Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-04-27
The Siege of Fort Meiss.--First Day.

made by General Harrison and the American troops
in April and May, 1873, then beseged by the Bri
fish and Indians, in the camp at Fort Meigs, on
Maumee or Miami river, Ohio, great interest be-
gins TO be felt know the facts and circumstances
which took place at that interesting period of the
last war.
Without caring much whether General Harrison
or Mr. Van Buren, be elected President or not, is
vet interesting to throw ones mind back from the
present corrupt and rotten times, and to refresh the
soul with little of the hard cider Of life, ii
listed in tho west about n years ago
TWAS on the 18th Of April, 1913, Just y years
ago, that General Harrison and one thousand Anne
rican troops, consisting principally of Kentuckians
and Onions, were encamped at Fort Meigs, on the
left bank Of the Maumee river. The fort consisted
of strong picket fence enclosing an area of $500
wards with eight double timbered block houses;
four large batteries and store houses and magazines
were constructed-the one containing the materials
of life the other those of death-with a reversion
of damnaton for the enemy. The ground selected
for this post precisely the same spot on which
General WAYNE had fought and conquered the En-
glish and Indians in 1874, in which fight General
Harrison was a STRIPPING, fresh from Virginia, tall
and graceful, and much beloved by the young women
of that dav. Even the young Indian squaws, with
their black eyes, black hair, white teeth, white boz
SONS heaving with love or liquor, would lock
through their fingers at the handsome young aid
de-camp which Harrison then was, ana smile quite
bewiderngly.
On this spot, well watered with British and Indian
blood nearly twenty years before, was the camp Of
Fort Meigs erected. General Harrison knew the
ground, every inch of it, and il in Ayril, 1873
well watered and wooded, with the river on one
SIDE deep ravne on the other, and fine field TO
attack from front and The very atmosphere
smelled of blood and battlc-aud il is very curious
how at the interval of centuries, .he fighting gene
ratons of men continue to cut each others threats
like heroes the very spots where their predeces-
sors happened to do the same species Of wholesale
business. On this spot, therefore, gallant hero,
General Harrison, felt at home, except, perhaps,
the addition of few tall young trees which had ia
ken strong in the skulls or the old Indians buried
there in 1894. The fertilization was called Camp
Meigs, in honor of Governor Meigs Ohio a warm
friend of General Harrison, and regular old stager
in the field OF Indian aairs-to say nothing of blood
and battle.
1t was the 18th fApril, very pleasant spring
morning on the banks of the Maumee-thc birds
beginning TO siAg-the buds 10 burst forth-and all
nature to rejoice. General Harrison had been now
at the camp for several days, having returned from
Ohio where he had gone TO get drink of hard cider
and TO kiss his wife, if he had at that time, of
which we not sure.
Spring is very beautiful on the rivers of Ohio
The seasons there succeed each other so quetly-so
softly-so orderly. Here ia New York. we ha We il
cold to-day-hot to-morrow-wndy next day-a
perfect calm fourth. Every thing is changeable
but the lovely wonderland they are as constant to
balls parties, fine dresses, and promenading Broad
way the needle is TO the pole-and even little
more The needle vibrates from the pole occa-
xio -huffh he ~,
ever vibrate from velvet satin dress, till her
husband has broke and gone to the devil.
But to return. On the 18th Of April, 1913, Gene
raj Harrison from his couch; the sun was ris-
ing out Of the waves OF Lake Erie, as from the high
woods Of Sandusky. He shaved himself-washed
himself, and then kne.t down in a corner of his tent
and poured out short prayer-perhaps thus: +" Oh!
Lord, If our cause is good cause, help us-if not
stand nenter, and how we will settle il our
selves" After this, the General went out to view
the progress OF the works, which were hardly yet
completed. Every moment they expected the arri-
val Of 1900 British troops and Indians, who had been
discovered coming up the other side Of the river TO
attack capture, eat and make beefsteaks Of General
Harrison and all his troops.
Alter breakfast, the General called Capt Ham
bleton 10 him, and said" Captain, take troop and
go down the river few miles, and ascertain the
movements OF the enemy. understand they
coming up in great force. Now must be pre-
pared to receive them in proper style" Aye, aye,
Sir" said Capt. Hambleton; and of he posted with
his chosen troop.
While Capt. Hambeton and his troop rode laugh
ing and cracking jokes through the brush wood that
skirted the banks Of the river, the General turned
round TO his troops and cried out, Ny brave boys
let's 10 work and finish encsmpment as fast a.
possible. The day is now fine, and we must be pre-
pared for visite-s. " Halo you Tom there,
what you Going with that gun" cried the Gene
raj TO black fellow. The negro opened hi. mouth
and roared, "oh, golly Ginirel, I'm putin de
breakfast into de belly Of dis eighteen FOUNDER so he
may be ready to receive de Ingen like gemman.
Ha, hai ha.'
The men worked at the Notifications most tremen-
dously, smoking segsrs and singing sengs all the
time. Indeed IL is supposed that the Tips first caught
the fever for singing songs at Fort Meigs.
About twelve o'clock, noon, the General went to
dinner-for that is the fashionable time in a camp on
the field Of battle, when they have any dinner TO
take He pulled out piece Of bacon and bread,
and then washed il down with hearty draught Of
hard cider "This is hard enough" said the Gene
raj, licking his lips, +" but we may have harder be-
fore night" The troops did the same for the Gene
raj found that good hard cider with plenty Of bacon
and corn bread, make men regular hard boys, hard
Ioafers, and hard fighters