I now see that back on September 2, in an article titled “Hull’s Trace in the Mad River Valley,” I gave out some bogus information about the route that General William Hull’s army took in 1812 as it marched from Urbana, OH to Detroit. That day I rode to the east where I should have ridden to the west. In a way it’s OK, though. There is actually a road to the east, and it took me to some of the prettiest scenery of the day.
I learned about it while getting carried away with my efforts to learn how to use Google Earth.
This is a screen shot of what I was working on. It’s a scene of most of Salem Township in Champaign County, Ohio, which I’ve been posting about lately. The light green line is my route for the day. Salem Township is bordered in red. I’ve also imported a tracing of King’s Creek and Mad River into the map, to make the water bodies stand out better. (You probably have to click on the map to see what I’m really talking about.) The first settlement in Salem Township was along King’s Creek, which flows from right to lower left through Kingston. Near the lower left it empties into Mad River, which flows to the north along the left edge of the image, and past the area where the county history writers said there had been a Shawnee settlement (towards the upper left of the image).
Urbana, which in 1812 was considered the outer edge of civilization by Hull’s army, is just below the lower right of the image. There were pockets of agricultural settlement to the north, though, and the army marched through them, first at the point marked “Hull’s Trace 3″, and then at the one marked “Hull’s Trace 5.” (Later I’ll post an up-to-date link for those people who have Google Earth loaded on their computers.)
The information about Hull’s route is from Joshua Antrim’s 1872 history of Champaign and Logan Counties. He got some of the information from the farmer who had settled at the place marked “Hull’s Trace 5,” who in his old age passed on his recollections to Antrim.
I got to thinking, why not go ahead and mark all of the known spots of Hull’s Trace to the north, as far to the north as Antrim told about them. It was while re-reading and re-checking the information that I realized I didn’t have it quite right back on September 2.
North of West Liberty (barely visible at the top of the Google Earth image above) I thought Hull’s Army had continued to follow the Mad River where the river had turned to the east, towards Zanesville, and then had curled around behind the big ridge that begins here on the other side of the road. That would have been a longer route than it actually took, though. It’s too bad, because I like the country in this direction. There is a road along the edge of the valley that’s marked as a bicycle route.
While here, I looked across the valley and tried to imagine Hull’s army somewhere between this point and the river bottom in the distance, the main body pulling cannon carriages, and lines of scouts patrolling off to either side of the main body. It was low ground, but it isn’t likely that the British would have crossed Lake Erie or the Detroit River and brought cannons all the way down here to use against them. Congress hadn’t even officially declared war yet when Hull left Urbana. And I was guessing that the valley was broad enough to give plenty of room to maneuver in case of enemy attack.
Alas, today I learned that Hull departed from the the Mad River valley before he got into the area shown in this scene.
Dear “Spokes”,
I just tripped over this subject ( I would have picked a different route for General Hull).
I have been researching Hull’s Trace for several years. I am currently in the process of planning a re-enactment by the Boy Scouts in June of 2012. Urbana to Ft. McArthur, and on to Hull’s Crossing or Ft. Meigs
Don’t be embarassed about promoting false info (the Logan County Historical Society erected a bronze marker, with some of my early work on “Reed’s Town” WRONG!!!)
anyway, I sure would like to get with you sometime, concerning Hull’s Trace.
Most of it, I have documented to 1/4 section accuracy.
I continue to be amazed by our parallel experiences. My wife and I lived in Goshen, Indiana several years ago. We often biked to Benton, and up into Michigan. I am finding more and more connections with Lewis Cass.
I continue to follow your rides.
Ronald irick
PS
Dear “Spokes”,
at the top left of your map of the Mad River Valley, between Urbana and West Liberty, you denote a former Shawnee village. This would be “Pimtown” ( or Pymtown) The site is usually considered to be on Mad River. I have no problem with that. However, a friend recently purchased the adjoining farm up on the ridge. He took me out and showed an “Indian Dance Circle” on the top of the hill. A Shawnee delegation came out last summer and verified the site. I would be glad to show you the site next time you are in the “Valley”.
Ron
I just stumbled on this. as well. As with both of you, I have been tracing the Hull Trace for years, as well. We should get together to pool our research. I am planning to do work on this through the summer. I have also been trying to locate where that Shawnee site is and have gone up and down the valley and treked through some of the hills trying to find it. So, how do we make contact.
Wes, I’ve started to set up a forum on this blog where we can talk about this stuff more easily than here in the comments section, and maybe make plans for doing some work on it together. Didn’t quite get finished yesterday (Sunday). Went for a bike ride instead.
I hope to get to that area at least once this summer.
I’m working on Hull’s Trail map also. I grew up near the trail near Findlay. I drive the route frequently. Quite a few of the participants kept diaries. Please let me know if you all get together to share research.
Diaries! That would be good. I’ve been redoing my bike riding plans for this summer, partly to have a little more time to spend in that part of Ohio this year. We probably won’t decide anything until almost mid July, though.
I think I have bits of one diary that I haven’t yet used in a post. I didn’t know there were diaries, plural.
I would love to get together with anyone else working on this so we can pool our information–the sooner the better. I was just in Defiance and Upper Sandusky doing some additional research from dairies and journals available at those libraries.
Wes Baker
The summer is rapidly getting away from us. I’m still not sure how we all can get in touch some way other than throwing these messages out so that we can actually make contact and work out a time to meet. Any suggestions?
Please join us at the Western Ohio History group on FB. Several of us have extensive interest/info on Hulls Trace.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/271362706256874/
Dear Spokes, and Wes, and Others,
I have not been on the site for quite a while. In reference to the diarys, one of the best is an account of a return trip, southbound on the Trace. It gives great details. Ron
What diaries?
Dear Mike,
Google “Robert McAfee Journal 1812″ McAfee was not with Hull, but was involved beginning May 1813, the beauty is, he details a southbound trip along Hull’s Trace, mentions Manary’s Blockhouse and multiple landmarks, with travel times and miles to Urbana
Ron
Dear Spokes,
thre Scouts just this morning finished a five day, fifty mile hike on Hull’s Trace from Urbana to ft McArthur. We camped at the same sites the army used. We also took part in the Bi-Centennial observance at the Logan County Courthouse.
Awesome trip,
Ron