The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-08-03
Croqhan5 Bottle Ace

the British to attack either Erie or Upper SAM
duskY
To defend this post Croghan had force of
little over $50 men and the following officers,
most OF them younger than eroghaff himself:
Capt. James Hunter. Lfeuts. Benjamin Johnston
and Cyrus A. Baylor, EnsIgns John Meek. Joseph
Duncan and Edmund Shipp Lieutenant Ander-
son, who had no command served as volun-
teer in the ranks To defend 1t he also had a
solitary piece of artillery the little six-pounder
now known to fame as "Old Betsy" the affec-
tonate title bestowed upon 1t by Croghans men.
Late In July 1919 General Proctor with
force of 600 British regulars and some 5000
Indians under Tecumseh crossed the lake from
Maiden and appeared before Fort Meigs on the
Maumee. Failing In his attempt to- draw Its gar
rlson out into a sortie he determined to make
a dash against Fort Stephenson, capture 1t and
fall upon General Harrison's small force at
Seneca Falls about 10 miles up the river. Har
rison had previously inspected the fort and, be-
lleving 1t could not be held against artillery,
he directed Croghan, In case the British ap-
peared, to abandon the fort and retreat. So when
his scouts told him of the coming Of the enemy,
on the night of July 30 he sent orders to Croghan
to destroy the place at once and retire to Seneca
Falls
The messengers bearing these orders lost their
way In the woods narrowly escaped capture by
the Indians and did not reach the fort until the
morning of July 30 Croghan Immediately called
a council OF war of his young officers and find
Ing them as determined as he was, sent this note
to Harrison: @Sir-I have just received yours
OF yesterday, ten o'clock p. m, ordering me to
destroy this place, and make good my retreat,
which was received too late to be carried into
execution. We have determined to maintain this
place, and, by heavens. we cant"
Harrison could not let such a fragrant DISC
bedience Of orders pass by. He Immediately sent
Colonel Wells with squadron of cavalry to
relieve Croghan OF his command and ordered
the young major to report at headquarters at
once. Croghan FASTENED to Harrisons camp and
succeeded In placating his commander so that
he was allowed to return to Fort Stephenson and
resume command with permission to try to hold
the fort against the expected British attack
1t came about noon OF August when Indians
In large numbers surrounded the fort. One of
the red men climbed tree to reconnoiter but
he was brought tumbling down by shot from
the long rifle OF one of the Kentucklans In the
fort Then the Indians gathered in body at
the edge OF the clearing but one shot from "Old
Betsy quickly dispersed them
About o'clock In the afternoon the British
boats appeared around a bend In the river and
opened fire on the fort. Proctor's regulars were
dsembarked about a mile below the fort, a
howitzer was landed and opened fire. Croghan's
men dragged 'Old Betsy" from portfolio to port
hole to send an occasional shot In reply and
4 to give an impression of greater artillery force
So the unequal contest began-Croghan andshis
100 men and one gun against Proctor's force OF
100 supplied with plenty OF artillery
After brief exchange of shots three British
officers Colonel Elliott, Major Chambers and
Captain Dixon, came forward with white flag
to demand the surrender OF the fort. SO Croghan
sent out Ensign Ship, the youngest officer In
the fort to meet them. To the British officers
demands that the fort be surrendered. Ship re
piled that the Americans were prepared to de-
fend 1t to the death OF the last man and when
one OF them pleaded with him to prevent the
slaughter which must follow resistance should
you fall into the hands of the sayages" Ship
made the spirited reply of "When the fort shall
be taken there will be none to massacre"