o ^0^ V . *. /% ■-^- /\. ■"•fW-y^/--^- /\ •.- V V w. - • • • aV *1 Ov. .^^ ^^^ ' O , i * ^'V ^ <> *' . "^bv^ V .i°-'*>. -."^K^* .4°-^ '-1^^! JP--*.. ■.'«?;:^isr-- ^1 ; .^ % ^ * V*^^ •. ;* ^^^ ""^^ .^ o#. *.-•* aO- '^0^ — ~1> » t ^^ .,__. .__. ._J". %^*" *'^' /\ •.^♦- /\ ^^•" ^'^'•^ •.^- /\ ..^ "q,'*.T FORT MEIGS MONUMENT. Comp It m e n ts of THE MAUfvlEE VAU.EY PIONEEff AND Historical a-^^ ^ "•■■■^^•' DEDICATION OF FORT MEIGS MONUMENT SEPTEMBER 1, 1908. Description of the Monument — What It Commemorates — Historic Spots to be Seen from the Shaft Treaty of 1817 The Elm Dudley's Disaster- Fort Miami British Batteries - Burial Grounds, Etc., Etc.. TOGETHER WITH BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO SIEGES OF FORT MEIGS IN 1813. Compiled and Prepared by C. W. Evers, Bowling Green, Ohio. Z\'\^l'^,3 Ci^h. ''^. ^^r> FORT MEIGS AND ITS ENVIRONS. ICxiiIiiiiatiou.s: — a, grand battery, commantled by Captain Daniel Gush- ing; b, mo'tai' battery; e, i, o, minor batteries; g, battery commanded at the second siege by Colonel Gaines: c. magazines. The tolack squares on the lines of the fort represent the position of the block houses. The dotted lines show the traverses, or walls of earth thrown up. The longest, the grand traverse, had a base of twen'ty feet, was twelve in height, and about nine hundred in length. The traverses running lengthwise of the- fort, were raised as a protection against the batteries on the opposite side of tlie river, and those run^ning cross'wise were to defend tliem from tlie British batteries on this side. The British batteries on tlie north side of the river were named as follows: a, Queen's; b. Sailors': d. King's: and c. Mortar. The fort stood upon high ground, on the margin of the bank, elevated about sixty feet above the Maumee. Tlie surface is nearly level, and is covered by a green swai'd. The outline of the fort is now well defined, and tlie grand traverse yet rises six or eight feet from the surrounding ground. XOTE: — The Toledo Blade of June 3, 1908, has the Larwill profile of the tort whioli differs somewhat in the fact that more traverse, earthworks, are sliown next to the present public road. The historical reports by Wood and others show that these latter works were made during the siege to meet military emergencies; also that between the two sieges; the fort was re- duced in dimensions, being too large for proper defense by so limited a number of troops. Howe's Ohio, has a map very similar, in fact a copy of the Larwill profile, which we reproduce. It is not on so large a scale nor does it show so much of the surrounding landscape as that given in the Blade. 0: UJ > s < o t* ? iX) ■r'h rCfQ ^Gt NOrt rt 1 § ^ 'Ora . S ^. to O (D 0) 1 "2 •^^- §S«H c Soh.s 11 !• 3 c^rta) o . <^ . I mS^ >, I a~ '-I " ai d > 'V c r^ CM I c c. i) Oir. f' ('t, was full of wrath and angoi-. TTo raved and liiaii(lisli('(l his toiiialiawk over Gen. Cass, who ordered him taken oiil. whicli was done by several othei' Indians. .\iu()iii>' the Indian warriors wlio wei'e present was Ottnso, said to he Ji son of Pontiae, a most ehxiueiit chief, vei-y intelligent, and (|nite the eqnal of Tecnmseh in mental (|iialilies, and at the time of his death the last of his family, and the last war chief of liis nation remainiiig on the Maiimee river. There was also present at this conneil an old Indian woman, said to ])e a grandniece or widow of tlie renowned Pontiae. She was held in great veneration by the Indians. She was then very old, and bent with age, her hair perfectly white, and no chief would sign the treaty nntil she had first consented, and made her mark by tonching her fingers to the ])en. When the treaty was agreed npon, the head chiefs and warriors sat round the inner circle, she having a place among them. The remaining Indians with the women and (aiiildren formed a crowd outside. The chiefs sat on seats ])uilt under the roof of the council house, which was open on all sides. I'lie wlioU^ assemhl}' ke[)t silent. The chiefs bowed tlieii- heads and cast their eyes to the ground, and waited patiently for the old woman until she arose. After the treaty had been read to all in her ju'csence, she went r<)i-ward and louclicd the pen to the treaty, following which they all signed it. IXDIAX K\M AXl) THE BIG RIFLE. Also in front aci'oss the rix'cr is the site where stood the great elm that concealed the