Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-01-02
A MEMORIAL
To the Congress of the United
States,
Brief Historical Review VI the Battles
on tho Mnumee.

meeting OF pioneer citizens of tho Mnumee
Valley, held on the battle ground of tho Fallen
.Timbers, August 20. A. ID. 1884, to celebrate the
90th anniversary of Wayne's victory over the
Indians at this place, August 20.17p4, respectful
ly submit the following to the consideration OF
Congress
The meeting unanimously resolved that q
committee of five be appointed to ask the Con
gress OF the United States to make suitable pro.
vision for marking the localities in the Maumec
Valley, made memorable by the patriotism and
valor OF the men who drove back the saveges
and planted the banner OF civilization In this
beautiful and fertile valley
For this purpose petitions have been circula.
ted, and numerously signed by citizens of the
States of Ohio and Indiana.
Indeed all concur in the opinion that II Is the
duty OF Congress to make this provision, In
recognition Of the patriotism and valor Of those
| who abandoned the comforts of home and as.
sumcd the hardships and braycd the pcrls of
| war to give peace and security to our unpro-
| tected frontier. But few of those men lived to
he no% aew a
memory of their deeds OF daring to perish with
| their bodies?
The Maumee Valley has been the theatcr of
many of the principal military operations of our
country, the first and most important of which
was wayne's victory over the Indians at the bat
| A, d., 1904.
This battle broke the Indian supremacy, and
| opened all the vast territory between the Mau.
nice and the Mississippi to the citizens Of the
4 brief statement of the history of the events
which led to the military operations on the
| Muumce river may not be here out OF place.
| AT the close OF the Revolutionary war unfortu:
nate disugrecments arose between the citizens of
the United States and tile indian tribes, as to
the right of the former to settle and hunt in the
great forests west of the Allegheny mountains.
st.,C, ,.,a1h hf rttn
the cause of deep solicitude on the part of the
Government of the United States, aud measures
were carly taken to nmnicably adjust the differ
ences, but unfortunately without success. War
became inevitable, and in the fall of 1880, Gen.
lIarmer was sent with nn army TO bring the In
dians to terms. This army was totally defeated,
and the result of the campaign, instead OF nc
complishing the object desired, had the effect to
embolden the Indians and increase their conf.
dence
In the year 1901 Gen. St. Clair was dispatched
with another army against the Indians. then
the Miamies. But before ne had passed the pres
ent limits OF the State of Ohio. he was met by the
Indians under Little Turtle, the 4th of Novem-
ber 179l, and his army completely overthrown,
near Greenvillc in Darke county.
This disaster spread CONSERVATION throughout
the country, and doubts were expressed whether
| 1t were possible for the Government to subdue
the savages, and hold possession OF their coun-
| try. Washington, however, foresaw that success
under command nd Of a general who had the sa.
| gacity to foil the savages, and the bravery to
inspire his men with the necessary confidence to
| Wayne was selected, and with an army on
whose valor he could rely, he entered the un-
broken forest In search OF the enemy. This army
| was composed chiefly of volunteers from Ken
| tucSy;
Cincinnati the 10th of October, 1898, and on the
Sth of August, 1894, he arrived at the junction of
the Auglaize river with the Moumes Here he
| built Fort Defiance. 1t was while considering
| the strength of this portion, he declared he
could defy the Indians and their British allies.
| While here, Wayne was reinforced by eleven
hundred mounted men from Kentucky. Feel
| lug now assured of success, he moved cautiously
| down the Maumee, and on the Goth OF August
| met the enemy at the Fallen Timbers on the lett
about five miles above Ft. Miami, under COM
| mand of their chief, Turkey Foot
The Indians were strongly posted behind fall
len timbers., Wayne at once put his army in
my with the bayonets The charge was irresist-
ible. the fight OF the Indians precipitate, and
The Indians were driven five miles from the
| battle ground, and sought protection under the
| Fort Miami on the left bank OF the river some
fifteen miles from its mouth, and many miles
within the territory of the United States. The
presence OF British troops at this place inspired
the Indians with confidence, if indeed they were
not here supplied with the munitions of war
This victory was decisive. The Indians now
sought for peace, which they had often rejected.
