Peter Navarre, "the Scout"

Written by John Szozda Thursday, 30 August 2012 The War of 1812 is one of our country’s lesser known wars, certainly not as popular to historians, Hollywood or the public as the Revolutionary War or the Civil War. However, this second war of independence was equally important, especially to Northwest Ohio.

Last weekend, during Navy Week, the U.S. Brig Niagara, a replica of the relief flagship used by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry during the Battle of Lake Erie, sailed into the Maumee River to help us remember our community’s role in saving a nation 200 years ago.

One of our founding fathers — Peter Navarre — played a crucial role in that war. He will be remembered this week in two ceremonies taking place in Toledo, one at the Navarre Cabin located at Toledo Botanical Gardens and the other at Navarre Park

The Navarre family settled along the banks of Otter Creek in 1807. They were the first white settlers in the Great Black Swamp. Navarre became an accomplished woodsman and fur trader. He learned the trails, became friendly with the natives, and he was built for the rugged life of a frontiersman. Local historians Larry Michaels and Robyn Hage, in their book Peter Navarre; War of 1812 Scout, The Man Behind the Legend, quote an obituary that appeared in the Toledo Commercial March 21, 1874. It read, “Peter in his youth and prime has been described as being over six feet in height, slender and straight as an arrow, and swift and active as a panther.”

Navarre, who was of French descent, despised the British. When war broke out, Peter and his brother Robert volunteered to scout for General William Henry Harrison who directed troop movements from Fort Meigs in Perrysburg, Fort Stephenson in Fremont and Fort Seneca, just south of Fremont.

Thirty miles of treacherous swamp and forested land lay between Fort Meigs and Fort Stephenson and roughly the same distance lay between Fort Seneca and Lake Erie. It was this area that Navarre travelled. There was no telegraph and parts of the swamp couldn’t be traversed by horse so foot speed and stamina were of the essence.

Navarre delivered a number of critical messages leading up to the Battle of Lake Erie. Commodore Perry, who was about to engage the British war ships on Lake Erie, sent Navarre to Harrison informing him he was outmanned and pleading for more men. Harrison sent Navarre back with 70 Kentucky sharpshooters, according to Hage and Michaels.

The day before the battle, Navarre, disguised as an Indian, crossed British lines to deliver Harrison’s order to Perry to engage the enemy immediately. And, while there is no definite proof, Michaels says Navarre was most assuredly the man who delivered Perry’s famous message back to Harrison, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”

Michaels said Northwest Ohio was the most important battleground of the war.

“This area was the Gettysburg of the War of 1812,” he said. “It really was the crucial area. Fort Meigs was really the first American victory, just holding that fort, then Fort Stephenson and then the Battle of Lake Erie. That really turned the tide. It stopped the advance of the British and really broke the Indian support for the British."

MAUMEE LAND GRANTS

Indian Land Grants near the Maumee Bay With the February 18, 1833 Treaty with the Ottawa, Article II made a number of grants around the Maumee Bay, where the Maumee River enters Lake Erie:[15]

On the south side of the river, a 1520 acre tract was set aside. Autokee, a chief, was granted 320 acres, including Presque Isle. 800 acres were granted to Jacques, Robert, Peter, Antoine, Francis, and Alexis Navarre. 160 acres were granted to Wasayon, son of Tushquaguan, to include his father’s home. Also eighty acres for Petau, around her cabin, eighty for Cheno, a chief, and eighty for Joseph La Cavalier Rajnard were granted.

On the north side of the river were awarded several grants. Wausaonoquet, a chief, was granted 160 acres where Pike Creek enters the bay. Leon Guoin was granted eighty acres adjacent to the south. 160 acres were granted to Aushcush and Ketuckkee on the north side of the Ottawa Creek where Aushcush lived. Robert A. Forsythe of Maumee was granted two 160 acre tracts, and John E. Hunt was also granted two 160 acre tracts.

Andre Lamarre was granted 126.58 acres on the north side of Maumee Bay by Congress on July 3, 1812.[14]

All the Maumee Bay grants were in T9S R8E of the Michigan Meridian in Lucas County.[14]

Description of Peter Navarre Memorial, E Toledo, Ohio Front Text : "Peter Navarre 1790-1874" Considered the first citizen of the East Side, Peter Navarre, along with his brother Robert, first settled the land east of the Maumee River in 1807. A fur trader by profession, Navarre was experienced in wilderness survival and had a deep understanding of Native American life. He died on March 20, 1874, and was buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery across the river from his beloved East Toledo. In 1922, the City of Toledo declared September 9th Peter Navarre Day, an official city holiday. This marker commemorates the 200th anniversary of the founding of East Toledo.

Back Text : "Peter Navarre 1790-1874" During the war of 1812, Peter Navarre acted as a scout for the American army and provided intelligence about enemy strength and locations. Navarre was responsible for passing communications between Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry at Port Clinton and General William Henry Harrison at Fort Seneca during August and September 1813. On September 9, Navarre was sent to Perry with orders to begin the attack against the British. The Battle of Lake Erie was fought the following day. His skill and resourcefulness to pass through enemy territory aided the United States in retaining this area during the war.