Ohio History Journal

FORT MORROW SOLDIERS, OF THE WAR OF 1812,

HONORED

 

According to an early historian of Marion County,

Ohio, Nathaniel Wyatt, Sr., exchanged 80 acres of mili-

tary land in Pickaway County for a tract of 200 acres

in Section 3, Waldo Township, Marion County. On

this tract he built the Wyatt Brick Tavern, and on it was

also built Fort Morrow in the year 1812. Wyatt's Hotel

was comprised in the enclosure of the pickets made from

split slats around the old fort. The old enclosure con-

tained two blockhouses, one at the southwest corner and

one at the northeast. One was made of round logs and

the other of hewn logs. On the top log of the latter was

painted "Fort Morrow." This was built by Captain

Taylor.

In Wyatt Cemetery, at the site of old Fort Morrow,

south of Waldo, were buried thirteen soldiers of the

War of 1812, whose names have been unknown for gen-

erations. Today each grave is designated by a marble

slab marked, "Unknown United States Soldier of the

War of 1812." These markers were obtained from the

United States Government by interested persons of the

Fort Morrow district.

The leading spirit of the movement to have the

graves marked has been L. A. Davis, of Plain City,

attorney-at-law and a native of the vicinity of Fort

Morrow. With him have been associated Mr. J. F.

Brundage, and other citizens of this section of the

(572)

• 1
 

Fort Morrow Soldiers, War of 1812, Honored     573

county.   Tribute   was paid    to  the  memory    of the

soldiers of the War of 1812, who were buried here, on

Friday, May 13, 1927. The ceremony began with a Civil

War salute, led by Colonel George B. Christian of

Marion, William    Gabler of Waldo, Horace Silverwood

of Delaware, and Harrison Kinnamon of Caledonia --

all Civil War veterans.    Ray Moore's Fife and Drum

Corps, of Delaware, added a martial spirit to the cere-

mony. Senator Frank B. Willis delivered the principal

address of the occasion. Colonel George B. Christian

spoke briefly, following Senator Willis, and Reverend

Frank A. Schultz, of the Central Theological Seminary,

Dayton, invoked the divine blessing, while Captain R. O.

McRae, pastor of St. Paul's Church, Delaware, pro-

nounced the benediction.

Senator Frank B. Willis, the orator of the occasion,

spoke as follows:

This meeting is a tribute to the unknown dead. Here lie

asleep the earthly remains of thirteen American soldiers. We

know not whence they came; what mother kissed them good-bye;

what father's blessing they carried; what home was made deso-

late by their failure to return; what tears were shed; what hearts

broken. It would be even less an occasion for regret if we knew

the names of these heroes, their company, their regiment. After

all, we know enough -- that they were American soldiers, who

died in the defense of their country. It is probable that some of

these soldiers came from Kentucky, because that state was par-

ticularly active in the portion of the campaign of the War of

1812 in which these soldiers died. Quite probably some of them

came from Ohio, but whence they came and what their names

were, we shall never know. We can be sure that they were en-

titled to the fullest extent of praise, because here in the midst of

the darksome forest, battling with savages, they gave up their

lives that the Nation might live. It is well that the young pause

here and give serious thought to what these humble mounds mean.

It is inspiring to read the stories about heroic deeds on the

battlefield, and yet suffering and death are individual, not social,

• 2
 

574       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

Life was as dear to these young men as to any that stand here;

they had fond hopes and high ambitions, but yet, as the sun sank

in the West, they saw the light go out; they laid down their lives

in the performance of a great duty. Without the sacrifice of such

men there would be no America; we would have no free schools;

no helpful government; no protecting laws.

The American landscape is dotted with lonely graves of sol-

diers, who, by the river side, in some far-off mountain pass, or

here on this pleasant knoll, made the supreme sacrifice. "The

world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but

it will never forget what they did here." It is well for all of us,

and particularly the young, to think over again the lessons of

American history, and to take from the heroic sacrifices that

have been made by the men of a former generation, an increased

measure of devotion to our common country and to resolve that

its Constitution and its laws must be respected and obeyed.

The efforts of the Committee, who have brought about this

meeting, are to be commended. It would have been a most un-

fortunate thing, indeed, almost a disgrace, if these graves had

been forgotten. A few patriotic men and women kept alive the

story of old Fort Morrow and recently have given spirit and im-

petus to the movement, which has finally resulted in placing these

markers at the heads of these patriotic, unknown soldiers. To all

of those, who have had a part in bringing about this, thanks of

this community and the State of Ohio are due.

The story of Fort Morrow and its environs is a part of the

history of the War of 1812. The United States was supposed to

have won its independence in the Revolution, and yet, in inter-

national affairs, it became apparent that we were treated by the

nations of Europe as simply an auxiliary to their imperial policy.

France sought by cajolery, and later by force, to drag us into a

controversy as her ally. England did likewise. When both found

out that this country would maintain, at all costs, Washington's

policy of neutrality and would decline to be dragged into the

quarrels of Europe, they sought, by illegal and unconscionable mo-

tives, to humiliate this country, destroy its commerce, and en-

slave its people. In the Revolution, we may have won freedom

on the land. It took the War of 1812 to bring about our free-

dom on the seas. The question of impressment of seamen and

right of search were deeply involved in the controversy, which

finally broke out in open war. Napoleon was then the dominant

figure on the continent of Europe. Through his Berlin and Milan

Decrees, France, in effect, was saying that America had no right

on the seas. Not to be outdone in tyrannical assertion, England,

in her Orders in Council, took equally untenable ground. Ameri-

• 3
 

Fort Morrow Soldiers, War of 1812, Honored      575

 

can seamen were impressed into British service -- American com-

merce was swept from the seas. British warships were off Ameri-

can ports to search every outgoing vessel. We had come to a place

where we must either fight for our rights or else give up all idea of

independence, and so the War of 1812 came. The Country was

illy prepared for the contest; consequently, there were many

deaths. Practically unopposed, the British marched into Washing-

ton; drove the Government from the seat of power and burned the

Capitol. However, while these terrible disasters were piled upon

the country, our little navy was winning unparalleled laurels. It

was fitting that this should be so, because the fight was, in its

inception, a contest for freedom of the seas. Out of sixteen

pitched battles between individual American and British ships, the

Americans won in fifteen of these battles. It must not be sup-

posed, however, that all the laurels of victory were won by the

navy. There was gallant and effective fighting on the land.