Indian shai'itsliootei' who so ann()yc(| the l^\)i-t Meigs gari'ison. hilling llie siege of Koi't Meigs the Indians were \'ery bold and tronhlesonie in a|»|ti'oacliing iindei' cover of every tviH' sluiii|i or oilier slicllcr, as near as they dai'ed, and from which they kept up a I'lisilade of bullets into the fort, by which means they caused iniicli annoyance to the Americans, and some fatal casualties. Some, bolder than others, climb- ed into the tree tops at a distance and fired into the fort at random. It was told at the time tliat one particularly trouble- some "buck" fired from a lofty elm on the north bank of the Mamnee and directly o])]iosite the fort. This Indian, when the soldiers fired at, or noticed him, would act very defiant and perpetrate all sorts of i:)antomime insults. Finally some officer remembered that a tremendous rifle, so large and heavy that no soldier could carry it on the march was lying somewhere about Gen. Harrison's liead- o,uarters. No one seemed to know just how or why it was there, for it was regarded as an utterly impractical and use- less piece. But in desperation it was dragged out, a bullet mold improvised and a marksman bold enough to aim it and fire at the Indian in the big ehn. At the second or third shot the Indian tumbled out and was seen there no more. It is not told how the man fared who held the gun. He doubtless had at least a lame shoulder. Harrison afterwards gave the gun to one of his scouts, and later one of the Minors had it. In 1865 Jared Cothrell, who kept the Mad Anthony saloon at Fort Wayne, had it standing back of his bar. The muzzle reached two-thirds to the ceiling, and its bore would nearly admit a broom handle. Its shoulder breech was cushioned with soft leather and green baize cloth. It was a prodigious gun, and not many men would care to fire it under a full charge of powder and ball. It is now in the relic room of some Indiana historical society, perhaps at Indianapolis. The old historic elm at Maumee blew down in a storm many years ago, but its site is still pointed out. Also other elms are there and doubtless served as lookout perches for Indian marksmen. All agencies of that oft repeated episod<» in the war are gone except General Harrison's big gun. THE BRITISH BATTERIES. liniiieditelv facing us, across the river on the Iiiiili 8 haiik is the site wliere tlie Britisli batteries wei'e i)laeed aud which Colonel Dudley failed to destroy. THE OLD COURT HOUSE. P^iirther to the right across the river is tlie old court house wliere (Miiel' .Iiistice Waite, in his youthful daj^s, made his maiden speech, aud near by was his home. Here, too, is the site where the fiercest conflict was waged in the Dudley disaster. FORT MIAMI. Down the river two miles at tlie village of jMiami may be seen Ihe embankments of the old Fort Miami, held by Gen. Proctor during the siege of Fort Meigs in 1813. This, too, was the tirst jjoint on which a flag was erected in this valley — in fact in Ohio — by the French in 1G79-80, which was continued for some time as a trading post, and which was afterward occupied by the British with INlajor Camp- bell in command, during Wayne's victory in 1704. THE OLD WELL. Now glance your eye to the right in the east end of the fort aud but a few ste|)S from where you stand is the prin- cipal well (lug during the seige, and from wliicli the camp was suitplied with w^ater, thus avoiding the necessity of ex- posing their lives in carrying water from the river. The well was about 60 feet deep. It is marked by a post dis- liiictly visible. That post extends to the bottom of the well, and lliis is its histoi'y: On the night i)revions to the great cch'hiation of 1840, some of the young men of Perrsyburg ol' Ihe Democratic ])ersuasion in a spirit of mischief went to the fort, secured the flag pole, about 00 feet long, which was to l)e raised the rollowing morning, and plunged it into the Well, wlici'c it has rcnialncd I'or more than ()8 years. THE KENTUCKY BURIAL GROUND. East of us on the hill, to the right of the road, may be seen the home of Michael Hayes, during his life-time — a bri(;k building erected by Mai'shall Key of Kentucky more than fifty years ago. Between tlie east end oi' tlie fort and the Hayes brick house, np the sloping- hill, on a little grassy platean, is the Kentucky burial gi'oiuid. Tliere are the sunken graves of forty or fil'ty of Dudley's