Defiance in Defiance County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Fort Defiance
Anthony Wayne Parkway
By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009
1. Fort Defiance Marker
The arrival of the Legion of the United States at this point on August 8, 1794 marked the end of General Anthony Wayne's difficult march, through swamps and forests, from Fort GreeneVille. On this site, in the center of the Indian country, General Wayne ordered a fort built. He said, "I defy the English, the Indians, and all the devils in Hell to take it," and called it Fort Defiance. Major Henry Burbeck, who earlier had built Fort Recovery, supervised the construction.From here Wayne marched against the Indian forces gathered at the foot of the Maumee Rapids and defeated them in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Fort Defiance then became an important link in a chain of military outposts in the Indian lands. At the time of the War of 1812, Fort Defiance was repaired and garrisoned, together with the newly-built Fort Winchester nearby, as an American base of operations against the British and the Indians. When peace came to the Maumee Valley the fort was abandoned.
Erected 1958 by Fort Defiance Chapter, D.A.R. in the Sesquicentennial Year of Ohio Statehood.
Marker series.
By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009
2. Fort Defiance Marker
Closeup view of map from the historical marker showing the military campaign routes and fortifications of the Indian Wars of 1790-1795.
Location. 41° 17.245′ N, 84° 21.458′ W. Marker is in Defiance, Ohio, in Defiance County. Marker is at the intersection of Fort St. and Washington Ave., on the right when traveling west on Fort St.. This historical marker is situated on the southwest point of land, at the juncture of the Auglaize River with the Maumee River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Defiance OH 43512, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Indian Wars (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Fort Defiance (a few steps from this marker); Fort Defiance Flagstaff (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Winchester (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Defiance, 1794 (within shouting distance of this marker); Spemica Lawba–Johnny Logan (within shouting distance of this marker); Buffalo Were Recorded Here In 1718 (within shouting distance of this marker); French Indian Apple Tree (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Defiance.
More about this marker. The marker is one of several markers located at the actual site of Fort Defiance. The marker can be found on the edge of the actual fortification, just outside the low lying earthworks that mark the outline of the fort.
Regarding Fort Defiance. From the time of the French and Indian War until the end of the War of 1812, as white-Europeans struggled with one another and with the Native American population for control of the Great Lakes basin,
By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009
3. Fort Defiance Overhead View
Overhead view of the layout of Fort Defiance as seen from image on a nearby marker.
Throughout the time of Indian Wars of 1790-1795, the Indians had made this area an important cultural center and it was the scene of several of the largest council gatherings ever held by Native Americans. From here the Native Americans plotted their strategy against American encroachments into their territory. From here they had planned their victorious campaigns against the American armies led by General Josiah Harmar (1790) and then again against General Arthur St. Clair (1791), but it was General Anthony Wayne's campaign in 1794 that proved to be their undoing.
The Native Americans had anticipated General Wayne to march his army in the direction of the Native American population centers at the headwaters of the Maumee River (the modern day Fort Wayne, Indiana area) as his predecessors, Harmar and St.Clair had done. However, General Wayne had surprised the Native American chieftains by marching up the Auglaize River instead and showing up virtually on their front doorstep before they detected him. Because General Wayne had caught them completely by surprised, the Native Americans abandoned the Auglaize-Maumee area without a fight, and once he secured the area by building a strong fortification, General Wayne exploited his advantage. He did so by marching
By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009
4. Fort Defiance
View as seen from within the site of Fort Defiance, looking out over the juncture of the Auglaize river with the Maumee River.
After the Indian Wars of 1790-1795 the Fort Defiance area again became an area of strategic military importance during the War of 1812. The area became heavily militarized by the Americans with both forts and fortified encampments and served an important role in the American military campaigns of both General Winchester and General Harrison.
Categories. • Forts, Castles • Military • Native Americans • War of 1812 • Wars, US Indian •
By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009
5. Fort Defiance
View as seen from the north side of the Maumee River, looking across the river to the site of Fort Defiance.
More. Search the internet for Fort Defiance.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 5, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,523 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 5, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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