The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-09-09

Of this world. not unfrequenily converts evil in
TO good, and folly inis wisdom. On the pres
ent occasion. we have seen, that, by the first
order given to Croghan, he was assigned 10 the
defence Of post, which, in the Generate opin-
ion. could no, be sdred,' and, at the same ti:nr.
forbidden to retreat in the fare Of an Indian
Investment; : and that, by a second. he was or
der.d TO abandon this untenabi, post aud make
good q retreat Of nine mites, through a confin-
uous forest. filled ,riih sorages, ,cithout aid
support Of any Kind"
The circ uinsi ances connected with Croghan's
refusal 10 obey the order to burn and retreat.
are told for the first time truly in bis letter,
which We now publish. The resol, is forclbly
told by the Secretary, Armstrong. in the follow
Ing passage -
ain making this selection, the young and
gallant Croghsn did no, hesitate; aad to the
demand Of a surrender, enforced by the usual
menace Of indiscriminate slaughter in ease OF
refusal. he answered substantially that the de-
fence of his post was point OF honor. which
could only be satisfied by an actual experiment
Of the relative force aud fortune Of his antagon-
isl himself.
while this negotiation was in progress
Proctor was employed in landing his arti!erv
and giving il position in aid Of his gun. boats
from which, on tho delivery Of Croghan's an
swer heavy fire was opened and continued on
the ori, with liule, if any interinission, during
the night. At daybreak \ second battery OF
three six FOUNDERS was established within two
hundred and fifty ysids Of the pirkets; and p
bout -four o'clock =. NJ, is was found that the
whole fire Of the British cannon, was conceb-
iratcd on the northwest corner Of the fori-s
circumstance, sufficiently indicating the point
aud species Of attack media,ed upon il. Ma.
jor Croglisn, accordingly, hastened to employ
such means as he possessed tn strengthen the
menaced angle, and had barely executed his
purpose, when the enemy Towering himself
with smokr) was seen rapidly advancing, and
but n few PAGES distant from the pickeis. A
general ard we'll directed FIRE Of musketry from
the garrison. which Immediately followed this
discovery, had the effect of checking his pro.
Gress and disturbing his order: but the lat
ter being speedily restored, The movement
wns resumed, and the ditch reached and oo-
cupied by the head Of the column. il
was at this critical moment, that Croghans
single piece OF artillery charged with grape.
shot, and SO placed rs TO enhlade the .-
salilants, opened its FIRE, and with such effect.
tina, In few minutes the combat was virtually
ended, and the battle won. Most Of the enemy
Who had eptrred tho ditch, were KILLED or ~ouN-
Jed and such of them rs were less advanced
and able TO ily, sought safety 10 the ncighbor-
inc woods-carrying with them no disposition to
renew the attack, md strongly inprrssing their
Indian allies with their own panic. Proctor
row saw that all attempts to rally the fugii,es
were hopeless, and that 10 avoid greater ca
lamity,' his most prudent course would be To
re embark what could he collected Of his fhrcc.
red and white, and return Immediately 10 NAL
dcn."
We now como to the uspuJiisled history
connected with this event. II will explain why
the results Of this victory were carefully Kept
out Of view M tho iime-why Croghan con
sentcd 10 have his motives for disobeying his
orders, Disrcpresenied, and Hsrrison's rondUct
~ giving them, vindicated-and why Harrison
10 Persevsringly faIsifed the truth Of bisfory in
he accounts given by him Of this particular
ransaciioD, in the two works prepared under
,is own eye; the first published by MeAfer. the
econd by Dawson.
10 bringing forward Colonel Croshan's let.
ers upon this subject, IL IL proper TO state that
hey were given to us by gentleman of high
ianaing in Ohio, who, without any eommuDi-
alton with Colonel Croghan uron the subject.
unlimited them 10 rs for the press. The facts
hat these letters were called Tor BY a committee
II gentlemen at Wheeling. the friends Of tIar-
Colonel Crogh han expressed his vii.
ingBrss to give them to the public by refer-
ng the committee to Gen. harrison for the
'orres enes-that this COMMITTEES after hsv-
og time to communicate with General tiar-
ison, Published letter ms Croa hans whirh the
ale correspondence befween Harrison and Crog-
,an shows was not his, hut cue which his self
aeri6eing patriotism perniiied Harrison TO
hape, to suit the exigencics Of the time AT which
I was published-that BarhsoR's aid, Col.
Todd, nov conducting a press neioriously set
L.. ..s.,., I,.t. .,(I Iael
ID, in reference to the call by me committee
or the correspondence in regard TO the con-
es,ed question Of the defeues Of Fort Stephen
ION, that thero was no "centesied question:.
. that hisiory and Col. Croghon's o,1n letter al
he dan, hare placed The subject beyond The ne
sSsiiy Of further eiuoiddhon"--sll these facts,
connected with the consideration that IL what is
aid in behalf Of Harrison in regard 10 the call OF
,is own friends for the correspondence, be true,
he correspondence itself must br false, render
I proper, in justice TO the parties and 10 tho
public, that the issue made by Colonel TOdd's
declaration should be tested. We do not puo-
ish what pprports 10 be the replies Of Hani-
on, in the copies which We have in our hands,
,ecause tho history referred by Colonel odd,
!, true, is Condemned, in the letters purpor-
ps to be IIauisous, rs erronsous. Harisoa
must therefore deny the authenticity Of these
.,,rrs or the authority Of his friend Col. Todd,
o make the statement in his behalf.
We shall await, then, some intima,on on
he part Of General Harrison or his friends.
ouehinc this subject some recognition Of the
eiters imputed to him, coupled with an ex-
,ressisn OF a willingness that they may meet
The pubiic eye" In that contingency We shsll
nth sIacrity present them in the columns Of
he Globe, m their proper connection.
From the contents Of Col. Crog hans letters
I will bs perceived that not = fact stated by
im ia controverted. II was alone upop ,ae so'
Mission Of the truth Of his statement that the
nods of correcting the original msrepresen's.,
atisns was referred to the decision si pu'oa
riends.
"a fear that Harrison would qut ev esmpu
S.,.ea ana rsnpee upon hip 10 bis then crippled
,.,. I, i ,cr,hv Of potice that Of these tvo CON-
,'"Wi w - H.,.r.x.,h. iarror Of Each cther one was