Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-01-29
From the Ohio stnto journal.

Tho History of the Repuise of the Brit
ish before Fort Stephenson.
Gen. Harrison was then at Seneca Old
Town and received intelligence tho same
evening that the enemy had left Fort Meigs
A council of war was then called and it
was determined that Fort Stephenson was
untenablc, and Gen. Harrison sent an order
to Major Croghan to retire on the approach
of the enemy, after destroying the works.
By dispatch which was intended to fall in
to the hands of the enemy, Major Croghan
declared his unwillingness to obey, as he
was able to defend the Fort.
"On the first of August, about three
o'clock in tho afternoon Major Croghan saw
the enemy with bis gun-boats, cannon, and
all his means Of annoyance, approaching
for the purpose of storming his little stock
ado. The Fort was soon surrounded by
FIVE hundred British soldiers, and eight
hundred Indians, and Tecumseh was placed
in an ambuscadc, with large Indian force
to intercept rcinforcements from Seneca
Old Town and Fort Meigs, After General
Proctor had made such disposition of his
troops as rendered the retreat of the garri
son impracticable, he sent flag by Colone
Elliott and Major Chambers, demanding q
surrender, accompanied with the usua
threats of butchery and massacre, if tho
garrison should hold out. Major Croghan
who found that his companions, young mel
like himself, would support him to the last
returned the spirited answer, that "wher
the Fort should be taken, there would be
none left to massacre; as it would not bC
given up while man was able TO fight"
When the flag was returned brisk frC
was opened from tho six Founders in thu
boats, and howitzer, which was kept VI
during the night.
During the same night, Major Croghar
discovered that the enemy seemed to ain
most of his shots at the northwest corner o
the Fort, and he supposed that whom th'
British attempted TO storm tho place, tn,
point of attack would be at that angle
So he ordered Captain Hunter to place thei
only cannon in such position That it woulC
rake the ditch, in case the enemy attempted
TO scale the works at that angle. In secresy
and with uncommon industry and persona
exertious, Captain Hunter obeyed the order
The morning of the memorable second Q
August 1913, dawned upon this heroic lii
tie band. The enemy kept up continue
firing from daylight until four o'clock in tn
afternoon, when they concentrated the fir
Of all their guns at tho northwest angl
of the Fort. Seeing this, Major Croghal
ordered Sergeant Weaver and six private
of the Pittsburgh Blues, to place there will
all possible expedition, bags of sand an,
-four. This was dono so effectually tha
that angle received no material injury fror
tho euemy's guns. The six FOUNDER wa
entrusted to the management of the sam
Sergeant and his six mon. Late in the eve
ming, when all was enveloped in smoke
tho enemy proceeded to make the assault
Two feints were made on Captain Hunter
lines, but in tho meantime, three hundrc
and fifty British soldiers advanced in til
smoke to within sixty feet Of the north
west angle. A severe fire of musketry fron
the Fort put them in confusion for INC
ment, when Lieutenant Colonel Short, VIII
headed the column, urged forward his mel
to the edge Of the ditch, calling upon then
to follow him, and ''give the Yankees n
quarter and then leapcd into tho ditch
The masked port hole was now opened, an
tho six FOUNDER within thirty feet of the as
sailants was fired
Lieutenant Col. Short and fifty other
were instantly killed or wounded. Deaf
and desolation filled the ditch.
AT the same moment the troops unde
Col Hunter, opened terrible discharge @
rifles upon another position of the assailant
under Col. Warburton and Maj. Chambers
and compelled them TO retire.
"At 8 o'clock this night, Proctor and hi
mon made most shameful and disorderl
retreat down the Bay; leaving, in their ter
ror and confusion, boat full of valuabl
stores; besides great numbers of arms, &c
around the Fort" t4
Mr.. Reinhart, in his spirited and we'll con
ceiyed sketch, has seized the moment afte
the first fire of the six FOUNDER, raking tn,
ditch, with Col. Short, mortally wounded
and the slaughtered British and Indian
strewing the ground.
We sincerely hope that the resolution 70
the adoption Of this design for one of th,
pannels in the Rotunda Of the State Hous,
may pass CROGHAN.