Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-09-16
TO',he Editor os,he ssioto Gazette.
GEORGIAN.


Tc'the Editor of,he Seioto Gazette.
LowEa SANpusIY, Aug. 81, 1888.
Extract OF letter from maj. Croghsn to his friend
At Seneoa Town.
have with much regret seen in some of the
public prints, such misrepresentation respect
ing M refusal TO evscuate this post, as are cal
culated noNonly to injure me in the estimation
OF military men, but also TO excite un9ayorable
impressions as to the propriety of Gen. Harris
on's conduc' relative TO this affair.
Ills character militrry man, is too well esta-
bi'shed, to need my appreciation or support But
hS pubic services rntiue him at least to common
3rstce 4 H. r 10 not furnish CAUSES ut re-
proach--it public opinion has been hastily nisled
respecting his late conduct, it will require but
ments cool, dispassonate reflection, 10 convince
them at its 'prdpriety--'fhe measures recently IL
dopted by him, far from desc rying censurc arc
the clearest proof oil his keen penetration aud able
generashil-lt is true, that did not proceed i'm
mcdIaeiy to execute his nrler cyacuate this post
but this disobcdience was not rs some would wisi,
to believe the result of "a fixed determination To
MAINTAIN the post contrary To Isis positive or
del $, 's VIII appear from the following detail Which
rs gwen TO explain my conduct.
About 10 O'Clock ON the morning of the
30th ultimo, letter from the Adiutant
Generals Office, dated Seneca Town, July
29th, 1879 was handed me by MIR. Come r..
ordering me to abandon this post, burn it,
and retreat that night to HeadrQ uarters.
On the reception of the order | called a
| coun OF officers, liz which it was deter
mined not to abandon the place Cat least UNI
| I'll the further pleasure of the Gen. should
be known) as it was thought an attempt to
| retreat in the open day, in the face Of a SUI
| perior force of the enemy, would be more
hazardous than TO remain in the fort, under
| all Its disadvantages. | thei efore wrote a
letter TIC the General, couChed IN such terms
as Thought were cglculat ted to deceive the
enemy, should 1t fall into his hands, which
thought more than probable-as well as to
| inform the General, should /, be sofortunate
| as to reach him, that would wait to hear
| from him, before i should proceed to exc
\ cute his order This letter, contrary to nv
expectations, was received by the General,
| who (not knowing what reas ms urged me
| to write in tone sodecisve) concluded, We
| ny nationally, that the manner of it was de-
| monstrative OF most positive determinati
| on TO disobey his order under any circum-
stances. / was therefore suspended from
the command Of the fort. and ordered To
Head-Quarters but on explaining to the
General my reasons for not executing his or
der, and my object in using the style had
| done, he was so perfectly satisfied with the
| explanation, that j was immediately reinsta4
ted in the Command.
1t will be recolleCted, that the order a
Dove alluded to, WAX written OH the night
previous 70 my receiving it had it been
delivered to me las was intended) that night,
J should have obeyed it without hesitation
Its not reaching me in time, was the only
reason which induced me to consult nv Of
fcers on the proprety of waiting che Gen
eral'' further order.
1t mas been stated also, that "upen nv
representations Of my ability to maintain
this post, the General altered his determi
nation to abandon it," This is incorrect.
NO such representation was ever made
And the last order received from the &c
neral, was precisely the same as that first
given, VIZ ;" That If l discovered the an
preach o large British force by water
(presumiag ,ha they would bring heavy ar
tIllery9 time enuugh TO elect retreat, /
was to do so /; but If could not retreat with
safety, to defend the post to the last ex-
tremity
day or two before the enemy appeared
before Fort Meigs, the General had recon
noitered the surrounding ground and being
informed that the hill on the opposite side Of
Sapdnsky completely commanded The fort.
/ offered undertake, with the troops under
my command, TO remove il 20 that SIDE
The Genera, upon reflection, thought il
best not to attempt it. as he believed that if
the enemy again appeared on this side the
lake. u would be before the work could be
fnishd
1t IS useless to disguise the fact, that this
fort IS commanded By the points of high
ground around 1t single stroke Of the eve
made this CLEAR to me the first time had
occasion to Examine the neighbmhood, with
tne view of fii<~ovet +b- v-.Ia,;.o
and weakness of the place.
1t would be insincere to say that am not
battered by the many handsome things
which have bsen SAID about the defence
which was made by the troops under nv
command But desire no plaudits which
are bestowed upon me, at the expencs of
General Harrison.
have at all times enjoyed his conf
uence solar as my rank in the army enti-
tied me to 1t, and an proper occasions re-
ceived his marked attention. / have felt
the warmest attachment for him as man
and my confidence in him as an able Com.
m0Hdey, remains unshaken. ] feel every IS
soraDce that he will at all times do me ius-
tee and Eothi9g Sauld give me more main
han to see his enen is seize upon this occs
sion to deal out their unfriendy feelings
and acrimonious dislike-anG so long as he
continues las in my humble opinion he has
hitherto done) to make the wisest arrange
ments and most judicious disposition, which
the forces under his command will Justify.
shah not hesitate to unite with the army
in bestowing upon him that confidence
which he so richly merits, and which has
ON no occS Sion been withheld
Your friend,
GEOGE CROGHAN.
Major nm Infdniry commute
Lo~er Sandusky.