by: Mark Schulze
Mark Schulze is a Wayne’s Legion Research group member who has dedicated years volunteering and investigating historical sites connected to early events in Ohio. One mystery concerns the exact method and location where Anthony Wayne’s army crossed Beaver Swamp during its march to Fallen Timbers. He authored this article on that subject. Spelling and punctuation within the quotes are preserved as originally written.
A Bridge Built Over the Beaver in 1794
It’s hard to imagine what this area was like in the 1700s compared to today. There were no fields, some prairies, and many swamps and trees. The only two roads by our standards were the road from the south, which closely follows today’s State Route 49 to Fort Recovery, established in 1791 by General Arthur St. Clair, and the road built in 1790 in Northern Mercer County, following State Route 33, by General Josiah Harmar.
After St. Clair’s defeat in 1791, Fort Jefferson remained the furthest American outpost in Indian territory in this region. The line of forts included Fort Washington (Cincinnati), Fort Hamilton (Hamilton), and Fort Jefferson in southern Darke County. There was a road connecting these forts.
After General St. Clair’s defeat, General Wilkinson took command of the Western Army. He established Fort St. Clair outside present-day Eaton, Ohio, to help safeguard supplies headed to Fort Jefferson.
In 1793, Major General (Mad) Anthony Wayne was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army, which was reorganized as “The Legion of the United States.” Wayne ordered a new fort to be built six miles north of Fort Jefferson. In 1793, the fort was constructed and named Greene Ville. Inside the picket walls, there were 54 acres. It also had eight large blockhouses built surrounding the outside of the fort that housed soldiers as a first line of defense. In December, around Christmas, Fort Recovery was built at the site of St. Clair’s defeat. Fort Recovery then became the deepest military post in Indian territory.
None of this prevented the attacks on the supply lines or settlements along the Ohio River.
Wayne continued to build the Legion numbers until Monday, July, 28th 1794. On that date Wayne marched with 2000 legion, and 1,500 militia north toward Fort Recovery.
Captain John Cooke Writes in His Journal:
“28, Army took up the line of march at 7 o’clock and after several short halts arrived at Stillwater 12 miles advanced of Greenville at 2, P.M. where it encamped, This night. I was on guard No. 1.”
From Lieutenant William Clark’s Journal:
“Fort Recovery 29th July renewed the march ere the Sun rose, and pushed forward without reguard to Bag or Baggage, as if, not in serch but in actual percuit, of a flying & disorderly Enemy, & passed Recovery by noon under the Salute of the Ordinance; after the Troops had well crossed the Creek the above Garrison Stands, His Excellency thought proper a halt for the coming up of the Baggage and the reare of the army by which time the day was far spent & obliged us to encamp for the night about a mile from the Fort. This days’ march Greatly
fatigued the Troops & Worried our Teems & Pack Horses. The Dragoons & Light Troops Sust’d Considerable fatigue and injury from the thickness of the Woods, and Brush thro which they passed on the Flanks.”
From Lieutenant Boyer’s Journal:
“Camp Beaver Swamp, eleven miles in advance of Fort Recovery, 30th July, 1794.—This morning the legion took up the lin of march, arrived here a 3 o’clock. The road was to cut, as will be the case on every new route we take in this country. The weather still warm—no water except in ponds, which nothing but excessive thirst would induce us to drink. The mosquitoes are very troublesome, larger than I ever saw. The most of this country is covered with beech, the land of a wet soil intermixed with rich tracts, but no running water to be found. A bridge to be built over this swamp to-morrow, which prevents the march of the legion till the day after. We are informed there is not water for twelve miles.”
From Captain Miller’s Journal:
“31st July Obliged to Build a Bridge this day which was 100 yards (long and fourteen feet) Wide and staid in the same place as the Bridge was not finished in time to crose this day.”
In August, the legion advanced north to St. Mary’s River, where they built Fort Adams. Journal to journal, there are conflicting accounts of the length of the bridge. Some say it was 70 yards long, while others say it was 90 to 100 yards long. Isaac Paxton, a soldier under Captain Gibson at Fort Recovery, discusses how the bridge was constructed.
Paxton wrote:
“At Beaver Creek there was a swamp on each side of the creek, over which a bridge had to be built, seventy yards long, for the passage of the army, which employed them during the next day. In the morning, one hundred pioneers set out, strongly escorted, to cut a road to the St. Mary’s river, twelve miles. The bridge was built by cutting down large trees and sawing them into blocks of six to eight feet in length, which were placed on end in two rows in the water and soft mud, which was five feet deep. On these blocks were laid string pieces, and across split timber to form the floor of the bridge.”
The bridge is thought to be about 4 miles west of Celina. I have heard rumors that parts of it were found years ago, but the Riley House Museum has no record of it. If anyone has information on the bridge, please contact Riley House Museum in Celina.
Mark Schulze