slaughtered soldiers. Their bodies were biouglit across the river by Harrison's men after T'roctor liad left. Michael Hayes de- serves great credit foi- the care and prolcctioii he gave this spot as long as he lived. THE BATTERY BEYOND THE RAVINE. To the east of the Hayes house, across the electric car track, and next to the Perryslmrg cemetery, yet ])lainly vis- ible, is the site of the British battery captured by (\)l()uel Miller under Gen. Harrison's direction. In this capluic the Petersburg, Virginia, battalion behaved most gallantly. THE PITTSBURG BLUES. Right back of us and aliout 70 steps beyond the road is the burial plat of the Pittsburg I)lues, emV)racing sonic forty or fifty graves. THE GARRISON DEAD. To our left at the west end of the fort is the cemetery of those \d\o were killed and died in Fort ]\Ieigs during the siege, and known as the Garrison Cemetery. LIEUTS. M'CULLOUGH AND WALKER. Immediately to our left, within the fort, are the graves of Lieutenants McCullough and Walker. The former was killed in the fort while in conversation with Gen. Harrison and the latter lost his life in a skirmish with the Indians. THE SPAFFORD GRANT. As you look to the west, or up-river side, the first ground the eye rests upon beyond the fort ruins and front- ing the river, is what is known as the S])afford Grant of 160 acres. It was the first deeded land in Wood county. The title was made to Major Amos Spatford, then D. S. collector of customs for the ]\riami district, by a special act 10 of Cong-ross in tlie year 1817. Major Spafford was also postmaster when tlie war of 1812 broke up the settlement, lie was the tirst to liold civil office in the whole Maiimee \allcy as well as the lirst ix'i-iiiaiient settler and land-owner in Wood county, lie and his wife were buried on the corner of the tract at the angle of the two roads just beyond the fort. There is no mark at their graves, but steps have been taken looking to a fitting tablet there. BUTTONWOOD ISLAND. Still al)ove tiiis, over a mile, in the river is Buttonwood island, where the Indians were assembled in 18oo, where ail were vaccinated and made read}'^ for deportment to the far west by the government. THE GALLOWS. Down in the valley between the Bowling Green Rail- way and the foot hill is where the execution took i)lace of George Porter (the first execution in Wood C-ounty) for the murder of Isaac Richardson, at Rush-de-l)oo in 1817. (See Knapp's History, p. 300.) TURKEY FOOT ROCK. Away lo our left a])out two miles, across and up the river, may l)e seen Pres(iue Isle hill, where is Turkey Foot Rock, now the onl>' monument in commemoration of Wayne's battle in 171)4. POUT l)KiM)SiT. Still I'lirther up the i"iver, on the north side, one mile a])Ove W'aterville, is liiishde boo, the I'ocky point on the ri\'er where Wayne camjiiMl llie uiglil before his baltle. He called this Camp Deposit. Hard by is a concrete rail- road bridge, said to be the longest but one in the country. FACTS TO 1>.E l^EMEMBERED. The const ruction of l'\)i't Meigs began Febi-uai\\ L*, ISl.'!. The liist siege of I'^oi't Meigs began .\pril Ll7, IS)."!, and lasted 14 (hiys. 11 Tlio second sicoo lK\i;;ni .Inly 2(1, ISl,'!, and lasted five days. Most of the army supjtlies were l)i-oii<^iit to the fort on i)aek liorses, l)eeaiise of the had i-oads. Tlie ordnanee and military stores weic removed from Fort Meii>s and the ])ost a1)aiid()ned l)y the iiovernment in 1815. THE HYDRAULIC DITCMT. The ditch noticed down tlie slope toward the river was no part of the defensive works of tlie fort. It was used many years ago to bring' water from a dam four miles or so 11]) the river, which fni'nished mill i)ower in Perrysburg, and was later abandoned. Many visitors fail to comprehend the full dimensions of the original fort proper. It embraced as first constructed about ten acres. Between the two sieges, its dimensions were cut down to suit a smaller garrison. The outlines, in places, are nearly obliterated, but the commission plan to indicate the outlines, l)astions, block houses, etc., by plain markers. The profile maps are quite a lielp to the stranger. The l)lock-houses and other buildings were often made use of by the new settlers coming into the country, nntil they could find homes and get permanently located. In this way the fort at times was found a great convenience. But gradually the buildings fell