The Bolivar Area Historical Society

04/03/2026

Here is an interesting article from 2009 in the Fall/Winter issue of "Tree of Liberty," the Friends of Fort Laurens Newsletter.

The article discusses the Tuscarawas County Historical Society recreating a 1950's radio show about Fort Laurens. For those of you not born in the 1900's, before the days of streaming services and a television in every room, families regularly gathered around the radio for their news and evening entertainment. Many radio stations did their own weekly sitcoms and families gathered by the radio to listen to their favorite show. By the 1950's, more people had a television, and radio shows declined. But for a few decades, they were a very important part of people's lives.

Do you remember this particular recreation done in 2009? Or better yet, do you remember ever listening to a radio show back in the day?

Tuscarawas County Historical Society

Re-Creates 1950’s Radio

Program about Ft. Laurens

T. Pieper

On December 8, 2009, Foundation President Tom Pieper was invited to participate in the re-creation of a radio drama about Fort Laurens for The Tuscarawas County Historical Society’s Annual Winter Dinner.

In the 1950’s, The Ohio Bell Telephone Company sponsored a radio program called “The Ohio Story”. One of the installments of “The Ohio Story” dealt with Fort Laurens and the famous incident of Colonel John Gibson giving the Indians who were besieging the fort, in February 1779, a barrel of flour, to show the Indians that the fort was not low on supplies and could “hold out” for many more days. The Indians broke their siege of the fort shortly thereafter and went back to their towns and the fort was saved.

The Tuscarawas County Historical Society re-created this radio drama, which originally aired on April 14, 1954, for their Annual Winter Meeting.

To re-create the radio program, a member of The Tuscarawas County Historical Society, Fred Welsch, transcribed the drama from two, 78 rpm records which had been given to The Historical Society. Fred spent countless hours in this transcription.

Tom Pieper read the part of the “Announcer” and the “Narrator”. Fred Welsch handled several speaking parts and Tom Yeager took the part of Colonel Gibson. The incident, Colonel John Gibson giving the Indians a barrel of flour, is not supported by any documented historical materials. However, several community and area histories mentioned the incident and it has become part of the “lore” of Fort Laurens.






1930S Unidentified Family Listening To Radio

04/03/2026

03/28/2026

in 1779, a detachment of forty men and two officers was ambushed a short distance from Fort Laurens. Relief had reached the beleaguered post barely a week earlier, and the newly arrived troops of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment had only just begun to settle into their precarious new home.

Unlike the devastating attack of February 24—when every man involved was either killed or taken prisoner—most of this party managed to fight their way back to the fort, suffering the loss of only two men. One of the clearest contemporary accounts of that day comes from a letter written by Major Vernon to Colonel Daniel Broadhead at Fort McIntosh:

“This morning I sent out a party of forty men commanded by Ensigns Wyatt and Clark, in order to bring wood for the garrison. As Ensign Clark was placing the last sentinel, he was fired on by a party of Indians which killed him and the sentinel, and scalped them before any of the party could come to their assistance.”

While this engagement did not rise to the level of the massacre that had occurred a month earlier, it marked the first fatalities suffered by the Pennsylvania regiment at Fort Laurens since their arrival. Ensign John Clark’s death was especially significant: he would be the first—and only—officer of the 8th Pennsylvania to lose his life while stationed at the fort.





AI image of soldiers collecting wood.

03/28/2026

We’re so honored to welcome back beloved historian, author, artist and lecturer, Alan Fitzpatrick, at the Fort Laurens theater on May 2 at 11 am.

Learn more about what events re-shaped and changed the lives and cultures of the Ohio indigenous tribes.

03/27/2026

Much of what we know about the daily experiences of Fort Laurens soldiers comes from pension records, veterans’ writings, and archaeological investigations. Among the most fascinating stories is the claim that wolves were buried with the soldiers killed during the February 24th attack. Historian Reverend Dr. Joseph Doddridge helped popularize the tale in his 1824 "Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars." He claims Fort Laurens veterans shared a story of burying the fallen soldiers in a mass grave. After witnessing wolves scavenging the dead, they baited the same pit with meat to trap them. The next morning, they allegedly killed the wolves that had fallen in the pit and left them with the dead men. This account led many to believe that soldiers trapped and killed wolves in retaliation for defiling the bodies.

Archaeology tells a different story. When the mass grave was excavated in 1986, no wolf remains were found among the bones of the soldiers. What was discovered was clear evidence that wolves had fed on the soldiers, including a wolf tooth broken off and left among the bones.

Wolf traps were common in the 18th century. Settlers commonly used them to protect livestock, and bounties were often paid for wolf hides, making wolves both a threat and a source of income. It is entirely possible that the men of Fort Laurens sought revenge by trapping and killing the wolves that fed on the remains, however, the archaeological record confirms that no wolves were buried with the men of Fort Laurens.






