Fort Washington (Cincinnati, Ohio)
| Fort Washington | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Northwest Territory of the United States | |
| Cincinnati, Ohio | |
 |
|
| Coordinates | 39°5′58.24″N 84°30′26.59″W / 39.0995111°N 84.5073861°WCoordinates: 39°5′58.24″N 84°30′26.59″W / 39.0995111°N 84.5073861°W |
| Type | Army Fortress |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1789 |
| Demolished | 1803 |
| Battles/wars | Northwest Indian War |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Gen. Josiah Harmar, Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne |
| Occupants | United States Army |
Fort Washington was a fort in the early history of Cincinnati, Ohio. The location is marked by a plaque at the Guilford School building, at 421 E 4th St, Cincinnati, which now occupies the site. The physical location of the fort was facing the mouth of the Licking River, above present day Fort Washington Way.
In 1789, Fort Washington was built to protect early settlements located in the Northwest Territory. The fort was located within modern-day Downtown Cincinnati and was used to protect settlers of that city in its early years. Gen. Josiah Harmar described it as "one of the most solid substantial wooden fortresses. . .of any in the Western Territory." The stockade's walls were two stories high with blockhouses located at each corner. The fort was named in honor of President George Washington.
Fort Washington provided military protection for the surrounding territories. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed governor of the Northwest Territory by vote of Congress on October 5, 1787; he filled the office until November 22, 1802. When Governor St. Clair arrived at Losantiville [Cincinnati] the settlement consisted of two small hewed log houses and several cabins. Maj. Doughty, under orders from Gen. Josiah Harmar, was engaged with a small military force in finishing the construction of Fort Washington. The population of the rude village, exclusive of the military, probably did not exceed one hundred and fifty. Three days after Gen. Harmar took up his quarters at Fort Washington, on January 1, 1790, Governor St. Clair was received with due ceremony by the troops and citizens of Losantiville.
In 1790, Harmar used Fort Washington to launch an expedition against Native Americans in northwest Ohio, especially the Miami Indians, whose principal city was Kekionga (modern-day Fort Wayne, Indiana). The fort was used as a staging point and to supply all the northern forts. The fort would serve similar purposes for the remainder of the 1790s until the United States military moved its operation to the Newport Barracks.
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Wikipedia