Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1840-05-23

" tentiun was to draw our attention to the
batteries, and to surprise and storm I
camp in the rear. Orders were immedat
y on guard, and the remaining two-thir
to sleep with their muskets in their arm
and to be constantly prepared at a m
ments warning, to fly their posts. The
orders were strictly obeyed, and every du
was performed with the utmost. cheerft
ness and alacrity. The men were permi
ted. morning and evening, to go to the riv
and get water, the well not being finis1e,
and the Indians occupying very advant
geous positions round the camp, annoyed
very considerably. Several of our me
were slightly wounded by them, and II
General, being constantly exposed, had 81
veral very narrow escapes. In the courl
of the day we killed two or three Indian
and wounded four or FIVE. Some time
the night, the enemy towed a gun boat u
the river near us, and fired for some time
but not ball came into camp. Early
the morning they commenced firing ae;ail
hut without effect; and they thought
most prudent to retire MS soon as it becarn
light vuuugh for ue to f-o upon hor. Thor
were about 80 balls fired in all.
May 1st.--The grand traverse was now
nearly finished, and several small ones be
sides. Traverses were commenced in va
rious directions, and carried on with life anc
spirit. This morning we fired several times
with very good effect. Our works were
now in very good situation. About 10
O'Clock the enemy had one caunon prepared,
and commenced firing very briskly; and in
short time they opened several more pie
ces on US. The had "a FOUNDER, 12, a
Q, and howitzer. During the day, they
fired 256 times, and four times, in the
night. Our works received no material
injury. Their "a Founders passed through
our pickets without cutting them down,
which was very grand thing to US. We
silenced one of their pieces several times,
but did not fire as often as the enemy, as
we surpassed them in shooting. Men were
carried away from their batteries in blankets
and other things, which proved that we had
done some execution. Our wounded
amounted this day to about I'll mortally,
2badly, and S slightly. A bullet struck
the seat on which the general was sitting,
and the writer Of this article received a
bullet as lie stood directly opposite the &C.
neral, but sustained no injury:
May 2d.-Commenced firing very early
with bombs and balls, and continued very
briskly all day. We lost this day one man
killed and ten wounded, besides several
others slightly touched with Indian bullets.
The enemy's sloop came in sight to-day.
They fred 467 times in the night.
May 3d.--Commenced with a very brisk
and fierce firing of bombs and cannon balls.
They opened two batteries upon us on this
side of the river, about $50 yards in our
right angle, one of which was bomb bat
terry. We instantly returned their fire, and
sllenced them for some time; but they kept
1t up occasionally during the day. The In
diaus shot one Of our men through the
head, and killed him, and we had Fix men
killed by the cannon and bombs. and three
men wounded. The enemy fired SIC times
during the day, and Al times during the
night.
May 4h.--Owing to some clrcumstan
ces, the enemy were not on the alert this
and did not commence firing un-
iii about II o'clock, and then slowly. 1t
raIned very heavy this morhing until 9
o'clock. A new battery was discovered
erecting on tins side in the same direction
with the other, and traverses were COM
renced to guard against them. Several
men were slightly wounded, and two SOL
diers killed by the bombs in the night.
Lieut.. Gyne killed a British officer on this
side with a rifle. They fired in all 2O7 times
in the day, and Is times in the night.
May 5ih.-They fired this day very slow,
but they killed three men with bombs and
cannon balls. They fired 14S times in all.
About two o'clock Mr. Oliver arrived with
II men of Mr.. Clay's detachment. Orders
were then sent to Gen. Clay to land about
800 men oh the opposite shore, to spike the
enemy's Cannon, when we were to attack
The batteries on this side at the same time.
Every thing was executed in elegant style;
but Colonel Dudley did not order retreat
after effecting the g.and object, but was
1rawD into the woods by partial firing OF
he Indians; and after a severe conflict the
greatest portion were taken prisoners.
They succeeded, however, in splking the
eneuiy's cannon, and about $50 returned
safe in camp. During this time, we had
.wo severe engagements on this side; sue
,eeded in repulsing the enemy and in spi-
ring the cannon, and taking 4s prisoners
wo of whom were Lieutenants. If the de-
achment under Colonel Dudley had ad-
,ered to orders, it would have been most
brilliant and glorious day to the American
,rms. The first charge on this side, was
made on Indians and Canadians by Major
battalion, Captain hearings
company, and two or three companies OF
& entuckians. They displayed great brave
" and courage. The enemy acknowledg
ID they were surprised, and that we would
have succeeded in every thing if oar militia
had not been too confident. The. second
charge on this side was made by Col. Mill
er's command of regulars, to wit, Captain
Croghan, Langham, Bradford, Nearing, and
Lieut.. Campbell. Major Alexander's bat
talipn and Captain Se5ree's company OF
Kentucky militia. They all ac,ed with the
most determined bravery. A flag was sent
down oy us, at the request Of one of the
officers, a prisoner, to look on certain
point on this side, to ascertain whether one
of their officers was not wounded there;
shortly after their return the enemy sent a
flag over to see about their wounded and
prisoners. They did not fire their cannon
this day after the battle, except once or
twice one piece which remained unsplked.
Their force consisted of-50O regulars, 500
militia, and 900 Indians. fe
/. i.Nay 7h.a-Bad weather, which has con-
tipued ..or several days has been very dlsa-
preeabIe !. Col.---and Major Chambers
p. .yar ahont 10 o,cl,,ck to make ar |