Fort Meigs facts for kids
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Fort Meigs
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Dressed in clothing of the period, these guides at Fort Meigs Historic Site prepare to give a tour of the facility on a clear day in the summer
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Perrysburg, Ohio |
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| Area | 62.25 acres (25.19 ha) |
| Built | 1813 |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000151 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 4, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | August 4, 1969 |
Fort Meigs was a very important fort built by the United States. It stood along the Maumee River in what is now Perrysburg, Ohio. This fort played a big role during the War of 1812.
During the war, the British Army and their Native American allies, led by Tecumseh's Confederacy, tried to take over the fort. But they failed to capture it during a long battle called the Siege of Fort Meigs. The fort was named after Ohio governor Return J. Meigs, Jr.. He helped General William Henry Harrison by sending soldiers and supplies.
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History of Fort Meigs
Building a Strong Fort
Construction of Fort Meigs began in February 1813. Soldiers working under General William Henry Harrison built it. Harrison later became a U.S. President! The fort was built in the area that is now Perrysburg, Ohio.
The main goal was to create a supply base. It would also be a starting point for U.S. military actions in Canada. The fort was also important because it controlled the rapids of the Maumee River. The winter weather was very harsh during construction. One U.S. guard even froze to death while on duty.
The fort's walls were made from logs 15 feet long. These logs were partly buried in the ground. A steep earthen slope was built against the logs to make them stronger. This helped protect them from enemy attacks. When finished, Fort Meigs was the largest wooden-walled fort in North America.
The First Attack: The Siege of 1813
On May 1, 1813, British forces and their allies began attacking the fort. They were led by General Henry Proctor and Chief Tecumseh. They started firing cannons at the fort, which had about 1,200 soldiers inside. This was the start of a "siege," where an army tries to surround and capture a fort.
More soldiers arrived at the fort on May 4, bringing the total to 2,800. Early on May 5, a group of American soldiers attacked the British cannons. They managed to disable some of them. However, part of the American force chased Native American warriors into the woods. In the forest, the American soldiers became disorganized. Many were captured or killed in the confused fighting. This sad event became known as "Dudley's Massacre."
Native American warriors from the Shawnee, Delaware (Lenape), and other tribes attacked anyone leaving the fort. General Harrison protected his soldiers inside the fort. He used two large earthen walls, called "traverses," built inside the fort. These walls were 14 feet high and helped stop incoming British cannonballs. General Proctor gave up the siege on May 9, 1813, and went back to Detroit.
The Second Attack and After
After the first siege, General Harrison left General Green Clay in charge of Fort Meigs. The fort was made smaller than its original size. In July 1813, the British tried again to attack Fort Meigs to please their allies. The Native American warriors staged a fake battle to try and trick the American soldiers into coming out. But the Americans saw through the trick.
After this failed attack, the British moved on to Fort Stephenson. That attack also failed, and the British suffered heavy losses. They were forced to retreat to Canada. Once the British had left the area for good, General Harrison ordered Fort Meigs to be taken apart. A smaller, square fort was built in its place. This new fort served as a supply base and protected the river rapids. The Treaty of Fort Meigs was signed there in 1817. The fort was then completely abandoned that same year.
In 1864, brothers Timothy and Thomas Hayes bought the land where the fort stood. They worked hard to preserve the memory of the soldiers who fought there. Their family later sold the land to the state in 1907. On September 1, 1908, a tall monument was dedicated to the fallen soldiers. You can still see this monument from outside the fort today.
The Ohio History Connection rebuilt the fort in the late 1960s. A museum opened in 1974, showing many items found during the rebuilding. Fort Meigs is now a National Historic Landmark.
Visiting Fort Meigs Today
Today, Fort Meigs is an Ohio State Memorial in Perrysburg, Ohio. The park covers 65 acres. It includes a full-size, 10-acre copy of the 1813 fort. Between 2000 and 2003, the wooden walls were rebuilt with new timbers. The seven blockhouses (small forts within the main fort) were repaired. New exhibits were also built inside four of them.
A big renovation project costing $6.2 million replaced the old museum. Now there is a new Museum and Education Center. It has 14,000 square feet of space. About 3,000 square feet are used for exhibits about Ohio's role in the War of 1812. There are also classrooms for students and adults. The museum exhibit, "Legacy of Freedom: Fort Meigs and the War of 1812," teaches visitors about the time period, the conflict, and why it's important to remember.
You can still see the original "grand traverse" inside the fort. It's an earthen wall that helped protect soldiers. Even though it's smaller now due to erosion, it's still there. Another wall, called a "reverse traverse," was rebuilt to look like the original. Near a cemetery, you can also find the remains of a spot where the British placed a mortar (a type of cannon) during the siege.
Exciting Re-enactments
Several exciting re-enactments happen at Fort Meigs every year. These events help visitors imagine what life was like during the War of 1812.
- First Siege: This battle re-enactment shows the events of the siege in May 1813. You can see American and British soldiers with their cannons. This event is held on Memorial Day weekend. A ceremony honoring fallen soldiers follows on Monday.
- Muster on the Maumee: This event happens on Father's Day weekend. It's a "timeline event" that includes military re-enactors from different time periods. You might see everything from ancient Roman soldiers to modern-day soldiers.
- Independence Day: This re-enactment shows how the Fourth of July was celebrated in 1813. It includes special toasts and an 18-gun salute.
- Garrison Ghost Walk: This event takes place on the last two weekends in October. A re-enactor guides visitors through the dark fort. They tell spooky ghost stories about the fort's past.
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Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Fort Meigs. |
