USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > History of western Ohio and Auglaize County, with illustrations and biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent public men > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
187
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
where he learned that Proctor was making preparations to attack Fort Meigs with a force of five thousand men. Later he received a dispatch from General Clay informing him of the perilous condition of the fort. Word was returned by courier that he would hasten to his relief as soon as possible, with a detach- ment of four hundred. He also cautioned General Clay to exer- cise great vigilance against surprises. The courier, Captain McCune, of Ohio, reached the fort on his return, just at the break of day, on the 25th of July. He had one companion, James Devlan, a French Canadian. In the night they lost their way, and consequently reached the fort at a later hour than they had intended.
"Just as McCune and his companion entered the cleared ground that surrounded the fort, a band of Indians caught sight of them, and came rushing upon them on horseback, with hide- ous yells. The following account has been given of their escape : 'They immediately took to the high bank with their horses, and retreated at full gallop up the river for several miles, pursued by the Indians, also mounted on horseback, until they came to a deep ravine ; putting up from the river, in a southerly direction, when they turned upon the river bottom, and continued a short distance, until they found their further progress in that direction stopped by an impassable swamp. The Indians perceiving their dilemma, from their knowledge of the country, and expecting that they would naturally follow up the ravine, galloped thither to head them off. McCune guessed their intention, and he and his companion turned back upon their own track for the fort, gaining by this maneuver several hundred yards upon their pur- suers. The Indians gave a yell of chagrin, and followed at their utmost speed. Just as they neared the fort, McCune dashed into a thicket across his course, on the opposite side of which other Indians had huddled, awaiting their prey. When this body of Indians had thought all but in their possession, again was the presence of mind of McCune signally displayed. He wheeled his horse, followed by Devlan, made his way out of the thicket, by the passage he had entered, and galloped around into the open space between them and the river, where the pursuers were checked by fire from the block-house at the western angle of the fort. In a few minutes after their arrival their horses dropped dead from fatigue. The Indians had orders to take them alive,
-
188
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
as they had not fired until just as they entered the fort; but in the chase McCune had great difficulty in persuading Devlan to reserve his fire until the last extremity, and they therefore brought in their pieces loaded.'
By some means, not known, Tecumseh had received infor- mation of General Harrison's intention to force his way through his ranks to the fort. He therefore stationed a British force of infantry in a ravine, and at a short distance from them he sta- tioned a squadron of cavalry. A large party of Indians were also posted in the forest at a short distance from the fort on both sides of the road to be traversed by the re-inforcements.
To decoy the troops from the fort, a sham battle was fought. From the hideous yells and sharp musketry it seemed to the troops in the garrison that a hotly contested battle was in prog- ress.
The deception was managed with such skill that the garri- son instantly flew to arms. The soldiers clamored to be led to battle. There was almost a revolt when General Clay refused to suffer them to march out to rescue their friends.
The arrival of McCune and the good judgment of General Clay saved the troops from destruction. The intelligence from General Harrison on the Sandusky led General Clay to judge it impossible that General Harrison with reinforcements could even have left Sandusky so soon. And he was certain that no reinforcements could come from any other quarter. Therefore, while he could not account for the firing, he did not deem it pos- sible that any friends were approaching the fort.
It was a very narrow escape for the garrison. But for the firmness of General Clay, all must have perished. It is said that during the siege, when five thousand men surrounded the little band within the fortress, General Clay and his men resolved that they would not fall into the hands of General Proctor, who would hand them over to be tomahawked, scalped, and burned at the stake by the savages.
"General Proctor, finding it impossible to draw the garri- son out from the fort, and not deeming it safe to attempt to carry it by storm, on the 28th of July embarked his troops on board his boats, and sailing down the Maumee, directed his course along the southern shore of the lake to the mouth of the Sandusky. His immense bands of Indians, under Tecumseh,
189
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
filled the woods with their parties, as they traversed the swampy wilderness which spread out between the two posts."
At this time General Harrison was at Fort Seneca, about twelve or fifteen miles up the Sandusky river, from Fort Stephen- son. Fort Stephenson was a small stockade, capable of accommo- dating about two hundred men. The defense of this stockade was under the command of Major George Croghan, a youth, twenty- one years of age. His command consisted of Captain Hunter, lieu- tenants Baylor, Johnson and Meeks; ensigns Ship and Duncan, and one hundred and sixty privates. General Harrison's force at Fort Seneca numbered one hundred and forty men. This post was selected as a convenient point from which reinforcements might be dispatched either up or down the river to protect the military supplies collected at Upper Sandusky. "On the evening of the 29th the Indians swarmed like bees in the woods, about Harrison's camp, and all along the Sandusky shore." At night he received a dispatch from General Clay stating that the enemy had raised the seige and departed down the river. A council of war was called when General Harrison propounded the question, "is Fort Stephenson tenable?" The council decided, "it was not tenable." In accordance with the decision, General Harrison sent orders to Major Croghan to abandon the fort, destroy the public property and retreat to Fort Seneca, provided the enemy were about to invest his fort with heavy cannon.
