Mad Anthony Remembered

A larse erowd of pioneers from the entire length of Maumee valley, from Fort Wnync to Toledo, assembled on the 20th at Turkoy Foot rock, twelve miles from Toledo, and the site of the battle of Fallen Timbera, where Wayne broke forever the Jndian power in the northwsst, to organize an association to mark historie spots of that struggle, this being the ninety-flrst annivereary oL Wayne's victory. Congress will be asked for a moderate appropriation to mark the historie places. The Maumee Valley has been the theater of many of the principal military operations of the country, the first and most important of whieh was Mail Anthony Waynn's victory over the Indians at the battle of "Fallen Timbera, just ninety-onc years ago. This battle broke the Indian supremacy and opened all that vast territory between the Maumee and the Mississippi to'the eitizens of the United States. At the cloje of the revolutionary war unforiuuate disagreements arose between the l'nited States and the Indian tribes as to the right of the former to sett'.e and hunt in the great forest west of the Allegheny Mountains.l'he cruelties practiced by both partiea were the cause of deep Bollcitude on the part of tbe government, and measures were early taken to amica'oly adjust the differences, but, unfortunately, without success. War became inevitable, and in the fall of 1720 Gen. Ilarmar vim sent with an army to bring the Indian? to terms. Thearmy wastotally defeated. In 1791 Gen. St. Clair was dispalched with another army agalnst the Indians, then supposed to be in force on what was known as the Miamis. But before he could pass the present limit of Ohio he was met by the Tndiar.s under L'ttle Turtle, and his army completely ovcrthrowi), near Greenville, in Darke county. The disaster spread consternation throughout the countiy, and doubts were espressed whether it was possible for the government to subdue the savages and hold possession of the country. Washington, however, foresaw that tuccess depended on an army f roperly equipped and under command of a general who had the sagacity to foil the savages, and the bravery to inspire the men with the necessarv confidence to insure victory. For this duty Gen. Wayne was selected, and with sn army entered the unbroken forest in f earch of the enemy. The army was composed chiefly of volunteers from Kentucky. With this army Wayne lef t his camp near Cincinnati, October 16, 1793, and August 8, 179-i, arrived at the junetion of the Auglaize with the Maumee. Here he built Fort Denance. While here Wavne was reinforced by 1,003 mounted men from Kentueky. Feelirig now assured of success, he moved cautiously down the Mauraee, and on August 20, just ninety-one years iigo, engaged the encmy at Fallen Timbers This name was given tLe place because just a few days before there had b en a terrible storm and the country round about was strewn with fallen timber. On that day Missisacoh, a chief of the Ottawas, was in command. The white men called him "Turkey Foot," and th?re ex:'sts to-day, on the spot where he feil. a rude memorial of his fate - a huge granite boulder, markedby the tomahawk of a íairliful survivor with the 'track of a turkey's fcot. The Indians were stronglv poEte3 behind this fallen tlmber, but the Aiueriean troop3 drove them five miles from tho battle-ground. and they souglit protsction undcr the guns of the British, who t! en held Fort Miami. This battle gave poaee to tl e country until the war of 1812. It was with a view of holding tuis line the British government hal retaincd possession of Fort Miami, in violation of her treaties. And it was to this object, imder the inst:gat:on of that governm-nt, 'tlitt T cuniseh a nt the energies of his gr, at mind. He endeavored to imite the Northern and Southern tribes under 1h 6 natural barrier, and exhorted thern to make here the last struggle to hold the country behind them for thoir luture hunting grounds. During the war of 1S12 the most desperate efforts w'ere trad e by tie British to retain possession of the Maumee riyer. For this parpose they again took posses=ion of Fort Miami. They were, however, foilcdby Gen. IJarrison, who built Fort Meigs, and thfi two sieges of Fort Meigs by the combined forces of the Indians under command of Tecumseh. and the British forces under Gen. Proetor, furnish the most chivalrous chapter in the history of tbat r memorable war. To-day the farmers of Perrvsburg are plowing ud old Fort Meigs and erops will soon be raiscd. In the desperate struggle to retain possessfon of the Maumee Valley some of the men who had acted a subordínate part under Wayne distingnished themselves a? military commanders. 'Gen. Harrison, wi o was a lieutenant under Wayne at the battle f Fallen Timbera, distingdiïhed himself by the ereetion and defense of Fort Meigs, and his brave Kentuckians, as well as hiinself, won additional laurels in pnrsuit of the enemy into Canada and in their iinal overthrow at the battle of the Thames, whcre Tecumseh feil. Efi'orts have been put forth during raany years past to induce the state or national governmant to take such aetion as might be necessary to protect the graves, preserve the forts, and commemorate the battles fought during the war of 1S13, and this meeting had the furtherance of this object in view. An incorporated company has been formed, as Congress can only make dunations to such bodics, and they have applied for and obtained authority to purchase and hold lands at anv point from Fort Wayne to Toledo, on the Maumee River. " _