Victory and Honors

Following Anthony Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers, he marched his men back to Fort Defiance and then to the juncture of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's rivers.  There he built a fort and gave it the name that stayed with the thriving frontier city that grew up around it - Fort Wayne.  Everywhere Wayne and his men went they burned crops and villages while the inhabitants fled. 

At last the Americans had the upper hand.  The British were no longer trusted to protect the native tribes and the Americans weapons were feared.  It was easy for Wayne to convince the chiefs that their best interest lay with the United States. 

In 1795, a treaty with the British finally gave up their remaining posts on United States soil.  Wayne announced that the Indians ceded all the land in southern Ohio and southeastern Indiana along with the posts at Fort Wayne, Detroit and Michilimackimac. The United States recognized the Indian title to all the lands not ceded and promised the tribes annual subsidies.  For 15 years both sides held faithfully to the treaty, while the pioneer and Indian lived in peace.

Meanwhile, General Wayne became a national hero.  He returned to Philadelphia in 1796 where he was hailed with ringing bells, a 15 gun salute and dazzling fireworks.  He had one last task - to receive the posts relinquished from the British.  Back to forest country and  that summer he took back Detroit.  On the return journey, Wayne suffered another attack of gout and died at Presquisle (Erie).  His final resting place is marked by a blockhouse modeled after the one he built at Fort Wayne and bears the flag he planted in the heart of the Old Northwest.

Next time...settling the Old Northwest
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York burns down killing 144 workers, most of them women.  The fire led to better laws and regulations regarding protection of the safety of factory workers.