USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Three > Part 21
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
were represented by fifty of their chiefs and head men. The most influential chief present was Tarhe (the Crane) who was Chief Sachem of the Wyandots. He had long been a mighty man with his people. As far back as 1789 at Marietta he was a chief of his tribe. He was a man of fine character and had the respect of both the white man and the Indian. He held his influence over his people as long as he lived. All his efforts were for peace, and he was one of the leading spirits in securing the Indian support to the Treaty of Greenville. At this council Tarhe was the spokesman by common consent of all the tribes there represented. He was of fine physique, and although at this time about seventy-two years of age, he possessed remarkable vigor both in body and mind. It was of him and his tribe that General Harrison, in his official report to the Secretary of War (March 22, 1814), said: "The Wyandots, of Sandusky, have adhered to us through- out the war. Their chief, the Crane, is a venerable, intelligent and upright man." In this report he also referred to the Shawnee Chieftains, Black Hoof. Wolf, and Lewis, thus: "They are attached to us from principles as well as interest; they are all honest men."
There is a valuable relic of newspaper enterprise of that day left in the only account preserved of this council. It was printed in The Freeman's Chronicle of June 25, 1813. This paper was a weekly, published at Franklinton by James Gardiner, who was owner editor and reporter. His description written by him. self as a spectator and reporter is as follows:
"On Monday last, General Harrison held a counci in this place with the chiefs of the Delaware, Shawnee
289
OF AN AMERICAN STATE
Wyandot and Seneca tribes of Indians, to the amount of about fifty. In the General's talk, he observed that he had been induced to call them together from certain circumstances having come to his knowledge which led him to suspect the fidelity of some of the tribes, who had manifested signs of a disposition to join the enemy, in case they had succeeded in capturing Fort Meigs. That a crisis had arrived which demanded that all the tribes, who had hitherto remained neutral, should take a decided stand, either for us or against us. That the President wished no false friends, and that it was only in adversity that real friends could be distinguished. That the proposal of General Proc- tor to exchange the Kentucky prisoners for the friendly tribes within the borders, indicated that he had been given to understand that those tribes were willing to raise the tomahawk against us. And that in order to give the United States a guarantee of their good dis- positions, the friendly tribes should either move, with their families, into the settlements, or their warriors should accompany him in the ensuing campaign, and fight for the United States. To this proposal the chiefs and warriors present unanimously agreed-and observed that they had long been anxious for an opportunity to fight for the Americans.
"We cannot recall the precise remarks that were made by the chiefs who spoke, but Tarhe (the Crane), who is the principal chief of the Wyandots and the oldest Indian in the western wilds, appeared to represent the whole assembly, and professed, in the name of
290
THE RISE AND PROGRESS
the friendly tribes, the most indissoluble attachment for the American government, and a determination to adhere to the Treaty of Greenville.
"The General promised to let the several tribes know when he should want their services; and further cautioned them that all who went with him must conform to his mode of warfare; not to kill or injure old men, women, children nor prisoners. That, by this means, we should be able to ascertain whether the British tell the truth when they say that they are not able to prevent Indians from such acts of horrible cruelty; for if Indians under him (General Harrison) would obey his commands, and refrain from acts of barbarism, it would be very evident that the hostile Indians could be as easily restrained by their commanders. The General then informed the chiefs of the agreement made by Proctor to deliver him to Tecumseh in case the British succeeded in taking Fort Meigs; and promised them that if he should be successful, he would deliver Proctor into their hands, on condition, that they should do him no other harm than to put a petticoat on him, 'for,' said he, 'none but a coward or a squaw would kill a prisoner.'
"The council broke up in the afternoon; and the Indians departed next day for their respective towns."
From the date of this council a spirit of safety and confidence spread throughout Ohio. The apprehension and fear that was prevalent among the pioneers in the northwest was allayed. Although General Harrison did not see the necessity of calling these four tribes to take part in the war, many of the Indians individu- ally, of their own free will, accompanied him in his
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
campaigns. Tarhe, with a number of his warriors, marched with General Harrison on foot to Canada, and was present at the battle of the Thames where the noted Tecumseh was killed.
