E356 ,S7K2 : 1 -. I ■': ■ i^^^^B ■ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0D0DS7ES0flE # N*^ ** ^<' 'm - ^ J •^o^ r» .♦• :- '-^^0^ i /A O >-0« d.^ n - ^ . y ■ Of • -•t-o "';> '^<: % '^.. • * . "^ f/k". ':JD ANNIVEKSAKV OF THE IJEFENSE OF FORT STEPHENSON, AT LOWER SANDUSKY (NOW FREMONT) AND THE CEREMONIES INCIDENT TO THE INTERMENT OF THE REMAINS OF jNIa.tor GTr:oROK: Croohan BENEATH THE MONUMENT ERECTED IN HIS HONOR ON FORT STEPH- ENSON. WHICH HE SO GALLANTLY DEFENDED AGAINST THE BRITISH AND INDIANS UNDER PROCTOR AND TECUMSEH, AUG. I AND 2. 1S13. USTA^ITATIO^r C'OjNI^irrTEE. COL. W-EBB C. HAYES. COL. WM. E. HAYNES. GENERAL JESSE C. CHANCE. HON. C. C. TUNNINGTON-, MAYOR. HON. .TAMES HUNT. CITIZENS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE jVr. (4TL^Sr>ORE, Sec'y. CITY HALL, FREMONT, OHIO. Major Croglian to General Harrison July 30, 1813. "1 have just received yours of yesterday, 10 o'clock p. m., ordering me to de- stroy this place and make good my retreat, which was received too late to be car- ried into execution. We have determined- to maintain this place, and by Heaven we can." General Harrison to Governor Meigs. Headquarters Seneca Town, 2d August, 1813. "Dear Sir: The enemy have been, since last evening, before Lower Sandusky, and are battering it with all their might. Come on, my friend, as quickly as possible, that we may relieve the brave fellows who are aefending it. I had ordered it to be abandoned. The order was not obeyed. I know it will be defended to the last ex- tremity; for earth does not hold a set of finer fellows than Croghan and his of- ficers. I shall expect yovi to-morrow certainly. Vours, etc., \VM. H. H.\RRISON." Extract Letter of General Sherman to Ex-President Hayes. "The defense of Fort Stephenson, by Croghan and his gallant little band, was the necessary precursor to Perry's victory on the I.ake, and of General Harrison's triumphant victory at the battle of the Thames. These assured to our immediate ancestors the mastery of the Great West, and from that day to this the west has been the bulwark of this nation. The occasion is worthy a monument to the skies, and nothing could be more congenial to me personally than to assist, but, as I hope I have demonstrated, it is impossible." NINETY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF FORT STEPHENSON. REINTERMENT OF REMAINS OF MAJOR GEORGE CROGHAN, BE- NEATH THE MONUMENT ERECTED IN HIS HONOR ON FORT STEPHENSON, FREMONT, OHIO. Thursday, August 2, 1906, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Mayor C. C. Tunnington, Chairman. Col. Webb C. Ha_\es, Col. Wm. E. Haynes, Judge Jolm B. Cooiirod, Dr. M. Stamni. Mr,^. H. G. Edgerton, Mrs. Geo. Zunnierman. M. Gusdorf. Secretary. FINANCE COMMITTEE. J. W. Wor.st, Cliairman. W. B. McConnell, A. H. Jackson, W. E. Proctor, J. F. Gottron, F. J. Svvint. P. J. Hasselbach. J. W. ?*Ioore, S. M. Fronizer, A. E. Rice, Jos. Schwartz, V. D. Butman, Juhus Walde. RECEPTION COMMITTEE. Hon. H. S. Buckland, Chairman. AUTOMOBILE RECEPTION COMMITTEE. Frank Anderson, Chairman. MEXICAN WAR VETERAN COAFMITTEE. Capt. A. Kline, Chairman. GR.\NR .ARMY CO.M M ITTEE. I. H. Burgoon, Chairman. SPANISH WAR VETERAN COMMITTEE. Lt. Col. Myron C. Co.\, Chairman. SCHOOL CHILDREN COMMITTEE. W. D. Ross, Chairman. Rev. Father Faist, Rev. Father O'Hare. V vi The Croa^liiiii Celebration. AMUSEMKXT I O.MM ITTEE. Thco. Lanji. Chairman. VENETIAN NIGHT COMMITTEE. Dr. M. Stamm, Chairman. FIRE WOUK.S ((KM M ITTEE. C. F. Rciff. Chairman. HOME DAY COMMITTEE. lion. H. S. Buckland. Chairman. TRANSPOKTATKIN COMMITTEE. W. A. Cox. Chairman. DECORATIOX.S COMMITTEE. C. P. Has.s, Chairman. BAND.S COM. M ITTEE. C. F. Bell, Chairman. PROGRA M M E COM M ITTEE. S. P. Kceler, Chairman. PRESS COMMITTEE. T. A. Dean, Chairman. COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS. Col. Webb C. Hayes, Col. Wm. F. llasncs, Hon. C. C. TunninRton, Hon, James Hnnt, Gen. J. C. Chance. CO.M MITTEE ON OHIO llAR .VSSOCl.VTION. lion. James limit. Chairman. COMMITTEE O-X OHIO I.EGI SI..\Tl"KE. lion. J. J. l.ehmann. Chairman. I'KOCRAAl. National salnte. "Jl guns at sunrise. Reception Connnittee. At H A. M. remains of Major. Croj^han will be conveyed from the vault in Oak Wood cemetery to ihe high school building via Harrison trail, escorted by the Light Guard P)and and Company K, 6th Infantry. Parade 10:80 A. M. Platoon Fremont hire DeiJartment. Lt. Col. :\lvron C. Cox, (irand .Mar.^hal and Staff. Program. vii KIRST IIIVISION. i'.ri.uade Ohio N;iluin;il (inard. llrii;. (im. Win. V. AicMakni, Coiii- maiulin.L;. Isi Company Sit-nal Corps, (). N. G., 'J'olcdo Ikuul. Sixth RcgiiiKiit Infaiitry. O. N. G. : Company A, Toledo; Company B. : Company C, Toledo : Company D, Fostoria ; Company R. Bucyrus; Company I'", Napoleon; Company G. Defiance; Company II. Toledo; ComiKuiy 1, Clyde; Comi)any K. l-'remont ; Company L, Toledo; ■Company Al, Port Clinton. Company A. Second Infantry. Findlay. Company G. Fifth Infantry. Norvvalk. Company I. Eighth Infantry. Tiffin. First Battalion Xaval Brigade. O. N. G.. Toledo. Second Battery hield Artdlerx. (). N. G., Toledo. Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks. Vice President of the United States; General Andrew L. Harris, Governor of Ohio, and staff, and distingnished gnests in antomobiles and carriages. .SECOND DIVISION. Col. J. H. Rhodes. Commanding. IJand. Mexican War Veterars. G. A. R. Posts and Civil War Veterans. Band. United States War Veterans and Soldiers of the War with Spain. Phillippine Insnrrection and China Relief Expeditiqn. .\ battalion of school children from the Fremont Public Schools and from St. Joseph's and St. Ann's parochial schools, will join the second division at the British redoubt, corner Park avenue and State street. The procession will halt at the high school building for the remains of }»Iajor Croghan and the George Croghan chapter, D. A. R.. and then proceed to Fort Stephenson Park, where the remains will be placed beneath the nionument. THIRD DIVISION. Capt. E. C. Sayles, Commanding. Band. Fraternal and Patriotic Societies and Organizations. Citizens in decorated automobiles and carriages. PARADE ROt'TE. East on State to Front, south on Front to Birchanl. west on Birch- ard to Monroe, north on Monroe to Garrison, east on Garrison to Wood, north on Wood to State, east on State to Park, south on Park to Garri- son, east on Garrison to Fort Stephenson Park. viii The Croo^Jian Celebration. EXERCISES AT FORT STEPHENSON PARK. 1 :30 p. M. 1. ^lusic by the Light Guard Band. 2. Assembl}- called to order by ^laj'or C. C. Tunnington. 3. Address by General Jesse C. Chance, president of the day. 4. Prayer by Rev. W. E. Tressel. 5. Patriotic song by school children. 0. Historical address by Hon. Basil Meek. 7. Music by Light Guard Band. 8. Address by Hon. Samuel D. Dodge. 9. Patriotic .song by school children. lU. Paper on Fort S.tephenson l)y J. P. Moore. ]L Remarks by the Honorable Charles W. Fairbanks, Vice President of the United States. 12. Remarks by General Andrew L. Harris, Governor of Ohio. 18. Remarks by Hon. E. O. Randall, Secretary Ohio Archfeological and Historical Society. 14. Music by the Light Guard Band. lb. Presentation of distinguished guests. Dress Pak.xde of Troops at ^IcPherson Park, 5 P. M. Reception .\t Si'ihXEL Gkove, H :30 P. M., to the Honorable Charles W. Fairbanks. Vice President of the United States, and General Andrew L. Harris. Governor of Ohio, and staff. All are invited. Venetian Night on Sandusky river, 7:30 P. M. OHIO Archaeological and Historical PUBLICATIONS, THE CROGHAN CELEBRATION. LUCY ELLIOT KEELER. It was not liad usage of the old Romans to bring down from its niche the waxen image of an eminent ancestor on the anni- versary of his natal day, to recall his features and achievements to their own minds and impress them upon the younger generation. A like tribute the patriotic citizens of Fre- mont, Ohio, pay from time to time to their local hero. ]\lajor George Croghan, on the anniversary of that notable second of August, 1813. when with his little band of soldiers he defeated a foe overwhelming in numbers under the British General Proctor and the Indian Chief Tecum- seh. It was not only a feat of incom- parable bravery, but it marked the turning of the tide in the War of 1812, which up to that time had l)een a series of disa;-ters to the American arms. The first formal observance of the anniversary of Croghan's Victory occurred in 1839, ^t which time messages from Croghan himself were received. Since that date every decade has wit- nessed one or more celebrations, notable among which were those of 1852, when ''Old Betsy" was brought back to the scene of Vol. XVI—] . { 1 ) COL. WEIM! C. JLWES. 2 Ohio Arch, mid Hist. Society Publications. her great triumph; i860, presaging llie Civil War, when Cassius M. Clay was the orator of the day; and 1885, when the Monu- ment on the fort was unveiled in the presence of the President of the United States and many other distinguished soldiers and civilians. The celebration of August 2d, 1906, was, however, more notable and imposing than any of its predecessors, since on that date the remains of Croghan were interred at the base of the monument erected to the memory of himself and the brave men of his command, on the very spot they had so gallantly defended ninety-three years before. Follov.-ing the defense of Fort Stephenson Croghan figured conspicuously in the closing events of the War of 1812. His sub- sequent career as Colonel Inspector General, United States Army, during the Mexican War and until his death, will be noted in the pages following. He died of cholera, in New Orleans, January 8, 1849, li's spirit taking flight just as the last gun of the national salute commemorating the 34th anniversary of Jackson's victory, was fired. For many years past it was the general supposition that the remains of this hero lay in one of the numerous cemeteries of New Orleans. Colonel Webb C. Hayes, imbued with patriotic sentiment and historic spirit, began several years ago the search for the grave of Croghan. Through Colonel Hayes' efforts the Quartermaster General at Washington took up the matter and made diligent investigation in New Orleans, but finally was compelled to abandon the search as fruitless. Colonel Hayes persevered and in February, 1906, received a letter from Mrs. Eliza1)eth Croghan Kennedy, grand daughter of George Cro- ghan and wife of the late Captain Kennedy. U. S. N.. which gave the information leading to the coveted discovery of the re- mains in the family burial plot in the beautiful old Croghan estate. Locust Grove, on the Ohio river, several miles from Louis- ville, Kentucky. Col. Hayes, in company with R. C. Ballard-Thruston and S. Thruston-Ballard, of the Kentucky Historical Society, pro- ceeded to the old estate, now owned by J. S. Waters, and located the burial plot about 300 yards from the mansion. Thickly over- The Croghan Celebration. 3 grown with beautiful myrtle were the moss-eovered tombstones of Major William Croghan and wife, the parents of George Croghan, his brothers. Dr. John and N. Croghan, and one sister, Elizabeth. In one corner lay an overturned headstone on which appeared the inscription, Col. G. C, marking the long-sought resting place. General George Rogers Clark, brother of Lucy Clark Cro- ghan and uncle of George Croghan, died at the Croghan home- stead and was buried in the Croghan family burying ground at Locust Grove, Ky. In 1869 the State of Kentucky authorized the removal of the remains to Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Ky., where a beautiful and imposing monument was erected in his honor. Arrangements were at once made for the disinterment by Messrs. llallard and Thruston who, with their wives and Miss Mary Clark, of St. Louis, were present, all being related to Col. Croghan through his mother, of the great Clark family. The mahogany casket, found at a depth of six feet, was badly decomposed, but the leaden casket within was intact, being six and one-half feet in length, 20 inches wide and eight inches lian Celebration. 15 Louis Kline. Grant l-'orj^crson. Martin Zcijjlcr and Jacob Fallcr. They had all personally knuwn C'roj^han. The parade passed in review before the handsomely decorated stand at Croghan street and Park avenue, on which stood Vice President Fairbanks, Gov- ernor Harris, Mayor Tunnington, General Chance, Congressman Mouser, Hon. J. F. Laning and Hon. A. H. Jackson ; behind them the governor's staff. Col. Kautzman, Col. Weybrecht, Major Hall, Captain Williams, Capt. Knox, Capt. Garner, Capt. Wood and MEMBERS OF COMPANY K GUARDING CASKET. Lieut. Moulton. Vice President Fairbanks stood up in his auto- mobile almost the entire length of Front street, an,d with his hat in hand acknowledged the cheers and applause of the crowds, while Governor Harris kept bowing to people on both sides of the street in response to the cheers with which he was greeted. At the high school the procession halted and the Croghan remains were escorted from their resting place at the base of the monu- ment by the Gecrge Croghan Chapter of the D. A. R., the mem- 16 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Societx I'tiblications. bers of which had cliarge of the final interment. The childrers scattered flowers in the grave, a sahite was fired, taps were sounded, and the lionored dust of the gallant George Croghan was consigned to its final resting place on the spot and in the sacred soil he had so bravely and loyally defended ninety-three years before. The grave was covered with a large block of Quincy granite bearing this inscription : George Croghan Major 17th U. S. Infantry, Defender of Fort Stephenson, August 1st and 2d, 1813. Born Locust Grove, Ky. , Nov. 15, 1781. Died New Orleans, La., Jan. 8, 1849, Colonel Inspector General United States Army. Remains removed from Croghan Family Burying Ground, Locust Grove, Ky., August 2, 1906. MAJOR C. C. TIN- NINGTOX, The oratorical exercises were held in the afternoon in the open air within the precincts of the fort. Vast crowds gathered and listened intently to addresses. General Jesse C. Chance, of Fremont, was president of the day and introduced the speakers, alter the assembl}' had l)een called to order !)}■ Mayor C. C. Ttnuiington. The speeches were interspersed with [patriotic songs by the school children and martial strains by the Liiiht ( Inard I land. THE INVOCATION. REV. \V. E. TRESSEL, CHAPLAIN. God of our fathers, we praise and worship Thee ! Assembled on historic ground, which has been consecrated by heroes' blood, we not only hold in glad and grateful remembrance the noble deeds of valiant men. Tlic Crog/ian Celebration. 17 l)in we proclaim Thy great glory, O Lord of hosts; for Thou art the (i()(l of !)attles, and right and truth triumph hy Thy blessing. And whilst we thank Thee for the brave men of tiiat older day who fought so nobly in freedom's holy cause, we give Thee laud and honor for the pa- tience, the skill, the industrj', t4irough which were won those notable victories of peace, no less renowned than those of war, that made the wilderness to blossom as the rose and laid the foundations for the splendid material prosperity which to-day is our portion. For health, and peace, and plenty, for home, good government, for our great educa- tional system, we give Thee thanks, O God. And richer gifts than these have Howed to us from Thy bounteous hand. Thou hast revealed to us Thy dear son, Jesus Christ, and hast made Him to be our Savior from the bondage of sin and from eternal death ; and in Thy precious word Thou hast conveyed to us Thy saving grace and power. Eternal praise be to Thee for these. Thy choicest gifts ! We pray Thee to continue to us Thy favor. To this end bless with repentance and faith : help us to renounce all sin and error, to love and to follow truth and righteousness, that we may hold fast what Thou hast in mercy given. Instil more and more into our hearts love of country. Do Thou use the exercises of this day to impress on our mind the responsibilities of citizenship. Awaken and quicken within us civic spirit. And thus let this memorable day on which we stand before Thy holy throne, result in countless blessings, for time and eternity, to us and to our children. "Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come^ Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home ! "Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure : Sufficient is Thine arm alone. And our defence is sure. "Before the hills in order stood. Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, For aye wilt be the same. "A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone ; Swift as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun. VoI.^XVI— 2. 18 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Socicfv Publications. '"Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away : They fly, forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day. "O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come. Be Thou our Guard while troubles last, And our eternal home !" Thou, who hearest prayer, for Jesus' sake give ear to these our prayers and praises, which we sum up in the words of our Lord : Our Father, Who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ; Give us this day our daily bread ; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us ; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen ! ADDRESS OF HON. SAMUEL D. DODGE. When your fellow citizen, Col. Webb C. Hayes, asked me to ad- dress you upon this occasion, and I accepted the invitation, I did so with the full appreciation that I should be able to add nothing to the historical in- formation which you citizens of Sandusky County possessed, I should be able to say no word which could in any way increase yorir admiration for the distinguished youth, who, almost a century ago, stood near this spot, and with one gun and a few brave soldiers routed the British forces and their Indian allies. You citizens of Sandusky Count}' have studied your histories well; 3'ou have shown full appreciation for the courage displayed on that occasion and you have honored many times the memory and deeds of the distinguished Soldier. Stu- dents of American history have related to you the causes that led up to the War of eminent writers have described to you the campaign preceding the SAMiTcr. I). iKji)(_;i-:. 181-J attack on Fort Stephenson ; and distinguished orators, with brilliant phrases, have pictured to you the handsome youth standing upon the ram- parts of Fort Stephenson, and amid the yells of savages and the fierce at- tacks of the veterans of Wellington urging his little band to deeds of hero- The Croghan Celebration. 