USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio, containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to its general and local history : with descriptions of its counties, principal towns, and villages > Part 65
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* From Col. John M'Donald, to whose father this fact was communicated by Hewit.
445
SANDUSKY COUNTY. .
SANDUSKY.
SANDUSKY was formed from old Indian territory, April 1st, 1820. The soil is fertile, and the surface is generally level. The Black Swamp covers the western part. Its first settlers were principally of New England origin, since which many have moved in from Pennsylvania and Germany. The principal productions are Indian corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and pork. The following is a list of its townships in 1840, with their population.
Ballville, 1007
Rice,
385
Townsend, 692
Green Creek, 1186
Riley,
426
Washington, 1074
Jackson, 929
Sandusky, 1696
Woodville, 486
Madison, 316
Scott, 684 York, ยท 1301
The population of Sandusky, in 1830, was 2851, and in 1840, 10,182, or 24 inhabitants to a square mile.
The signification of the name of this county has frequently been a matter of dispute. John H. James, Esq., in the American Pioneer, truly says :
I have a note of a conversation with William Walker at Columbus, in 1835-6, at which time he was principal chief of the Wyandotts at Upper Sandusky, in which I asked the meaning of the word Sandusky. He said it meant " at the cold water," and should be sounded San-doos-tee. He said it " carried with it the force of a preposition." The Upper Cold Water and the Lower Cold Water, then, were descriptive Indian names, given long before the presence of the trader Sowdowsky. In the vocabulary of Wyandott words, given by John Johnston, Esq., formerly Indian agent in Ohio, as printed in Archeologia Ameri- cana, vol. i. p. 295, the word water is given Sa, un-dus-tee, and in page 297 he gives the name of Sandusky river as Sa, undustee, or water within water pools.
This region of country was once a favorite residence of the In- dians. Hon. Lewis Cass, in his discourse before the Historical So- ciety of Michigan, delivered Sept. 18th, 1829, gives some interesting statements respecting a tribe called " the Neutral Nation."
Upon the Sandusky river, and near where the town of Lower Sandusky now stands, lived a band of the Wyandotts, called the Neutral Nation. They occupied two villages, which were cities of refuge, where those who sought safety never failed to find it. During the long and disastrous contests which preceded and followed the arrival of the Europeans, in which the Iroquois contended for victory, and their enemies for existence, this little band preserved the integrity of their territories and the sacred character of peace makers. All who met upon their threshold met as friends, for the ground on which they stood was holy. It was a beau- tiful institution, a calm and peaceful island looking out upon a world of waves and tempests.
The annexed is a note from the above.
This Neutral Nation, so called by Father Seguard, was still in existence two centuries ago, when the French missionaries first reached the upper lakes. The details of their his- tory, and of their character and privileges, are meager and unsatisfactory ; and this is the more to be regretted, as such a sanctuary among the barbarous tribes, is not only a singular institution, but altogether at variance with that reckless spirit of cruelty with which their wars are usually prosecuted. The Wyandott tradition represents them as having separated from the parent stock during the bloody wars between their own tribe and the Iroquois, and having fled to the Sandusky river for safety. That they here erected two forts, within a short distance of each other, and assigned one to the Iroquois and the other to the Wyan- dotts and their allies, where their war parties might find security and hospitality, whenever they entered their country. Why so unusual a proposition was made and acceded to, tra- dition does not tell. It is probable, however, that superstition lent its aid to the institution, and that it may have been indebted for its origin to the feasts and dreams and juggling
446
SANDUSKY COUNTY.
ceremonies which constituted the religion of the aborigines. No other motive was suffi- ciently powerful to restrain the hand of violence and to counteract the threat of vengeance.
An intestine feud finally arose in this Neutral Nation, one party espousing the cause of the Iroquois and the other of their enemies ; and like most civil wars, this was prosecuted with relentless fury. Our informant* says that since his recollection, the remains of a red cedar post were yet to be seen, where the prisoners were tied previously to being burned.
Lower Sandusky, the county seat, is 24 miles southwesterly from Sandusky City, and 105 west of north from Columbus. The annexed engraving shows the town as it appears from a hill northeast of it, on the opposite side of the river, near the residence of Mr. Jasper Smith, seen in front. On the left, the bridge across the Sandusky river partially appears ; and a little to the right of it, Whyler's hotel. On the hill are shown the court house, and the Episcopal, Presbyte- rian and Catholic churches.
