Ohio History Journal

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120 Ohio Arch

120        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

tablets, in the city of Greenville, Ohio, commemorating the establishment

of the fort there in 1793, the first treaty with the Indians August 3, 1795,

and the second treaty July 22, 1814, together with statues of General St.

Clair, General Anthony Wayne and General William H. Harrison, the hero

of the victory of the battle of the river Thames, which resulted in the death

of Tecumseh and the restoration of a permanent peace with the Indians.

This society has a work to perform, and as you have done for us, so do

likewise for others who also need your kind assistance.

May you always have ready hands and willing minds to labor suc-

cessfully in his great work.

 

HISTORIC ADDRESS.

HON. JAMES I. ALLREAD.

JUDGE COMMON PLEAS COURT, DARKE COUNTY.

The county historical society and the citizens of this community are

to be congratulated upon the building of this boulder monument and the

placing of this historic tablet marking the ancient site of Fort Jefferson.

The building of this fort by General Arthur St. Clair was an import-

ant historical event-important not only in the history of this county,

but of the whole Northwest Territory.

Here was built the first permanent structure within the limits of

what is now Darke county. And from here the army of volunteers

and regulars under St. Clair marched forth to meet the most crushing

defeat in all the history of Indian warfare.

The intimate connection of Fort Jefferson with St. Clair's defeat has

marked it for obscurity. The illfated expedition is never dignified as

St. Clair's campaign nor the engagement as St. Clair's battle, but is

designated in all the histories as "St. Clair's Defeat".

It must be remembered, however, that the historical importance of

a battle or engagement does not depend wholly upon success.

Bunker Hill was a great defeat for the colonists, yet, historically,

it marked the beginning of the struggle for independence.

The defeat of the Union forces at Bull Run aroused the North and

made Appomattox possible.

The defeat of St. Clair aroused the national government, inspired the

preparation and reorganization of an army which, under General Anthony

Wayne, achieved brilliant and complete victory in the battle of the Mau-

mee wilderness and brought the Indian chieftains, humiliated, to the

council ending in the Greenville treaty.

The Ohio valley and the Lake Erie region was the scene of the

most formidable and sanguinary of all the Indian conflicts. They began

with the struggles between the French and English traders; they devel-

oped into the French and Indian war; broke out again after the treaty

of peace between the French and English, in Pontiac's conspiracy; in