before St. Clair's army departed the fort, a court-martial
was conducted for an unknown crime; the three soldiers who were convicted and hanged
became the first whites to be executed in present-day Darke County.
near modern-day Fort Recovery
to the north, the scattered remnants of his force reconstituted at Fort Jefferson. Because it was not intended to house many soldiers, and because few supplies were actually stored at the fort, St. Clair found the fort insufficiently large for his men; consequently, he took most of his surviving soldiers and returned to Fort Washington, leaving only a small garrison to guard his many wounded. It is believed that the garrison was under the command of one Captain Shaylor.
The defeat of the American army left Fort Jefferson deep in enemy territory. Determined to drive the American soldiers back to the Ohio River
, a Native American force (possibly under the command of Simon Girty
) raided the fort in the early summer of 1792. This raid began with an attack of one hundred warriors against a party gathering hay for the fort's supplies on June 25; sixteen soldiers were killed or left missing by the fight. It is possible that another raid was conducted a short while later with the intention of capturing or killing Captain Shaylor; if a story told by locals be accurate, Shaylor's love of hunting was exploited by some of the besiegers, who lured Shaylor and his son into the woods by imitating the call of the wild turkey
. While Shaylor escaped the ensuing pursuit, his son was killed. The siege continued intermittently for three years, as continued Native American attacks were made to neutralize the fort.
: projections were created of using the fort as a base for the protection of local settlers and for raids on nearby Native Americans. When Anthony Wayne
and his Legion of the United States
, fresh from Legionville
, began their expedition to avenge St. Clair in the fall of 1793, they erected a new supply fort at the site of Greenville
, 5 miles (8 km) north of Fort Jefferson. Nevertheless, they relied heavily on the supplies of Fort Jefferson in their campaign during the following year.
was built by one nearby resident in 1810; by 1820, more settlers had built houses, a mill, and a school near the fort site. The new community was named "Fort Jefferson."
In the fall of 1907, the Greenville Historical Society dedicated a memorial on the site of the fort. Fort Jefferson was further recognized in 1970 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. The area designated as historic encompasses approximately 6.5 acres (2.6 ha).
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
erected by soldiers of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
. Built to support a military campaign, it saw several years of active fighting. Today, the fort site is a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
.
Establishment
Located in present-day Darke CountyDarke County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 53,309 people, 20,419 households, and 14,905 families residing in the county. The population density was 89 people per square mile . There were 21,583 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
in far western Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, the fort was built under the direction of General Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
in October of 1791 as an advance post for his campaign from Fort Washington
Fort Washington, Cincinnati, Ohio
Fort Washington was a fort in the early history of Cincinnati, Ohio. The location is marked by a plaque at the Guilford School building, at 421 E 4th St, Cincinnati, which now occupies the site...
against local Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. A square of approximately 100 feet (30.5 m) on each side, the fort was built of wood and intended primarily as a supply depot
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
; accordingly, it was originally named "Fort Deposit." Before St. Clair's army departed the fort, a court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
was conducted for an unknown crime; the three soldiers who were convicted and hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
became the first whites to be executed in present-day Darke County.
Isolation
One month later, after St. Clair's army was badly defeated in battleSt. Clair's Defeat
St. Clair's Defeat also known as the Battle of the Wabash, the Battle of Wabash River or the Battle of a Thousand Slain, was fought on November 4, 1791 in the Northwest Territory between the United States and the Western Confederacy of American Indians, as part of the Northwest Indian War...
near modern-day Fort Recovery
Fort Recovery, Ohio
Fort Recovery is a village in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,273 at the 2000 census. The village is near the location of Fort Recovery, first established in 1793 under orders from General Anthony Wayne....
to the north, the scattered remnants of his force reconstituted at Fort Jefferson. Because it was not intended to house many soldiers, and because few supplies were actually stored at the fort, St. Clair found the fort insufficiently large for his men; consequently, he took most of his surviving soldiers and returned to Fort Washington, leaving only a small garrison to guard his many wounded. It is believed that the garrison was under the command of one Captain Shaylor.
The defeat of the American army left Fort Jefferson deep in enemy territory. Determined to drive the American soldiers back to the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, a Native American force (possibly under the command of Simon Girty
Simon Girty
Simon Girty was an American colonial of Scots-Irish ancestry who served as a liaison between the British and their Native American allies during the American Revolution...
) raided the fort in the early summer of 1792. This raid began with an attack of one hundred warriors against a party gathering hay for the fort's supplies on June 25; sixteen soldiers were killed or left missing by the fight. It is possible that another raid was conducted a short while later with the intention of capturing or killing Captain Shaylor; if a story told by locals be accurate, Shaylor's love of hunting was exploited by some of the besiegers, who lured Shaylor and his son into the woods by imitating the call of the wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
. While Shaylor escaped the ensuing pursuit, his son was killed. The siege continued intermittently for three years, as continued Native American attacks were made to neutralize the fort.
Wayne's campaign
As the United States Army prepared to return to the offensive in the western Ohio country, Fort Jefferson became more than an isolated location outside of the control of the hostile MiamisMiami tribe
The Miami are a Native American nation originally found in what is now Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States...
: projections were created of using the fort as a base for the protection of local settlers and for raids on nearby Native Americans. When Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
and his Legion of the United States
Legion of the United States
The Legion of the United States was a reorganization and extension of the United States Army from 1792 to 1796 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne.-Origins:The impetus for the Legion came from General Arthur St...
, fresh from Legionville
Legionville
Legionville was the first formal United States military basic training facility, established by Major General Anthony Wayne, in 1792, near present-day Baden, Pennsylvania to train the soldiers of the Legion of the United States.-History:...
, began their expedition to avenge St. Clair in the fall of 1793, they erected a new supply fort at the site of Greenville
Greenville, Ohio
Greenville is a city in Darke County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,227 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Darke County.-History:Greenville is the historic location of Fort Greene Ville,Greenville is a city in Darke County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,227 at...
, 5 miles (8 km) north of Fort Jefferson. Nevertheless, they relied heavily on the supplies of Fort Jefferson in their campaign during the following year.
After the war
After the end of the war, white settlers began to take up residence in the vicinity of the abandoned fort. A blockhouseBlockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
was built by one nearby resident in 1810; by 1820, more settlers had built houses, a mill, and a school near the fort site. The new community was named "Fort Jefferson."
In the fall of 1907, the Greenville Historical Society dedicated a memorial on the site of the fort. Fort Jefferson was further recognized in 1970 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The area designated as historic encompasses approximately 6.5 acres (2.6 ha).
Further reading
- Williams, Gary S. The Forts of Ohio: A Guide to Military Stockades. CaldwellCaldwell, OhioCaldwell is a village located along the West Fork of Duck Creek in Noble County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,956 at the 2000 census...
: Buckeye Book, 2003.
External links
- Fort Jefferson - official site at Ohio Historical SocietyOhio Historical SocietyThe Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...