Ohio History Journal

FORT ST. CLAIR

 

CELEBRATION OF ST. CLAIR DAY

No history of the Northwest Territory would be

complete without conspicuous reference to what is now

Preble County, Ohio. Through its primeval forests

General Arthur St. Clair, in the autumn of 1791,

marched on his ill-fated expedition to disastrous defeat

by the Indians near the present site of Fort Recovery,

to return later in disorderly retreat. Over the same

route General Anthony Wayne advanced with his

legions, by careful stages, in October, 1793, to a signal

victory at the battle of Fallen Timbers, in what is now

Lucas County, August 20, 1794. This battle prepared

the way for the Treaty of Greenville, August 3, 1795,

and the suspension of Indian incursions until the cam-

paign of General William Henry Harrison in 1811,

which culminated in the battle of Tippecanoe.

The defeat of St. Clair left the western border open

to the attacks of the Indians and greatly retarded for

a time the settlement of the Ohio Country. To afford

a measure of protection and stay the advance of the

savage foe, Fort St. Clair was erected between Fort

Hamilton and Fort Jefferson, on a site about one mile

from the public square of Eaton.

The history of this fort, as detailed in an address on

St. Clair Day, is presented on following pages and need

not be repeated here. The accounts of the battle that

was fought almost under the guns of the fort are prac-

tically all based on a letter written by Judge Joel Col-

(506)

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Fort St. Clair                 507

lins, of Oxford, who participated in that historic event

and the official report of Major John Adair in command

of a detachment of militia from Kentucky and after-

wards governor of that state.

Between Eaton and the site of Fort St. Clair is the

cemetery in which at last rest the remains of Lieutenant

John Lowry and Ensign Samuel Boyd who fell in an

engagement with the Indians at Forty Foot Pitch,

October 17, 1793. On succeeding pages is presented a

discussion of the location of Forty Foot Pitch, which

seems to have been involved in considerable doubt.

In the very first issue of the Centinel of the North-

western Territory, the first newspaper published in the

Ohio country north of the Ohio River, bearing date of

November 9, 1793, appears an account of this engage-

ment which is a paraphrase of the official report of

General Wayne. It reads in part as follows:

 

Many reports having been circulated with respect to the

attack made by the savages upon a convoy of provisions, some

little time ago, between Fort St. Clair and Fort Jefferson, the

following is an authentic account of the affair.

Lieutenant Lowry, of the Second, and Ensign Boyd of the

First sub-legions, with a command consisting of about ninety

non-commissioned officers and privates, having under their con-

voy twenty wagons loaded with grain and commissary stores,

were attacked between day-light and sunrise, seven miles ad-

vanced of Fort St. Clair, on the morning of the 17th ult. These

two gallant young gentlemen, with thirteen non-commissioned

officers and privates, bravely fell in action. * * * The Indians

killed or carried off about seventy horses. * * *

The officers who fell in this action belonged to the

regular army and their names together with a brief

record of their services, are preserved in the archives

of the Republic. The sketches are as follows:

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508      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

John Lowry. From New Jersey; lieutenant in the levies of

1791; ensign 2nd Infantry, April 11, 1792; 2nd sub-legion, Sep-

tember 4, 1792; lieutenant February 20, 1793; killed October 17,

1793, in action with Indians near Fort St. Clair, Ohio.

Samuel Boyd. From Pennsylvania; surgeon's mate; Ist

sub-legion, February 23, 1793; ensign 1st sub-legion, March 3,

1793; killed, October 17, 1793, in action with Indians near Fort

St. Clair, Ohio.

The remains of these officers and the men who fell

in action with them were first buried near Fort St. Clair

and afterward reinterred in the cemetery.

Following are the names of the non-commissioned

officers who were lost in this action: Warren Murray,

Sergeant; Ezekiel Morrill, Sergeant; Silas Burret,

Corporal.

The names of the privates were as follows: Nicholas

Brooks, Elisha Barrows, Calvin Brown, John Connor,

Henry Derris, Enos Hall, Lewis May, John Phillips,

Joshua Risley, Thaxter York.

Murray, Derris, May, Phillips and York are desig-

nated as "missing".

