, 1840-02-15
LETTER
OF GEN. DUNCAN, GOV. OF ILLINOIS.
Washington City, March Is, 1886.

been received, and | most cheerful.y comply
with your request, IN giving such an accoun
OF the transactions at Sandusky, as my mem
DRY, at this late period, and my time will en-
able me TO do.
About the goth of July, 1913, Gen. II lrri
son, then at Lower SanduSky, hearing tina
the British army had crossed Lake Erie tc
Fort Meigs, being about five thousand strong
Immediately changed his head quarters &c
Senaca. seven or eight miles up the Sandusky
river, where he assembled his forces then or
the march from the interior, leaving Major
Croghan with about $50 men 10 detend-Fort
Stephenson, with an underestimate nr at the
time that the fort, then ia a weak%s dry7Setch.
ed condition, was TO be ~abandonaG sfUuId
the enemy advance with artillery, but if not
to be defended to the last extremity.
Harrison, with his force, then small, had
scarcely left US before Croghan commenced
putting the fort (Which was only a stockading
of small round logs, and a few log store
houscs) in a proper state OF defence, in which
he evinced the utmost judgment ana the most
untlring perseverance.
During the last len or twelve days that in
tervencd between the time Gen. Harrison
left us, ard the appearance of the enemy, Il
ditch was dug, four feet deep and six feet
wide. entirely round the Tort, outside OF the
stockaGing, tie ground for two hundred yards
round was cleared OF timber and brush, and
many other preparations made Tor the enemy.
About this time Gen. Harrison received
information that the enemy had raised the
siege at Fort Meigs, aad had started in the
direction OF Slndusky and Camp Seneca
On receiving this intelligence he determined
TO retreat from his position. and Immediately
sent an express 10 Fort Stephenson. which
arrived abou, sunrise, ordering Maj. Croghan
io burn the Fort with all the munitions and
stores and retreat without delay TO head
quarters giving also some precautionary IN
srruclions aboat the route, &c.
On receiving this orIcr, Croghan instantly
placed it III the hands Of the officers, who
were al present, and required them II con
sider it, and express an opinion of the pro.
prie;y OF obeying or dlsobeying it. The
board was formed, and on putting the ques-
ton, beginnin-, rs usual with the yousgest
officer. it vas ascertained that n majority Of
us were Tor disobeying the order. croghan
returned 10 the room, and being informed OF
our directions, remarked, j am glad OF IT;
had resolved TO disobey at all hazards and
Immediately despatched an express TO Gen.
Harrison, giving him that information. In
mediaielv on the arrival of this express,
General II. despatched IL. Colonel Ball. with
his squadron of Dragons, with orders 10 ar
rest Croghan, bring him TO head quarters.
(Which was done.) and sen; another officer TO
tl,e command. BY this tine in consequence
oi his not a%rrivin" agreeably 10 his expecta-
tons and orders. the General abandoned all
idea %, i retreat, aiIhougi iis munitions and
stores we're piled up ready To be set on lire
as soon rs Crog!ian should reach Seneca;
and it is no, doubted that If Croghan had ar
rived acco ding 10 orders, General Harrison
would have rrtrcated instantly, leaving the
whole frontier. our fleet 1T Erie, and the
stores nj C!eveland-;he destruction of which
was the object of the invasion and move-
merits down the Lale-at the mercy Of the
After being detained one night, Croghan
to Sandusky, and was reinstated in
bis command; an occasion which gave in
JOY to the officers and soldiers
in the Fort. and which only could be equal
led IN intensity of feeling, by the chagrin
and modification felt n, his arrest. Especially
was ule eVcGt pieasiuS W tloSc oiliCeiS WIN
mad sustained him in disobeying the order,
resolved as they were, when he was arrest
cd, 10 share his fate be it good or evil.
Soon after his return, the enemy. so long
expected, made his appearance, and demand
ID a surrender. Croghan answered, by d.
Ensign Ship to assure Gen. Proctor
/ would be blown TO hell first.
| need hardly say, after what has been re-
ated, relieving us from our long suspense,
t was hailed with seeming Joy by the Maj,
md most, if not all, Of his command.
The excitement produced IVY what had &C.
cured and his return jus: in time 20 NEE,
he enemy, inspired his command with an
enthusiasm rarely if ever surpassed, and
which alone renders man invincible.
The fort was forthwith besieged, canona-
led, and bombarded, from the gun boats and
on land, for nearly four hours, with
,ut cessation, during all which time, every
officer and soldier appeared to be animated
~ the cool and manly bearing OF the COM
| we'll remember his expression at the first
Iound Of the bugle given by the enemy, as a