"The order was sent by a Mr. Conner and two Indians, who lost their way in the dark, and did not arrive at Fort Stephenson before II o'clock the next day. When Major Croghan received it, he was of the opinion that he could not then retreat with safety, as the Indians were hovering around the fort in consid- erable 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 fol- lowing answer:
"Sir, I have just received yours of yesterday, II o'clock A. M., ordering me to destroy this place and make good my re- treat, which was received too late to be carried into execution. 'We have determined to maintain this place, and by heavens we can.'
190
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
"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 other- wise have been consistent with propriety."
Immediately after the departure of the courier for Fort Seneca, a reconnointering party that had been sent down the river, returned and reported the near approach of the enemy. The reconnoitering party after reporting passed on their way to Fort Seneca. Three hours after the receipt of the intelligence (July 3Ist) the boats of the enemy appeared in view carrying one thousand British regulars and as many Indians. The regu- lars were commanded by General Proctor in person, and the latter by General Dixon. The Indians appeared first, on the opposite side of the river and were saluted by a shot from the six pounder, the only piece of artillery in the fort, which soon caused them to retire. Thirty minutes later the Indian forces displayed them- selves in every direction, to intercept the garrison should a retreat be attempted. The vessels anchored a mile below the fort; and Major Chambers accompanied by Dixon was dis- patched towards the fort with a flag, and was met on the part of Major Croghan by ensign Shipp of the 17th regiment. "Chambers and Dixon, besought Shipp to spare the effusion of blood -'what a pity,' said they, 'that you and Croghan, such fine young men, should be butchered by the enemy.' At this mo- ment an Indian came out of an adjoining ravine, and advancing to the ensign attempted to wrest his sword from him. Dixon interfered, and having restrained the Indian, affected great anx- iety to get him safe into the fort."
The enemy now opened fire upon the fort, from his guns on the boats and a mortar on the shore. The bombardment was continued without intermission through the night, though it produced but little effect upon the works. The fire was directed against the north-west angle of the fort, which led Major Cro- ghan to suppose that the attempt to storm the works would be made at that point. He withheld his fire as much as possible to save ammunition, and moved his gun from place to place, to lead the foe to believe that he had many pieces in the fort. In this manner the night passed away. Tecumseh with two thousand warriors lay beside the road leading to Fort Seneca, expecting a reinforcement from that post to save the garrison. He hoped
191
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
for a victory similar to the one gained over St. Clair. In this . he was disappointed, as no such force was sent. During the night the enemy landed three six pounders and a mortar, and stationed them in a grove about two hundred and forty yards from the fort.
The fort was surrounded by a dry ditch, nine feet wide, and six feet deep. Near the middle of the north line of the stockade there was a blockhouse, from which this ditch could be raked, in either direction by artillery. The cannon was placed in this blockhouse, and loaded almost to the muzzle with slugs and grape-shot.
Early in the morning of the 2d, the enemy opened fire from their battery in the woods, which was continued until four o'clock when an assault was made on the northwest angle. Two feints were made toward the southern angle, where Captain Hunter's lines were formed; and at the same time a column of three hundred and fifty men were discovered advancing through the smoke, within twenty paces of the north-western 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 porthole was now opened, and the six pounder, at the distance of thirty 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 consequence, 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
* Colonel Short, who commanded the regulars composing the for- lorn hope, was ordering his men to leap the ditch, cut down the pickets, and give the Americans no quarter, when he fell mortally wounded into the ditch, hoisted his white handkerchief on the end of his sword, and
:
192
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
dead in the ditch. 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 dark- ness 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 have been less than one hun- dred and fifty 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 de- gree of safety. Major Croghan, however, relieved them as much as possible - he contrived to convey them water over the pick- etting in buckets, and a ditch was opened under the pickets, through which those who were able and willing, were encour- aged to crawl into the fort. All who were able, preferred, of course, to follow their defeated comrades, and many others were carried from the vicinity of the fort by the Indians, par- ticularly their own killed and wounded; and in the night, about three 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 quan- tity 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 was caused by the apprehension of an attack from General Harrison, of whose position and force they had probably received an exaggerated account.
