Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-06-18
FORT MEIGS
For the soldlcrs' and Sailors Home.
The ComMittae Appointed TO Exam
ine the site sends It's Report TO
Every Grand Amy Post in
the state.

The committee appointed 10 examine
old Fort Meigs with the purposc OF ascer-
tanning its desirnbiliy ns siie for the pro-
posed Soldiers' nnd Snilor' Home, have
submitted is report. The fullnwtg cirru.
lar letter has been scnt to every Grand
Army Post in the State:
FoRT MElos, June o, 1886
To the Comrades of the Ohio Department of the
Grand Army OF the Republic, aud 20 J, f..
=. Orr aud Thomas u, Paxton, composing the
State Committee for locating the proposed
Soldiers aud Sailors Home, to be erected by
recent act OF the Legislature:
COMRADES THE committee appointed
by Wolford Post, No. 81. Dept. OF Ohio G.
A, r., for the purpose of inspecting old
Fort Meigs with view to its deSirabllity
as site for the erection of the proposed
new Soldleru' and Sailors Home, report ms
follows;
Fort Meigs occupiea level plateau, ele-
vated sixty feet above the Maumce River,
nj the foot of the rapids at the leud of
steamer navigation. From its breezy
hight, the vision extends over range OF
fully twenty miles up nnd down the valley.
In gazing down the stream, on the right
near Mt hand, Is the town OF Perrysbnrg,
half hidden by the luxurirnt shade trees
which line It's avenues, and near by is Fort
Meigs oemetary, where lie buried some of
the heroes OF 1879, Up the broad ravine,
which leads from the fort to the cemetery,
can be seen the rounded outlines Of the
breastworks OF one OF the British batteries,
which played upon the fort during the
seige. Still nearer the fort, distant twenty
rods, ia the low hill where lie buried eighty
Of the brave Kentucky and Ohio soldiers,
belonging TO Dudley's command, who
were killed IN battle. On the left bank OF
the river, a mile and half distant, is the
village of Miami, the site of old Fort
Miami and the British General Procior's
camp during the seige 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 town, were located the main
British batteries, which were 20 gallantly
captured by Dudley's command.
Two miles above Maunee is Presque
margin OF the river, lies Turkey foot Rock
the unique monument which the Indians
erected and carved with representations OF
turkeys leet, in honor Of their beloved and
gallant cl,ieftain, who fell in battle at that
spot. Thus we are indebted 10 the sayages
for the only monument 10 mark the spot
where one oil the most desperate and de-
cisive battles IN the history OF the nation
was fought-the battle OF Fallen Timber.
The story of old Fort Meigs and this
portion OF tine Maumee Valley is perfectly
familiar 10 every student of history, and
nothing that we might write could enhance
the reverence for the sacred spot. These
who are not already familiar with the fact
will be rejolced TO learn that the Fort is in
a most excellent state of preservation, the
old outlines, breastwork-, grand traverse
ETC., remaining just MS they were wher
General Harrison and his victorious troop
marched forth from it, over seventy year!
ago, with the exception of the changes
That time alone has produced, This il
principally accounted for by the fact tha
triotic citizens of the community have
been 80 jeulously watchful that no one has
ever been permitted to disturb the hallow
ed soil or the graves OF the heroes that lie
buried there. 1t ia safe to say that there II
no old fortifcation in the State or Nation
erected during the war Of 1872, or even
during the late civil war, that has been &c
perfectly preserved in its oil ignal contour
The sixty acres, which includes Thu
historic tract, is rendered, free and unin-
numbered, 10 the State, as The site of the
proposed new Soldiers' and Sailors Home
After thorough investigation, we present
the above facts and The following deduc
tons:
FIst-There is no offering in the gift ol
the people OF the State that can be consid
cred more valuable for this purpose. II
isa location which every old soldier in the
State would endorse, il he could personally
inspect it. as the one, OF all others. best
suited and most appropriate as the Home
which the Ohio soldier has so well earned
at the hands OF grateful people.
SecOnd-In locating the Home here, the
State will restore and perpetuate, In most
appropriate manner, the most historic spo'
within its territory.
In view OF the above facts, this commit
Tee recommends the offer of this tract as q
priceless one-one that it is impossible to
duplicate-and we invite all disinlerested
members of the Grand Army to unite with
us in urging it's acceptance by this board
JOHN s. KoUNTz,
r. II. COCHRAN,
w. w. ALCoRN,
Committee.
EDITOR MACK ON THE SITUATION.
"The people of Toledo, not satisfied with
securing the new insane asylum and plant
ing il on foundation of quicksand, now