When General Harrison was at Franklinton, he received word from General Clay, whom he had left in command at Fort Meigs, that the British were preparing with a very large force to renew their operations against that place. The Twenty-Fourth United States Regulars was at this time on its march to Lower Sandusky, and General Harrison on receiving news of the movements against Fort Meigs set off with all possible speed and overtook the regiment below that town. With three hundred picked men from this body, he made a forced march to Fort Meigs. He found there everything in a satisfactory condition, the place well fortified and the proposed attack not materialized.
The apprehension of a siege at this time was caused by reports which General Clay had received from a Frenchman, and a private of Colonel Dudley's regi- ment, who had arrived at Fort Meigs on June 20 from Detroit. The private had been a prisoner of the Indians. They stated that the British expected to renew the attack on the fort and were to commence a march at about the time they arrived. The Indians were to furnish four thousand warriors and the British one thousand regulars from Niagara. They reported that the Canadian militia had been disbanded as incapable of good service. It was on these statements that General Clay immediately dispatched the infor- mation of the expected renewal of the siege to General Harrison at Franklinton.
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
On July 20, however, contrary to hope and expecta- tion, the enemy appeared for a second siege of Fort Meigs. They were discovered ascending the Maumee, and a reconnoitering party reported that a large body of British and Indians were encamped below the old British Fort Miami on the other side of the river. The next day saw Fort Meigs surrounded by five thousand men under Proctor and Tecumseh. That night, General Clay sent word to General Harrison, who immediately called upon General McArthur of the Ohio militia for all the force available, and upon Governor Meigs for further enlistments. But it was not Proctor's purpose to make more than a demon- stration before Fort Meigs; on July 28 he embarked his troops and sailed down the Maumee toward Lake Erie.
It soon became apparent to General Harrison from the movements of the enemy that the real point of attack was Fort Stephenson and not Fort Meigs. This fort was located at Lower Sandusky where Fre- mont now stands. It had been a garrison and stockade since General Wayne's treaty. It was just about large enough for two hundred men. At this time it was occupied by a force under the command of Major George Croghan, a young Kentuckian in his twenty- first year. He was born at Locust Grove, Kentucky November 15, 1791; his mother was a sister of George Rogers Clark, and his father, William Croghan, was born in Ireland in 1752; he was a major of the Virginia line, and fought with bravery at Brandywine, Mon mouth and Germantown, as well as endured the privations of Valley Forge. So it can be seen that
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
the fighting qualities which he developed were natural and racial. He was a young man of education and breeding, and graduated from William and Mary College with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Associated with Major Croghan were Captain Hun- ter, Lieutenants Johnson and Baylor, and Ensigns Shipp and Duncan of the Seventeenth Regiment, Lieutenants Anthony of the Twenty-fourth, and Meeks of the Seventh; these, with one hundred and sixty privates, constituted the entire force of the garrison.
General Harrison's headquarters were at Fort Seneca, nine miles above Fort Stephenson on the Sandusky River. Here he had six hundred men. He was looking for an attack from the enemy, and concluded that Fort Seneca was the point for his operations. He had examined Fort Stephenson in company with Major Croghan, and was of the opinion that it could not be defended against heavy artillery. It consisted of three blockhouses and a picketed inclosure ranging from fourteen to sixteen feet in height, outside of which was a ditch eight feet in width and depth. A six- pound cannon composed the entire ordnance of the fort. When he parted with Croghan to go to Fort Seneca, he said: "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."
It was dusk of July 29, when a messenger arrived at Fort Seneca with word that Proctor and Tecumseh had abandoned the siege of Fort Meigs and were on their way up the Sandusky River to attack either Fort Seneca or Fort Stephenson. General Harrison
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
hastily called a council of war consisting of Generals McArthur, Cass and other officers. The result of their deliberations was the unanimous opinion that Fort Stephenson was untenable and should be aban- doned. General Harrison immediately sent Major Croghan the following order: "Sir, Immediately on receiving this letter, you will abandon Fort Stephenson, set fire to it, and repair with your command this night to headquarters. Cross the river and come up on the opposite side. If you should deem and find it impracticable to make good your march to this place take the road to Huron and pursue it with the utmost circumspection and despatch."
