History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 17

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Captain Hunter, of the Seventeenth regiment, the second in command, conducted himself with great propriety, and never were a set of finer young fellows than the subalterns, viz: Lieutenants Johnson and Baylor, of the Seventeenth, Anthony, of the Twenty- fourth, Meeks, of the Seventh, and Ensigns Shipp and Duncan, of the Seventeenth.

The following account of the unworthy artifice and conduct of the enemy will excite your indignation. Major Chambers was sent by General Proctor, ac- companied by Colonel Elliott, to demand the surrender of the fort. They were met by Ensign Shipp. The Major observed that General Proctor had a number of cannon, a large body of regular troops, and so many Indians whom it was impossible to control, and if the fort was taken, as it must be, the whole of the garrison would be massacred. Mr. Shipp answered that it was the determination of Major Croghan, his officers and men, to defend the garrison, or be buried in it, and that they might do their best. Colonel Elliott then addressed Mr. Shipp, and said. "You are a fine young man; I pity your situation; for God sake, surrender and prevent the dreadful slaughter that must follow resistance." Shipp turned from him with indignation, and was immediately taken hold of by an Indian, who attempted to wrest his sword from him. Elliott pretended to exert himself to release him, and expressed great anxiety to get him safe in the fort.

In a former letter I informed you, sir, that the post of Lower Sandusky could not be defended against heavy cannon, and that I had ordered the Commandant, if he could safely retire upon the advance of the enemy, to do so after having destroyed the fort, as there was nothing in it that could justify the risk of defending it, commanded as it is, by a hill on the opposite side of the river, within range of cannon, and having on that side old and illy constructed block

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houses and dry, friable pickets. The enemy, ascending the bay and river with a fine breeze, gave Major Croghan so little notice of their approach that he could not execute the order for retreating. Luckily they had no artillery but sixpounders and five-and-a-half-inch howitzers.

General Proctor left Malden with the determination of storming Fort Meigs. His immense body of troops were divided into three commands, (and must have amounted to at least five thousand); Dixon commanded the Mackinaw and other Northern tribes; Tecumseh, those of the Wabash, Illinois and St. Joseph; and Round Head, Wyandot chief, the warriors of his own nation, and those of the Ottawas, Chippewas and Pottawatomies of the Michigan Territory. Upon seeing the formidable preparations to receive them at Fort Meigs, the idea of storming was abandoned, and the plan adopted of decoying the garrison out, or inducing me to come to its relief with a force inadequate to repel the attack of his immense hordes of savages. Having waited several days for the latter, and practicing ineffectually several stratagems to accomplish the former, provisions began to be scarce, and the Indians to be dissatisfied. The attack upon Sandusky was the dernier resort. The greater part of the Indians refused to accompany him, and returned to the River Raisin. Tecumseh, with his command, remained in the neighborhood of Fort Meigs, sending parties to all the posts upon Hull's road, and those upon the Auglaize to search for cattle. Five hundred of the Northern Indians, under Dixon, attended Proctor. I have sent a party to the lake to ascertain the direction that the enemy have taken. The scouts which have returned, saw no signs of Indians later than those made in the night of the and inst., and a party has just arrived from Fort Meigs, who make the same report. I think it probable that they have all gone off. If so, this mighty armament, from which so much was expected by the enemy, will return covered with disgrace and mortification. As Captain Perry was nearly ready to sail from Erie when I last heard from him, I hope that the period will soon arrive when we shall transfer the laboring oar of the enemy, and oblige him to encounter some of the labors and difficulties which we had undergone in waging a defensive warfare and protecting our extensive frontier against a superior force. I have the honor to enclose you a copy of the first note received from Major Croghan. It was written before day. He was mistaken as to the number of the enemy that remained in the ditch; they amounted to one lieutenant-colonel (by brevet), one lieutenant and twenty-five privates; the number of prisoners to one sergeant and twenty-five privates, fourteen of them badly wounded. Every care has been taken of the latter, and the officers buried with the honors due to their rank and their bravery. All the dead that were not in the ditch, were taken off in the night by the

Indians. It is impossible from the circumstances of the attack that they should have lost less than one hundred; some of the prisoners think that it amounted to two hundred. A young gentleman, a private in the Petersburg volunteers, of the name of Brown, assisted by five or six of that company and the Pittsburgh Blues, who were accidentally in the fort, managed the sixpounder which produced such destruction in the ranks of the enemy. I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir,

Your obedient servant,

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

N. B. Of our few wounded men there is but one that will not be well in less than six days.

HEADQUARTERS, SENECA TOWN, 5th August, 1813, 6 o'clock A. M.

