Head of Auglaize - 5
My proposal hits a "snag"
I have presented in this series of blogs, copies of correspondance between General Anthony Wayne to the Secretary of War that support my proposal that General Wayne constructed some kind of post on the banks of the Auglaize River at or very near the future site of Fort Amanda. My original intent was to publish my findings in a book but thought a blog would be better as it allowed feedback, critiques, opinions, etc.
The problem I've run into is I have so much data (maps, mileage charts, personal opinions, relevant details, etc) I fear I could lose reader interest so I've decided to summarize the key points in this blog then in my next blog, provide what I consider 99% proof that Wayne built a structure of some kind at or very near the site of what later became Fort Amanda.
Why Would Wayne Want a Post on the Auglaize?
While still at Greenville in 1793, Wayne showed intense interest in building a post on the Auglaize. While his original mission was to advance to and destroy the Miami villages at the junction of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's Rivers (Fort Wayne, Ind). The Indians eventually abandoned the site and had moved to Grand Glaize (Defiance, Oh). That plus the fact the British had built a fort on American soil 45 miles east of Defiance made Wayne's new primary target the Grand Glaize. His plans to build the post on the Auglaize were put on temporary hold.
His advance from Greenville to Fallen Timbers (Mumee, Oh.) is well documented so no need to cover it here only to say that after his success he marched west to the old Miami village site and built Fort Wayne then later that year (1794), returned to Greenville and began to put together the terms of what became the Greenville Treaty.
Below are excerpts from pre and post Fallen Timber letters from Wayne to Secretary Knox where he talks about his intent to build the post on the Auglaize bot pre- Greenville Treaty and post-Greenville Treaty.
Pre Fallen Timbers Correspondance
“I have in contemplation to appoint the first of May for opening the treaty so as to be in perfect readiness at an early period to operate with effect should it prove abortive as well as to take advantage of the high waters to aid our transport up the Great Miami as far as it may be found to be navigable say to Chillakothe or rather to Loramies store at the carrying place between the Great Miami and the Au Glaize which is computed to be 18 or 20 miles’.
March 3, 1794
“I am determined to establish a strong post on the banks of
Au Glaize, at the north end of the portage, …. The distance from then to Grand
Glaize, - at it’s confluence with the Miami of the Lake,
is not more than from twenty five to thirty Miles – they will therefore be compelled
to treat-fight or to abandon their towns hunting grounds &
possessions.”
March 10, 1794
“Mc Mahan found a Great part of the Ground
inundated & the creeks Unfordable from a heavy fall of rain that continued
for some days- & and which prevented him from reconnoitering the portage
with effect
March 20, 1794
“I shall therefore make every preparation for
taking ground in front, by establishing a post on the
Au Glaize at the North end of the portage as mentioned in my letter of
the 3rd Instant as soon as the waters & circumstances will
permit
May 7, 1794
“I must acknowledge that I have a strong prejudice in favor of a post at the North end of the portage on Au Glaize river & in favor of that route in preference to this; because at a proper season, i.e., in the spring & fall of the year, all supplies for the use of the troops & Garrisons may be transported by Water, with only twenty-one miles Land carriage-, which is between the head of the navigation of the Miami of the Ohio, say at Loramies stores (about fifteen miles above the Old Chillakothe or Pique town) & even from the Chillakothe to that point on Au Glaize wou’d be but about 35 or 36 miles over a fine level open ground. At all events the savages out to be removed from, or kept in check at Grand Glaize; by establishing a post at the place before mentioned- & to which a road is already Opened, it is so from situate as to be within striking distance both of Grand Glaize & Roche de Bout at the foot of the Rapids of the Miami of the Lake the distance to either of those places from that point don’t exceed Forty miles - & forms an Equilateral triangle between those three points
Post Fallen Timbers Correspondance
October 17, 1794
“The Posts in contemplation at
Chillakothe or Picque town, on the Miami of the Ohio, at Loramies stores on the
North branch & at the Old Tawa towns on the Au Glaize, are with a
view to facilitate the transport of supplies by water, and which to a certainty
will reduce the land carriage of dead or leady articles at proper seasons i.e.,
late in the fall and early in the spring to thirty-five miles and in times of
freshes to twenty- in place of One Hundred & seventy five by the most
direct road to Grand Glaize & one Hundred & fifty to the Miami villages
from Fort Washington.”
“As soon as circumstances will admit, the posts contemplated
at Pique town, Loramies Store, & at the old Tawa Towns at the head of the
Navigation on the Au Glaize River, will be established for the reception of
& as deposits for the stores and supplies by water carriage which is not
determined to be perfectly practical in proper seasons.”
“I expect in the course of a few days to
advance with the light infantry and Artificers in order to establish, a post & store houses at the Landing on the St.
Mary’s and on the Au Glaize’. I
have already established one at Loramies.”
“I intend as soon as the Equinotical storm is over to advance with the light infantry & artificers to the landing on St. Mary's, in order to erect a post & storehouse at that place. I shall also reconnoiter a position on the Au Glaize to determine whether a post will be established at that place or not, if I find that it will be of real advantage, I shall also establish one on that river within the reservation.”
October 5, 1795
“I shall mount my horse in the course of a few Minutes in
order to overtake the troops now in full March to establish the post or posts
mentioned in my letter of the 19th Ultimo.”
“I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your several letters of the 26th of September, the 3rd, 10th and 17th of October. The last three came to hand whilst I was on the tour & duty mentioned in my letters of the 19th of September and 5th Ultimo, and from which I returned a few days since, after completing a chain of posts & storehouses at St. Mary's - Loramies & the old Chillakothe near the confluence of the North & East branches of the Miami of the Ohio
In Wayne's September 2 letter to Knox, he wrote : I shall also reconnoiter a position on the Au Glaize to determine whether a post will be established at that place or not, if I find that it will be of real advantage, I shall also establish one on that river within the reservation.” In his November 9th letter, Wayne wrote that he completed a "chain of posts & storehouses at St. Mary's - Loramies & the old Chillakothe" He makes no mention of building a post on the Auglaize? So the question is; "Did he build it?"
My next blog "unsnags" it and in my opinion proves he did.