War of 1812 Blockhouse

Following the American surrender of Fort Detroit in August 1812, panic spread along the Ohio frontier amid fear of possible Indian attacks. The boundary of Indian territory lay about 14 miles to the north at the Greenville Treaty line. Ohio Governor Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr. called out the Ohio Militia to defend the frontier and build blockhouses. A local militia company of 70 men from present Union and Madison counties was raised to protect settlements along Big Darby Creek, with David Watson as captain and Frederick Lloyd as first lieutenant. Watson’s company marched north and began building a two-story hewn log blockhouse on the west bank of Mill Creek near the old Indian trail. The structure measured about 15 by 24 feet and had 4-inch gun ports along the sides. The company garrisoned it for about two weeks before Jonathon Alder, a former Indian captive, persuaded them to abandon the effort because he believed Indians would bypass the blockhouse and attack the settlements. No Indian raids occurred, and calm returned to the frontier settlements, especially after American victories at Fort Meigs and Fort Stephenson in July 1813 and the Battle of the Thames in October 1813.

Ohio · United States