It was the intention of General Harrison, should the enemy succeed against Fort Stephenson, or should they attempt 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 discov- ered by the firing on the evening of the Ist, 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 two hundred and fifty mounted volunteers under Colonel Renick, being the advance of seven hundred who were approaching by way of
begged for that mercy which he had a moment before ordered to be denied to his enemy.
193
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
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 2nd 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 discoveries. In the night a messenger arrived at headquarters with intelligence that the enemy was 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 determined to wait no longer for the reinforcements, and immediately set out with the dragoons, with which he reached the fort early in the morning, having ordered Generals McArthur and Cass, who had arrived at Fort Seneca several days before, to follow him with all the disposable infantry at that place, and. which at this time was about seven hundred men, leaving the numerous sick, and the force necessary to maintain the position, behind. Finding that the enemy had fled entirely from the fort, so as not to be reached by him, and believing that Tecumseh was somewhere in the direction of Fort Meigs, with two thousand warriors, he immediately ordered the infantry to fall back to Fort Seneca, lest Tecumseh should make an attack on that place, or intercept the small reinforcements advancing from Ohio.
The foregoing is taken from McAfee's "History of the War in the Western Country" where it is quoted from some other source.
At the close of the defeat at Fort Stephenson Proctor made a hasty retreat back to Malden. It has already been stated that troops from all portions of Ohio, were hurrying to the San- dusky. But when they arrived there the enemy had departed. It became necessary, therefore, to discharge most of the volunteer militia, as there was nothing for them to do, and they were only consuming provisions. In the meantime active preparations were being made which should decide who should have command of the lake with all its shores. Several hundred sailors had been ordered to Lake Erie early in 1812, under the command of Lieu- tenants Perry and Elliott. They seized and captured at different times, several British vessels, and destroyed such vessels as they'
13 HA C
194
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
could not tow into our harbors. Ship carpenters had been en- gaged in the building of war vessels at Cleveland and Erie. Soon after the British defeat at Fort Stephenson, nine vessels were ready for service, carrying, in all, fifty-four guns. Twenty-five active seamen, from Fort Meigs were sent over to join Commo- dore Perry's fleet at the mouth of Sandusky river. These sail- ors had withdrawn from service on the ocean, and now joined Perry's force, contributing much to his success. While Perry lay at the mouth of the Sandusky river, General McArthur sent him one hundred and fifty marines, additional to his force. The British fleet at Malden, under Commodore Barclay, consisted of six ships, carrying sixty-three guns.
About the first of September Commodore Perry's squadron sailed from the mouth of Sandusky river, for Put-in-Bay harbor, situated about thirty miles from Malden, where the British squadron was riding at anchor. After remaining at Put-in-Bay a short time the American squadron moved across the lake, and after various maneuvers in the vicinity of Malden returned to Sandusky Bay, and two days later anchored again in Put-in- Bay to wait for the sailing of the British fleet. They did not have long to wait. On the morning of the 10th of September the British fleet was seen in the distance, under full sail. The American fleet was moved from the harbor, around Gibraltar Island and formed in line of battle. A flag was hoisted, bearing the motto, Don't give up the ship. It was greeted with repeated cheers from all the vessels.
It was the intention of the British Commodore to attack the American fleet before it could be moved from the harbor. The wind, however, was unfavorable to the execution of his design. Before 10 o'clock the American fleet had gained the open lake and was ready for battle.
The lightness of the winds prevented a rapid approach of the hostile squadrons. For two hours the crews of the con- tending vessels were subjected to an intense anxiety and suspense. It is described as being "a time of dreadful quiet."
"No noise, no bustle, prevailed to distract the mind, except at intervals the shrill piping of the boatswain's whistle, or a mur- muring whisper among the men who stood around their guns with lighted matches, narrowly watching the movements of the
195
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
foe, and sometimes stealing a glance at the countenances of their commanders."
