Description: Portrait of Arthur St. Clair (1734-1818). St. Clair served as governor of the Northwest Territory from 1788 to 1802. As Ohio moved towards statehood, St. Clair actively opposed Ohio's admittance to the United States. He hoped that what is now Ohio would not become a single state but rather two states. Thomas Worthington, Nathaniel Massie, Michael Baldwin, and several others urged President Thomas Jefferson, the founder of the Democratic-Republican Party, to make Ohio a state. Jefferson and the Democratic-Republican-controlled United States Congress responded by issuing the Enabling Act of 1802. This act called on the people of Ohio to form a constitutional convention and to fulfill the other requirements of the Northwest Ordinance to become a state. St. Clair denounced the Enabling Act. Jefferson responded by removing St. Clair as governor. Ohio became the seventeenth state of the United States on February 19, 1803. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC4029_001
Subjects: Governors; Northwest Territory--Politics and government; Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818;
Places: Northwest Territory; Ohio
 

Description: This photographic reproduction in color shows a handwritten receipt from early 1791 that documents partial payment of a fine paid in Cincinnati, Ohio. The paper is yellowed, and the handwriting is partially illegible; however, it is possible to decipher certain words and phrases: “Received of ___ McMillan [sic] Two Doll__ in ___ of a moiety [half or part] of a fine from William Kelley Yeoman of Cincinnati.” The next line is mostly illegible except for the word “intoxicating.” The date of the offense seems to have been January 7, 1791. Receipt, dated February 2, 1791, was “received by me Wm. [illegible].” William McMillian was judge of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Hamilton County, then part of the Northwest Territory. A year earlier, on January 2, 1790, Arthur St. Clair (1734-1818), governor of the Northwest Territory, visited Fort Washington (Cincinnati) and organized the county of Hamilton. He also created the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions. He named three men to that office: McMillian, William Goforth, and William Wells. On January 5, a law was enacted that required the court to meet four times a year: on the first Tuesday of February, May, August, and November. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05840
Subjects: St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Ohio. Court of Common Pleas (Hamilton County); Courts--Ohio--History; Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows a monument dedicated to William H. Ortt at Fort St. Clair in Eaton, Ohio. The monument reads: "Wm H. Ortt, erected by Wm. H. Ortt , sacred to the memory of the comrades of the Civil War from Preble County Ohio." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06450
Subjects: Fort St. Clair (Ohio); St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; State parks & reserves
Places: Eaton (Ohio); Preble County (Ohio)
 

Description: Men searching for relics at the grounds of Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson was built about six miles south of Greenville, Ohio, on the order of General Arthur St. Clair in October 1791. The purpose of the fort was to serve as a supply garrison for St. Clair's campaign against the area’s American Indian population, hence its original name of Fort Deposit. In November 1791, St. Clair attacked the area's tribes, but under the leadership of Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle), a large alliance of seasoned volunteer warriors from nine different American Indian tribes easily defeated St. Clair and his troops. This loss, which was one of the worst defeats of the American military at the hands of the American Indians, came to be known as "St. Clair’s Defeat." During the battle, well over half of St. Clair’s 1,400 men were killed or wounded. After the battle, St. Clair’s men fled to Fort Jefferson, but found little in the way of supplies and quickly moved south to Fort Washington. Later, Fort Jefferson was used during the campaign of General Anthony Wayne before being abandoned in 1796. The location is now the site of the Fort Jefferson Memorial Park, one of the Ohio History Connection's network of historic sites. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC283_001
Subjects: Forts & fortifications; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Northwest Territory--History; American Indians--Warfare; Fort Jefferson
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio);
 

Description: Men searching for relics at the grounds of Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson was built about six miles south of Greenville, Ohio, on the order of General Arthur St. Clair in October 1791. The purpose of the fort was to serve as a supply garrison for St. Clair's campaign against the area’s American Indian population, hence its original name of Fort Deposit. In November 1791, St. Clair attacked the area's tribes, but under the leadership of Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle), a large alliance of seasoned volunteer warriors from nine different American Indian tribes easily defeated St. Clair and his troops. This loss, which was one of the worst defeats of the American military at the hands of the American Indians, came to be known as "St. Clair’s Defeat." During the battle, well over half of St. Clair’s 1,400 men were killed or wounded. After the battle, St. Clair’s men fled to Fort Jefferson, but found little in the way of supplies and quickly moved south to Fort Washington. Later, Fort Jefferson was used during the campaign of General Anthony Wayne before being abandoned in 1796. The location is now the site of the Fort Jefferson Memorial Park, one of the Ohio History Connection's network of historic sites. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC283_002
Subjects: Forts & fortifications; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Northwest Territory--History; American Indians--Warfare; Fort Jefferson
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio);
 

