Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-11-24
Fort Harmar.

WI uutUulI
In the autumn of 1855, Colonel JOS
eph Harmar sent Major John Doughty
with battalion of his (Harmar's) reg
imcnt, to build and garrison a fort
near the junction of the Ohio and
IMuskinglrm rivers. 1T was, when com
pleted the first fort in the State OF
Ohio, with the exception of Fort Lau-
rens, which was erected in the year
177S, on the right bank of the Tus'
oarawas, little below Sandy Creek
by Gen. Mcintosh, in the heart of the
Indian country; and was evacuated in
the autumn of the following year.
The fort stood on what was called the
second bottom" being elevated above
the ordinary floods of the Ohio, while
between it and the banks of the rivers
was a lower or first bottom. The
outlines of the fort formed a pentagon,
and the area, embraced within its
walls, contained about three-quarters
of an acre. The main walls of the fort
were built of large timbers, placed
horizontally and raised to the height
of twelve or fourteen feet, and were
120 feet in length. The lbaStionS were
of large timbers set upright in the
ground, fourteen feet high, and fast
ened together by strips of timber.
The outlines Of these were also octag-
onal; the fifth side, or that opening
into the area of the fort, being occu-
pied by the dwelling houses or quar-
ters of the officers.
In the rear of the garrison on the
ground which had supplied the mater
ials for building the fort, were fine
gardens, laid out by Major Doughty.
These were cultivated by the soldiers
who took great pride in them. Peaches
were planted out as soon as the
ground was cleared. and in the sec
ond or third year produced crops Of
fine fruit A variety of his is still
cultivated around Marietta, and are
known as the Doughty Peach.
The fort was named in honor of
Colonel Joseph Harmar. 1t was occu-
pied by the troops of the United
States, until September, 1890, when
they were ordered to Fort Washing
ton, now Cincinnati During the In
dian wars, the fort was occupied by
one Captain Haskell, their chief duty
being to help the settlements of Belpre,
and Watertown against the
Indians. The houses formerly used
by the soldiers as quarters weRe occu--
pied by the settlers living on the west
side of the Muskingum. 1t does not
appear that any regular batteries were
Quilt within the walls for mounting of
cannon, as it was in no graf danger of
my attack from the enemies who had
the use of cannon. One or two six
pound field pieces were mounted on
carriages, and usually kept on the bank
ust without the walls; with these they
;ould command the boats on the river.
Between the walls of the fort and
he bank of the Muskingum, was suffi-
;ient space to muster a battalion of
men; a part of this ground was occu-
)ied by three stout log cabins erected
or the use of the artificers attached to
Jhe garrison. At this day not only
he whole ground between it and the |
water is washed away, but also more |
han half of the site occupied by the
'ort
In digging away the bank in 1910 to
orm landing or road up from the |
liver on to the site Of the old fort, |
several interesting relics We're found |
which once belonged to the inmates of |
he garrison. Although no attack was
ever made upon the fort by the In
Hans, yet they often appeared on the
lill in its rear, which commanded a
'ull view of its interior. From this
elevation they often watched the in
labitants as they went out to work in
he gardens and fields, and many of
these were killed within gunshot of |
the fort.
No trace of the fort is left, except a
small marble monument, and fine |
this showing that the
lite on which formerly stood an edifice
If war is now occupied by an edlfice of
earning. j. o.