The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-07-30
The Day We Celebrate ]
Official Report Of Major CrOs
CHAN Of the Battle OF
@ Lower Sandusky.

Below we give the official report o
Major Croghan, Of the fight at this place
on the I'd of August, 1913. Majo
4 OroghaD, at the timeoof theofght wa!
but 81 years Of age. He has long sine,
passed away; but his memory will eve
be cherished by the people, and in thil
section the Second of August will evel
remsin grand holiday. The old sil
FOUNDER, which was in thss fort, is stil
preserved by our citizens, and At times
lit speaks in tones which leave no doubts
lin the minds of our citizens, that "old
Betsey" as the gun is fsmiliarly called,
"still lives" Iesaa-1 BIDS 60 bss s''i'
The following is Major Croghap's Of
Iicial report: 'ea' s'4 e9'
LOWER SAEDUsKY, Aug 9th, 1913
DEAR SIR: II have the honour to in.
form you that the combined force of the
enemy, amounting to at least 500 regu-
lars and seven or eight hundred In
dians, under the immediate command
of general Proctor made its appearance
before this place, early on Sunday eve
ming last and so soon as the general
had made such disposition of his troops,
as would cut off my retreat, should / be
disposed to make one be sent colonel
Elliott accompanied byh Major Cham
bers, with flag to demand the sur
render of the fort, as he was anxious TO
spare the effusion of blood, which he
should probably not have in his power
to do, should he be reduced to the
necessity of taking the place by storm.
My answer to the summons was, that l
was determined to defend the place to
the last extremity, and that no force,
however large, should induce me to
surrender it So soon as the flag had
returned, brisk fire was opened upon
us from the gun boats in the river, and
from a 54inch howitzer on shore, which
was kept up with little intermission
through the night At an early hour
the next morning, three ,sires (which
had been placed during the night with
in $50 yards Of the pickets) began, to
play upon us, but with little effect
About 4 o'clock P. M. discovering that
the fire from all his guns was concen-
trated against the northwestern, angle
of the fort, l became confident that his
object was to make breach, and At
tempt to storm the works at that point.
l therefore ordered out as many IN On as
could be employed for the purpose of
Strengthening that front, which was 50
efectually secured by means Of bags of
-four, sand, &c, that the pieksting suf-
fered little or no injury. NotWithstand-
ing which, the enemy, about s O'Clock,
having formed in close column, adFane-
ing to sssail our works at the expected
point, at the same time making two
feints at the front of Captain Hunters
lines, the column which advanced
against the northwestern angle, consist
ing Of about $50 men, was solcomplete-
lY enVeloped in smoke; as not to be dis
covered until it had approached within
fifteen ortWenty PAGES of the lines; but
the men being all at their posts. and
ready to receive 1t, commenced 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 a fire of grape was
opened from our six pounder, (which
had been previously y arranged 90 as to
rake in that direcion) which, together
with the musketry, threw them into
such confusion, that they were compel
led to reGire precipitately to the woods.
During the assault which lasted about
half an hour, an ipcessant fire was kept
up by the enemy's artillery (which con
sisted of five skies and a heBitzer) but
without effect My whole loss during
the siege, was one killed and seven
wounded slightly. The loss Of the enc
my in killed, wounded, and prisoners,
must exceed one hundred and fifty; one /
lieutenant colonel, lieutenant and fifty
rank and file, were found in and about
the ditch; those of the remainder, who
were not able to escape, were taken OF
during the night by the Indians. Seven
ty stands Of arms and several bracelof
pistols have been collected near the
works. About three in the morning
the enemy sailed down the river, IleaY-
ing behind them boat containing
clothing and considerable military
stores. Too much praise cannot be
bestowed on the officers, non-commis-
stoned officers, and privates under my
command for their gallantry and good
conduct during the siege. t'u obsa
''i o. 7' Yours, with respect, ssl
I'D 7n- 20 '27 l-7 Z 6. CROGHAN.
Major l7H u S. Intantry eOasdg. %. s.
Major Gen. Harrison, commanding n. ".