Description: Men searching for relics at the grounds of Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson was built about six miles south of Greenville, Ohio, on the order of General Arthur St. Clair in October 1791. The purpose of the fort was to serve as a supply garrison for St. Clair's campaign against the area’s American Indian population, hence its original name of Fort Deposit. In November 1791, St. Clair attacked the area's tribes, but under the leadership of Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle), a large alliance of seasoned volunteer warriors from nine different American Indian tribes easily defeated St. Clair and his troops. This loss, which was one of the worst defeats of the American military at the hands of the American Indians, came to be known as "St. Clair’s Defeat." During the battle, well over half of St. Clair’s 1,400 men were killed or wounded. After the battle, St. Clair’s men fled to Fort Jefferson, but found little in the way of supplies and quickly moved south to Fort Washington. Later, Fort Jefferson was used during the campaign of General Anthony Wayne before being abandoned in 1796. The location is now the site of the Fort Jefferson Memorial Park, one of the Ohio History Connection's network of historic sites. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC283_003
Subjects: Forts & fortifications; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Northwest Territory--History; American Indians--Warfare; Fort Jefferson
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio);
 

Description: Men searching for relics at the grounds of Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson was built about six miles south of Greenville, Ohio, on the order of General Arthur St. Clair in October 1791. The purpose of the fort was to serve as a supply garrison for St. Clair's campaign against the area’s American Indian population, hence its original name of Fort Deposit. In November 1791, St. Clair attacked the area's tribes, but under the leadership of Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle), a large alliance of seasoned volunteer warriors from nine different American Indian tribes easily defeated St. Clair and his troops. This loss, which was one of the worst defeats of the American military at the hands of the American Indians, came to be known as "St. Clair’s Defeat." During the battle, well over half of St. Clair’s 1,400 men were killed or wounded. After the battle, St. Clair’s men fled to Fort Jefferson, but found little in the way of supplies and quickly moved south to Fort Washington. Later, Fort Jefferson was used during the campaign of General Anthony Wayne before being abandoned in 1796. The location is now the site of the Fort Jefferson Memorial Park, one of the Ohio History Connection's network of historic sites. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC283_004
Subjects: Forts & fortifications; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Northwest Territory--History; American Indians--Warfare; Fort Jefferson
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio);
 

Description: Men searching for relics at the grounds of Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson was built about six miles south of Greenville, Ohio, on the order of General Arthur St. Clair in October 1791. The purpose of the fort was to serve as a supply garrison for St. Clair's campaign against the area’s American Indian population, hence its original name of Fort Deposit. In November 1791, St. Clair attacked the area's tribes, but under the leadership of Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle), a large alliance of seasoned volunteer warriors from nine different American Indian tribes easily defeated St. Clair and his troops. This loss, which was one of the worst defeats of the American military at the hands of the American Indians, came to be known as "St. Clair’s Defeat." During the battle, well over half of St. Clair’s 1,400 men were killed or wounded. After the battle, St. Clair’s men fled to Fort Jefferson, but found little in the way of supplies and quickly moved south to Fort Washington. Later, Fort Jefferson was used during the campaign of General Anthony Wayne before being abandoned in 1796. The location is now the site of the Fort Jefferson Memorial Park, one of the Ohio History Connection's network of historic sites. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC283_005
Subjects: Forts & fortifications; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Northwest Territory--History; American Indians--Warfare; Fort Jefferson
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio);
 

Description: Memorial marking the site of Fort Jefferson in Darke County, Ohio. This monument was constructed in 1907, prior to the site becoming a property of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection). Fort Jefferson was built about six miles south of Greenville, Ohio, on the order of General Arthur St. Clair in October 1791. The purpose of the fort was to serve as a supply garrison for St. Clair's campaign against the area’s American Indian population, hence its original name of Fort Deposit. In November 1791, St. Clair attacked the area's tribes, but under the leadership of Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle), a large alliance of seasoned volunteer warriors from nine different American Indian tribes easily defeated St. Clair and his troops. This loss, which was one of the worst defeats of the American military at the hands of the American Indians, came to be known as "St. Clair’s Defeat." During the battle, well over half of St. Clair’s 1,400 men were killed or wounded. After the battle, St. Clair’s men fled to Fort Jefferson, but found little in the way of supplies and quickly moved south to Fort Washington. Later, Fort Jefferson was used during the campaign of General Anthony Wayne before being abandoned in 1796. The location is now the site of the Fort Jefferson Memorial Park, one of the Ohio History Connection's network of historic sites. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC283_006
Subjects: Forts & fortifications; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Northwest Territory--History; American Indians--Warfare; Monuments & memorials; Fort Jefferson
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio);
 

