56 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
emphasized by the hundreds of Japanese lanterns strung along either bank and in sweeping festooons across the big Lake Erie bridge. Near the bridge, and extending across the river, were seven of the largest boats in the river, bearing huge electric transparencies upon which appeared six-foot letters spelling the name Croghan, which was also seen in a set piece. The hit of the evening was the reproduction of Fort Stephen- |
|
|
The fireworks, in charge of Chief Reiff, of the fire department, were magnificent and no accidents occurred. Especial praise is due Charles Hermon, the lamplighter, who superintended the illuminations. Commo- dore Coonrod's fleet as managed by Charles Grable, was a thing of beauty. The display occupied three hours and general satisfaction on the part of all was evident in their attention.
HARRISON'S NORTHWESTERN CAMPAIGN. The best description extant of General Harrison's Northwestern Campaign is that contained in "A History of the Late War in the Western Country," by Robert B. McAfee, Lexington, Ky., 1816, a rare and valuable volume. Major McAfee was himself an officer in that campaign, serving as a captain in the regiment of mounted riflemen commanded by Col. Richard M. Johnson. In his Preface he acknowledges his indebtedness to Gen. Harrison, Governor Shelby, Colonels Croghan and Tod and Colonel Wood of the Engineers for official correspondence and assistance in procuring material and formation. The chapter relating to the Tippecanoe campaign in 1811 contains the following references to some of the Kentucky Vol- unteers: "Colonel Keiger, who raised a small company of 79 men near Louisville, including among them Messrs. Croghan, O'Fallen, Shipp, Chum and Edwards, who afterward distinguished themselves as officers in the army of the United States." |
The Croghan Celebration. 57
Governor Shelby in his letters to the
War Department speaks
highly of Colonel Boyd and his brigade
and of Clark and Croghan who
were his aides.
Of the above, Croghan and Shipp fought
together at the defense
of Fort Stephenson. Shipp was the
officer sent by Croghan to meet the
flag of truce sent by General Proctor
when the formal demand for the
surrender of Fort Stephenson was made.
O'Fallen was a cousin of
Croghan and during the campaign was
aide-de-camp to General Harrison.
We copy from McAfee his account of the
defense of Fort Stephenson
and of Harrison's expedition to Canada
and the victorious battle at the
Thames. Also Colonel Croghan's
subsequent campaign against the British
at Mackinac in the joint army and naval
expedition under the command
of Commodore Sinclair.
"General Harrison had returned from
Cleveland to Lower Sandusky
(July, 1813) several days before the
arrival of the enemy, and received
at that place from the express the
information that Camp Meigs was
again invested. He then immediately
removed his headquarters to Seneca
town, about nine miles up the Sandusky
river, where he constructed a
fortified camp, having left Major
Croghan with 160 regulars in Fort
Stephenson and taken with him to Seneca
about 140 more, under the
immediate command of Colonel Wells. A
few days afterward he was
reinforced by the arrival of 300
regulars under Colonel Paul, and Colonel
Ball's corps of 150 dragoons, which made
his whole force at that place
upwards of 600 strong. He was soon
joined also by Generals McArthur
and Cass; and Colonel Owings with a
regiment of 500 regulars from Ken-
tucky, was also advancing to the
frontiers; but he did not arrive at head-
quarters before the siege of Fort Meigs
had been abandoned by the
enemy. * * *
The force which Proctor and Tecumseh
brought against us in this
instance has been ascertained to have
been about 5,000 strong. A greater
number of Indians were collected by them
for this expedition than ever
were assembled in one body on any other
occasion during the whole war.
Having raised the siege of Camp Meigs,
the British sailed round
into Sandusky bay, whilst a competent
number of their savage allies
marched across through the swamps of
Portage River, to co-operate in
a combined attack at Lower Sandusky,
expecting no doubt that General
Harrison's attention would be chiefly
directed to forts Winchester and
Meigs. The General however had
calculated on their taking this course,
and had been careful to keep patrols
down the bay, opposite the mouth
of Portage River, where he supposed
their forces would debark.
Several days before the British had
invested Fort Meigs, General
Harrison, with Major Croghan and some
other officers, had examined the
heights which surround Fort Stephenson;
and as the hill on the opposite
or southeast side of the river, was
found to be the most commanding
eminence, the General had some thoughts
of removing the fort to that
place, and Major Croghan declared his
readiness to undertake the work.