The town stands at the head of navigation on the Sandusky, at the lower rapids, where the Indians had a reservation of two miles square, granted to them by the treaty of Greenville. It is said that at an early day the French had a trading station at this point. Lower Sandusky contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Metho- dist and 1 Catholic church, 2 newspaper printing offices, 8 grocery and 11 dry goods stores, 1 woollen factory, 1 foundery, and had, in 1840, 1117 inhabitants, and now has near 2000. It is a thriving
town, and considerable business is carried on. Its commerce is increasing. Small steamers and sail vessels constantly ply from here. The principal articles of export in 1846, were of wheat 90,000 bushels, pork 560 barrels, ashes 558 casks, flour 1010 barrels, corn 18,400 bushels, staves 1,100,000 : imports, 1480 barrels of salt and 250 tons of merchandize.
Immediately opposite Lower Sandusky, on the east bank of the river, is the small village of Croghansville, laid out in 1817, which in a general description would be included in the former.
Fort Stephenson, or Sandusky, so gallantly defended by Colonel Croghan on the 2d of August, 1813, against an overwhelming force
* The informant above alluded to by Gov. Cass, we have reason to believe was Major B. F. Stickney, of Toledo, long an Indian agent in this region. That there may have been such a tradition among the Indians, we are unable to gainsay, but of its truth we have doubts. Major Stickney, in a lecture (as yet unpublished) delivered Feb. 28th, 1845, before the Young Men's Association of Toledo, says :
" The remains of extensive works of defence are now to be seen near Lower Sandusky. The Wyandotts have given me this account of them. At a period of two centuries and a half since, or more, all the Indians west of this point were at war with all the Indians east. Two walled towns were built near each other, and each was inhabited by those of Wyan- dott origin. They assumed a neutral character, and the Indians at war recognized that character. They might be called two neutral cities. All of the west might enter the west- ern city, and all of the east the eastern. The inhabitants of one city might inform those of the other, that war parties were there or had been there ; but who they were, or whence they came, or any thing more, must not be mentioned. The war parties might remain there in security, taking their own time for departure. . At the western town they suffered the warriors to burn their prisoners near it ; but the eastern would not. (An old Wyandott informed me, that he recollected seeing, when a boy, the remains of a cedar post or stake, at which they used to burn prisoners.) The French historians tell us that these neutral cities were inhabited, and their neutral character respected, when they first came here. At length a quarrel arose between the two cities, and one destroyed the inhabitants of the other. This put an end to all neutrality."
447
SANDUSKY COUNTY.
of British and Indians, was within the present limits of Lower San- dusky. Its site is indicated by the flag on the left in the engraving, which is about 30 rods southeast of the court house, on high ground,
Lower Sandusky.
much elevated above the river. The fort enclosed about an acre of ground, and the picketing was in good preservation as late as 1834. A private residence now stands within the area. We annex a nar- ration of the assault on the fort, from a published source.
Having raised the siege of Camp Meigs, the British sailed round into Sandusky bay, while a competent number of their savage allies marched across through the swamps of Portage river, to co-operate in a combined attack on Lower Sandusky, expecting, no doubt, that General Harrison's attention would be chiefly directed to Forts Winchester and Meigs. The general, however, had calculated on their taking this course, and had been careful to keep patroles down the bay, opposite the mouth of Portage, where he supposed their forces would debark.
Several days before the British had invested Fort Meigs, General Harrison, with Major Croghan and some other officers, had examined the heights which surround Fort Stephen- son ; and as the hill on the opposite or southeast side of the river was found to be the most commanding eminence, the general had some thoughts of removing the fort to that place, and Major Croghan declared his readiness to undertake the work. But the general did not authorize him to do it, as he believed that if the enemy intended to invade our territory again, they would do it before the removal could be completed. It was then finally concluded that the fort, which was calculated for a garrison of only 200 men, could not be defended against the heavy artillery of the enemy ; and that if the British should ap- proach it by water, which would cause a presumption that they had brought their heavy artillery, the fort must be abandoned and burnt, provided a retreat could be effected with safety. In the orders left with Major Croghan, it was stated-" Should the British troops approach you in force with cannon, and you can discover them in time to effect a retreat, you will do so immediately, destroying all the public stores."