SIR: I have the honor to enclose you Major Croghan's report of the attack upon his post, which has this moment come to hand. Fortunately the mail has not closed.

With great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, Your humble servant,

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

P. S. - The new ship was launched at Malden on the 17th ult. I have apprised Commodore Perry of it. Hon. General Armstrong,

Secretary of War.

LOWER SANDUSKY, August 5, 1813. DEAR SIR :- I have the honor to inform you that the combined force of the enemy, amounting to at least five hundred regulars and seven or eight hundred Indians, under the immediate command of General Proctor, made its appearance before this place early on Sunday evening last; and so soon as the General had made such disposition of his troops as would cut off my retreat, should I be disposed to make one, he sent Colonel Elliott, accompanied by Major Chambers, with a flag, to demand the surrender of the fort, as he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood, which he should probably not have in his power to do, should he be reduced to the necessity of taking the place by storm. My answer to the summons was, that I was determined to defend the place to the last extremity, and that no force, however large, should induce me to surrender it. So soon as the flag was returned a brisk fire was opened upon us from the gunboats in the river, and from a five-and-one-half inch howitzer on shore, which was kept up with little intermission throughout the night. At an early hour the next morning, three sixes (which had been placed during the night within two hundred and fifty yards of the pickets,) began to play upon us, but with little effect. About 4 o'clock P.M., discovering that the fire from all his guns was concentrated against the northwestern angle of the fort, I became confident that his object was to make a breach, and attempt to storm the works at that point. I therefore ordered out as many men as could be employed, for the purpose of strengthening that part, which was so

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effectually secured by means of bags of flour, sand, etc., that the picketing suffered little or no injury, notwithstanding which the enemy, about five hundred, having formed in close column, advanced to assault our works at the expected point, at the same time making two feints on the front of Captain Hunter's lines. The column which advanced against the northwestern angle, consisting of about three hundred and fifty men, was so completely enveloped in smoke as not to be discovered until it had approached within fifteen or twenty paces of the lines, but the men being all at their posts and ready to receive it, commenced so heavy and galling a fire as to throw the columns into a little confusion. Being quickly rallied, it advanced to the centre works and began to leap into the ditch. Just at that moment a fire of grape was opened from our sixpounder (which had been previously arranged so as to rake in that direction,) which, together with the musketry, threw them into such confusion that they were compelled to retire precipitately to the woods. During the assault, which lasted about half an hour, an incessant fire was kept up by the enemy's artillery (which consisted of five sixes and a howitzer), but without effect. My whole loss during the siege was one killed and seven wounded, slightly. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded and prisoners, must exceed one hundred and fifty. One lieutenant-colonel, a lieutenant, and fifty rank and file were found in and about the ditch, dead or wounded. Those of the remainder who were not able to escape, were taken off during the night by the Indians. Seventy stand of arms and several brace of pistols have been collected near the works. About three in the morning the enemy sailed down the river, leaving behind them a boat containing clothing and considerable military stores.

Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates under my command for their gallantry and good conduct during the siege.

Yours with respect,

[Signed.] G. CROGHAN,

Major Seventeenth United States Infantry, Com- manding Lower Sandusky.

Major General Harrison, Commanding Northwestern Army.

LOWER SANDUSKY, August 27, 1813.

I have, with much regret, seen in some of the public prints such misrepresentations respecting my refusal to evacuate this post, as are calculated not only to injure me in the estimation of military men, but also to excite unfavorable impressions as to the propriety of General Harrison's conduct relative to this affair.