The foregoing names are in the report made to the

War Department and are here printed, it is believed, for

the first time. Captain Daniel Tilton of the 2nd sub-

legion commanded in this action.

The Preble County Historical Society which has

been active in recent years in arousing interest in local

history planned and carried out most successfully a

celebration of St. Clair Day, November 6, 1922, the one

hundred and thirtieth anniversary of the battle with

the Indians near Fort St. Clair. The program rendered

on that occasion follows:

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Fort St. Clair                 509

 

 

THE FIRST ANNUAL HISTORICAL

ST. CLAIR DAY

NOVEMBER 6, 1792-1922

Originated by

PREBLE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

PROGRAM

12:15-1:30 at the Old Fort. Flag Salute -- (21 guns) C. M.

Wilcox, New Paris, Ohio.

Unveiling of Monument -- Marion McPherson, Eldorado.

Remarks -- C. B. Galbreath of the State Historical and Archaeo-

logical Society, Columbus, Ohio.

Music -- Girls' Sextette -- Union High School, Lewisburg, Ohio.

1:30 P. M. Assembly Room of Court House

Music -- Girls' Sextette -- Union High School.

The Story of Fort St. Clair -- Ralph Ehler, West Alexandria

High School.

Lost Treasures -- (Columbus meeting the Indians) -- Pupils of

Jefferson Township High School.

The Birth of the Flag -- Pupils of Jackson Township Schools.

Chorus -- The Star Spangled Banner.

Address-- C. B. Galbreath, Columbus, Ohio.

Vocal Solo -- Oleson Zimmerman, Gratis High School.

Lowry's Skirmish at Ludlow's Spring -- Monroe Township High

School.

Music -- Quartette -- Monroe Township High School.

Evening 7:30 P. M. Assembly Room Court House

Music -- Pupils of Jefferson Township Schools.

Surrender of Indians at Greenville -- Pupils of Dixon Township

Schools.

Legends of Early Preble County History -- Frank Blackford,

Eldorado, Ohio.

Mad Anthony Wayne in Preble County -- Pupils of Camden

Schools.

Music -- Mrs. Marie Burns, Mrs. Stella Risinger, Helen Young

and Roy Benham.

An Original Indian Play -- Dramatized by group of girls, Eaton

School.

Aims of Preble County Historical Society -- President H. R.

McPherson, Eldorado, Ohio.

Cornet Solo with Piano Accompaniment -- Charles and Mary

Cottingham, Eaton, Ohio.

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510      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications Some of the historic episodes announced in the program were given with appropriate costumes. The rendering of the different parts by the schools of the county was highly creditable to the participants. There

was no prompting or break. The list of exercises is presented above in full in order that it may be suggestive to other counties of the state. The Dayton Daily News of November 7, the day following the exercises, has on its front page a number

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Fort St. Clair                 511

of illustrations of the unveiling of the monument and

the following account of the exercises:

 

EATON, Nov. 7. -- With ceremonies fully in keeping with

the occasion, the first annual historical St. Clair Day was ob-

served here Monday afternoon and evening by the Preble County

Historical Society and citizens of the county. The day marked

the anniversary of an important battle between whites and

Indians at Ft. St. Clair, one mile west and slightly to the south

of Eaton. The date was November 6, 1792.

The commemorative ceremonies included unveiling and dedi-

cation of a monument at Ft. St. Clair in the afternoon, followed

by a program of exercises in the assembly hall in the court house.

C. B. Galbreath of Columbus, secretary of the State Archaeo-

logical and Historical Society, gave the dedicatory address at the

unveiling of the monument. He also gave an address later at the

meeting in the court house. In dedicating the monument he paid

a touching tribute to the heroes who fell in battle at the historic

old fort. He said they had waited 130 years for the tribute that

was being paid them today. He declared it most fitting that the

monument dedicated to their memory should be erected by a

veteran of the Civil War -- Major W. H. Ortt.

The monument was unveiled by little Miss Marion McPher-

son of Eldorado, daughter of H. R. McPherson, president of the

County Historical Society. A flag salute of 21 rounds from a

cannon was fired. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Charles F.

