Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-07-01


this ana IN earnest appeal made for the discon-
unuanee OF these Outrages. But all to no avail.
England sought by quoting barbarous precedents
tJustfy her unwarranted advocates. All kinds
OF bad faith; all sOrts OF indignitos were submit
ted 20, and continued until the memorable epoch
OF the 18th Of June, 1912. The insults and az.
gressions, step by step were directed surely and
more sure against the flag, the honor and Inde-
pendence the United State, uAtil the instances
were almost numberless. At this time the toma-
hawk and scalping knife Of the Indians we're
again unearthed on the northwestern frontier
The pipe.of peace was broken and the painted
savage danced his war dance and shouted his
drunken war song in the ears Of the innocent
settlers. On the ocean, British privateers pur-
sued and destroyed our merchantmen with in-
creased vgor, following them even into our own
hsrbors for plumber. AT last the national Exec
utve, who had long forborne to act extensively,
proclaimed that British armed vessels must not
enter the harbors or waters Of the United States.
This proclamation was disregarded by the
British, and an embargo was, by them, imposed
on all American vessels and merchandise.
This state Of things continued and grew worse
and worse and mnre humiating until the date
| speak NJ, June IS. 1912. few months prior
to this time the Executive determined to place
an armed force on the borders Of the Northern
States. A requisition was made for 200 militia
from Ohio. which was promptly complied with
BY Gov. Megs, and n rendezvous established at
Dayton. Volunteers came to the ranks from all
stations in life. and n less time than would seem
credible the quota was filed to overflnwing, of
fcers were chosen and the men were drilled for
war. Of the LIST Regiment of Ohio Volunteers,
Duncan McArthur was chosen Colonel. of the %
Regiment, James Finlay, and Of the |, Lewis
Cass, and all were placed under the command
uf General William Hull. The appearance Of
Gentrll Hull, SAYS the historian, was venera-
Bile and prepossessing. Beneath the snowy
n k.. a1 "a,
fresh and blooming. His eloquencc was pre-
possessing and his action graceful. About the
middle Of June the little army arrived at Fort
Finlay, now the county seat of Hancock coun-
IT,, and ON the Both Of June 1t pitched its tents
On the banks ofthe Miami Of Lake Erie. Here,
after proper refreshment and relaxation, a pOr-
ton of the officers and prlvates embarked for
Detroit, and on the ith Of the following month
the army reached Huron about 20 miles from
Detroit. On the 5,h they encamped within three
miles Of Detroit. But the little schooner which
had started out freighted with officers aud men
and the baggage Of the army, had been in the
meantime captured, and their return had been
refused and an order was issued bv General
Hull, seizing the property Of certain British efi-
GERS at Sandwich, Canada, which point the army
had by this time reached, and soon after plan
was formed to attack Maiden. This, however,
was reconsideret, and after various disasters
the army recrossed to Detroit, and there about
Colonel Miller, and ordered to open a communi.
cation to the river Raisin and protect the provi-
sion train under the escort OF Captain Brush.
When about fifteen miles from Detroit the little
band we're ambuscaded and fired uprn by Brit
ish troops and Indians. Col. Miller ordered
his whole line to advance, fire on the enemy and
charge with fixed bayOnet, and thus he drove
the British before him to an ignomsious retreat
The Indians under Tecumseh fought with great
Obstnacy and TecumSeh himself was wounded
Our troops, with an expression of great graft
tHde ti the God Of battles, slept conquerors on
the first fought field.
The campaign continued until the 18th of Au-
gust with various fortunes At this date the
British General Brock demanded the surrender
Of Fort D.tr1it General Hull, in a most posi-
tive and spirited reply refused tn capitulate,
aud declared himself able to defend his post.
