Vallonia, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Vallonia is an unincorporated community
in Driftwood Township
, Jackson County
, Indiana
and as an 18th century French settlement and 19th century American frontier fortification
known as Fort Vallonia.
settlement of the late 18th century and lay between the Muscatatuck River
and White River's
east fork (aka Driftwood). Circa 1810, hostilities began between the settlers and Native American
s. Governor General William Henry Harrison
ordered a fort built as well as a number of other defensive structures including a large stockade
, garrison
, blockhouse
s, and a spring
. to be built to protect the some 90 families in the area. Two companies of Indiana Rangers
were stationed here during the War of 1812
.
Huff's fort
and Ketcham's fort
were two other fortifications though not as large. Huff's fort was said to be "higher up" than Vallonia and Ketcham's "still above".
One of the new companies of Indiana Rangers
was newly organized, and set out to investigate claims of a Native American war party near Brownstown, Indiana
. Finding no war party, the company returned to Fort Vallonia, but one ranger, Robert Sturgeon, rode ahead. He was ambushed by Native Americans and killed. The rangers, in a panic, rode hard back to Fort Vallonia, never stopping to help Sturgeon. Five civilians finally left the fort to recover Sturgeon's body, and buried it near the fort. When Major John Tipton
arrived and learned of the rangers' conduct, he assumed command of the fort and began routine drills of the two companies stationed at the fort. A later skirmish, known as the Battle of Tipton's Island
, allowed the rangers to prove their ability to engage Native Americans.
Numerous attacks and skirmishes occurred between the Rangers of Fort Vallonia and American Indians during the War of 1812. Attacks in this area of the Indiana Territory diminished after an expedition to destroy the Miami
village at the confluence of the Wabash River
and Mississinewa River
. That expedition left Fort Vallonia 1 July 1813, led by Colonel William Russell
in command of the Indiana Rangers and Major Zachary Taylor
in command of the 7th Infantry Regiment
, as well as a company of Kentucky volunteers. The force destroyed the deserted village, which had been heavily fortified by Tecumseh
, but covered 500 miles without encountering a single Native American.
. In 1972 Fort Vallonia was rebuilt and is the centerpiece for the annual Fort Vallonia Days festival. The three-day event is held on the 3rd weekend of October and draws crowds of up to 30,000 people.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Driftwood Township
Driftwood Township, Jackson County, Indiana
Driftwood Township is one of twelve townships in Jackson County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 836.-Geography:Driftwood Township covers an area of ; of this, or 3.01 percent is water...
, Jackson County
Jackson County, Indiana
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 42,376. The county seat is Brownstown.-History:...
, 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...
and as an 18th century French settlement and 19th century American frontier fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
known as Fort Vallonia.
Fort Vallonia
Vallonia was a FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
settlement of the late 18th century and lay between the Muscatatuck River
Muscatatuck River
The Muscatatuck River is a bifurcate river in south-central Indiana. It is a major tributary of the East Fork of the White River, and drains . In one area it serves as the southern boundary of the main unit of the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge...
and White River's
White River (Indiana)
The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...
east fork (aka Driftwood). Circa 1810, hostilities began between the settlers and Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s. Governor General William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
ordered a fort built as well as a number of other defensive structures including a large 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:...
, garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
, 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, and a spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
. to be built to protect the some 90 families in the area. Two companies of Indiana Rangers
Indiana Rangers
The Indiana Rangers were a mounted militia formed in 1807 and operated in the early part of the 19th century to defend settlers in Indiana Territory from attacks by Native Americans. The rangers were present at the Battle of Tippecanoe, and served as auxiliaries to the army during the War of 1812...
were stationed here 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...
.
