War of 1812 overflow forification site found in NW Ohio

[Bman]

In one my college classes last fall, our history professor stated that he and another local history professor and archivist had finally found the location of a temporary fortification from the War of 1812, three weeks before he told us about it. The exact location had been lost for almost 200 years. The death rate that fall and winter was so great in the next spring it was abandoned forever. Most of the men who were sent there died due to many various diseases that were running rampant through the campsite. The spot is somewhere in Defiance county.
There will be a state marker erected on the site in 2012 to mark the 200th year since this area was part of the western frontier.
Two people had been called in with metal detectors and they found a whole bunch of officers' uniform buttons, musket balls, belt buckles, and other artifacts from that time. The local rescue people used the site to train their cadaver dogs on some really, really old graves. They did find the mass grave sites that the soldiers were buried in.
Most of these buttons were in almost perfect condition.

I am trying to get permission to be able to go out there metal detecting...I'll let you know if there is a chance to go out there and look around.

[Goldenrod]

good show old man looking forward to it.

[Bman]

I'm just hoping they don't try to enlarge the nearby park to encompass the site at the same time.



I think the landowners of the site there might put up a fight if the state does try to do so....



I am trying to butter up the professors to gain access to data and site



By the way those buttons sell for about $150 each if in good condition...

[hunter434]

Good luck Bman,i would love to go with you.

Mark

[Bman]

Just got done talking with the professors about this property. Most of the 40 acre fortification is on private property. The enclosed area inside the fort's walls was the whole 40 acres...that is one big fort! It was used for a wharehouse, storage, and the encampment.

I will need a business card for the Dayton Diggers and one for the OSPA to give to the professor. The professor will do the contacting of the owner for our groups. I don't think the owner knows how to metal detect at all. This would be happening later in the fall after the crops are off the field. The hint was dropped, in todays conversation, that the owner might set up a small museum for the recovered items nearby. So, not sure if any finds could be kept by detectorists.



But we may have a shot at being some of the first to go thru the area.

[Goldenrod]

Iwill have what you need at the roast. you can also go to their website and print off some of the info that way too.

[hunter434]

Sounds great Rick,looking forward to it.

Mark

[Bman]

The professor would like the business cards instead of a print out. It will also look more profesional.

[hunter434]

Will give you everything you need next weekend Rick.

Mark