The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-09-09
ALetter from Gossip.

"A UOSShPs
DEAR JOURNAL IL am sitting here on one Of
the embankments of Fort Meigs, and though
have already gossiped with you about this and
other localities of historic interest in this vi
ciniy, am nevertheless inclined once more to
introduce the subject, and as sit here over
looking this old fertilization, will pencil on
my knee, such thoughts as come to me. These
embankments, now almost demolished by time
and by long neglect, are eloquent in telling Of
the hardship and suffering Of those patriots who
defended them against the combined attacks Of
the English and their allies, the Indians, They,
in common with many similar remains of battle
fields in this country, are perpetual speech to
us and TO those who shall come after us, remind
ing us of the trials Of those who first organized
and defended our infant Republic. AS | sit
here, can trace the lines of the old Fort, can
see the grounds, where were erected the batter
les, and the spot where, with so much difficulty,
the powder was safely stored. lean also see
little broken stone slab standing at the head Of
Lieut.. Walkers grave, without name or date,
and without being fenced. This is the only
monument of any kind erected on the grounds
of the Fort. Not stone, not anything points
the stranger to the spot where lay The bodies Of
those who fell while defending the Fort against
the Indians and English. Why is it that the
dead who fell in the defence of their country,
are thus left to moulder with not even mark
of respect shown themY why is the ground,
which should be considered sacred, thus given
up by Government and sold to private indvid-
uals the same as other lands ? Do we not re-
gard the services rendered by these patriots of
sufficient value to give them peaceful resting
place?
Already public road runs through the Fort,
and for aught know, over the graves of those
who were here buried. think all Americans
will join with me in thinking this criminal
negligence towards those who deserve, at our
hands, every mark of respect and gratitude.--
While we all feel like bestowing honors upon
those who fought our battles during the early
days of our Republic, yet we can but regret,
that so little has been done to preserve their
BATTLEFIELD and their graves, from destruction
and desecration. AS sit here, herds of cattle
are grazing about in different parts of the Fort
This neglect Of our Government is not peculiar
to Fort Meigs, it is seen in almost every battle
field of the Revolution. have been over some
of them and have been panied to see that moth
ing has been done to preserve them to posterity.
At Bemis Hights, where Burgoyne surrendered
his army of "picked men to Gen. Gates, after
one of the most destructive and important bat
ties of the Revolution, and where hundreds Of
our brave troops gave up their lives for the
freedom that we now enjoy--not even stone
marks their burying place. have visited Be-
mis- Heights, and have tried to trace the different
lines of Notifications without map, but the
plow has already so leveled and changed the
whole appearances of the original grounds that
| found it impossible to do so. When shall we
awake to a true sense of national pride and
national honor? when shall we. purchase
these different land marks of our freedom, and
preserve them with suitable monuments to pos
terity and thus show to the world and to those
who shall come after US, our appreciation OF
the services rendered our country by those who
fought her first battles? 1t is said that all Re-
publics are ungrateful, and though this may be
untrue, yet in tke want of respect shown to the
memory of those who FIRST suffered the loss OF
life and property in defending this country
against those powers who sought to subject and
conquer her-we have proved the assertion so
far as this county is concerned, true. When,
again, ask will we redeem the stain on our
national honor by being just to the dead, who
died in holy struggle for freedom.
A few more years, and this old fort will have
gone entirely to decay--no trace will remain to
point out to the traveller the peculiarties Of the
place--no monument will remain to the dead
but it will be given up to the vulgar uses of or
dnary and common grounds-and who knows
but that a few centuries hence the same ingrat
itude, and neglect of those who have served our
country even with loss of life, will also deliver
up to anarchy and oppression this now free and
prosperous Republic.
On the opposite side of the river from where
sit, stands out conspicuous, large elm tree
high up in whose branches it is said, an old IN
dian was in the habit of climbing to shoot the
officers and other conspicuous men in the
American Fort, uutil he was detected by some
one who saw the smoke when he fred his rle
issue from the tree. Information was immedi.
ately given to the proper officer and the old In
dian was brought to the ground by carefully
directed musket ball. A block of wood still
remains in the forks of the tree, which il is said
the Indian sat upon while picking of" our
men.
But am telling you, dear Journal, old facts,
facts familiar to you as household words, but
may not believe that they are and always will
be, facts which shall never be old in interest toI
you and to all who take an interest in the early
struggles of this country to build up FREE Re-
PUBLICAN GOVERNMENT GOSSIP.
ah