Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-06-17

ETA united effort is being made to locate
the proposed Sailors and Orphans Home at
old Fort Meigs, near Perrysburg. Wolford
Post G. A. R. of Perrysburg, selected COM
mittee, composed of ]. s. Kountz, R. Il.
Cochran and w. W..Alcorn, to report to the
State Committee the desirability of the site
mentioned. They have examined the site
and have made the following report:
Fort Meigs occupies level plateau, elevat-
ed sixty feet above the Maumee River, at the
foot of the Rapids and at the head of steamer
navigation. From its breezy height, the
vision extends over a range of fully twenty
miles, up and down the Valley. In gazing
down the stream, on the right, near at hand,
is the town of Perrysburg, half-hidden by the
luxuriant shade trees which line its avenues,
and near by is Fort Meigs Cemetery, where
lie buried some of the heroes of the war of
1872 Up the broad ravine, which leads from
the Fort to this Cemetery, can be seen the
rounded outlines of the bresstworks, of one
of the British batteries, which played upon
the Fort during the siege. Still nearer the
Fort, distant twenty rods, is the low hill
| where lie buried eighty of the brave Kentuc-
Ky and Ohio soldiers, belonging to Dudley's
command, who were killed in battle. On the
left bank OF the River, mile and half dis
tant is the village Of Miami, the site of old
Fort Miami and the British General Proctor's 3
camp during theseige of Fort Meigs, and,
| for ten miles. farther, the vision extends
| down the stream. Opposite the Fort, across
the River, which is spanned here by sub
stantial iron bridge, is the town of Maumee;
on the brow of the hill, in the lower part of
the town, were located the main British bat
teries, which we're SO gallantly captured by
Dudley's command.
| Two miles above Maumee is Presque Isle
Hill, at the base of which, near the margin
of the river, lies Turkey-foot Rock-the
unique monument which the Indians erected
and carved with representations of turkeys
feet, in honor of their beloved and gallant
chieftain, who fell in battle at that spot
Thus we are indebted to the savages for the
only monument to mark the spot where one
of the most desperate and decisive battles
in the history of the nation was fought-the
battle of Fallen Timber.
The story of old Fort Meigs and this por
tion of the Maumee Valley is perfectl!
familiar to every student of history, ant
nothing that we might write could enhanc,
the reverence for the sacred spot. Thos'
|, who are not already familiar with the fac
will be reioiced to learn that the Fort is in
most excellent state of preservation, the oil
outlines, breastworks, grand traverse, etc.
remaining just as they we're when Geners
/ Harrison and his victorious troops marche
t forth from it, over seventy years ago, wit
{ exception of the changes that time alone ha
3 produced. This is principally accounted fo
6 by the fact that the eproprietors of the domai
r and the patriotic citizens of the communit
/ have been 80 jealousy watchful that no on
e has ever been permitted to disturb the ha
: lowed soil, or the graves of the heroes tht
II lie buried there. It is safe to say that theI
8 is no old fortifcation in the State or natiol
: elected during the war of 1872, or even dul
r ing the late civil war, that has been SO pei
S feetly preserved in its original contour.
: The sixty acres, which includes this histor
s tract, is rendered, free and unincumbered,
n the State, as the site of the proposed ne
s Soldiers and Sailors Home. After thoroug
9 Investigation, we present the above facts, an
the following deductions: j., 81
First.-There is no offering in the gift Q
: the people Of the State that can be conside
+ ed more valuable for this purpose. It is
r location which every old soldier in the Sta
g would endorse, if he could personally inspe'
n it, as the one, of all others, best suited an
h most appropriate as the Home which Il
o Ohio soldier has so we'll earned at the hand
a Of grateful people.
+ Second.--In locating the Home here, Il
9 State will restore and perpetuate, in mo
= . appropriate manner, the most sacred al
IS historic spot within its territory.
% In view of the above facts, this Commit
'- recommends the offer of this tract as q pric
less one-one that it is impossible to dupl
cate--and we invite all disinterested membe
= Of. the Grand Army to unite with us in urgil