58 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
But the General did not authorize him to
do it, as he believed that if
the enemy intended to invade our
territory again, they would do it be-
fore the removal could be completed. It
was then finally concluded, that
the fort which was calculated for a
garrison of only two hundred men,
could not be defended against the heavy
artillery of the enemy; and that
if the British should approach it by water,
which would cause a pre-
sumption that they had brought their
heavy artillery, the fort must be
abandoned and burned, provided a retreat
could be effected with safety.
In the orders left with Major Croghan it
was stated,-"Should the
British troops approach you in force
with cannon, and you can dis-
cover them in time to effect a retreat,
you will do so immediately, destroy-
ing all the public stores. * * * You
must be aware that the attempt
to retreat in the face of an Indian
force would be vain. Against such
an enemy your garrison would be safe,
however great the number."
On the evening of the 29th, Gen.
Harrison received intelligence by
express from Gen. Clay, that the enemy
had abandoned the siege of Fort
Meigs; and as the Indians on that day
had swarmed in the woods round
his camp, he entertained no doubt but an
immediate attack was intended
either on Sandusky or Seneca. He
therefore immediately called a council
of war, consisting of McArthur, Cass,
Ball, Paul, Wood, Hukill, Holmes
and Graham, who were unanimously of the
opinion that Fort Stephen-
son was untenable against heavy
artillery, and that as the enemy could
bring with facility any quantity of
battering cannon against it, by which
it must inevitably fall, and as it was
an unimportant post, containing
nothing the loss of which would be felt
by us, that the garrison should
therefore not be reinforced but
withdrawn and the place destroyed. In
pursuance of this decision the General
immediately despatched the fol-
lowing order to Major Croghan:
"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."
This order was sent by Mr. Conner and
two Indians, who lost
their way in the dark and did not arrive
at Fort Stephenson before 11
o'clock the next day. When Major Croghan
received it, he could not
then retreat with safety, as the Indians
were hovering round the fort
in considerable 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 until
further instructions could be received
from headquarters. The major
therefore immediately returned the
following answer:
"Sir, I have received yours of
yesterday, 10 o'clock P. M., ordering
me to destroy this place and make good
my retreat, which was received
The Croghan Celebration. 59
too late to be carried into execution.
We have determined to maintain
this place and by heavens we can."
In writing this note Major Croghan had a
view to the probability
of its falling into the hands of the
enemy, and on that account made
use of a stronger language than would
otherwise have been consistent
with propriety. It reached the General
on the same day, who did not
fully understand the circumstances and
motives under which it had been
dictated. The following order was
therefore immediately prepared, and
sent with Colonel Wells in the morning,
escorted by Colonel Ball with
his corps of dragoons.
"July 30, 1813.
"Sir. The General has received your
letter of this date, informing
him that you had thought proper to
disobey the order issued from this
office, and delivered to you this
morning. It appears that the informa-
tion which dictated the order was
incorrect; and as you did not receive
it in the night as was expected, it
might have been proper that you should
have reported the circumstance and your
situation, before you proceeded
to its execution. This might have been
passed over, but I am directed
to say to you, that an officer who presumes
to aver that he has made
his resolution and that he will act in
direct opposition to the orders
of his General can no longer be
entrusted with a separate command.
Colonel Wells is sent to relieve you.
You will deliver the command to
him and repair with Col. Ball's squadron
to this place. By command
etc.; A. H. Holmes, Asst. Adj.
General."
The squadron of dragoons on this trip
met with a party of Indians
near Lower Sandusky and killed 11 out of
12. The Indians had formed
an ambush and fired on the advance guard
consisting of a sergeant and
five privates. Upon seeing the squadron
approach they fled, but were
pursued and soon overtaken by the front
squad of Captain Hopkins's
troop. The greater part of them were cut
down by Colonel Ball and
Captain Hopkins with his subalterns,
whose horses being the fleetest over-
took them first. The loss on our part
was two privates wounded and
two horses killed.
Colonel Wells being left in the command
of Fort Stephenson, Major
Croghan returned with the squadron to
headquarters. He there explained
his motives for writing such a note,
which were deemed satisfactory and
having remained all night with the
General who treated him politely,
he was permitted to return to his
command in the morning with written
orders similar to those he had received
before.
