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The Siege of Dunlap’s Station Dunlap’s Station, sometimes referred to as Fort Dunlap,[1] was established in 1790. It began as a military blockhouse situated on the east bank of the Great Miami River. The surveyor John Dunlap led a party of settlers desirous of clearing land and growing crops to the spot. A blockhouse was built as a refuge from Indian attack then various families built their cabins and the whole was surrounded by a strong timbered picket on three sides, the open side faced the river.
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On January 8, 1791 four men from the station were inspecting a clearing on the opposite side of the river when they were surprised and assaulted by Indians. One man was killed, and one, Abner Hunt, was captured and the remaining two made their way back to the station where they immediately gave the alarm of an impending attack. The settlers and soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Jacob Kingsbury, gathered in the blockhouse to prepare for the assault. On January 10 the Indians approached the station, led by Simon Girty and demanded surrender using their captive as an interpreter. Gunfire broke out while the demands were being made and continued for several hours. The Indians renewed there demands of surrender upon pain of torture and death of their hostage. When the demands were ignored Mr. Hunt was tortured and killed that night. Fighting resumed at the break of dawn the next day, January 11 until a relief force from Fort Washington arrived at about 10:00 AM. The Indians ended the siege and fled into the forest.