into decay, or, through careless- ness took fire and were burned and destroyed. The picture of the fort, rear view, shows what appears to be a border of some sort strung along the fort palisades on the ground. At first view it appears to be barrels lying- end to end; l)ut it is told that hollow sycamore logs were sawed in sections, filled with rocks, headed iii» and so ])laced that by cutting a rope by which each was attached inside the fort, that the logs would start rolling down the steep slope or bank at high s])eed, knocking down everything in their course. This was a precaution against a massed at- tack on the rear of the fortification. The fort was cut down to smaller dinunsions between the two sieges to make it suitable for defense by a less num- ber of troops. 12 THE MONUMENT AND ITS HISTORY. The iiionuiiH'iit. a modest, well iJi-oportioncd, plain, granite slial't Si* feet liigli, is symbolie of the patriotic spirit of the peoph' of today and their deep and lasting love and gratitude I'oi' the liai'dy nieii oi' 1812-1."!. The ground upon which it stands, iiielnding the Tort pi-oper, excepting a point at the east end, cut olT li>- a imhlic road — also a strip on the south side, taken many years ago as a ])nl)lie highway, hut including the burial ]ilace of the I^ittshurg Blues (some forty or more in number), about 70 ste))s south of the road — was purcliased by the State of Ohio, thi'ough an act of the General Assembly, in March, 1906. ^riie act authorized the expenditure of $25,000 for the i)urchase of the grounds and erection of i iuonument; also provided for the ap])ointment of a commisison by the (lo\'ernor. J. L. Pray of Toledo, C. W. Shoemaker of W'aterville, and J. B. Wilson of Bowling Green, were ap- l)oiuted July 23, lOOG, by Governor Harris. Mr. Wilson was elected chairman and W. Corlett, of Waterville, appointed Seci'ctai'y of the P)oard. The ground, on Kiver Tracts 65 and 66, comprising 36 aci-es, was purchased of the Hayes heirs June 12, 1907, for the sum of $10,800. The conti'act for the monument was let in September, 1907, the i)i-ice being $14,000. This is one instance, at least, where a commission did not exceed the appro|)i-iati()n. I^'ebrnary 25, 1908, a law was enacted ])r()viding I'oi- the care and piotection of the moiunnent and gi'ounds. \)y this law a iiei'Mianent commission of li\'e niemhei's was pro\'ided. The (loscrnoi' names the commisison, the tci'm of ollice be- ing (i\'e years. The law also cari'ies with it an appi'opria- tion of $5,000, to can'y into effect such iniproxcnients as are iieeessai'y in the way ol' fences, shade t I'ces, landscape woi'k'. 13 etc.; also a cottage for the care U\kcv of tlic property, if tlie commission deem it advisable. Governor Harris appointed as merabei's of this per- inaneiit comiuissioii for the first year tlic rollowiiii;' iiaiiicd gentlemen: D. K. Hollenbeck, Perrysbnrg; A. L. Pray, To- ledo; William Corlett and C. W. Shoemaker, Waterville; J. B. Wilson, Bowling Green. It may be proper here, in this connection, as a matter of information, to say that aside from tlie ])nrcliase of gronnd made here by the state, that the Manmee Valley Pioneer and Historical Association owns abont eight and one-half acres adjoining the state's xmrchase, on the east and including the Kentucky burial ground; also the little point of the fort fortification that extends east of the road leading to the bridge. Kentucky has had a bill before its legislature for an appropriation for a memorial of some kind for the graves of her dead whose ashes repose there. Some of her leading men took a lively interest in the matter, when a committee of the Association called on them at Frankfort two years ago, and gave assurance that Kentucky would see that the graves of her dead should be properly marked. But some of the leaders suggestively inquired why Ohio, too, had not done something for her dead at Fort Meigs. That ([uestion has since been answered by Ohio, in the fine shaft she has raised on the fort grounds. And now it is confidently lio])ed that not only Kentucky, but Pennsylvania, and possibly Virginia — all of whom have burials there — will see that fitting memorial tal)lets will nuirk the resting places of their soldier dead. It is fitting, too, that a woi'd of connnendation be spoken for the unselfish and devoted work of the ^launiee Valley Pioneer and Historical Association to reclaim and preserve these historic grounds and care for the gi-aves of those wlio perished in defense of their country. - Some of its members have for vears lent their influ- 14 t'lKM' and |)uf foi'lli tlicii' l)('s1 ('ITorts in tliis work, at pe- cuniary loss and ol'tcn under llic luosi disc()urai»'ini>' circiun- stanccs. And now. thai tiu'ir indomilable efforts are likely 1o !)