The March from Cincinnati to Fort Amanda

  Cincinnati to Ft. Amanda

Q: How did the men in Captain Hosbrook's company get from Cincinnati to Fort Amanda a distance of 131 miles?

A: They walked

Disclaimer: Todays blog is very long because it describes in detail, the route Hosbrook's company took from Cincinnati to Ft. Amanda with details of what was happening along the way. I've included the transcription from Schillingers journal along with my notes and maps showing the route they took.


If you haven't discovered it yet, I'm a stickler for details. Took me hours and hours to figure out who Schillinger bought a trunk from because the ink on the name is smudged. I had to resort to census records and old city directories to put 2 and 2 togther. For those want a little more "interesting stuff," you'll read about a man getting wounded along the way and a captain with severe diarreah. Anyway lots of details and I hope you enjoy what I put together.

Friday Feb. 5
Rendezvous, d at Cincinnati quartered in the court house

In 1813, the Hamilton County courthouse was located on the southeast corner of Fifth and Main sts. in Cincinnati, Ohio. The building measured 56 by 60 feet and the top of its dome was 120 feet above ground level. It had a spacious court room, several jury rooms and contained offices for the clerk, recorder, sheriff, county commissioners, and auditor. During the War of 1812, it was used as military barracks, until it was destroyed by fire in late 1813.

Satturday 6
Paraded at 9 oclock Number of Men exempted for various Diseases

Sunday 7
this Day weather fine Paraded at 9. Dismis’d to quarters, went home on furlough.

The distance from Schillinger’s home near Plainville to the courthouse in Cincinnati was approximately 11 miles. Using the times, distances he records throughout his journal suggests that his average travel speed was 3 miles per hour, making his trip approximately 3 ½ hours each way.

Monday 8
Returnd to quarters at 8 oclock Battalion Paraded at 9 oclock Number of Men exempted for Disability

Aside from obvious disabilities, a man could be disqualified for service if he had no front teeth. Teeth were needed to chew off the end of a bullet cartridge.

Tuesday 9
Grand Parade at 9. furlough’d part of our company home Appointed our Noncomission’d officers at night Made Company Muster Roll.

The Grand Parade was different from the typical morning parade in that Grand Parades were usually done in the presence of a Major officer of Dignitary or for a formal occasion.

February 10. 1813 Wensday.
Paraded at Day Light for Roll call all well but one Man, sick. 9 oclock Grand parade. Attended to Making Muster Rolls & Pay rolls 3 oclock got permission to go home found all well some rain

Thursday 11
Pack’d up My Close & prepared to return to camp Left home at 5 oclock arriv’d at Cincinnati at sun down - Weather Cold & Snowing - all well

Question: Schillinger lived in Plainville, 11 miles east of Cincinnati. He wrote that he left home at 5 o’clock and arrived back at Cincinnati at sundown. Sundown in Cincinnati on February 11, 1813 was 6:12 pm. While possible, it’s unlikely he rode the 11 miles in just over an hour. Could he have meant 3 o’clock instead of 5?

Friday the 12
busy prepareing for the march clear & cold

Saturday 13
Still prepareing Necessary for the march - cold

Sunday the 14.
This morning receiv,d orders to march at 10 oclock Bought a trunk for Miss Bux price 2.75 cents Clear & Cold at 2 oclock we took up our line of march, & March,d to the town of redding 10 miles from place of Departure & prior to marching we Draw,d two days Rations.

The individual Schillinger bought the trunk from was Lydia Boss. According to the 1829 Cincinnati City Directory, Ms. Boss operated a millinery on Sixth street between Main and Walnut. Her shop would have been just one block north of the courthouse where Schillinger was camped at the time.

The town of “redding,” should be “Reading.” The path they took was north on Main St. to Reading road (Rt. 42). Turning east, they followed that road to Reading 10 miles from Cincinnati.

Proximity of Schillingers quarters at the Courthouse and Ms. Boss' millinery

Their route out of Cincinnati was 5th street to Main, North to Reading Rd.

Cincinnati to Reading -10 miles

Monday the 15
at 8 oclock we again prepared to march & proceeded as far as lebanon 20 miles & took up our quarters at Sam,l Heatons Sign of the Cross Keys, this evening My Capt’n joined us

When they arrived in Lebanon, the men set up camp on the outskirts of town while Schillinger and Lt. Davis procured rooms at an inn called the Sign of the Cross Keys run by a man named Samuel Heatons. The building sat on the northwest corner of E. Main and S. Broadway St. in what is now a small community park adjacent to the famous Golden Lamb Inn/Restaurant.
For some reason Captain Hosbrook did not march from Cincinnati with the rest of his company. One explanation is that rather than having ride 35 miles to Cincinnati only to turn around and ride 35 miles back, a total of 70 miles, it made more sense to wait until the company passed through Lebanon.