" You must be aware that the attempt to retreat in the face of an Indian force would be vain. Against such an enemy your garrison would be safe, however great the number."
On the evening of the 29th, General Harrison received intelligence, by express, from General Clay, that the enemy had abandoned the siege of Fort Meigs ; and as the Indians on that day had swarmed in the woods round his camp, he entertained no doubt but that an immediate attack was intended either on Sandusky or Seneca. He therefore imme- diately called a council of war, consisting of M'Arthur, Cass, Ball, Paul, Wood, Hukill, Holmes and Graham, who were unanimously of the opinion that Fort Stephenson was untenable against heavy artillery, and that as the enemy could bring with facility any quantity of battering cannon against it, by which it must inevitably fall, and as it was an
448
SANDUSKY COUNTY.
unimportant post, containing nothing the loss of which would be felt by us, that the garri- son should therefore not be reinforced, but withdrawn, and the place destroyed. In pur- suance of this decision, the general immediately dispatched the order to Major Croghan, directing him immediately to abandon Fort Stephenson, to set it on fire and repair with his
Landing
a
Bay
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Plain
19
Cornfield
Advance 0
River
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Grenadiers
Prarie.
Fort Sandusky and Environs : scale, 200 yards to the inch.
[ References to the Environs .- a-British gun-boats at their place of landing. b-Can- non, a six-pounder. c-Mortar. d-Batteries. e-Graves of Lieut. Col. Short and Lieut. Gordon, who fell in the ditch. f-Road to Upper Sandusky. g-Advance of the enemy to the fatal ditch. i-Head of navigation.
O Well
L
G
K
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1
FEED
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Fort Sandusky.
References to the Fort .- Line 1-Pickets. Line 2-Embankment from the ditch to and against the picket. Line 3-Dry ditch, nine feet wide by six deep. Line 4-Outward embankment or glacis. A-Block-house first attacked by cannon, b. B-Bastion from which the ditch was raked by Crog- han's artillery. C-Guard block-house, in the lower left corner. D-Hospital during the attack. E E E-Military store-houses. F-Commissary's store-house. G-Maga- zine. H-Fort gate. K K K-Wicker gates. L-Partition gate.]
command to head quarters-cross the river and come up on the opposite side, and if he should find it impracticable to reach the general's quarters, to take the road to Huron, and pursue it with the utmost circumspection and dispatch. This order was sent by Mr. Con- ner and two Indians, who lost their way in the dark, and did not reach Fort Stephenson till 11 o'clock the next day. When Major Croghan received it, he was of opinion that he could not then retreat with safety, as the Indians were hovering round the fort in con- siderable force. He called a council of his officers, a majority of whom coincided with him in opinion that a retreat would be unsafe, and that the post could be maintained against the enemy, at least till further instructions could be received from head quarters. The major therefore immediately returned the following answer: "Sir, I have just received yours of yesterday, 10 o'clock, P. M., ordering me to destroy this place and make good my retreat, which was received too late to be carried into execution. We have determined to main- tain this place, and by heavens we can." In writing this note, Major Croghan had a view to the probability of its falling into the hands of the enemy, and on that account made use of stronger language than would otherwise have been consistent with propriety. It reached the general on the same day, who did not fully understand the circumstances and motives under which it had been dictated. The following order was therefore immediately pre-,
Sandusky
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PORTSMOUTH, FROM THE KENTUCKY SHORE.
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449
SANDUSKY COUNTY.
pared, and sent with Colonel Wells in the morning, escorted by Colonel Ball, with his corps of dragoons.
" July 30, 1813.
" SIR-The general has just received your letter of this date, informing him that you. had thought proper to disobey the order issued from this office, and delivered to you this morning. It appears that the information which dictated the order was incorrect ; and as you did not receive it in the night, as was expected, it might have been proper that you should have reported the circumstance and your situation, before you proceeded to its ex- ecution. This might have been passed over ; but I am directed to say to you, that an offi- cer who presumes to aver that he has made his resolution, and that he will act in direct opposition to the orders of his general, can no longer be entrusted with a separate com- mand. Colonel Wells is sent to relieve you. You will deliver the command to him, and repair with Colonel Ball's squadron to this place. By command, &c.
