Obsfr2'atioiis Cancer ni)ig Fort ^lucient. 113 



an elderly gentleman, who knew the place when covered with 

 the primitive forest, that these streamlets were well defined, 

 and during wet seasons of the year contained quite an amount 

 of running water. 



The idea has been advanced that these small streams were 

 at first artificial ditches, formed during the construction of the 

 line of embankments. There is nothing to favor such an 

 idea. In proof of their being natural, and having existed 

 when the fort walls were constructed, we have but to call 

 attention to the singular and devious course the line of 

 embankments takes in crossing the neck of the peninsula. 

 Instead of pursuing a direct course, as undoubtedly would 

 have been the case had these branches not existed, it makes 

 reverse curves, and in shape resembles the letter S, though 

 the curves are not as short or abrupt as seen in this letter. 

 The line of embankments was constructed on the western 

 borders of the streams, and made to conform to their curves, 

 which we have described above. There is evidence that 

 during the building of the walls these streams, in their upper 

 parts, were deepened, in order to afford greater protection to 

 the works, and to obtain material for the embankments. 



We are now prepared to say that the narrow piece of ground 

 between the heads of the first branchlets described, and which 

 is only eight or ten rods wide, must be regarded as the true 

 neck of the peninsula on which the fort is situated, and was 

 the only place that an entrance could be effected without 

 encountering natural defenses in the way of branches, ravines 

 and valleys. By viewing the ground immediately outside of 

 the fort, we shall not fail to see that the neck of ground named 

 marks the true divide or water-shed between the large ravines. 

 This can not be determined by observations on the inside of 

 the fort, because here the ground, in order to obtain material 

 for the walls and for other purposes, was leveled off to almost 

 the evenness of a brick yard. 



The middle of the Chillicothe and Lebanon road, where it 

 passes between the two large mounds, marks the true water- 

 shed at that point. This is about twenty-two rods east of 

 where the road leaves the fort, and about ten rods further 

 north than the point we have described as the true neck of 

 the peninsula. 