Hull's surrender, at Detroit, was a terrible disaster, because it

opened the way for joint British and Indian intervention in the

Northwest. Local history and historians furnish an abundance

of most interesting information concerning the war on the west-

ern frontier.

Singularly enough, the War of 1812 was won on the land

in two great battles, in what was known as the West -- one the

Battle of the Thames, under the leadership of William Henry

Harrison, and the other, the Battle of New Orleans, under the

leadership of General Andrew Jackson. However, the victory at

New Orleans came too late to be of effect. At least two events

can be easily remembered with reference to the War of 1812 --

first, the greatest victory was won after the Treaty of Peace was

signed; and, second, the Treaty of Peace, that was signed, made

no mention of the issues upon which the war was fought. After

the Battle of Fallen Timbers, General Anthony Wayne met the

Indians and agreed upon what is known in history as the

Greenville Treaty Line. This would be a line of separation between

lands under Indian control and those belonging to the United

States. Historians and geographers advise that the exact location

of this line is near the village of Waldo. The ground on which

we stand is not far removed from the Greenville Treaty Line, and

Fort Morrow was, in effect, an outpost on that Line, after it was

established. Following the surrender of General Hull, at Detroit.

tremendous effort was put forth by the American forces to regain

the lost ground in the West. A little navy was hastily constructed

on the shores of Lake Erie. This navy wrote, high on the scroll

of fame, the story of American valor. In the State House, at

Columbus, is the famous picture, "The Battle of Lake Erie," and

• 4
 

576       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

today, as one approaches the Island of Put-in-Bay, he sees

towering up out of the water, the great monument erected in

memory of the victory won and the friendly peace which followed.

Part of the great movement to regain the West was carried for-

ward on the land. This movement was led by General Harrison.

His forces were recruited quite largely from the West, especially

from Ohio and Kentucky. This fact gives rise to the presump-

tion that these graves are burial places of Kentucky and Ohio

soldier boys. One detachment of General Harrison's force passed

northward through this vicinity and stopped for a rest of some

days near the site of this very cemetery, and while here, erected a

fort, surrounding it with palisades. This was named Fort Mor-

row. A local historian, who has studied the subject very care-

fully, advises me that the occasion of the first burial in this

cemetery cannot be ascertained, as a number of the soldiers of the

War of 1812 here found their last resting place. Among the num-

ber, probably, was a Captain Flynn, who served with distinction

with Col. Croghan, at Fort Stephenson. Others were private sol-

diers, who were killed in battle or assassinated by murderous

Indians.

Some description of Fort Morrow may not be uninteresting.

One of our historians, who has talked with people who had some

personal recollection of the place, and who had seen actual

pictures of it, tells us that this very site, near the Greenville Treaty

Line, was in the midst of the forest, which was unbroken for miles

in every direction. The military road, which had been constructed

by General Harrison's force, wound around a little hill on which

the fort was built. The fort really consisted of two blockhouses,

a short distance from each other. Between the two was the

famous Wyatt Tavern. These structures were surrounded by

palisades of strong oaken timbers, specially set into the ground

and sharpened at the top. The block houses were built of logs.

The first story was run up to about eight feet and the second was

so made as to extend over the first about four feet. The floor of

the projection had small openings, thus enabling those inside to

defend against attacks. The upper story contained openings so

that rifles could be discharged in any direction. A historian tells

us that the door was composed of three-inch planks, double barred

across and upright. In the story below, the defenseless part of

the population was herded together and in the upper story the

protectors took their stand to defend their homes and their

country.

In these days, when there is so much silly talk to the effect

that there will never be any more need for means of defense, it is

worth while to consider the lessons of history. These men, who

• 5
 

Fort Morrow Soldiers, War of 1812, Honored     577 lie asleep, were no doubt peaceable men. They would have pre- ferred to live in quietude with their families, yet they did not hesi- tate to give up all, even life itself, in defense of their families and their country. He, who would refuse to do likewise in this day, is something less than patriotic. It is said that only recently, at a great meeting, a resolution was adopted to the effect that, under no circumstances, would the persons attending that meeting par- ticipate in future wars. Such a resolution is contrary to the real spirit of Americanism. Our country desires peace. It will con- tinue to take all honorable steps to promote it, but no one present can suppose that the cause of peace can be advanced by leaving our country entirely without defense. Perhaps some of these men, who are buried here, would not have died, if they had re- ceived proper military training. It is known definitely that thousands of our American boys, who died in the World War, need not have died, if they had had time to receive proper train- ing. There are occasions when force must be used. What has taken place in China, recently, is an excellent illustration of this fact. Had it not been for the presence of American sailors and marines, more than one hundred American missionaries would undoubtedly have lost their lives. At any rate, this is the opinion of the President of Nanking University, who certainly is in po- sition to know the facts. If these voices, forever silent, could speak to us this after- noon, they would say, "We are for peace; we want our country to espouse the policies of peace -- yet we warn our country that it should be prepared to defend itself from enemies, within and without."

Vol. XXXVI-37.

• 6