Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-08-03

union oil the Maumee valley MOnu-
mental association.
A programme had been promised in
Guiding speeches by D. w. II. Howard,
J. Kent Hamilton and Frank Scott,
none of whom appeared on the scene
except Mr.. Scott.
The meeting was called to order by
Reuben Mitchell, President of the So
ciety who introduced Justin Tyler, of
Napoleon, who made a short but appro-
pirate speech, He was followed by j.
l.. Pray Of Waterville, Yarnell Rake
straw of Defiance, Rev. Mark Richard
son OF Maumee, and Rev. Adams, of
Perryburg, all OF whom favored the
audience with a few remarks.
The address of Mr.. Scott, was very
interesting. In it he called attention
to the propriety of erecting monu-
ments at various points IN honor of the
events that had marked them as OBJ
.jects of interest and history, and gave
brief reviews of the occasions which
made these points historic. He said
The first in the series OF events which
achieved this result was the battle OF
| Fallen Timbers, August 20, 1894, the
scene of which smiles before our eyes
under the evening sun from the glori-
Gus plateau on which we stand. Gen
eral Anthony Wayne needed not that
crowning success of his leadership to
give historic memory to his military
service. But it crowned him with new
honor, and helped to educate the young
man. William Henry Harrison, who
was to complete the work nineteen
years later, by organizing for the erec-
tion and defence of the formidable
earth work OF Fort Meigs, on which we
stand. The devotion to duty, the fore
thought, the constant sagacity, the un-
tiring but courteous energy that mark.
ed every step OF General Harrison's ca
reer as commander of the national for
ces before and during the seiges OF Fort
Meigs make him as conspicuous in hon
or and success as General Wayne.
Let US look across this peaceful river
to that smiling bluff opposite, where on
the 26th, OF April, 1873, columns OF
British troops under General Proctor
took position and established their bat
teries, We can imagine the excite
ment that pervaded this newly fort-
fed camp as the foe planted his
forces for the attack. The dreaded Te-
cumseh, with ali the Indian allies filed
the woods behind the English.
On the 9th force of Indians crossed
the river and established themselves in
the woods along this ravlne behind the
fort, and on the bluff before US. For a
week the fort was commended from the
west bank, and the garrison was pep
pered with balls from the Indians
skuIking among the trees ana in the
tree tops on the east side. On the Sd OF
| Nay came Gen. Proctor's demand for the
surrender Of the fort; which was polite
ly dec,ined. AT midnight on the 4th Of
May, Major William Oliver from up
the river. made his way with the glad
tidiugs That General Clay, with 1900
Kentuckians was at the head of the
rapids ready to receive orders from
General Harrison.
Brilliant, sad, and horrible was that
next days work. CIay's force, under
Colonel Dudley had been ordered to-
take the British batteries opposite, and
it was done. When done he had been
ordered to cross the river back to the
fort. This order was given TO his men.
but they, wild with the excitement of
success, followed the British and In
dians through the woods toward Fort
Miami, were closed in on by the In
dians on every side, aud massacred
without mercy. Out of 800 men who
participated in the attack on the bat
terry, only 100 escaped. But the strength
of the British had been broken, and on
the 9th of May, Proctor broke camp,
and retired to Maiden.
He then referred to the different
style OF monuments he would favor be-
ing placed at these different points and
in reference TO Fort Meigs he said
On the site of the battle of Fallen
Timbers there is a narrow ridge with
an abrupt bank toward the river on the
south, and broad valley on the other
side. This ridge commands view of
the river below and above for many
miles. No location can be imagined
more admirable foran equestrian statue
of General Wayne. Without needing
to be lofty, in fact. it may be on a low
: pedestal only, yet it would stand out
against the sky boldly as seen from al
: most every direction. 1t would be dis
tinctly in view from Fort Meigs, re-
vealed against the glow of tho western
! sky. With appropriate inscription on
the base, that would be all the >monu'
ment needed there. Costly and gener'
allV unmeaninp allpuOrical npulps NAV