19 ism. The life and deeds of George Croghan are familiar tales in every household of this historic neighborhood. Your fellow townswoman, Miss Julia M. Haynes, in her admirable paper, "Fremont in History," read to you a few years ago, has given us a clear, concise and eloquent statement of the events which have made your city famous. Dr. Charles R. Williams, in his public address delivered at Spiegel Grove, a few years since, has added to the historical literature of Fremont a brilliant and polished essay, and other distinguished men and women have placed before you the geography, history, and traditions of your town in pamphlet and speech. You have listened to the thrilling eloquence of General Gibson and the polished sentences of Governor Jacob D. Cox, and at that memorable meeting when you dedicated this handsome monument, a meeting pre- sided over by your distinguished citizen, Rutherford B. Hayes, you lis- tened to the voices of Sherman, Foraker, Henry B. Payne and others. That I could add anything to what has been said and written concerning these historical events, I have not for a moment dared to hope, but per- haps a personal allusion, if I may be allowed, will partially explain my presumption and willingness to accept this invitation. On July 9th, 1813, there was born in my grandfather's house in Cleveland, a son, and for several weeks no agreement could be reached as to the name he was to bear. Less than a month after the child's birth, from every hill top to every valley, from settlement to settlement of pioneers along shores of Lake Erie came the news that Major George Croghan, a young man, had put to rout the English and Indians and saved Fort Stephenson, and my grandfather's family had found a name for their son, and to-day there is a grave in Lake View cemetery in Cleveland and at its head a simple granite monument with the inscription George Croghan Dodge, born July 9th, 1813, died June 6th. 1883; and so I regard it as a privilege to pay a simple tribute to-day to a man whose name my father bore, the story of whose achievement told me in my boyhood was a narrative to which no tale of giants or fairies could compare. Fifty years before the defense of Ft. Stephenson or "Sandusky," as the name was engraved on the gold medal presented by congress to the peerless Croghan, this historic neighborhood had been the scene of the capture and utter destruction at the outbreak of Pontiac's gigantic con- spiracy of old Fort Sandusky, built in 1745 on the left or west side of Sandusky bay and river on the Marblehead peninsula. "The storm burst early in May of 1763. * * * Nine British forts yielded instantly and the savages drank, scooped up in the hollow of joined hands, the blood of many a Briton. * * * Sandusky was the first of the forts to fall. May 16th. Ensign Paully * * * was seized, carried to Detroit, adopted, and married to a squaw, who had lost her husband, the remainder of the garrison were massacreed and the fort burned." 20 Ohio .IrcJi. and Hist. Society Publications. Fort S;Mulusk\-, the tirsl fort established in Ohio, was built in ITi-^t by British traders from Pennsylvania and Virginia under the instruction, it is said, of George Croghan, later deputy Indian Commissioner to Sir. Wm. Johnston. It was located on ' the Marblehead peninsula on the left or west side of the Sandusky river and bay at the portage where Indians and trappers coming from Dctnni. in their course skirting the chain of islands in Lake Erie", would l.nnd id carry their canoes across to the Sandusky river on their way to the Scioto and Ohio. The French, resenting this intrusion, "usurped F. Sandoski" and in 1T54 liuilt another fort, "Junundat." on the east or right side of the Sandusky river and bay. The maps of John Mitchell and Lewis Evans, both pub- lished in 1775, clearly show' the location of these two forts, Mitchell's map shows the fort on the west side of the river and bay with the notation "Sandoski usurped by the French, 1751," while Evans' map has "F Sando.ski" on the west side and also "F Junundat built in 1754" on the east side of the river and bay and diagonally across from '"Sandoski." ■'Sandusky was afterward evacuated and on the 8th of September, 1760, the French governor, Vandreueil surrendered Canada to the Eng- lish" and then ended French dominion in America. ""^Major Robert Rogers, a native of New Hampshire, was directed to take possession of the west- ern forts. He left Montreal on the 13th of September, 1760, with two hundred rangers. * ' * Proceeding west, he visited Sandusky * * * after securing the fort at Detroit returned liy land via Sandusky and and Tuscarawas trail to Fort Pitt." Soon after Major Rogers took possession of the western forts for the British, Ensign Paully was placed in command of Fort Sandusky and so remained until his capture, and the massacre of his garrison and the utter destruction of the fort on May 16, 1763, at the outbreak of Pon- tiac's conspiracy. As soon as the news of the capture of the nine British forts reached the British authorities, Detroit and Fort Pitt alone escap- ing capture, expeditions were sent to relieve the latter and to re-establish British supremacy in the northwest. Captain Dalyell arrived at the ruins of old Fort Sandusky in the fall of 1763 and then proceeded up the Sandusky river to the village of the Hurons and Wyandots at the lower rapids of the Sandusky river (now Fremont) and utterly destroyed the Indian villages located there. In 1764, twelve years before the declaration of Independence, Col. John Bradstreet started from Albany to relieve Major Gladwyn at De- troit. Pontiac, the crafty, powerful and ambitious chief of the Ottawa Indians, the year before, had sent his red-stained tomahawk and his war belts to the various Tndian tribes between the Allegheny mountains and the Mississippi river, stirring the hearts of the red men against the pioneers, and was preparing to continue his attacks upon the various western forts, and in his hatred toward the whites was determined The Cro^^ha)! Celebration. 21 to acc(inii)li>h hy torcL' wliat lio cmild iiul acconiplisli hy Iruaclicr} lie had iH'luriK'd from Detrnii in Novemljer, ITd.'i. and it was (.'vidcnt thai he was ])r(.'iiarin!i- lor a more complete siege of that important military post. it was then that (ieneral Thomas Gage wrote the Colonies and asked for trtiops to suppress the growing insurrection of the Indian na- tions: and Colonel Bradstreet set forth from Albany with his army of 1U^(| men. 7ii(i lieing provincial troops from New York, New Jersey and Connecticni nnder Israel Putnam. Along they came to Lake Ontario and with two vessels. 75 whale boats, and numberless canoes, issued forth and steered westward. Remaining a while at Fort Niagara, passing on and founding Fort Erie, they pushed on to Detroit after making short encampments on the banks of the Cuyahoga river, on the present site of Cleveland, and at the ruins of old Fort Sandusky. All along the journey Indians had been sent to treat for peace, but knowing from experience the treacherous character of the Indians, Bradstreet was warned against putting trust in the overtures of the savages. Yet notwithstanding the protests of his followers, Bradstreet promised to refrain from march- ing against the Delawares, Shawanese and other tribes, if within tvventy- five days the representatives of the tribes would meet him at Fort San- dusky for the purpose of giving up prisoners and concluding a definite treaty. Bradstreet had. however, been ordered to give to the Wyandots, Ottawas and JNliamis a thorough chastisement, but on the approach of the English commander these three tribes sent deputies to meet him and promised to follow him to Detroit and make a treaty there, if he would abandon the hostile plan against them. It was with this expecta- tion that he reached Detroit, only to learn that the Indians whom he had expected to meet on his return to Fort Sandusky for the purpose of making a treaty, had assembled there to oppose the disembarkment of the English soldi-ers. So Bradstreet started with sixty long boats and one barge and glided down the Detroit river out upon the bosom of Lake Erie. All expected to engage in a fierce combat with the savage foe, but Bradstreet soon received better news. With this expedition of Bradstreet was one Lieutenant Montresor, who kept a journal, and this journal has been preserved among the collections of the New York Historical Society. From the journal we learn that "news soon arrived that the Delawares and Shawanese are assembled at Sandusky where the old fort stood in order to treat with us for peace." With this information Bradstreet's "troops entered Sandusky lake or bay" September 18, 1764, and "encamped on a good clay bank half a mile west of the spot where sixteen months before Pontiac had butchered the English garrison and burned the fort." Indians soon appeared and pledged if he would not at- tack the Indian village they would conclude a definite treaty and surrender all prisoners they had. Bradstreet did not attack them. After waiting seven days "Col. Bradstreet then proceeded up Sandusky river to the village of the Hurons and Wyandot';, which had been destroyed by Cap- 22 Ohio .ircli. and Hist. Society Publications. tain Dalyell the preceding year." Montresor in his journal says "Brad- street's whole force proceeded and encamped one mile below the rapids of the Sandusky River, and here at this camp near the Huron village on Sandusky river. Major Israel Putnam served as Field Officer for the picket and presided at a General Court Martial at his own tent to try all prisoners brought before him."* So to this very spot, now Fort Stephenson Park, Fremont, Ohio, fresh with the laurels won while in command of Provincial troops in the siege of Havana, Cuba, with this expedition came Israel Putnam, who afterwards became Senior Major General in the army of the United States of America, one of the heroes of Bunker Hill, an indomitable soldier, a man of generous soul and sterling patriotism, and of whom his biographer. Col. David Humphreys, say<. "He seems to have been formed on purpose for the age in which he lived. His native courage, unshaken integrity, and established repu- tation as a soldier gave unbounded confidence to our troops in their first conflict in the field of battle." The colonial records of Connecticut for March, 1764, says this as- sembh- doth appoint Israel Putnam, Esq., to be major of the forces now ordered raised in this colony for his Majesty's service against the In- dian Nations who have been guilt}' of perfidious and cruel massacres of the English. Thus to the long list of patriots and statesmen and pioneers, who in the early days wandered through the densely wooded trails, over these plains which smiled to the sun in grass and flowers, and along the banks of this historic river; to the names of Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton, William Henry Harrison, George Croghan and a host of others we can add the immortal name of Israel Putnam. The fifty odd years between the campaign of Bradstreet and the War of 1812, the years preceding and following the Revolutionary War are filled with the stirring events of pioneer history. Northern Ohio was the scene of border wars and Indian outrages. The massacre of the Mo- ravians, Crawford's Expedition, the destruction of St. Clair's army, and the victory of General Wayne at Fallen Timbers are a few of the many important events that go to make up the history of the region around the Maumee and Sandusky rivers. The disasters to the American arms incident to the opening of the campaign of the War of 1812 in the north- west — the disgraceful surrender of Hull at Detroit, the massacre of Win- chester's men at the River Raisin, and Dudley's massacre, so-called, in the otherwise successful defence of Fort Meigs culminated, however, on August 2, 1813, in the unparalleled discomfiture of the British and In- dians by a young Kentucky major. This defense, so brilliant and com- plete, followed by Perry's Victory on Lake Erie and General Harrison's triumph at the battle of the Thames practically closed the campaign. * Livingstone's Tj'fe i)f T^^a^'! Putnam, p. 139. The Croghan Celebration. 23 The war of 1812 only supplemented the Revolutionary War. We had become at once independent and feeble. Articles of confederation bound u.-^ loosely together, and we had not yet fully won our place among the nations of the earth. Other nations looked upon us as an easy prey — they could seize our ships and imprison our seamen, but these results were only incidents which gave rise to the conflict for which the time was ripe and for which there was and could be no postponement. This war must be had. We must consolidate and finish the work of independence. It must be a reality and not a name, England must ac- knowledge us as a distinct member of the family of nations, and this is what we accomplished by the contest of 1812 and 1813. When that war broke out the Indians were banded together in this Northwestern quar- ter of the state under the leadership of Tecumseh, to whom the English had given the rank of a general in their army. There was no city of Fremont. The spot called Lower Sandusky was a military reservation two miles square, established by treaty in 1785. Here was built Fort Stephen- son — one of the many outposts in the midst of this hostile country. Built to protect the communications of the army with the more distant posts at Chicago and Detroit ; built perhaps that a crossing at this point of this then important river might be rnade in safety. Up this Sandusky river from the lake came all who wished to reach the Ohio river on their way from Canada to Mississippi for, with a short portage, they could enter the Scioto and then on down to the great rivers beyond. It was an im- portant place then for a growing settlement, a vigorous colony might be started here and Major Croghan appreciated its importance even if Harrison did not. The English had made allies of the Indians. Te- cumseh was made a general. British emissaries were busy among the Northwest tribes stirring them up to war upon the Americans. Gen- eral Proctor, with his savage allies had failed to capture Fort Meigs, and Proctor had withdrawn to his old encampment and there he re- mained until on July 28th, 1813, the British embarked with their stores and started for Sandusky bay and river for the purpose of attacking Fort Stephenson. Again and again have you heard the story of this fight. How General Harrison had sent word to Major Croghan that if the British approached with force and cannon and he could discover them in time to retreat, that he must do so. How Harrison in council with his other Generals had decided that the fort was untenable and ordered him to abandon it. How the messenger lost his way, and when he did arrive Croghan sent back word to Harrison the memorable mes- sage, "We have determined to maintain this place, and by heavens we can." The natural anger of General Harrison at this seeming diso- bedience to his order and the summoning of Croghan to come to Fort Seneca and the placing of another in command until the gallant boy bad explained and appeased the wrath of his superior and was sent back to bis post, are familiar facts of history. On the afternoon of August 1st, 24 Oliio Arch, and Hist. Socictx rithllcatioiis. 1813, we fiiul tlic young hero hack in command and with KiO men and "Old Betsy," sending back to Proctor with his 700 veterans, 2,000 In- dians and Barclay's gunboats in the river, a defiant refusal to his summons to surrender. General Harrison, in his report to the Secretary of War. thus de- scribes the battle. "Their troops were formed into two columns, one led by Lieut. -Colonel Short, headed the principal one. He conducted his men to the brink of the ditch under a galling fire from the garrison, and by Lieut. -Colonel Shortt headed the principal one. He conducted his men and the light infantry. At this moment a masked porthole was sud- s' vij^i .XTTACK ox FORT STEPIl EX.'^OX. denly opened and the six-jiounder. with a half-load of ])owdL'r and a double charge of leaden slugs, at a distance of thirty feet, poured destruc- tion upon them, and killed or wounded every man who entered the ditch. In vain did the British officers try to lead on the balance of the colunni. It retired under a shower of shot, and sought safety in the adjoining woods." And who was this young man who defended this place against a force of British and Indians and drove them discomfited from the field of battle. We seem to see him now as he stood there a model of manly beauty in his youthful prime, ''a man in all that makes a man ere man- The Croghan Celebration. - 2& hood's years have been fuH'illed"'; standing on llie threshuld of his career. This young, accomplished, handsome youth was born at Locust Grove, Ky., November 15, 1791. His mother was Lucy Clark. Of uncles he had upon his mother's side, George Rogers Clark, whose great campaign through the wilderness won for us the Northwest Territory was one ; and William Clark, who with Captain Lewis made the famous Lewis and Clark expedition of exploration across the continent, was another. His father, William Croghan, was born in Ireland in 1752, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and fought at Brandywine, Monmouth and Germantown, and when young George had finished his preliminary schooling he entered at the age of 17 the College of William and Mary and graduated two years later with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. His purpose was to become a lawyer, but when the governor of Indiana, William Henry Harrison, called for volunteers to strike at Tccumseh and his stirring red men, Croghan joined the little army as a private and began his life as a soldier at the battle of Tippecanoe. From that day until General Harrison sent him to this place, the spirit of the soldier in him had met every test of skill and bravery, and he took command of Fort Stephenson with the confidence of his su- periors and with the love and admiration of his soldiers. In a report of this battle by an English historian occurs this sentence : "The first division were so near the enemy that they could distinctly hear the various orders given in the fort and the faint voices of the wounded and dying in the ditch, calling out for water, which the enemy had the humanity to lower to them on the instant." Over in that beautiful cemetery at Clyde, on its sunkissed slopes, bright with the foliage of this August day, rests one who, fifty years after the defense of Fort Stephenson, honored this country, his state and his country by his conduct upon the field of battle — General James B. Mc- Pherson, as good a soldier, as chivalrous a leader, as gallant a gentle- man, as pure a man as ever fell upon the field of battle. General Sher- man says of him "History tells us of but few who so blended the grace and gentleness of the friend with the dignity, courage, faith and man- liness of the soldier." Now Sandusky County has gathered to herself all that remains of another hero, her first if not her greatest. Here under the shadow of this monument among the people who love to do him honor, on the very spot he so gallantly defended, will he lie Till mouldering worlds and tumbling systems burst; When the last trump shall renovate his dust. Till by the mandate of eternal truth. His soul will flourish in immortal youth. Such names as Croghan and AlcPherson are like the sound of a 26 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. trumpet. They are the precious jewels of our nation's history, to be gathered up among the treasures of the nation and kept immaculate from the tarnishing breath of the cynic and the doubter. My Friends ; Wars are cruel. They crush with bloody heel all justice, all happiness, all that is God-like in Man. We have but to read the History of Nations to discern the hideous slaughters which have marked their progress, and yet man is such a savage that until the present generation he has insisted that the only way to settle things is by the gage of battle. He has covered a hundred battle fields with men and horses ; with the groans of the wounded and the dying. He has covered the pages of our history with gore, and if history, such history as you have learned here on the banks of this gentle flowing river that for a half a century had been the scene of strife and battle, if such history I say, cannot cultivate out of man the brutal spirit of war, teach him the wisdom of diplomacy and the need of arbitration, then has the lesson been lost and he has failed to taste the fruit or imbibe the philosophy of humanity. It is for us to substitute law for war, reason for force, courts of reason for the settlement of contro- versies among nations following up the maintenance of the law with the A^italizing forces of civilization until all nations are molded into one International Brotherhood, yielding to reason and conscience. Then can we draw the sword from its sheath and fling it into the sea rejoicing that it has gone forever. Let us recognize this truth and today on this anniversary we will lay a new stone in the temple of Universal Peace. This temple which shall rise to the very firmament and be as broad as the ends of the earth. May such occasions as this lead us away from an era of wars and battleships and new navies and bring us to a time when Patriotism and Humanity can be compatible one with another and ■to a time When navies are forgotten And fleets are useless things, When the dove shall warm her bosom Beneath the eagle's wings. When memory of battles. At last is strange and old. When nations have one banner And creeds have found one fold. Then Hate's last note of discord In all God's world shall cease, In the conquest which is service In the victory which is peace! The Croghan Celebration. 