Vigo County Historical Society

Sledge hammer played a part in construction of Fort Harrison

The year was 1811 and William Henry Harrison had been commissioned to take troops to the newly opened territory in the western frontier known as Indiana.

President Washington wanted Harrison to open up more of Indiana for settlement but the Shawnee chief known as Tecumseh and his brother, The Prophet, were opposed to the settlement of this territory. They kept the local tribes stirred up and the settlers moving to this area were in danger.

General Harrison took a detachment of troops up the Wabash River from Vincennes and built a fort on the site known to old French explorers as "terre haute." It was the highest point on the river in this area for miles up and down the Wabash.

The fort, named Fort Harrison, would provide supplies and protection for the new settlers moving to the "Harrison Prairie."

Local settlers not only helped the soldiers build the fort, they also served in the militia. The most famous event that happened at the fort was on Sept. 4, 1812. That was when The Prophet, against his brother’s wishes, led an army of more than 600 braves on an attack on Fort Harrison.

This attack took place when the General and most of the troops were away from the fort. The second in command, Capt. Zachary Taylor, his few remaining troops and the men, women and children who had fled to the fort for protection, repelled the attack.

Our Historical Treasure today is an iron sledge hammer used in the building of the fort. It was in the possession of the Sturgis family for many years.

Elizabeth Ann Sturgis was born at Fort Harrison during a threatened attack. Her father was one of the men who helped in the construction of the fort. It is not known whether he was a soldier or a settler.

Sturgis gave the hammer to her grandson, Charles Broadhurst, who donated it to the museum.

The handle of the hammer had been lost for many years. In 1965, Howard Tobey of Riley constructed the present handle. According to research he did, the handle is appropriate in design and size for the period in which the tool was used.

You can find the iron sledge in the Military Room next to the block of wood from Fort Harrison and a small bust of William Henry Harrison.