Men of Patriotism, Courage & Enterprise! Fort Meigs in the War of 1812

Sadly, Fort Meigs is usually mentioned only in passing (or often ignored altogether) in histories of the War of 1812. This fort, once under the command of William Henry Harrison, was an essential part of American frontier defense. From here, American soldiers repeatedly fought off the British and their Native American allies, under Tecumseh, as they tried to secure the Maumee river for their own use in moving troops through the then-western United States. This little book is one of the only sources of detailed information about Fort Meigs and its role in securing the safety of the frontier states. It could perhaps benefit from a little more detail regarding the British ships and gunboats which stood against the fort--some of which also participated in the Battle of Lake Erie--but otherwise it's quite satisfying, supporting the text with prints, maps, and quotes from those involved. It's a useful look at the war from a nearly-forgotten perspective. The book can be hard to find, but for students of the War of 1812 (or of Great Lakes history, Ohio history, or the lives of Tecumseh or Harrison), it's worth the search.Fort Meigs has been beautifully reconstructed on its original site in Perrysburg, Ohio, and often hosts superb re-enactments. It's one of the most faithful pieces of living history in the Great Lakes area, and shouldn't be missed.