The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-08-20
BATTLING AROUND
e., TOLEDO,
lContinued from page ene.)

tlllery nrl9g into MS camp dL Close
range, the field guns thro~ ing grape
and the howitzer shells. The British
Regulars and Indians rushed forward
with frightful yells. and altho Winches-
ter made strenuous efforts to rally his
troops behind the puncheon pickets he
found these quickly outfianked, and his
men forced to retreat in the utmost dis
order. The Indians took the greatest
advantage of this rout, and at one place,
not exceeding 100 yards in length. near
ly 100 Kentucky militia were toma-
hawked and scalped. Gen. Winchester
and his next in command, Col. Lewis,
were taken prisoners by Round Head
the Indian chief. stripped of their
clothes, and taken to Col. Proctor. the
British Commandant, who was after
wards to rise to evil notoriety. por-
ton of Winchester's men were not in
volved in the rout of the rest, and brave
ly defended itself in small garden sur
rounded by heavy pickets. The Ken
lucky riffemen quickly shot down the
artillerymen, who planted guns TO bat
ter down their defenses, and they did
not surrender until they received orders
from Gen. Winchester. dictated by Col.
Proctor. OF the Americans there were
1877 killed. which carried mourning all
over Kentucky. Besides these there
were about 700 taken prisoners Proctor
received a vote of thanks from the
Canadian Assembly and the commission
of Brigadier-G General.
Gen. Harrison Advances.
The situation now became so intense
" alarming as to call for the most
energetic measures. The Governors or
dered out the militia everywhere, and
bent all their slender resources to arm
ing, equipping and providing for the
men sent to the field.
a q n in
son, and pushed forward down the
Maumee Valley. encountering the most
terrific obstacles in getting men and
supplies thru the wilderness and the
awful Black Swamp. Provisions and
ammunition had to be carried on pack
horses, which sank to their knees in the
rich soil of the Black Swamp Only by
herculean efforts could even the lightest
cannon be brought onward, and artillery
ammunition was as precious as gold at
the front. All this work had to Re done
IN the presence of swarms of hostile
Indians, watching opportunities to over
come any insufficient guards
Harrison was brimful of energy and
far-rcaching plans. however. After in
credible difficulties he established
strong force at A point nine miles above
Toledo. on the Maumee. where he built
Fort Meigs. named in honor of the Gov
eraor of Ohio, and which became for
the day place of as much Importance
as Port Arthur was for the Russians.
He started parties from there in sleighs
over the ice TO capture Maiden and burn
the British ships then imprisoned in the
thick, ice. The expedition reached the
Bass Islands, but found the lake open
beyond, and had TO return to Toledo.
where they met Harrison with a portion
of the army advanced to their support.
Harrison had now to abandon all
plans for Winter campaign, as the
weather continued open. adding enor-
mously to the difficulties of bringing
forward men and supplies.
At that time, when the weather was
severe men could march, and their
supplies could be carried in sleighs over
the firm snow. In the Spring, when the
streams were full and free from ice,
''pirogues" or boats would carry the
men and provisions Now it was mud
and ice everywhere.
Harrison collected force of 1900
men at Fort Meigs. Among these was
q splendid militia company from Peters
burg. Va. WHEN had marched a dis
lance which would now be more than
equivalent to trip around the world. |
There was another fine militia company |
from Pittsburg, Pa.
Strong Fertilization.
All the men Were kept industriously at
work making Fort Meigs impregnable |
to any assault by the British regulars
and Indians. The fort occupied eight
acres in a strong position, with the deep
ravine of run covering the sides away /
from the river. The ground was about
100 feet above the river and a mile dis |
tant from old Fort Miami, on the oppo-
site side.
The first work was to inciose the |
ground with Enc $500 yards long, of
heavy logs set firmly in the ground. |
Along this were erected eight block |
houses of double timbers and four heavy /
batteries for the guns.
Inside the inclosure were built store |
houses, hospitals, magazines, huts for
the men and officers. aad outside We're
run deep bitches. with formidable abatis |
covering the entire front.
All this enormous work had to be |
done during the bowling storms of Feb
ruary and Marcn.
Harrison also caused to be strength |
ened Fort Stephenson, small work at
what is now Fremont, O., which con-
trolled the entrance from the lake into
the. Sandusky River, and guarded the |
srmy's right flank.
The British and Indians Advance.
Harrison went back TO Cincinnati to
hurry forward supplies, and raise men \
10 take the place of those whose time |
had expired, and make him strong |
enough to advance and recover Detroit. |
He received several hundred men from
Kentucky, with promises Of more to
follow Immediately, and hurried back |
to Fort Meigs- He was none too soon, |
for the energetic Gen. Proctor had spent |
the Winter preparing for an aggressive |
campaign to get possession of the Ohio |
country.
Proctor's success over Winchester at |
ID f..f.. l. Ii.
conceit as to his military abilities. and |
fired him with ambition as to further
achievements.
II had also given him immense pres
tige among the Indians, and brought to |
him the powerful support of Tecumseh |
and the Propaet. Tecumseh was able to !
lead 1.50e warriors to Proctor at NAL
den which was some unexpected relief,
20 Harrison, since IL took away several |
hundred who had been raiding his COM |
rounications with Cincinnati. Proctor
called out the Canadian militia, and |
April e3. 1913, sailed from Maiden with |
522 British regulars, 461 militia and
about ]. 500 Indians. At that time Har-
rison's force in Fort Meigs had been
reduced to LOO men. AS soon as he |
discovered Proctors advance he sent ur- |
gent messages for help, and orders for
Gen. Green Clay. who was at Fort De- |
fiance. TO come forward with his 1000
kentuckians, down the river.
Proctor, with his fotilla, in which |
were two gunboats. arrived at Fort
Miami April 2S. The fort was garrisoned |
by the regulars, with the Indians and |
militia camped outside. Batteries were
throwntup directly across the river from
haip tn he rri- Ill