Description: This broadside, printed in 1791, commemorates the Columbian Tragedy, a reference to the Battle of the Wabash, also known as "St. Clair's Defeat." The battle occurred on November 4, 1791, near several Miami villages along the Wabash River in what is now Mercer County, Ohio. At daybreak that morning, a large alliance of American Indians, led by Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle), surprised and overwhelmed an American army of about 1,600 men under Major General Arthur St. Clair, wounding or killing over half of the unprepared troops. The conflict is known as the greatest Indian victory over American military forces in the nation's history. 39 officers, whose names are listed on this broadside, were killed, along with over 900 soldiers. Also included on the broadside are engravings of Major General Richard Butler, who was killed in the battle, and a scene titled "Bloody Indian Battle Fought at Miami Village, Nov. 4, 1791," as well as a lengthy funeral elegy.. The location of the Columbian Tragedy is now the site of Fort Recovery State Memorial and the village of Fort Recovery. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS2500
Subjects: American Indians--Warfare; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Battlefields; Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood; Little Turtle, 1747?-1812
Places: Fort Recovery (Ohio); Mercer County (Ohio)
 

Description: Monument to Fort Jefferson, frontier post of the upper Miami Valley, built in 1791 and located in Fort Jefferson, Darke County, Ohio. The photograph was taken ca. 1940. Fort Jefferson was built about six miles south of Greenville, Ohio, on the order of General Arthur St. Clair in October 1791. The purpose of the fort was to serve as a supply garrison for St. Clair's campaign against the area’s American Indian population, hence its original name of Fort Deposit. In November 1791, St. Clair attacked the area's tribes, but under the leadership of Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle), a large alliance of seasoned volunteer warriors from nine different American Indian tribes easily defeated St. Clair and his troops. This loss, which was one of the worst defeats of the American military at the hands of the American Indians, came to be known as "St. Clair’s Defeat." During the battle, well over half of St. Clair’s 1,400 men were killed or wounded. After the battle, St. Clair’s men fled to Fort Jefferson, but found little in the way of supplies and quickly moved south to Fort Washington. Later, Fort Jefferson was used during the campaign of General Anthony Wayne before being abandoned in 1796. The location is now the site of the Fort Jefferson Memorial Park, one of the Ohio History Connection's network of historic sites. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00334
Subjects: Forts & fortifications; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818; Northwest Territory--History; American Indians--Warfare; Fort Jefferson
Places: Fort Jefferson (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption on reverse reads: "Indian Trail Marker (Silhouette). Central Pky. and Sycamore Str." This photograph shows a plaque with the silhouette of soldiers and a covered wagon on top, held between two concrete pillars. It used to stand somewhere near the intersections of Reading Road, Central Parkway and Sycamore Street, in Cincinnati. Inscription reads: "Approximately at this point two Ohio military trails branched. Reading Road follows the marches of Bowman, Clark, Harmar, Harrison, Clay and Shelby, 1779 - 1812. Central Parkway follows the route of St. Clair and Wayne, 1791 - 1793." A historical marker, erected under the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission's plan, stands at Central Parkway and Sycamore where the two Ohio trails branched. Reading Road following the marches of Bowman, Clark, Harmar, Harrison, Clay and Shelby; and Central Parkway folloing the route of St. Clair and Mad Anthony Wayne - brave names in those days of pioneer drumbeat and marching soldiers and frontiersmen in buckskin. The Daughters of the American Revolution placed at the Central Parkway and Ludlow Avenue intersection a bronze tablet in memory of Major General Arthur St. Clair, who was an officer in the Revolutionary War, first governor of the Northwest Territory, and the man who gave Cincinnati its name. Major General Arthur St. Clair left Fort Washington, in present day Cincinnati, on September 17, 1791, following the aforementioned trail north, in order to build a fort at the head of the Maumee River. An large group of Indians led by Little Turtle and Blue Jacket, as well as army deserters and prisoners, left Kekionga in Indiana, heading south. The Indians had been receiving information about the army's movements from warrior scouts and deserters, and a large group led by Little Turtle and Blue Jacket headed south to intercept St. Clair's army. A battle ensued near what is now Fort Recovery in which most of St. Clair's officers were killed, causing him to lose his post and his reputation.General Anthony Wayne returned in 3 years with properly trained, well-equipped army, and defeated the Indians at Fallen Timbers near Toledo. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F10_021_1
Subjects: Historical markers--Ohio--Cincinnati; Indian trails--Ohio; Central Parkway Area (Cincinnati, Ohio); Memorials--Ohio; Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796; St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)