Reading to Lebanon, Oh - 20 miles

Tuesday the 16
This morning provisions for one Day We was Detain’d in town this day waiting for our Baggage, one of the waggons arriv,d about 12 oclock In the evening on of Capt Garrets troopers of kentucky volunteers was wounded in the thigh by trying to surprise our centinel at our baggage wagon

Captain Garret was Captain Daniel Garrard. Garrard, was the son of James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky (1796-1804). He commanded a troop of Kentucky mounted militia from Clay County, Kentucky. Hobrook had posted a sentinel to guard his baggage wagon the night of the 16th. Apparently a prankster from Garrard’s company tried to sneak up and surprise the sentinel and being on high alert, when the sentinel heard a noise, he turned and fired, wounding the man.

Wensday the 17 of feb 1813
This morning (the Capt. & Lieut. being absent) paraded the comp,ny all well but one Man M. Strickland This morning Receiv,d by Mr. Tootens some close from home & with them My wifes Profile. 3 oclock this afternoon we got word that our Baggage which we was waiting for had took the road to franklin & we march’d at 3 oclock & mov,d 5 miles out of town & camp’d for the night.

“M. Strickland” was Mark Strickland and Mr. Tootens was Richard Tooten (Schillingers neighbor). Tooten brought Schillinger a “profile” of his wife. A profile was basically the silhouette of an individual’s face in profile, cut out of black paper and placed on a white background. It was then encased in either a locket or frame of some kind.
Campsite that night was near the intersection of Rt. 42 and Pekin Road.

Lebanon to the Campsite 5 miles from town - 5 miles

Thursday the 18
at Day light we again took up our line of march, at 4 miles, we stopd took our breakfast weather cold. At ½ past 2 oclock we got to Dayton 24 miles from Lebanon here we took up our quarters in the court house. A number our men which was on furlough joined us this evening.

The company continued north on Bunnell Hill rd. north for about 4 miles, to Five Points where they halted and, ate breakfast. They continued on Bunnell Rd. which becomes Sheehan Rd once it crosses Social Row Rd. The followed Sheehan Rd on to junction with SR 48 and followed that on into Dayton. Schillinger and the other officers found rooms in the courthouse while the enlisted men probably set up their camp in a wooded area east of the courthouse near present day Cooper Park ( 3rd and St. Clair Sts.)

While they were in Dayton, a group of men who hadn’t joined the others in Cincinnati, joined the company there.

Marched 4 miles and stopped for breakfast - 4 miles

Five Points to Dayton - 15 miles

Friday the 19 feb 1813
This morning weather Clear & cold The men are all well, at 2 oclock we loaded our Baggage & march,d out of town & cross,d Mad river 1 mile from the town & pick,d our camp.

They followed crossed the Great Miami near Keowee st. then set up camp near the intersection of Rt 202 and Warner Avenue in Dayton

Marched out of town - 1 Mile

Saturday the 20
Weather cold & Cloudy at 8 oclock we paraded our company all well but 2 Men sick - Wm Goldworthy and A stranger.

Two men in the company reported sick at roll call that morning, a man named William Goldworthy and another individual he did not name. No personal information on Goldworthy has been found to date (2015). It’s interesting to note that despite the relatively small size of Hosbrook’s company (<70) men Schillinger, the company clerk doesn’t know the man’s name. This makes one wonder if the officers in Hosbrook’s company did not fraternize with the enlisted men.

Sunday the 21 feb
This morning Cold & Snowing with some rain, This Day we waited on the Paymaster & Drew Pay for 5 of our men which join’d us here.

The monthly pay for a private soldier was $8.00. Pay for an Ensign was $9.00 and base pay for Maj. Gen. William H. Harrison was $200.00. Harrison also was reimbursed each month the amount $198.00 for his sustenance (food clothing and shelter). He receive an additional amount of $24 for the services of 3 waiters. Harrison’s total compensation each month was $422.00

Munday the 22 feb
This morning Cold and Cloudy. Paraded at 7 oclock. found 3 men sick Prepared to march at 10 oclock agreeable to orders at 5 oclock our Brigadier and suite came out and on parade the General read the articles & regulations of the armies of the U. S. & gave orders for us to march at 8 oclock tomorrow.

The Brigadier was Brig. Gen. John Wingate. The articles and regulations of the United States were similar to the Code of Conduct for today’s military personnel

Tuesday the 23rd of feb 1813

This morning very cold & Clear our men who was sick getting better 9 oclock no orders for Marching our Commissary not being prepar,d to furnish the necessary provisions for our men to march with ½ past 2 oclock got our provisions & Struck our e& march,d 9 miles to the fallen timber & took up our camp. (Camp Mills)

The company was delayed until their rations arrived. Once received, they loaded their gear on their baggage wagon and marched to an area they called Camp Mills in honor of the Colonel James Mills of the First Regiment of Ohio Militia. The encampment was probably located near the intersection of Rt. 202 and Rt. 40 near the village of Phoneton, Ohio

Marched to Camp Mills - 9 miles

Wensday the 24
at 7 oclock this morning we all struck our tents march,d 7 miles to honey creek halted A few minutes, proceed to Staunton 5 miles from thence 8 miles to Piqua. Cros,d the Big Miamia to washington march,d out of town ½ mile to the woods & Camp,d for the night weather moderated some snow yet laying on the ground.

