Near Port Clinton in Ottawa County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Fort Sites / De Lery Portage / French Expedition 1754
South face:
In September, 1764, British soldiers under the command of Colonel John Bradstreet, while attempting to quell the Indians during Pontiac's Conspiracy, began to construct a fort 3/4 of a mile west of the old French fort, but work was soon abandoned.
West face:
Near this point was the southern terminus of a French and Indian portage by which travelers crossed the peninsula to the mouth of the Portage River and Lake Erie.
The portage is named after French Lt. Joseph G. Chaussegros de Lery who described it in his journal and who used the crossing in 1754 and 1755 on his way to and from Detroit.
French and Indians traveling by canoe along the south shore of Lake Erie, to or from the Sandusky – Scioto Waterway, or between Fort Duquesne and Detroit, used this carrying place to avoid the more dangerous water route around the Peninsula.
Across the Delery Portage
Fort Sanduski 1745 - 1746, 1750-1751
Adjutant of Quebec Commanding, 1
Monsieur St. Martin, Acting Major
Monsieur Lery
Monsieur St. Ours, Lieutenants 3
Monsieur Rigauville
Monsieur Desmeloises
Monsieur Porneuf
Monsiuer Cournover, Ensigns 4
Father Bonnecamp, Jesuit of the Missions Estrangeres, 1
Monsieur Mauviles
Monsieur Vigee
Monsieur Garon, Surgeons 3
Monsieur LaForge, Storekeeper 1
Monsieur Constant an Old Interpreter, 1
27 canoes each carrying 10 men, 270/285
Erected 1965 by Ottawa County Historical Society and the Ohio Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Native Americans • War, French and Indian • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1764.
Location. 41° 29.207′ N, 82° 56.027′ W. Marker is near Port Clinton, Ohio, in Ottawa County. Marker is on Fulton Street, 0 miles south of Rohde Drive, on the left when traveling south. This historical marker is located just south of Port Clinton, Ohio, at the southern most end of Fulton Street, just off the northern shoreline of Sandusky Bay. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1985 Fulton St, Port Clinton OH 43452, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Old French War - Pontiac's Conspiracy - Revolutionary War / French Expedition, 1754 (here, next to this marker); Battle Of Bataan War Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial Bench (approx. 1.6 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial Bench (approx. 1.6 miles away); Ottawa County Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); Ottawa County Courthouse (approx. 1.6 miles away); Japanese Type 38 "I" Improved Field Gun (approx. 1.6 miles away); End of Harrison's Trail in Ohio - War of 1812 (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Clinton.
More about this marker. Please note this monument has a plaque on all four sides, but only two are listed here. Normally, the Historical Marker database would publish all four markers on this monument as one entry with text from all markers included. Due to the separate erecting organizations and dedication years, it was determined this could be published as an exception to that standard.
Regarding Fort Sites / De Lery Portage / French Expedition 1754. It appears from the 1912 book, Old Fort Sandoski and the De Lery portage, by Lucy Elliot Keeler (see link below), these markers replaced two original markers. Some confusion appears to exist as to what markers were originally place on this monument, originally title the Fort Sandoski monument, and another similar monument erected two miles away titled the Harrison-Perry Embarkation Monument. Any additional information that could clarify the locations and original markers on these two monuments would be helpful and appreciated.
Also see . . .
1. French and Indian War. Ohio History Central website entry (Submitted on July 4, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)
2. Fort Sandusky. Ohio History Central website entry (Submitted on July 4, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)
3. Pontiac's Rebellion. Ohio History Central website entry (Submitted on July 4, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)
4. Old Fort Sandoski and the De Lery portage. Internet Archive website entry:
This book, by Lucy Elliot Keeler, published in 1912, highlights the "Erection of Historical Tablets on Memorial Day, May 30, 1912 at Port Clinton, OH." (Submitted on July 10, 2009, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,872 times since then and 69 times this year. Last updated on February 17, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on July 4, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 2. submitted on January 28, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on July 4, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 4. submitted on November 3, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5. submitted on July 4, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 6, 7. submitted on January 23, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.