History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 17

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 17

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By command, &c.,

A. H. HOLMES, Assistant Adjutant-General. LOWER SANDUSKY, 3d August, 1813. GENERAL HARRISON.

DEAR SIR :- The enemy made an attempt to storm us last evening, but was repulsed with the loss of at least two hundred killed, wounded, and prisoners.

One lieutenant-colonel, * a major, and a lieutenant, with about forty privates, are dead in our ditch. ] have lost but one in killed and but few wounded.

Further statements will be made you by the bearer.

GEORGE CROGHAN, Major Commanding Fort Sandusky.

P. S .- Since writing the above, two soldiers of the Forty-first regiment have gotten in, who state that the enemy have retreated-in fact, one of their gunboats is within three hundred yards of our works, said to be loaded with camp equipage, etc., which they in their hurry have left.

GEORGE CROGHAN.

A true copy.

JOHN O'FALLOW, Aid-de-Camp.

HEADQUARTERS, SENECA TOWN, { 4th August, 1813.

SIR :- In my letter of the first instant I did my- self the honor to inform you that one of my scouting parties had just returned from the Lake Shore and had discovered, the day before, the enemy in force near the mouth of the Sandusky Bay. The party had not passed Lower Sandusky two hours before the advance, consisting of Indians, appeared before the fort, and in half an hour after a large detach ment of British troops; and in the course of the night commenced a cannonading against the fort

*(Lieutenant-Colonel Short.)

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

with three six-pounders and two howitzers, the lat- ter from gun-boats. The firing was partially an- swered by Major Croghan, having a six-pounder, the only piece of artillery.

The fire of the enemy was continued at intervals during the second instant, until about half after five P. M., when finding that their cannons made little impression upon the works, and having discovered my position here and apprehending an attack, an at- tempt was made to carry the place by storm. Then troops were formed in two columns. Lieutenant- Colonel Short headed the principal one, composed of the light and battalion companies of the Forty-first regiment. This gallant officer conducted his men to the brink of the ditch, under the most galling and de- structive fire from the garrison, and leaping into it was followed by a considerable part of his own and the light company. At this moment a masked port- hole was suddenly opened and a six-pounder, with an half load of powder and a double charge of leaden slugs, at the distance of thirty feet, poured destruction upon them and killed or wounded nearly every man who had entered the ditch. In vain did the British officers exert themselves to lead on the balance of the column; it retired in disorder under a shower of shot from the fort, and sought safety in the adjoining woods. The other column, headed by the grenadiers, had also retired, after having suffered from the muskets of our men, to an adjacent ravine. In the course of the night the enemy, with the aid of their Indians, drew off the greater part of the wounded and dead, and embarking them in boats, descended the river with the utmost precipitation. In the course of the 2d instant, having heard the cannonading, I made several attempts to ascertain the force and situation of the enemy. Our scouts were unable to get near the fort from the Indians which surrounded it. Finding, however, that the enemy had only light artillery, and being well con- vinced that it could make little impression upon the works, and that any attempt to storm it would be re- sisted with effect, I waited for the arrival of two hun- dred and fifty mounted volunteers, which on the evening before had left Upper Sandusky. But as soon as I was informed that the enemy were retreat- ing, I set out with the dragoons to endeavor to over- take them, leaving Generals McArthur and Cass to follow with all the infantry (about seven hundeed) that could be spared from the protection of the stores and sick at this place. I found it impossible to come up with them. Upon my arrival at Sandusky I was informed by the prisoners that the enemy's forces consisted of four hundred and ninety regular troops, and five hundred of Dixon's Indians, commanded by General Proctor in person, and that Tecumseh, with about two thousand warriors, was somewhere in the swamps between this and Fort Meigs, expecting my advance or that of a convoy of provisions. As there was no prospect of doing anything in front, and be-

ing apprehensive that Tecumseh might destroy the stores and small detachments in my rear, I sent orders to General Cass, who commanded the re- serve, to fall back to this place, and to General Mc- Arthur, with the front line, to follow and support him.

I remained at Sandusky until the parties that were sent out in every direction, returned-not an enemy was to be seen.

