WAR!

The United States was only 36 years old as a country when it declared war once again on Great Britain.

Americans were angry that the British Navy was taking U. S. ships sailing on the Atlantic Ocean. British sailors were taking U. S. cargo and forcing some U. S. sailors back into the British Navy. If they refused, they were put in British prisons.

Americans were angry with Great Britain. But there were problems on the American frontier as well. Back then the frontier included such states as Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The Americans accused the British of supplying natives with arms and ammunition to raid and push American settlers back East. These lands were the natives’ homeland. The raids terrified the people who were settling in these new “western” states.

So in 1812, President Madison asked congress to declare war on Great Britain and although the war lasted several years, it was called The War of 1812. A great deal of the war was fought here in Ohio and along Lake Erie. The British could send their soldiers and supplies from Canada through a system of rivers and lakes. The Americans built many forts along rivers, especially those that flowed into Lake Erie. Rivers were the “highways” of the frontier in 1812.

General William Henry Harrison was a commanding officer in the U. S. Army. In the summer of 1813, he would be commanding from the forts in Northwest Ohio. He would become the 9 th President of the United States in 1841.

General Henry Proctor was the commanding officer of His Majesty’s Forces (British) in Western Canada. General Proctor and the Indian chief, Tecumseh were allies. Together they wanted to defeat the American troops. Tecumseh, a powerful Shawnee chief, united many tribes to create a large fighting force against the Americans.

Fort Meigs was built on the south side of the Maumee River near present day Maumee and Perrysburg. General Proctor’s soldiers and Tecumseh’s warriors tried to trick the American soldiers to fight outside of the strongly-built fort. The British fired cannon balls over the river and into the fort, but the soft ground and American- built trenches kept the cannon balls from exploding on the soldiers. By the end of July, 1813 the British gave-up and moved back eastward.

Fort Stephenson was a small rectangular-shaped supply fort built (300 ft. by 150 ft.) on a hill overlooking the Sandusky River. It was named for the first commander who had recently supervised its construction. In those days, the area was called Lower Sandusky named after the river. Very few people lived there except for the Whitaker family who built a trading post and traded goods with the Native Americans in the area. The fort’s new commanding officer was Major George Croghan. He had just 160 men at the fort and one old cannon from 18 th century French naval wars called “Old Betsy”.

Major George Croghan came from a well-known family of courageous men. His uncle was the Revolutionary War general and hero George Rogers Clark. George Croghan was born in Kentucky in 1791, a year before Kentucky became a state. He graduated from The College of William and Mary in Virginia and in 1811 enlisted as a private with the Kentucky volunteers. George Croghan showed so much courage in The Battle of Tippecanoe that he was appointed a captain in the 17 th U. S. Infantry. As a result of his bravery during the siege of Fort Meigs, General Harrison promoted him to major and assigned him to the garrison at Fort Stephenson. Only 21 years old, Major Croghan will have to make a very important decision when he receives an order from General Harrison. He will prove that he is courageous, intelligent, and resourceful!

The Orders

American General Harrison was very happy that the British had moved away from Fort Meigs, but he also knew that the Native American leader Tecumseh wanted a fight. He thought the next battle might be aimed at Fort Stephenson in Lower Sandusky. General Harrison was afraid that if the British brought many pieces of artillery, Fort Stephenson would fall. Therefore, he sent this dispatch (letter) on July 29th to Major Croghan from Fort Seneca (Old Fort today):

“ 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 dispatch.”

The Reply

Unfortunately the soldiers sent got lost in the woods, and they did not arrive with the message until the next day, July 30 th. Major Croghan’s scouts had seen Indians lurking in the woods around the fort and feared ambushes if the men tried to leave. So he sent this reply to General Harrison: “Sir, I have just received yours of yesterday, 10 o’clock P.M. ordering me to destroy this place and make good my retreat, which was received too late to be carried into execution. We have determined to maintain this place, and by heavens we can.”

This dispatch angered General Harrison who did not like his direct orders disobeyed. Another letter was written and delivered (after some difficulty with all the natives in the woods) which relieved Major Croghan of his command over Fort Stephenson. A Colonel Wells was sent to command. Major Croghan acted immediately. Taking a squadron of soldiers, he hurried 10 miles south to Fort Seneca to plead his case before the general. Only then did General Harrison believe he was acting out of the best interest and safety of his men to stay and defend the fort. His command was given back, and Major Croghan hurried back to Fort Stephenson to make battle preparation.

The Letters

General Proctor ordered a retreat before dawn. Tecumseh, who had been waiting in the woods between Fort Meigs and Fort Stephenson, lost his chance to fight. The British left so hurriedly that a boat with clothing and guns was left behind. The Americans buried the British left dead. Only one American, a 14 year- old boy had been killed.

General Proctor later recorded 23 killed in action (including Colonel Short), 28 wounded and missing, and 35 wounded.

Major Croghan sent this note to General Harrison:

Dear Sir:

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

Victory

This battle ended the British efforts to take forts in Northwest Ohio. Realizing the Americans could freely use the rivers to resupply their soldiers, the British retreated to Canada. President Madison was so pleased that he honored Major Croghan by promoting him to Lieutenant Colonel. Congress awarded him a gold medal and the ladies of the Ohio capital, Chillicothe, awarded him a beautiful sword. Young Lieutenant Colonel Croghan was a national hero.