Portage Lions Club

One of the Ohio Commission Memorial tablets located in Wood county marks the site if a fort or stockade on the right hand bank of the west branch of the Portage river and about a mile south of the present village of Portage. The location is particularly established by an old well walled with stone and some 18 feet deep which was evidently dug within the stockade.

The inscription on the tablet reads: "Portage Stockade. Built in 1812 by General Hull to protect one of his camps on his march from Dayton to Detroit. Garrisoned again in 1813 by order of General Harrison."

The site is about 1000 feet west of the Dixie Highway and in plowing the ground a number of valuable relics including a silver piece of English money have been found. The river here bends sharply to the east and Hull’s Trail followed the south bank of the stream fording it northward where the Toledo-Columbus division of the New York Central railroad now bridges the river.

Regarding this post and several others, a general order issued by General Harrison, commander-in-chief of the Northwest army and dated May 11, 1813, two days after the British Proctor abandoned the siege of Fort Meigs, reads as follows:

"Brigadier General Clay of the Kentucky militia (appointed) to the command of the troops in this camp (Fort Meigs) and to the posts of McArthur, Findlay, Portage, and Upper and Lower Sandusky. The commandants of these posts are to report to him."

Again, August 2, 1813, the day of the British and Indian attack against Fort Stephenson (Fremont) and the gallant defense of the post by Colonel Croghan, General Clay commandant at Fort Meigs, in Harrison’s absence, issued another order of much historical importance concerning the posts along Hull’s trail, and which would indicate the fear that the Indians, or a detachment of British might have since General Harrisons order of May 11, attacked the garrison and destroyed the Portage blockhouse. Clay’s order is as follows:

Camp Meigs, Aug. 2^nd, 1813

General Order:

Captains Hatfield and Simonton of the Ohio line, will immediately march their respective companies to Portage Blockhouse. Should that post be entirely destroyed by the enemy, Capt. Hatfield will return to this garrison and Capt. Simonton proceed to Fort Findlay and take command of that post.

Should Portage Blockhouse not be destroyed, Capt. Hatfield will maintain that post until further orders. Capt. Simonton will, in that event, also proceed to Findlay and take command until further orders. Should Capt. Hatfield remain at Portage, Capt. Simonton will immediately on his arrival at Findlay, will cause a supply of provisions to be brought to Portage, and from time to time continue to send on such supplies under proper escort, as Capt. Hatfield may require.

Any packhorses at the Portage or Findlay, will be sent on to this post, except such as may be necessary for the transportation of provisions; and the commandants at Portage and Findlay, will cause, if practicable, weekly returns to be made to the commanding officer here of the state of their commands.

In this separation of troops which this General has for some time had the honor to command, it is due to Captains Hatfield and Simonton and their sublatern officers and men, to assure them that their services while at this post entitles them to the thanks and confidence of the General and that of their country."

By order of G. Clay, Com. Gen’l

J. H. Hawkins, A. D. C.

As no record of an attack at the Portage blockhouse has been discovered, no doubt it was found intact.

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