Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-08-28

The mos, admirable Judgment and the most ""'"'"s
severence. ,,h., ;ntervened be
During the last ten twelve days 'ha' tho ap
,u.en the time that Gen. Harrison eit US al" c, deep
pearance of the enemy, asn % fsri outside of the
and six feet vide, entirely round me lo fort was
go ,d,n1 The ground for 200 yards ro"n nrepara
cls,red Of timber and brush, and "'""'
tions made for the enemy; = o, roccivcd information
Ao""t Ind raised the siege OF orr nt'S'' S"'
,'a' 80, in the direction OF Sandus&y anu .r
hau go on receiving this intelligence. III hsi
me- pETREAT from his position; and imneua'sy
ar,,ess 10 Fort Stephenson, which arrVeu ELL ELL
;s order;nu Major Croghan TO bI.s, Ny
SmRT WITH ALL THE MUNITIONS 49, 49,
STORES. AND RETREAT without a'ias oo,;ons
quarters, giving also some
about the route, nc .,.,,,, minced il
n the hands OF the officers, who were al linen
requested them TO consider u, ana pc !, The
Of the proprety of obeyng OF m oyeston. begin.
hoard was formed, and on putting tne q"' :: 80 ,scer
n;no ne nsual with the younge! oihcef' -. 70" a. ~
tanned that majority Of Us tosre Jo' 49, form
der Croshan returned to his room, '"u =; h.d 70
cd ne our directions, said, u a'n e'"'' ,;,nlr die
so,ved TO disobev at all hazards, ana 'ni ~; tho,
sun - rnress TO Gen. Harrison, giving MN 'i'1'
pcn,.,on Immediately on the ARRIVAL u ., W.. 's :.
nress Gen Harrison dispatched L. ooi' pa'i c W.,
ron.5ron Of Dragons, with orders 10 d''fS, ~
brng him to head quarters, (whIch was uoi -.
.s=,no,bor officer TO take command ny lh's "ie'
!, consequence of his not arriving a9reeaois =, ne
ec,,,ions and ORDERS the General abandoned al ue
IF retreat although has munitions ana To,es
oi % D. 20, nm fire as soon as Croghan should
~ Sarec,. and il is not doubted that II Iro9hh hau
,d according to orders, Gen. Harrison 'co"'a mace
tsd ;nstoutv. tearing the uhoe frontier, our Feet
nj rr;s anil tie stores at Cferefand-ths dcS""tO" -
,chich ,cas the Object u the 'araSon ana
tHe mGe-dt the mercy Of the enemy
After being detained one night, Croghah ie'u"eu y
Sandusky, and reinsta,ed in has command an oc
eason which 9Hs aye an and wheh only Gould Le equal
led in intensity feeling, BY Me ehdSrtn ara m0re"
ton felt at his Especially was the event pleas
inc to those officers who had sustained hun III atSoOey
ing tic order resolved they were, when ne was ar
rested TO share his fate, be it good or evil.
Soon after his return, the enemy so long expected,
made his appearance and demanded surrender Crog-
han answered by directing Ensign Ship to assure
Gen Proctor that it would be blown 10 hell FIRST.
need hardly say, after what has been related, mat
their appearance relieving from our long suspense
was hailed with seeming JOY by the Major, ana most
If not by all, of his command.
The excitement produced by what had occurred, ana
his return Just time meet the enemy, INSPIRED me-
command with enthusiasm, rarely, ever sufpasseu'
and which alone renders man nrincbie
The fort was forthwith besieged, cannonaaed, ana
bombarded from The gun.boatS, and the batteries on
land for nearly four hours, without cessation during
all which time every officer and soldier appeared TO be
animated by the cool and manly bearing Of the com
mandcr
well remember his expression al the first sound OF
the bnge given By the enemy signal for the charI-
inr upon the works. We were sitting together; nc
sprang upon his feet saying, Duncan, every man 10
his post for in twenty minutes they viii attempt to
take US by stor R"collect when yen hear NY voice
crying relief 10 with all the men that can be
spared from your part OF the line lie instantly pass
ed up the line, repeating to every officer; ana had
scarcely got the in place. before the whole British
army, divided into three columns, marched upon the
fort, and made desperate assault, continuing 1t Tor
near an hour, when they were repuscd, with loss IN
killed and wounded estimated at that time, TO be near
double tie number IN lie fort, and IS stated by Engiish
writers to be about ninety.
During the engagement, saw Croghan Often and
witnessed with delight his nrey id and gallant conduct;
which, firmly believe never has been surpassed al
any time on any occasion.
In the heat Of the action frequently heard him *
claim, "huzza my brave fellows, are hewng them
to pieces five minutes more, and will blow them TO
hell By H---n, every officer, and soldier has i'm
mortazed HIMSELF &c, and throughout the whole at.
fair evnced the greatest solcudc for the safety OF
~ one but himself
The sagacity displayed in arranging the cannon, so
open mask embrasure, 10 rake the enemy in the
ditch, at point evidently selected BY them for he
breach-n placing the logs of heavy TIMBER pins
near the top of the picket which could be tilted off by
one man. and being from 20 10 30 feet long swept
~ thing before them-hs activity IN piling bags OF
sand against the pickets wherever the enemy attempt
ed to make breach with cannon, by which meaus each
point of attack grew stronger from the moment 1t
right, SIR, III Tnlenr saying mat
Government has not done justice to Col Crngh7n tor
his conduct in that affair, which is without parallel in
the military annals of our country.
As to myself, having acted very subordinate part,
never did do now, set up claims for distinction
To know that did nv duty 10 country, though not
hardened into manhood, then, and is now, enough
for me. But OF him, feel no hestancy in saying IN
Justice has been done to him. being overlooked by the
Government and the erroneous statements OF hstoTl-
tho &c 4 1ltc 1p1D Ia
the bographcr Of Gen Harrison, have studiousy kept
out OF view, that the object of the invasion was the
destruction Of ships under Com Perry, at Pressure
Isle, and boats and stores Cleveland Thesc were
looked upon with soicitudc BY tic BRITISH were re-
connoitred-and, or two occasions, were attempt
ed to be destroyed by landing the force board their
fcet.-They have also faded to account for the move
ment Of the whole British forces down the lake. in the
direction of Cleveland and Erie, before their defeat at
Sandusky, which was attacked 10 satisfy their Indian
allies, who demanded the seal and plumber of the
place. They have kept out Of ricc tic act hat General
Harrison had determined to retreat 10 tie interior, aer
burning all the supplies 1rhi he h0d cocctcd: that he
ordered Haj CrOphan 10 abandon and bn Fort Stephen
that his refusal TO obey, and failure arrive
head quarters prevented this retreat and consequent
destruction OF fleet, millions Of public stores, and
posture of five hundred miles of frontier to the combined
enemy.
Both have stated that General Harrison never doubt
ed that Major Croghan would be able TO repulse
my OF near two thousand, and which they say he
derstood to be five thousand, with only hundred
and thirty men, his effective force the dav of the
battle, SIX FOUNDER, with ammunition for only seven
shots, and about forty rounds for the small arswhen
the fact was notorious that General Harrison heard
to say during the siege when the firing could be heard
IN ms camp, speaking OF Croghan, ''thc blood be
his own head wash my hands of it, not doubling
for moment, nor did any with him. that the gar
rson would be cut off
With great respect, your obi servant,
JOSEPH DUNCAN
Col PRESTON, Military Com Senate.
THE AB0ILTIDNlSTS
The movement Of the Aboli,ionists to effect SOM