James Rhea (

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

1791–1812) was a native of

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, and was lieutenant and adjutant of "Rhea’s levies" in 1791. He was ensign and second lieutenant of infantry in 1799, and was promoted to first lieutenant in 1800. He was commissioned a captain in July 1807, and resigned at

Fort Wayne Fort Wayne is a city in Allen County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 at the 2020 United S ...

as a result of his actions during the

Siege of Fort Wayne The siege of Fort Wayne took place from September 5 – September 12, 1812, during the War of 1812. The stand-off occurred in the modern city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, between the U.S. military garrison at Fort Wayne (fort), Fort Wayne and a combi ...

. He had previously served under General

Anthony Wayne Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 – December 15, 1796) was an American soldier, officer, statesman, and a Founding Father of the United States. He adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military expl ...

and held command at Fort Industry.

Fort Wayne

On May 15, 1810, Rhea arrived at Fort Wayne and assumed command of the fort. This would be, at a minimum, Rhea's second time commanding a river-fort in the

Northwest Territory The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and formally known as the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, was formed from part of the unorganized western territory of the United States after the American Revolution. Established ...

having previously commanded Fort Industry on the

Maumee River The Maumee River (pronounced ) (; ) is a river running in the Midwestern United States from northeastern Indiana into northwestern Ohio and Lake Erie. It is formed at the confluence of the St. Joseph River (Maumee River), St. Joseph and St. Mar ...

. Initially described as a strong commander, Rhea ensured the completion of much needed repairs to the fort, the passage of a sanitation program, and good progress on land clearance. However, Rhea's arrival at the fort coincided with an onset of

rheumatism Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including a ...

pains that would go on to linger and affect Rhea's ability to sleep. It was speculated that these painful, reoccurring episodes in tandem with the resulting sleep deprivation, was the impetus behind Rhea's eventual 'fondness for whiskey' and later demise as a commander.

References

*Gardner, Charles K. ''Dictionary of the Army of the United States''. New York: 1853. Page 377. 18th-century births 19th-century deaths United States Army officers United States Army personnel of the War of 1812 {{US-army-bio-stub