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Ohio's Forgotten Fort: A Revolutionary Secret Unearthed
4 Jul
Summary
- Fort Laurens was built in 1778 as a strategic attack base on British-held Detroit.
- Soldiers faced severe shortages, resorting to eating moccasins during a siege.
- Ongoing archeological digs are recreating the fort for its 250th anniversary in 2028.
Built in 1778 on the banks of the Tuscarawas River, Fort Laurens stands as Ohio's sole Revolutionary War fortification. Its construction was part of a strategic plan to launch an attack against the British in Detroit. The fort's existence was short-lived, marked by hardship and conflict from November 1778 to August 1779.
Life at Fort Laurens was perilous, with soldiers enduring severe shortages of food and supplies. During a siege in February 1779, desperate soldiers reportedly boiled and ate their moccasins. Despite these conditions, the fort's strategic location fostered interactions between settlers and indigenous tribes.
Decades after its abandonment, with much of the original structure lost to development, Fort Laurens is undergoing a significant recreation. Archeological digs, including those in summers 2025 and 2026, are providing precise details for an accurate reconstruction by 2028, the fort's 250th anniversary.