27 ADDRESS OF HON. CHARLES W. FAIRBANKS. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I am gratified, indeed, to be present and participate with you for a brief while upon this historic occasion. I have not come to make a formal speech, nor did I come to make you a speech at all. According to the programme. I am to indulge only in a few "remarks." What I shall say to you shall be born of the moment. I have brought with me no well-turned phrases. I have come simply to join Vvith you in paying tribute to the memory of men who did valiant service in the cause of the Republic in the long ago. The spot whereon we stand is sacred ground, for wherever men have fought in the cause of American liberty, that ground is sacred and ever will be held so. George Croghan is a name that is in- delibly written in the history of the Re- public, and this great community honors Itself when it brings back his remains from the sunny South and gives them sepulcher in the soil hallowed by his genius and valor. We bring to-day beneath this beautiful summer sky a tribute of our gratitude for what he did for us and for our suc- cessors in the centuries which stretch be- fore us with so much promise. We lay the remains of this brave soldier to their everlasting sleep beneath the shade of yonder monument. I wish we knew the names of the hundred and sixty men who stood with him August 2, 1813, that we might call the roll of them here to- day and pay to them the tribute of our gratitude and our admiration. The brave commander who rendered illustrious service here in a critical period of the war of 181-2, is known to us and his name is upon our lips and it will be sung by our children in days to come, but his brave compatriots are unknown. The one hundred and sixty men who stood here — as brave men as ever placed their lives upon the sacrificial altar of their country — are known, for God Almighty knows men who go ■down to the Ijattle field to preserve American institutions for ages to come. There is one brave young man. who stood with Croghan, whose name we cannot forget, and v.'hich we recall with pride and satisfaction, and that is the name of Ensign Shipp. When the British General Proctor C. W. FAIRBANKS. 28 Ohio .Ircli. and Hist. Society J'liblicatioits. came bearing a riag of truce, supported by an army trained m the art of arms — five hundred British, eight hundred savages, I behevc, twelve himdred in all, — against an hundred and sixty-one, commander and soldiery, it was believed that the flag of truce would win a complete surrender of the small garrison. But the British commander knew little of the metal that was in George Croghan and Ensign Shipp and the hundred and fifty-nine others who shared with them the fortunes of war. The young commander who had barely reached his majority sent to meet the officers bearing the flag of truce, this young Ensign, yoimger still than himself. The British officer demanded the surrender of the garrison. The Ensign answered — and history can never forget his an- swer : "My commandant and the garrison," said he. "are determined to defend the post to the last extremity and bury ourselves in its ruins rather than surrender to any force whatever." It was pointed out by tlic British commander that resistance would, probably result in massacre b}- the savages. To this suggestion the Ensign defiantly replied : "When the fort shall be taken there will be none to massacre. It will not be given up while a man is able to resist." This was the note of sublime heroism. It was essentially the answer of a brave American patriot. It was a sentiment kindred to one uttered by General Grant during the Civil War. The great General, as I remember, in one of his campaigns, crossed a river and sought an engagement with the enemy with the river in his rear, and with only one transport. When it was suggested that this was, perhaps, inade- quate provision in the event of the necessity of a retreat, the great captain of our armies made the laconic reply that if he was obliged to retreat, one transport would be sufficient. As Shipp made his way back to the fort. Major Croghan awaited him. The latter knew the British would demand surrender and that the brave Ensign would decline to accede to his demand. As the fort opened for the Ensign's return, Croghan said : "Come in Shipp and we will blow them all to Hell." That was a naughty word. (A voice: "But it was the right one under the circumstances.") Yes, you are right. If it was ever to be used, then was the occasion to use it, and I think that a word like that, used in the cause of liberty, is a dis- infected word. rTh.c Vice-President indicated he was about to close. Several voices: "Go on! Go on!") I do not want to talk longer than it took George Croghan to lick the British and the savages here. He illustrated better than any man can that it is not words wdiich win victories, but it is deeds that accom- plish them. Fellow citizens, American liberty has cost something. Tt is a singular fact that those great blessings to the human race which it most longs for, which it most prays for, alw.ays come at the greatest The Croi:[hait Celebration. 29 cost. Humanity, in all her march, hack from the early mist of history, down to this prcsLMit lic_)ur. lia^ won liur \-ictories for lihi.-rl\' mainly upon the battle field. W'j who are here to-day arc in the enjoyment of liberty which was won upon the field of l)altle. We are a great, liappy, contented nation of eighty millions. We look out across the sea to the Empire of Russia, with her one hundred and forty millions struggling with the great proi)lenK of luunan liberty. We see their wars, we see their massacres, we see their blood.s'.ied unspeakable. We each and every one wish that those people could come out of the bondage of iron rule into the glad sunshine of liberty. America Ins had five wars: the War of the American Revolution; liie War of li<\'2 which made us forever secin-e against the efforts of '^^ ■■^^■'•^H ^'^: fl 1 - 1 - . ^ \ m Ntek » ^''**^^W^m"^^^^^^^^^^^» »' ^^ 3Biytei!i3S3H9l^r VICE PRES. FAIRBANKS IN PARADE. Great Britain to wrest liberty from us — the liberty fought for by our continental fathers ; the war with Mexico was the third, and I am glad to sec here to-day and take by the hand several of the survivors of the war with Alexico. Their presence is an inspiration. It is a curious coincidence that there is now present a man who knew Croghan in the Mexican War. It seems to carry us back from the present to the very presence of the hero of Fort Stephenson. Then the war of the great Rebellion — the mightiest war in the history' of man. There are here to-day scores of men bearing upon their breasts the evidence of their loyalty to the Union in the hour of its supremest exigency. And later came the war with Spain. These five wars were fought by the people of the United States, 30 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. not to enslave men but to make men free, to enlarge in a vast degree the zone of Republican government. All honor to George Croghan and his heroic band. All honor to the soldiers of the revolution. All honor to the soldiers of the Mexican war. All honor to the soldiers of the Union. All honor to the soldiers of the Spanish-American war. The American people honor them. They honor them each and all. They hold them forever within the embrace of their fondest memory. Fellow citizens, it would be impossible for me to close these few words without expressing that appreciation to Col. Webb C. Hayes which is in the hearts of all of us here to-day. It is a happy circum- -stance that he, a soldier himself, and a son of one of the brave defenders of the Union in the Civil War, should thoughtfully and generously bring Lack from the soil of Kentucky where he was sleeping his everlasting sleep the remains of this brave, fearless leader, in order that they might rest here amid the theater of his immortal achievements. All honor to Colonel Hayes for what he has so splendidly done, and all honor to the comm.unity which respects and preserves the memory of those who have served so well in the cause of their country. I will leave you, my friends, and' I leave you with regret. I leave you, however, with the confident hope that you will go forward in the enjoyment of peace and happiness which are the legitimate fruits of those who fought here and elsewhere for Republican government. ADDRESS OF GENERAL ANDREW L. HARRIS. GOVERNOR OF OHIO. The cliairman has stated tliat I will makf a few remarks, and this is truly said. When your committee came to Columbus to invite me to participate on this occasion I frankly told them that it would be im- possible for me to make any preparation, liul that I could come provid- ing no speech was expected of me, and, fellow citizens. Col. Hayes gladly accepted the promise, and it was with tliat understanding that I am here to-day, for the purpose of participating with j-ou in my pres- ence more than by words or speech on this memorable occasion. I sometimes think that we have never given sufficient importance in history to the gallant deeds that were performed here in 1813. You remember that up to that time the results of the war seemed against us. We had met many reverses, but it was Col. Croghan and his 160 men who won one of the most important victories, according to the numbers engaged on our side and the numbers of the enemy, that is recorded in American history. It was from this moment that the tide of the battle turned in our favor. From that time victory after victory followed until in a few months' time the war was ended, and victory seemed vouchsafed to us so far a^ the mother country was concerned, the The Cro^han Celebration. 31 liberty that we are enjoying to-day, and I wish to say that upon this spot, this historic spot thnt the tide turned in favor of the American nation, in the war of 18l"i-13. How unfortunate you are to have within your corporate Hmits the most historic spot in the United States of America. I never stood upon this ground, upon this battlefield until to- day. My mind turns back to my youthful days, when I read of the bravery of Croghan and his 160 men, and I often thought it was a miracle, he being a mere youth and only 160 men, and de- fending the fort against so many British and Indians. But it was done, and from that day to this, this spot has been a his- toric spot, a spot that is dear in the minds of our American citizens. Now, there are others to make a few remarks, and I want to give them a chance to make them, and I only want to say in conclusion that I congratulate the city of Fremont in the respect and love that it has shown for this spot, and its great defender. I want to congratulate the city of Fremont for having in your midst a young soldier w^ho is aiding to keep this a historic spot, dearer and dearer each year in the mem- ory of the American people, in the person of Col. Webb C. Hayes. I thank you for your attention for you must be getting tired and I will leave you. saying that I am glad it was my privilege to be with you to-day. and I will ever remember this meeting as long as I live. This day will be deep in my memory. GOVERNOR HARRIS. ADDRESS OF E. O. RANDALL. SECRETARY OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The only apology I have for the honor of appearing before you on this interesting occasion is that my college friend of years ago, your splendid, patriotic and enterprising fellow-citizen. Colonel Webb. C. Hayes, invited me to come; his apology being that I am an official of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, whose business it is to gather, preserve and disseminate the lore, historic and prehistoric of our great state. The orator of the day, the Hon. Samuel D. Dodge, has recited to you in graphic terms the history that led up to the siege of Fort Stephenson and the incomparable bravery and patriotism with which the j^outh George Croghan and his gallant little band defended the crude stockade fort and stemmed the tide, that to that moment seemed against the Americans. The successful repulse of Proctor and the British S'2 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. soldiers and Tccumsch, with his hundreds of braves, was the first real victor}- on Oliio soil in the War of 1812. That \vt may all the more appreciate the extent and significance of that event, let us for purposes of comparison look to other parts of the world, and note some of the stupendous acts that were bemg performed in the theatre of great things. In this very month, indeed on this very day and the days fol- lowing, in August, 1813, Bolivar, known as the Liberator and often called the Washington of South America, as the head of several hundred vol- unteer revolutionists, was entering as conqueror, Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, which country was thus freed from the oppression of Spanish monarchial rule and became one of the first republics of South America. In Europe a greater scene was being enacted. The incomparable Napo- leon was engaged in that series of military movements on the banks of the Elbe, which were the crowning events of his generalship and the culmination of his career. At this date (August 1813) Napoleon was approaching Dresden with an army of 100,000 troups and upon that field he defeated 150,000 of the allied forces. Two months later on the nearby famous field of Leipsic with 150.000, the flower of the French army, he was overwhelmed by the tre- mendous host of 250,000 soldiers under the com- bined powers of Europe. It was a crushing defeat for the sublime rogue of Corsica, the greatest mili- tary genius of modern times. These stupendous events shook the foundations of European dynas- ties, but were contests not for humanity and liberty - ■ ' v'T^^^Sj^^^^^^H^Kr. ' SPIEGEL GROVE. the rest of the earth was thrown (in the outer bank and the depth of the ditch thus increased. Major Croghan had large logs placed on u>v ol the wall of the fort, so adjusted that an inconsiderable weight woukl cause them to fall from their position and crush any who ini^jht hr below. When the British landed opposite Brady's Island they sent a flag of truce under Col. Elliott who was met by Ensign Shipp on the ridge where the parsonage of St. John's Liulieran Church (which was for- merly the court house), now stands. This was eloquently described to mc by Thomas L. Hawkins, the poet, prcaelier ruid orator. A ravine ran up from the river north of the fort through Justice street across the pike in a southwestern direction near the court house, The Croghan Celebration. 55 the British brought their cannon up this ravine. They would load their cannon and then run them up out of the ravine and after dis- cliarging them, back them down again to reload out of range of the guns of the fort. The next ravine south of this ran up Croghan street, turning to the southwest at High street, thence northwest through the northwest corner of the Presbyterian church lot. This ravine formed tiic north boundary of the plateau or ridge on which Fort Stephenson •was located and on which ridge ran the Harrison trail to the southwest up through Spiegel Grove and on to Fort Seneca. The next ravine south of this extended between Birchard avenue and Garrison street, one branch ran towards the Methodist church through the Dorr and McCulloch property. It was from this last named ravine that the British Grenadiers made a feint against Capt. Hunter's company just before Col: Shortt made his assault on the northwest corner of the fort Lieut. Col. Short and Lieut. J. G. Gordon, of the 41st Regt. were buried near the south entrance of the high school building. RECEPTION AT SPIEGEL GROVE. Following the exercises of the afternoon at Fort Stephenson, an informal reception was held at Spiegel Grove, to the out-of-town guests of the city and the citizens at large. Col. Webb C. Hayes, the prime miover of the whole celebration, Mr. and Mrs. Birchard A. Hayes and Mrs. Fanny Hayes Smith cordially received the guests on the great piazza, where the Vice-President, the Governor, the Governor's Staff and the stafif and line officers of the Sixth Regiment were guests of honor. Great nurnbers of persons moved about through the beautiful grounds, enjoying the music by the Light Guard Band stationed in front of the house, the superb weather and the gay spectacle. The week having been observed as Old Home Week, many former residents of Fremont were at hand to renew old acquaintances and assist in doing the honors of the place to the crowds of strangers. THE VENETIAN SPECTACLE. With the falling of dusk the immense crowds commenced to assemble to witness the glories of as realistic a Venetian night as was possible to produce, following the plans originated by Dr. Stamm, who has several times viewed these spectacles in Venice. The river banks between the L. E. & W. and State street bridges were thronged with crowds, while the special guests and those, by whose -efforts the day was a success, occupied the guests' stand, built on the water just north of the bridge. More than a hundred boats and launches, gaily decorated and illum- inated, approached the reviewing stand, presenting a beautiful sight ■with their swaying colored lights on a background of dark sky. 56 Ohio .Ircli. aiuf Hist. Society [Publications. emphasized by the hundreds of Japanese lanterns strung along either bank and in sweeping festooons across the big Lake Erie bridge. Near the bridge, and extending across the river, were seven of the largest boats in the river, bearing huge electric transparencies upon which appeared six-foot letters spelling the name Croghan, which was also seen in a set piece. The hit of the evening was the reproduction of Fort Stephen- son on the southern extremity of Bradj^'s Island. Old Betsy in life-size repioduction belched forth \()llej'^s of colored fireballs, accompanied with heavy detonations and clouds of smoke and the sharp re- ports of musketrj' and small arms, cleverly imitated with fireworks. At brief intervals the entire fort was beautifully illuminated with red fire, which lirought out in striking relief the details of the stockade. Old Betsy, her men, the sally posts, etc. The barge on board of which w^ere the Light Guard band, the Maennerchor singers. Miss Reese, the vocalist of the evening, and the orchestra were moored near the Lake Erie bridge and strung with electric lights. The fireworks, in charge of Chief Reiff, of the fire department, were magnificent and no accidents occurred. Especial praise is due Charles Hermon, the lamplighter, who superintended the illuminations. Commo- dore Coonrod's fleet as managed by Charles Grable, was a thing of beauty. The display occupied three hours and general satisfaction on the part of all was evident in their attention. ^Hf^^l^ DR. STAMM. HARRISON'S NORTHWESTERN CAMPAIGN. The best description extant of General Harrison's Northwestern Campaign is that contained in "A History of the Late War in the Western Country," by Robert B. McAfee, Lexington, Ky., 1816, a rare and valuable volume. Major McAfee was himself an officer in that campaign, serving as a captain in the regiment of mounted riflemen commanded by Col. Richard M. Johnson. In his Preface he acknowledges his indebtedness to Gen. Harrison, Governor Shelby, Colonels Croghan and Tod and Colonel Wood of the Engineers for official correspondence and assistance in procuring material and formation. The chapter relating to the Tippecanoe campaign in 1811 contains the following references to some of the Kentucky Vol- unteers : "Colonel Keiger, who raised a small company of 79 men near Louisville, including among them Messrs. Croghan, O'Fallen, Shipp, Chum and Edwards, who afterward distinguished themselves as officers in the nrmv of the United States." 