Irwin, Eaton Presbyterian Church, an overseas chaplain and

chaplain of the American Legion post of the county.

The monument dedicated at the old fort stands fully eight

feet in height and weighs eight and one-half tons. It is a native

Preble county boulder and was procured from the farm of Clar-

ence Dalrymple, two and one-half miles north of Eaton. A tablet

in the face of the monument bears this inscription: "Erected

by William H. Ortt in October, 1922. Sacred to the memory of

the soldiers who fought and died in the battle with the Indians

at Ft. St. Clair, Nov. 6, 1792." The tablet is of bronze, 21 by 16

inches, and is the handiwork of Dr. C. M. Wilcox of New Paris.

The flag staff also was erected by Major Ortt. A concrete base

has been installed at the fort to receive a cannon and balls he

will contribute.

Graves of six warriors who fell in the Indian battle have

been placed in proper condition and marked with headstones.

The stones bear these names: Lieut. Job Hale, Kentucky militia,

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(512)

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Fort St. Clair                513

 

killed in battle with Indians, November 6, 1792; Orderly-

Sergeant Matthew English, Private John Williams, Private Isaac

Jett, Private Joseph Clinton, Private Robert Bolling.

The Indian hordes in the battle were led by Little Turtle,

while Capt. John Adair led the opposition. The fort took its

name from Gen. Arthur St. Clair, then governor of the North-

west Territory.

The ceremonies observed upon the 130th anniversary of the

Ft. St. Clair battle were conceived by the county historical society,

formed a little more than a year ago. It is the hope of the society

to reclaim the site of the old fort. A plan of procedure looking to

this end is being worked out.

The attendance and manifest enjoyment in the

celebration of this day evidenced the fact that nothing

so stimulates interest in local history as the participa-

tion of the public schools. Preble County is fortunate

in having in its court house at Eaton an ample audience

room communicating with the office of the Superintend-

ent of Schools. This room was filled to its capacity by

an attentive audience that remained throughout the

rendition of the program.

The occasion brought visitors from outside of the

county. Among them was Mrs. E. G. Clerke, daughter

of Dr. C. M. Wilcox. She came from Cincinnati and

acted as cannoneer in firing the salute preceding the

dedicatory ceremonies at the monument. The excellent

work inaugurated by the celebration of St. Clair Day

at Eaton has had its sequel in provision by the General

Assembly for the purchase of the St. Clair site and its

improvement as detailed in the following items included

in the appropriation bill passed by the General As-

sembly.

 

 

Vol. XXXII -- 33.

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Unveiling of monument by Miss Marian McPherson (514)

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Fort St. Clair                515

For purchase of Site of Fort St. Clair, Preble County,

Ohio, for historical and forestry purposes (Title to

be vested in The Ohio State Archaeological and

Historical Society for State of Ohio) ........... $10,000

Buildings      .........................................  4,000

Roadway      ........................................                                                   1,000

Total Site  of  Fort  St.  Clair  ...................                                    $15,000

For this commendable action the good people of

southeastern Ohio and tourists from other parts of the

state are under lasting obligations to the General As-

sembly and especially to Honorable Harry D. Silver,

State Representative from Preble County and chairman

of the Finance Committee of the House, who in this

result has crowned his excellent record of service to his

state and county. The effective work that he inaugu-

rated in the House was ably supported in the Senate by

Honorable G. M. Kumler of Preble County, who repre-

sents the Preble-Montgomery District.

 

THE STORY OF FORT ST. CLAIR *

BY RALPH B. EHLER

At the time when my story begins, Ohio was prac-

tically unsettled. The few settlers already here were

in constant danger of the Indians, who were not at all

pleased with the white man's presence in their Hunting

Grounds.

Prior to the organization of civil government, cam-

paigns directed by the settlers, against the Indians, had

failed to secure peace.    The National Government,

however, wishing to subdue the hostile Indians in the

Territory, organized a number of military campaigns.

 

* Read at the St. Clair celebration, November 6, 1922, Eaton, Preble

County, Ohio.