A reconnoitering party which had been
sent from headquarters to
the shore of the lake, about 20 miles
distant from Fort Stephenson, dis-
covered the approach of the enemy by
water on the evening of the 31st
of July. They returned by the fort,
after 12 o'clock the next day, and
had passed it but a few hours when the
enemy made their appearance
before it. The Indians showed themselves
first on the hill over the river,
60 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
and were saluted by a 6-pounder, the
only piece of artillery in the fort,
which soon caused them to retire. In
half an hour the British gun-
boats came in sight; and the Indian
forces displayed themselves in every
direction, with a view to intercept the
garrison should a retreat be
attempted. The 6-pounder was fired a few
times at the gun-boats,
which was returned by the artillery of
the enemy. A landing of their
troops with a 51/2-inch howitzer was
effected about a mile below the
fort; and Major Chambers accompanied by
Dickson was despatched
towards the fort with a flag, and was
met on the part of Major Cro-
ghan by Ensign Shipp of the 17th Regiment.
After the usual cere-
monies Major Chambers observed to Ensign
Shipp, that he was in-
structed by Gen. Proctor to demand the
surrender of the fort, as he
was anxious to spare the effusion of
human blood, which he could not
do, should he be under the necessity of
reducing it by the powerful force
of artillery, regulars and Indians under
his command. Shipp replied
that the commandant of the fort and its
garrison were determined to
defend it to the last extremity, that no
force however great could induce
them to surrender, as they were resolved
to maintain their post or to
bury themselves in its ruins. Dickson
then said that their immense
body of Indians could not be restrained
from massacring the whole
garrison in case of success-of which we
have no doubt, rejoined
Chambers, as we are amply prepared.
Dickson then proceeded to re-
mark that it was a pity so fine a young
man should fall into the hands
of the savages-sir, for God's sake
surrender, and prevent the dreadful
massacre that will be caused by your
resistance. Mr. Shipp replied that
when the fort was taken there would be
none to massacre. It will not
be given up while a man is able to
resist. An Indian at this moment
came out of an adjoining ravine and
advancing to the Ensign took hold
of his sword and attempted to wrest it
from him. Dickson interfered,
and having restrained the Indian,
affected great anxiety to get him safe
into the fort.
The enemy now opened their fire from
their 6-pounders in the gun
boats and the howitzer on shore, which
they continued through the
night with but little intermission and
with very little effect. The forces
of the enemy consisted of about 500
regulars, and about 800 Indians
commanded by Dickson, the whole being
commanded by Gen. Proctor
in person. Tecumseh was stationed on the
road to fort Meigs with a
body of 2,000 Indians, expecting to
intercept a reinforcement on that
route.
Major Croghan through the evening
occasionally fired his 6-pounder,
at the same time changing its place
occasionally to induce a belief that
he had more than one piece. As it
produced very little execution on
the enemy, and he was desirous of saving
his ammunition, he soon dis-
continued his fire. The enemy had
directed their fire against the north-
western angle of the fort which induced
the commandant to believe that
an attempt to storm his works would be
made at that point. In the
The Croghan Celebration. 61
night Captain Hunter was directed to
remove the 6-pounder to a block-
house from which it would rake that
angle. By great industry and per-
sonal exertion, Captain Hunter soon
accomplished this object in secrecy.
The embrasure was masked, and the piece
loaded with a half charge of
powder and double charge of slugs and
grape shot.
Early in the morning of the second, the
enemy opened their fire
from their howitzer, and three
6-pounders which they had landed in
the night, and planted in a point of
woods about 250 yards from the
fort. In the evening, about 4 o'clock,
they concentrated the fire of all
their guns on the northwest angle, which
convinced Major Croghan that
they would endeavor to make a breach and
storm the works at that
point; he therefore immediately had that
place strengthened as much
as possible with bags of flour and sand,
which were so effectual that
the picketing in that place sustained no
material injury. Sergeant Weaver
with five or six gentlemen of the
Petersburg Volunteers and Pittsburgh
Blues, who happened to be in the fort,
was entrusted with the manage-
ment of the 6-pounder.