'Die Croghan Celebration. 57 Governor Slielby in his letters to the War Department speaks highly of Colonel Boyd and his brigade and of Clark and Croghan who were his aides. Of the above. Croghan and Shipp fought together at the defense of Fort Stephenson. Shipp was the officer sent by Croghan to meet the flag of truce sent b\- General Proctor when the formal demand for the surrender of Fort Stephenson was made. O'Fallen was a cousin of Croghan and during the campaign was aide-de-camp to General Harrison. We copy from McAfee his account of the defense of Fort Stephenson and of Harrison's expedition to Canada and the victorious battle at the Thames. Also Colonel Croghan's subsequent campaign against the British at Mackinac in the joint army and naval expedition under the command of Commodore Sinclair. "General Harrison had returned from Cleveland to Lower Sandusky (July, 1813) several days before the arrival of the enemy, and received at that place from the express the information that Camp Meigs was again invested. He then immediately removed his headquarters to Seneca town, about nine miles up the Sandusky river, where he constructed a fortified camp, having left Major Croghan with 160 regulars in Fort Stephenson and taken with him to Seneca about 140 more, under the immediate command of Colonel Wells. A few days afterward he was reinforced by the arrival of 300 regulars under Colonel Paul, and Colonel Ball's corps of 150 dragoons, which made his whole force at that place upwards of 600 strong. He was soon joined also by Generals Mc Arthur and Cass; and Colonel Owings with a regiment of 500 regulars from Ken- tucky, was also advancing to the frontiers; but he did not arrive at head- quarters before the siege of Fort Meigs had been abandoned by the enemy. * * * The force which Proctor and Tecumseh brought against us in this instance has been ascertained to have been about 5,000 strong. A greater number of Indians were collected by them for this expedition than ever were assembled in one body on any other occasion during the whole war. Having raised the siege of Camp Meigs, the British sailed round into Sandusky bay, whilst a competent number of their savage allies marched across through the swamps of Portage River, to co-operate in a combined attack at Lower Sandusky, expecting no dotibt that General Harrison's attention would be chiefly directed to forts Winchester and Meigs. The General however had calculated on their taking this course, and had been careful to keep patrols down the bay, opposite the mouth of Portage River, where he supposed their forces would debark. Several days before the British had invested Fort Meigs, General Harrison, with Major Croghan and some other officers, had examined the heights which surround Fort Stephenson; and as the hill on the opposite or southeast side of the river, was found to be the most commanding eminence, the General had some thoughts of removing the fort to that place, and Major Croghan declared his readiness to undertake the work.. 58 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. But the General did not authorize him to do it, as he believed that if the enemy intended to invade our territory again, they would do it be- fore the removal could be completed. It was then finally concluded, that the fort which was calculated for a garrison of only two hundred men, could not be defended against the heavy artillery of the enemy; and that if the British should approach it by water, which would cause a pre- sumption that they had brought their heavy artillery, the fort must be abandoned and burned, provided a retreat could be effected with safety. In the orders left with Major Croghan it was stated, — "Should the British troops approach you in force with cannon, and you can dis- cover them m time to effect a retreat, you will do so immediately, destroy- ing all the public stores. * * * You must be aware that the attempt to retreat in the face of an Indian force would be vain. Against such an enemy your garrison would be safe, however great the number." On the evening of the ■29th, Gen. Harrison received intelligence by express from Gen. Clay, that the enemy had abandoned the siege of Fort Meigs ; and as the Indians on that day had swarmed in the woods round his camp, he entertained no doubt but an immediate attack was intended either on Sandusky or Seneca. He therefore immediately called a council of war, consisting of McArthur, Cass, Ball, Paul, Wood, Hukill, Holmes and Graham, who were unanimously of the opinion that Fort Stephen- son was untenable against heavy artillery, and that as the enemy could bring with facility any quantity of battering cannon against it, by which it must inevitably fall, and as it was an unimportant post, containing nothing the loss of which would be felt by us, that the garrison should therefore not be reinforced but withdrawn and the place destroyed. In pursuance of this decision the General immediately despatched the fol- lowing order to Major Croghan: "Sir, immediately on receiving this letter, you will abandon Fort Stephenson, set fire to it and repair with your command this night to headquarters. Cross the river and come up on the opposite side. If you should deem and find it impracticable to make good your march to this place, take the road to Huron and pursue it with the utmost circumspection and despatch." This order was sent by Mr. Conner and two Indians, who lost their way in the dark and did not arrive at Fort Stephenson before 11 o'clock the next day. When Major Croghan received it, he could not then retreat with safety, as the Indians were hovering round the fort in considerable force. He called a council of his officers, a majority of whom coincided with him in opinion that a retreat would be unsafe, and that the post could be maintained against the enemy at least until further instructions could be received from headquarters. The major therefore immediately returned the following answer : "Sir, I have received yours of yesterday, 10 o'clock P. M., ordering Tne to destroy this place and make good my retreat, which was received The Croghaii Celebration. 59 too late to be carried into execution. We have determined to maintain this place and hy heavens w^e can." Ln writing this note Major Croghan had a view to the probability of its falling into the hands of the enemy, and on that account made use of a stronger language than would otherwise have been consistent with propriety. It reached the General on the same day, who did not fully understand the circumstances and motives under which it had bee^i dictated. The following order was therefore immediately prepared, and sent with Colonel Wells in the morning, escorted by Colonel Ball with his corps of dragoons. "July 30, 1813. "Sir. The General has received your letter of this date, informing him that you had thought proper to disobey the order issued from this office, and delivered to you this morning. It appears that the informa- tion which dictated the order was incorrect; and as you did not receive it in the night as was expected, it might have been proper that you should have reported the circumstance and your situation, before you proceeded to its execution. This might have been passed over, but I am directed to say to you, that an officer who presumes to aver that he has made his resolution and that he will act in direct opposition to the orders of his General can no longer be entrusted with a separate command. Colonel Wells is sent to relieve you. You will deliver the command to him and repair with Col. Ball's squadron to this place. By command •etc.; A. H. Holmes, Asst. Adj. General." The squadron of dragoons on this trip met with a party of Indians near Lower Sandusky and killed 11 out of 12. The Indians had formed an ambush and fired on the advance guard consisting of a sergeant and five privates. Upon seeing the squadron approach they fled, but were pursued and soon overtaken by the front squad of Captain Hopkins's troop. The greater part of them were cut down by Colonel Ball and Captain Hopkins with his subalterns, whose horses being the fleetest over- took them first. The loss on our part was two privates wounded and two horses killed. Colonel Wells being left in the command of Fort Stephenson, Major Croghan returned with the squadron to headquarters. He there explained his motives for writing such a note, which were deemed satisfactory and liaving remained all night with the General who treated him politely, he was permitted to return to his command in the morning with written orders similar to those he had received before. A reconnoitering party which had been sent from headquarters to the shore of the lake, about 20 miles distant from Fort Stephenson, dis- covered the approach of the enemy by water on the evening of the 31st of July. They returned by the fort, after 12 o'clock the next day. and had passed it but a few hours when the enemy made their appearance before it. The Indians showed themselves first on the hill over the river, 60 Ohio Arch, ivid Hist. Society I'iiblicatio)is. and were >alutcd bv a U-puiinder, the only ])iece ot artillery in the fort^ which soon catiscd them to retire. In half an hour the British gun- boats came in sight: and the Indian forces displayed themselves in every direction, with a view to intercept the garrison should a retreat be attempted. The (i-pounder was fired a few times at the gun-boats, which was returned by the artillery of the enemy. A landing of their troops with a oJ-inch howitzer was effected about a mile below the fort; and Major Chambers accompanied by Dickson was despatched towards the fort with a flag, and was met on the part of Major Cro- ghan by Ensign Shipp of the I7th Regiment, .\fter the usual cere- rnonies Major Chambers observed to Ensign Shipp, that he was in- structed by Gen. Proctor to demand the surrender of the fort, as he was anxious to spare the effusion of human blood, which he could not do, should he be imder the necessity of reducing it by the powerful force of artillery, regulars and Indians under his command. Shipp replied that the commandant of the fort and its garrison were determined to defend it to the last extremity, that no force however great could induce them to surrender, as they were resolved to maintain their post or ta bury themselves in its ruins. Dickson then said that their immense body of Indians could not be restrained from massacring the whole garrison in case of success — of which we have no dotibt, rejoined Chambers, as we are amply prepared. Dickson then proceeded to re- mark that it was a pity so fine a j'oung man should fall into the hands of the savages — sir, for God's sake surrender, and prevent the dreadful massacre that will be caused by your resistance. Mr. Shipp replied that when the fort was taken there would be none to massacre. It will not be given uj) while a man is able to resist. An Indian at this moment came out of an adjoining ravine and advancing to the Ensign took hold of his sword and attempted to wrest it from him. Dickson interfered, and having restrained the Indian, affected great anxiety to get him safe into the fort. The enemy now opened their fire from their G-pounders in the gun boats and the howitzer on shore, which they continued through the night with but little intermission and with very little effect. The forces of the enemy consisted of about 500 regulars, and about 800 Indians commanded by Dickson, the whole being commanded by Gen. Proctor in person. Tecumseh was stationed on the road to- fort Meigs with a body of 2,000 Indians, expecting to intercept a reinforcement on that route. Major Croghan through the evening occasionally fired his H-poundcr, at the same time changing its place occasionally to induce a belief that he had more than one piece. As it produced vtrv little execution on the enemy, and In was desirous of saving his rnninunition, he soon dis- continued his fire. The enemy had directed their fire against the north- western angle of the fort whicli induced the connnandant to believe that an attempt to storm his work^ would lie made at that point. In the The Croghait (.'clchratioii. 61 night Captain iiuiitcr was directed to remmc the (j-pounder tu a hhjck- house from which it would rake that angle. By great industry and per- sonal exertion, Captain Hunter soon accomplished this object in secrecy. The embrasure was masked, and the piece loaded with a half charge of powder and double charge of slugs and grape shot. Early in the morning of the second, the enemy opened their fire from their howitzer, and three 6-ponnders which they had landed in the night, and planted ni a [loint of woods about "_'■")<• \ards from the fort. In the evening, about 4 o'clock, they concentrated the fire of all their guns on the northwest angle, which convinced Major Croghan that they would endeavor to make a breach and storm the works at that point ; he therefore immediately had that place strengthened as much as possible with bags of flour and sand, wdiich were so effectual that the picketing in that place sustained no material injury. Sergeant Weaver with five or six gentlemen of the Petersburg Volunteers and Pittsburgh Blues, who happened to be in the fort, was entrusted with the manage- ment of the ti-pounder. Late in the evening when the smoke of the firing had completely enveloped the fort, the enemy proceeded to make the assault. Two feints were made towards the southern angle, where Captain Hunter's lines were formed: and at the same time a coltmm of 350 men were dis- covered advancing through the smoke, within "20 paces of the north- western angle. A heavy galling fire of musketry was now opened upon them from the fort which threw them into some confusion. Colonel Shortt who headed the principal column soon rallied his men and led them with great bravery to the brink of the ditch. After a momentary pause he leaped into the ditch, calling to his men to follow him, and in a few minutes it was full. The masked porthole was now opened, and the 6-pounder, at a distance of 30 feet, poured such destruction upon- them that but few who had entered the ditch were fortunate enough to escape. A precipitate and confused retreat was the immediate conse- quence, although some of the officers attempted to rally their men. The other column which was led by Colonel Warburton and Major Chambers, was also routed in confusion by a destructive fire from the line com- manded by Captain Hunter. The wdiole of them fled into the adjoining wood, beyond the reach of our small arms. During the assault, which lasted half an hour, the enemy kept up an incessant fire from their howitzer and five 6-pounders. The}' left Colonel Shortt. a lieutenant and 25 privates dead in the ditch ; and the total number of prisoners taken was 26, most of them badly wounded. Major Muir was knocked down in the ditch, and lay among the dead, till the darkness of the night enabled him to escape in safet}-. The loss of the garrison was one killed and 7 slightly wotmded. The total loss of the enemy could not be less tlian 150 killed and wounded.- When night came on, which was soon after the assault, the wounded in the ditch were in a desperate situation. Complete relief could not be 62 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. brought to them b}- either side wilh any degree of. safety. .Major Cro- ghan however reHeved them ae much as possible — he contrived to convey them water over the picketting in buckets, and a ditch was opened under the pickets through which those who were able and willing were en- couraged to crawl into the fort. All who were able preferred of course to follow their defeated comrades, and many others were carried from the vicinity of the fort by the Indians, particularly their own killed and wounded; and in the night about 3 o'clock the whole British and Indian force commenced a disorderly retreat. So great wa& their precipitation^ that they left a sail boat containing some clothing and a considerable quantity of military stores; and on the next day 70 stand of arms and some braces of pistols were picked up round the fort. Their hurry and confusion was caused by the apprehension of an attack from Gen. Har- rison, of whose position and force they had probably received an exag- gerated account. It was the intention of Gen. Harrison, should the enemy succeed against Fort Stephenson, or should they endeavor to turn his left and fall back on Upper Sandusky, to leave his camp at Seneca and fall back for the protection of that place. But he discovered by the firing on the evening of vhe 1st inst that the enemy had nothing but light artillery, which could make no impression on the fort ; and he knew that an attempt to storm it without making a breach could be successfully re- pelled by the garrison; he therefore determined to wait for the arrival of 250 mounted volunteers under Rennick, being the advance of 700 who were approaching by the way of Upper Sandusky, and then to march against the enemy and raise the siege, if their force was not still too great for his. On the 2d inst. he sent several scouts to ascertain their situation and force; but the woods were so infested with Indians that none of them could proceed sufficiently near' the fort to make the neces- sary discoveries. In the night a messenger arrived at headquarters with intelligence that the enemy were preparing to retreat. About 9 o'clock Major Croghan had ascertained from their collecting about their boats that they were preparing to embark, and immediately sent an express to the commander-in-chief with this information. The general now de- termined to wait no longer for reinforcements, and immediately set out with the dragoons, with which he reached the fort early in the morning, having ordered Generals McArthur and Cass, who had arrived at Seneca several days before, to follow him with all disposable infantry at that place, and which at this time was about 700 men, after the numerous sick, and the force necessary to maintain the position were left behind. Finding that the enemy had fled entirely from the fort so as not to be reached by him, and learning that Tecumseh was somewhere in the direction of Fort Meigs with 2,000 warriors, he immediately ordered the infantry to fall back to Seneca, lest Tecumseh should make an attack on that place, or intercept the small reinforcements advancing from the Ohio. The Croghan Celebration. 