Indiana Photo Gallery – Fort Vallonia

Fort Vallonia

Local lore states that the earliest settlement was by the French in the late 1700’s. There has been no evidence to support, or refute, this tradition. By 1810 there were around ninety settlers in the area of Vallonia. The name derives from the site being located in a valley. John McAfee, Thomas Ewing, and J. B. Durham laid the town of Vallonia out in 1810. No plat was recorded until October 7, 1856. Since this was the frontier, the homes in the area were well fortified and the citizens always armed. Tension between the local native tribes and settlers increased and William Henry Harrison ordered that a stockade be built for protection. This fort was built and garrisoned with two companies of Indiana Rangers by 1812, commanded by Major John Tipton. The fort was located along an old Indian trail.

Fort Vallonia
Of the two companies of Indiana Rangers stationed at Fort Vallonia, one was newly formed and untrained. This company went out to the vicinity of Brownstown, Indiana to investigate some reports of Amerindian activity. Finding nothing, they began their return to the fort. During their return, a band of warriors ambushed Robert Sturgeon, who had ridden on ahead of the company. The untrained rangers took flight, leaving Sturgeon to fend for himself. the natives killed him and left his body. five men from the town eventually retrieved his body and buried him near the fort. John Tipton visited the fort and heard of the incident. He immediately took command of the fort and trained the Rangers. During later actions at the Battle of Tipton’s Island and other skirmishes the Rangers comported themselves well.
John Tipton (August 14, 1786 April 5, 1839)
John was born in Sevier County, Tennessee, where his father died in an Amerindian raid. He moved to Harrison County, Indiana in 1803 and married Martha Shields. He farmed and fought natives, leading a unit of the famed Yellow Jackets during the Battle of Tippecanoe. His next military experience was commanding Fort Vallonia as major during the War of 1812. He gained election to the Indiana State House of Representatives from 1819 to 1823. During this time, he was involved in the formation of Bartholomew County and its county seat, Columbus.
Indiana Rangers
William Henry Harrison formed the Rangers in 1807 in response to a raid along the Vincennes Trace in which one settler was killed and his family abducted. The Rangers initially patrolled three areas. Captain William Hargrove’s 1st Division patrolled the area between French Lick, Indiana and the Ohio River. The Second Divison maintained a base along the Vincennes Trace at Cuzco, Indiana near the Patoka River. The Third Division patrolled the area near Lawrenceburg, Indiana on the Ohio River. During the War of 1812 Harrison used the Rangers to augment the regular army troops. At first the Rangers patrolled on foot, but later were mounted. the Rangers recieved $1 per day and had to provide their own weapons and supplies. Harrison deactivated the Rangers in 1809, but reactivated them in 1812. The Indiana Rangers served as the inspiration for the more famous Texas Rangers. The 151st Infantry Regiment of the Indiana National Guard traces is lineage to the Indiana Rangers.
Vallonia, Indiana has recreated the stockade that existed during the War of 1812. The community maintains a museum on the site and each year celebrates its pioneer heritage with Fort Vallonia Days. For more information:
Fort Valonia Days