The New International Encyclopædia/Fort Meigs

FORT MEIGS, mĕgz. A former fort at the Maumee Rapids, in northwestern Ohio, famous for its defense by the Americans against the English and Indians during the War of 1812. General Harrison had established his advanced post here after the ‘Massacre of the River Raisin’ (see Frenchtown), and on May 1, 1813, the British General Proctor, at the head of more than 2200 men (including about 1500 Indians under Tecumseh), began an attack, which lasted, with little intermission, until the 5th. On this day an American reinforcement of about 1100 men, under Gen. Green Clay, arrived, and a battle, or series of battles, ensued, without decisive result. Proctor, however, seeing the hopelessness of further attack, and being considerably weakened by Indian defections, withdrew from the vicinity of the fort on the 9th. Consult: Dawson, Battles of the United States (New York, 1858); and Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812 (New York, 1868).