His character as a military man is too well established to need my approbation or support, but his public services entitle him at least to common justice. This affair does not furnish cause of reproach. If

public opinion has been lately misled respecting his late conduct, it will require but a moment's cool, dis- passionate reflection, to convince them of its propriety. The measures recently adopted by him, so far from deserving censure, are the clearest plods of his keen penetration and able generalship. It is true that I did not proceed immediately to execute his order to evacuate this post, but this disobedience was not, as some would wish to believe, the result of a fixed determination to maintain the post contrary to his most positive orders, as will appear from the following detail, which is given in explanation of my conduct:

About 10 o'clock on the morning of the 30th ultimo, a letter from the Adjutant-General's office, dated Seneca Town, July 29, 1813, was handed me by Mr. Connor, ordering me to abandon this post, burn it, and retreat that night to headquarters. On the reception of this order of the General I called a council of officers, in which it was determined not to abandon the place, at least until the further pleasure of the General should be known, as it was thought an attempt to retreat in the open day, in the face of a superior force of the enemy, would be more hazardous than to remain in the fort, under all its disad- vantages. I therefore wrote a letter to the General Council in such terms as I thought were calculated to deceive the enemy, should it fall into his hands, which I thought more than probable as well as to inform the General, should it be so fortunate as to reach him, that I would wait to hear from him before I should proceed to execute his order. This letter, contrary to my expec- tations, was received by the General, who, not knowing what reasons urged me to write in a tone. so decisive, concluded, very rationally, that the manner of it was demonstrative of the most positive determination to disobey his order under any circumstances. I was therefore suspended from the command of the fort, and ordered to headquarters. But on explaining to the General my reason for not executing his orders, and my object in using the style I had done, he was so perfectly satisfied with the explanation that I was immediately reinstated in the command.

It will be recollected that the order above alluded to was written on the night previous to my receiving it. Had it been delivered to me, as was intended, that night, I should have obeyed it without hesitation. Its not reaching me in time was the only reason which induced me to consult my officers on the propriety of waiting the General's further orders.

It has been stated, also, that "upon my representations of my ability to maintain the post, the General altered his determination to abandon it." This is incorrect. No such representation was ever made. And the last order I received from the General was precisely the same as that first given, viz: That if I discovered the approach of a large British force by water (presuming that they would bring heavy

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artillery), time enough to effect a retreat, I was to do so; but if I could not effect a retreat with safety, to defend the post to the last extremity."

A day or two before the enemy appeared before Fort Meigs, the General had reconnoitered the surrounding ground, and being informed that the hill on the opposite side of Sandusky completely commanded the fort, I offered to undertake, with the troops under my command, to remove it to that side. The General, upon reflection, thought it best not to attempt it, as he believed that if the enemy again appeared on this side of the lake it would be before the work could be finished.

It is useless to disguise the fact that this fort is commanded by the points of high ground around it; a single stroke of the eye made this clear to me the first time I had occasion to examine the neighborhood, with a view of discovering the relative strength and weakness of the place.

It would be insincere to say that I am not flattered by the many handsome things which have been said about the defence that was made by the troops under my command; but I desire no plaudits which are bestowed upon me at the expense of General Harrison.

I have at all times enjoyed his confidence so far as my rank in the army entitled me to it, and on proper occasions received his marked attention. I have felt the warmest attachment for him as a man, and my confidence in him as an able commander remains unshaken. I feel every assurance that he will at all times do me ample justice; and nothing could give me more pain than to see his enemies seize upon this occasion to deal out their unfriendly feelings and acrimonious dislikes; and as long as he continues (as in my humble opinion he has hitherto done,) to make the wisest arrangements and most judicious disposition which the forces under his command will justify, I shall not hesitate to unite with the army in bestowing upon him that confidence which he so richly merits, and which has on no occasion been withheld.

Your friend, GEORGE CROGHAN, Major 17th Infantry, Commanding Lower Sandusky.

