Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1839-09-28
DEFIANCE.

And grief may hide Its face beneath
The mantle of song. Ely.
DEFIANCE.
To the distant reader, it may not be un-
interesting for us to drop remark or two
touching the position and history of this
village. The ground on which it stands,
ought to be regarded, in some sort, as hal
lowed. 1t is now just forty five years since
the indomitable WAYNE penetrated into the
heart of the Indian country, and on thie ve-
ry spot planted the Stars and Stripes of
LIBERTY. 1t was here, that, having erect
ed strong fortification, immediately at the
confluence of the two Rivers, in the EN-
phatic language for which he was distin-
guished, he declared, that he "Dcfed He'll
and all her emmisaries!" Hence its name
-FoRT DEFIANCE. Upon the completion
of this work, feeling that he was now fully
prepared for either peace or war, she made
last attempt at concliation.' 81 have
thought proper" said he, in one of his dcs-
patches, I" to offer the enemy last over
ture of peace; and as they have every thing
that is dear and interesting at stake, have
reason to expect they will listen to the pro-
position. 4" X n But should war be their
choice, the blood be upon their own heads.
America shall no longer be insulted with
impunity. Toana ll-powerful and just God,
therefore commit myself and gallant ar
my."-"This overture" says the historian,
"was rejected against the advice ofthe dis
tinguished Chief Little Turtle, man of
great capacity and unimpeached courage,
| no,,aaI ,xc -, 4 7
on the night previous to the battle, held
the following language: T
"We have beaten the enemy twice un-
der separate commanders. We cannot
expect the same good fortune to attend us
always. The Americans are now led by
chef who never sleeps: the night and the
day are alike to him. And during all the
time he has been marching upon our villa
ges, notwithstanding the watchfulness of
our young men, we have never been able
to surprise him. Think well oft. There
is something whispers me it would be pru-
dent to listen to his offers of peace"
On the day following, which was the
Goth of August, 1894, the sanguinary but
decisive battle Of fPresque, Isle was fought,
in which the most consummate skill and
bravery were exhibited by the American
General and his gallant troops.
At the time Of which we are speaking.
the Maumee and Auglaize valleys presented
less the appearance of a wild and unculti
waited region. than we of this day are apt to
Imagine. The American General, writing
to the Secretary of War, remarks:-"The
very extensive and highly cultivated fields
81, &c. l.,
The margins of those beautiful rivers, the
Miami of the Lake and Auglaize, appear
like one continued village for number Of
miles above and below the place; nor have
ever before beheld such immense fields
of corn in any part Of America, from Cana
da to Florida" This picture was drawn
forty five years ago, at time when this
vast region was in possession of the savage; ;
when the presence of the white man carried
with it desolation and death, where, till his
approach, happiness and plenty reigned un-
disturbed Let us, OF 1889, now that the
red man kindles his counci.fire far beyond
the father of waters, blush for the little
improvement with which we ure surround
ed. 7h 1t ss- --
This position was again occupied by the
American troops, during the War Of 1912.
The remains Of the palisades which pro-
tected the army Of Winchester while here,
are to be seen; and the embankments and
trenches of Wayne, constructed in 94, are
still more visible. 4
The advantages as to local situationy pos
sessed by Defiance, are at once command
ing and important; and despite the barriers
| ,.,h; oh al h,,r
onward march, she must eventually assume
that rank among the commercial towns of
this beautiful valley, assigned her by the
intelligent asd discerning. She stands in
the very heart ofa richly fertile country,
with no Jess than four natural channels of
communication by water, two canals and
numerous roads, radating toward every
point OF the compass. But, notwthstand-
ing all this, the prospect to him who cares
not to penetrate the vista of futurity, is
gloomy and disheartenng. Business is al
most at dead stand. Operations upon
the Public Works here and in our vicinity,
have nearly ceased. Money is scarce, and
although provisions are plenty in the hands
of the producer. the mere consumer finds
it difficult to furnish himself with many of
the comforts of life. These things will in
time regulate themselves: but not until we
shall become thoroughly sobered. When
we shall learn to throw aside Aladdln's
lamp, and, relying no longer upon enchant-
ment or chance, shall follow the dictates OF
reason and common sense, we shall move
steadily forward in the road to opulence
and wealth, pretty much as did our fathers
o Il nm. itsH ha Id, 81 howl hn0d -
Defiance barometer.
A curious and valuable discovery has just
been made in the alloy of metals. A man
ufact,trer Of Paris has invented a compost
ton much less oxidable than silver and
which will mot melt at less than heat tre-