Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-26
co Nj NJ L TI0NS
r o r T A N CT E N r .

In Warren county, Ohio, about forty-two miles
above Cincinnati, Is the most wonderful construc-
ton of olden times 10 be found in all that region of
country. II is an ancient Fort upon the top of a
high hill on the Eastern side of the Little Miami
river. An embaniment, enclosing about one hun
dred and ten acres oiland, runs round on the edge
OF the hui, and Is now, generally, at least twenty
feet high, and, in few places, as little as ten feet
1t must have been originally much higher The
land enclosed Is nearly level A portion OF it is
cleared and cultivated, but the greater part is hea
Willy tmbered And it is quite evident that the
embankment was formed previous TO the growth of
any OF the trees now ON the ground Those on the
embankment seem to be OF equal size and age with
those on either side of it,-many of them four or
five feet in diameter, and possibly thousand years
old, or more The place Is most judlciousIy chosen
and it is said by those acquainted with such sub
Jecs, that the Fort is built with the most consum-
mate skill as place of defence, as was no doubt
the original design OF lis construction. Although
the Fort, winding round the irregular summit of
| the hill, contains but about one hundred and ten
acres OF land yet it is supposed that to travel round
the outside of II would be iaunt of at least fce
mates. 1t Is remarkable fact and one adding
greatly to the amount Of labor necessary for its con-
sructon, that the earth of which this immense en-
bankment is formed has not been thrown up from
either side OF 1t. 1t must have been brought from
some other place. suggestion is that it has been
! taken of the whole surface enclosed, or possibly
some high spot Of the hill within the Fort NAV have
been brought down to a level with the remainder
he cmb1nknent is not continuous mound :
there are many openings (peraps at least eighty )
In 1t. These openings may have been filled up
with block houses of wood, all vestiges Of which
have disappeared, possibly, a thousand years ago.
Owing TO the shape Of the hill, the Fort is very
narrow about the middle, not more than thirty or
forty yards wide and here high embankment is
run across, dividing it into two parts. This dv-
haD i,nc.t o,NI
in the centre defended by large circular mound q,
some ten or fifteen feet in front Of it, in one end of
the Fort. On the other side of the dividing en-
bankment are two high embankments in the shape
OF the letter s. 1t is reasonable to suppose that
this division, and this strong defence in the centre,
Were prepared ID of the besiegers succeeding in
making their way into end of the Fort. The
beseged might here make new stand.
There is said 10 be at least one good spring in
each end ofthe Fort, besides which there are seve-
raj wet. marshy places where probably, there have
been reservoirs OF water. The embankment Is ge-
nerally composed OF earth. In some places, how
ever, stone have been regularly built I'D i'm it,
There are now several heaps of rock lying about
the Fort, especially near the dividing point. These
rocks have evidently been carried up from the river
as none OF that description found upon the up
lands.
Inside the Fort are many smaller embankments
of different heights and shapes the most rernarka-
DIc vi Which, 10 d low Oi Ones elut-
teen inches or two feet high, containing each an
area Of about fifteen OF twenty feet diameter. These
supposed to be the foundations of tents There
may be eighty or hundred Of these nearly touching
each other, and placed in two straight lines so as
to form an angle. the at the point of the angle
being square instead of circle, and larger than
! the others
The hill generally falls precipitously down from
! the outside of the embankment, making the APP
proach TO it very difficult In one place, however
the land is level on the outside, and here the en-
bankment is higher than usual And on this side
some sixty OF a hundred yards distant. are two
large circular mounds, from twenty to thirty feet
high. supposed TO have been raised by the besiegcrs
This Fertilization must have taken an immense
amount of labor, probably employing thousands O
men for years in its construction. BY whom could
it have been done? Not by the Indian race. II j:
contrary TO their habits TO make Qualifications. Nc
ther have they any tradition Of its formation, MOI
even of the people who did formit.
There are several somewhat similar fortification
within this great State, but none of them believe
by any means TO be compared with this in extent
IN strength Of position in tho skill displayed ii
It's construction. il is well worth considerable