| Vallonia | |
|---|---|
| — Unincorporated community — | |
| The Joseph Jackson Hotel, a historic site in the community | |
|
Vallonia
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Jackson |
| Township | Driftwood |
| Elevation[1] | 535 ft (163 m) |
| ZIP code | 47281 |
| FIPS code | 18-78290[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 445200 |
Vallonia is an unincorporated community in Driftwood Township, Jackson County, Indiana and as an 18th century French settlement and 19th century American frontier fortification known as Fort Vallonia.
Contents |
Vallonia is located at .
Vallonia was a French settlement of the late 18th century and lay between the Muscatatuck River and White River's east fork (aka Driftwood). Circa 1810, hostilities began between the settlers and Native Americans. Governor General William Henry Harrison ordered a fort built as well as a number of other defensive structures including a large stockade, garrison, blockhouses, and a spring.[3] to be built to protect the some 90 families in the area. Two companies of Indiana Rangers were stationed here during the War of 1812.
Huff's fort and Ketcham's fort were two other fortifications though not as large. Huff's fort was said to be "higher up" than Vallonia and Ketcham's "still above".[4]
One of the new companies of Indiana Rangers was newly organized, and set out to investigate claims of a Native American war party near Brownstown, Indiana. Finding no war party, the company returned to Fort Vallonia, but one ranger, Robert Sturgeon, rode ahead. He was ambushed by Native Americans and killed. The rangers, in a panic, rode hard back to Fort Vallonia, never stopping to help Sturgeon.[5] Five civilians finally left the fort to recover Sturgeon's body, and buried it near the fort. When Major John Tipton arrived and learned of the rangers' conduct, he assumed command of the fort and began routine drills of the two companies stationed at the fort. A later skirmish, known as the Battle of Tipton's Island, allowed the rangers to prove their ability to engage Native Americans.
Numerous attacks and skirmishes occurred between the Rangers of Fort Vallonia and American Indians during the War of 1812. Attacks in this area of the Indiana Territory diminished after an expedition to destroy the Miami village at the confluence of the Wabash River and Mississinewa River. That expedition left Fort Vallonia 1 July 1813, led by Colonel William Russell in command of the Indiana Rangers and Major Zachary Taylor in command of the 7th Infantry Regiment, as well as a company of Kentucky volunteers. The force destroyed the deserted village, which had been heavily fortified by Tecumseh, but covered 500 miles without encountering a single Native American.[6]
Today, Vallonia is a small community located on S. State Road 135. In 1972 Fort Vallonia was rebuilt and is the centerpiece for the annual Fort Vallonia Days festival. The three-day event is held on the 3rd weekend of October and draws crowds of up to 30,000 people.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||