The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-07-08

ling intelligence to Gen. Hrrison: anC
with this addition to his force. h,
determined at once to commenc,
ohunsiye operation, by attacking thu
enemy at every assailable point, dis
loge them from their position, de
stroy their batteries, and thus fer
lmlnate the seigc of Fort Meigs
With this view two officers were i'm
mediately despatched to General
Clay with orders to land about {
mile above the Fort, on the opposite
side of the river, a detachment OF
800 men under one Ofhis most trust
worthy officers. To move upon the
British batteries, to carry them
spike the cannon, destroy the am.
munition with their carriages, and
Immediately upon the accomplish
ment of this, to cross the river to
the Fort under cover ofour artillery.
The brave Col Dudley did in a
most gallant manner, take the Brit
ish batteries and spiked some pieces
of their cannon; but, too confident
Of his own strength, and ignorant of
that Of the enemy, to be soon made
available, he was induced, in viola
ton Of his instructions, to occupy
thegroundtaken until the enemy had
time to collect their forces in an
adjacent woods, into which he was
cunningly enticed by a firing ola
few Indians where, after q bloody
conflict, the largest part of his com
mand was taken.
Gen. Harrison displayed, in the
judgment of all his officers. the
highest order ofmilitary talent dur
ing the seige,-for his efficient plans
Of defence, by traverses through and
a cross the eIcampment, as a cover
for his men-the manner of protect
ing his magazine the object of con
stant attack-as well as for the plan di-
rection, and most opportune execu-
tion of the grand objects of the two
sorties, made by detachments from
the garrison of Fort Meigs on the
9TH of May 1913.
The first sortie was directed
that portion of the Indians.
and Canada militia, investing tAe
south and west end of the Fort, for
the purpose of drawing them from
the river, whilst Gen. CIay's detach-
ment was efecting its entrance into
the Fort.
The second sortie commenced its
movement just at the moment of the
appearance, on the opposite side,
of Dudley's detachment, advancing
upon the British batteries, having
the double effect of engaging the
Indians and preventing them from
crossing the river to cooperate
against Dudley, and accomplishing
the destruction of the enemy's bat
teries on the southeast side of the
river
On no occasion during the last
war, were greater honors acquired
than by Gen. Harrison, who con
ceived and directed, and the gallant
men who executed his orders in
these two brilliant sorties.
In both engagements our troops,
whilst utterly exposed, advanced up
on and repulsed the enemy, shelter
ed as he was by his position, and
outnumbering our men 1 to l.
In the last sortie our men march
ed as firmly as veterans to the veryI
mouths of the British cannon, re-
ceiying, unmoved, their constant fire
of grape shot, accompanied by a
most calling and destructive fire
from thousands of Indians and mill
tia on our font and fanks. Al
though large number of our men
fell and perished on the bed of hon
Or, their surviving comrades never
paused in their forward march until
5he batteries with a large portion of
the British regulars in charge of
hem were captured, and the whole
Indian and militia force was dis
Oersed and routed. Thus ended the
memorable siege of Fort Meigs.