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

full for Ships safety urged him to return to
the fort ut once. AS he started, an Indian sprang
from the bushes and tried to wrest his sword
from him. Dixon pretended to drag the savage
away with. great difiicuty--a bit of play acting
which did not frighten the young ensign in the
least Croghan. standing the walls OF the
fort and seeing the insult to his envoy immedi-
ately shouted Come In, Ship, and we'll blow
'em all to hi
Convinced tnat the garrison could not be
bluffed out, the British began their bombardment
which continued at intervals all night. during
which time they landed five six-pounders park
ing three of them In a battery on hill covered
by trees about 20 yards from the steckade-
From this position they opened furious fire
the next morning to which the Americans made
little reply During the night also, Captain Hunt
err, Croghan's second In command anticipating
nm assault on the northwest corner Of the stock
nde, had dragged "Old Betsy" 70 the blockhouse
on the north wall placing Il so 1t would rake the
ditch. The little cannon was filled with half
charge Of powder. because Of the short range.
and double charge Of slugs and bullets. The
portfolio was masked so the British would not
suspect the presence OF the gun there.
Late In the afternoon OF August 2 storming
party OF 800 British rushed for the northwest
corner while a party OF eco grenadiers made q
detour through the woods and advanced to at
tack the south wall Under cover OF fierce
fire from the batteries the storming party dashed
forward and because OF the smoke their pres
ence was not discovered until they were less
than 20 yards from the fort Immediately
Croghan's men poured q deadly rifle fire upon
the attackers who were thrown Into confusion
for moment.
Then Lieutenant Colonel Short sprang to the
head OF the column Waving his sword In the
air, he rallied his men who rushed forward with
fixed bayonets. AT the edge of the ditch the Bril-
ton shouted Come on mem Wen give the
id Yankees no quarter" and led the way
down into the ditch and up the other side. For
a moment they were safe there, for the Amer
leans could not depress their rifles enough to
shoot the enemy In the ditch without exposing
themselves above the palisades to the fire OF
the Indians
But Just at this moment the masked portfolio
was thrown open and the black snout Of "Od
Betsy" appeared The next instant she poured
out blast Of lead at short range which killed
or wounded no less than 80 men. Colonel Short
received mortal wound and with his last effort
he raised his handkerchief on the point OF his
sword, pleading for the mercy which but mo-
ment before he had said he would not give
Keeling back from the slaughter pen In the
ditch. the surviving attackers beat hasty re-
treat many of them being dropped by the long
rifles Of the KentuckIans as they ran The at
tack on the south wall had also been beaten OFF
with heavy loss to the British, but 1t was that
one terrible blast from .Od Betsy which had
turned the tide of battle. The British artillery
resumed Its bombardment but 1t was only half
hearted and Croghan knew that he had little
more to fear from them.
During the night Croghans men merclfuy
lowered buckets of water to the wounded red
coats In the ditch and small trench was dug
under the stockade which allowed those who
were able to crawl inside the fort Some of
those not so badly wounded managed to creep
away across the clearing and rejoin their COM
mand unmolested. During the night, also, the
British force retreated going SO precipitousy
that they left behind a boatload of stores and
munitions which fell into the hands of the
Americans the next morning
Croghan's faith In his ability to hold the fort
was more than justified. He had won decisive
victory over a greatly superior force, infIcting
loss of more than 100 out OF the 500 enemy
engaged not counting the casualties among the
Indians. which are unknown His own loss was
exactly one killed and seven wounded But more
important than this defeat Of an enemy force
at such cost to them was the TACT that In hold
Ing Fort Stephenson he had saved the American
supply depots and freed the state OF Ohio from
the fears of hostile Invasion with Its attend
ant horrors at the hands OF the red allies of
the British. More than that. the outcome OF the
war might have been different IL proctor's In
vasion had been successful lust as his dis
tngulshed uncle George Rogers Clark. had done
q third Of century before, SO had young George
Croghan done agan--he had saved the Old
Northwest to the American flag.
20 BY Western Newspaper unionl