Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-04-28
The Fort Nelgs Celebration ofJuno ]

place on the site OF Fort Meigs, near Per-
rysbnrg, June IL, 1910. In some respects
Lhe latter was most remarkable, but these
referred more to the greater system and
order of its characteristics and the numbers
than to the degree Of enthusiasm
although this was seen in
Iorce beyond anything shown previous TO
that extraordinary year. Then IL shoul
be borne in mind, that the Fort Meigs de-
had the great advantage OF
the Summer season, with it's good weather
nnd good roads, with the further essential
aid of steamboat communication with all
points on the considerations which
can be appreciated only by those who
have both "bravely trnmped the mud
through" and Travelled on smooth, solid
road. and by steam navigation in June.
The anniversary Of the Riege OF Fort
Meigs by the British force under General
Proctor, occurred May 1st-9th, but the cell
ebration OF that event was judiciously post
poned to June 1lih, for prudential reasons,
chief of which was the better condition Of
The roads and the more settled weather OF
the later date-wllich decision WIS fully
justified by the result. The occasion, ns
will be seen, was something more than
local or State nfsir; but one OF National
interest. The tens Of thousands that made
up the immense throng there nssenlbled,
were drawn from every State in the Union.
although chiefly from Ono. Michigan, ln-
diana, Pennsylvania and New York. Oi
course the expected presence OF Gen. linr-
rson added largely To the attraction Of the
gathering.
Without further introductory remark,
we proceed to give such extracts from the
newspaper reports Uf the occasion, IN space
will admit. 1t was at the time conceded,
that of the many able and careful accounts
given, including those Of many leading
Journals, much the best was that prepared
Tor the Perrysburg paper, The Ohio
Whig), by Hez. l.. Hosmer, Esq, then oil
that town, and now OF San francesca, Cal.
The general description given below was
taken IRON that report:
THE GATHERING.
There was n speedy gathering then,
OF fiery youths and fearless men.
Meier had Miami's blood washed shore
Behcld such numerous hosts before.
Through river pass DER wooded steep,
In long, unbending hle they sweep;
With banner, fife and pealing drum
And clashing horn, THEY CoAEl THEY coAB!|
The sun had Just closed upon glorious
day for this Republic. While yet the
shouts OF the mighty multitude, the roar
| ing OF cannon, the pealing OF musketry
and the martial notes OF thousand instru
ments are rending the mir, we sit down tc
pour out the feelings with which our hear
is full.
A description of the celebration-of th,
countless myriads hereof the banners
the equipage, the vast procession, the inili
tary, the seige, the speeches, the fireworks
and above all, Of the patriotic. soul-stir
ring enthusiasm tliai pervaded the who'll
of all these, what pen shall-what pei
can record the history?
The gathering really commenced on th'
9th. Early on the morning Of the l0tl
our sumber was broken by the roar oi
cannon, proceeding from the steamboa
"Commodore Perry" which had arrived
from Buffalo during the night, and wa
lying at the foot of Louisiana avenue. A
battalion, composed OF five companies, un
der command OF Mai. Fay, had arrived on
her. These were the Buffalo Flying Artil
lery, with a splendid brass nine-poundel
and ordnance carriage, the gun and car
riage each drawn by four fine bays
the Buffalo City Guards, Capt. Vaghn
the Lafayette Guards OF Buffalo, Capt
Hammer; the Washington Guards of Bui
falo, Capt. Palmer; and the Fredonii
Guards Of Fredonia, Capt. Barrel.
At half past A. NJ. the battalion was
formed at the warf, and escorted to For
Meigs by Gen. James Hedges, the Marsha
and his Aid, Col. Coiiinbury. On their en-
trance into Perrysburg, three guns were
fred by the Buffalo Artillery, which wal
responded to by our gun and the gun at the
batteries at Maumee City. The music wal
by the Buffalo Band and the Citizens
Band of Fredonia. A proper place neal
| the front line of the enbankments OH tn,
Fort, was selected for pitching tents. Thi
done, we returned to town. Wagons fillet
with citizens, horsemen and footmen, wer,
focking in from all directions, and lonl
before the heavy delegations from the Eas
and North came in, the town seemed liter
ally crammed with people.
AT half-past 10, the steamboat "Chicago'
arrived flom Buffalo. Her decks swarmet
with passengers. Just one hour af er,
gun from below announced the approach
Of another boat. A prompt response wa
given from old Fort Miami. The iron
tale was repeated from the boats below
from the point which overlooks our princi
pal wharf at the main entrance into tow
IRON the river, from old Fort Meigs, AN
from the British batteries opposite. Th
bells from the different churches were runs
The banks OF the river swarmed with III
multitude at different points on either sid,
Anon, the steamboat "Gen. Wayne'r0und
ed the point below; after her, the "Unite
States" then tine "Roclester;" then I'll
Seen. Scott" and last the Little Star
Their decks were crowded with people-
their banners Cleaned in the sun-a lonI
loud and deaiening shout, from bank an
river. rose above the thunder of the canno
and In few moments, thousands entere
the town, under the "Welcome TO Fo
Meigs,n placed at the summit OF the hill
across the avenue.
II Ia impossible to give the reader in
] idea of the magnificence Of the scene. r
n must know the scenery, the green elevate
n banks, the island, the amphitheatre, Il
: broad deep channels, the foliage, the bea
tiful locations OF the two Villages OF Ma
! NEE and Perrysbirg, the points and ben
i in the river, the extensive mass of pc
, pie which crowded both shores-he lnu
hear the shouts, the cannon, the musket
J and see the military. He must then u
70 derstand the weather-not breeze
70 ruille the surface OF the riyer-ihe sun ri
n ing the heavens, obscured only by nh occ
" sional fleece OF silvery Clouds. lie mi
e see the banners from the Fort above, fro
d the Towns, aud from the British buiteri
,e And alter reviewing all these, fancy c0u
10 hardly realize the beauty and grandc
~ oil the scene.
:, Two more military companies-t
u Cleveland Grays, Capt. Ingrnhan, and /
10 Summit Guards, Of Akron-nrrived in I
u Omitted States" and were escorted to
T. Fort Tor encampDent An Indian Co
u pany, gotten up On the spur Of the oc,
e, sion, arrived OH The Seen. Scott" m II
e. Indian style, found their way to the II
III without escort. A company from Gea,
county, composed OF the real Log Cal
Boys, IN plain but characteristic nniforI
followed in train Of the Graysund Guai
Id 10 the Fort.
%. But turn we again TO the Black Swal
a. road. B' hold, the long, vending string
4. wagons filled with the true cons Of Tip
|" cano. Here Ia delegation from s.
u dusky, then Huron, then Crawford, III
Riehland, then The Bellevue Band a
H. Tifiin Bnes--on. on they come, and cor
A. until II seems that no more could find roo