Late in the evening when the smoke of
the firing had completely
enveloped the fort, the enemy proceeded
to make the assault. Two
feints were made towards the southern
angle, where Captain Hunter's
lines were formed; and at the same time
a column of 350 men were dis-
covered advancing through the smoke,
within 20 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
Shortt 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 6-pounder, at a distance of 30 feet,
poured such destruction upon
them that but few who had entered the
ditch were fortunate enough to
escape. A precipitate and confused
retreat was the immediate conse-
quence, although some of the officers
attempted to rally their men. The
other column which was led by Colonel
Warburton and Major Chambers,
was also routed in confusion by a
destructive fire from the line com-
manded by Captain Hunter. The whole of
them fled into the adjoining
wood, beyond the reach of our small
arms. During the assault, which
lasted half an hour, the enemy kept up
an incessant fire from their
howitzer and five 6-pounders. They left
Colonel Shortt, a lieutenant
and 25 privates dead in the ditch; and
the total number of prisoners
taken was 26, most of them badly
wounded. Major Muir was knocked
down in the ditch, and lay among the
dead, till the darkness of the
night enabled him to escape in safety.
The loss of the garrison was
one killed and 7 slightly wounded. The
total loss of the enemy could
not be less than 150 killed and wounded.
When night came on, which was soon after
the assault, the wounded
in the ditch were in a desperate
situation. Complete relief could not be
62 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
brought to them by either side with any
degree of safety. Major Cro-
ghan however relieved them as much as
possible - he contrived to convey
them waterover the picketting in
buckets, and a ditch was opened under
the pickets through which those who were
able and willing were en-
couraged 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,
particularly their own killed and
wounded; and in the night about 3
o'clock the whole British and Indian
force commenced a disorderly retreat. So
great was their precipitation,
that they left a sail boat containing
some clothing and a considerable
quantity of military stores; and on the
next day 70 stand of arms and
some braces of pistols were picked up
round the fort. Their hurry and
confusion was caused by the apprehension
of an attack from Gen. Har-
rison, of whose position and force they
had probably received an exag-
gerated account.
It was the intention of Gen. Harrison,
should the enemy succeed
against Fort Stephenson, or should they
endeavor to turn his left and
fall back on Upper Sandusky, to leave
his camp at Seneca and fall back
for the protection of that place. But he
discovered by the firing on the
evening of the 1st inst 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 re-
pelled by the garrison; he therefore
determined to wait for the arrival
of 250 mounted volunteers under Rennick,
being the advance of 700 who
were approaching by the way of Upper
Sandusky, and then to march
against the enemy and raise the siege,
if their force was not still too
great for his. On the 2d inst. 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 neces-
sary discoveries. In the night a
messenger arrived at headquarters with
intelligence that the enemy were
preparing to retreat. About 9 o'clock
Major Croghan had ascertained from their
collecting about their boats
that they were preparing to embark, and
immediately sent an express
to the commander-in-chief with this
information. The general now de-
termined to wait no longer for
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 Seneca
several days before, to follow him with
all disposable infantry at that
place, and which at this time was about
700 men, after the numerous
sick, and the force necessary to
maintain the position were left behind.
Finding that the enemy had fled entirely
from the fort so as not to be
reached by him, and learning that
Tecumseh was somewhere in the
direction of Fort Meigs with 2,000
warriors, he immediately ordered the
infantry to fall back to Seneca, lest
Tecumseh should make an attack
on that place, or intercept the small
reinforcements advancing from the
Ohio.
The Croghan Celebration. 63
In his official report of this affair,
General Harrison observes that,
"It will not be among the least of
Gen. 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, Gen. George
R. Clarke."
"Captain Hunter, of the 17th
Regiment, the second in command,
conducted himself with great propriety;
and never was there a set of
finer young fellows than the subalterns,
viz., Lieutenants Johnson and
Baylor, of the 17th; Anthony, of the
24th; Meeks, of the 7th, and
Ensigns Shipp and Duncan of the
17th."
Lieutenant Anderson, of the 24th, was
also mentioned for his good
conduct. Being without a command, he
solicited Major Croghan for a
musket, and a post to fight at, which he
did with the greatest bravery.
"Too much praise," says Major
Croghan, "cannot be bestowed on
the officers, non-commissioned officers,
and privates under my command
for their gallantry and good conduct
during the siege."
The brevet rank of Lieutenant Colonel
was immediately conferred
on Major Croghan by the president of the
United States for his gal-
lant conduct on this occasion. The
ladies of Chillicothe also presented
him an elegant sword accompanied by a
suitable address.
