Tag Archives: Ohio
ERW Weekender: Fort Recovery
Emerging Revolutionary War welcomes guest historian Joshua Shepherd For most history enthusiasts, a visit to a battlefield is simply a diversion that very often takes place during an annual vacation. But the pleasant surroundings of America’s historic parks belie the … Continue reading
History after a Pandemic
The odds are good that you haven’t been able to visit some of your favorite Revolutionary War sites during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of these locations rely on foot traffic for their annual income and may be struggling to stay … Continue reading
Book Review: Peckuwe 1780, by John F. Winkler
John F. Winkler, Peckuwe 1780: The Revolutionary War on the Ohio River Frontier, (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2018). $24.00 I once read a review comparing Osprey Publishing’s monographs on particular battles, weapons, uniforms, or campaigns to “flash cards,” which made … Continue reading
Revolution on the Ohio Frontier: Fort Laurens
For much of the American Revolution, the British waged war on their rebelling colonists in the Ohio River Valley via proxy, relying on western Indian nations (Shawnee, Wyandot, Mingo, Chippewa, Ottawa, and others) to attack isolated American settlements and villages … Continue reading
Norman MacLeod’s Campaign Journal, October 13, 1778
In the summer of 1778, Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark of the Virginia militia launched one of the most daring American military operations of the Revolutionary War when he invaded the “Illinois country” and captured Cahokia and Kaskaskia in modern-day … Continue reading
Missionary Extraordinaire: David Zeisberger
Over the summer, I took a family excursion to several Revolutionary War sites in Ohio, some of which I recently wrote about. In particular, I wanted to trace the experience of several Moravian missionaries and their congregations in the no-man’s … Continue reading
The Crawford Campaign, 1782: Captivity, Torture, and Execution
(part five of five) For those men separated from the retreating main body in the pell-mell retreat, Crawford’s expedition had become a nightmare, beginning with the panic on the night of June 5. James Paul remembered being shaken awake with … Continue reading
The Crawford Campaign, 1782: Rout, Retreat, and Recovery
(part four of five) As the night of June 5 gave way to a dark retreat on June 6, the militia struggled eastward, attempting to reimpose some order on their main body. According to Rose, Crawford set out after one … Continue reading
The Crawford Campaign, 1782: Battle on the Sandusky
(part three of five) The expedition continued through thick forest until June 4, when it finally came upon a Wyandot town on the upper Sandusky after noon. It was abandoned to the surprise of Crawford’s guides.[i] (The Wyandot shifted from … Continue reading
The Crawford Campaign, 1782: Birth of an Expedition
(part two of five) In April, 1782 local leaders, in particular David Williamson, petitioned Irvine to lead a punitive raid to the Sandusky River aimed at the Wyandot and Hopocan’s Delaware.[i] While he could provide no material support or leadership, … Continue reading