The bearers of this message to the young officer lost their way, and did not arrive at Fort Stephenson until nearly noon of the next day, when they found the situation such that withdrawal and retreat were impossible. The country surrounding the little garri- son was swarming with British and Indians. Major Croghan therefore answered General Harrison as follows: "Sir, I have just received yours of yesterday, IO 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 maintain this place, and by heavens we can."
This reply greatly displeased the Commanding General, and he ordered Croghan to appear before him to answer for his disobedience. Major Croghan obeyed the summons of his superior officer, and ex- plained that he had written so strongly with a view that possibly it might fall into the hands of the enemy; he also demonstrated that under present conditions
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
evacuation meant destruction to his garrison and its men. General Harrison at once perceived the sound military discretion of the young officer, and sent him back to defend Fort Stephenson. On the first day of August, 1813, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy, with General Proctor in command, appeared, coming down the Sandusky River.
The force of the British amounted to twelve hundred men, of whom seven hundred were Indians. After Proctor had disposed his troops so as to render it impossible for the garrison to escape, he sent a flag of truce by Colonel Elliott and Major Chambers demand- ing the surrender of the fort, with the usual threat of Indian butchery and massacre. Major Croghan, after consultation with his men, replied that "when the garri- son surrendered there would be none left to massacre, as it would not be given up while there was a man able to fight." Major Croghan's comrades were all young men like himself. They possessed unbounded patri- otism and nerve, and like him, they were willing to die in defense of their flag rather than to surrender to a band of savages under an inhuman white leader, who had, up to this time, violated every rule of war and civilization in the treatment of his captives. The laconic and Spartan reply of Croghan maddened Proctor, and he opened fire from his five six pounders and howitzer. This firing was kept up all night, but with little effect on the stockade. Major Croghan responded from his single gun, rapidly moving it from one point to another in firing, so as to make it appear that he was not limited to a solitary ordnance.
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
The next morning found the flag still floating over the brave band within the fort. In the night, the enemy had so arranged his guns that three sixes had been planted within two hundred and fifty yards of the fort. Again all through the day, the roaring of the British artillery was kept up. Towards the afternoon it became evident that Proctor was preparing for an attack. The objective point of his firing all day was the northwest angle of the fort. Major Croghan saw this, and with bags of sand and flour he strengthened his weakened point. He further concealed his lone gun at this assailable quarter, and loaded it heavily with slugs and grape shot. Here it rested for a terrible utterance.
Now the attack commenced. It was about five o'clock in the hot August afternoon when the two columns of British, five hundred strong, advanced toward what they believed the vulnerable portion of the stockade. While this party was marching toward the fort, another column of two hundred grenadiers started for the southern side of the stockade. This attack was feigned and was for the purpose of drawing the attention of the besieged from the real point to be assailed.
All the while, the gunners in the fort kept their single cannon trained on the storming party. Tramp, tramp came the advancing British column through the dense smoke of their artillery, which was con- stantly playing upon the fort, and it was only when they were within twenty paces of the ditch that they could be seen by the besieged. They were met by a rainfall of rifle bullets from the cool aims of Croghan's
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PLAN OF FORT STEPHENSON
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THE RISE AND PROGRE
ИОСИННЯЯТЕ ТЯОЧ НО ИАЛЯ
The ont id olttsd ont to afToget Be Hag still. floating ov
the bra vistoqmetros mort toas fergoffto motomindst, dennanen hi guns that three sixesenw be planted within two hundred and fifty yards of the for Arzin all through the day, the roaring of the Briti arbery was kept up. Towards the afternoon Tacite evident that Proctor was preparing for a MMO. The objective point of his firing all day w The worthiwest angle of the fort. Major Croghan sa thus, and with bags of sand and flour he strengthenc bw Weakened point. He further concealed his lor gun as this assailabde quarter, and loaded it heavil with slugs and grape shot. Here it rested for a temib. utterance.
Now the attack commenced. It was about fiv o'clock in the hot August afternoon when the tw columns of British, five hundred strong, advance toward what they believed the vulnerable portio of the stockade. While this party was mar hin toward the fort, another column of two hundre gwnodien started for the southern side of the stockad The attack was feigned and was for the purpose ( Wwwwe the attention of the besieged from the re polat sa be assailed.
