Fort Jefferson (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Jefferson Site
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Southern side of the hill on which the fort sat
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | State Route 121 in Neave Township, Darke County, Ohio |
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| Area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Built | 1791 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000488 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1970 |
Fort Jefferson was a military fort built by the United States Army in October 1791. It was created during the Northwest Indian War to help with a military plan. The fort was used in many battles for several years. Today, the place where the fort once stood is a historic site you can visit.
Contents
Building Fort Jefferson
This fort was built in what is now Darke County, in western Ohio. General Arthur St. Clair led the building project in October 1791. It was meant to be a forward base for his army. They were planning a campaign against local Native American groups.
The fort was a square, about 100 feet (30 m) on each side. It was made of wood. Its main purpose was to store supplies for the army. Because of this, it was first called "Fort Deposit." Before St. Clair's army left the fort, a military trial took place. Three soldiers were found guilty of a crime and were executed. They were the first white people to be executed in this area.
Fort Jefferson Under Attack
One month later, St. Clair's army faced a big defeat in a battle. This battle happened near what is now Fort Recovery, to the north. The soldiers who survived gathered at Fort Jefferson.
The fort was not built to hold many soldiers. Also, it did not have many supplies. So, St. Clair found the fort too small for his men. He took most of his surviving soldiers back to Fort Washington. He left only a small group of soldiers to guard the many wounded. It is thought that Captain Joseph Shaylor was in charge of these soldiers.
After the American army's defeat, Fort Jefferson was deep in enemy land. Native American forces wanted to push the American soldiers back to the Ohio River. They attacked the fort in early summer 1792. This attack started on June 25. One hundred warriors attacked a group of soldiers who were gathering hay for the fort. Sixteen soldiers were killed or went missing in this fight.
Another attack might have happened later. The goal may have been to capture or kill Captain Shaylor. A local story says that some attackers used Shaylor's love for hunting. They copied the sound of a wild turkey to lure him and his son into the woods. Shaylor escaped, but his son was harmed during the chase. The attacks on the fort continued on and off for three years. Native American groups kept trying to stop the fort from being useful.
Wayne's Military Plan
The United States Army got ready to fight again in western Ohio. Fort Jefferson became more important. Plans were made to use the fort to protect settlers and for raids on nearby Native American groups.
In the fall of 1793, General Anthony Wayne and his army, called the Legion of the United States, began their mission. They wanted to get revenge for St. Clair's defeat. They built a new supply fort near Greenville, about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Fort Jefferson. Even so, they still used many supplies from Fort Jefferson during their campaign the next year.
Life After the War
After the war ended, white settlers started to live near the abandoned fort. One resident built a blockhouse in 1810. By 1820, more settlers had built homes, a mill, and a school near the fort site. The new community was named "Fort Jefferson."
In the fall of 1907, the Greenville Historical Society placed a memorial at the fort's site. Fort Jefferson was recognized again in 1970. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The historic area covers about 6.5 acres (2.6 ha).
- Williams, Gary S. The Forts of Ohio: A Guide to Military Stockades. Caldwell: Buckeye Book, 2003.