63- In his official report of this alifair, General Harrison observes that, "It will not be among the least of Gen. Proctor's mortifications to find that he has been baffled by a youth who has just passed his twenty-first year. He is, however, a hero worthy of his gallant uncle, Gen. George R. Clarke." "Captain Hunter, of the 17th Regiment, the second in command, conducted himself with great propriety; and never was there a set of finer young fellows than the subalterns, viz., Lieutenants Johnson and Baylor, of the 17th; Anthony, of the 24th; Meeks, of the 7th, and Ensigns Shipp and Dpncan of the 17th." Lieutenant Anderson, of the 24th, was also mentioned for his good conduct. Being without a command, he solicited Major Croghan for a musket, and a post to fight at, which he did with the greatest bravery. "Too much praise," says Major Croghan, "cannot be bestowed on the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates under my command for their gallantry and good conduct during the siege." The brevet rank of Lieutenant Colonel was immediately conferred on Major Croghan by the president of the United States for his gal- lant conduct on this occasion. The ladies of Chillicothe also presented him an elegant sword accompanied by a suitable address. On the 9th of August, at Lower Sandusky, a British boat was discovered coming up the river with a flag. When it landed below the fort. Captain Hunter was sent to meet the commander, who proved to be Lieut. LeBreton, accompanied by Doctor Banner, with a letter from Gen. Proctor to the commandant at Lower Sandusky, their object being to ascertain the situation of the British wounded and afford them surgical aid. Captain Hunter invited them to the fort. Le Breton seemed to hesitate, as if he expected first to be blind-folded, as usual in such cases; but Captain Hunter told him to come on, that there was nothing in the fort which there was any reason to conceal ; and when he introduced him to Major Croghan as the commandant of the fort, he ^appeared to be astonished at the youthful appearance of the hero, who had defeated the combined forces of his master. As the letter of General Proctor also contained a proposition for the paroling of those prisoners who might be in a condition to be re- moved, the flag was sent bjj Major Croghan to headquarters at Seneca. Gen. Harrison replied to the letter of Proctor, that "Major Croghan, conformably to those principles which are held sacred in the American army, had caused all possible care to be taken of the wounded prisoners that his situation would admit — that every aid which surgical skill could give was afforded," and that he had already referred the disposal of the prisoners to his government and must wait for their determination. Dr. Banner in the meantime had examined the situation of the wounded, and was highly gratified with the humane treatment they had received. He informed Major Croghan that the Indians were highly incensed at the •64 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. failure of the late expedition and were kept together with the utmost difficulty. * * * [Governor Shelby.] Headol-.xkters, Seneca. 12 Sept., 1813. "You will find arm.s at Upper Sandusky: also a considerable quan- tity at Lower Sandusky. I set out from this place in an hour. Our fleet has beyond all doubt met that of tlie enemy. The day before yesterday an incessant and tremendous canminading- was heard in the direction of IMaldcn by a detachment of troops coming from Fort ]\Ieigs. It lasted two hours. I am all anxiety for the result. There will h% no oc- casion for your halting here. Lower Sandusky affords fine grazing. With respect to a station for your horses, there is the best in the world im- mediately at the place of embarkation. The Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, and Portage river form between them a peninsula, 'the isthmus of which is only a mile and a half across. A fence of that length, and a sufficient guard left there, would make all the horses of the army safe. It would enclose fifty or sixty thousand acres, in which are many cultivated fields, which have been abandoned are now grown up with the finest grass. Your sick had better be left at LTpper Sandusky or here. H.^RRISON"." Within half an hour after the above letter was written, the gen- eral received the following laconic note from the commodore, by express from Lower Sandusky : "U. S. Brig Niagara, off the Wester Sister, Etc.. September 10, 1813. "Dear General — We have met the enemy and they are ours — two ships, two brigs, one schooner and a sloop. "Yours with great respect and esteem, Oliver Hazard Perry." , V The exhilirating news set Lower Sandusky and camp Seneca in an uproar of tumultous joy. The general immediately proceeded to the former place, and issued his orders for the movement of the troops, and transportation of the provisions, military stores, etc., to the margin of the lake, preparatory to their embarkation. In bringing down the military stores and provisions from the posts on the Sandusky river, to the vessels in the lake, a short land carriage became necessary to expedite the embarkation. The peninsula formed by the Sandusky Bay on the right and by the Portage river and Lake Erie on the left, extending between fifteen and twenty miles from the anchor- age of the shipping in the mouth of the Portage ; at which place the isthmus on which the army was encamped was less than two miles TIic Croghan Celebration. ti5 across from one river lo the (Uhcr. 'Ilu- boats in going round the peninsula to the slii])i)ing, would have to travel upward of forty miles, and to he exposed to the dangers of the lake navigation. It was there- fore deemed the most safe and expeditious to ti"ansport the stores and drag the boats across the isthmus, which was accomplished between the 15th and :^Oth of the month, whilst the army was detained in making other necessary arrangements. The Kentucky froojjs were encamped across the narrmvest part of the isthnuis. above the place of embarkation; and each regiment was ordered to construct a strong fence of brush and fallen timber in front of its encampment, which extended when finished, from Portage River to Sandusky River. Within this enclosure their horses were turned loose to graze on ample pastures of excellent grass. The preparations for the expedition being nearly completed, it became necessary to detail a guard to be left for the protection of the horses. The commandants of regiments were ordered by the governor to detach one-twentieth part of their commands for this service ; and Colonel Christopher Rife was designated as their commander. In furnishing the men. many of the colonels had to resort to a draft, as volunteers to stay on this side the lake could not be obtained. On the 20th, Gen. Harrison embarked with the regular troops under Generals IMcArthur and Cass, and arrived the same day at Put- in-Bay in Bass Island, and about 10 miles distant from the point of embarkation. Next morning the governor (Shelby) sailed with a part of his troops, having ordered Major General Desha to remain at Portage and bring up the rear, which he performed with great alacrity and vig- ilance. On that and the succeeding day all the militia arrived at Bass Island. Colonel Rife was left in command at Portage, with Doctor Ma- gufifin as his surgeon. The whole ami}- remained on Bass Island on the ■24th, waiting for the arri\'al of all necessary,' stores and pro\'isions at that place. On the 25th, the whole army moved to the Middle Sister, a small island containing about five or six acres of ground, which was now crowded with men, having about 4,500 upon it. Whilst the transport vessels were bringing up the military stores and provisions on the 26th, Gen. Harrison sailed with Commodore Perry in the Ariel to recon- noitre ofif Maiden, and ascertain a suitable point on the lake shore for the debarkation of his troops. On Monday the 27th, the whole army was embarked early in the day, and set sail from the Middle Sister for the Canada shore. Gen. Harrison having previously circulated a general order among the troops in which he exhorted them to remember the fame of their ancestors and the justice of the cause in which they were engaged. Soon after the British force had surrendered and it was dis- covered that the Indians were yielding on the left. Gen. Harrison ordered Vol. XVI— 5. 66 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. Major Payne to pursue Gen. Proctor with a part of his battalion. * * * But Proctor was not to be taken. His guilty conscience had told him that his only chance for safety from the vengeance of those whose countrymen he had murdered lay in the celerity of his ilight. The pursuers, however, at Jast pressed him so closely that he was obliged to abandon the road, and his carriage and sword were captured by the gallant Major Wood. — Six pieces of brass artillery were taken, three of which had been captured in tlic Ivrvnlminii at Saratoga and York, and surrendered again by Hull in Detroit." Lieut.-Colonel Eleazer Wood was one of the first graduates of the military academy at West Point, 1806, and was a distinguished engineer. In 1812 he built the fort at Lower Sandusky, which was later named after Col. Stephenson, and was so gallantly defended by Major George Croghan on the 2d of August, 1813. He was also the engineer who planned Fort Meigs in 1813, and participated most gallantly in its siege and also in the Battle of the Thames. He was killed September 17, 1814. Proctor's carriage, captured by Major Wood, was brought to Lower Sandusky, and for many years was shown upon all public occasions as one of the trophies of the war, second in interest only to "Old Betsy." One of the "six pieces of brass artillery" referred to above, is now one of the most cherished relics in the museum on Fort Stephenson. It is a handsome brass piece, evidently a French gun originally, as it lias near its muzzle the royal cipher of King Louis of France. It was presented to King George of England, or was captured by him, and has the monogram G. R., with the crown, near its base. It was captured from the British under Burgoyne at Saratoga, and in common with other trophies was elaborately inscribed : TAKEN AT THE STORM OF THE BRITISH LINE NEAR SARATOGA. BY October 1777. After Benedict Arnold turned traitor at West Point, his name was carefully erased from all trophies. This gun was one of the number so ignominously surrendered at Detroit by Gen. Hull, August 16, 1812, to the British Major General Brock. After being captured for the second time from the British under Proctor, by the Americans under Gen. Har- rison at the Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813, it was retired from active service and has now for more than twenty-five years been an object of the greatest interest in the museum on the site of old Fort Stephenson. The Croghan Celebration. 67 McAfee's History continues: In April, 1814/Colonel Butler obtained leave to return to Kentucky, and the command of Detroit devolved on Lieut.-Col. Croghan, Commodore Sinclair, who succeeded Commodore Perry as the naval commander on the lakes, had received orders to ■conduct a military and naval expedition against the British on Lake Huron. About the time these instructions were communicated to the Com- modore, the secretary of war thought proper to send a corresponding order directly to Major Holmes, entirely passing by Col. Croghan, the com- mandant at Detroit, and merely notifying Gen. Harrison, the commander of the district, through whom the arrangements for the expedition should have been made. This course of the secretary was a violation not only of military etiquette, but also of the -most important military principles, which require that the commander of a district, or of a separate post, especially when situated on a distant frontier, should have the supreme direction of minor matters within the sphere of his command. The interference of the government in such matters must inevitably derange his plans, and produce confusion and disaster in the service. The gen- eral should be furnished with the object and outlines of the campaign or expedition and with the necessary supplies of men, money and munitions for accomplishing that object; and then be made responsible for their proper management. But the secretary in this instance issued his or- ders to Major Holmes under the nose of his colonel, whereby the rank and authority of the latter were superseded, and the resources of his post were to be clandestinely withdrawn from his power. This was highly resented by Colonel Croghan, who communicated his sentiments on this subject without reserve to Commodore Sinclair and Gen. Harrison. He assured the Commodore that he had already taken every means to recon- noitre the upper lakes and the country with a view to obtaining such in- formation as he requested, and that he would be happy to co-operate and assist him in the enterprise, but could not pledge himself in the present state of his resources to furnish any important assistance. To the general he wrote: "Major Holmes has been notified by the war de- partment that he is chosen to command the land troops, which are in- tended to co-operate with the fleet, against the enemy's forces on the tipper lakes. So soon as I may be directed by you to order Major Holmes on that command, and to furnish him with the necessary troops, I shall do so, but not till then shall he or any other part of my force leave the sod." — Croghan. In answer to a second letter from the commodore, written in the latter part of May, he proceeds : "I milch fear, sir, that in your ex- pectation of being joined at this place by a battalion or corps of regu- lars under Major Holmes, you will be disappointed. Major Holmes, it is true, has been notified by the war department that he is selected to command the land troops on the expedition up the lakes. But this no- 68 Ohio Arch, ami /list. Sucicty Publications. tification, even did it ahiouiu m ;i positive f)i-de-r to the major, conld not be considered as an order to iiie : nor can 1 deem it in itself sufficient to justify me in weakening the present reduced strength of my connnand. ]\Iy objection to co-operate with you at this time is not, I assure you. moved by anything like chagrin at this departure from military etiquette, but is bottomed on a thorough conviction that nothing less than a pos- itive order could justify (ir excuse my detaching a part of the small force inder my connnand from the immediate defence of this frontier. I ■ gree with you that the [promised force imder Major Holmes appears ;oo weak to effect the desired end. I cannot speak positive!}' on the subject, as my knowledge even of the geographical situation of the coun- irv is but limited: vet mv belief is. that if resistance be made at all. SCENE IN PARADli it will ]irove too stout for l,nOu men. The position of Mackinaw is a strong one, and should the enemy hrne determined on holding it, he has had time enough to throw in reinforcements. The Engages i:i the cm- ploy of the N. W. Co., generally get down to Mackinaw from their win- tering grounds, about the last of May in every year. Will these hardy fellows, whose force exceeds 1,000, be permitted to be idle? Will it not be the interest of the N. W. Co. to exert all its means in the defence of those posts in wdiich it is so immediately concerned? I send you a few queries on the subject, with the answers as given by an intelligent gentleman, formerly an agent to the N. W. Co.. and well acquainted with the geographical situation of that country. Every arrangement is made for securing the entrance into Lake Huron. T am under no solici- tude about the passage up the strait." — Crogluin. The Ci'oghaii Celebration. 69 Although the colonel appears to consider the order to Holmes as a mere notification of his appointment, yet it was certainly intended by the secretary to be sufficiently positive and ample to put the expedition in motion, without any other communication from the war department, ex- -cept the instructions to the Commodore. Soon after the above was writ- ten, the Colonel addressed another letter to Gen. Harrison, from which the following is an extract: "I know not how to account for the Secretary of War assuming to himself the right of designating Major Holmes for this command to Mackinaw. My ideas on the subject may not be correct, yet for the sake of the principle were I a general com- manding a district, I would be very far from suffering the Secretary of War, or any other authority, to interfere with my internal police. "I have not yet been able, even by three attempts, to ascertain whether the enemy is building boats at Mackedash (Gloucester Bay). None of my spies would venture far enough, being either frightened at the view of Lake Huron, or alarmed at the probability of meeting hostile Indians." — Croghan. This letter was written in the latter part of May. Gen. Harrison, actuated by similar sentiments, had already resigned his comiiiission of Major General in the army, which he had received about the time his appointment in the Kentucky militia had expired. He believed that the Secretary of War disliked him, and had intentionally encroached' on the prerogatives of his rank to insult him, by corresponding with the of- ficers under his command, and giving them orders direct which ought at least to have been communicated indirectly through the commander-in- chief of the district. He had remonstrated in a spirited manner against this interference, and finding it again renewed in the present case, he resigned his commission by the following letters to the Secretary and President. "Headquarters, Cincinnati, 11th May, 1814. "Sir, I have the honor through you to request the President to accept my resignation of the appointment of major general in the army with which he has honored me. ■'Lest the public service should suffer, before a successor can be nominated, I shall continue to act until the 31st inst., by which time I hope to be relieved. "Having some reasons to believe that the most malicious insinua- tions have been made against me in Washington, it was my intention to have requested an inquiry into my conduct, from the commencement of my command. Further reflection has however determined me to de- cline the application — because from the proud consciousness of having palpably done my duty, I cannot believe that it is necessary either for the satisfaction of the government or the people, that I should pay so much respect to the suggestions of malice and envy. "It is necessary, however, that I should assure you, sir, that I sub- 70 Ohio Arcli. and Hist. Society Publications. scribe implicitly to the opinion that military officers are responsible for their conduct, and amenable to the decisions of a court martial after they have left the service, for any improper act committed in it. "The principle was established in England, in the case' of Lord George Sackville after the battle of Minden ; it was known and recog- nized by all the ancient republics ; and is particularly applicable I think 'lO a government like ours. I therefore pledge myself to answer before a lourt martial at any future period, to any charge which may be brought against nu-. "I have the honor, etc., liT-x Ti T \ . .. '• "Harrison. The Hon. J. Armstrong, etc. OLD BETSY. Fort Stephenson is unique in retaining" its original area, armament and the body of its Defender. Armament is an im- posing naine for the one six- pound cannon, affectionately called "Old Betsy" which was Croghan's single piece of artillery. Betsy was old even ninety-three years ago, being a naval cannon captured from the French in the French and Indian wars of 1756-63. Otir first knowledge of the gun is upon the occasion of the first 4th of July celebra- tion ever held in this place, which occured in 1813. On the 3d, a mounted regiment .under Col. Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, "the man who killed Tecumsch" and the future vice president, marched from Fort Meigs to Lower Sanduskx- to recruit their horses here. "The Fourth was celebrated," says McAfee's History af the Late War, "by the garrison and mounted men together, in great harmony and enthtisiasm. Colonel Johnson delivered an appropriate ad- dress ; and a nmnber of toasts, breathing sentiments of the republican soldier were drunk, cheered by the shouts of the men and the firing of small arms and the discharge of a six-pounder from the fort." Major McAfee, in his Hi.story of the Late War, says: "A OLD BETSY. The Croghan Celebration. 