Harrison Takes Charge In Ohio-- Part 2: Building Roads and Forts

Fresh recruits soon began pouring into Franklinton and William Henry Harrison set out to train them.  As the new troops were being trained, he sent the first 700 he had received out to what is today Muncie, Indiana, where they caught a group of Miami Indians by surprise  and soundly defeated them on December 17, 1812.

At this time, most of Ohio was still a wilderness.  There were a few roads built along existing Indian trails, but for the most part, land north and west of Columbus was flat marshy land which made travel extremely difficult.

Making roads to the north of the town caused many deaths from disease in Harrison's army.  To make travel easier, Harrison ordered that an old Indian trail along the Scioto River be expanded.  That road today is State Route 23.

After that he began concentrating on building forts.  He first rebuilt Fort Defiance which had had major use during the Indian Wars of 1793-1794.  It was located at the confluence of  the Auglaiz and Maumee rivers.  During the War of 1812, the major threat to Ohio came from Canadian and British troops and their Indian allies massed along the northwest end of Lake Erie.

Fort Defiance gave Harrison a good point for a staging area, but wasn't as much help as a defensive post.  Another fort was needed.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Heritage Trail in Delaware-- Part 1: An Eagle Scout's Work

While looking up more information on New Castle, Delaware, in the War of 1812, I came across mention of this trail.

It is an eight mile hiking trail established recently by  Eagle Scout Conor Small of Troop 2540, Lewes, Delaware.  It is a tour of key locations and buildings used during the War of 1812, including the 1812 Memorial Park.

--Brock-Perry

Sackets Harbor Trail Added to NTS

From the June 6, 2015, Watertown (NY) Daily News "Sackets Harbor Trail added to National Trails System (NTS".

The Sackets Harbor Trail is at the eastern end of Lake Ontario in Northern New York andis among ten local and state trails being added to the NTS.

The Sackets Harbor Trail consists of a 3/4 mile loop and includes Sackets Harbor Battlefield History Trail.

The trail features both educational and recreational opportunities.

There are ten panels that describe the Battle of Sackets Harbor during the War of 1812 and the 1860s Naval Shipyard located there.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Signs to Be Installed in Erie, Pennsylvania

From the Feb. 17, 2013 Go Erie.com (Erie, Pennsylvania, "Seaway Trail to install War of 1812 signs on bayfront" by Ally Orlando.

Seaway Trail, Inc., VisitErie and the Erie Maritime Museum will install 2 signs in Erie, Pa.'s Bayfront at Dobbins Landing and South Pier at Presque Island State Park.  The one at Dobbins Landing will detail the career of the USS Niagara and its commander Oliver Hazard Perry (the Perry in the blog signoff).

The one at South Pier will detail how the Lake Erie fleet was built and launched.

This is part of a larger project of 19 War of 1812 signs along the 500 mile Seaway Trail which includes the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Niagara River and Lake Erie.

The new signs measure 40 X 30 inches and are color-coded brown, indicating historical information.

Getting the Word Out, One Sign At a Time.  --Brock-Perry

A New War of 1812 Trail Planned in Maryland-- Part 1

Queen Anne's County in Maryland is planning a trail with fourteen sites stretching from Kent Island to Sudlersville.  It is expected to join the new statewide Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.

Originally, there were just 3 sites in the county on the National Trail, but people in Queen Anne's felt the county had more to offer.  Each of the sites will have a marker explaining what happened there.  Most are located between Kent Island and Queenstown to commemorate the little-known Battle of Slippery Hill.

On August 5, 1813, boats with British Marines from ships out in the Chesapeake Bay, landed at Kent Island for a march on Queenstown in order to get into a better position from which to attack Baltimore.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry