Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-07-09
THE SIEGE OF FORT MElGS.

The subjoined is an extract from a speech deliye-
red by the brave Col. JOHN O'FALLos, at the raj
sing of the Log Cabin in St. LOUIS. Col. O'FALLoE
who, it may be stated, delivered bis speech from
the ramparts of miniature Fort Meigs, was an aid
of Gen. HARRIsos, and bore no ing lorious part in
the scenes he describes.
alt was on the first day of February, 1913, that
the army Of Gen. HAKRIsoN pitched their tents
upon and adjacent TO the ground where Fort Meigs
was erected, and commenced the construction oi
stocksde, which was afterwards surrounded by
ditch and embanknents, embracing several acres ot
ground. The snow deep upon the ground, and
the weather extremely cold; and, although the
troops were and greatly unaccustomed 10 such
severe exposure, their ardor never abaied. Under
many deprvations, they performed their several du-
ties with the zeal and aacrily which springs from
the solIier's deep confidence in the tried skill and
courage of his commander and his warm attachment
to his person. Early in April 1918 the garrison OF
Fort Megs numbered about 600 effective men
two bugades of militia having been discharged incon-
sequence of the terminaonof their period OF service
This fact being early ascertained by the Briti.h
General commanding at Maiden, an expedition a.
gainst Fort Meigs Immediately projected. His
army of British and Indians near 900 strong,
and ne gave his Indian allies the most confident as
suranees that he could carry the fort by storm,
should his invitation to General Harrison to SUI
render with the honors OF war, he refused. lie had
a heavy park OF artillery. and this, with the magi
ned weak mesa of our deences, he fanoied would
give him ready aud easy conquest of the fort
And it even stipulated betS cen the British Ge-
nera and tho celebrated Tecumseh that, should the
garrison be taken, and General Harrison remain
alive, the American commander was TO be deve-
red to the Indian, who designed to wrcak upon
| fin ihe dAath nf nv
braves and warriors who fell the battle Of Iippe
canoe. Vain calculation Vain, this premedltaIed
| purpose of base and barbarous malice ! The God
| OF battles WAS with the American General, and he
| was reserved by a wise and iar-seeng Providence
to be in afler-times the pride, the high blessing
| bright prospect, the noble deyerer of his country
Fort Megs wa, invested and cannonaded with
bomb shells and red hot balls for days. during
all which time General Harrison was ever at the
point of danger planning and directing the defence,
and his manner, his sagacous conduct. and his un-
daunted courage inspiring his officers and men with
abiding confidence of ultimate victory. Gener-
al Proctor, was, length driven confess that he
was contending with commander whose courage
and military talents were equal To any emergency
and, despairng of redeeming the pledge he had gi-
TO his army make an easy conquest of the gar
rison, and being informed by intercepted commune
cations that General Harrison was in daily expec-
tation OF reintorcements to effect that by strata
gem which he now despaired OF accomplishing by
open warfare. he calculated, by timely and we'll.
concerted deception, to decoy into smbuscade a
large detachment Of our garrison. then scarcely
sufficient efectusIy to the defencrs Should
he succeed in this, the ready sacrifice of tho fort
would inevitably follow. Suddenly, a brisk and
sharp firing heard in thick woods near the
fort through which the road passed to the interior.
The alarm strongly represented, as 1t designed
to do an Indian engagement. Shortly afterwards,
loud wailing and groans were heard as would nat.
urally proceed from wounded and dying men. The
W.T. ole garrison at concluded that an attack
was made upon brothers in arms on their way
10 our assistance. Not so, however, with Gen. Ha-
rison. He alone was incredulous. Many of his Of.
icers waited upon him, and almost demanded per-
mission to fly 10 the rescue. For "a time the great
est excitement prevailed in the garrison a, the idea
of their gallant comrades perisbng. without any
attempt to save them. Harrson's sagacity causht
the design OF the enemy in moment, and it rsqui
red the exercise Of all his powerful influence. and
authority TO subdue the impetuosity of his officer.
and men and 20 convince them of thi. cunning de.
vice OF the enemy, planned for their destruction.
" Abont two o'clock on the morning Of the 5.h O
May 1918, two officers came express from Genera