Fort Sandusky facts for kids

Fort Sandusky is the name for at least three different military forts. These forts were built by French and English forces in northern Ohio, near Sandusky Bay and the Sandusky River. The first was the French Fort Sandoské (built 1749-1750). Then came the British Fort Sandusky (1761). Finally, there was the American Fort Sandusky (1812), which was later renamed Fort Stephenson.

Besides these forts, there were also trading posts. An English trading post called Fort Sandusky was built on the north side of the bay from 1745 to 1748. Before 1754, French traders built Fort Junandat. This was a trading post on the south side of Sandusky Bay, east of the Sandusky River. An 1855 map by Lewis Evans showed it. Some French records called the bay Lac Junandat because of this post. Around the same time, the French also had a trading post at a Wyandot village. This village was on the Sandusky River, a few miles from where it met the bay.

Why Were Forts Built Here?

The Sandusky Bay area was a very important place for trade. French and English colonists both wanted to control the trade with Native American tribes. The French called this area Lac Sandoské or Otsandoské. These names came from Wyandot words meaning "water" and "big water."

Many Wyandot (also known as Huron) villages were in this area. The Wyandot spoke an Iroquoian language. In the 1740s, a Wyandot chief named Orontony (also called Nicolas) settled here and became a leader. In 1745, Nicolas allowed English traders from Pennsylvania to build a trading post. They called it Fort Sandusky. It was on the northern shore of Sandusky Bay. This post was near a portage, which was a path to carry boats and goods. This path connected the bay to the Portage River at Lake Erie. This was the first European trading post in the Ohio Country.

French soldiers from Fort Detroit reportedly drove the English traders away in 1748-1749. The French wanted to control all the trade in this region.

The French Fort Sandoské

After driving out the English, the French built their own fort. They called it Fort Sandoské. This fort was built around 1749 or 1750. It was located on the northwest side of Sandusky Bay, in what is now Ottawa County, Ohio. It was near the bay, south and east of today's City of Port Clinton, Ohio. This French fort was abandoned by 1754.

By 1754, the French had also set up Fort Junandat. This was a trading post on the south side of Sandusky Bay. Today, this area is in Erie County, Ohio.

Tensions were growing because of the Seven Years' War in Europe. In 1754, a French lieutenant and engineer named Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry was sent from Presqu' Isle (Erie, Pennsylvania) to Fort Detroit. He wrote in his journal about Fort Sandoské. He noted that by 1754, very little was left of Fort Sandoské, only ruins. He then led his forces across the peninsula to Lake Erie.

In his journal, Chaussegros also mentioned seeing French traders and their families at Fort Junandat. This post was across the bay, southeast from the old Fort Sandoské site. He drew a map of the old Fort Sandoské in his journal. He described Fort Junandat as being near Pickerel Creek, in what is now Townsend Township, Sandusky County. Over time, the site of Fort Junandat disappeared into the bay due to erosion.

Most of the fighting in the French and Indian War in North America ended by 1760. The British had defeated the French in Quebec. The victorious British then began to take over forts in the Ohio Country and Great Lakes region. These forts were previously held by the French. In 1758, the British made the Treaty of Easton with Native American tribes in the Ohio Country. They promised not to build any more forts in their territory.

However, in 1761, British General Jeffery Amherst ordered a new Fort Sandusky to be built. This fort was on Sandusky Bay. It was meant to strengthen the British defense line. This line stretched from Fort Detroit to central Lake Erie, and then to Fort Pitt. Fort Pitt controlled access to the Ohio River and the western frontier of the British colonies. The Seven Years' War continued in Europe until 1763.

The British Fort Sandusky (1761-1763)

The British Fort Sandusky was a small fort built on the southeastern shore of Sandusky Bay. This area is now in Erie County, Ohio. A European-American town later grew up nearby.

In 1763, during Pontiac's Rebellion, Native American tribes fought back against the British. A group of tribes, mainly Wyandot, first attacked Fort Detroit. Then, the Wyandot and their allies attacked other forts in the region, including Fort Sandusky.

On May 16, 1763, a group of Wyandot warriors entered Fort Sandusky. They pretended they wanted to hold a meeting with the British. This was the same trick they had tried at Detroit a few days earlier. While alone with the commander, the chiefs captured him. Other warriors then killed the fifteen British soldiers in the fort. They also killed several British traders. The Native Americans looted the fort for supplies and then burned it down.

Understanding the Forts of Sandusky

It can be confusing to keep track of the different "Fort Sandusky" locations. The name was used for military forts and also for trading posts. Plus, there were different spellings in French and English.

Here is a simple way to remember them:

• The English trading post Fort Sandusky was on the north side of the bay.
• The French Fort Sandoské replaced it. Both were in Ottawa County.
• The French trading post Fort Junandat was on the south side of the bay.
• The British Fort Sandusky, with its 15 soldiers, was also on the south side of the bay. It was built in 1761 after the British won against France in North America. Both Fort Junandat and the British Fort Sandusky were in what is now Erie County, Ohio.
• The last Fort Sandusky was built around 1812. It was on the Lower Sandusky River, southwest of the bay. Its name was later changed to Fort Stephenson. This fort was in Sandusky County, Ohio.