At fifteen minutes before 12 o'clock, a bugle was sounded on the British flagship, Detroit, when a tremendous fire from the British long guns was opened on the American flagship Lawrence. The Lawrence, being armed with short guns was unable to re- spond for forty minutes. In a short time every brace and bowline of the Lawrence was shot away and the vessel became unmanage- able. In the meantime the greater part of her crew had been killed, and her guns rendered useless. For two hours the Law- rence withstood the fierce attack. The wind was so light that the other vessels could not come to her assistance. A perfect discip- line prevailed. As fast as the gunners were wounded they were taken below, their places were filled by others, and the dead were left where they fell until the close of the action. At the end of two hours the vessel was reduced to a perfect wreck. At two o'clock, Commodore Perry with the flag of the disabled vessel stepped into a small row-boat, and standing erect, was trans- ported to the Niagara. During the passage he was exposed to a continuous broadside from the enemy, but escaped unharmed. When safe on board of the Niagara, the remnant of his crew in the Lawrence gave three cheers at his success. Upon reaching the Niagara he expressed his fears to Captain Elliott that the victory was lost. Captain Elliott remarked that the wind was rising and that there were still possibilities in store. The Captain was immediately dispatched to bring up the remainder of the squadron. In a small boat the Captain proceeded down the whole line of the enemy, exposed to their incessant fire ; "yet he accom- plished the perilous task uninjured, though completely soaked with the water thrown upon him by the balls which struck around him. He brought up the gunboats, and placed them under the sterns of the heaviest vessels of the enemy, where they were able to do much execution."
"Finding the Niagara but little injured, the commander de- termined upon the bold and desperate expedient of breaking the enemy's line. He accordingly bore up and passed the head of the two ships and brig, giving them a raking fire from his starboard guns, and also a raking fire upon a large schooner and sloop from his larboard quarter at half pistol shot. Having engaged the whole squadron, he laid his ship alongside the British Commander.
196
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
The small vessels having got up within good grape and canister distance, on the other quarter, enclosed their enemy between them and the Niagara, and in this position kept up a most destructive fire on both quarters of the British until every ship struck her colors."
The victory was won. Perry with a touch of pride returned to the bloody deck of the Lawrence, and there received the sur- render. After the formalities of the surrender, he wrote his famous dispatch to General Harrison : "We have met the enemy, and they are ours - two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop."
The engagement has no parallel in modern naval warfare. It was complete. The loss on board the American squadron, in killed and wounded was one hundred and twenty-four. Of these twenty-seven were killed. The British loss in killed and wounded was two hundred, and six hundred prisoners. Six vessels, and sixty guns, were the trophies conducted to Put-in-Bay on the day following the battle.
"The slain of the crews of both squadrons were consigned to the depths of the still waters of the lake. The next day the funeral obsequies of the American and British officers who had fallen were performed at an opening on the margin of the bay, in an appropriate and affecting manner. The crews of both fleets united in the ceremony. The stillness of the weather, the proces- sion of boats, the music, the slow and regular motion of the oars, striking in exact time with the notes of the solemn dirge, the mournful waving of the flags, the sound of the minute-guns from all the ships and the wild and solitary aspect of the place gave to these funeral rites a most impressive influence, and formed an affecting contrast with the terrible struggle of the preceding day. Three British officers, Captain Finnis, and Lieutenants Garl and Stockoe - and two Americans, Lieutenant Brooks and Midship- man Lamb were interred on the northern shore of Put-in-Bay Island, facing Gibraltar Island." Four posts joined by chains mark the resting place of the heroes, at the present day.
"The fate of Barclay, the British Commander, was melan- choly indeed. He had lost an arm at Trafalgar. And now, in addition to the terrible and humiliating defeat he had encountered, he lost the other. Commodore Perry, in his official dispatch, spoke in the highest terms of respect and commiseration for his
197
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
wounded antagonist, and begged leave to grant him an immediate parole."
"Two days after the battle, two Indian chiefs, who had been selected for their skill as marksmen, and stationed in the tops of the Detroit for the purpose of picking off the American officers, were discovered snugly stowed away in the hold of the Detroit. These savages, who had been accustomed to ships of no greater magnitude than what they could sling on their backs, when the action became warm were so panic stricken at the terrors of the scene and the strange perils that surrounded them, that, looking at each other with amazement, they vociferated their significant 'quonh,' and precipitately descended to the hold. In their British uniforms hanging in bags upon their famished bodies, they were brought before Commodore Perry, fed, and discharged, no further parole being necessary to prevent their afterwards engaging in the contest."
The roar of the cannonading was distinctly heard at Malden. An allied force of British and Indians, amounting to five thou- sand five hundred men, was at the fort anxiously awaiting the result. The defeat of the British squadron would render it neces- sary for them immediately to vacate their works. General Proc- tor tried, for a time; to conceal the disaster from the Indians. But the eagle eye of Tecumseh immediately detected the indica- tions of a retreat. Demanding an interview with General Proc- tof, for whom he had but little respect, he thus addressed him :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.