Huff's fort
Huff's fort
Huff's fort was established around 1811 or 1812 northeast of Fort Vallonia in present day Jackson County, Indiana, United States.Huff's fort was established for the protection of early settlers land near the east fork of the White River...
and Ketcham's fort
Ketcham's fort
Ketcham's fort was a 19th century fort northeast of Fort Vallonia in Jackson County, Indiana.-Established:Ketcham's fort was established around 1811 or 1812 on John Ketcham's land near the east fork of the White River for the protection of early settlers of what is now the township of Brownstown...
were two other fortifications though not as large. Huff's fort was said to be "higher up" than Vallonia and Ketcham's "still above".
One of the new companies of Indiana Rangers
Indiana Rangers
The Indiana Rangers were a mounted militia formed in 1807 and operated in the early part of the 19th century to defend settlers in Indiana Territory from attacks by Native Americans. The rangers were present at the Battle of Tippecanoe, and served as auxiliaries to the army during the War of 1812...
was newly organized, and set out to investigate claims of a Native American war party near Brownstown, Indiana
Brownstown, Indiana
Brownstown is a town in Brownstown Township, Jackson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,000 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Jackson County. It was named for Jacob Brown, a General of the War of 1812.- History :...
. Finding no war party, the company returned to Fort Vallonia, but one ranger, Robert Sturgeon, rode ahead. He was ambushed by Native Americans and killed. The rangers, in a panic, rode hard back to Fort Vallonia, never stopping to help Sturgeon. Five civilians finally left the fort to recover Sturgeon's body, and buried it near the fort. When Major John Tipton
John Tipton
John Shields Tipton was an American politician.Tipton was born in what is now Sevier County, Tennessee. His father was killed by Native Americans. His great uncle, also named John, was a prominent man in the area...
arrived and learned of the rangers' conduct, he assumed command of the fort and began routine drills of the two companies stationed at the fort. A later skirmish, known as the Battle of Tipton's Island
Battle of Tipton's Island
The Battle of Tipton's Island was an engagement between a Kickapoo war party and Indiana Rangers under command of John Tipton in April 1813, near White River, in Indiana....
, allowed the rangers to prove their ability to engage Native Americans.
Numerous attacks and skirmishes occurred between the Rangers of Fort Vallonia and American Indians during the War of 1812. Attacks in this area of the Indiana Territory diminished after an expedition to destroy the Miami
Miami tribe
The Miami are a Native American nation originally found in what is now Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States...
village at the confluence of 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...
and Mississinewa River
Mississinewa River
The Mississinewa River is a tributary of the Wabash River in eastern Indiana and a small portion of western Ohio in the United States. It is long. Via the Wabash and Ohio rivers, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed. During the War of 1812, the river was the site of the Battle of the...
. That expedition left Fort Vallonia 1 July 1813, led by Colonel William Russell
William Russell (Kentucky)
Colonel William Russell III was a soldier, pioneer, and politician from Virginia and Kentucky.He was born in Culpepper County, Virginia to William Russell and Tabitha Russell. William Russell, Sr., was a prominent citizen of southwestern Virginia and a colonel in the Continental Army during the...
in command of the Indiana Rangers and Major Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
in command of the 7th Infantry Regiment
7th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The United States Army's 7th Infantry Regiment, known as "The Cottenbalers" from an incident that occurred during the Battle of New Orleans, while under the command of Andrew Jackson, when soldiers of the 7th Infantry Regiment held positions behind a breastwork of bales of cotton during the...
, as well as a company of Kentucky volunteers. The force destroyed the deserted village, which had been heavily fortified by Tecumseh
Tecumseh
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...
, but covered 500 miles without encountering a single Native American.
Recent
Today, Vallonia is a small community located on S. State Road 135Indiana State Road 135
State Road 135 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a road that connects Indianapolis with the Ohio River; for the most part it is a two-lane road.-Route description:The southern terminus is the Matthew E. Welsh Bridge on the east side of Mauckport...
. In 1972 Fort Vallonia was rebuilt and is the centerpiece for the annual Fort Vallonia Days festival. The three-day event is held on the 3rd weekend of October and draws crowds of up to 30,000 people.