(' crowned with success, no one has more reason to re- joice than lh(»se failhl'nl and indefatigaliU^^ ohl workers, wlio for so many years have devoted themselves to this labor of "|)ati"iotism and love. Without these efforts Fort Afeigs would never have had a inonnnient. and the hundreds of graves thereabouts would have reniainecl unmarked in the ])asture fields as they have l)een in the scores of years ])ast. All honor to the Pioneer Association and their co-workers, as well as to those of the Ohio Assembly, through wliose patriotic action tliis tardy act of justice to our heroic dead was made possible. Especial appreciation is accorded Governor A. L. Har- ris, himself an ex-soldier, for his kindly interest, helpful advice and judicious suggestions in aiding the commission to economically and successfully bring about the purchase and make the construction of the monument possible. 'I'lie ]\raumee Valley Pioneer Association was organ- ized in 18r)4. Its first President was General John E. Plunt. It has held annual reunions since that time and embraced in its nieinliei'sliiii many of the leading citizens of the Mau- mee \'alley. \\ has kept alive and stimulated the interest in social and ])atriotic advancement. As the years rolled by, it was found that to accomplish more practical results, money was needed to purchase sites, etc. So in 1!)()"2 the Manuu'e A'alley Pioneei- and Historical Association was incori)orated under the laws of Ohio, and uudei- which stock subscri])tions could be received. It was under this plan made possible to buy the Kentucky burial .iii'onml. It was under this business like method that most of the I'eal |»i-ogress has been made and so nuicli has been accomplished. 'I'liis corporation is still in splendid working order, not for .i;ain or jirolit ( for not an ol'licer receives a dollar for his 15 services), ])iit to aid in every way ])ossil»le to preserve and mark the liistorie spots in tlie Manniee N'.-illcy and to mark the Imrial places of tlie soldiers who laid (h)\\ ii their lives in rechiimiiii;' the hind I'l-oiii savai^ery and from the ride of kings in Europe. As snch, may not this Association claim, withcmt over- stei)ping the bounds of modesty, this tine monument over- looking- Fort Meigs and the graves of its dead, as one of its i)roud achievements? But there is much yet to do. Still, with the aid Ohio has already given, the Association ex- pects to be able to accomplish very much in the future. AVitli these unselfish and worthy motives the Association is cer- tainly entitled to public confidence and substantial su}»i)ort. SHORT ORDER. SKETCH. Fort Meigs, in tlie year 1813, lay in the track of war. The United States in June, 1812, had, for good cause, de- clared war against England. She planned to invade Can- ada. One division of her army was to strike from Detroit. That division, composed of Ohio militia and United States regulars less than 3,000 in all, was put under command of an old Revolutionary officer. Gen. William Hull. That army, starting from Dayton, made direct for Detroit. Short- ly after leaving Urbana, in what is now Champaign county, they had passed all white settlements. They were on grounds yet owned by the Indians — uninhabited by whites, until they struck the embryo settlement on the Mauniee— in the Twelve Mile Square Reserve, bought of the tribes 17 years before at Wayne's Greenville treaty. That little army cleft its way through unbroken forests and swamps day by day, passing through what is now Findlay, where they built a stockade; still northward, passing through the present corporate limits of Bowling Green about where the track of the T. & 0. C. railroad lies to Ridge street, when 16 they veered a little to tlie west, striking tlie ridge on the west side of the Perrysburg- road nearly two miles north of liowliiig (ii-oen. That ridge, near what was then a fine meadow of wild grass pi'airie, was a favorite t»ami)ing place for the aniiN' (lining the war and afterwards for the