71 reconnoitering party which had been sent from headquarters to the shore of the lake, about twenty miles distant from Fort Steph- enson, discovered the approach of the enemy by water on the evening of the 31st of July. They returned by the fort, after twelve o'clock the next day, and had passed it but a few hours, when the enemy made their appearance before it. The Indians showed themselves first on the hill over the river, and were saluted by a six-pounder, the only piece of artillery in the fort, which soon caused them to retire. In half an hour the British gun-boats came in sight ; and the Indian forces displayed them- selves in every direction with a view to intercept the garrison should a retreat be attempted. The six-pounder was fired a few times at the gun-boats, which was returned by the artillery of the enemy." McAfee further says: "Sergeant Weaver with five or six gentlemen of the Petersburg Volunteers and Pittsburg Blues, who happened to be in the fort, was entrusted with the manage- ment of the six-pounder." On the first and second days of the following month "Old Betsy" lifted her voice in deadly earnest. How she was shifted from place to place in the fort to convey the impression that the defenders had several guns ; how she was finally hoisted into the blockhouse and stationed behind a masked port hole and at the psychological moment "raked the ditch" with a double charge of leaden slugs ; and the appalling fatal eft'ect — these facts have been related in preceding pages. General Harrison winds up his official report to the Secretary of War, August 4, 1813, as follows: "A young gentleman, a private in the Petersburg Volun- teers, of the name of Brown, assisted by five or six of that com- pany and the Pittsburg Blues who were accidentally in the fort, managed the six-pounder, which produced such destruction in the ranks of the enemy." The private Brown referred to was so severely burned by the frequent explosions of powder in the priming of Old Betsy, that his condition was graphically de- scribed by the last survivor of the Petersburg Volunteers, Reuben Clements, in 1879, who also said that he ^-as quite positive that 1'2 Ohio .Ircli. and Hist. Socictx Publications. Brtjwn was the only incnil)er of llie I'ctersburg \ olunteers pres- ent (luring- tlic engagement. A roster of the ( ireens1nn\g Riflemen has been furnished by Ricliard Coulter, jr.. a grandnephew of Major John B. Alex- ander, who commanded an independent liattalion of U. S. twelve- month \ 'olunteers. consisting of the Pittsburg Blues, Capt. James R. Butler: the Petersburg Wilunteers. Capt. Robert McRae; the Greensburg Riflemen. Pieut. Peter Drum, vice Alexander, pro- moted Major. The roster of the Greensburg Riflemen contains the name of Abraham Weaver as a private in 1812, who was the Sergeant \\'eaver in charge of the firing scjuad of Old Betsy, and who returned to Greensburg, where he died in 1846. After the war in which the gun did such valiant service it was removed to the Pittsburg arsenal. Later Congress ordered its return to Lower Sandusky. The ingenious Thomas L. Haw- kins, commissary officer at Fort Stephenson during the campaign, identified the gun in Pittsburg, recognizing it by the scar on its breach which he believed was made by a cannon ball while in action, during the old French and Indian war. Owing to the duplication of the name Sandusky the cannon was sent to San- dusky City, wdiich for many years after the battle was called Ogontz's I'lace, and later Portland, and of course had no claim to the gun. The authorities there tried to keep it, and for better concealment buried it under a barn. Mayor B. J. Bartlett, of Lower Sandusky, traced the gun and sent men and a wagon to bring it home. This home-coming of Old Betsy was just prior to the 2(1 of August celebration of 1852, wdien the Tiffin fire dej:)artment came down to join in the festivities. William H. Ciibsoii. clad in the red shirt and white trousers of the fire brigade uniform, delivered the stirring address of the day, in the woods back of the Rawson house on .State street. "Old I'.etsy" is fre(|uentl\ mentioned in i)ress notices of former years. The l-rcinonl .hninuil u\ .^e])tember u, 1856. says: ■'( )n tile KJtIi. about one hundred and lifty Republicans of l-'remont took passage on the Lsland Queen for Sandusky to join in the mass gatherings of Frejmen. \\\- were accompanied by "( )1(1 Betsy." It talked some, and had manv admirers, and will) the I iH'iiiiiui (Klegatioii was receive(l b\ the thousands with The Ci'og/iaii Celebration. 78 three tremendous cheers. The day was a glorious one for the cause of freedom." This of course foreshadows the civil war. "Who used Old Betsy last?" asks the Journal of January 23, 1857. "It has been standing in the street for several weeks now. Captain Parrish should see to this old servant." In a long article on the celebration of August 2, i860, the Journal says : "At 6 o'clock Captain Parrish brought out 'Old Bets}' and fired a salute of thirteen rounds. Soon after the peo- ple of the county began to pour in. Cassius M. Clay was the orator of the day." At the celebration of 1852 Thomas L Haw- kins, a well-known Methodist preacher and the town poet, who had been appointed commissary of the fort after the battle of Fort Stephenson, read a poem addressed to the old six-pounder, apostrophizing her as Betsy Croghan, a name by which she is frequently called. This poem is printed below. In another poem on Croghan's victory, Mr. Hawkins calls her "Our Bess," while tradition has it that the garrison called her "Good Bess." But "Old Betsy" she is now and ever will be in local and na- tional parlance. Little children play about her, the birds often build their nests in her mouth, visitors pass curious hands over her breech, and young reporters take her photograph and write "story" about her. After all she is the only one left who saw our hero in battle, who heard the quick orders of those two days' fight, who faced the oncoming veterans of Wellington's troops and settled it that they should rest thereafter in Lower Sandusky soil. "Old Betsy's" voice will probably never be heard again, but as she stands her silent guard over the remains of George Cro- ghan, on the scene of their great victory, she "yet speaketh." "OLD BETSY." THOMAS L. HAWKINS. Hail ! thou old friend, of Fort MeGee Little did I expect again to see, And hear thy voice of victory, Thou defender of Ohio ' 74 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. I wonder who it was that sought thee, To victory's ground again hath brought thee From strangers' hands at length hath caught thee; He is a friend to great Ohio ! He is surely worthy of applause, To undertake so good a cause, Although a pleader of her laws, And statutes of Ohio. What shame thy blockhouse is not standing. Thy pickets as at first commanding. Protecting Sandusky's noble landing, The frontier of Ohio ! Thy pickets, alas I are all unreared. No faithful sentinel on guard. Nor band of soldiers well prepared. Defending great Ohio. Where have the upthrown ditches gone. By British cannon rudely torn? Alas ! with grass they are o'ergrown. Neglected by Ohio. O tell me where thy chieftains all — Croghan, Dudley, Miller, Ball, Some of whom I know did fall In defending of Ohio. Canst thou not tell how Proctor swore. When up yon matted turf he tore. Which shielded us from guns a score, He poured upon Ohio? And how Tecumseh lay behind you ; With vain attempts he tried to blind you, And unprepared, he'd find you, .\nd lead you from Ohio. Perhaps like Hamlet's ghost, you've come, This day to celebrate the fame Of Croghan's honored, worthy name, The hero of Ohio. The Cros:han Celebration. 76 I greet thee! Thou art just in time To tell of victory most sublime, Though told in unconnected rhyme ; Thou art welcome in Ohio. But since thou canst thyself speak well, Now let thy thundering voice tell What bloody carnage then befell The foes of great Ohio. (And then she thundered loud.) PROCTOR S REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF FORT STEPHENSON. The following' letter, recently unearthed by Col. Webb C. Hayes in the Canadian Archives at Ottawa, is most interesting as giving General Proctor's ow^n account of the battle in which he was so badly worsted. It is addressed to Sir George Provist. Lieut. General, at Kingston, and reads : "Sir : It being absolutely requisite for several urgent reasons that my Indian force should not remain unemployed, and being well aware ^ that it would not be movable except accompanied by a regular force, I resolved, notwithstanding the smallness of that force to move and where we might be fed at the expense of the enemy. I had, however, the mortification to find that instead of the Indian force being a disposable one, or under my direction, our movements would be subject to the caprices and prejudices of the Indian body to a degree in which my regular force was disproportionate to their num- bers. For several weeks after the arrival of Mr. R. Dickson, his Indians were restrainable and tractable to a degree that I could not have conceived possible. I am sorry to add that they have been contaminated by the other Indians. I was, very contrary to my judgment, necessitated to go to the Miami, in the vicinity of the enemy's fort, where I remained a few days in the hope that General Harrison might come to the relief of the fort which was invested in the Indian mode, when finding that the Indians were returning to Detroit and Amherstberg I moved to Lower Sandusky where, however, we could not muster more hundreds of Indians than I might reasonably have expected thousands. The neighborhood of Sandusky, and the settlement on the Huron river, eight miles below it, could have afforded cattle sufficient to have fed my whole Indian force for some time, had they been induced to accompany us. Sandusky is MAJOR CROGHAX. 76 Oliio .Inii. and Hisl. Society I'liblications. nearlj- fifty iiiiK's liy water from Lake Eric and nearly forty miles from several points wlu-nce strong reinforcements might be expected; I could not therefore with my very small force remain more than two days, from tlie probability of Ix-ing cut otY and of being deserted by the few Indians who had not already done so. The fort at Sanduskj' is composed of blockhouses connected by picketing wliicli they llank. and is calculated for a garrison of five or six hundred nun. On viewing the fort I formed an opinion entirely different from any person under my command. The general idea being that that garrison did not exceed fifty men, and that the fort could be easily carried by a.ssault. On the morning of the "Jd inst. the gentlemen of the Indian Department, who have the direction of it, declared formally their decided opinion that unless the fort was stormed we should never be able to bring an Indian warrior into the field with us, and that they proposed and were ready to stonn one fan of the fort, if we would attempt another. I have also to observe that in this instance my judg- ment had not that weight with the troops I hope I might reasonably have expected. If I had withdrawn without having permitted the assault, as my judgment certainly dictated, much satisfaction would have followed me and I could scarcely have reconciled to myself to have continued to direct their movements. I thus with all the responsibility resting on me was obliged to yield to circumstances I could not possibly have pre- vented. The troops, after the artillery had been used for some hours, attacked two fans, and impossibilities being attempted, failed. The fort, from which the severest fire I ever saw was maintained during the attack, was well defended. The troops displayed the greatest bravery, the much greater part of whom reached the fort and made every effort to enter; but the Ir.dians who had proposed the as.sault and had it not been assented to would have ever stigmatized the British character, scarcely came into fire, before they ran off out of its reach. A more than adequate sacrifice having been made to Indian opinion, I drew off the brave assailants who had been carried away by a high sense of honor to urge too strongly the attack. I enclose a disembarcation return to show how small my disposable force was. The enemy had a six-pounder and a smaller one in the fort. I also enclose a return of the killed, wounded and missing. Our loss tiiough severe and nuich to be regretted, is less, everything considered, than could have been expected. You will perceive that the Indian force is seldom a disposable one, never to be relied on in hour of need, and only to be found useful in proportion as we are independent of it. Ten Indians were surprised on a plain near Sandusky and were iiit to i)ieces. The Indians have always had a dread of cavalry of which the enemy have a considerable luunber. A troop of the 19th would be of the greatest service here in the confidence they would give to our mounted Indians. I have experienced much dcficience in my artillery, another officer at least is absolutely recpiisite, and one of TJic Croghan Celebration. 77 science and experience. Tlie enemy's defences are composed of wood; if we knew how to burn ihem as they did ours at Fort George, Mr. Harrison's army must have been destroyed long since. The enemy's ves- sels are out of Presqueisle Harbor, and so decidedly stronger than ours that Captain Barclay has been necessitated to return to Amherstburg, and with all haste to get the new vessel ready for sea, where slie will be in eight or ten days at furthest, and then only wants hands. Whatever may happen to be regretted may be fairly attributed to the delays in sending here the force your Excellency directed should be sent. Had it been sent at once, it could have been used to the greatest advantage, but it arrived in such small portions and with such delays that the opportunities have been lost.' The enemy are in great numbers at Presqueisle and have been already reinforced at Fort Meigs. Gen. Harrison's headquarters are near Lower Sandusky where he arrived on the 3d inst. I must now look for the enemy from two quarters and will have to meet them with my small force divided, for the Indians will make no stand without us. You will probably hear of the enemy's landing shortly at Long Point, where they may gain the rear of the Center Divi- sion and also affect my supplies. An hundred and fifty sailors would have effectually obviated this evil. I apprehend the enemy's rapid advance to the River Raisin in force, and establishing himself there, which he can do surprisingly soon. If I had the means I would establish a post at that river, but not having two or three hundred men to send there it is not in my power. I must entreat your Excellency to send me more troops, even the •2d Battalion of the 41st Regt., though weak, would be extremely acceptable. If the enemy should be able to establish themselves in the Territory it will operate strongly against us with our Indian allies. Your Excellency may rely on my best endeavors, but I rely on the troops alone, and they are but few and I am necessitated to man the vessels with them. I have never desponded, nor do I now, but I conceive it my duty to state to your Excellency the inadequateness of my force. I have the honor to be with much respect, etc., Henry Proctor, Brigadier General Commanding. The Briti.sh War Office contains the following brief records of the attack on Fort Stephenson, as mentioned in the colonial correspondence of -that time. "Headquarters, Kingston, Upper Canada, Aug. 1. 1813. "My Lord — The arrival of ^Ir. Dickson from the mission with 2,000 Indian warriors, has enabled me to resume offensive operations with the left division of the Upper Canada army under the command of Brig. Gen. Proctor. IVIaj. Gen. Harrison having shown some of his cavalry 78 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. and riflemen in the Michigan territory, a forward movement has been made by the Indian warriors, upon Sandusky, from whence they will unite with Tecumseh's band of warriors, employed in investing Fort Meigs. — George Provost." Also : "St. Davids, Niagara Frontier, Aug. 25, 1813. Maj. Gen. Proctor having given way to the clamor of our Indian Allies to act offensively moved forward on the 20th ult. with about 350 of the 41st regiment and between 3,000 and 4,000 Indians and on the 2nd inst. attempted to carry by assault the block houses and works at Sandusky where the enemy had concentrated a considerable force. He however soon experienced the timidity of the Indians when ex- posed to the fire of musketry and cannon in an open countrj^ and how little dependence could be placed on their numbers. Previous to the assault they could scarcely muster as many hundreds as they had before thousands, and as soon as it had commenced they withdrew themselves out of the reach of the enemy's fire. They are never a disposable force. The handful of his Majesty's troops employed on this occasion dis- played the greatest bravery; nearly the whole of them having reached the fort and made every effort to enter it; but a galling and destructive fire being kept up by the enemy from within the block houses and from behind the picketing which completely protected them and which we had not the means to force, the Major General thought it most prudent not to continue longer so unavailing a combat ; he accordingly drew off the assailants and returned to Sandwich with the loss of 25 killed, as many missing and about 40 wounded. Amongst the killed are Brevet Lieut. Col. Shortt and Lieut. J. G. Gordon of the 41st Regt." "The Military Occurrences of the War of 1812," by William James, an English publication of the time, contains the following story of Gen- eral Proctor's campaign against Fort Stephenson on the Sandusky, which is a typical British account, showing the writer's patriotic bias : "The American headquarters were at Seneca-town, near to San- dusky Bay on Lake Erie. Fort Meigs, already so strong, had its works placed in a still more vigorous state of defence ; and a fort had since been constructed on the west side of Sandusky river, about 40 miles from its mouth, and 10 from the general's headquarters. It stood on a rising ground, commanding the river to the east; having a plain to the north and south, and a wood to the west. The body of the fort was about 100 yards in length and 50 in breadth, surrounded outside of all by a row of strong pickets, 12 feet over ground ; each picket armed at top with a bayonet. Next to and against this formidable picket was an embankment, forming the side of a dry ditch. 12 feet wide, by seven feet deep; then a second embankment or glacis. A strong bastion and two blockhouses completely enfiladed the ditch. Within the fort were the hospital, military and commissary store-houses, magazines, etc. As far as we can collect from the American accounts, the fort mounted but one 6-pounder; and that in a masked battery at the northwestern angle. The The Croghan Celebration. 79 number of troops composing the garrison cannot exactly be ascertained. One American account states that the effective force did not amount to 160 men, or rank and file. "Major General Proctor when he landed near the mouth of San- dusky river, on the 1st of x\ugust, had it is admitted no other white troops with him than the 41st regiment. An American editor says that the major general, previous to his appearance on the Sandusky, had detached 'Tecumseh with 2,000 warriors, and a few regulars, to make a diversion favorable to the attack upon Fort Stephenson ; and yet the same editor states Major General Proctor's force before the fort, on the evening of the 1st, at 500 regulars and 700 Indians.' Of the latter there were but 200 and they, as was generally their custom when the object of assault was a fortified place, withdrew to a ravine, out of gun-shot, almost immediately that the action commenced. Of regulars there were two lientenant-colonels, four captains, seven subalterns, (one a lieutenant of artillery) eight staff, 22 sergeants, seven drummers, and 241 rank and file, including 23 artillerymen; making a total of 391 officers, non-commissioned officers and privates. "On the morning of the 2nd the British opened their artillery consisting of two light 6-pounders, and two 5^ howitzers upon the fort; but without producing the slightest impression ; and the different Am- erican accounts, as we are glad to see, concur in stating, that the fort 'was not at all injured' by the fire directed against it. Under an im- pression that the garrison did not exceed 50 or 60 men, the fort was ordered to be stormed. Lieut. Col. Shortt at the head of 180 rank and file, immediately advanced toward the northwest angle; while about 160 rank and file, under Lieut.