The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-11-07
TWO INCIDENTS IN THE WAR OF
1872
"Furtune favors the brave"

'FUIluue lSSols lie uEdFc'
A military officer with whom we have
long been intimate, relates two incidents
connected with Croghan's gallant delenccs
Of Fort Stevenson, one of which affords
strong positive. and the other stronger neg
alive proof of the above adge.
As the British and Indians, in their opera
tions, had violated pledges and the usage Of
civilized warfare by wantonly numbering
their prisoners, the members Of Croghan's
little band, (only 100 strong with single six
FOUNDER, and surrounded by 900 British
troops, and thrice that number of lndiansJ
had mutually agreed to stand their ground
to The last and sell their lives as dearly as
possible.
When all was ready, the British command
er sent a messenger, under flag oftruce., to
treat fora surrender of the Fort. Croghan,
pointing TO him as he approached, excIaim.
ed
"It will not do to let him enter here and
see our weakness; who will volunteer to
meet hIm!"
As it was pretty certain that whoever
should leave the Fort on such mission
| would be murdered by the bastard foe, there
was brief pause, when Ensign Shipp re-
piled: Il will upon one condition"
"What IS it!" ask Crogan.
"Pledgc me your word as an officer and
man of honor, that you will keep that gun
bearing directly upon ne, and that you will
fire it Oft the moment you see me raise my
hand"
The pledge was given, and sh1pp went
forth
TO all the arguments and persuasions of
the enemy, his unwavcrlng reply was:
81 am instructed to say that we defend
that tort"
Soon the Indians began to surround him.
One culched his epaulctte, another his
sword. Shipp, who was man of llercu.
lean frame, released himself by powerful
effort, and turning TO the enemy coolly
said;
"Sir, have not put myself under The pro-
lection of your truce without knowing your
mode of warfare. You see that gun, poln.
ting to the solitary six pounder, il is we'll
charged with grape, and | have the solemn
pledge ol my commander that tshalI be fired
at me the instan, that give him the signal.
Therefore restrain these men and respect
the law of war. or you shall instantly ac-
company nc to the other world"
This was enough. Shipp was no more
moleslcd; he returned to his comrades in
safety, and fought out the desperate action
that ensued and obtained promotion for hts
bravery.
The circumstance referred to at the head
of this article, was told as follows:
After the British and Indians had with.
drawn. Croghan missed one man (only one)
who had belonged 10 his little band, and all
efforts for his discovery, were for some time
unsuccessful. a, length his remains were
discovered IN the garret of one of the block
houses, where he had crep, for safety and
was cut in too by a cannon ball.
All the rest, considering their chances OF
life not worth thought, had only sought to
do their duty, and escaped alive, from per.
haps the most desperate fight on record.
The only man that was killed happened to
be coward.-N. ]. Sun, Atlas.
It is supposed that the new rehs,is will show
the population of upper Canada to he about
100000. Lower Canada is eI',ma,ed to con-
tain nearly 100000,