The New Hampshire Gazette

Copy of a letter from Major General Harrison, to the Secretary of War.

Head Quarters, Seneca Town, Aug. 4, 1813.

Sir—In my letter of the 1st instant, I did myself the honor to inform you that one of my scouting parties had just returned from the Lake shore, and had discovered the day before, the enemy in force near the mouth of the Sandusky bay. The party had not passed Lower Sandusky two hours before the advance consisting of Indians, appeared before the Fort, and in half an hour after a large detachment of British troops; and in the course of the night they commenced cannonading against the Fort with 3 six pounders and two howitzers; the latter from gun boats—The firing was partially answered by Major Croghan, having a six pounder, the only one piece of artillery. The fire of the enemy was continued at intervals, during the second instant, until about half past five P.M. when, finding that their cannon made little impression upon the works, and having discovered my position here, and apprehending an attack, an attempt was made to carry the place by storm.—Their troops were formed in two columns, Lieut. Colonel Short headed the principal one composed of the light and battalion companies of the 41st regiment. This gallant officer conducted his men to the brink of the ditch, under the most galling and destructive fire from the garrison, and leaping into it was followed by a considerable part of his own and the light company, at this moment a masked port hole was suddenly opened and a six pounder with a ball load of powder and double charge of leaden slug, at the distance of 30 feet, poured destruction upon them and killed or wounded nearly every man who had entered the ditch. In vain did the British officers exert themselves to lead on the balance of the column, it retired in disorder under a shower of hot iron from the Fort, and sought safety in the adjoining woods. The other column headed by the grenadiers had also retired after, having suffered from the muskets of our men to an adjacent ravine. In the course of the night, the enemy with the aid of their Indians drew off the greater part of the wounded and dead— so embarking them in boats, descended the river with the utmost precipitation. In the course of the 3d inst. having heard the cannonading, I made several attempts to ascertain the force and situation of the enemy, our scouts were unable to get near the Fort from the Indians which surrounded it. Finding however, that the enemy had only light artillery and being well convinced that it could make little impression upon the works and that any attempt to storm it would prevented with etc I waited for the arrival of 250 mounted volunteers, which on the evening before had left Upper Sandusky. But as soon as I was informed that the enemy were retreating, I set out with the dragoons to endeavor to overtake them, leaving Gens. M'Arthur and Cass to follow with all their infantry (about 700) that could be spared from the protection of the stores and sick at this place I found it impossible to come up with them. Upon my arrival at Sandusky, I was informed by the prisoners that the enemy's forces consisted of 490 regular troops, & 50 of Dixon's Indians, commanded by general Proctor in person, and that Tecumseh, with about 2000 warriors was somewhere in the swamps between this and Fort Meigs, expecting my advancing or that of a convoy of provisions. As there was no prospect of doing any thing in front, and being apprehensive that Tecumseh might destroy the stores and small detachments in my rear. I sent orders to general Cass, who commanded the reserve to fall back to this place and to general M'Arthur with the front line to follow and support him I remained at Sandusky until the parties that were sent out in every direction returned—not an enemy was to be seen. I am sorry that I cannot transmit you Major Croghan's official report. He was to have sent it to me this morning, but I have just heard that he was so much exhausted by thirty six hours of continued exertion as to be unable to make it. It will not be amongst the least of general 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 uncle (general George R. Clark) Captain Hunter of the 17th regiment the second in command, conducted himself with great propriety; and never were a better set of finer young fellows than the subalterns. viz. Lt. Johnson and Baylor of the 9th, Anthony of the 10th, Meeks of the 7th and Ensigns Shipp and Duncan of the 17th. The following account of the unworthy artifice and conduct of the enemy will excite your indignation—Major Chambers was sent by Gen. Proctor accompanied by Colonel Elliott to demand the surrender of the fort. They were met by ensign Shipp The Major observed that General Proctor had a number of cannon a large body of Regular Troops, and too many Indians, whom it was impossible to control, and if the fort was taken, as it must be the whole garrison would be massacred. Mr. Shipp answered, that it was the determination of Major Croghan his officers and men, to defend the garrison or be buried in it; & that they might do their best Colonel Elliott then addressed Mr. Shipp and said, you are a nice young man—I pity your situation; for God's sake surrender and prevent the dreadful slaughter that must follow resistance. Shipp turned from him with indignation and was immediately taken hold of by an Indian, who attempted to wrest his sword from him Elliott pretended to exert himself to release him and expressed great anxiety to get him safe in the Fort. I have the honor to enclose you a copy of the first note received from Major Croghan. It was written before day; and it has since been ascertained that of the enemy there remained in the ditch one Lieutenant Colonel, one Lieutenant and twenty five privates, the number of prisoners, one sergeant and twenty five privates. 14 of them badly wounded; every care has been taken of the latter. and the officers buried with the honors due to their rank and their bravery. All the dead that were not in the ditch were taken off in the night by the Indians. it is impossible from the circumstances of the attack, that they should have lost less than one hundred. some of the prisoners think that it amounted to two hundred: A young gentleman, a private in the Petersburg volunteers, of the name of Brown, assisted by five or six of that company and of the Pittsburgh Blues who were accidentally in the fort, managed the 6 pounder which produced such destruction in the ranks of the enemy I have the honor to be &c.