LOWER SENECA TOWN, August 29, 1813. The undersigned, being the general, field and staff officers, with that portion of the Northwestern Army under the immediate command of General Harrison, have' observed with regret and surprise that charges, as, improper in the form as in the substance, have been made against the conduct of General Harrison during the recent investment of Lower Sandusky. At another time, and under ordinary circumstances, we should deem it improper and unmilitary thus publicly to give an opinion respecting the movements of the army. . But public confidence in the commanding general is essential to the success of the campaign, and causelessly to withdraw or to withhold that confidence is more than individual injustice; it becomes a serious injury to the service. A part of the force of which the American Army consists will derive its

greatest strength and efficiency from a confidence in the commanding general, and from those moral causes which accompany and give energy to public opinion. A very erroneous idea respecting the number of the troops then at the disposal of the General, has doubtless been the primary cause of those unfortunate and unfounded impressions. A sense of duty forbids us from giving a detailed view of our strength at that time. In that respect we have fortunately experienced a very favorable change. But we refer the public to the General's official report to the Secretary of War, of Major Croghan's successful defence of Lower Sandusky. In that will be found a statement of our whole disposable force; and he who believes that, with such a force, and under the circumstances which then occurred, General Harrison ought to have advanced upon the enemy, must be left to correct his opinion in the school of experience.

On a review of the course then adopted, we are de- cidedly of the opinion that it was such as was dictated by military wisdom, and by a due regard to our own circumstances and to the situation of the enemy. The reasons for this opinion it is evidently improper now to give, but we hold ourselves ready at a future period, and when other circumstances shall have intervened, to satisfy every man of its correctness who is anxious to investigate and willing to receive the truth. And, with ready acquiescence beyond the mere claims of military duty, we are prepared to obey a general whose measures meet our most deliberate approbation and merit that of his country.

LEWIS CASS, Brigadier General, U. S. A. SAMUEL WELLS, Colonel Seventeenth R. U. S. I. THOMAS D. OWINGS, Colonel Twenty-eighth R. U. S. I. GEORGE PAUL, Colonel Seventeenth R. U. S. I. J. C. BARTLETT, Colonel, Quartermaster-General. JAMES V. BALL, Lieutenant Colonel. ROBERT MORRISON, Lieutenant Colonel. GEORGE TODD, Major Nineteenth R. U. S. I. WILLIAM TRIGG, Major Twenty-eighth R. U. S. I. JAMES SMILEY, Major Twenty-eighth R. U. S. I. R. GRAHAM, Major Seventh R. U. S. I. GEORGE CROGHAN, Major Seventeenth R. U. S. I. L. HUKILL, Major and Assistant Inspector General. E. D. WOOD,

Major Engineers.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 8th February, 1815.

THE REWARD OF VALOR.

Mr. Troup, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported the following resolutions, the adoption of which is recommended by the said committee, viz: Resolved,

(2) Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby presented to Major-General Harrison, and to Governor Shelby, and through them to the officers and men under their command, for their gallantry and good conduct in defeating the combined British and Indian forces under Major-General Proctor, on the Thames, in Upper Canada, the 5th of October, 1813, capturing the entire British army, with their baggage, camp equipage, and artillery, and that the President of the United States be requested to cause gold medals to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to General Harrison and Governor Shelby.

(3) Resolved,

(4) Resolved, That Congress entertain a high sense of the merit of Colonel Croghan, and the officers and men under his command, for the gallant defence of Fort Stephenson, on the Lower Sandusky, on the 1st and 2d of August, 1813, repelling with great slaughter the assault of a British and Indian army much superior in number; and that the President be requested to present an elegant sword to Colonel Croghan.

(5) Resolved,

(6) Resolved,

(7) Resolved,

(8) Resolved,

The resolutions were twice read, and referred to a committee of the whole.

Hon. George M. Troup, of Georgia, reported the above resolutions.

[See Annals of Congress, Thirteenth Congress, Volume III.]

No action was taken on the resolutions.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, January 21, 1835. GOLD MEDAL TO COLONEL CROGHAN.

The joint resolution to present a gold medal to Colonel Croghan, for his gallantry in the defence of Fort Stephenson, was taken up and considered as in committee of the whole.