-Col. Warburton, passed around through the woods skirting the western side of the fort, to its south side. After sustaining a heavy fire of musketry from the American troops, Lieut.-Col. Shortt approached to the stockade ; and with some difficulty, succeeded in getting over the pickets. The instant this gallant officer reached the ditch he ordered his men to follow and assault the works with the utmost vigor. The masked 6-pounder, which had been previously pointed to rake the ditch, and loaded 'with a double charge of leaden slugs,' was now fired at the British column, 'the front of which was only 30 feet distant from the piece.' A volley of musketry was fired at the same instant and repeated in quick succession. This dreadful and, as to the battery, unexpected discharge killed Lieut.-Col. Shortt, and several of his trave followers; and wounded a great many more. Still undaunted, the men of the 41st, headed by another officer, advanced again to carry the masked 6-poimder, from which another discharge of 'leaden slugs' aided by other volleys of musketry, was directed against them, and cleared the 'fatal ditch' a second time. It was in vain to contend further; and the British retired, with as many of their wounded as they could carry away. "Lieut. Col. Warburton's party, having a circuit to make, did not 80 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. arrive at its position till the first assault was nearly over. After a volley or two, in which the British sustained some slight loss, the troops at this point also were ordered to retire. The loss amounted to 26 killed, 29 wounded and missing, and 41 wounded (most of them slightly) and brought away; total 96. The Americans state their loss at one killed and seven wounded. Considering the way in which they were sheltered, and the circumstances of the attack altogether, no greater loss could have been expected. ■"The American editors seem determined to drag the Indians, in spite of their confirmed and to an American well-known habits, within the limits of the 'fatal ditch.' 'The Indians,' says Mr. Thomson, 'were enraged and mortified at this unparalleled defeat; and carrying their dead and wounded from the field, they indignantly followed the British regulars to the shipping.' "It is a fact worthy of obserA'ation' says Mr. O'Connor, "that not one Indian was found among the dead, although it is known that from three to four hundred were present.' A brave enemy would have found something to praise in the efforts of Colonel Shortt and his men, in this their 'unparalleled defeat;' but all is forgotten in the lavish encomiums bestowed upon Major Croghan and the band of 'heroes,' who "compelled an army,' says an American editor, 'much more than 10 times superior,' to relinquish the attack." LAST SURVIVOR OF FORT STEPIIKNSON. A group of (listiugtiished visitors entering unannounced the Bltie Room at the White House, during the administration of President Hayes, were surprised to find the hcautiful mistress of the house sitting on the floor, needle and thread in hand, while' before her half reclining on the central divan, sat an old soldier in the uniform of an ordnance sergeant of the United States Army. The callers, who were Sir l-'dward Thornton, the British Minister, with some English friends, were about to retire, U'hen Mrs. Hayes looked up from her work, saw them, and laughingly called them to stay. She rose from the floor, shook hands warmly with the old man, and parrying his thanks and assuring him that his uniform was now perfect, handed him over to the care of her son. The story is one of her inany kindly, self-unconscious acts. One of her sons, visiting the Barnes Hospital at the Soldiers' home near \\'ashington, had examined tlie list of soldiers living there and discovered that one was a veteran of lH)rt Stephenson, The Croi^lian Celebration. 81 at ]^>enKnit, ( )lii(), the home of the J hiyes faniih-, named William Gaines, late ordnance serg'eant United States Army. Subsequentl\' Sergeant Gaines was granted a pension for his service in the War of 1812 and also for the Mexican War, and a complete full dress uniform, was ordered sent to the White House for him. Sergeant Gaines was brought in from the Sol- diers' Home to don his uniform and have his photograph taken in it. After putting on his uniform, the old soldier trembling with excitement and weakness discovered that the sergeant's stripes for the seam of his trousers had been sent loose to be used at the wearer's discretion, and he was greatly distressed at the thought of hav- ing his photograph taken without this insignia of rank. Mrs. Hayes, who had come down to greet him in the Blue Room, learning the cause of his distress, at once sent for needle and thread, saying that she would herself stitch them on. She was just finishing the task, sitting on the floor with the old soldier standing before her, when the British Minister and his guests entered, and caught the charming picture to carry away to their English home. It was a notable battle when, under [Major George Croghan, a youth of twenty-one years, one hundred and sixty men, having but a single small cannon, defeated five hundred British sol- diers and two thousand or more Indian allies; this battle being the prelude to Perry's victory on Lake Erie and the decisive Battle of the Thames. At the request of the members of the Hayes family, Repre- sentative William McKinley introduced a bill to place William Gaines,- late ordnance sergeant, U. S. Army, on the retired list of the army with seventy-five per cent, of the full pay and allowance of an ordnance sergeant ; he having served faithfully and honorably in the army of the United States for more than fifty-one years, having been an ordnance sergeant for over thirtv- three consecutive years of said service, and having participated Vol. XVI— 6. SERGEANT GAINES. 82 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. in the siege of Fort Meigs, the defense of Fort Stephenson, and the Battle of the Thames in the War of 1812. Gen. Anson G. AlcCook secured the passage of the bill through the House of Representatives and Gen. A. E. Burnside secured concurrent action by the Senate, and the Act was ap- proved I)y Presiilcnt Hayes. Sergeant Gaines' story as told by himself in an interview with Mr. Webb C Hayes at Washington in 1879, is as follows: "My name is William Gaines. I was born in Frederick City, Md., Christmas Day, 1799. My father and mother were both born in Virginia. My father and General Gaines were cousins. My father had died and my mother was not in very good circumstances. We started from Frederick City, and when we reached Washington stopped for five or six hours and called on President Madison. Our folks came from Montpelier, Va., President Madison's home, and my uncle and President Madison were well acquainted. I had another uncle in Kentucky named Daveiss. They both lived in Lexington. During the Indian war in 1811, my uncle, Colonel Daveiss, raised a volunteer regiment and joined General Harrison. He took me along with him to take care of his horses and that is the way that I came to be in the battle of Tippecanoe, November 5, 1811. "I occupied a tent with the Orderly Sergeant of the company. His tent was next to that of my uncle. Colonel Daveiss, and then came the company tent. We were surprised by the Indians, who got in the camp before we were aware of it. Some rushed into our tent, but we crawled out on the opposite side. Before getting out, however, the thumb of my left hand was cut by an Indian tomahawk or knife and laid wide open. It was sewed up by Dr. Woodward. The Indians were defeated, but my imcle, Colonel Daveiss, was killed. "I c-nlisted on July 18, 1812, as a drummer boy in Captain Arm- strong's company of the Twenty-fourth Infantry. I was then in my thirteenth year. We marched from Knoxville to Nashville, and then against the Creek nation. We marched from Nashville down the Cumber- land river to the Ohio, which was full of ice and impassable, and were obliged to stop at a small French fort called Fort Massack, which was occupied by one company, about forty men of the Second Artillery under Lieutenant Tanner. We remained there until next spring and then started for Fort Meigs. We marched first to Newport, Ky., which took us, I think, twenty days, but we made a stop at Harrisonburg, where we were invited to the farm of Col. George Harrison and had everything we wanted. We stopped at Newport three days washing and cleaning our- selves and then crossed to Cincinnati. From Cincinnati we marched due north through the state of Ohio until we came to Franklinton, which was the extreme frontier. At Franklinton two deserters were tried and The Crog/ian Celebration. 83 shot. They came from camp Meigs, where they had mutinied and came near killing the captain. They were taken by some citizens between Upper Sandusky and Franklinton. General Harrison ordered a general court martial and charges were sent from Fort Meigs. Both were sen- tenced to be shot and both were shot the next day. They were buried on the banks of the Little Sciota. "We then marched due north to Upper Sandusky. At Upper San- dusky we drew two days' rations to carry us through the Maumee Black Swamp. We then marched due north until we reached a point about five or six miles from Fort Stephenson, and then turning west the road ran through the Maumee Valley Black Swamp on to Fort Meigs, which we reached the next day. Gen. Green Clay was in command. While we were at Fort Meigs, Gen. Harrison established his headquarters at Fort Seneca, so that he might be handy for the different departments. We were at Fort Meigs something like a month, and during a portion of the time were besieged by Indians and British, and kept up a constant fire on them for about eight days. "Our company was then ordered to Camp Seneca, in July I think, and while there a rumor came that Fort Stephenson was to be attacked. A detail was made from the different companies to relieve Fort Stephen- son, and that was done that each company should have equal chance in the glory. All this time I was a private in Captain Armstrong's com- pany, Twenty-fourth Infantry, having exchanged my drum for a musket, and was acting as cook for Lieutenant Joseph Anthony of my company. Lieutenant Anthony, Samuel Thurman, John Foster, James Riggs, a man named Jones and myself composed the detail from my company. We started at the break of day, and got to Fort Stephenson between nine and ten o'clock. We had not been there more than an hour and a half or two hours before the British hove in sight and began landing their troops, cannon, etc. Between 11 and 12 o'clock there came a flag of truce and an officer and six men; they were blindfolded and taken in at the west gate. It was rumored that the officer was sent to demand the surrender of the fort or to show no quarter. When they were gone Major Croghaii told us to prepare ourselves, as no quarter was to be shown. They came around on the northwest side which was covered with woods, about 150 yards distant, and between the woods and fort was a ravine down which they would haul the cannon to load and then push up on the brow of the hill and fire. They could not approach from the east side because that was an open field, and we could have brought them down. To the north and south it was ' also quite open. The weather was good but warm, and a storm which had threatened finally disappeared. They fired on us for a time, but Major Croghan would not let us return it. Samuel Thurman was in the block house and de- termined to shoot a red coat. He climbed up on top of the block house and peered over, when a six-pound ball from the enemy's cannon took his head off. Finally toward evening they made a charge, and when they got 84 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society J'nblicatioiis. on level ground we got orders to fire. We shot through loop holes in the pickets and port holes in tlie blockhouses. 1 recollect very well when Colonel Shortt fell. I see it all now as distinctly as I see you two gentlemen. Our cannon was loaded with six-pound ball and grape. I was in the blockhouse and after Col. Short fell he held up a white handkerchief lor quarter. Somebody in the blockhouse said, 'That man is hollering for quarter. He said he would show none. Now give him quarter.' It passed all through the fort. Then the bugle sounded the retreat. They had old Tecumseh and about 1,500 Indians, and I think about 700 or 800 regulars. I only estimated them by seeing them march- ing away. , There were no buildings near the fort, nor any women in the fort, as there was not settlement nearer than Franklinton. They landed below us, near the race track, opposite the Island. The British wounded who were not taken away lay in the ditch. I do not know anything about the passing of water over to the wounded. It might have been done unbe- known to me. The British soldiers were buried the next day. I do not know how many were killed. You see they took them away at night and we did not know anything about it. "At the siege of Fort Meigs there was a large tree into which an In- dian climbed and thus obtained a view of the interior of the fort. A man named Bronson brought him down with a rifle. I do not think it can be true that we loaded our cannon with nails and scraps on ac- count of lack of ammunition. I have often thought that if General Har- rison had marched his troops from Fort Seneca down the east side of the Sandusky river and crossed, it would have brought him between the enemy and their boats, and thus we could have captured them all. I have often thought of it and talked it over with men of our company. When the firing commenced, Lieut. Anthony was panicstruck and secreted himself, and did not come out until the battle was over. He was put under arrest by Major Croghan and sent to Fort Seneca and court- martialed for cowardice and cashiered the service. Gen. Harrison was a small and very slim man, a little on the dark complected order, and advanced in years. Major Croghan was a very thin man and stood about five feet eight or nine inches. He was tall and slim. He became very corpulent and fleshy some years after. I remember well when Colonel Croghan was placed in arrest. He had an order from Gen. Harrison to destroy all public property that he could not bring away and retreat. When he got the order it was too late to retreat. He was tried and ac- quitted. He was a very courageous man, afraid of nothing under the sun. After the battle of Fort Stephenson we were returned to our com- panies again. Every company got their own men but ours, which had one killed, Samuel Thurman, who was the only man killed on our side. We lay at Camp Seneca until the news came from Commodore Perry that "we have met the enemy and they are ours." We then marched past Fort Stephenson to the lake, where we were furnished with boats The Cro^^luDi Celebration. 85 ami crossed over into Canada. We landed about one mile below Colonel Elliott's quarters. I nuist tell you a little story about this. I took six beautiful silver spoons from that man's house. Everybody had left and I was hard up. The house was furnished in the English fashion. I sold them at Detroit. We did not get paid in those days like we do now. We often went eighteen months without pay. From Elliott's we went to Fort Maiden. They had evacuated and taken all they could get from there, and then we went up to Sand Beach. Colonel Johnson followed with more men, and wi' all followed the British troojis until they got to Moravian Town. On the id of October we fought the battle of the Thames. I recol- lect that day just as well as I do sitting in this chair. It was their last battle. We made short work of the British. They knew we were com- SCKNE IN CROGHAN I\\RADE. ing and General Proctor and an aide fled before we were within a mile of them. We captured all of them but these two. We had more fighting with the Indians than with the British Regulars. The Indians retreated across the river in canoes, but many of them were shot and tumbled over in the water. We marched to Detroit, where we embarked in Com- modore Perry's fleet. General Harrison and my company were on the same boat with Commodore Perry, and also a British Commodore and other British officers who were prisoners. We sailed to Buffalo, and then marched to Sackett's Harbor, where we joined General Wilkinson's com- mand that was to attack Montreal. We took open boats and started across, but owing to the ice we had to abandon the expedition and return to the shore, from where we marched to a place called Chateaugay Four Cor- ners, on a little lake, and wintered there. The next spring the captain. 86 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. one officer and myself went to New York on recruiting service. That was in 1814. I remained in New Yorlc about two years. When we left New York we marched with recruits to fill up the companies stationed on the northern frontier. I had re-enlisted on the 23d of November, 1816, for five years. We marched to Sackett's Harbor, and I was there assigned to Company D, Second Infantry. The other recruits were dis- tributed at the different stations. I was stationed at Sackett's Harbor something like seventeen years. We remained quietly at barracks all this time, until the Black Hawk War broke out beyond Chicago. We started in the month of July, 1832, and got l)ack October 6, of the same year. We had no battles in that campaign. There was nothing but hard marching, etc. I was appointed an ordinance sergeant of the U. S. army October 18, 1833, and was ordered to Boston, but finally exchanged with the ordnance sergeant at Madison barracks. Colonel Kirby, paymaster, and othei»s arranged the matter for me. During the Florida War I was in Sackett's Harbor in charge of all the property at that post. I was there too during the Mexican War and got an order from General ' Augur to enlist all the men that I could and send them to Syracuse. I got from four to six every day, and sent them to Syracuse for Mexico. I was a recruiting officer for General Augur. During the war of the Re- bellion I was left alone in charge of the quartermaster's stores, medical and other property at Madison Barracks, New York. I was discharged December 31, 186G, by Secretary Stanton and came to this home. I have had charge of a great many improvements in the home and was lodge keeper at the Whitney Avenue gate- for a number of years." Sero^eant Gaines was at the time of this interviev*- an active old man ahout five feet seven inches in height, of dark complex- ion. He liad bright grey eyes, white Iiair and strongly marked features. He stood perfectly erect, and had a very soldierly bear- ing. His mind was clear and his memory quite remarkable. He described witli great detail tlie incident of his early service. He was the last survivor of the gallant defenders of Fort Steplienson. He enlisted w lien in bis thirtieth year and proba])ly nu man served longer in the L'nited States Armv than he. KF.UnP.N CLEMENT. Tn i88o there still lived in I'etersburg, \ a., a ^urxivor i>f the War of i8i2, one of the Petersburg XOInnteers, one member of which. P>rown, fought at Fort Stephenson. A letter from this aged man, .Mr. Reuben Clements, reads: TJic Croglian Celebration. 