- Ohio History in 2000 Words
- Mound Builders
- Native Ohioans
- The Ohio Company
- Ohio's Wood Forts
- Indian Wars
- War of 1812
- Ohio's Canals
- Ohio's Road
- Scenic Railroads / Museums
- Underground Railroad
- Civil War in Ohio
Built in 1787 by the 1st American Regiment to protect government surveyors from the area's hostile Indians as they surveyed the first 7 ranges of the Northwest Territory. Although Fort Steuben was only functional for a short period of time, its presence allowed the surveying crews to carry on their surveying responsibilities. This was the first time that a serious survey of the Ohio Country would be attempted. It was also the first time that the guidelines set down by Congress on how the territory would be surveyed.
In the Land Ordinance of 1785, Congress set out that the new territory would be divided into square 6-mile townships. Each township would then be divided into 36 sections, with each section being 1 square mile.
As the surveyors began to spread out to do their work, they came under increasing threats from the Native Americans. As it became clear to Josiah Harmar that more military were necessary to insure the safety of the survey crews, he decided to build a temporary fortification along the western side of the Ohio River.
Captain John F. Hamtramck and soldiers from the 1st American Regiment, began building the fort in the late fall of 1786. That fortification would have four blockhouses with a palisade wall. Its gate faced the river. However, construction had fallen behind and Captain Hamtramck wanted the fortification completed before winter struck. To help inspire his men to get moving, he introduced a contest between the companies. Each company would be responsible for completing one of the three remaining blockhouses. The winning company would be rewarded with 6 gallons of whiskey. The blockhouses were completed in record time and just days after the men moved into their new quarters, an early winter storm struck dropping 2' of snow and freezing the Ohio River.
On May 23, 1787 the fort named for Baron von Steuben, was abandoned. In total it was only occupied about 7 months. The town that grew up around the former location of Fort Steuben became Steubenville. In 1986 the land where the original fort stood was purchased, and a reproduction of Fort Steuben was built.
BARON VON STEUBEN
Baron Von Steuben was born in Germany to a military engineer. At the age of 17 he became a Prussian officer and took part in Europe's Seven Year War. In 1763 he was discharged from the army and the following year received the title Baron. In 1777 while traveling through France, Von Steuben was given a letter of introduction to General George Washington from Ben Franklin, who was living in Paris at this time. He was recommended as someone knowledgeable about military discipline and someone that General Washington might find useful. Von Steuben quickly rose in importance, becoming a close aid to Washington. At Valley Forge, he became the man responsible for organizing and training the Continental Army. During this time he instituted a program to improve the camp's sanitary conditions, which cut down on the number deaths from illness. From his efforts at Valley Forge, Von Steuben was appointed Inspector General of the Continental Army.
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