On the 9th of August, at Lower Sandusky,
a British boat was
discovered coming up the river with a
flag. When it landed below
the fort, Captain Hunter was sent to
meet the commander, who proved
to be Lieut. LeBreton, accompanied by
Doctor Banner, with a letter
from Gen. Proctor to the commandant at
Lower Sandusky, their object
being to ascertain the situation of the
British wounded and afford them
surgical aid. Captain Hunter invited
them to the fort. Le Breton
seemed to hesitate, as if he expected
first to be blind-folded, as usual
in such cases; but Captain Hunter told
him to come on, that there was
nothing in the fort which there was any
reason to conceal; and when
he introduced him to Major Croghan as
the commandant of the fort,
he appeared to be astonished at the
youthful appearance of the hero,
who had defeated the combined forces of
his master.
As the letter of General Proctor also
contained a proposition for
the paroling of those prisoners who
might be in a condition to be re-
moved, the flag was sent by Major
Croghan to headquarters at Seneca.
Gen. Harrison replied to the letter of
Proctor, that "Major Croghan,
conformably to those principles which
are held sacred in the American
army, had caused all possible care to be
taken of the wounded prisoners
that his situation would admit-that
every aid which surgical skill could
give was afforded," and that he had
already referred the disposal of
the prisoners to his government and must
wait for their determination.
Dr. Banner in the meantime had examined
the situation of the wounded,
and was highly gratified with the humane
treatment they had received.
He informed Major Croghan that the
Indians were highly incensed at the
64 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
failure of the late expedition and were
kept together with the utmost
difficulty.
*
* *
[Governor Shelby.]
HEADQUARTERS, SENECA. 12 Sept., 1813.
"You will find arms at Upper
Sandusky; also a considerable quan-
tity at Lower Sandusky. I set out from
this place in an hour. Our fleet
has beyond all doubt met that of the
enemy. The day before yesterday
an incessant and tremendous cannonading
was heard in the direction
of Malden by a detachment of troops
coming from Fort Meigs. It
lasted two hours. I am all anxiety for
the result. There will be no oc-
casion for your halting here. Lower
Sandusky affords fine grazing. With
respect to a station for your horses,
there is the best in the world im-
mediately at the place of embarkation.
The Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie,
and Portage river form between them a
peninsula, the isthmus of which
is only a mile and a half across. A
fence of that length, and a sufficient
guard left there, would make all the
horses of the army safe. It would
enclose fifty or sixty thousand acres,
in which are many cultivated fields,
which have been abandoned are now grown
up with the finest grass. Your
sick had better be left at Upper
Sandusky or here.
HARRISON."
Within half an hour after the above
letter was written, the gen-
eral received the following laconic note
from the commodore, by express
from Lower Sandusky:
"U. S. BRIG NIAGARA, OFF THE WESTER
SISTER, ETC.,
September 10, 1813.
"DEAR GENERAL- We have met the
enemy and they are ours-
two ships, two brigs, one schooner and a
sloop.
"Yours with great respect and
esteem,
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY."
The exhilirating news set Lower Sandusky
arid camp Seneca in
an uproar of tumultous joy. The general
immediately proceeded to the
former place, and issued his orders for
the movement of the troops,
and transportation of the provisions,
military stores, etc., to the margin
of the lake, preparatory to their
embarkation.
In bringing down the military stores and
provisions from the posts
on the Sandusky river, to the vessels in
the lake, a short land carriage
became necessary to expedite the
embarkation. The peninsula formed by
the Sandusky Bay on the right and by the
Portage river and Lake Erie
on the left, extending between fifteen
and twenty miles from the anchor-
age of the shipping in the mouth of the
Portage; at which place the
isthmus on which the army was encamped
was less than two miles
The Croghan Celebration. 65
across from one river to the other. The
boats in going round the
peninsula to the shipping, would have to
travel upward of forty miles,
and to be exposed to the dangers of the
lake navigation. It was there-
fore deemed the most safe and
expeditious to transport the stores and
drag the boats across the isthmus, which
was accomplished between the
15th and 20th of the month, whilst the
army was detained in making
other necessary arrangements.
The Kentucky troops were encamped across
the narrowest part
of the isthmus, above the place of
embarkation; and each regiment was
ordered to construct a strong fence of
brush and fallen timber in front
of its encampment, which extended when
finished, from Portage River
to Sandusky River. Within this enclosure
their horses were turned
loose to graze on ample pastures of
excellent grass. The preparations
for the expedition being nearly
completed, it became necessary to detail
a guard to be left for the protection of
the horses. The commandants
of regiments were ordered by the
governor to detach one-twentieth part
of their commands for this service; and
Colonel Christopher Rife was
designated as their commander. In
furnishing the men, many of the
colonels had to resort to a draft, as
volunteers to stay on this side the
lake could not be obtained.
