Long road to the Fort

FORT RECOVERY — A Finnish professor fascinated by St. Clair’s defeat brought a group of his countrymen to the scene of the battle Sunday.
Dr. Juha J. Hiltunen, an anthropologist at the University of Oulu, believes the 1791 massacre of American troops by the Miami may be the greatest military victory by indigenous people against a technologically superior opponent.
“I have always wondered why history has forgotten this battle,” said Hiltunen while visiting the Fort Recovery State Museum on Sunday.
Historians generally believe that the defeat of British troops in 1879 by tens of thousands of Zulu warriors represents the military high point by indigenous people fighting colonial powers. The battle of Isandlwana took place in what is now South Africa.
But Hiltunen notes that the Miami who defeated Gen. St. Clair and his troops were more closely matched than the Zulus facing the British, and he believes that casualties in the 1791 battle were understated because of their impact on the young American republic.
“It was a completely different situation here,” he said. “The casualties were much bigger than the reporting.”
Hiltunen has published a lengthy four-part magazine article in Finland, focusing on the 1791 battle on the banks of the Wabash.
Sunday’s visit was Hiltunen’s second to Fort Recovery. He’s leading a group of seven Finnish tourists on a history-oriented tour of the eastern U.S.
The group began their trip in Memphis, Tenn., and will conclude it in New York City. Today they were set to visit historic sites in Fort Wayne, then they will follow the Maumee River to the site of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, then head north to the site where Tecumseh fell in battle.
“We have done this twice before,” said Hiltunen. “Maybe later there will be bigger groups.”
Museum director Nancy Knapke conducted a tour of the fort site and the museum, with Hiltunen acting as interpreter for the group.[[In-content Ad]]