On the 10th the battle waged fearfully. The
terrific yelling of the savages, their outrages
committed in sight Of the fort caused almost
pInic within and among our troops. The fort
was filed with women and children, sobhing,
begging, prL, ing and screaming much to the
OF the men who were endeavor-
ing to defend it. The Indians continued shoot
ing even the sheep and horses whenever a hui
man victim could not be had. AT about IL
o'clock an officer of the Michigan militia came
riding into the Fort and announced that an over
whelming force of British and savages wore
within few hundred rods of the Fort, and were
yelling and bowling for blood, and infuriated
by British fre-water, as so many fends, and
entirely without CONTROL. At this intelligence
General Hull ordered the white flag tn be placed
on pike staff, and CARED toward the dvanc-
ing enemy in token of surrender. Shortly after
General Brock and his army were in possession
of the Fort. Great chagrin was felt on all hands
at this surrender. But the charitable hstoI ian
may we'll doubt whether, under the crcomstan-
ces, and with a view of saving women and chill
~ n
massacre, this was not after all wise course on
the part of General Hull. Before this time the
Governors Of Ohio and Kentucky had dispatch
ed troops to the ade nf General Hull. and had he
been able To have deferred his SURF cnder q few
days, his avn army, Detroit and the territory Of
Michigan, might, perhaps, have remained ours.
The advancing forces were about 1000 militia,
under commlnd of Brigadier General Payne,
and a battalion of mounted riheDen from Ken
tucky, under command of Col. r. N. johnson
At this juucture, it was seen that a commander
of some military experience was needed, and
all eyes were turned toward the hero of Tippeca-
noe. The Governor of Kentucky had made Gsn
William Henry Harrison (befure that time a
Brig adier) Major General by Brevet. Brevets
were not as cheaply obtained then as now, and
each distinction was only acqui ed BY some
signal service as a special token of valor, or
mark of honor. Passing over the events which
occurred at Fort Wayne and elsewhere, we found
Gen. Harrison at Upper Sandusky on the 14th
of January following, reinforced bv 2 900 men
sent forward by the Governors of Virginia aud
Pennsvlvania. In the mean time the battle Of
Aux Raisus was fought, which ended in most
terrible and blOOd-thrsty massacre. The dead
were denied the rite of sepulture. The living
who were captured were stripped and compel
led to run the guanrlet line of yelling fends, al
though Gen. Proctor had promised to protect
the prisoners, he failed to keep his word. The
blame of this defeat has been charged on Cen
eral Winchester. But he is not without his de-
tenders. 1t is said that he fOretOled the disas-
truus consequences of his advance to the River
Raisn but was overruled by his officers, and
that the advance was made for the purpose of
aff1rdng ade To the French settlers on the river
who had been threatened with savage ven
geance.
In this march one circumstance reflects the
greatest luster on the valor of Kentuckians.
Their horses had become worn out with IA
hgue and want of forage. The men, destitute
as they were, did not allow their zeal to cool.
They barnessed themselves to the sleads and
drew the baggage and provisions 90 miles
through the mud and snsw comminRcd, mani
Testing thIt true herusm is not confined TO the
heroes of Sparta or Greece. Yet these very
men had left behind them, to defend our borders,
country seats and town homes OF elegance and
welth and were travelling on foot, poorly shOd,
poorly clad, in the face OF the enemy, hundreds
ont a word of murmur or complaint About the
first days Of February, 1913, the army advanced
to the Rapids Of MIumee and commenced build
this Fort on which We now stan and called it
Fort Megs, in honor Of Governor Megs of Ohio.
The Fort was completed and occupied by our
army about the 18th of April following. On
the 26th Of April the enemy appeared on the
Maumee shore and reconn itered the Fort and re-
tired. Again they appeared on the 9th.
In the meantime Qualifications were, one after
another, being thrown up. On the after
noon of the 2Sth the enemy opened a sharp fire
of musketry, and on that same evening the fort
was surrounded by Indians who had stealthily
showed their canoes across the river below. On
the 2sth and Both the seige continued, and the
occupants of the fort were under arms day and
night-they slept with their muskets in their
hands and prepared for conflict of the most
desperate character at any moment. During
the night says an eye witness, point blank shots
were fired at the fort but with no ,rous effect.
This grand traverse was completed aud the fort
rendered we'll nigh impregnable. Our piekets
1.-TWO Of which a. s..ll standing as you see up
on yonder HILL remained uninjured by the fire
The "a pound shot, even, did not iliure them
materially. Our gunners, II is true, did not pos.
sess the same experience as those Of tho enemy 4,
and hence fires at greater intervals. but with M
less precision. They silen,ed several of the
o.