On the 20th, Gen. Harrison embarked with
the regular troops
under Generals McArthur and Cass, and
arrived the same day at Put-
in-Bay in Bass Island, and about 10
miles distant from the point of
embarkation. Next morning the governor
(Shelby) sailed with a part
of his troops, having ordered Major
General Desha to remain at Portage
and bring up the rear, which he
performed with great alacrity and vig-
ilance. On that and the succeeding day
all the militia arrived at Bass
Island. Colonel Rife was left in command
at Portage, with Doctor Ma-
guffin as his surgeon. The whole army
remained on Bass Island on the
24th, waiting for the arrival of all
necessary stores and provisions at
that place.
On the 25th, the whole army moved to the
Middle Sister, a small
island containing about five or six
acres of ground, which was now
crowded with men, having about 4,500
upon it. Whilst the transport
vessels were bringing up the military
stores and provisions on the 26th,
Gen. Harrison sailed with Commodore
Perry in the Ariel to recon-
noitre off Malden, and ascertain a
suitable point on the lake shore for
the debarkation of his troops.
On Monday the 27th, the whole army was
embarked early in the
day, and set sail from the Middle Sister
for the Canada shore, Gen.
Harrison having previously circulated a
general order among the troops
in which he exhorted them to remember
the fame of their ancestors and
the justice of the cause in which they
were engaged.
Soon after the British force had
surrendered and it was dis-
covered that the Indians were yielding
on the left, Gen. Harrison ordered
Vol. XVI-5.
66 Ohio Arch. and
Hist. Society Publications.
Major Payne to pursue Gen. Proctor with
a part of his battalion. * * *
But Proctor was not to be taken. His
guilty conscience had told him
that his only chance for safety from the
vengeance of those whose
countrymen he had murdered lay in the
celerity of his flight. The
pursuers, however, at last pressed him
so closely that he was obliged
to abandon the road, and his carriage
and sword were captured by the
gallant Major Wood.-Six pieces of brass
artillery were taken, three of
which had been captured in the
Revolution at Saratoga and York, and
surrendered again by Hull in
Detroit."
Lieut.-Colonel Eleazer Wood was one of
the first graduates of the
military academy at West Point, 1806,
and was a distinguished engineer.
In 1812 he built the fort at Lower
Sandusky, which was later named
after Col. Stephenson, and was so
gallantly defended by Major George
Croghan on the 2d of August, 1813. He
was also the engineer who
planned Fort Meigs in 1813, and
participated most gallantly in its siege
and also in the Battle of the Thames. He
was killed September 17, 1814.
Proctor's carriage, captured by Major
Wood, was brought to Lower
Sandusky; and for many years was shown
upon all public occasions as one
of the trophies of the war, second in
interest only to "Old Betsy."
One of the "six pieces of brass
artillery" referred to above, is
now one of the most cherished relics in
the museum on Fort Stephenson.
It is a handsome brass piece, evidently
a French gun originally, as it
has near its muzzle the royal cipher of
King Louis of France. It was
presented to King George of England, or
was captured by him, and has
the monogram G. R., with the crown, near
its base. It was captured
from the British under Burgoyne at
Saratoga, and in common with other
trophies was elaborately inscribed:
TAKEN AT THE STORM OF
THE BRITISH LINE NEAR SARATOGA.
BY
October 7, 1777.
After Benedict Arnold turned traitor at
West Point, his name was
carefully erased from all trophies. This
gun was one of the number so
ignominously surrendered at Detroit by
Gen. Hull, August 16, 1812, to
the British Major General Brock. After
being captured for the second
time from the British under Proctor, by
the Americans under Gen. Har-
rison at the Battle of the Thames,
October 5, 1813, it was retired from
active service and has now for more than
twenty-five years been an
object of the greatest interest in the
museum on the site of old Fort
Stephenson.
The Croghan Celebration. 67
McAfee's History continues: In April,
1814, Colonel Butler obtained
leave to return to Kentucky, and the
command of Detroit devolved on
Lieut.-Col. Croghan, Commodore Sinclair,
who succeeded Commodore
Perry as the naval commander on the
lakes, had received orders to
conduct a military and naval expedition
against the British on Lake
Huron.
