Perrysburg in Wood County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fort Meigs / Construction

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 20, 2011

1. Fort Meigs / Construction Marker

Inscription. Construction on Fort Meigs began in February 1813. Soldiers traveling to Fort Meigs passed through the Great Black Swamp, a nearly impenetrable morass 40 miles across and 120 miles wide south of the fort. The harsh winter weather and frontier conditions made the construction of the fort a severe challenge.

February 1813

"An immense deal of labor was to be performed in excavating ditches, and making abatis, and clearing away the wood about the camp at a time when the weather was extremely severe and the ground so hard frozen that it was almost impossible to open it with a spade and pick-ax. But in the use of the ax, mattock, and spade consisted all the military knowledge of the army. So we fell to work to bury ourselves as fast as possible and heard nothing of the enemy."
Capt. Eleazer D. Wood
U.S. Corps of Engineers

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War of 1812. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1813.

Location. 41° 33.114′ N, 83° 39.156′ W. Marker is in Perrysburg, Ohio, in Wood County. Marker can be reached from West Indiana Avenue (Ohio Route 65) near Fort Meigs Road, on the right when traveling south. This historical marker is part of a series of markers that make up a walking tour of Fort

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Meigs. This particular marker is located just inside of the reconstructed fort's main gate, along the walkway that splits off to the right once you are inside of the fort. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Perrysburg OH 43551, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Second Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Meigs / Introduction 4 (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Meigs / Introduction 3 (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory Of Michael Hayes, Timothy Hayes, Thomas Hayes (within shouting distance of this marker); Stockade (within shouting distance of this marker); Virginia Soldiers Who Died At Fort Meigs Or In Ohio During the War of 1812 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Grand Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Meigs / Introduction 2 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Perrysburg.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 20, 2011

2. Fort Meigs / Construction Marker

View looking east after entering through the front gate of the fort, including a view of the first historical marker, in the interior of the fort, that is part of the walking tour.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 20, 2011

3. Fort Meigs / Construction Marker

View looking towards the front gate of the fort from behind the historical marker.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 20, 2011

4. Fort Meigs / Construction Marker

View of the historical marker in the foreground and the walking trail that heads east following the fort's southern wall and then turns north to follow the fort's eastern wall.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 583 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 1, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.