A. H. HOLMES, Assistant Adjutant General."
Colonel Wells being left in the command of Fort Stephenson, Major Croghan returned with the squadron to head-quarters. He there explained his motives for writing such a note, which were deemed satisfactory ; and having remained all night with the general, who treated him politely, he was permitted to return to his command in the morning, with written orders similar to those he had received before.
A reconnoitering party which had been sent from head-quarters to the shore of the lake, about 20 miles distant from Fort Stephenson, discovered the approach of the enemy, by water, on the evening of the 31st of July. They returned by the fort after 12 o'clock the. next day, and had passed it but a few hours, when the enemy made their appearance be- fore it. The Indians showed themselves first on the hill over the river, and were saluted by a six-pounder, the only piece of artillery in the fort, which soon caused them to retire. In half an hour the British gun-boats came in sight, and the Indian forces displayed them- selves in every direction, with a view to intercept the garrison, should a retreat be at- tempted. The six-pounder was fired a few times at the gun-boats, which was returned by the artillery of the enemy. A landing of their troops with a five and a half inch how- itzer was effected about a mile below the fort ; and Major Chambers, accompanied by Dick- son, was dispatched towards the fort with a flag, and was met on the part of Major Crog- han by Ensign Shipp, of the 17th regiment. After the usual ceremonies, Major Chambers observed to Ensign Shipp, that he was instructed by General Proctor to demand the sur- render of the fort, as he was anxious to spare the effusion of human blood, which he could not do, should he be under the necessity of reducing it, by the powerful force of artillery, regulars and Indians under his command. Shipp replied, that the commandant of the fort and its garrison were determined to defend it to the last extremity; that no force however great could induce them to surrender, as they were resolved to maintain their post, or to bury themselves in its ruins. Dickson then said that their immense body of Indians could not be restrained from murdering the whole garrison in case of success, of which we have no doubt, rejoined Chambers, as we are amply prepared. Dickson then proceeded to re- mark, that it was a great pity so fine a young man should fall into the hands of the sav- ages-Sir, for God's sake, surrender, and prevent the dreadful massacre that will be caused by your resistance. Mr. Shipp replied, that when the fort was taken, there would be none to massacre. It will not be given up while a man is able to resist. 'An Indian at this moment came out of an adjoining ravine, and advancing to the ensign, took hold of his sword and attempted to wrest it from him. Dickson interfered, and having restrained the Indian, affected great anxiety to get him safe into the fort.
The enemy now opened their fire from their six-pounders in the gun-boats and the how- itzer on shore, which they continued through the night with but little intermission and with very little effect. The forces of the enemy consisted of 500 regulars, and about 800 In- dians commanded by Dickson, the whole being commanded by General Proctor in person. Tecumseh was stationed on the road to Fort Meigs with a body of 2000 Indians, expecting to intercept a reinforcement on that route.
Major Croghan through the evening occasionally fired his six-pounder, at the same time changing its place occasionally to induce a belief that he had more than one piece. As it produced very little execution on the enemy, and he was desirous of saving his ammuni- tion, he soon discontinued his fire. The enemy had directed their fire against the north- western angle of the fort, which induced the commander to believe that an attempt to storm his works would be made at that point. In the night, Captain Hunter was directed to remove the six-pounder to a block-house, from which it would rake that angle. By great industry and personal exertion, Captain Hunter soon accomplished this object in secrecy. The embrasure was masked, and the piece loaded with a half charge of powder, and double
57
450
SANDUSKY COUNTY.
charge of slugs and grape-shot. Early in the morning of the 2d, the enemy opened their fire from their howitzer and three six-pounders, which they had landed in the night, and planted in a point of woods, about 250 yards from the fort. In the evening, about 4 o'clock, they concentrated the fire of all their guns on their northwest angle, which convinced Major Croghan that they would endeavor to make a breach and storm the works at that point ; he therefore immediately had that place strengthened as much as possible with bags of flour and sand, which were so effectual that the picketing in that place sustained no material injury. Sergeant Weaver, with five or six gentlemen of the Petersburgh volun- teers and Pittsburgh blues, who happened to be in the fort, was intrusted with the manage- ment of the six-pounder.