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516     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

The first of these, led by General Harmar, then com-

mander-in-chief of the armies in the West, met with

defeat at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1790.

In 1791, General St. Clair, governor of the territory,

organized the second expedition.  About this time,

several Indian chiefs, among whom was the famous

Little Turtle, were planning a confederacy. By this

action, they hoped to be strong enough to drive the set-

tlers beyond the Ohio River. It was St. Clair's pur-

pose to stop this movement by erecting a chain of forts

from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, and in particular,

to gain possession of the headwaters of the Maumee

River.

He organized his army at Pittsburgh in April and

moved westward, arriving at Fort Washington, now

Cincinnati, in May. After some delay, he marched north

in September to a point on the Great Miami and erected

the first of the proposed chain of forts, Fort Hamilton,

on the present site of Hamilton.

Leaving a small portion of his army in charge, he

again moved forward, this time marching forty-four

miles. At this point, just six miles south of the present

site of Greenville, he erected the second fort, Fort Jef-

ferson.  It was on this march that he first passed

through Preble county, his route being along Seven Mile

Creek.

After the completion of this fort, his next advance

was to the Indian villages on the Maumee. Due to de-

sertion, his army was much smaller than when he

started his campaign and upon his arrival at Fort Re-

covery, numbered only 1400 men. It was here that St.

Clair was overwhelmingly defeated by the Indians on

November 4, 1791.

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Fort St. Clair             517

This was the most disheartening disaster in the an-

nals of American border warfare. The loss of men

here was even greater in proportion to the number en-

gaged than the loss in Braddock's defeat. Out of 1400

men and 86 officers, 890 men and 16 officers were either

killed or badly wounded. After four hours of serious

fighting, the remnant of St. Clair's army fled pellmell

into the woods, going south over the same route that

two days before they had marched, a well organized

army. As a result of this defeat, the whole territory

was thrown open to the savage attacks of the Indians.

Although this battle was fought many miles from

the place in which we are interested, a knowledge of it

is necessary for a proper appreciation of the condition

of the country at the time when Fort St. Clair was built.

During the winter of 1791-92, just after St. Clair's

defeat, Fort St. Clair was erected upon the order of

General Wilkinson, who had succeeded St. Clair as

commander of Fort Washington. It was to serve as a

stepping stone of refuge between Fort Hamilton and

Fort Jefferson. The work was under the supervision

of Major Gano of the state militia. Another prominent

person present at the erection of this fort was Ensign

Harrison, later, President Harrison, who had charge of

one shift of the alternate night guards.

Like most of the forts, Fort St. Clair was a stock-

ade, covering a few acres of ground, containing block-

houses and officers' quarters. About forty acres of for-

est were cleared away from around the fort.

In October, 1792, a great council of Indians, the

greatest of its kind, was held at Fort Defiance and an

armistice was entered into which the Indians agreed to

observe until the following spring. Peace was not very

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518     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

faithfully observed, however, and was first broken

within the boundaries of Preble County at Fort St.

Clair on the sixth day of November, 1792.

One hundred Kentucky mounted riflemen, under the

command of Major Adair, were acting as an escort for

a brigade of pack horses from Fort Washington to Fort

Jefferson. They were to make the trip past Fort St.

Clair and return in six days, staying each night under

the protection of one of the forts. At this same time,

Little Turtle and two hundred and fifty warriors were

planning an attack on a small settlement just north of

Fort Washington. However, upon hearing of the pack

train, the chief decided to attack it instead upon its re-

turn trip, and with this in view, took to ambush just

north of Fort Hamilton. According to schedule, the

train was to arrive at Fort Hamilton on Monday. Dis-

regarding the schedule, Adair laid over at Fort Jeffer-

son on Sunday, and on Monday night, he pitched camp

just outside of Fort St. Clair. Little Turtle heard of

this through spies and at once left ambush with the in-

tention of attacking the camp yet that night.

It was just breaking dawn when, with a volley of

shots and a roar of hideous yells, they surprised the

camp. The yells frightened the horses and many of

them broke loose. The Indians, desiring to capture the

horses and to gather up all the loot possible, seemed, for

a moment to forget about the militia. Adair took ad-

vantage of this and called his men together. This done,

he formed his men into three divisions. Lieutenant

Madison was to attack the left flank, Lieutenant Hale,

the center, and the Major with his division, on the right.