About the time these instructions were
communicated to the Com-
modore, the secretary of war thought
proper to send a corresponding order
directly to Major Holmes, entirely
passing by Col. Croghan, the com-
mandant at Detroit, and merely notifying
Gen. Harrison, the commander
of the district, through whom the
arrangements for the expedition should
have been made. This course of the
secretary was a violation not only
of military etiquette, but also of the
most important military principles,
which require that the commander of a
district, or of a separate post,
especially when situated on a distant
frontier, should have the supreme
direction of minor matters within the
sphere of his command. The
interference of the government in such
matters must inevitably derange
his plans, and produce confusion and
disaster in the service. The gen-
eral should be furnished with the object
and outlines of the campaign or
expedition and with the necessary
supplies of men, money and munitions
for accomplishing that object; and then
be made responsible for their
proper management. But the secretary in
this instance issued his or-
ders to Major Holmes under the nose of
his colonel, whereby the rank
and authority of the latter were
superseded, and the resources of his post
were to be clandestinely withdrawn from
his power. This was highly
resented by Colonel Croghan, who
communicated his sentiments on this
subject without reserve to Commodore
Sinclair and Gen. Harrison. He
assured the Commodore that he had
already taken every means to recon-
noitre the upper lakes and the country
with a view to obtaining such in-
formation as he requested, and that he
would be happy to co-operate
and assist him in the enterprise, but
could not pledge himself in the
present state of his resources to
furnish any important assistance. To
the general he wrote: "Major Holmes
has been notified by the war de-
partment that he is chosen to command
the land troops, which are in-
tended to co-operate with the fleet,
against the enemy's forces on the
upper lakes. So soon as I may be
directed by you to order Major Holmes
on that command, and to furnish him with
the necessary troops, I shall
do so, but not till then shall he or any
other part of my force leave
the sod."-Croghan.
In answer to a second letter from the
commodore, written in the
latter part of May, he proceeds: "I
much fear, sir, that in your ex-
pectation of being joined at this place
by a battalion or corps of regu-
lars under Major Holmes, you will be
disappointed. Major Holmes, it is
true, has been notified by the war
department that he is selected to
command the land troops on the
expedition up the lakes. But this no-
68 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
tification, even did it amount to a positive order to the major, could not be considered as an order to me; nor can I deem it in itself sufficient to justify me in weakening the present reduced strength of my command. My objection to co-operate with you at this time is not, I assure you, moved by anything like chagrin at this departure from military etiquette, but is bottomed on a thorough conviction that nothing less than a pos- itive order could justify or excuse my detaching a part of the small force under my command from the immediate defence of this frontier. I agree with you that the promised force under Major Holmes appears too weak to effect the desired end. I cannot speak positively on the subject, as my knowledge even of the geographical situation of the coun- try is but limited; yet my belief is, that if resistance be made at all, |
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it will prove too stout for 1,000 men. The position of Mackinaw is a strong one, and should the enemy have determined on holding it, he has had time enough to throw in reinforcements. The Engages in the em- ploy of the N. W. Co., generally get down to Mackinaw from their win- tering grounds, about the last of May in every year. Will these hardy fellows, whose force exceeds 1,000, be permitted to be idle? Will it not be the interest of the N. W. Co. to exert all its means in the defence of those posts in which it is so immediately concerned? I send you a few queries on the subject, with the answers as given by an intelligent gentleman, formerly an agent to the N. W. Co., and well acquainted with the geographical situation of that country. Every arrangement is made for securing the entrance into Lake Huron. I am under no solici- tude about the passage up the strait."-Croghan. |
The Croghan Celebration. 69
Although the colonel appears to consider
the order to Holmes as
a mere notification of his appointment,
yet it was certainly intended by the
secretary to be sufficiently positive
and ample to put the expedition in
motion, without any other communication
from the war department, ex-
cept the instructions to the Commodore.
Soon after the above was writ-
ten, the Colonel addressed another
letter to Gen. Harrison, from which
the following is an extract: "I
know not how to account for the
Secretary of War assuming to himself the
right of designating Major
Holmes for this command to Mackinaw. My
ideas on the subject may
not be correct, yet for the sake of the
principle were I a general com-
manding a district, I would be very far
from suffering the Secretary of
War, or any other authority, to
interfere with my internal police.
"I have not yet been able, even by
three attempts, to ascertain
whether the enemy is building boats at
Mackedash (Gloucester Bay).
