Fort Miami (Ohio)
Encyclopedia
Fort Miami was a fort built on the Maumee River
at the eastern edge of the present-day city of Maumee, Ohio
, and southwest of the present-day city of Toledo, Ohio
. It was built by the British on territory disputed between Britain
and the USA; according to the U.S. interpretation of the terms of the Treaty of Paris
that ended the American Revolutionary War
this was definitely U.S. territory, so building the fort was a breach of the treaty, but according to the British
interpretation the relevant terms and concession of territory had no force unless and until the USA complied with the terms relating, e.g., to compensating Loyalists
for their loss of property and permitting their return unmolested, etc. (These and related disputes were superseded by the fully implemented terms of later treaties.)
The fort played a minor role in British support for Native American hostilities against the U.S. In August 1794, Anthony Wayne
defeated the Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
within sight of Fort Miami. Under the terms of Jay's Treaty, the British evacuated frontier posts within U.S. territory.
The British again occupied the site during the War of 1812
, which at the time was opposite the American Fort Meigs
.
The fort structure no longer stands, and the site reverted to agricultural and, later, public park use, as having been abandoned twice by the British due to poor strategic location, it is of minimal historical value. Now it is a very popular sledding location for children in the winter months.
In 1975, the site of the fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. It is located at 41°34′21"N 83°37′34"W; a state memorial has been created at the site. Ft. Miami Elementary School of the Maumee Public School System is two blocks away and named after the fort.
Maumee River
The Maumee River is a river in northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana in the United States. It is formed at Fort Wayne, Indiana by the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers, and meanders northeastwardly for through an agricultural region of glacial moraines before flowing into the...
at the eastern edge of the present-day city of Maumee, Ohio
Maumee, Ohio
Maumee is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Toledo along the Maumee River. The population was 14,286 at the 2010 census. Maumee was also declared an All-America City by the National Civic League in June 2006.-Geography:...
, and southwest of the present-day city of Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. It was built by the British on territory disputed between Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the USA; according to the U.S. interpretation of the terms of the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
that ended the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
this was definitely U.S. territory, so building the fort was a breach of the treaty, but according to the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
interpretation the relevant terms and concession of territory had no force unless and until the USA complied with the terms relating, e.g., to compensating Loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
for their loss of property and permitting their return unmolested, etc. (These and related disputes were superseded by the fully implemented terms of later treaties.)
The fort played a minor role in British support for Native American hostilities against the U.S. In August 1794, Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
defeated the Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Battle of Fallen Timbers
The Battle of Fallen Timbers was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War, a struggle between American Indian tribes affiliated with the Western Confederacy and the United States for control of the Northwest Territory...
within sight of Fort Miami. Under the terms of Jay's Treaty, the British evacuated frontier posts within U.S. territory.
The British again occupied the site during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, which at the time was opposite the American Fort Meigs
Fort Meigs
Fort Meigs was a fortification along the Maumee River in Ohio during the War of 1812. It is named in honor of Ohio governor Return J. Meigs, Jr., for his support in providing General William Henry Harrison with militia and supplies for the line of forts along the Old Northwest...
.
The fort structure no longer stands, and the site reverted to agricultural and, later, public park use, as having been abandoned twice by the British due to poor strategic location, it is of minimal historical value. Now it is a very popular sledding location for children in the winter months.
In 1975, the site of the fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is located at 41°34′21"N 83°37′34"W; a state memorial has been created at the site. Ft. Miami Elementary School of the Maumee Public School System is two blocks away and named after the fort.
External links
- Fallen Timbers Battlefield Today, Toledo Metroparks site for the Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site
- Historical Landmarks, information about Fort Miamis from the City of Maumee
- Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site, Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings, Founders and Frontiersmen, National Park Service