1867.] Our Engraving — Fort Washington. 559 



ground, with a strong block-house at each angle. It was built on 

 large logs, cut from the ground on which it stood. The artificer's, 

 yard was an appendage to the Fort, and stood on the bank of the 

 river, immediately in front. It contained about two acres of ground 

 enclosed by small contiguous buildings, occupied as workshops and 

 quarters for laborers. Within the enclosure, there was a large two- 

 story frame house built for the accommodation of the Quarter Master 

 General, which was the most commodious and best finished edifice in 

 Cincinnati at that time. 



For a time quite a rivalship existed between the stations at Colum- 

 bia, Losanteville* and North-Bend, as to which should have the 

 pre-eminence and become the site of a future city. And in this, as 

 often in more important events, circumstances the most trivial weave 

 the web of destiny and ultimate in most important developments. 



The pen of the historian records that the settlement of this point 

 was brought about through the bewitching fascination of a little black- 

 eyed girl, removing with her father from the Bend, on account of the 

 greater security afforded at Fort Washington. Thereby was the 

 gallant commander led to think this was, by far, the site to be pre- 

 fered. And this cause, however unimportant in itself, settled the 

 disputed question as to the site of this great commercial emporium. 

 Not so strange, either, when we remember that it was the incompar- 

 able beauty of a Spartan dame that once produced a ten years seige, which 

 terminated the fate of Troy. After this we need not wonder that the 

 irresistible charms of another captivating American, Hellen should 

 have resulted in the unsettling of a station fixed upon as the location 

 of a great city. 



These Forts were viewed with great jealousy by the Indians, as 

 they had the appearance of permanent military establishments, and 

 it was extremely fortunate that the Indians were without the skill 

 or the means of demolishing them ; and while they might have easily 

 prevented their creation, they were led to think they would be attend- 

 ed with no serious consequence to them, and under this conviction 

 did not act, until it was too late to do so with effect. 



How different the circumstances under which the first pioneers 

 came to these then distant wilds of the West, and the adventurers of 



•This was the name given to the first villiage occupying the present site of 

 Cincinnati. A fanciful name, which when analyzed signified ville, the village ante 

 opposite, O S the mouth L Licking. 