I am sorry that I cannot transmit you Major Crogh- an's official report. He was to have sent it to me this morning, but I have just heard that he was so much exhausted by thirty-six hours of continued exertion as to be unable to make it. It will not be amongst 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, General G. R. Clarke, and I bless my good fortune in having first introduced this promising shoot of a distingushed family to the notice of the Government.

Captain Hunter, of the Seventeenth regiment, the second in command, conducted himself with great propriety, and never were a set of finer young fel- lows 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 sur- render 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 con- trol, 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 ('roghan, 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 him- self 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 Command- ant, 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 op- posite 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, ascend- ing 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 six-pounders and five-and- a-half-inch howitzers.

General Proctor left Malden with the determina- tion 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, a 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 at- tack of his immense hordes of savages. Having waited several days for the latter, and practising in- effectually several stratagems to accomplish the former, provisions began to be scarce, and the Ind- ians 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, re- mained 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 2nd 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 under- gone 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 six-pounder 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 Crogh- an'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 honorto 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 hun- dred Indians, under the immediate command of Gen- eral 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 surren- der of the fort, as he was anxious to spare the effu- sion 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 sum- mons 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 gun-boats 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 confi- dent that his object was to make a breach, and at- tempt 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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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

effectually secured by means of bags of flour, sand, etc., that the picketing suffered little or no injury, notwithstanding which the enemy, about five hun- dred, having formed in close column, advanced to as- sault our works at the expected point, at the same time making two feints on the front of Captain Hun- ter's lines. The column which advanced against the northwestern angle, consisting of about three hun- dred 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 six-pounder (which had been previously arranged so as to rake in that direc- tion,) which, together with the musketry, threw them into such confusion that they were compelled to retire precipitately to the woods. During the as- sault, which lasted about half an hour, an incessant fire was kept up by the enemy's artillery (which con- sisted 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 hun- dred and fifty. One lieutenant-colonel, a lieuten- ant, and fifty rank and file were found in and about the ditch, dead or wounded. Those of the remain- der who were not able to escape, were taken off dur- ing 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 offi- cers, non-commissioned 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 pub- ic prints such misrepresentations respecting my re- fusal to evacuate this post, as are calculated not only o injure me in the estimation of military men, but also to excite unfavorable impressions as to the pro- priety of General Harrison's conduct relative to this affair.

His character as a military man is too well estab- lished 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 propri- ety. The measures recently adopted by him, so far from deserving censure, are the clearest proofs 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 fol- lowing detail, which is given in explanation of my conduct:

About 10 o'clock on the morning of the 30th ulti- mo, 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 re- ception of this order of the General I called a council of officers, in which it was determined not to aban- don 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 hazard- ous 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 cal- culated 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 ex- ecute his order. This letter, contrary to my expec- tations, was received by the General, who, not know- ing what reasons urged me to write in a tone so de- cisive, concluded, very rationally, that the manner of it was demonstrative of the most positive determina- tion to disobey his order under any circumstances. I was therefore suspended from the command of the fort, and ordered to headquarters. But on explain- ing 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 hesita- tion. Its not reaching me in time was the only rea- son 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 represen- tations of my ability to maintain the post, the Gen- eral 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 reconnoitred the sur- rounding ground, and being informed that the hill on the opposite side of Sandusky completely com- manded 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 ap- peared 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 neighbor- hood, 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 be- stowed 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 ac- rimonious dislikes; and as long as he continues (as in my humble opinion he has hitherto done, ) to make the wisest arrangements and most judicious disposi- tion which the forces under his command will justify, I shall not hesitate to unite with the army in be- stowing 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 pub- licly 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 con- fidence 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 niora causes which accompany and give energy to public opinion. A very erroneous idea respecting the num- ber of the troops then at the disposal of the General, has doubtless been the primary cause of those unfor- tunate 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 ex- perienced 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 cor- rect 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 dicta- ted 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 in- tervened, 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 ap- probation 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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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

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 Harri- son, and to Governor Shelby, and through them to the officers and men under their command, for their gallantry and good conduct in defeating the com- bined 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, emblem- atical 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 Ist 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.

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History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 17

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040