Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-01-02
,mnNr. nInn--rnnr srEPmENsON.

for Buffalo, we indulge in some historical
"reminiscences of this thriving town, known,
till 1s4o, as Lower Sandusky. 1t is the
capital of Sandusky county, and lies upon
the west bank of the Sandusky river about
twenty miles from its mouth, and twenty
five miles from Sandusky City. 1t is a
commercial and very much of business
place, being Mt the head of navigation.-
Vessels arc loaded here for Buffalo, and a
small steamboat runs up from Sandusky
City daily, during the navigable season.
The population of Fremont is nearly four
Thousand, and is having steady increase
1t has good public schools, which are under
tho superintendent of Mr.. G.. A. Stark
weather; thriving Young Mems Lyceum,
and other means of mental culture. Bir-
chard Hall is one of the largest, best con-
Quoted and most elegant rooms of the kind
in Northern Ohio, and is truly credit to
the place.
To all strangers visiting this town, the
greatest object of attraction is the site of
Fort Stephenson, and the rusty six-pounder
which did such good execution on the sec
ond of August, 1918, and which stands in
the public street ready for service, STILL
During the recent Presidential campaign,
we are told it was frequently on duty, doing
its work impartially, now believing for Bu-
chanan, and anon for Fremont or Fillmore
We have before us Niles Weekly Reg
lister, for August IA, 1913, in which is Ma
jor Croghan's official report of the defence
of Fort Stephenson, as communicated to
Major General Harrison, then commander
of the northwestern army. 1t seems that
the force which Gen. Proctor commanded
and which he marshalled around the Fort,
consisted of about five hundred British and
nearly twice as many Indians-a large body
to be resisted by youth who had just pass
cd his twenty-frst year, and who had but
one hundred and sixty men with him in the
Fort But young America was not as cas-
lily daunted then, as it is now. The an
swer of Major Croghan to Gen. Proctor,
when invited to surrender, was, that he was
determined to defend the place to the last
extremity; and that no force, however large,
should induce him to surrender it. There
was pluck in that reply, and the young Ma
jor showed during the next twenty-four
hours, that his GOODNESS and military skill
were equal to his bravery. The details of
the siege are best given in his own Ian
guage:
So soon as the flag was returned, brisk
fire was opened upon us from the gun-boats
in the river, and from a 81 inch howitzer on
shore, which was kept up with little inter
mission throughout the night. Atan early
hour the next morning, three skies, which had
been placed during the night within 25O
yards of the pickets, began to play upon us,
but with little effect. About o'clock P.
NJ, discovering that the fire from all his
Proctor's guns were concentrated against
the north west angle of the fort, became
confident that his object was to make a
breach, and attempt to storm the works at
that point. | therefore ordered out as
many men as could be employed for the
purpose of strengthening that part, which
was so effectually secured by means of bags
of -four, sand, &c, that the picketing suffer
ed little or no injury notwithstanding which,
the enemy, about 500, having formed in
close column, advanced to assault our works
at the expected point, at the same time ma
king two feints on the front of Capt Hun
ter's lines The column which advanced
against the northwestern angle, consisting
of about $50 men, was so enyeloped in
smoke as not to be discovered until it had
approached within eighteen or twenty pa
COS of the lines, but the men being all at
their posts and ready to receive it, commen-
ced so heavy and CALLING fire as to throw
the column little into confusion; being
quickly rallied, it advanced to the outer
works and began to leap into the ditch
Just at that moment, fire Of grape was
opened from our six FOUNDER, which had
been previously arranged so as to rake in
that direction, which, together with the
musketry, threw them into such confusion
that they were compelled to retire precipi-
lately to the woods.
During the assault which lasted about
half an hour an incessant fire was kept up
by the enemy's artillery, which consisted OF
five skies and howitzer, but without effect
NY whole loss during the siege, was one
killed and seven wounded slightly. The
loss of the enemy in killed, wounded and
prisoners, must exceed one hundred and fif-
ty; one lieut.. colonel, lieutenant and fifty
rank and file were laying about the ditch
dead or wounded. Those of the remainder
who were not able TO escape were taken of
by the Indians. Seventy stand of arms
an4 several brace of pistols have been col
lected near the works, About three in the
morning the enemy sailed down the river
leaving behind them a boat containing clio
thing and considerable military stores.
A flag, with the inscription, Sort Ste
rhenson, August I'd, 1873" waves the ycal
round, over tho site of the Fort, aud tho
anniversary of the battle is observed by tho
citizens of the place from year to year, anC
is usually day of scarcely less interest thar