From this battle dates the supremacy of the
Government OF the United States over the terri
into States, now forms the keystone OF our
Union but the ground on which the battle was
fought remains unmarked excepting by the he nat M
Indians with the tomahawk, to commemorate
the spot on which their beloved chief fell. This
battle gave peace to the country until the war OF
1872 with Great Britain: During this war the
Maumee Valley again became the theater OF
military operations. These operations were not
the result of u fortuitous meeting of the hostile
armies of the two countries at this point, but i
arose from desire on the part OF the British
. Wabash and the Ohio to the Mississippi the
northwestern boundary of the United States.
E This was cherished desire with that govern
ment, which it had entertained from the begin
3 ming of Washington administration, and which
it did not abandon until after the war of 1872. L
was with view OF holding this line, that thu
British Government had retained possession o
, Fort Miami in violation of her treaties And Il
was to this object, under the instigation of tina
Government, Tecumseh lent the energies of hi
great mind. He endeavored to unite the North
4 ern and Southern tribes behind this natura
: barrier. and exhorted them to here make th
| last struggle, to hold the country behind them
for their future hunting grounds.
> During the war OF 1872 the most desperate ei
purpose their troops again took possession o
lort Miami, They, were, however, foiled by Gen
F, Harrison, who built Fort Meigs on the opposit
bank of the river two miles above
The two sieges of Fort Meigs by the combine,
forces OF the Indians of the Manmee Valley, un
der command of the celebrated chief Tecumseh
and the British forces under Gen. Proctor, fur
nish the most chvalrous chapter in the histor
OF that memorable war.
The first Siege, was commenced the 9th O
April, and closed the 9Th of May, 1913 The q,
tacks on the fort were furious; the batteries q
the enemy poured in shot and shell, while til
woods around the fort was lllled With Indians
awaiting the signal to rush in, and with tGmn
hawk and scalping knife finish the bloody work
These attacks were coolly received and gnllantl!
i, rcpulsed by Gen. Harrison and his brave com
panions in arms.
, The second siege, which took place in til
month |.
, than the Inst. II was long enough, however, fu
the Indians u. practice all the cunning, whicl
ture could invent, and for the British to exhaus
all the skill In the arts of war and deception. II
\ which their ungovernable thirst for conques
Since the first siege. the garrison of the for
had been considerably reduced by detachmen,
sent out OH various duties. while the strength 4
the enemy l,sd been augineuied by reiniorc,
ments from Canada.
The force which the enemy now had befor
the post was coo men under Proctor and II
cuinsch, and the number of Indians was create
than ever before assembled on any occasion dun
ing the war.
} Tho enemy had approached tho fort with thi
/. greatly superior force with the utmost conf
dence Of success, But they moderated the yalo
? and endurance Of the men against whom the
4 had to contend. The small plumber of men i
the fort rendered IL impossible for them to snar
all points ~ one time, but their watehfnlnes
, endow them with ubiquity, for they, were alway
present at the point of danger. and heroioalf
Iepulsed every assault, Ihey remained meN
| hausted by fatigue, and undaunted by peri
:. The dangers by which they were surrounde
increased their courage, while the difficulties t
be overcome animated their zeal and double
4 their strength.
Z IN the desperate struggle to r,tln posscssio
Of the Maumee Valley, some of the men. VIII
had acted subOl dinntc part under Wayne, hu
an opportunity To distinguish themselves Il
military commanders General Harrison, VII
. was Lieutenant under Wayne at the baltic q
the Fallen Timhsrs. distinguished himself b
4 the erection and defense OF Fort Meigs and hi
, brave Ken tuckians us well as himself won o,
Hltlonal laurels, In the pursuit OF the enem
. into Canada, and in their final overthrow at tn
battle OF the Thames, where the brave Tecunse
j his army.
What we now desire Is that the recollectiops
, these noble doeds may never be allowed to pc
ish from the nomQry Of the American people
= ana that the Government recognize the worth {
o these men who performed such eminent seryit
Il IN the country's canse, by erecting suitable tal
lets or monuments TO their memory, on III