W the while, the gunners in the fort kept the raimon trained on the storming party. Tram Omom came the advancing British column throug emoke of their artillery, which was co waonly playing upon the fort, and it was only whe thy ware within twenty paces of the ditch that the could be seen by the besieged. They were met by rainfall of nfe bullets from the cool aims of Croghan
Advance of British
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- BATTERY-
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PLAIN
PRAIRIE
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B. Bastion. from which the ditch wasrak'dby Co !. Croghan's six - nounder.
Guard block- house.
D. Hospital
F. Store-houses.
Commissary's store-house.
G. Magazine.
Ravine
K. Wicker gates.
Partition gate.
M. Mortars.
Creek
S
UPPER
Spring
RUCE
4. Outward embank ment.
A. Plock-house.
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P. Graves of Brit- ish officers.
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SANDUSKY
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Grenadiers
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
Kentuckians, and for a moment only were they thrown into confusion. But they were British regulars who had seen continental service under Wellington in the Peninsular campaigns of Spain and Portugal, and while shocked, they were not daunted. Rallied by their commander, Colonel Shortt, they leaped the ditch and started to storm the stockade. "Give the damned Yankees no quarter," cried the Colonel as he gallantly led his command.
Then the single cannon spoke with terrific effect. A shower of slugs and grape scattered death right and left, and when the smoke had risen, the commanding officer and twenty-four men were killed and twenty-six wounded.
The broken columns were formed anew by the officer who succeeded Colonel Shortt, and the new commander, exasperated at meeting such opposition from striplings, rushed to the onset with increased fury, and gallantly again Croghan's six pounder played upon them with terrible success, sending forth death and destruction as before. Repulsed, stunned and panic-stricken, the British troops, in spite of the efforts of their officers, fled to the woods for shelter. Their Indian allies followed them. Afterward, all retreated to their boats sullen and satisfied at the bravery of an enemy that was scarcely one-eighth their own number. At three o'clock in the morning of August 3, 1813, Proctor, repulsed for the second time on the soil of Ohio, sailed down the Sandusky River, leaving his military stores and his dead to the Ameri- cans.
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
In this defense, as brilliant an incident as there is recorded in the annals of American arms, Major Croghan's loss was one killed and seven wounded. The British and Indians lost one hundred and fifty in killed and wounded, more than one-third of whom were killed.
Major Croghan and his gallant command at once received the praise of the whole country. In General Harrison's official report of this affair he said: "It will not be among the least of General Proctor's mortifications to find that he has been baffled by a youth who has just passed his twenty-first year. He is, however, a hero worthy of his gallant uncle, George R. Clark." The other officers likewise were specially complimented by General Harrison. They also re- ceived the thanks of Congress. Major Croghan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was awarded a gold medal by Congress. Not the least of the honors showered upon him was that of the patriotic ladies of Chillicothe, who on August 13, presented him with an elegant sword and the following signed address:
"Sir: In consequence of the gallant defense which, under Divine Providence, was effected by you and the troops under your command, of Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky, on the evening of the 2d inst., the ladies of the town of Chillicothe, whose names are undersigned, impressed with a high sense of your merits as a soldier and a gentleman, and with great confidence in your patriotism and valor, present you with a sword.
Mary Finley
Ann Creighton
Mary Sterret Eliza Creighton
OF AN AMERICAN STATE
299
Eleanor Lamb Eliza Carlisle
Nancy Waddle
Susan D. Wheaton
Mary A. Southward Richamah Irwin Judith Delano
of Washington City Margaret McLanburg
Margaret Miller
Elizabeth Martin
Nancy McArthur
Jane McCoy
Lavina Fulton
Catharine Fullerton Susan Wake
Ann M. Dunn
Margaret Keys
Charlotte James
Esther Doolittle
Eleanor Buchanan
Margaret McFarland
Deborah Ferree
Jane M. Evans
Frances Brush
Mary Curtis
Mary P. Brown
Jane Heylin
Nancy Kerr
Catharine Hough
Eleanor Worthington
Martha Scott
Sally McLean."