Mr. Bibb observed that the brave and noble defence of this fort had been the cause of saving all the Western country from the hostile and destructive incursion of the British and Indians. To Colonel Croghan's valiant defence of Fort Stephenson, this and other advantages equally great and beneficial were owing. As a reward for the gallant and dauntless spirit exhibited by our brave soldiers in time of imminent danger, he hoped this bill would pass. It should be borne in mind that Colonel Croghan

might, without any dishonor, have preferred a course safer, indeed, to himself, but disastrous to his country, by not persevering in a defence which appeared so difficult, nay, so impossible; that to have abandoned the fort, to have left the West open to the enemy, would have been deemed a necessary, a prudent, and not a pusillanimous proceeding; yet, in the face of every obstacle, under the

weight of every

discouragement, he, with a handful of brave men, presented a bold and undaunted front to the enemy, arrested them on the threshold of the West, and saved Ohio and the adjoining States from invasion, from desolation, from plunder, and from bloodshed. For such a noble and deserving exploit, for such an eminent service, this bill provided a just, but a moderate compensation. As far as regarded the value given, the bill was not of any great importance; but, sir, said Mr. B. with great animation, as a tribute to deeds of noble daring, as a reward of services performed at the peril of life, as an encouragement for soldiers who bared their bosoms in defence of their country, and offered them as a shield to the defenceless homes of their fellow- citizens, in this point of view the provision is of the first importance. He hoped, therefore, that no difficulties would be offered to the bill; it had already undergone the closest examination, and the report of the committee establishing the goodness and propriety of the bill was full and satisfactory.

Mr. Hill wished to know whether all the officers were included in the bill.

Mr. Bibb replied that they were all, with one single exception, in the case of an individual, whose name he should not mention, but who, he regretted to say, had not performed his duty on that memorable occasion.

Mr. Preston suggested the insertion of the words "heirs and representatives," by which the benefit of the bill might be extended to the children, in case of the decease of the original grantees, which was acceded to; and the bill, as amended, was read a second time.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, January 27th, 1835.

GOLD MEDAL, ETC., TO COLONEL CROGHAN.

Mr. Speight, from the Committee on Military Af- fairs, reported a joint resolution, which had been referred to that committee, with an amendment, authorizing the President to present a gold medal to Colonel Croghan, and swords to several officers under his command, for their gallant conduct in the defence of Fort Stephenson, during the late war.

Mr. Speight said, as he believed that no opposition would be offered to the resolution, he would move its third reading.

Mr. Parker, of New Jersey, said he had no doubt as to the gallantry of these officers; not the least; but if they conferred these distinctions in the present case, why not in others, it would be asked,

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which occurred during the last war? It was his im- pression also that some acknowledgment had been already made to these officers.

Mr. Mercer said such was not the case. Mr. Mercer briefly explained the nature and importance of the services rendered by these officers.

The joint resolution, as amended, was read a third time, and passed.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,

February 3, 1835.

The amendments of the House to the bill making an appropriation for presenting a gold medal to Colonel George Croghan, and swords to the officers who served under him at the defence of Fort Sandusky, during the late war, were concurred in; and a further verbal amendment having been made, on motion of Mr. Preston, the bill was sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

This debate was participated in by Senator George M. Bibb, of Kentucky; Senator Isaac Hill, of New Hampshire, and Senator William C. Preston, of South Carolina, in the Senate; and by Honorable Jesse Speight, of North Carolina; Honorable James Parker, of New Jersey, and Honorable Charles F. Mer- cer, of Virginia, in the House of Representatives.

[See Congressional. Debates, Vol. XI. Part I.]

RESOLUTIONS, TWENTY-THIRD CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION.

No. 2A-RESOLUTION PRESENTING A GOLD MEDAL TO GEORGE CROGHAN, AND A SWORD TO EACH OF THE OFFICERS UNDER HIS COM- MAND, FOR THEIR GALLANTRY AND GOOD CONDUCT IN THE DEFENCE OF FORT STEPHENSON, IN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 17

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