Fremont in Sandusky County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ball’s Battlefield

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 6, 2008

1. Ball's Battlefield Marker

Inscription. Major Ball’s Squadron 2nd Light Dragoons U.S. Army while escorting Col. Wells 17th U.S. Infantry from Major General Harrison’s headquarters at Fort Seneca to relieve Major Croghan of the command of Fort Stephenson for alleged insubordination in refusing to evacuate the fort was ambushed by Indians near this spot but gallantly charging them killed seventeen with the sabre. 30th July 1813.

Erected by Col. George Croghan Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Former U.S. Presidents: #09 William Henry Harrison series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is July 30, 1813.

Location. 41° 19.777′ N, 83° 8.852′ W. Marker is in Fremont, Ohio, in Sandusky County. It is at the intersection of Buckland Avenue and Tucker Road, on the right when traveling north on Buckland Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2401 Buckland Ave, Fremont OH 43420, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Lake Erie Shore

and in the Toledo Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Portage Trail (approx. 0.7 miles away); Emery Deitemyer (approx. one mile away); Henry H. Clayton (approx. one mile away); Carl H. Drenning (approx. one

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mile away); Charles Englehart (approx. one mile away); Isaac N. Courtney (approx. one mile away); Sgt. James J. Feeney (approx. one mile away); Lorenz Chochard (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fremont.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Sandusky-Scioto Trail (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. This historic marker, and the historic event itself, is located along what was once the major travel route through Ohio for Native Americans and early frontiersmen traveling between Fort Duquesne and Detroit, called the Sandusky-Scioto Trail. Later, during the War of 1812, this portion of the trail would become known as the Harrison Trail.

Regarding Ball’s Battlefield. This historic marker recognizes an event that was part of General William Henry Harrison’s Northwestern Theater of operations. General Harrison’s goal was to retake Detroit and launch a successful invasion of Canada. In preparation of this planned invasion General Harrison had built a string of forts northward along the Sandusky River Valley in order to protect his lines of supply

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 6, 2008

2. Ball's Battlefield Marker

View of Ball's Battlefield Marker along the east side of Buckland Ave. This road used to be part of the "Harrison Road" during the War of 1812, and prior to that was part of the Sandusky-Scioto Trail.

and communication.

In the summer of 1813, after their unsuccessful siege of Fort Meigs, along the banks of the Maumee River, the British and their Native American allies decided to disrupt General Harrison’s operations in the Sandusky River Valley by seeking to attack and capture the northern most of Harrison’s chain of forts, Fort Stephenson.

Upon discovering the British intentions, General Harrison acted quickly to avert what he believed would be a military disaster, and ordered the immediate withdrawal of the American forces from Fort Stephenson, prior to the arrival of the vastly numerically superior British and Native American forces. However, the messenger got lost on route to the fort and by the time that the fort’s commander, Major Croghan, received his orders, the British had already arrived. In Major Croghan’s view it was now too late to withdraw from the fort without exposing his men to an attack, out in the open, from a foe with far superior numbers to his. So he decided to ignore his orders and take his chances within the defenses of Fort Stephenson.

It was when General Harrison realized that his orders to withdraw

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, April 8, 2009

3. Ball's Battlefield Marker

View of Ball's Battlefield Marker with the historic Sandusky River in the background.

from the fort had not been obeyed, but not fully knowing why, that he ordered Col. Wells to immediately proceed to Fort Stephenson under the protect of Major Ball and his Light Dragoons and to relieve Major Croghan of his command. And it was while Col. Wells and his escort were nearing Fort Stephenson that the ambush and battle took place.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,887 times since then and 86 times this year. Last updated on February 13, 2024, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 15, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.