Warbirds and Airshows- Historic Site Ft. Recovery 2008

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Historic Forts
Ft. Recovery, OH - May 4, 2008, updated September 4, 2010

Ft. Recovery, OH is the location of two very significant battles early in the history of the United States that, considering the US Continental Army's losses in the first battle, have been totally ignored by historians. The first battle in November of 1791 caused the loss of essentially what at that time was the US Continental Army. After the American Revolution, as with all wars, it was believed by politicians and the populace that there is no need for a military, as there will never be another war and the Continental Army was reduced to almost nothing. In order to protect the settlers that were moving into what was in 1791 called the Northwest Territory, and is today Ohio and Indiana, President Washington ordered General St. Clair to raise an army to accomplish the task of eliminating the Native American threat. The resulting battle at what is now Ft. Recovery, OH stands as the worst defeat ever suffered by the US Army, where in this case, and depending on the source, anywhere between 650 to 950 soldiers and another several hundred camp followers were killed in this singe action. The is several times the number that was lost by General Custer and the 7th Cavalry eighty years later.

Below are photos of the partially reconstructed fort that was built in 1793 when a reorganized US Continental Army returned to the and built a fort that in June of 1794 held out against a massed Indian attack and was instrumental in the ultimate defeat of the Native American in the area in August of that year at Fallen Timbers.

This is an excellent location to drive to from eastern and central Indiana, north west and central Ohio, and southern Michigan when one is looking for that "Sunday" drive but a destination is needed to add value to the trip. Ft. Recovery, Ohio is located right on the Ohio Indiana border on Ohio State Routes 49 and 119 and east of Portland, IN by taking Indiana SR 26. Please check the Ft. Recovery Museum Website at on the Links page for days and times it is open, as it is closed during the winter months and has limited hours during the rest of the year.

September 4, 2010 Photos - These are photos of inside the Museum after it was opened in July 2010 after a winter and spring renovation.

This is area was totally redone with all brand new display boards.

The small cannon with the three artillerymen remained in the north east corner of the museum.

A soldier at the wall of the fort.

Looking down at the soldier and the museum from the second floor.

Looking down at the Museum from the second floor.

May 4, 2008 Photos

This is the upper floor of one of the two blockhouse, which were built with and overhang on the second level for defensive purposes. If attackers were able to make it to the outer wall of the blockhouse the defenders would remove the outer floor boards and then shoot straight down at the attackers. I had seen this design on other blockhouses previously but was unaware of why until visiting the museum at Ft. Recovery.

American History classes and text skip usually skip directly from the American Revolution to the Civil war and do not spend time on the important development of The Northwest Territory and the events during that time period that helped shape and form the United States. A trip to Ft. Recovery, OH can help fill this historical void.