The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-09-28
SKETCHES OF 1873
DEFENSE OF FORT STEPHENSON.
BY WIN. 7. YOUNG.

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At the massacre Of Frenchtown, perish
ed many Of the noblest sons of Kentucky.
Scarce a family of note. in sthat patriotic
State, but bewailed the loss ofa beloved re I
latiye. At Frankfort, the Governor and
many of the citizens were at the Theatre
: when the sad news of Winchester's defeat
reached there. The whole audience, at
'eace, by one impulse, retired TO learn the
details Of the calamity. Presently, fathers
were seen going about half distracted, and
mothers, wives and sisters were weeping
in the retiremett of their homes. The
voice Of lamentation was heard in nearly
every dwelling. But like Hull's surren-
der, this second disaster contributed to in
crease the ardor Of the people for reyenge.
While they mourncd for the dead, they re-
solved 10 ayenge their sacraice,
When Gen. Harrison was informed that
Winchester had advanced towards French
town, he Immediately prepared to join him
witha reinforcement. Hayingproceeded
about six miles, and ascertained that Win
chester's defeat was complete, he resolved
to return. Adctachment of one hundred
and seventy men was sent forward to
Frenchtown, with directions to proceed as
far as possible to assist those who we're for
tunate enough to escape--these were very
few--the great depth Of snow prevented
their getting farin advance oftheir pursu-
ers, They We're oyertaken and captured.
Immediately after the affair at French
town, Gen. Harrison marched his army to
the rapidsof the Miami; wherehe construct
ed Fort Meigs. Here, in May, 1918. he
was beseiged by two thousand British and
Indians, under Proctor and Tecnmsehs---
The bembardment by land and water CON
tinned several days. The enemy first APP
peared on the 25th of April. and on the 9th
of May were repulsed, routed, and forced
to abandon the seige. Having ascertained
that they had left the vicinity, Gen. Harrii
sonleft Ft. Meigs under charge'of Gen.
Greene Clay, and marched to Lower San
dusky. .7@4.S.e
Remaining there a short time; he pro-
ceeded to Franklintop, where the soldiers
were to assemble to prosecute the campaign
and retake the territory lost by Gen. Hull.
Major Croghan, a young officer of the reg
ular army, was left with one hundred and
sixty men at Lower Sanddsky, in garrison
at.Fort Stephenson. Here he was attacted
bya large force under Proctor, and with
but single cannon repulsed them COM
pletely. An account ofthis siege, though
familiar to the reader, isWorthy Of repeti-
tion, if itwere only to commemorate the
inyincible courage or the young command
or and his youthful companions. s-s
On Sunday evening, August1st, 1913,
five hundred British regulars, and from
seven to eight hundred Indians. under the
immediate command Of Proctor, appeared
before Fort Stephenson. He made sucI
disposition ofhis troops as efFectually tc
cut OF the retreat Of the garrison, il they
should attempt one. He then sent Col
Elliott and Major Chambers to demand the
surrender Of the Forthwith the slerreotyped
assertion that che was anxious to spare the
effusion ofblood, which would be out o.
hispoWer to effect, il he should be com
PEELED to take the Fortb storm. 9.
'Gtoghanss reply was, that ,he.was deter
mined to defend the place 20 the last ek
tremitys and that no force. however large
should induce him To surrender This re-
ply being communicated to Proctor, h
commenced q brisk ERE upon the Fort from
his gun boats ia the river, and q howitzei
,on shore. Theire was kept up through
the night with but little effect. Atm ear
1y hour nex ext11ornihg, three six-pounders
which in the night had been placed o.
shore within Two hundred aud fifty yard
ofthe nickefs. opened THAR FIRE. hut will