The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1860-01-19
COLONEL OROeHAN.

Mr.. Breckenridge. in his history Of the
late war. thus describes the gallant defence
of Fort Sandusky:-
Tie transactions which are now to be
related may justly rank among the most
pleasing to our feeling and national pride,
OF any which took place during The con-
test. The campaign opened with an af
fair, which, though comparatively of small
er consequence than some others, is in it's
circumstances one of the most brilliant
that occurred during the war. This was
the unparalleled defence of fort Sandusky,
by youth Of twenty.one years of age
In August, and before the arrival Of the
Ohio and Kentucky volunteers, which did
not take place until the following month,
threatening movements had been made
upon all the different forts, established bv
the Americans on the rivers which fall
into lake Eric. After the siege of fort
Meigs, the British had been considerably
reinforced by regulars, and an unusual
number of Indians. un'Ier their great lender
Tecumsell. 1t was all important to reduce
these forts before the arrival Of the voIun-
teers. Major Croghan, then commanding
at Upper Sandusky, having received init
NATION that the enemy were about to in
vest the fort Of Lower Sanluskv, had
marched to this place with some additional
force. and had been occupied with great
a>siduity in placing it in the best posture
Of defence. But the only addition of i'm
portance, which the time would allow him
to make, was ditch of six feet deep and
nine feet wide. outside the stockade of
picke's Ivy which these hastily constructed
forts are enclosed, but which can afford
but weak defence against artillery. Lie
had but one six FOUNDER, and about one
hundred and sixty men, consisting of reg.
ulars, and detaclments Of the pittsburg
aud Petersburg volunteers. General Har-
ison. not conceiving it practicable to de-
fe"d the place, ordered young Croglan 10
retire on the approach Of the enemy, after
having DESTROYED the works This our
y"u"s hero. taking the responsibility upon
himself determined to disobey.
On the first of August. General Proc
tor. having left large body of Indians
under Tecumseh, to keep up the appear
a"ce of siege of fort Meigs. arrived at
SanduSky with about five hundred regulars,
seven hundred Indians. and some gun
b"ate. After the General had made such
dispositions Of his troops as to cut IF
the retreat of the garrison. he sent flag
by Colonel Elliot and Major Chambers, de.
ma"ding surrender, accompanied with
the usual base and deiestable threats Of
butchery and cold-blood massacre, if the
garrison should hold out. A spirited all
swer was returned by Crogl,an, who found
that all his companions, chiefly s,ripIiugs
like himself, would support him to the
last.
When the flag returned, brisk fire was
opened from the gun boats and howilzpr,
which was kept up during tle night. In
the morning. they opened with three sizes,
which hal been planted, under cover of
the night, within two hundred and fifty
yards Of the pickets. but not with much
effect. About four o'clock in the after
noon, it was discovere! that the enemy
had concentrated his fire against the north.
west angle, with the intention of making
breach. This part was Immediately
strengthened by the apposition Of bags of
-four and sand. SO that tie pickets suffered
but little injury. During this time, the
six-pourder was carefully concealed in the
bastion which covered the point to be. as
sailed, and It was loaded with slugs and
grape. About FIVE hundred of the enemy
now advanced in close column to assail
the part ~i,ers4it was supposed tile pickets
,must have been injured. at the same lime
making .syasss tsintss to draw The attention
Of tile besisged to other parts Of the fort :;
their force being thus divided. 9 column
of three HinJrsd -and fifty. men which
were eso enyelopsd in smoke as3 not TO be
aeen null they approached within twenty
PAGES of rtliey lines. advanced rapidly to
the ASSAULT. Asfre Of musk from The
fort for a moment, t,hrss ,l.s,nssinto coafp-
sion, ,sbut they were qahskly rallied BY Colo
fnsf Short, their comr,snder, who, now
,springihg over the outer works into tile
ditch, commanded iherest 70 follow. cry
s;ng Gut, "Gise iI.s eladisned Yankees DO
qusssntsrln Scarcely sI,ad sthssss delsstas.s
5yords escaped l,is lips and tie greaisi
part Of his followers land In ll,s ditch,
~tisn sllssix.po SSder opened ppon tllsms !
ksnos. Destructive Gre, killing and woanaias
the greater put and among the ffst Die
aNsetehed leader swilo ,sas sent into eternity
[fbsiors Ills words Bad died upon The s
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