Birdseye W. Rouse Letter to Benson J. Lossing, April 3, 1857

A letter from Birdseye W. Rouse to Benson J. Lossing Esq. dated April 3, 1857. Rouse writes about the forts along the Maumee River, including Fort Miami, Fort Meigs, and Fort Defiance, as well as the state of the forts in 1857, and their history.[Page 1] Toledo Ohio 3d Apl. 57 [1857] Benson J. Lossing Esq Dear Sir In answer to your Enquiries for I Subjects of historical interest Contained in the Apl N° of the Harper_ I would call your attention to the Maumee River which empties into Lake Erie at this place (the Miami of the Lakes) _ Ten miles above this on the left bank of the river is the site & remains of old ""Fort Miamis"" held by a British garrison under Col Campbell in 1794 at the time of the great battle fought by Genl Wayne with the Indians in 1794 _ Wayne crossed the River at the rapids two miles above the Fort, attacked the Indians who were concealed & in some measure protected, by a large field of trees blown down _ drove them out at the point of the bayonet & pursued them down the River_ The Indians began to assemble around the Fort. looking to it for protection as they had been Secretly instigated by the British _ Seeing this, tradition says, that Wayne came [thundering?] down the Bank of the river. With his troops & accompanied by two aids rode up to the Fort & called for its Commander, Col C. made his appearance. When Wayne announced to him . that if he admitted one Indian into the Fort or afforded them protection in a[ny'?] [Page 2]" way he would instantly storm the Fort & put every man to death in it _ The Col. Threatened to fire on him _ Wayne opened his coat & told him "to fire & be d---d. it wd be the last shot heard ever order fired" _ The British Com' thot better of it, & neither fired on Wayne nor protected the Indians & they were so completely cut up that they never recovered from the blow _ The mounds of the fort are still perfect. The covered way descending to the river can be traced, & the whole locality is full of interest _ Two miles further up on the right bank ofthe River is old Fort Meigs. to which I suppose I need only call your attention. as every thing respecting the Fort. its defense by Gen' Harrison &c were so fully brot before the public in 1840, when Gen' H. was Elected _ The mounds, outlines of the fort are still distinct. the graves of several officers killed, marked by tombstones still standing _ On the other side of the River the gallant Davis & 800 Kentuckians were led into an ambush & cut to pieces _ 60 miles above is old "fort Defiance" at the junction ofthe "Auglaize & Miami" _ On the Shores of Lake Erie at Monroe Michigan 20 miles north of this . is the battle ground of the River Raisin Where Winchester was taken prisoner in the last war _ The localities will all be pointed out by the inhabitants some of whom were living there at the time _ The house is still occupied where W. & his officers were "assisting" at a" [Page 3] ball. W. & his officers on one side the River & his sol- -diers on the other_ ln fact Sir this region is full of tradition & Historical remains. & of living men & women "who were Part of & saw the transactions" they describe. & if you will Come among us I think it will richly repay you _ With much respect Your obt Sert B. W. Rouse [signed] [Birdseye W. Rouse]