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- LEGION VILLE MAPS AND CORRESPONDENCE
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- The letter below was written on February 26, 1792, by Surgeon's Mate Dr. Joseph Strong,
at Legion Ville. The letter was sent to Dr. Mason F. Cogswell in Hartford, Connecticut.
The copy was found in 1993 by Patrick Riley at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript
Library, Yale Collection of Early Americana, Strong-Cogswell Correspondence, Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is the only extant drawing of Legion Ville found to
date, although General Wayne sent an engineer's drawing to Secretary Knox on January
19, 1793.
- Legion Ville
Headquarters
February 26th, 1793
Dear Friend,
You are undoubtedly sensible of the sudden & unexpected order I received to leave my post at
Middletown. I was obliged to part from my friends without ceremony, and obey the rigid
commands of war. As a military man I endeavoured to conceal the sorrow I felt in my heart and to
appear calm on my entrance to an important and interesting scene of my life. Though I did not bid
you a formal adieu, yet a secret prayer went to heaven from my heart for your happiness in life. I
wish sincerely that a consolation might raise your soul above the power of affliction.
- I have been healthy and happy since I left N England. My prospect is pleasing at present and I
hope will continue so forever. I have been here but 3 weeks and cannot give you any full
information respecting the strength and future business of the Army. I was in Pittsburgh 2 weeks,
and formed an acquantence which was improving agreable to me. This place is 22 miles below
Pittsburgh, situated on the North Eastern side of the Ohio, on one of its highest banks. The camp is
beautifully disposed at present in about 500 huts. I will draw you a plan of the encampment in a
rough manner for you information.
Thus you see a very hasty and rough draft, a pretty accurate plan of our encampment. This place is
on Indian ground and was a thick wilderness when the army arrived here the 1st of December last.
The lands are cleared around for a considerable distance from camp and the place is very
agreeable. It is uncertain when the army will leave this station. It is probable they will continue here
'till after the treaty is held with the enemy _ if so, we shall continue here until fall, and perhaps make
winter quarters again. The army is sickly at present, though the ruling epidemic is abating. The
common disorder has been a Typhus fever. It has proved mortal in a few instances. You can
readily form an idea of my opportunities for improvement, both in problems and professional
knowledge. I hope I shall conduct worthy of my situations.
I expect if I live to return, you will remark my improvements to me in evening conversation in your
office. My friend I should rejoice to see you, and again experience the pleasures of that friendly
intercourse with which you honored me the last summer; but I expect to behold one bloody battle
in a savage country before I return. I wish to live and see my friends again in my own country, but if
I die, may I be suffered to die with honour. It is fully believed by those who are the best judges of
the state of the hostile tribes in the country, that no reconciliation can be effected short of victory
over them. Capt. Collins a gentleman of reputation has just arrived here with honest intelligence
from them. He has past disguised 2200 miles in their country, and says they are determined on war.
I cannot divine the events of my life in future, but be assured, if I live, I live your sincere friend, and
if I die I hope not to forget you.
P. S. - Give my love to all
Joseph Strong
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Dr. Joseph Strong's sketch map of Legion Ville. Dr. Strong's perspective is facing west
across the Ohio River, which runs due north in this location. He drew the picture from the
"Back Woods" at the bottom of the drawing. Right margin of map is north. Graves are
located just north of the redoubt located in the left margin of the map.
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United States Geological survey map of the Legion Ville site located on the eastern bank of
the Ohio River. The site is situated on the second terrace of the Ohio at an elevation of 770',
and is approximately 21 miles downstream from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Wayne's
cantonment is labeled parcel A and B. The location of Redoubt # 2 which corresponds to
the Strong sketch is clearly labeled. The town of Ambridge is two miles south of Legion
Ville. The Native American village of Logstown is marked at the bottom center of the map.
Distribution of American forts from Western Pennsylvania to Fort Knox (Vincennes) in
Indiana.
- Tracing of the Harmony society land map showing the topography of Wayne's camp in
1858. Not the now-infilled stream on what General Wayne referred to as the "left flank," or
the northern end of the camp (courtesy of Old Economy Village, Ambridge, Pennsylvania).
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- Plan of Legion Ville done by J.P. Leaf, a civil engineer, in 1904 showing remaining
entrenchment's and redoubts. The redoubt in the center of the plan is Redoubt Number 2.
The redoubt in the lower right is Redoubt Number 1, or what Wayne refers to in the daily
orders as "Point Independence."
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