Late in the evening, when the smoke of the firing had completely enveloped the fort, the enemy proceeded to make the assault. Two feints were made towards the southern angle, where Captain Hunter's lines were formed ; and at the same time a column of 350 men was discovered advancing through the smoke, within 20 paces of the northwestern angle. A heavy galling fire of musketry was now opened upon them from the fort, which threw them into some confusion. Colonel Short, who headed the principal column, soon rallied his men, and led them with great bravery to the brink of the ditch. After a momentary pause he leaped into the ditch, calling to his men to follow him, and in a few minutes it was full. The masked port-hole was now opened, and the six-pounder, at the distance of 30 feet, poured such destruction among them that but few who had entered the ditch were fortunate enough to escape. A precipitate and confused retreat was the immediate conse- quence, although some of the officers attempted to rally their men. The other column, which was led by Colonel Warburton and Major Chambers, was also routed in confusion by a destructive fire from the line commanded by Captain Hunter. The whole of them fled into the adjoining wood, beyond the reach of our fire-arms. During the assault, which lasted half an hour, the enemy kept up an incessant fire from their howitzer and five six- pounders. They left Colonel Short,* a lieutenant and twenty-five privates dead in the ditch ; and the total number of prisoners taken was twenty-six, most of them badly wounded. Major Muir was knocked down in the ditch, and lay among the dead, till the darkness of the night enabled him to escape in safety. The loss of the garrison was one killed and seven slightly wounded. The total loss of the enemy could not be less than 150 killed and wounded.
When night came on, which was soon after the assault, the wounded in the ditch were in a desperate situation. Complete relief could not be brought to them by either side with any degree of safety. Major Croghan, however, relieved them as much as possible-he contrived to convey them water over the picketing in buckets, and a ditch was opened under the pickets, through which those who were able and willing, were encouraged to crawl into the fort. All who were able, preferred, of course, to follow their defeated com- rades, and many others were carried from the vicinity of the fort by the Indians, particu- larly their own killed and wounded ; and in the night, about 3 o'clock, the whole British and Indian force commenced a disorderly retreat. So great was their precipitation that they left a sail-boat containing some clothing and a considerable quantity of military stores : and on the next day, seventy stand of arms and some braces of pistols were picked up around the fort. Their hurry and confusion were caused by the apprehension of an attack from General Harrison, of whose position and force they had probably received an exagge- rated account.
It was the intention of General Harrison, should the enemy succeed against Fort Ste- phenson, or should they endeavor to turn his left and fall on Upper Sandusky, to leave his camp at Seneca and fall back for the protection of that place. But he discovered by the firing on the evening of the 1st, that the enemy had nothing but light artillery, which could make no impression on the fort ; and he knew that an attempt to storm it without making a breach, could be successfully repelled by the garrison ; he therefore determined to wait for the arrival of 250 mounted volunteers under CuIJnel Rennick, being the advance of 700 who were approaching by the way of Upper Sandusky, and then to march against the enemy and raise the siege, if their force was not still too great for his. On the 2d, he sent several scouts to ascertain their situation and force; but the woods were so infested with Indians, that none of them could proceed sufficiently near the fort to make the necessary
* " Col. Short, who commanded the regulars composing the forlorn hope, was ordering his men to leap the ditch, cut down the pickets, and give the Americans no quarters, when: he fell mortally wounded into the ditch, hoisted his white handkerchief on the end of his sword, and begged for that mercy which he had a moment before ordered to be denied to his enemy."
451
SANDUSKY COUNTY.
discoveries. In the night the messenger arrived at head-quarters with intelligence that the enemy were preparing to retreat. About 9 o'clock, Major Croghan had ascertained from their collecting about their boats, that they were preparing to embark, and had immediately sent an express to the commander-in-chief with this information. The general now de- termined to wait no longer for the reinforcements, and immediately set out with the dra- goons, with which he reached the fort early in the morning, having ordered Generals M'Arthur and Cass, who had arrived at Seneca several days before, to follow him with all the disposable infantry at that place, and which at this time was about 700 men, after the numerous sick, and the force necessary to maintain the position, were left behind. Finding that the enemy had fled entirely from the fort, so as not to be reached by him, and learn- ing that Tecumseh was somewhere in the direction of Fort Meigs, with 2000 warriors, he immediately ordered the infantry to fall back to Seneca, lest Tecumseh should make an attack on that place, or intercept the small reinforcements advancing from Ohio.
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