As soon as it was light enough to distinguish the whites

from the Indians, the attack was made. It was in this

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Fort St. Clair             519

attack that Lieutenant Hale was killed and Madison

was wounded. The Indians were forced to retreat some

distance where they then took a stand and, in turn,

forced the militia back. This zigzag method of fight-

ing was carried on for some time until the Indians and

all but six of the horses were lost sight of at about the

place where Eaton is now located.

The exact number of Indians killed in this battle is

not definitely known, though two were left and are

buried at the fort. Besides the graves of the Indians at

the fort, there are the graves of Lieutenant Hale,

Orderly Sergeant English, and Privates Bowling, Jett,

Clinton, and Williams.

It is because of this battle that the Historical So-

ciety of Preble County has set aside November 6th as

St. Clair Day.

 

"FORTY FOOT PITCH"*

 

BY A. C. RISINGER

All peoples delight to discover and preserve the

history of their pioneers, especially the sturdy, courage-

ous, aggressive, primary pioneers who ventured into the

wilds of the farther frontiers and seized and subdued

the wilderness for themselves and their posterity.

The history of the primary military and civil pio-

neers of Preble County has been rather fully developed

and preserved by various records and documents and

in much part by oral traditions.

One historical mention, however, has remained

somewhat obscure to the general inquiring public and

 

* Read at the St. Clair celebration, November 6, 1922, Eaton, Preble

County, Ohio.

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520     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

inquiry prevails as to the nature and location of "Forty

Foot Pitch," which mention has descended from early

historical notes and local traditions.

Thus considerable confusive conjecture persists as

to "Forty Foot Pitch."

Some have surmised that the expression relates to

a place incident to the activities of General Arthur St.

Clair or of Captain John Adair. Others have surmised

that the expression "Forty Foot Pitch" is incident to the

encampment of Lieutenant Lowry at Lowry's Run

about five miles north of Eaton and in a gentle valley

south and west of Zion's Lutheran Church. Others

have not only surmised but have contended that "Forty

Foot Pitch" is a bold, barren bluff about a quarter of

a mile east of Bantas Fork bridge located three and one-

quarter miles north of Eaton on the Eaton and West

Manchester road. This barren bluff is in plain view of

travelers driving along the highway over or near said

bridge. Others assert that "Forty Foot Pitch" is down

Bantas Fork Creek about one-half mile southeasterly

from said Bantas Fork bridge, on land of the estate of

John Risinger.

The undersigned has been interviewed by members

of the Preble County Historical Society and requested

to write his knowledge and opinions as to the true

location of "Forty Foot Pitch."

I, said undersigned, have very familiar personal

knowledge of said locations, said knowledge, dating

from early childhood and persistent through the years.

The topography of the vicinity of Lowry's encamp-

ment on Lowry's Run is very gentle, devoid of bold

bluffs, and the plateau descends in gentle slopes to the

place of this encampment and there is no feature of the

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Fort St. Clair            521

topography suggestive of a "pitch" and more than that,

the military documentary records give no basis for be-

lief that said expression arises out of the activities of

General St. Clair, Lieutenant Lowry or Captain Adair.

The bold, barren bluff east of Bantas Fork bridge is, by

dimension and reliable tradition, excluded as the place

of "Forty Foot Pitch."   I have recently made a

measurement of this bold barren bluff and find that by

a taut tape it measures seventy-eight feet from the top

to the bottom of said declivity. The disparity between

forty feet and seventy-eight feet is at least a basis for

strong skepticism.

The location situate about half a mile down the

creek southeastward from said Bantas Fork bridge is

undoubtedly the "Forty Foot Pitch."

My father, Levi Risinger, in his ninetieth year, has

very interesting and vivid recollections, gathered from

personal observations and pioneer traditions, as to this

latter place being "Forty Foot Pitch."

