Fort Recovery
Encyclopedia
Fort Recovery was a United States Army
fort begun in late 1793 and completed in March 1794 under orders by General
"Mad" Anthony Wayne. It was located on the site of the present-day village of Fort Recovery
, Ohio
, United States
, on the Wabash River
within two miles of the boundary with Indiana
.
Wayne purposely chose as the location for his new fort the spot where Arthur St. Clair
had been defeated in 1791 by a Native American confederacy under Miami Chief Michikinikwa
(Little Turtle) and Shawnee Chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket). That battle, called St. Clair's Defeat
, ended St Clair's military career and prompted the United States Congress
to undertake a full investigation of the loss. Wayne hoped to demonstrate that the United States Army could recover from this crushing defeat and emerge victorious in what is now termed the Northwest Indian War
or "Little Turtle's War."
. The dragoons cut a retreat back to the fort, but thirty-two men were killed, including Captain Hartshome and Cornet
Daniel Torrey. Thirty more men were wounded. An unknown number of Native Americans were killed.
During the night, a scouting company under Captain William Wells
reported that there were British officers behind the American Indian lines, and that they had brought powder and cannonballs, but no cannons. The Native Americans were looking for U.S. cannons that had been buried after St. Clair's Defeat, not knowing that they had already been recovered by the Legion of the United States
. The next day, 1 July 1794, the Native American forces attacked the fort again, but began to withdraw by noon and were gone by nightfall.
Fort Recovery was a reference point used to define the boundary line established in the Treaty of Greenville
in 1795, following Wayne's victory in the Battle of Fallen Timbers
. In 1800, it was used as a reference point in defining the initial boundaries of the Indiana Territory
when that was first set off from the original Northwest Territory
. When Ohio was admitted as a state in 1803, the boundaries had been adjusted and Fort Recovery was not mentioned as a reference point for the boundaries of the state.
In 1908, President William Howard Taft
signed a bill that allowed for the building of a monument for those killed under the command of Arthur St. Clair and Anthony Wayne in Fort Recovery.
In 1910, he gave Fort Recovery $25,000 to build the monument.
The monument, in the form of an obelisk
, was built in 1912 and dedicated on 1 July 1913. The obelisk stands at 101', 4" tall. It weighs approximately 800 tons and cost $23,700 to build.
Today that monument is part of a historical landmark known as Fort Recovery State Memorial that is maintained by the Ohio Historical Society
. Visitors can enjoy touring a replica of Wayne's fort with two reconstructed blockhouse
s with a connecting stockade
.
The Fort Recovery State Museum, opened in 1938, features life-size diorama
s of fort soldiers and a typical Native American from the 1790s. Exhibits explain Wayne's campaign and include military and Native American artifacts, uniforms, weapons, paintings and maps. The museum features a gift shop and offers programs for school groups.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
fort begun in late 1793 and completed in March 1794 under orders by General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
"Mad" Anthony Wayne. It was located on the site of the present-day village of Fort Recovery
Fort Recovery, Ohio
Fort Recovery is a village in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,273 at the 2000 census. The village is near the location of Fort Recovery, first established in 1793 under orders from General Anthony Wayne....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
within two miles of the boundary with Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Wayne purposely chose as the location for his new fort the spot where Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
had been defeated in 1791 by a Native American confederacy under Miami Chief Michikinikwa
Michikinikwa
Little Turtle, or Mishikinakwa , was a chief of the Miami people, and one of the most famous Native American military leaders of his time. He led his followers in several major victories against United States forces in the 1790s during the Northwest Indian Wars, also called Little Turtle's War. In...
(Little Turtle) and Shawnee Chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket). That battle, called St. Clair's Defeat
St. Clair's Defeat
St. Clair's Defeat also known as the Battle of the Wabash, the Battle of Wabash River or the Battle of a Thousand Slain, was fought on November 4, 1791 in the Northwest Territory between the United States and the Western Confederacy of American Indians, as part of the Northwest Indian War...
, ended St Clair's military career and prompted the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to undertake a full investigation of the loss. Wayne hoped to demonstrate that the United States Army could recover from this crushing defeat and emerge victorious in what is now termed the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
or "Little Turtle's War."
Attack on Fort Recovery
On 30 June 1794, a supply column left Fort Recovery for Fort Greenville, under the command of Major William McMahon and escorted by ninety riflemen under Captain Asa Hartshome and fifty dragoons under Lieutenant Edmund Taylor. It had only gone about a quarter mile when it was attacked by a Native American force, commanded by Blue Jacket and including a young TecumsehTecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
. The dragoons cut a retreat back to the fort, but thirty-two men were killed, including Captain Hartshome and Cornet
Cornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
Daniel Torrey. Thirty more men were wounded. An unknown number of Native Americans were killed.
During the night, a scouting company under Captain William Wells
William Wells (soldier)
William Wells , also known as Apekonit , was the son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miami. He fought for the Miami in the Northwest Indian War...
reported that there were British officers behind the American Indian lines, and that they had brought powder and cannonballs, but no cannons. The Native Americans were looking for U.S. cannons that had been buried after St. Clair's Defeat, not knowing that they had already been recovered by the Legion of the United States
Legion of the United States
The Legion of the United States was a reorganization and extension of the United States Army from 1792 to 1796 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne.-Origins:The impetus for the Legion came from General Arthur St...
. The next day, 1 July 1794, the Native American forces attacked the fort again, but began to withdraw by noon and were gone by nightfall.
Fort Recovery was a reference point used to define the boundary line established in the Treaty of Greenville
Treaty of Greenville
The Treaty of Greenville was signed at Fort Greenville , on August 3, 1795, between a coalition of Native Americans & Frontiers men, known as the Western Confederacy, and the United States following the Native American loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. It put an end to the Northwest Indian War...
in 1795, following Wayne's victory in 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...
. In 1800, it was used as a reference point in defining the initial boundaries of the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
when that was first set off from the original Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
. When Ohio was admitted as a state in 1803, the boundaries had been adjusted and Fort Recovery was not mentioned as a reference point for the boundaries of the state.
Fort Recovery Memorial
In 1891, the battlesites were excavated, and the remains of some 1200 people were buried in a memorial park downtown.In 1908, President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
signed a bill that allowed for the building of a monument for those killed under the command of Arthur St. Clair and Anthony Wayne in Fort Recovery.
In 1910, he gave Fort Recovery $25,000 to build the monument.
The monument, in the form of an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, was built in 1912 and dedicated on 1 July 1913. The obelisk stands at 101', 4" tall. It weighs approximately 800 tons and cost $23,700 to build.
Today that monument is part of a historical landmark known as Fort Recovery State Memorial that is maintained by the Ohio Historical Society
Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
. Visitors can enjoy touring a replica of Wayne's fort with two reconstructed blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
s with a connecting stockade
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
.
The Fort Recovery State Museum, opened in 1938, features life-size diorama
Diorama
The word diorama can either refer to a nineteenth century mobile theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-size or miniature model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum...
s of fort soldiers and a typical Native American from the 1790s. Exhibits explain Wayne's campaign and include military and Native American artifacts, uniforms, weapons, paintings and maps. The museum features a gift shop and offers programs for school groups.
External links
- Historic Fort Recovery
- Fort Recovery on Ohio Historical Society site
- Fort Recovery State Museum
- Act creating Indiana Territory