THE FIRST FORT--We know there is confusion about Fort Wayne, and we'd like to clear it up. Historic Fort Wayne is a wonderful recreation of the fort rebuilt in 1815-1816 by Major John Whistler, the Fort's Commandant. The first fort was ordered by General Wayne in 1794, on the high ground overlooking the confluence of the Saint Mary's and Saint Joseph Rivers, and the Miami Tribe's "town" of Kekionga; it was dedicated on October 22, 1794, the day after the General left. A marker at the corner of what is now the intersection of Berry Street and Clay Street, seen in the photo below, shows the location of that original fort. That version of the fort was hastily built, leading to it being reconstructed four years later. Colonel Joseph Hunt began the rebuild with a second fort at the Three Rivers in 1798, two years after the General's death. It was built on the site just east, and slightly south, of FWFD Fire Station #1, downtown on Main Street. So, the Historic Fort Wayne on Spy Run is a replica of and modeled after Whistler's fort, the third fort built in the area to honor early settlers and soldiers.
A drawing of what may be the original Fort Wayne has been found among papers donated to the United States Military Academy at West Point. [ Is this online? ]
Before this discovery there were no known drawings of the 1794 fort General Anthony Wayne built here.
Fort Wayne historian Michael Hawfield said the diagram is "especially important for adding to the very scanty information on how Anthony Wayne's first fort was built."
The drawing, penned on parchment, was found among the papers of Brigadier General Henry Burbeck, who as a major, was the chief engineer for the first American fort built here in 1794.
Burbeck's papers were donated to West Point in 1986 by Cyril Gray Cogswell, an amateur historian who rescued them from the trash of a descendant of Burbeck's. Burbeck was one of the founders of West Point.
The diagram is about 13 inches by 16 inches, according to Judith Sibley, manuscript librarian at West Point.
The words "Plan of Fort Wayne" are written on it, as well as the name James Wilkinson. General James Wilkinson was given command of Anthony Wayne's troops in 1794 when General Wayne returned to the East.
Wayne appointed Burbeck, his artillery officer, chief engineer for the construction of the fort here. It was built in the area of what is now Berry and Clay streets. Burbeck also was commandant of the the fort for a short time in the spring of 1803 until he was sent to command the Detroit outpost in May of that year.
In his 1977 book "The Forts of Anthony Wayne," Ohio historian David Simmons said the fort's final design "was apparently a square of 250 feet with a bastion at each of the southern angles."
The drawing shows a fort 272 square with bastions on all four corners.
Forts with bastions on each corner were common among those built by General Wayne during his western campaign. Among those built that way were Fort Washington (now Cincinnati), Fort St. Clair in west central Ohio and Fort Defiance (now Defiance, Ohio).
Simmons research on the first Fort Wayne suggested "earthworks around the exterior barrack walls," and a ditch, "dug around at least part of the fort." Written on the Burbeck drawing are the notations: "Ditch 16 feet wide," "Berm 6 feet," and "Gate 11 feet in the clear & Nine feet High."
Other interesting notations dot the drawing, including the name "Jonathan" scrawled amid what look like someone practicing elaborate capital "Js." It also appears the document was used as scratch paper for someone adding up numbers, perhaps in figuring the measurements for the fort.
Next Tueday, October 22 from 10 to 2 pm, the site of the first Fort Wayne in 1794 will be rededicated ceremonially on the 230th anniversary of its first dedication and naming of Fort Wayne in honor of General 'Mad' Anthony Wayne. Unlike 230 years ago we will not have corner bastions to consecutively fire off 15 howitzer artillery pieces, one for each state in the union. A tent will be set up across the street to shelter speakers and event attendees and other dignitaries.
Also, don't forget Hardin's defeat was on October 19th, 1790 as well as the Battle of Kekionga on October 22, 1790. All the previously mentioned events as well as the dedication of Fort Wayne are featured in books 1 and 2 of the Kekionga series. www.jimpickettbooks.com
Here's an interview with SM SGT. Douglas Dye, who is one of the speakers for our event tomorrow, talking about the ties...
Here's an interview with SM SGT. Douglas Dye, who is one of the speakers for our event tomorrow, talking about the ties between General "Mad" Anthony Wayne and the 122nd Fighter Wing of the INANG. This interview is fascinating!
