FORT HARMAR IN 1788.
The fort stood very near the point on the western side of the Muskingum, and upon the second terrace above ordinary flood water. It was a regular pentagon in shape, with bastions on each side, and its walls enclosed but little more than three-quarters of an acre. The main walls of defence, technically called “curtains,” were each one hundred and twenty feet long and about twelve or fourteen feet high. They were constructed of logs laid horizontally. The bastions were of the same height as the other walls, but unlike them were formed of palings or timbers set upright in the ground. Large two-story log buildings were built in the bastions for the accommodation of the officers and their families, and the barracks for the troops were erected along the curtains, the roofs sloping toward the centre of the enclosure. They were divided into four rooms of thirty feet each, supplied with fireplaces, and were sufficient for the accommodation of a regiment of men,[[1]] a larger number, by the way, than was ever quartered in the fort. From the roof of the barracks building towards the Ohio river there arose a watch tower, surmounted by the flag of the United States. This tower was also used as a guardhouse. There were other buildings within the enclosure—an arsenal, a store-house, and several smaller structures. The main gate was toward the river with a sally-port on the side fronting on the hills. A well was dug near the centre of the enclosure to supply the garrison with water in case of siege, but, happily it was never needed, and we are told that ordinary water was brought from the river. The timber used in the construction of the fort was that of the heavy forest which covered its side and several acres of land around about. The area cleared up was nearly all utilized for gardening purposes under the direction of Major Doughty, who seems to have had a remarkable fondness for tilling the soil and considerable taste and knowledge as a horticulturist.[[2]] Fort Harmar was named after General (then Colonel) Harmar, who was the commander of the regiment to which Major Doughty was attached, and for some time commandant at the fort at the mouth of the Muskingum.
Joseph Buell (afterward one of the prominent early settlers at Marietta) was on the frontier for nearly a period of three years, dating from the latter part of December, 1785, and he spent a considerable portion of his time at Fort Harmar. His journal affords some interesting glimpses of life in the garrison and affairs in the western country during the years immediately preceding its settlement. Much is said in the beginning of the hardships of army life, the depravity of the troops, and the severity of the punishments inflicted for various offences. Drunkenness and desertion were prevalent evils. The punishment for the former and other venal misdemeanors was not infrequently flogging to the extent of one hundred or even two hundred lashes, and the death penalty, without the process of court-martial, was inflicted upon deserters. The pay of the soldiers at that time guarding the frontier was only three dollars per month.
On the 4th of May, 1786, Captain Zeigler’s and Strong’s companies embarked for Muskingum, and from this date forward the entries in the journal relate to occurrences at Fort Harmar.
May 8th. We arrived at Muskingum, where we encamped in the edge of the woods a little distance from the fort.
10th. Captain Zeigler’s company embarked for the Miami, and our company moved into the garrison, where we were engaged several days in making ourselves comfortable.
12th. Began to make our gardens, and had a very disagreeable spell of weather, which continued for twenty-two days raining in succession.
June 9th. Two boats arrived from Miami, and report that the Indians had murdered several inhabitants this spring. We are getting short of meat for the troops.
10th. Five frontiersmen came here to hunt for the garrison, and brought with them a quantity of venison.
19th. News arrived here that the Indians had killed four or five women and children at Fish creek, about thirty miles northeast from this garrison.