Abel Risinger, Sr., my father's father, acquired the

land east and southeast of Bantas Fork bridge and lo-

cated there in the early part of 1800, at which time

Anthony Wayne's military trail was very distinctly

marked in the wilderness and this trail disclosed that

when Wayne reached Bantas Fork Creek he met the

impediment of a rather sharp shore or bluff which he

must descend in order to cross over said stream. This

bluff has a sharp declivity of about forty feet. In order

to descend and cross the stream Anthony Wayne made

an oblique road angling down said bluff to the bottom

land below. This road down the bluff was simply a

shoulder cut in the slope so that his military train

passed down upon an oblique grade. All of the pioneers

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522      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

of that day spoke of this as the "Forty Foot Pitch."

Said Risinger ancestor was a millwright and farmer.

He cleared some of the land and operated a saw mill

and a grist mill in the vicinity of what is called "Forty

Foot Pitch." The country was devoid of roads, nothing

but trails, and the pioneers scattered through the wilder-

ness southward, made use of said "Forty Foot Pitch"

in crossing the creek to the mills.

Levi Risinger was born half a mile from said

oblique road cut in the bluff and in his early boyhood

he knew of this cut as "Forty Foot Pitch" and it was so

known and regarded by all the pioneer settlers of that

country, -- the Kislings, Pences, Kaylers, Christmans,

Craigs, Cottermans, Snyders, Days, Kenneys, and

other well-known pioneer ancestors who were all in ac-

cord in said understanding. The cut in the bluff is yet

rather distinctly marked and this summer the writer

had some fallen timber and debris cut and burned off of

said cut which is yet so well preserved that his father,

Levi Risinger, was transported up said cut in an auto-

mobile and he was quite pleased to be the first one to

ride up this ancient cut in a wondrous chariot of modern

times.

In order to further fortify faith I quote from a won-

derful and instructive address delivered in Eaton by

Honorable Abner Haines on the 4th of July, 1876. He

was a man of great intelligence, a learned lawyer and

historian. Said address is preserved in the Auditor's

Office in bound volume of the Eaton Register of 1876.

I take this excerpt from the address:

 

The trace or military road of St. Clair through the county of

Preble is so obscured by the lapse of time that the true line is

now lost. It can only be recovered by the original survey, pro-

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Fort St. Clair                 523

vided the notes were preserved and filed at Washington in the

War Department. In the Spring of 1793, the advance portion of

General Wayne's army left Fort Washington and began to as-

semble at Fort Greenville in Darke County preparatory to their

march into the Indian country. General Wayne substantially

adopted the route of General St. Clair to Fort Hamilton, but

from this point he adopted a new route to Fort Greenville,

passing on the east side of Sevenmile Creek in Preble County,

which he cut through the wilderness. Wayne's military road

passed up northward a short distance east of the town site of

Eaton, and when the county was first settled the line and open

way through the forest was plain and distinct. Even the surface

roots of trees on the line showed indubitable marks of having

been marred and bruised by the wheels of wagons and ordnance

trains. The south part of said trail has long since been estab-

lished as the public highway called "The Old Trace Road".

Wayne's trail crosses Bantas Fork at or near the "Forty Foot

Pitch" and attained the highlands on the north side just west of a

sycamore tree on the east side of the north road and thence ran a

little west of north to Fort Greenville. There was some con-

fusion among the old settlers respecting the origin of the name

"Forty Foot Pitch". Some claimed that it originated from a

team sliding down the precipice, while others said it was so noted

on the map of the route by military engineers. The latter in all

probability is the true origin of the name and so communicated

by the soldiers to the early settlers.

The salient suggestions of Mr. Haines that Wayne's

trail passed a short distance east of Eaton and went

northward and passed over Bantas Fork at the cut in

the side of the declivity and the oral traditions from the

pioneer settlers in that vicinity are corroborated by Mr.

E. P. Vaughan, Esq., who is probably the most learned

citizen of Preble County as to pioneer military activities

and locations, who informs us that in his judgment there

is no question as to the location of Wayne's trail just

east of Eaton and northward along a line parallel to the

Eaton and Greenville road, at least as far as Wayne's

crossing at Bantas Fork. Mr. Andrew Wikle, residing

a short distance east of Eaton, over ninety years old

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524     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

and of remarkable general mentality, corroborates the

statements of Honorable Mr. Haines and the opinion of

Mr. Vaughan.