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, UNITED STATES
08.27.2024
Courtesy Audio 122nd Fighter Wing
In this episode of Blacksnake Bytes, we interview our wing historian, Douglas Dye. This role serves an important purpose in preserving the 122nd Fighter Wing's history and telling the stories of those who've served their nation and community.
1794 Fort Wayne rededication about ready to start.
The December 28, 1877 header of the Fort Wayne Daily Gazette newspaper appears to have a drawing of the 1794 fort and is one of the earliest images depicting Fort Wayne.
The fort image appeared in the header of the January 1, 1877 newspaper without the Fort Wayne in 1794 caption, but there are no online newspapers for 1876, while 1873 issues do not have the fort image. It is still the header of the September 28, 1878 newspaper, but not the next available September 30, 1878 newspaper.
After the Battle of Fallen Timbers, General Wayne marched toward the Miami village of Kekionga, also known as Miamitown, arriving on September 17, 1794. After selecting a location a week after his arrival, Wayne ordered the first American fortification in present day Allen County built at the confluence of our three rivers. Exactly 225 years ago today, on September 24, 1794, Wayne’s troops began construction on that first American fort. Soldiers cleared many trees surrounding the fort to provide an adequate field of fire and built earthen works to withstand British cannon fire. This fort sat south across the river from the village of Kekionga, now the northwest corner of Berry and Clay Streets. Today we commemorate the beginning of the first of three American military forts within Allen County. #sociallyhistory
Current Main and Clay Street south of Nickel Plate RR tracks was Old Fort Park with Gardens to the west is where Fort Erected by Col. John Hunt 1800 rebuilt by Maj. Whistler 1815-16.
Current Berry and Clay Street with Cemetery in sections 35, 36, 37 to the west of Fort erected by General Wayne, 1794 demolished about 1800 and the site (with adjoining land) used as Military Cemetery.
On October 22, 1794, Fort Wayne was dedicated. Following General Anthony Wayne's victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the Legion of the United States under Wayne's command moved into present-day Indiana. Wayne selected a site for a fort at the Miami town of Kekionga.
The site was strategically and militarily located at the confluence of the St. Joseph, Saint Mary's, and Maumee Rivers. Wayne sought to exert American influence and control in the region over the claims of indigenous peoples and the British. Major John F. Hamtramck was placed in command of 100 soldiers stationed at the fort.
On this day in 1803 (April 13, 1803) John Johnston and his wife, Rachel Hoping Robinson Johnston, lost $414.50 when the Factor’s house at Fort Wayne was burnt down along with much of the nearby Factory or government warehouse. Several Indians were arrested. The one who set fire to it admitted the act had been committed at the instigation of Canadian or British traders who resented the US government's interference with established trade in the area.
Color photo is of the restored fort, which can be visited today.
Following the arrival of the Legion of the United States at the Confluence of the Three Rivers in September 1794, General Anthony Wayne ordered the first American fortification in present day Allen County built across the river from the Miami Indian village of Kekionga, now the northwest corner of Berry and Clay Streets. Exactly 225 years ago today, on October 22, 1794 the completed fort was dedicated with a military parade and the firing of 15 cannon rounds representing the 15 states of the union. The date was selected because it marked the four year anniversary of the defeat of American forces under the command of General Josiah Harmar by the Miami under the command of Chief Little Turtle at the Battle of Kekionga. Following the ceremonies, Wayne departed, leaving the fort under the command of Colonel John Francis Hamtramck, who chose the name “Fort Wayne” in honor of his military commander. Today we celebrate the 225th anniversary of the dedication of Fort Wayne! #sociallyhistory
You can learn more about General Wayne and the history of Fort Wayne by checking out Historic Fort Wayne. You can also read Richard Battin's fascinating article "Gen. Anthony Wayne helped the nation grow west" here: Gen. Anthony Wayne helped the nation grow west
October 30, 2013 - Fort Wayne is the answer on the Jeopardy television show A log stockade made by a certain mad revolutionary war general in 1794 gave this city his name. See October 30, 2013 photo on Visit Fort Wayne Tweet on Twitter and Mitch Harper Tweet.
