Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-04-13

WIN Tie unanimous advice OF his COunSel OF war,
had sent orders to Major Croghan, who comman-
ded the garrison, to evacrate tho fort, and MAKE
good his retreat to head quarters, provided the
enemy should approach the place with artillery,
aud retreat be practicable. Bni the first step
taken by Proctor wns TO isolate tho fort by cor
don OF Indians, thus leaving to MAJOR Croghan no
choice but between resistance and submissiOn.-
He then demanded of CroglIan to surrender, adj
ding his customary declaration, that otherwise he
would not protect the garrison from massacre by
the Indians in case the fort should he taken 10
this atroclous threat, unjustiable by any OF the
usages oil war, MS it was cowardly aud dlscourte-
Gus, Croghan calmly replied, that "when the fort
should be taken there would be none left to mas
sacre, as it would not he given up while man
was nbe to fight" With his small garrison this
brave young officer CALAMITY maintained the post,
and repused the assaults of Proctor. Much idle
censure has been cast upon General Harrison be-
cause of this affair To which it is sufficient here
to say, that while his orders such as the cir
culnsances justified and required, and were fully
approved and sanctioned by the most competent
judges on the spor, Croghan himself bears witness
to the penetration and abe generaship of his
measures so tho defence nself, SO successfully
made in compliance with the very contingency
contemplated in the orders, WIS in the highest de.
gree honorable To the brave garrison and its young
commander. (l01
BATTLE OF THE THAMES.
The time was now Mt hand when General Iiar
rson and his army to reach the full compile
ton of all the contemplated objects Of the expe-
diation.
Among the earliest recommendations of Cen
eral Harrison to The Government the year before,
aud Immediately after the commenced operations,
had been that of constructing aud equpping
naval armament on the Lake. In one letter he
says :" Admitting that Maiden and Detroit are
both taken, Mackinaw and ST. Joseph will both
remain in the hands OF the enemy until we can
create force capable of contendng with the ves-
sells which the British hive in Lake Michigan,
&C." And again, in another letter: "Should an
offensive operation he suspended until spring, ii
is my decided opinion that the cheapest and most
efiecual plan will he to obtain command OF Lake
Erie. This being once effected, every difficulty
will he removed. An army OF four thousand men
landed on the north side of The Lake. below MAJ
den, will reduce that place, rciake Detroit, and
| with the aid Of the feet proceed down the Lake
aud then cooperate with the army from Niagra "
These sagacious instructions being repeatedly and
sirenu0usly urged by him, and reinforced also
from other quarters, we're adopted and acted upon
by the Government. Commodore Perry WIS
commissioned to build. equip, aud command the
contemplated fleet; and on the 10Th OF Septcm-
ber with an inferior force, he met the enemy, aud
gained the brilliant victory of Lake Erie.
!, Meanwhile Colonel Richard NJ. johnson, then
} a Member Of Congress from Kentucky, had de-
vised the organization of two regiments OF noun
ted militia which lie was authorized by the Cow
rrnnent to raise, as well for service against the
Indians as to cooperate with Harrison. Colonel
johnson crossed the Lower Sanduky, where he
received orders from The War Department to pro-
coed to Kaskaskia 10 operate III that quarter; mt
y the interference of HARRISON, and AZ :le urgent
request of Colonel Johnson,-wlio said for him
self and his men that the first OF cct of their hearts
was to accompany Harrison 10 Detroit AMI Can
ada aud TO puriake in the danger and honor of
Ih'' expedition. under an olcer IN whom they
40 he wise, prudent and brave,' the orders oi
the Department were countrrmanded aud Colo
I mel Johnson attained his wish
General Harrison now prepared to strike the
! great blow. Aided by the energetic efforts of
Governor Meigs of Ohio, and Governor Shelby of
0 Kentucky, he had ready on the southern shore
, of Lake Erie, by the middle of September, COM
Y petent force destined for the immediate invasion
- of Canada Between the 18th and 2llh of Sep
tember the artillery, military Stores provisions,
and troops, were gradually embarked, aud on the
i 9th the whole army proceeded TO the Canada
: shore. "Remember the river Rasin." said Gen
d era Harrison, in his address to the troops, "but
y remember it only whilst victory is suspended.
S The revenge OF n soldier cannot be gratifed OH II
e fallen enenv." The army landed in high spirits ;
e hut the enemy had abandoned his srOng hold,
e and retreaed TO Sandwich afier disnanlling
i Maiden, burning the barracks and navy yard, and
d stripping the adjacent country of horses and cat
n tie, General Harrison encumped that night on
e the ruins OF Maiden.
e No time was lost in resun,ing the pursuit of Proc
]. tor Colonel Johnson s mounted regiment came
If mr and supplied the cavalry wanting for the pnr
! suit Two days only were occupied in rceslah
y fishing the civil government of Michigan, and ns.
= signing to it n defensive corps, in organizing por-
ir lion of The army for rapid movement and in CIV
ing 10 the whole OF il order o. march and bat
III he II was not until the 5I of OclOnr that
'e tor was overaken, at place ever memorable as
lS the battle ground Of one the most honorable and
T.. decisive actions fought during the wnr. On that
lr day the enemy WIS discovered in position skill
SO fully chosen, in relation well 10 local circunl-
" stances as 10 The character oi his troops A mar
n row strip of dry land fnnked 10y The river Thames
J. on the left and by swamp IN the right was oc-
l. cupeh lyhs regular infantry and artillery. While
nc on The rglr flank lay Tecumtle and his followers,
e. on the eastern margin Of The swamp. But not
lr wlsinn ling the luuiclons choice Of the ground
n. Proctor ha,connllled the error Of forming his
* infairy in open order. Awaiting himself OF This
Is. lacr, md that troops disposed could NOT
l. resist charge of mounted men, he directed Colo
re ne Johnson 10 dash through The enemy'S line in
n, column. The movement was made with brilliant
= success. The mounted men charged with promp-
Is, lilude and vigor broke through the line Of the
ne einv formed in The rear, and assaulted the broken
We line with n success seldom equned, for nearly the
IL whole Of the British regular force were either Kill
ne led, wounded or taken. On The left, the Indians
10 rushed on The mounted men there and ierceIy
us contested The ground for short time, nnlil Ie-
M cumle fell, MS is supposed, by The hand OF Cola
mel Johnson Proctor, who had saved himself
of and part of his suite by base deserlon OF hi,
IL troops, in keeping with his character, was now
3 srenuo''sy but unsuccessily pursued. But the
NJ defeat fthe enemy was now complete. All his
he baggage and military stores, together with his oil
MS fcrrs Iupers, fell INTO larrison's hands Several
nd field pieces also. which had been taken from the
lis British in the revolutionary war at Saratoga an,
RI Yorktown, but which iiul had shameiillly
ed surrendered Detroit, were again captured, and
nj were honorable trophies of victory.
ut, In this hattie Governor Shelly, OF Kentucky
is commanded the troops ofhs State, aud Colonel
Ina