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

tends militia when successful, they rushed IN
despite the warnings Of Col. Dudley and the
signals from the Fort, 10 their own certain death
and destruction. They undertook pursuit Of
the Indians and suffered themselves ~ be drawn
into ambush, and were all Of them killed or cap
tured. Then signal work Of barbsrsm com
menced. They were stripped and one BY one
compelled 10 run the gauntlet, seldom coming
from that race alive, Tecumsoh arriving after
the horrid sport he'd begun, interroRated Gen.
Proctor as 10 the reason of his permitting the
commission Of these atrocities upon the prison
ers Of war. Proctor replied that he could not
control tho troops, or restrain the Indians.
Thoreupon Tecumseh rstorted that Proctor was
but an old woman, unfit to command, and deolar-
ed his intention and ability to put an end TO the
horried massacre then going on. Seeing an In
dian about to tnmahawk and scalp defeuceless
soldier, Tecumseh drove his tomahawk to the
hilt into the head of the savage, and with a louk
Of contempt at Proctor, said, "White General,
old woman, ought To wear petticnats, Tecumseh
can stop this cruelty, be can restrain his braves"
And forth with the massacre was stopped, but not
until many courageous kentuckian had fallen
A yictlm t0 Proctor's irresnluton an1 cowardice.
Col. Dudley. himself, was tomahwked and
scalped, and his body mulilated in every limb
Hs rests in peace on youder held, sleeping the
slesp OF thu brave. After the retreat Of the Brit
ish and Indians from the left bank fthe Miami,
Harrison sent out his burving party and gather
ed from the scene uf Dudey's disaster the budiea
Of IS men, all horribly mangled and mutated.
II ia said General Harrison stond on the highest
point Of the earth-work, and, with his hat in bis
hand, signaled this unfortunate band Of brave
men TO cnmc back Perceiving their determina-
tion to press nr It is said, he wept like child
and cried out "They are lost They are losti-
Great God can not my orders be OBJ ycd ?"
Right over there, in that gully, on the same
dav, n sortie was mado by Col. John Mill er, of
the 10th Infantry, with force mixed Of vnlun-
tears and regulars, battery was placed some
where on that hill, and within point blank shot
Of the Fort. Into that deep gully were ordered
Col. Miller and his men. They descended into
the gully uuperceived until within few yards
Of the battery, when they charged up the HILL
carried the battery and scattered the British in
all directions. capturing so prisoners. From the
9th In the 9th there was no firing. A flag Of
truce had passed between the armies, and an
exchange Of prisoners took place, the Kentuckians
who had been taken prisoners, we're, their
exchange. sent to Huron and ordered to return
home. On the morning Of the 9th, Proctor hav-
ing seen that his efforts to reduce the Fort We're
all fruilless, marched his army down the river,
and returned in haste to Maldou.
The siege Of the Fort had continued fourteen
days, with almost unceasing vigor. So ended
the siege of Fort Meigs-a victory for our forces
"a failure with the British. The defence Of this
renowned Fortress will take its place in history
among the brilliant examples ot courage, brave
~ and military skill. The condition Of the troops,
the inclemeney OF the weather during the siege
and the muddy condition of the Fort, together
with the constant dangers 70 which the men
were exposed, were enough to dampen the ardor
and cool the courage of less determined men.
II had no effect on them. We have, fellow -citi-
zeus, with us 10 day many Of the men Of whom
speak. Col. Todd-one Of the aids to Gen. Har
the Davis brothers. and many other gem
temen from Kentucky and Ohio, Of equal note
and bravery, and last, hut MT least, I beg leave
II point you 10 Mr.. PETER Navarro, the daring
scout Of General Harrison, brave cool, and
true.-Truly the memory Of such men will live
after them. Time cannot blnt their record OUT
Let it then be our earnest prayer that these ven
cradle men may, during the time t. e All-Wse
Creator may see ft t0 allot to them, enjoy IN the
fullest extent the blessings which h .ir valor has
So Justly earned. And when their great battle OF
life shall be fully fought, when they are called
upon to lay of the uniform OF earth aud rest
from their labors, may they gently sleep the
sleep Of peace. their memories em5amed in the
greateful rscollectous Of their cOunirymen.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Tyler's remarks, Col.
Todd, of Kentucky, was introduced aud begged,
in the name Of his comrades, to thank the Mayor
for his kin1 reference IN their services, remark
ing that they all felt deeply gratiied for the hos
pitality which had been extended to them and
the kindness with which they had been greeted
by all He desired to correct one statement. Il
was not true that he was at the siege at that
time, but he helped to build the Fort and was
with General Harrison befIre the siege an all
the time of the war after that. Before the srec-
lion of Fort Megs, he carried dispatches to Gen.
Winchester. He was then acting as Quarter
master. He had nn wagons and could not use
them in the Black Swamp; but carried their pro-
visions, ETC., on horseback. On reaching tn.
Rapids. a snow had fallen " the depth Of about
a foot and thev thought slsds would be better
for carrying their stores, but had no harness.
Col. Todd went to wJg AMI constructed 4 har-
ness out Of green hides. These answered good
purpose while it continued drv, but the horses
soOn gave out and the men jumped into the har-
ness AMI drew the sleds themselves distincc
of ever thirty miles. He knew that Col. Win
chester, in the battle Of the River Raisin, acted
contrary tn orders, for he carried the orders to
that General. He desired also to alude to the
battl of the Thames and the capture Of the pa
pers belonging To Proctor. Ater the capture Of
Geueral Proctor's crmmand, they discovered
that the Genarll himself was missing. Colonel
Todd and Maj. Wood were started in pursuit
with Company Of men at their command. Most
Of the men gave out, bu: the Colonel and the
Major rushed on in pursuit and finally overlook
tue carriage in which Proctor made his escape,
but they were mortified to hnd that he had
slipped horse from the carriage and again
made good his escape. They found in the car
riage all Of PrOctnr's papers, including the
speech of Tecumseh, rebuking that officer for
allowing his msn N murder helpless prisoners.
They also got the sword uf Gen. Proctor in the
carnage. IL was tue Speecn oI lcculDSeu mere
found in which he said to Proctor, | conquer
~ save, but you to murder" In il he alsO said:
"Father, listen, in the Revolutionary war, we
tried TO assist you but our Great Father was
thrown on his back. In the last war could
n I think OF defen ling men who lived like ground
hoss!"
The Colonel wished IN relate an incident show
ing the bravery nt Col. Wool. whom he cnmpli-
msuted very highly for his courage and skill.
One morning while the Major was earing break
fast with his mess, shot came toward them,
they RULED in the ditch, and it tore up the earth
50 near their table that it was buried in the dirt.
The Major remarked, "come boys let Us finish
our breakfast before another one cnmes." He
considered Major Wood the greatest hero Of the
war, whose suggestive mind secured bloodess
victories and whose courage was equal to any
emergency.
The war Of l5l 2 the Colonel regarded as bu.
a continuation of the Revolutionary War. The
British made peace, not the lndiuns. Dudley's
defeat was nccasioned by inconsiderate valor
General Harrison said that the misfortune Of the
Kenuckians was that they were too brave.
He referred tn the Kentucky boy 81 years old
who defended Fort Stevenson so bravely. Tie
British officers ordered no quarter, but when
a 4 -.