Maumee in Lucas County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Caught Off Guard

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

1. Caught Off Guard Marker

Inscription. To prepare for battle, warriors from the Western Confederacy followed a fasting ritual. An unexpected two-day wait, caused by General Wayne's construction of Camp Deposit, left the warriors famished and dehydrated.

On the morning of the battle, Wayne's troops were further delayed by a morning thunderstorm. Some of the warriors left the front lines to check on their families and find food, not knowing when the first shots would be fired.

When the battle finally took place, it lasted less than two hours and involved over three thousand people.

Erected by Metroparks of the Toledo Area.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Wars, US Indian.

Location. 41° 32.973′ N, 83° 41.637′ W. Marker is in Maumee, Ohio, in Lucas County. Marker can be reached from North Jerome Road south of Monclova Road, on the left when traveling south. This marker is located on the grounds of the Fallen Timbers Battlefield, Metropark, in a densely wooded forest area, and is the seventh in a series of markers seen along the Fallen Timbers Battlefield, walking trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Maumee OH 43537, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

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. Cover and Camouflage (a few steps from this marker); A Long March (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fighting Forces (about 600 feet away); Early American Defeats (about 700 feet away); Unfair Negotiations (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Battle Ends (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ready, Aim, Fire! (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Battle Begins (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maumee.

More about this marker. This particular marker is one of two markers located in an area that is off the main park trail known as the "Ravine Node." The node area is partially surrounded by a number of large, rough cut, rectangular, stones, overlooking a nearby ravine.

Regarding Caught Off Guard. Back in the 1980s, when I taught Ohio History to students in the nearby Oregon City School system, all of the textbooks, as well as most of the history books, indicated that the Battle of Fallen Timbers took place on the other side (east side) of the Anthony Wayne Trail, on the floodplains and nearby ridge of the Maumee River valley. However, in 1995, Dr. Pratt used a line of volunteers with metal detectors, to help him to conduct an archaeological survey, to prove that the most significant fighting in the battle

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

2. Caught Off Guard Marker

Close-up view, that is displayed on the marker, of a photograph showing reenactors portraying woodland Native Americans.

had taken place where this park is presently located. As I recall, when Dr. Pratt did his research on the Battle of Fallen Timbers, he indicated that the repeated reference, in numerous battlefield accounts, to a key topographical feature in the battleground landscape was a ravine. As I recall, he indicated that this ravine was missing in what was then presumed to be the battlefield area, and that fact in turn caused him to attempt to locate a nearby landscape that better matched what he believed was the described, battlefield topography. Once again, as I recall from the local accounts of his research, the locating of this particular ravine, where the park’s “Ravine Node” is situated, was a key factor in his choosing of this area to conduct his archaeological survey.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

3. Caught Off Guard Marker

Close-up view, that is displayed on the marker, of a photograph showing reenactors portraying woodland Native Americans.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

4. Caught Off Guard Marker

A distant view, seen through the trees of the woodland area, of the Ravine Node, where this marker is located.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

5. Caught Off Guard Marker

View of the Ravine Node, where this marker is located.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

6. Caught Off Guard Marker

A close-up view of the marker, in the Ravine Node, looking to the southeast, along the ravine, a key topographical feature.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

7. Caught Off Guard Marker

A close-up view of the marker, in the Ravine Node, looking to the northwest, along the ravine, a key topographical feature.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

8. Caught Off Guard Marker

View of the marker.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, November 5, 2015

9. Caught Off Guard Marker

View of a map of the Fallen Timbers Battlefield park, showing the park's walking trail in red, and showing the "Ravine Node" (where this marker is located), in the lower center of the map.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 399 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on November 25, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.