Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-08-20
WASHINGTON CITY, August ls.
Copy of a letter from Major General
Harrison, Co the Secretary Of Var.
HEAD QUARTERS,
Seneca Town, Aug. A, 1918.

Seneca Town, Aug. 4, 1878.
SIR,--in my letter of the LIST instant /
did myself the honor to inform you that one
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
honr aftsr Iargs detachment of British
troops; and in the course of the night they
commenced a cannonading against the FoS
with six Founders and two howitzers; the
latter from gun boats. The firing was par
TALLY answered by Major Croghan, having
six FOUNDER, the only piece of artillery.
The fire of the enemy was continued at
intervals, during the second instant, until
about half after five, z. NJ when, finding
that their cannon made little impression
upon the works, and having discovered my
position here, and experimenting an attack,
an attempt was made to carry the place by
storm Their troops were formed in two
columns lieut.. colonel Short headed the
principal one, composed Of the light and
battalion companies of the 4lst regiment
This gallant officer conducted his men to
the brink of the ditch, under the most gal
ling and destructive fire from the garrison,
and leaping into it was followed by a con.
sidera bic part of his own and the light com
pany at this moment masked port hole
was suddenly opened and a six FOUNDER with
en- half load of powder and double charge
of leaden slugs at the distance of so feet
poured destruction upon them and killed or
xya lad 1rt1 xx,1on lol
ed the ditch. In vain did the British officers
exert themselves to lead on the balance of
the column; it retired in disorder under
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 mus
lets of our men, to an adjacent ravine In
the course Of the night, the enemy, with
the aid Of their Indians, drew off the great
er part of the wounded and dead, and en-
barking them in boats descended the river
with the utmost precipitation. In the course
of the cd inst having heard the cannonad-
ing, | made several attempts to ascertain
! the force and situation of the enemy our
scouts We're unable to get near the Fort,
from the Indians which surroundedit. Find
ing, however, that the enemy had only light
artillery, and being well convinced that it
could make little impression upon the works,
and that any attempt to storm it would be
resisted with effect, Iwaised for the arrival
of ESQ mounted volunteers, which on the
| evening before had left Upper Sandusky.
| But soon as l was informed that the enc
my were retreating, set out with the dra-
goons to endeavor to overtake them, leavr
ing Generals MArthur and Cass to follow
with all the infantry (about ZOO that could
| be spared from the protection of the stores
and sick at this place found it impossi-
bic to come up with them. Upon my arriv-
al at Sandusky was informed by the pri-
soners that the enemy's forces consisted of
| 400 regular troops, and 500 of Dixon's In
dams, commanded by general Proctor in
person, and that Tecumseh, with about
1000 warriors, was somewhere in the
swamps, between this and Fort Meigs, ex-
pectlng my advancing, or that of a convoy
OF provisions As there was no prospect of
doing any thing in front, and being appre-
hensive that Tecumseh might destroy the
stores and small detachments in my rear, l
| sent orders to general Cass, who command
ed the reserve, to fall back to this place,
| and to general MArthur with the front line
to follow and support him. remained at
Sandusky until the parties that were sent
| out In every direction returned-not an enc
my was to be seen.
am sorry that cannot transmit you
Major Croghan's official report. He was
to have sent it to me this morning, but /
have Just heard that he was so much ex-
hausted by thirty six hours of continued ex-
ertion as to be unable to make it. 1t will
not be amongst the least of general Proctor's
notifications to find that he has been BAT
fed by youth who has just passed his
twenty first year. he is, however, a hero
worthy of his gallant uncle general Geo
r. Clark)
Capt, Hunter, of the 18th regiment, the
second in command, conducted himself with
great propr:ety and never were a set of