87 "Petersburg, Va., 4th March, 1880. Colonel: According to promise 1 will now attempt to tell you what little I know about Croghan and Sandusky. The opening of the spring cam- paign in 1813 found the garrison of Fort Meigs exceedingly weak. General Harrison having gone in the states to hasten forward rein- forcements, leaving General Clay in command. The British and In- dians in considerable numbers, knowing perhaps of the absence of the General-in-Chief, and our weakness, as also our expecting succor from Kentucky, surrounded the fort and engaged in a sham battle, hoping by this ruse to draw us out. Failing in this they left us, taking the Military Road in the direction of Fort Stephenson, which was said to have been forty miles in length, and fell upon Major Croghan and his little band at Sandusky. The fort at this place was quite small, covering I should say not more than one English acre of ground. In form it was quadrilateral, without traverses, but having in front of curtain on its four sides a broad and deep fosse. At the north-east angle of the fort was a blockhouse, and just here was mounted the only cannon (a six pounder) which made such havoc with the red coats occupying the ditch. My iinpression is that my old comrade Brown was the only member of mj' company present on that occasion ; and that he did not (as has been asserted) command the piece but only assisted in working it. The captain of the gun was a sergeant either of the Pittsburg Blues, or Greensburg Blues. However Brown was ter- ribly burned about the face which disfigured him for life. I forgot to state that the Fort was short of ammunition of all sorts, having only three rounds in all for the cannon. You ask if I knew Major Croghan. I an- swer, Yes, I have seen him oftentimes before and after the glorious fight at Sandusky. He was a beardless stripling ; I should say rather below the medium size, and did not look more than eighteen years of age. This is about all I know of Croghan and Sandusky. I might add. though not exactly pertinent, that our Company was quite largely represented on the decks of Commodore Perry's ships, when he so gloriously fought and overcame the British Fleet on Lake Erie. With great respect, Your obedient servant. Reuben Clements. THE FIRST PERMANENT WHITE SETTLERS IN OHIO, JAMES WHIT- AKER AND ELIZABETH FOULKE. The first permanent white settlers in Ohio were James Whitaker and Elizabeth Foulks. who were capttired in western Pennsylvania in 1774 and 1776 respectively, by the Wyandot Indians, by whom they were adopted and taken to Lower San- 88 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. duskv, now l-'rciiK'nl, ( )lii(), where thev were brought together as adopted members "of the \\ yandot tribe. They were married in Detroit, in 1781, and returned to a tract of land which had been given to them ])y the Wyandots on the Sandusky River, three miles l)elow the lower rapids kncjwn as Lower Sandusky. Here they lived and raised a family of eight children. Two of their grandchildren and several great grandchildren are resi- dents of Fremont and vicinity. janies \Vhitaker, who became an Indian trader, died of poison, it is said, in 1804. at Upper Sanduskv, where he had a store ; but his remains were brought to his home established in 1781, where he was buried on the tract originally given him as a wedding gift by the Indians, which tract, containing 1280 acres, was set aside to his widow by the treaty made at Fort Industry September 29, 1817. His tombstone was brought from the old Whitaker farm and placed in Birchard Library, just one hundred }ears after its erection over his grave. It bears the following inscription : IN MEMORY OF J. \M1-:.S \\llITE.\CRE WHO DIED Dec. 17, 1804 In tlu 48th \ear of his age. The tombstone of his dauglitcr. .\lar\ Whitaker Shannon, was also brought from the Whitaker family burying-ground to Birchard Library. Its inscrij^tion records her death as occur- ring August 15, 1827, in the 30th year of her age, which ])laces her Ijirtli in I7<;i. She was the I'ourlh child of James Whitaker. The lion, llomcr l^verett, who came to Fremont in 1815, and was the recognize0 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. savages against American settlers on the borders of Pennsyl- vania and X'irginia. The proclamation reads : "Detroit, January 5th, 1778. ■■Notwithstanding all endeavors to apprize his inajesty's faithful and loyal subjects, dispersed over the colonies of his gracious intentions to- wards them, signified to them at dii^erent times, it is to be feared the mistaken zeal of the deluded multitude, acted upon by the artful and wicked designs of rebellious counsellors has prevented many froin profit- ing of his majesty's clemency. This is to acquaint all whom it may con- cern, that nothing can give greater satisfaction to those persons who com- mand for his majesty at the different posts, than to save from ruin those innocent people who are unhappily involved in distresses they have in no ways merited. The moderation shown by the Indians who have gone to war from this place, is a speaking proof of the truth ; and the injunc- tions constantly laid upon them on their setting out, having been to spare the defenceless and aged of both sexes, show that compassion for the unhappy is blended with the severity necessary to be exercised in the obstinate and perverse enemies of his majesty's crown and dignity. "The persons undernamed are living witnesses of the moderation and' even gentleness of savages shown to them, their wives and children ; which may, it is hoped, induce others to exchange the hardships experi- enced under their present inasters, for security and freedom under their lawful sovereign. "The bearer hereof, Edward Hazle, has my orders to make known to all persons whom it inay concern, that the Indian? are encouraged to show the same mildness to all who shall embrace the offer of safety and protection, hereby held out to them ; and he is further to make known, as far as lies in his power, that if a number of people can agree upon a place of rendezvous, and a proper time for coming to this post, the Miamis, Sandusky or post Vincennes, the properest methods will be taken for their security, and a safe guard of white people, with an officer and interpreter sent to conduct them. "Given imder my hand and seal in Detroit. "Signed, Henry Hamilton! Seal], Lieutenant Governor and Super- intendent. "God save the King." "We who have undersigned our names, do vohmtarily declare that we have been conducted from the several places mentioned opposite our names to Detroit by Indians accompanied with white people ; that we have neither been cruelly treated nor in any way ill used by them; and further that on our arrival we have been treated with the greatest hu- manity and our wants supplied in the best manner possible. "George Baker, for himself, wife and five children — now here from five miles below Logstown. The Croghan Celebration. 91 "James Butterworth from Big Kenawha. "Thomas X Shocrs, from Harrodstown, Kentucky, his mark. "Jacob Pugh, from six miles below the fort at Wheeling. "Jonathan Muchmorc, from Ft. Pitt. "James Whitakcr, from Detroit, taken at Fish Creek. "John X Bridges, from Detroit, taken at Fish Creek. his mark. After Whitaker's marriage and return to Lower Sandusky, he became an influential W3-andot chief and follower of Tarhe, the Crane, the famous Indian chieftain whose home was at Lower Sandusky. Charles Johnson, states in his Narrative that Whitaker fought with the Wyandots under Crane in the defeat of St. Clair in 1791, and again in the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, when Wayne defeated the Indians so decisively and brought permanent peace to the frontier. James Whitaker died in 1804, but the Wyandots of Lower Sandusky, under Tarhe, fought on the American side in the War of 1 81 2. Although compelled through self-interest and the cir- cttmstances of his location to fight the battles of his adopted Indian brothers, there are many notable instances of his kindness to white prisoners, and his constant efforts to alleviate their suflfer- ings whenever possible. A number of instances are cited later. Mr. Everett's narrative, cited above, continues : "About two years after tlie capture of Whitaker, another party of warriors made an incursion into Pennsylvania and captured at Cross Roads, Elizabeth Foulks, a girl eleven years old, whom they carried into captivity and adopted into a family of the tribe. Both captives lived con- tentedly and happily, having adopted the manners and customs of their hosts. "A few years after — probably here on the Sandusky river, at a general council of their tribe, these two adopted children of the forest made each other's acquaintance. A marriage according to the customs of civilized life was at once arranged and the couple, ardent in their love and happy in their expectations, set oflf for Detroit, where the Christian ritual was pronounced which made them man and wife. "The Indians seemed well pleased by this conduct of their pale- faced children. They gave them a choice tract of farming land in the river bottom. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker reared a large family for whose education they expended considerable sums of money. "Mr. Whitaker entered into mercantile business, for which he was :92 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. well fitted. He established a store at his residence, one at Tymochtee and one at Upper Sandusky. He accumulated wealth rapidly, having at the time of his death his goods all paid for and 2,000 pounds on deposit with the Canada house where he made his purchases. At Upper San- dusky he had a partner, Hugh Patterson, with whom in the year 1804 he drank a glass of wine and died a short time afterwards, his death being attributed to poison in the wine. Mrs. Whitaker, to whom a reser- vation was granted in the treaty of 1817, survived her husband many years." Miss Helen Scfanton stales that her grandmother, Elizabeth Foulks, was taken prisoner by the Wyandots during the first year of the War of the Revoltition, 1776, when eleven years old, at Beaver Creek. Pa. The children of the neighborhood were making sugar when they were attacked by the Indians, her brother John Foulks was tomahawked and killed, and her brother George, who was several years older than Elizabeth, was taken prisoner with her. Both were carried through to the vicinity of Detroit. She remained with the Indians at Detroit, being very kindly treated by them, until she was married to James Whitaker, also a prisoner at Detroit, some five years and three months after her capture, namely in 1781 or 1782. She was adopted by the Wyandots. but in common with the white pris- oners, including- her brother George, she was freed a short time before her marriage. George Foulks returned at once to Beaver Creek, Pa., where he married, leaving at least ten children. Elizabeth was married to James Whitaker according to rites of civilized life, but whether liy a civil or a religious ceremony is not known. In 1782. very soon after their marriage, Whitaker and his wife left Detroit and returned to the banks of the San- dusky River, where they built a log cabin three miles below Lower Sandusky, now Fremont. A few years after settling on the Sandusky, Whitaker traded his furs and Indian supplies for lumber from Canada, and after rafting it up the Sandusky River built a large frame, two-story house, also a warehouse and store building. When her first child, Nancy, was nine or ten months old, Mrs. Whitaker started on her first trip home to Beaver Creek, carrying her baby on her horse in front of her and being accompanied by two Wyandot squaws. She was the mother of eight rliildren. from her marriage in 1782 until 77/r Croi^lKiii Celebration. 9S the death of her husl)an(l in 1804. at L'])i)er Saiulusky. She made several trijis to her old Ikhik' in T.eaver Creek, j^'oing for the last time in 1S23 to attend a tanuly reunion at the home of her sister. An incident of that occasion is that her sister sat at the table with twenty-two of her own children, two others having died. Of the twenty-two, a qnartet of boys, born at one birth, were dressed in suits of handsome green cloth presented to them by President Monroe. Mrs Whitaker died suddenly in 1833, CASKET CONTAINING REMAINS OF MAJOR CROC.IIAX IN STATE IN CITY HALL. while on a visit to Upper Sandusky, where her husband also had died nearlv thirty years before. She was buried at Upper San- dusky, although her husband's body had been taken back to Lower Sandusky. Her will, dated February 13, 1833, was admitted to probate in this county September 13, 1833, in which are mentioned the names of several of her children, including Isaac and James, the latter being her executor. Tn her will among other things S4 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. menlioned as her property was "a chest containing- valuable arti- cles." From the inventory of her estate as recorded in the office of the probate judge the following articles of silver were found in a chest : Silver castor, cruets, tablespoons, sugar tongs, Indian armband and shoe buckles. The children of James Whitaker and Elizabeth Foulks Whitaker were all born on what was afterward called the Whitaker Reservation, a tract of 1280 acres set aside for her by the treaty of 1817, which reads: "To Elizabeth Whitaker, who was taken prisoner by the Wyandots and has ever since lived among them, 1280 acres of land, on the west side of the Sandusky river, near Croghansville, to be laid ofif in a square form, as nearly as the meanders of the said river will admit, and to run an equal distance above and below the house in which the said Elizabeth Whitaker now lives." A deed was made to her by the Government in 1822 for these lands, containing the restriction that she should not con- vey them to others without permission from the President 'of the United States. This permission she obtained from President Monroe and in 1823, for the consideration named in the deed of $1200, conveyed the whole tract to her son George Whitaker. The names of the children of James and Elizabeth Whitaker were: Nancy, born in 1782, married William Wilson in 1803. Isaac moved to Indiana. James moved to Michigan. Mar}^ born in 1791. married George Shannon, died in 1827. Elizabeth who died during the War of 181 2. Charlotte who died in 1824. Rachel, born in 1801, who married James A. Scranton in 1823. George, born in 1803, moved to Missouri in February, 1884, James Whitaker had a number of trading posts or stores, one at his home, one on the Tymochtee and one at Upper San- dusky. While visiting the latter he died suddenly, in 1804, stip- posedly being poisoned by his partner, Hugh Patterson, a Cana- dian from Sandwich, Upper Canada, who owed Mrs. Whitaker The Croi^^/uni Celebration. 95 "$1300 on a judj^iiKiU on which Kichard I'aUcrson was surct}," as stated in l'".hzal)i'th W'hitakcr's w iH. lames W hitaker did a great deal of his trading at Alontrcal, making one or two trips thither a year. On one of these trips he took his eldest daughter, Nancy, a young girl, to Montreal, where she visited an English family named Wilson. The Wil- sons proposed sending one of their daughters to Scotland to be educated, and Nancy Whitaker accompanied her and remained at Glasgow, Scotland, at school for nearly three years. Shortly after Nancy's return to her father's home near Lower Sandusky, William Wilson, an English officer and son of the Montreal Wilsons, came to visit the Whitakers, and on a second visit some months later he was married to Nancy at the Whitaker home, when she was between seventeen and eighteen vears of age. William Wilson, the British officer, and his wife Nancy lived with the Whitakers, where they had many English officers as visitors. Two girls and a boy were born to them before the death of Nancy Whitaker Wilson, which occurred shortlv before the death of her father, James Whitaker, in 1804. The British officer, Wilson, was recalled to England in 1810 or 181 1 to assume the position of Captain in his regiment, and left his three children with their grandmother, Elizabeth Whitaker, who had charge of them until after the close of the war between Great Britain and America, as well as of her own seven children. One of her children, Mary, married George Shannon. She died in 1827, leaving five sons and one daughter; two sons, James and John, lived and died here, leaving large families who are prosperous people. Rachel Whitaker Scranton died Octo- ber 7, 1862, eleven years after the death of her husband, James A. Scranton, who died while Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ohio State Senate, in 185 1. They had ten children, of whom two survive: James A. Scranton, a farmer near Fremont, and Mrs. Hannah Scranton-Stoner, a widow'. Charles Johnston of Botetourt County, Virginia, while engaged in securing depositions of witnesses in litigations in relation to lands in Kentucky, left his home in 1789 and repaired to what is now Point Pleasant on the Ohio river, While passing down the river with Mr. May, Mr. Skyles, William Flinn and Pegg>' and Dolly Fleming, one of 96 Ohio Arch, and Hist. Society Publications. whom was a particular friend of Flinn who with the young women were residents of Pittsburg, the party was hailed by two white men who implored to be taken on board and rescued from the Indians by whom they had been captured. These white men were simply used as a decoy, and when the boat containing Johnston and his companions approached the shore they were fired on by a body of 54 Indians, killing Dolly Fleming- and Mr. May, and capturing Skyles, Flinn, Peggy Fleming and Charles Johnston. The date was March 20, 1789. The prisoners were separated and later Flinn was burned at the stake on the Sandusky river, Skyles was condemned to a similar fate on the Miami of the Lakes, but providentially escaped to Detroit. In 1827, Johnston, then a prominent citizen of his native state, printed a "Narrative of the Inci- dents attending the Capture, Detention and Ransom of Charles Johnston." The following extracts relate to his fellow captive, Peggj' Fleming, and to his experiences at Lower Sandusky. When he reached Upper San- dusky, he met a Canadian trader, named Francis Duchouquet, who suc- ceeded after many efforts in purchasing Johnston from the Indians for 600 silver broaches. "This event" says Johnston, "to me the most im- portant of my life, by a singular coincidence occurred on the 28th of April, in the year 1790. the day on which I attained the age of 21 years." "The small band of Cherokees, three in number, to whom Peggy Fleming had been allotted in the distribution made of the prisoners on the Ohio, brought her to Upper Sandusky while I was there. She was no longer that cheerful, lively creature such as when separated from us. Her spirits were sunk, her gayety had fled; and instead of that vivacity and sprightliness which formerly danced upon her countenance slie now wore the undissembled aspect of melancholy and wretchedness. I endeavored to ascertain the cause of this extraordinary change, but she answered my inquiries only with her tears; leaving my mind to its own inferences. Her stay with us was only for a few hours, during which time I could not extract a word from her, except occasionally the monosyllables yes and no. Gloom and despondency had taken entire possession of her breast; and nothing could lie more touching than her appearance. Her emaciated frame and dejected countenance, presented a picture of sorrow and of sadness which would have melted the stoutest heart, and such was its eflfect upon me that I could not abstain from mingling my tears with hers. With these feelings we parted. When we met again it was under far different and more auspicious circumstances, as will hereafter be seen. "Mr. Duchouquet sold his goods and collected his peltry at Upper Sandus|-^^-- V„.^ .•;^0i-. -^.^.Z _^'ig^'J » ^'l^ ^^. ,0 ., 0*9, &' .. %"' %• A^ w^ • - " ^v