Ohio inventions and firsts · Achievement · 1794
Fort Recovery holds against the Western Confederacy
On June 30-July 1, 1794, about 250 Americans in Fort Recovery held off roughly 1,200 warriors of the Western Confederacy. The fort's survival let Anthony Wayne's army advance, and the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 used the fort as a boundary mark.
At a glance
- Year
- 1794
- Place
- Fort Recovery, Mercer County ZIP 45846 · Fort Recovery · Mercer County
Why it matters
A turning point on the way to the Treaty of Greenville, which opened most of Ohio to settlement.
Who gets the credit is disputed
The Ohio claim. American defenders held the fort and the victory let Wayne's Legion advance north.
The other claims. Estimates of Native losses range from 17 to 130 killed, and William Wells reckoned 40 to 50 dead and nearly 100 wounded, so the exact toll is uncertain.
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.