The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-01-10
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GEORGE CROGHAN. HERO.

GEORGE CROGHAN, HERO.
Only few names escape oblivion,
but August 2, 1913, insured lasting
fame for Major George Croghan.
Ninety-three years later, on August
2, 1906, the remains of this youthful
hero were reinterred on the site of
his great victory.
During the War of 1912 Croghan,
a handsome, spirited Kentuckian, was
sent by General Harrison to take
command of poor little stockade,
Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky,
now Fremont, Ohio. The place was
important only because it guarded
the approach to Harrison's headquar-
ters and stores, up the Sandusky
River.
On the morning of August 1 Cen
eral Proctor, the British commander,
with 500 regulars, veteran troops,
who had served under Wellington on
the Peninsula, sailed up the river in
gunboats of Commodore Barclays
fleet, and landed cannon and howitz-
ers, with which they began to bonn
bard the fort. Meanwhile Tecumseh,
with 700 Indians, swarmed through
the woods and began the attack from
the opposite side. To one of less
sanguine temperament or of less cour-
age than the young commander, the
situation must have seemed hopeless.
But Croghan not only showed conf
dence himself, but inspired it in those
under him.
Groghan had 160 men and one
small cannon, which he moved about
from place to place to induce the be-
in the afternoon of the I'd the enemy
made united assault So valiantly
and effectively was it repulsed that
The whole British and Indian force
made precipitate retreat into Canada.
1T will not be the least of General
Proctor's notifications, wrote Har-
rison, 'to know that he has been
baffied by youth who has just
passed his twenty-first year. He is,
however, hero worthy of his gallant
uncle, General George Rogers Clark. I"
Croghan himself wrote just before
the battle: ''The enemy are not far
distant. l expect an attack. / will
defend this post to the last extrem-
ity. I have just sent away the wom-
en- and children with the sick of the
garrison that l may be able to act
without incumbrance. Be satisfied
shall, l hope, do my duty. The ex-
ample set me by my Revolutionary
kindred is before me. Let me die
rather than prove unworthy of their
name"
The battle of Fort Stephenson was
the first really brilliant effort of the
War of 1912. General Sherman said
it was ''the necessary precursor to
Perry's victory on the lake and Harri-
sons triumphant victory at the
Thames, which assured to our imme-
diate ancestors the mastery of the
great West, and from that day to this
the West has been the bulwark of
the nation''
For his exploit Croghan was bre-
vetted ieutenant-colonel by the Pres
ident of the United States, and Con-
gress awarded him a gold medal.
Some months ago the grave of Col
onel Croghan was found in neglect
ed family burying ground in Ken
lucky. The remains were taken to
Fremont, and on the ninety-third an
niversary of the battle were REIN
tered on the site of the former VIC
tory.
Fremont is unique i'll possessing g
her old fort in it's original area. with
it's original armament and with the
body of it's defender, and her citizens
cherish the honor of living where of
old time great act was greatly done.
Youths Companion.