The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-02-27

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British batteries were, turn and take the bat
teries. spike the cannon, and destroy the gum
carriages,an then regain the boats as speedily
as possible, while the remainder of the brigade
should land and fight their way into the camp,
so as to favor sortie TO be made by the gar
rison against the third pnd only remaining
British battery. This plan was ably conceiv-
ed and promised the best results. Gen. Clay,
alter detaching Col. Dudley to land on the
west side of the Miami, fought his way safely
INTO The camp. A part Of the garrison also,
under Colonel (now General) Miller, consist :
ingin part OF regular troops and the residue
militia and kentucky volunteers, CALAMITY as
saulted and carried the battery on the eastern
bank, made a number Of prisoners, aud drove
the British and Indians from their lines
Meanwhile, Dudley had landed his men,
and charged and carried the two batteries
without the loss of a man. Unhappily these
gallant citizens were not sufficiently aware OF
their exposed situation, and of the necessity Of
retreating TO their boats, in punctual obser-
vance of their orders, SO soon as they should
have destroyed the enemys artillery. In
stead OF this, they were, without due consi-
deralion, drawn into fight with some stray
Cling Indians, and so detained until Proctor
had time to interpose strong force between
them and the means Of retreat. The result
was the destruction rather than defeat Of the
detachment, for three-fourths of il were made
captives or slain. The British arms were
again dishonored by giving up the prisoners
to be massacred by the Indians. Dudley and
many of his companions were tomahawked
at once Others Of the prisoners were put
into Fort Miami, for the Indians to stand on
the ramparts and fire into the disarmed crowd.
Those Indians, who chose, selected their VIC
Tins, led them 10 the gateway, and there, un-
der The eye Of General Proctor and in the
presence Of The rhole British army, murdered
and scalpcd them. Not until Tecu,nthc came
up from the batteries did the slaughter cease.
For shame is disgrace to kill defence
less prisoners n'-he exclaimed thus display
ing more of humanity and civilization than
Proctor himself
Unfortunate as thisincident was, the events
of the day satisfied Proctor that he could not
continue the siege with any hope of success
He resolved to retreat, TO cover which, he
sent in flag of truce, requiring the immedi-
ate surrender of the American post and army,
as 1.-THE only means left for saving the latter
from the tomahawks and scalping knives OF
the savages." Considering this base and in
soent message unworthy Of any serious on
tice, General Harrison simply admonished
Proctor moi 10 repeat it. With which manly
and decided answer Proctor being perforce
content, hastily broke up his camp, and re-
treated in disgrace and confusion. towards
Maiden.
In May following, however, Proctor, think
ing TO surprise Fort Meigs, made a second
attack upon it, with a large force of British
regulars and Canadians, and several thousand
Indians under Tecumhe, but was again
obligeI to retreat in disgrace. After which,
Proctor landed part Of his force at Lower
Sandusky, with view TO reduce Fort Ste
phenson. This was mere outpost oil little
importance and General Harrison, acting
with the unanimous advice of his council OF
war, had sent orders to Major Croghan, who
commanded the garrison, to evacuaie the fort,
and make good his retreat to headquarters,
provided the enemy should approach the
place with artillery, and retreat be practical
Bile. But the first step taken by Proctor was
TO isolate the fort by Gordon oflndians, thus
leaving to Major Croghan no choice but be-
tween resistance and submission. He then
demanded Of Croghan to surrender, adding
his customary declaration, that otherwise, he
could not protect the garrison from massacre
by the Indians in case the fort should be
taken. To this atrocious threat, as unlusiifi-
able by anyof the usages of war as it was
cowardly and discourteous, Croghan calmly
replied, that when the fort should be taken,
there would be none left 10 massacre, as it
would not be given up while man was able
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 Gen. Harri-
son because of this affair; to which it is suf-
fciept hero 10 say that, while his orders were
such as the circumstances justified and re-
quircd, and were fully approved and sanction
ed by the most competent judges on the spot,
Croehan himself bearing witness TO the peno-
tration and able generaIship of his measures.
so the defence itself, so successfully made in
compliance with the very contingency con-.
tempatcd in the orders, was in the highest
degree honorable TO the brave garrison and /
its young commander.
ITO be coniinucd)