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By Becky Jacobs, Mirror Reporter
The Maumee Mirror (Maumee, OH)
01-19-96
Strategy has been growing in anticipation of the second "Battle of Fallen Timbers" as planned by local historians. Interest has grown since the summer of 1995 when an archaeological study pinpointed the battlefield in an area proposed for a shopping mall.
Public concern has grown of late to save the historical battlefield from the proposed mall by the City of Toledo. That interest was evident as nearly 100 people gathered at the Maumee Branch Library on January 10 for further information from the Battle of Fallen Timbers Preservation Commission.
Mayor Stephen Pauken helped spark interest as he informed those in attendance of the importance of the Maumee-based historical site nationally as well as locally.
Pauken explained that it has not always been recognized that the site was the last battle of the American Revolution War. He and other speakers relayed that generations of school children have been taught about the first shot of the war at Lexington, known as "the shot heard around the world." But, he asked, how many were taught about the last shot fired at Fallen Timbers?
The battle on August 20, 1794 was significant not just to this area; it was a battle composed of U.S. soldiers and Kentucky militiamen, led by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who successfully forced the hand of the British to leave the area as promised.
The U.S. Army had been defeated twice before by the Indian Confederation under Miami Chief Little Turtle, once in 1790 and again in 1791. A third defeat may have hampered western expansion of the United States.
With the success of the U.S. militia at the Fallen Timbers battle the Treaty of Greene Ville was signed, which was the largest treaty ever signed with the Indians. Its effect created six states -- Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota -- from the Old Northwest Territory along with the formation of two cities, Detroit and Chicago.
If this battle and the success of the Second Battle of Fort Recovery had not occurred the six states may have been formed as Canadian Provinces.
In recent months controversy has developed concerning the battlefield site, that lies within the Maumee city limits but owned by the City of Toledo. The question is: Should it become a national park or become a part of a major mall as proposed by the Isaac Group Holding Inc.?
Part of the concern has been a discrepancy of where the actual battle occurred. For over 200 years it was thought the battle site was on the east side of U.S. 24 marked by a monument. But recent studies, under the direction of Dr. G. Michael Pratt, an archaeology professor at Heidelberg College, have shown otherwise. An archaeological dig produced proof through the discovery of war artifacts to move the battle site across U.S. 24 to a soybean field overlooking I-475.
This past summer the cities of Maumee and Toledo agreed to the study where Pratt and a team of volunteers, with metal detectors in hand, found musket balls, uniform buttons, and an intact bayonet used during the war period within the plow line of the field.
Dr. Pratt added that the findings at the dig did support his suspicions that he has held for many years. While narrating a slide show of the dig he revealed findings of at least 450 artifacts found at the site.
What was used as guidance in the battlefield placement was an "eyewitness perspective" from aged diaries and other written documents studied by Pratt. With the help of modern technology, namely Global Positioning Satellites and the Geographic Information System, Pratt was able to pinpoint a major portion of the battle.
Following the findings of the artifacts, a map was made of the marked areas that showed the direction of battle that agreed with the historical accounts.
Even though many of the uniform buttons were in rather bad condition, Pratt said the recognizable insignia of an eagle holding an olive branch could easily be seen.
Almost all of the buttons were grouped in clusters, which may show evidence of a soldier lost in action. The U.S. soldiers of that time wore such buttons on his coat, vest and trousers.
Since the heaviest findings were near the I-475 ramp on the west side of U.S. 24 Pratt predicts the same findings may be found near the ramp on the east side of U.S. 24.
Pratt said, in his opinion, he felt the site of the Fallen Timbers Monument may have been chosen, not as much for the significance of the site of the battle, as much as it was for its view overlooking the Maumee River. He suggested that the monument stay in the position where it stands.
According to Pauken, "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity -- we can't let it slip away."
The park, he said, would add to the quality of life in Toledo as well as Maumee.
Another speaker, Don Moyer, a member of the Sons of the Revolution, said, "We have to act now to oppose the mall -- our heritage is not for sale."
Maumee Council Member Rick Maier added comments on behalf of those who fought in the actual battle.
"There were people involved -- real people. They wore the same buttons (as found in the archaeological dig). Honor those who gave their lives," he asked.
Jack Jaqua, a member of the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Preservation Commission, added that he felt the mall would be an "incompatible use of the land, and I personally don"t think the mall wouldn't add anything significant to the City."
He advised, "But, we can't just sit on our hands."
The City of Maumee has not been idle in the endeavor of seeking approval of the national park. They have been in discussion with the City of Toledo as well as with U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur and the National Park Service, who has shown interest.
A proper application for a grant has been submitted to the park service for approval. If successful, the federal grant would cover approximately 80 percent of the $2.5 million needed to purchase the parcel from Toledo. However, the citizens' commission advised of the need for additional funds.
Kathryn Johnson, a member of the commission and a spokesperson on behalf of promotion of the national park, remarked she hopes the Battle of Fallen Timbers isn't a secret much longer.
Technically, the City of Toledo has the right to sell the land as proposed, and the Isaac's Group has the right to purchase the land for their endeavor, but it is the hope of the City of Maumee and many local citizens that Toledo and the Isaac Group reconsider the mall's location.
A significant question asked by Jaqua was, "Who would build a mall nest to Yorktown, Valley Forge or Gettysburg?"
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