Illustration: WOLF (Canus Lupus), Brockhaus' Conversations-Lexikon 1895

03/23/2026

in 1779, General Lachlan McIntosh arrived at Fort Laurens with a relief force, ending more than four harrowing weeks of siege for the garrison trapped inside. The siege had begun on February 24 and stretched just over a month before the British and their Native allies—whose numbers had steadily dwindled—finally broke camp and withdrew upon learning that reinforcements were on the way.

McIntosh’s relief column travelled quickly, making the trek from Fort McIntosh to Fort Laurens in just four days, a dramatic improvement over the two‑week trek the previous fall. When the exhausted troops at Fort Laurens spotted their compatriots approaching, several fired their muskets skyward in celebration. But the triumphant gunfire had an unintended consequence: the thunderous reports spooked the packhorses, sending them scattering into the dense woods with precious supplies. Both forces spent the day combing the forest, but only a fraction of the scattered goods was recovered intact.

McIntosh had hoped not only to relieve and resupply the fort but also to push farther into the interior— advancing into Wyandot territory, destroying their towns, and continuing on to capture Fort Detroit. The loss of supplies doomed that plan and his officers unanimously opposed moving forward into the wilderness. With that, his vision of capturing Fort Detroit slipped away. McIntosh left two months’ provisions at Fort Laurens and reluctantly began the difficult return to Fort Pitt, aware that a more stable supply chain would be essential going forward.

The ordeal of the 13th Virginia Regiment had finally come to an end. Colonel John Gibson and his surviving soldiers—who had endured starvation, constant threat, and the deaths of 18 comrades (15 killed in the initial attack, one taken prisoner and burned at the stake, and two who succumbed to starvation)—were at last relieved and sent back to Fort Pitt. Command of Fort Laurens passed to Major Frederick Vernon and 106 men of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment who would hold the post while political and military leaders decided the next move in the unfolding struggle in the Western Theater.





Drawing by Doug Angeloni

03/22/2026

As the garrison at Fort Laurens entered the fourth week under siege, the situation grew increasingly dire. Food stores, already strained before the opening attacks weeks earlier, began to dwindle rapidly. Colonel Gibson had maintained full rations for as long as circumstances allowed, but was ultimately forced to reduce the men to half rations during the previous week. Even this proved insufficient and much of what remained spoiled due to poor storage and harsh conditions.

Venturing beyond the fort’s walls was a dangerous gamble. Fear of ambush kept most soldiers close to the fort, though desperation occasionally forced men to take the risk. On one such occasion, two soldiers reportedly snuck away, most likely under cover of night, managing to kill a deer, and safely return it to the fort—a rare and welcome success.

In another account, a Fort Laurens veteran recalled that men resorted to eating roots and wild parsnips gathered from the surrounding area in an effort to stave off starvation. Historical records suggest that two men may have died after consuming poisonous plants during this period. While no definitive evidence has confirmed this cause of death, there are suggestive accounts that lend credibility to the claim.

Perhaps the most iconic and haunting image associated with Fort Laurens during the siege is that of the starving soldier reduced to eating his own moccasin or scraps of animal hide. The popular image of soldiers “boiling” their moccasins has been passed down through generations, though contemporary accounts indicate they were more often broiled over an open fire. Regardless of the method, the act underscores the extreme hunger and desperation endured by the garrison.

Pension records from soldiers who survived the siege paint a bleak and harrowing picture of this period—one that is difficult for a modern audience to fully comprehend. These accounts reveal not only physical suffering, but also the psychological toll of isolation, hunger, and uncertainty.

In the final days of the siege, the men clung to the hope that relief would arrive before their situation became utterly untenable. Unknown to them, relief was indeed closer than they realized. At that very moment, General McIntosh was already in the process of organizing efforts that would soon bring the long-awaited aid to Fort Laurens.

03/22/2026

, the British and their allies lifted the siege on Fort Laurens. Three days later, a relief force from Fort Pitt would arrive and take some of the soldiers to Fort Pitt.

03/17/2026

Our next meeting will be April 15th, where we will be discussing the Veterans of our area. Members of the community who are Veterans or the family of Veterans are welcome to attend to share their stories. We will be meeting at the Township Hall at 6pm.

Also, please visit us at Fort Laurens on April 11th for their World War I event.

03/10/2026

Continuing the theme, in honor of the United States Semiquincentennial, we are working on a project to document the local impact of major events in American history.

Does anyone have stories and/or photos of family members or local activities during or around the WW2 era (1939 to 1945)?

03/09/2026

In honor of the United States Semiquincentennial, we are working on a project to document the local impact of major events in American history.

Does anyone have stories and/or photos of family members or local activities during or around the WWI era (1914 to 1918)?

03/09/2026

Although there will not be a presentation, please join us at the Lawrence Township Hall on Wednesday, March 11th at 6pm to help The Bolivar Area Historical Society work on our 2026 goals. Our current project is working on presentation material to share at the April 11th World War I event at Fort Laurens Museum.