To this Major Croghan responded :
"Ladies of Chillicothe :- I have received the sword which you have been pleased to present to me as a testimonial of your approbation of my conduct on the 2d instant. A mark of distinction so flattering and un- expected has excited feelings which I cannot express. Yet, while I return you thanks for the unmerited gift you have thus bestowed, I feel well aware that my good fortune (which was bought by the activity of the brave soldiers under my command) has raised in you expecta- tions from future efforts, which must, I fear, be sooner or later disappointed. Still, I pledge myself (even though fortune should not again be propitious) that
Rebecca M. Orr
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
my exertions shall be such as never to cause you in the least to regret the honors you have been pleased to confer on your 'youthful soldier.' "
The attack on Fort Stephenson, like the siege of Fort Meigs, aroused the patriotism of Ohio, and Gov- ernor Meigs again called out the entire militia of the State. At least ten thousand men were under arms ready to march. Again General Harrison ordered the dismissal of all but two regiments. This created much feeling against him, and he was criticised freely for this and also for his failure to march from Fort Seneca to the relief of Croghan. But the latter came to his commander's defense in a long letter, and public confidence was again restored.
Although the rout of Proctor by Major Croghan destroyed all prospect of British invasion of Ohio, and ended active military land service within its boundaries, Lake Erie was still in the possession of the enemy, and remained so until Perry's famous victory.
Oliver H. Perry, a young sea captain from Newport, Rhode Island, first conceived the idea of disputing the English supremacy to the inland seas. He was the son of Christopher R. Perry, a distinguished naval officer of the Revolution, and was born at South Kings- ton, Rhode Island, August 23, 1785. His training from boyhood was on the sea, and as a midshipman he cruised in the West Indies on the "Adams, " "Con- stellation," "Constitution," and "Essex." He served twice in the Tripolitan War. He was in command of the Newport flotilla of gunboats, waiting for the war of 1812, and at this time gave prolonged study to the science and art of gunnery. So that when the war
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OF AN AMERICAN STATE
broke out there was no better ordnance officer in the American Navy. It was his judgment that Lake Erie was the place where Great Britain could be struck the severest blow. He knew that if a Canadian in- vasion was ever attempted, it could be effected only after the defeat of the British naval forces upon Lake Erie. Accordingly he tendered his services to Com- modore Chauncy, and at his own request, he was ordered to Lake Erie. Within twenty-four hours he was on his way to Erie, which place he reached on March 27, 1813, after travelling chiefly in sleighs. There he found Noah Brown, shipwright and Sailing Master Dobbins awaiting the arrival of fifty ship carpenters from Philadelphia. It took these men five weeks to make this winter journey.
By almost incredible toil and hardship, from the virgin forest Perry built the little fleet that constituted the American Navy on the Lakes. By July 25, the vessels were completed and armed. On August 17, the fleet was in Sandusky Bay where General Harrison came aboard the "Lawrence, " Perry's flagship, to talk over the proposed movements. After Harrison left, Perry sailed away and put in his time looking for the enemy. He was at Put-in-Bay on the Ioth of Septem- ber, and from there he again set sail to meet the enemy.
His squadron consisted of the following vessels and number of guns: the "Lawrence," his flagship, with twenty guns; the "Niagara," with twenty guns; the "Caladonia," with three guns; the "Ariel," with four guns, one of which burst early in the action; the "Scor- pion," with two guns; the "Somers," with two guns and two swivels; the "Tigress," "Porcupine," and
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"Trip," with one gun each-making all together nine vessels with fifty-four guns and two swivels. The British fleet which, under a brave commander, Com- modore Barclay, had protected the Canadian border, and was at this time displaying anxiety to meet the new American Navy, consisted of six vessels. They - were the "Detroit," with nineteen guns, one on a pivot, and two howitzers; the "Queen Charlotte," with seventeen guns, one on a pivot, and one howitzer; the "Lady Prevost," with thirteen guns, one on a pivot, and one howitzer; the "Hunter," with ten guns; the "Little Belt," with three guns, and the "Chippewa," with one gun and two swivels-in all sixty-three guns, four howitzers and two swivels.
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