Fort Meigs

Fort Meigs
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Dressed in clothing of the period, these guides at the Fort Meigs State Memorial prepare to give a tour of the facility on a clear day in the summer
Location:	Perrysburg, Ohio
Coordinates:	41°33′10″N 83°39′6″W
Built:	1813
Governing body:	State
NRHP Reference#:	69000151
Added to NRHP:	August 4, 1969

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 frontier.

History

Construction of the fort started in February 1813 by soldiers under the command of General William Henry Harrison in present-day Perrysburg, Ohio. The climate was harsh, and the landscape unforgiving. A U.S. sentry froze to death during his two hours of guard duty. When completed, the fort was the largest wooden walled fortification in North America.

The First Siege: On May 1, 1813, British allied forces, under General Henry Proctor and Chief Tecumseh, laid siege to the fort. Early on the morning of 5 May, a detachment from Clay's brigade under Colonel William Dudley landed from boats on the north bank of the river, stormed the British batteries on the north bank and spiked the guns. Coming under fire from Indians in the woods, part of the Kentuckian force pursued Tecumseh's men, who led them deeper into the forest. In the woods, the disorganised Kentuckians were decimated in confused fighting. Of Dudley's 866 officers and men, only 150 escaped to the fort. This became known as "Dudley's Massacre" or "Dudley's Defeat".

The Shawnee, Lenape and other warriors attacked wood-gathering parties sent out from the fort. Harrison held out against the British by using the long, narrow hills ("traverses") constructed inside the fort which absorbed many of the incoming British shells. Proctor raised the siege on May 9, 1813 and retreated to Detroit.

The Second Siege: Having mobilized the garrison into an army, Harrison left General Green Clay in command of the fort. In July 1813, the British attempted to appease their allies by again besieging Fort Meigs. The Indians staged a mock battle to lure the garrison out. The Americans, however, saw through the ploy. After the failed siege attempt, the British moved on to Fort Stephenson, where Fremont, Ohio stands today. That attack also failed, causing heavy British losses and forcing their retreat to Canada. Once the British had retreated from the area for good, General Harrison ordered the fort dismantled.

Timothy Hayes became the owner of the land on which the fort had stood and was instrumental in preserving it in memory and honor of the brave men who fought the battles.

In the twentieth century, Ohio directed construction of a replica of the fort, as part of its preservation and interpretation of the site. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Memorial

Today, Fort Meigs is the site of an Ohio State Memorial in Perrysburg, Ohio. The 65-acre (263,000 m²) park includes a full-size replica of the 1813 fort. Located at the corner of a nearby cemetery are the remains of the original artillery positions laid by the British for use during the siege.

The Visitor Center's museum exhibits include frontier Ohio and early Native Americans, the history of the War of 1812 and the fort's role in the war, artifacts found at Fort Meigs, and military life. Outside, visitors can tour the reconstructed blockhouses and stockade.

Re-enactments

Several re-enactments take place at Fort Meigs each year. They include:

• First Siege, a battle re-enactment portraying the events of the siege of Fort Meigs in May 1813, complete with American and British infantry and artillery. This event is held on Memorial Day weekend and is followed on Monday by a ceremony commemorating the fallen soldiers.

• Muster on the Maumee, a "timeline event" held at the fort on Father's Day weekend, includes military re-enactors from ancient Roman soldiers to the modern-era soldier.

• Independence Day, a re-enactment portraying the events on the Fourth of July in 1813. It includes toasts and an 18-gun salute.

• Drums Along the Maumee, an event bringing together historically accurate drum and fife corps from around the country.

• Garrison Ghost Walk, an event held on the last two weekends in October; a re-enactor guides visitors through the dark fort to tell ghost stories.

See also

• Siege of Fort Meigs

External links

• Fort Meigs State Memorial
• View an INTERACTIVE Virtual Tour of Fort Meigs.