It will be noticed that Mr. Haines mentions that "it"

-- that is, Wayne's Trail, -- "crosses Bantas Fork at or

near the Forty Foot Pitch and attained the highlands on

the north side." The words "at or near" are intelligible

to one understanding the earth formations adjoining

the aforesaid ledge or shoulder cut in the side of the

bluff. Just west of said cut or ledge, almost adjoining,

is a barren bluff about forty feet high caused by the

ancient erosion of the stream against the face of the

bluff. It is very clear that it was the opinion of Haines

that "Forty Foot Pitch" was either the sidewise cut

upon the declivity or the barren "pitch" proximately

adjoining. This matter is further supplemented by re-

liable oral tradition from said Abel Risinger, sr., and

Levi Risinger, his son, in this, -- that for a number of

years after said Risinger had located and established

his mills as aforesaid the trace of Anthony Wayne's

army after coming down the said oblique cut or ledge

crossed over Bantas Fork proceeded several rods north-

eastward and then up the gentle slope, now a farm road

of John Risinger's estate, and thence the army at the

upper end of the said gentle slope proceeded westward

over the plateau and encamped on a high area and close

to the edge of the barren slope conspicuous from Bantas

Fork bridge. This encampment was strategically lo-

cated by Wayne in that he thereby was only required to

guard his army in minimum degree on the west, as said

bluff was a protection and the guarding line on the east

was limited practically to a semi-circle.

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Fort St. Clair            525

Levi Risinger in his boyhood days found many mili-

tary mementoes of Wayne's encampment at said place

and mementoes were occasionally found along the line

of the trail backward up over said oblique cut and down

across what is now the farm of said Risinger.

Besides the historical data relative trails and topog-

raphies reason dictates an argument which I regard as

very conclusive that "Forty Foot Pitch" means more

than a sharp barren declivity -- a grassless, bushless

wall of earth. Sharp slanting bluffs abounded along the

streams incident the pioneer military trails in this

county and thus a bluff forty or eighty feet, of less or

greater declivity, could not have surprised or awakened

the interest of the St. Clair, Wayne or Lowery soldiery

of 1791-2 and 3, and thus such a common-place thing

as a declivity would not have had any military mention

unless said common-place declivity was connected with

some military situation, difficulty, failure or success.

The writer does not know of any other mention

whatever in the history of Preble County, documentary

or traditional, of any other pitch than "Forty Foot

Pitch." The numerous bold bluffs observed by said

pioneer militia were not at all significant or worthy of

mention and the only reason why said pitch was men-

tioned is because it relates to a military episode and

expedient. Wayne had reached the Bantas Fork Val-

ley and had first descended a rather gentle slope down

to the upper edge of said declivity, steeply descending

about forty feet to the foot-land below. Here was a

situation which required the particular consideration of

Wayne and his military engineers. The difficulty con-

fronting was to get down this pitch the military wagons

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526      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

and accoutrements.  Wayne could not safely go di-

rectly down and thereupon he dug an oblique shelf-road

in the breast of the declivity downward -- eastward a

distance of about one hundred feet, and thereby the

army descended to the floor of the valley and crossed

the stream.

The shelf-road is not the "pitch."  It is the ex-

pedient made in breast of the pitch or declivity. It is

a very interesting, well-preserved remnant of Wayne's

Preble Trail.  It is historically and sentimentally

worthy a permanent designation by an attractive

monumental stone with a bronze tablet insert inscribed

"WAYNE'S FORTY-FOOT PITCH"

 

 

THE BATTLE OF FORTY FOOT PITCH*

BY ESTHER E. NICHOLS

Today we are met to honor some of the brave heroes

of our own state. Though inconspicuous in the history

of our country, still they played a most important part

in gaining for us a great Nation and homes of safety.

Many of them were the close friends and relatives of

our ancestors and they justly deserve the gratitude and

respect which we, each one, can give. Among those

who are most intimately connected with the history of

our own country, are the brave heroes who fell in the

Battle of Forty Foot Pitch, or Ludlow Springs, a few

miles north of Eaton.

