Near Port Clinton in Ottawa County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Fort Sites / De Lery Portage / French Expedition 1754
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 8, 2009
1. Fort Sites Marker
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
this page online
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
Photographed By Craig Doda, October 10, 2020
2. Fort Sites / De Lery Portage / French Expedition 1754 Marker
Front side
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
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 8, 2009
3. De Lery Portage Marker
View of the historical marker with the north shoreline of .Sandusky Bay in the background
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.)
Photographed By Craig Doda, October 10, 2020
4. Fort Sites / De Lery Portage Marker
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 8, 2009
5. Fort Sites / De Lery Portage Marker
View of west and south faces of this historical marker (left foreground), with lakefront residences behind the marker and the north shoreline of Sandusky Bay in the background.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 8, 2009
6. Fort Sites / De Lery Portage Marker
View of historic marker that marks the southern end of the De Lery Portage, in the right foreground, with a view of Fulton Street (built atop De Lery Portage) looking north towards the northern end of the De Lery Portage.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, April 8, 2009
7. Fort Sites / De Lery Portage Marker
View looking south towards Sandusky Bay, of the small boat landing located at the southern end of the De Lery Portage, a short distance away from the historic marker.
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.
