Fort Meigs - Perrysburg, Ohio

Fort Meigs played an important role in the history of the War of 1812. It was constructed in February 1813, at the foot of the Maumee rapids by General William Henry Harrison and it was a large fortification, encompassing an area of ten acres. British General Henry Proctor laid siege to the fort twice during the war, but both sieges were unsuccessful.

The first siege commenced on may 1, 1812, when Proctor brought 520 regulars of the 41st Regiment, 450 militia and some 1500 Natives to bear against the fort. General Harrison, defending the fort, was aware that a relief column under Brigadier General Green Clay was on its way from Kentucky. On the morning of May 5th, part of the relief column under General Dudley struck the British batteries on the north side of the river, but the British counter-attacked, and with the aid of Tecumseh’s natives dealt a serious blow to the column. many were captured and killed, including General Dudley.

On the south side of the river the Americans were more successful, for here they managed to capture Proctor’s secondary battery, which had produced a crossfire on the fort. After a two day lull and prisoner exchange Proctor resumed the siege, but the momentum had been lost. His native allies began to leave, and his Canadian militia were needed at home to sow the spring crops. On May 9th, Proctor lifted the siege and returned to Amherstburg.

When Major General Francis de Rottenburg became the new Commander-in-Chief in Upper Canada, he suggested that Proctor’s army abandon the Detroit frontier. Proctor informed him that this action would undermine the whole native alliance and he searched for an alternative plan. Finally, at the insistence of Tecumseh, Proctor reluctantly agreed to a second attack on Fort Meigs. The British were once again before the fort on July 25th, but this time the operational plan was Tecumseh’s.

Tecumseh’s plan was to stage a “sham battle” outside of the fort which was meant to trick the garrison into believing that a relief column was being ambushed. however, the commander of the fort, Colonel Clay, had been present at Dudley’s defeat two months earlier and was not easily deceived. Restraining his men, he wisely kept them inside the fort. With the plan gone awry, and light guns having no effect on the fort, Proctor and Tecumseh both agreed to lift the siege. Proctor’s army left the vicinity the next day but to keep the native alliance active they moved on to smaller fort Stephenson. On August 2nd, Proctor’s army was repulsed in a general attack on the walls, and after they retreated back to Amherstburg.

Fort Meigs has been fully restored and is administered by the Ohio Historical Society. There are interpretive displays. The fort is located in the town of Perrysburg just outside Toledo Ohio.

Fort Stephenson - Fremont, Ohio

Fort Stephenson was constructed in the summer of 1812, and consisted of wooden pickets fourteen feet high surrounded by an eight foot ditch. three blockhouses were later added. On August 2nd, 1812 it was successfully defended by Major George Coghan, 160 regulars of the 17th and 24th US infantries, and one six-pound cannon. The attacking force was under the command of British General Henry Proctor, and was composed of soldiers of the 41st Regiment of foot, several light guns and Indians led by Tecumseh; in all about one thousand men. Proctor attempted a frontal assault against the fortification, but his troops met a withering fire and were pinned down in a gully. With night fall Proctor’s army re-embarked in boats and returned to Fort Malden.

The site of Fort Stephenson is now occupied by the Birchard Public Library on Croghan Street in the city of Fremont, Ohio. The old cannon, nicknamed “Old Betsy Croghan,” is in front of the library along with a monument, a plaque and the grave site of Major Croghan.
(Collins, Gilbert, Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812, 1998, pages 45 - 47)

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