A month previous to this battle a great confedera-

tion of Indians had been threatening attacks, putting

* Read at the St. Clair celebration, November 6, 1922, Eaton, Preble

County, Ohio.

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Fort St. Clair            527

our infant Nation in a most perilous position. General

Wayne, appointed by President Washington, was in

command of an army of two thousand five hundred

men at Fort Greenville, where the present Greenville is

now situated. General Wayne was a man of stern will

and we may rightly say had a heart full of love for his

country. At that time it had become very difficult to

furnish sufficient protection for the many convoys of

supplies as the soldiers were all needed to repel the

sudden, treacherous attacks of the enemy at each fort.

The Battle of Forty Foot Pitch did not occur at

what is now called Forty Foot Pitch but really took

place at Ludlow Springs, Preble County, Ohio, which

was probably located on the Montgomery farm. This

site was supposed to be in a picturesque little hollow

near the Zion Church, about seven miles from Fort St.

Clair.

On the morning of the 17th of October, 1793, or

one hundred twenty-nine years ago, the seventeenth of

last month, began the skirmish which has meant so

much to us and in which we are interested at present.

Lieutenant Lowery of the second Legion, and En-

sign Boyd of the first, in charge of one of those precious

convoys of provisions and in command of about ninety

non-commissioned soldiers, were our leaders in this

skirmish.  At the head of the Indians was Little

Turtle, the chief of the Miamis, ready to do his part in

maintaining the honor of his tribes.  This Indian

leader was a real gentleman and a most sagacious

statesman. Even many of his enemies at his death paid

him the highest of honors.

It has been said by old residents that, as the soldiers

were looking for a place to camp, they sent a few men

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528     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

ahead as usual to blaze the trail. When the soldiers

came along a short time after, they found a deer where

the battle later took place, so they naturally supposed it

had been left there by the other men who had blazed the

trail. Accordingly they camped in that place, believing

the deer a sign that they should do so. However it had

not been left by the blazers but by the Indians, and the

Indians had in that way used strategy in getting the

soldiers to camp at an advantageous spot for an attack.

This is only a tradition, but at any rate Lieutenant

Lowry and his men had camped at Ludlow Springs al-

ways on the lookout for attacks and yet not realizing any

immediate danger. Suddenly early on the morning of

October 17th they found a band of fierce Indians upon

them, led by the wary and able Little Turtle. Upon the

very first discharge the unfortunate little company of

white men were heartlessly abandoned by the greater

part of their escort, but even in the face of all this and

superior numbers they fought bravely and obstinately.

Gradually their ranks were thinning. It was then in the

crucial moment that Lieutenant Lowry proved his

bravery. Heedless of his own suffering and safety, his

supreme thought was the welfare of the many helpless

ones at home. His last and inspiring words were, "My

brave boys, all you that can fight, now display your

activity and let your balls fly."

In addition to Lieutenant Lowry, there was Ensign

Boyd, both promising young officers, with about thirteen

officers and privates who were killed. About seventy

horses were either killed or carried off by the savages,

although the stores remained undisturbed.

Those who fell in this encounter were buried at Fort

St. Clair. Later, on July 4, 1846, the bodies were taken

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Fort St. Clair            529 up and re-interred, with impressive funeral services and all the honors of war. The bodies of Lieutenant Lowry and his men were afterwards removed to the mound in the cemetery at Eaton. A stately shaft marks their resting place which is now and will be throughout the centuries a monument of glory and honor for those who knew the true meaning of patriotism. The monument is one of the finest, made of elegant Rutland marble, twelve feet in height, erected on an artificial mound and constructed by La Do??n and Hamilton of Dayton at a cost of $300. This was gladly contributed by public- spirited persons who truly cherished the memory of ??ese beloved patriots. May we, as staunch citizens of our great United States and our own Ohio, remember this example of genuine patriotism and by doing our utmost at this present day save our country from many lurking perils and thus contribute our part in making it a land to be loved and cherished by the citizens of the near future.

Vol. XXXII -- 34.

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