None of my spies would venture far
enough, being either frightened
at the view of Lake Huron, or alarmed at
the probability of meeting
hostile Indians."-Croghan.
This letter was written in the latter
part of May. Gen. Harrison,
actuated by similar sentiments, had
already resigned his commission of
Major General in the army, which he had
received about the time his
appointment in the Kentucky militia had
expired. He believed that the
Secretary of War disliked him, and had
intentionally encroached on
the prerogatives of his rank to insult
him, by corresponding with the of-
ficers under his command, and giving
them orders direct which ought at
least to have been communicated
indirectly through the commander-in-
chief of the district. He had
remonstrated in a spirited manner against
this interference, and finding it again
renewed in the present case, he
resigned his commission by the following
letters to the Secretary and
President.
"HEADQUARTERS, CINCINNATI, 11th
May, 1814.
"SIR, I have the honor through you to request the President
to
accept my resignation of the appointment
of major general in the army
with which he has honored me.
"Lest the public service should
suffer, before a successor can be
nominated, I shall continue to act until
the 31st inst., by which time I
hope to be relieved.
"Having some reasons to believe
that the most malicious insinua-
tions have been made against me in
Washington, it was my intention to
have requested an inquiry into my
conduct, from the commencement of
my command. Further reflection has
however determined me to de-
cline the application -because from the
proud consciousness of having
palpably done my duty, I cannot believe
that it is necessary either for
the satisfaction of the government or
the people, that I should pay so
much respect to the suggestions of
malice and envy.
"It is necessary, however, that I
should assure you, sir, that I sub-
70 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
scribe implicitly to the opinion that military officers are responsible for their conduct, and amenable to the decisions of a court martial after they have left the service, for any improper act committed in it. "The principle was established in England, in the case of Lord George Sackville after the battle of Minden; it was known and recog- nized by all the ancient republics; and is particularly applicable I think to a government like ours. I therefore pledge myself to answer before a court martial at any future period, to any charge which may be brought against me. "I have the honor, etc., "The Hon. J. Armstrong, etc." "HARRISON.
OLD BETSY. Fort Stephenson is unique in retaining its original area, armament and the body of its Defender. Armament is an im- |
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which occured in 1813. On the 3d, a mounted regiment under Col. Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, "the man who killed Tecumseh" and the future vice president, marched from Fort Meigs to Lower Sandusky to recruit their horses here. "The Fourth was celebrated," says McAfee's History of the Late War, "by the garrison and mounted men together, in great harmony and enthusiasm. Colonel Johnson delivered an appropriate ad- dress; arid a number of toasts, breathing sentiments of the republican soldier were drunk, cheered by the shouts of the men and the firing of small arms and the discharge of a six-pounder from the fort." Major McAfee, in his History of the Late War, says: "A |
56 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
emphasized by the hundreds of Japanese lanterns strung along either bank and in sweeping festooons across the big Lake Erie bridge. Near the bridge, and extending across the river, were seven of the largest boats in the river, bearing huge electric transparencies upon which appeared six-foot letters spelling the name Croghan, which was also seen in a set piece. The hit of the evening was the reproduction of Fort Stephen- |
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The fireworks, in charge of Chief Reiff, of the fire department, were magnificent and no accidents occurred. Especial praise is due Charles Hermon, the lamplighter, who superintended the illuminations. Commo- dore Coonrod's fleet as managed by Charles Grable, was a thing of beauty. The display occupied three hours and general satisfaction on the part of all was evident in their attention.
HARRISON'S NORTHWESTERN CAMPAIGN. The best description extant of General Harrison's Northwestern Campaign is that contained in "A History of the Late War in the Western Country," by Robert B. McAfee, Lexington, Ky., 1816, a rare and valuable volume. Major McAfee was himself an officer in that campaign, serving as a captain in the regiment of mounted riflemen commanded by Col. Richard M. Johnson. In his Preface he acknowledges his indebtedness to Gen. Harrison, Governor Shelby, Colonels Croghan and Tod and Colonel Wood of the Engineers for official correspondence and assistance in procuring material and formation. The chapter relating to the Tippecanoe campaign in 1811 contains the following references to some of the Kentucky Vol- unteers: "Colonel Keiger, who raised a small company of 79 men near Louisville, including among them Messrs. Croghan, O'Fallen, Shipp, Chum and Edwards, who afterward distinguished themselves as officers in the army of the United States." |