Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-08-26
IBy request.]
LETTER OF GEN. DUNCAN,
GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS.

AN'J So"Piy WIN JOuI ICHuCSlS u
giving such an account Of the transaC
tiOns at Sandusky as my time vii
enable me to do.
About the 2eh of July, 1913, Gen
eral Harrison, then at Lower Sandus
ky, hearing that ths British army hat
crossed Like Erie to Fort Meigs, be
ing about five Thousand strong, imme
diateIy changed his head quarters Il
Seneca, seven or eight miles up lh
Sandusky river, where he assembled
:, his forces then on the march from tht
interior, leaving Major Crogtan will
about $50 men 10 defend Fort Ste
phenson, with an understanding, or al
order as it was understood by me 3
the time, that the Fort, then in veal
and wretched condition, was to bt
abandoned, should the enemy advance
with the artillery, but if not, to be de
Tended TO the last extremity.
Harrison with his force, then small
had scarcely left US, before Croghar
'commenced putting the Fort (Which
was only a slockading of small round
logs and few low storehouses) in 9
proper slate of defence, in which he
evinGed great judgment and most un'
firing perseverance,.
During the ten or twelve days that
intervened between the time that C en-.
ersI Harrison left US, and The appear
ance of the enemy, ditch was dug,
four feet deep and six feet wide eO-
tirely round the fort outside of The
stockading, the ground for 200 yards
round The Fort was cleared of timber
aud brush, and many other preparations
made for the eenemy.
About this time Gen. Harrison re.
ceived information that the enemy had
raised the siege Of Fort Meigs, and
had started ia the direction Of Sandus.
Ky and Camp Seneca, On receiving
this Intelligence, he determined 10 re-
treat from his position, ana immedl
ateIy sent an express 10 Fort Stephen
son, which arrived about sunrise, or
dering Major Croghsn 10 burn the
Fort with all the muniIion and stores,
and retreat without delay to Head.
Quarters, giviDgalso some precautiOna
ry instructions about theroutes, &c.
On receiving this order, CrOghsn.
instantly placed il in the hands Of 'he,
officers, who were all PreseHt, add re.
quired them to consider 1t and express.
an opinion as TO the .proprIety Of obey
ing or disobeying it. The board was.
formed, aud on puttiHg the question,
beginning as usual with the youngest
officer, it was ascertained that major.
ity OF Us wasfor disobeyiug the order.
Croghan returned 10 the room, and
being informed OF our Intentions re
marked, Il am gLad Of H, 1 Ind re
SOiVed TO diSObey at all hazardS, and
Immediately despatched an express to
Gen. Harrison, giving him that intor
nation! Immediately on the arrival
of This express, Gen, Harrison, de-
spatched Lieut.. Col. Ball, with his
squadron cf DragrOous, with orders TO
arrest Croghan, TO bring him to head
quarters; (Which was done,) and sent
another officer TO take The command.
BY this time, in consequence Of his
not arriving agreeably to his exPecia
lion and order, the General abandoned
all idea Of retreat although his mum
lions and stores were piled up ready
10 be SET on fire as soon as Croghan
should reach Seneca, and it is not
doubted that if CrOghan had arrived
according 10 orders; Gen. Harrison
would have retreated instantly, leav-
ing The whole frontier, our feet at
Erie, and the boats and stores at
(lhc destruction Of which
was The object Of the invasion aud
down the Lake, at the
mercy of the enemy.
After being detained Croghan re-
turned to Sandusky, and was reinsta'
ted in his command, an occasion which
gave indescribable joy 10 The officers
and soldiers in the fort, and which
could only be equalIed in intensity Of
feeling, by the chagria and mortlhca'
ton fell al his ar;vsn Especially was
ms event pleasing to those officers
who had sustained him in disobeying
the order, resolved as they were, when
he was arrested, to share his fate, be
il good or evil.
Soon after his return, the enemy, so
long expected, made his appearance,
and demanded q surrender. -Croghsn,
answered by directing Ensign Ship to
10 assure General Proctor that he
would be blown to hell FIRST!
| need hardly say, after what has
been related. that their appearance,