Fort Harrison collection
Collection — Folder: S1878
Identifier: S1878
Scope and Contents
This collection includes photocopies of letters from the collection of J. T. Scovell of Terre Haute. Ranging from 1900 to 1912. The letters were written by descendents of men associated with Fort Harrison: Joseph Liston, Maj. John T. Chunn, and Maj. William Bruce. The collection also includes photocopies of undated documents related to Fort Harrison: a brief family history of the Joseph Richarson family; a paper about the Old Indiana Trail from Post Vincennes to Fort Harrison written by Lida Wilkins Merrill; a list of descendants of Joseph Liston; a brief history of Dr. Charles B. Modesitt and his descendants; and biographical sketches of Matilda Anderson Taylor, William Bruce, and William Naylor.
Dates
- 1900-1912, undated
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Historical Note
Fort Harrison, named for General William Henry Harrison, was a frontier garrison located on the old "Indian line" in what is now Vigo County, Indiana. Harrison left Vincennes in September, 1811 and traveled about 50 miles north before selecting a site on the east bank of the Wabash River to build the fort. On October 28th, following the completion of the stockade, Harrison and his army marched north to launch a preemptive strike on Prophet’s Town, home of Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa, known as “The Prophet," culminating with the Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7th.
The following year, the War of 1812 began between the United States and Great Britain. Many of the Native Americans in the Northwest Territory sided with the British and on September 4, 1812, a siege on Fort Harrison by a combined Native American force began and lasted until September 15. Under the command of Captain Zachary Taylor, the fort was successfully defended. The fort continued as a military post until about 1822, when it was abandoned and dismantled. Both William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor went on to be president of the United States.
Source:
Bradsby, Henry C. History of Vigo County, Indiana, With Biographical Selections. Chicago: S.B. Nelson and Company, 1891.
Fort Harrison Centennial Association. Fort Harrison: On the Banks of the Wabash, 1812-1912. Terre Haute, Ind.: The Moore-Langen Printing Co, 1912.
The following year, the War of 1812 began between the United States and Great Britain. Many of the Native Americans in the Northwest Territory sided with the British and on September 4, 1812, a siege on Fort Harrison by a combined Native American force began and lasted until September 15. Under the command of Captain Zachary Taylor, the fort was successfully defended. The fort continued as a military post until about 1822, when it was abandoned and dismantled. Both William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor went on to be president of the United States.
Source:
Bradsby, Henry C. History of Vigo County, Indiana, With Biographical Selections. Chicago: S.B. Nelson and Company, 1891.
Fort Harrison Centennial Association. Fort Harrison: On the Banks of the Wabash, 1812-1912. Terre Haute, Ind.: The Moore-Langen Printing Co, 1912.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a records transfer from the Indiana Division.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2020/06/23 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2020/06/23 by Laura Eliason.
- Title
- Fort Harrison collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