WM. HENRY HARRISON.

N. B. Of a few wounded men here is but one that will not be well in less than six days.
(Major Croghan's Note)

(COPY)

Lower Sandusky, August 3, 1813

Dear Sir—The enemy made an attempt to storm us last evening, but was repulsed with the loss of at least 500 killed, wounded and prisoners. One Lt. Colonel (Lt. Col. Short) a Major and a Lieutenant with about 40 privates, are dead in our ditch. I have lost but one killed and but few wounded. Further statements will be made you by the bearer.

GEO. CROGHAN, Major.
Com. Ft. Sandusky.

N. B. Since writing the above, two soldiers of the 41st regiment have got in, who state that the enemy have retreated. In fact; one of their gunboats is within three hundred yards of our works, said to be loaded with camp equipage, &c. which they, in their hurry have left

GEO. CROGHAN.
From Gen. Harrison to the Secretary of War

Head Quarters, Seneca Town
5th Aug. 1813—6 o'clock A.M.

I have the honor to enclose you Major Croghan's report of the attack upon his fort, which has this moment come to hand. Fortunately the mail has not closed.

With great respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, your humble servant.

WM. HENRY HARRISON
Copy of a letter from Maj. Croghan to Gen. Harrison dated

LOWER SANDUSKY, AUG. 5.

Dear Sir—I have the honor to inform you that the combined force of the enemy, amounting to at least 200 regulars, and seven or eight hundred Indians, under the immediate command of General Proctor, made its appearance before this place, early on Sunday evening last and so soon as the General had made such disposition of his troops as would cut off my retreat should I be disposed to make one, he sent Colonel Elliott, accompanied by Major Chambers with a flag to demand the surrender of the fort as he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood which he should probably not have in his power to do, should he be reduced to the necessity of taking the place by storm. My answer to the summons was, that I was determined to defend the place to the last extremity, and that no force however large, should induce me to surrender it So soon as the flag had returned. a brisk fire was opened upon us from the gun boats in the river and from a 12 inch howitzer on shore, which was kept up with little intermission throughout the night At an early hour the next morning, three sixes (which had been placed during the night within 250 yards of the picket-) began to play upon us but with little effect. About 4 o'clock P. M. discovering that the fire from all his guns was concentrated against the northwestern angle of the fort, I became confident that his object was to make a breach and attempt to storm the works at this point, I therefore ordered out as many men as could be employed for the purpose of strengthening that part which was effectually secured by means of bags of flour, and &c. that the picketing suffered little or no injury. notwithstanding which the enemy, about 500, having formed in close column advanced to assault our works at the expected point at the same time, making two feints on the front of Capt. Hunter's lines The column which advanced against the northwestern angle consisting of about 350 men, was so completely enveloped in smoke as not to be discovered until it had approached within 18 or 20 paces of the lines; but the men being all at their posts and ready to receive it, commenced so heavy & galling a fire as to throw the column a little into confusion; being quickly rallied it advanced to the outer works and began to leap into the ditch. Just at that moment a raking fire of grape was opened from our 6 pounder (which had been previously arranged so as to rake in that direction) which, together with the musketry, threw them into such confusion that they were compelled to retire precipitately to the woods. During the assault which lasted about half an hour, an incessant fire was kept up by the enemy's artillery (which consisted of five sixes and a howitzer) but without effect. my whole loss during the siege was one killed and seven wounded slightly. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded and prisoners must exceed one hundred and twenty, one Lieut. Colonel, a Lieutenant and fifty rank and file were found in and about the ditch dead or wounded those of the remainder who were not able to escape, were taken off during the night by the Indians Seventy stand of arms and several brace of pistols have been collected near the works. About three in the morning the enemy sailed down the river, leaving behind them a boat, containing clothing & considerable military stores. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates under my command for their gallantry and good conduct during the siege

Yours with respect

(Signed)
G. CROGHAN,
Maj. 17th U. S. Inf. Com. L. S.
Maj. Gen. Harrison
Commanding N. W. Army.
[The number of men, under command of Maj. Croghan, by whom the enemy were so gallantly repulsed, is not mentioned in the above official account; but by the following letter we learn it was only one hundred and sixty men!].

Extract of a letter from Gov. Huntington to Gideon Granger, Esq. dated Lower Sandusky, Aug. 4.

"A little before sundown on the 2d inst. the British attempted to carry Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky, by assault and were repulsed with the loss of about 40 men killed in the ditch, among whom was a Lieut. Col. (Short) and several other officers About the same number were supposed to be killed while advancing to the attack besides Indians carried away during the action. Proctor and Elliott were there. Their force estimated at about 500 in uniform and as many Indians— They retired taking their cannon in their boats. The garrison consisted of 160 men under the command of major Croghan, and lost but one man killed and 4 or 5 wounded. We have 25 of the enemy prisoners. The mail is waiting."