The company continued on through the village of Staunton then followed the Piqua-Troy Road north crossing the Great Miami River at Garnsey st. and continued on into the town of Washington (Piqua, O) and camped in the “woods” (Mote Park

Camp Mills to Staunton - 12 miles

Staunton to Washington (Piqua, Oh) - 8 miles

Thursday the 25
this morning we Drew 6 rounds of Cartridges to every man our Captain complaining of the lax One man sick, Daniels, weather moderate This day we Drew 3 days rations & march,d at 3 oclock 3 miles to Perrys Block house. Campe,d for the night. Camp,d in the hollow square weather very much moderate.

The sick man was Isaac Daniels. Captain was suffering from diarrhea.

Perry's blockhouse was located near the intersection of N. Hardin Rd. and SR 66. A hollow square encampment was formed in the shape of a square. Depending on the number of soldiers, each side contained rows of men up to 4 or 5 ranks deep. The flags, officers, horses, artillery and provisions were located in the center and provided optimum protection of men and supplies, especially the horses. If an attack occurred, the side engaged could open ranks and allow the mounted troops in the center to deploy quickly through the opening in quick pursuit of the enemy

Special note: Thursday the 25th had been an especially miserable day for Private Isaac Daniel and Capt. Hosbrook as both were ill. We don’t know what Daniels problem was, but poor Capt. Hosbrook had a severe case of diarrhea. Had Hosbrook been a student of history he could have minimized his discomforts by doing what another military leader in a similar situation had done 700 years before. While on a crusade to the Holy Land in the 13th century, King Richard the Lion Heart had a very severe case of diarrhea. Not wanting to slow his march and because it took time to remove his armor and undergarments, sword, etc, he had the back of his uniform cut out so he could “accommodate expediency.” Luckily for Capt. Hosbrook they only had to march three miles that day so he didn’t need to resort to such an extreme measure and had plenty of time to deal with his “issue” on his own time and in his own way. Either way both men should be commended for their intestinal fortitude and putting duty before dooty. Puns intended

Washington (Piqua) to Perrys Blockhouse - 3 miles

Friday the 26
This morning Clear & pleasant got notice to mount Guard duty today, Struck our tents & march,d at 8 oclock, halted at the 6 mile creek from the block house and proceed on to Little Loramies 5 miles thence to Loramies Station 4 miles on L Creek Camp,d for the night

At this point the company was following SR 66 headed north. They halted for a short time at the intersection of S R 66 and Houston Rd. before crossing the stream on the south edge of the village of Houston, Ohio. They continued on four miles, crossed the Little Loramie’s creek[1] then another five miles to Loramie’s Station where they camped for the night.

Perrys Blockhouse to Loramies - 15 miles

Saturday the 27
this morning Clear & pleasant Men all in high Spirits, March,d at 8 oclock Moved on to St. Marys 12 miles crossed the creek & camp,d on the Bank opposite of the Garrison

The garrison was Fort Barbee and it was located on the west bank of the St. Marys River in St. Marys Ohio (E. Spring st). Hosbrook's company camped the night on the opposite bank in what today is Memorial Park.

Loramies Station to St. Marys - 12 miles

The Last Leg of the Journey

St. Marys to Ft. Amanda

Sunday Feb 28
this morning Clear & pleasant Took a command of 30 Men at 10 oclock & March,d for fort amanda on ouglaise river arriv,d there at 4 oclock took command of s’d place Draw.d 2 days Rations, the Kentucky troops being Discharg,d, they Iluminated the fort this evening we had rain with hail.

Their followed Rt. 66 out of St. Marys to the spot where the road turns directly north (abt. 2 ½ miles). A continuous trail leading from this point to Ft. Amanda is no longer in existence, however sections of the road are. The original trail can be seen by drawing a line from the point where S R 66 turns north, I diagonally northeast to the Lock 14 road, then on to Mitchell road and on to Conant Rd, and finally from there to Ft. Amanda. The total distance from Ft. Barbee following the trail just mentioned is approximately 12 miles.

Schillinger met with the commander of the fort, Captain Thompson Ward who turned command over to him. Schillinger and his men camped on the “commons” which was probably the flat area on the north bank of the Auglaize and east of SR 198.

St. Marys to Ft. Amanda - 12 Miles

Arrival Sunday afternoon Feb. 28, 1813

Hosbrook's company had been on the march since Feb. 14 sleeping in tents pelted by wind, rain and snow. It had not been a pleasant journey. Now for the first time in 2 weeks, the men were about to move into cabins and as Schillinger pointed out in his journal entry of Feb. 27th, "Men all in high Spirits." I would certainly think so.

As I was working on the times and mileages of the company's trip to Amanda, I reflected back to my days in Basic Training when we had to march 20 miles one day. I thought to myself, "If I could have marched another 20 miles the next day and the next and the next like Schillinger did. After all, I was young, in great shape, eager and energetic so I could I think I could still do it............Nah!

[1] Newport, Ohio