Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-26
Bombarded at Night.

0OmDdIucu dk NA6ASs
The inscription on the tablet quoted
above tells the story Of the fight. 1t be-
gan about o'clock In the morning OF
August q 1913. being preceded by a gen
eral bombardment during the night
which did no damage to the stockade.
and Croghan, to economize ammunition.
made no reply. The Kentuckians held
their fire until they could see the whites
of the British eyes, when a shower OF
rife balls struck the British ranks. and
Betsy" the little six-pounder. contrlo-
uted hail of slugs and grapeshot. wnlcn
caused the British to retreat IN conlu-
the field Within the fort only one man
was killed and only seven were wounded.
The Indians, who always avoided open
fighting and were afraid OF cannons. olo
not join in the assault and ran away as
soon as they saw the results. sec
ond attack was made In the afternoon,
which was more disastrous than the trst,
and during the following night Gen. Proc
tor gathered up his dead and Wounoeo'
carried them to his ship and saied aWay:
leaving behind a disabled boat filled
with clothing and military stores Wnlch
were of great service to the Americans
CYoghan was everywhere proclaimed
hero: Congress voted him gold medal,
| library In all the history OF our gov
eminent Congress has voted but nine
gold medals and fifteen swords Tor gar
| lantry in battle. One OF these meaais
and six of the swords were presented TO
Mai Croghan and his men for their de-
tense Of Fort Stephenson.
| In the library are preserved one OF the
posts that formed a corral ana num-
her of cannon balls. bullets and weapons
that were picked up on the ground the
| most interesting Of them Is a w ching
| ton medal bestowed by the British gov
eminent for bravery upon the soiolels OF
| wellington's army after ms campais,h
| In Spain More than half the British
troops engaged in the assault upon Fort
Stephenson were veterans of Wellington
ARMIES. o.. 20.
ton to Croghan, while Gen. Harrison
promoted him to the rank OF colonel ana
wrote the Secretary Of WaM 1t Will not
be the least Of Gen. Proctors mortinca-
| ton TO find that he has been banned by
youth who has just passed his twenty
| first yeaN"
Old Fort Park.
The site Of Fort Stephenson is a slight
eminence in the business section Of Ere
mont. now a well kept park shaded by
elms and naples In the center stands
a public library. occupying the exact
spot where the fort stood. Beside the
walk approaching the library is a bronze
l
concisely the history OF the place. and
on the other side is the identical cannon
used by Maj. Croghan's men, supported
on the original carriage and bearing the
| Inscription:
"'old Betsy cannon used by Major
| George Croghan against the British and
| Indians In the defense OF Fort Stephen
son August LIST and End. 1918. This can
non was captured from the French in
1868, and was used by the British in
all of the campaigns until the War OF
the Revolution. when 1t was captured by
the Americans and used by them in later
| warfare"
"Old Betsy remained in Fremont until
| Fort Stephenson was dismantled, when
she was taken to Pittsburg and stored
in the arsenal. Subsequently she was
presented by Congress to the city OF San
| dusky. having been claimed by the people
| of that town because the original Fort
Sandusky was located there The mayor
of Fremont organized an expedition
which went to Sandusky. captured "Old
Betsy" brought her secretly to Fremont,
and July 4, 1852. the victory was cele-