Fort Meigs (Perrysburg, Ohio)
Perrysburg · Ohio · War of 1812
History & Significance
Fort Meigs arose from military necessity following the American loss of Detroit in August 1812. Construction began in February 1813 and the fort was named after Return J. Meigs Jr., the Governor of Ohio.
The fort was constructed on a bluff overlooking the Maumee River near present-day Perrysburg, Ohio, chosen to control the river, serve as a supply depot for the American Army, and as a launching point for American attacks on Canada. The walls were fifteen feet thick, partially sunken, and when completed, it was the largest wooden fortification erected on the continent.
The siege of Fort Meigs was a significant War of 1812 military engagement in northwestern Ohio during the spring of 1813, with British regulars and militia led by Brigadier General Henry Procter, supported by Indigenous forces led by Tecumseh, attempting to capture the recently constructed fort to forestall Major General William Henry Harrison's campaign to retake Detroit and invade Upper Canada. An American attempt to relieve the fort on May 5 resulted in heavy casualties, however, Procter was unable to breech Harrison's defences and withdrew after an 11-day siege.
In July 1813, the British attempted to appease their Indigenous allies by again besieging Fort Meigs, with warriors staging a mock battle to lure the garrison out; the Americans, however, saw through the ploy. Fort Meigs marks the turning point in the western theatre of war for American forces during the War of 1812, and the twice-successful defense ushered in a series of American victories which ultimately secured the Great Lakes Region in American control and cemented the geographic and cultural boundaries of the region. The Treaty of Fort Meigs was signed there in 1817, and the post was abandoned that same year.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Reconstructed wooden fortification with period interior embankments
- War of 1812 exhibits and siege history
- Maumee River location with strategic significance
- Interactive museum displays on frontier military operations
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Meigs
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Meigs
- https://historicsites.ohiohistory.org/fortmeigs/
- https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/browse-historical-sites/fort-meigs/
- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/fort-meigs
- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-1812/battles/fort-meigs
- https://fortmeigs.org/a-history-of-fort-meigs/