The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-08-18
Major Croghan Struck the Blow That Ul-
tirnately Won For the Nation the
Northwest Territory.
He Came of the Fighting Irish Stock, for the
Blood Of kelly, Burke and Shea"
Flowed in His Veins.

1 In 1891 he married Lucy Clark. sister
vi George Rogers Clark. the mighty
figure of the Vincennes campaign, who
saved an empire to the American Re-
public. Another brother, William. was
the Clark who with Captain Lewis.
made the historic exploration tou,
across the then unknown continent.
of such union was born the man
ilohored for bravery. The exact place
oil his birth was at Locust Grove, XIV.
few miles below Louisville. He was
educated at William and Mary COL
iese, virginia. and at once entered the
army. When but twenty years of age
he gained distinction at the battle of
Iippecanoe. and was promoted to a
captatncy in March, 1912. being de-
tailed as aid-de-camp to General Har-
rison, with the rank of Major. This
was his condition when the events that
We're I" make him famous began to
unfold themselves.
the Indians. under Tecumseh, and
the British. under General Proctor had
raised the siege of Fort Meigs, in what
IS now Wood county. and were coming
toward the post at Upper Sandusky
and Seneca. The British sailed around
into Sandusky Bay. while their savage
a'lies marched across through the
swamps and marshes of the Portage
River. They expected TO meet and
make II combined attack upon Lower
Soahdusky white General Harrison was
engaged In protecting Forts Win
chester and Mcigs. The work known
as Fort Stephenson was in reality mn
old stockage used for storage purposes.
ana incloscd an acre Of ground.
examination by General Harrison
some days before the allies invested
Fort Mcigs showed that the stockaaa
was commanded by Il hill to the south
east. 1t was not strong enough to
resist heavy artillery, ana only 200
men could be accommodated as a gar
rlsoh. Croghan was left in charge.
with orders that il the British an
preached by water, which carried the
presumption that they had their heavy
artillery he was to retreat, If possible,
destroying both the fort and the public
stores. If only the Indians came he
was to stand fast as retreat throuph
these wary hostiles was an impos-
sibility and a defense was n certainty.
On July 20 General Harrison re-
celved word that the siege of Fort
Meigs had been raised and that It
seemed the intention of the allies to
descend upon either Sandusky or
Seneca. At n council of war held that
night 1t was decided that Fort
stephenson was untenable and orders
were sent to Major Croghan to carry
out his original Instructions. This
order did not reach Croghan until the
next morning at eleven o'clock. A
council OF his officers reached the de-
c1slon that 1t was too late to retreat
and the famous note was sent and tha
meeting with General Harrison ar
ranged On August 1 the advance
guard Of the enemy was seen on the
nil over the river They were the
meet footed Indians who had been OBJ
served by a accommodating party from
headquarters the day before. There
was but one piece of artillery in the
fort, odd Betsey," and it was prompt-
~ tired, causing the redskins to retire.
Within half hour the British gun.
boats, part of Commodore BARCLAYS
feet, hove into sight. A landing was
enected a half mile below the fort
ana howitzer disembarked and
mounted.
A British officer, Major Chambers,
with a flag of truce, was sent for
ward and was met by Ensign shinn
OF the Seventeenth regiment. The
visitor demanded in the name of Gen.
eral Proctor the immediate surrender
of the fort The Americans were
warned that it would be almost i'm
possible to restrain the Indians in case
of success. and that the whole gar
rison would be slain. The gallant an
swer was returned that the Indians
would find no one to massacre when
tine fort fell, for every man had sworn