early settlers. Kee])ing this course north by a few degrees west, Hnll struck the ]\ranmee at a ravine abont a quarter of a mile up- river from the south end of the present Waterville wagon bridge. Passing down the river below the high banks, he rested his ai-my two or three days at what was then known as the "Big Flats." "\Alien the march was resumed the army forded the river just beh)w Presquo Tsle hill to the north side and continued down the river through the little white settlement at Miami, that had been started there some five years pre- viously. The settlers were overjoyed and importuned Gen. Hull to h'live a detachment of soldiers there as a protection against the hidians, of whom there were several thousand in the vicinity, some of whom were already showing signs ol' hostility, under the malign influence of some of the head chiel's who lind been olVei-ed inducements to join the British ill case of war. The General apx)roved the recpiest for a (h'lail and an officer and s(|iiad of soldiers was left, with sui)i)lies and with ()rlans of Fort Meiiis show two roads only, frinn and to the fort ; the lTp])ei" Sandusky and the Lower Sandusky roads. Ilnirs road did not conic lo the fort hnt as we lia\'e seen crossed the Mau- nicc nc;irl\ fonr miles from it. '^I^lieii comes the query, what and where was the I'pper Sandusky road, shown on Lieut. 18 I.nrwill's excellent profile of the fort as recently published ill llie Toledo Blade? Mr. Foster Pratt, for more than 80 years a resident loss than three miles distant from the fort, recently gave what seems the only plausible explanation, namely, that the Upper Sandnsky road, after leaving the fort on the high gronnd in a westerly and southerly course, intersected TTiilTs road just south of where the army struck the Mau- uiee, thence following Hull's route to Findlay, then by direct course to Upper Sandusky. This is the only explanation of a road to Upper San- dusky. That there was such a road is shown not onh^ by the engineer's profile of the fort and surroundings, but by the official reports of officers during the war. Hull's road, if road it might be called, was the most direct route to the southern part of the state, but because of the swampy na- ture of the country it was impassable' two-thirds of the year, except for horsemen. It will be noticed, too, by the profile of the fort that an- other road is shown leading from the west line down to tlio river bottoms. This road led up the rivor on the hnv ground to a good fording place at Buttonwood island, and on beyond and was practical, except in high water. Now a word about the Lower Sandusky road. As noted by the pi-ofilo, this road led from the south gate of the fort in a soulliorly course for a mile or so, when it veered to the east several degrees in almost a direct course to the forks of the Portage river, now Pomberville, holding thence the most direct practical route to Lower Sandusky, now Fre- mont. Tliis was a much more favorable, though longer, way than either Hull's or the Upper Sandusky roads. The other and better known route was Wayne's road fi"om (Jreenville, in Darke county, 1)> way of Defiance (now), tlicncc down Ihe i\rauinee. So much for the military roads (if llial pci'iod. Boads have always hcon to a great extent detei'mining factors in war. (ii'ouchy failed Napoleon be- I 1^ cause of lieavv roads and Waterloo was lost. These notes on roads will aid in making more intelligent the campaign of 1813, in whicli the fate of Fort Meigs and the whole Ohio frontier was involved. Back aways we loft General Hull and his army at Mi- ami. Here lay a little vessel, the Cuyahoga. She was char- tered and the wives and baggage of the officers placed on board, including Hull's official rolls and army papers, for Detroit. The boat was captured by the English. It should be stated that war had not yet been declared when Hull started north with his army, though it was generally known that war was coming soon. The restless hostile actions of the Indians, indicated this only too plainly. Hull, in his on- ward march, was overtaken before he reached the Kiver Raisin, July 2d, by a messenger with the news that war had been declared June 17th. The English by a longer route had gotten the news one day sooner than Hull and that is how they came to capture Hull 's vessel and official papers. There is little more to be said of Hull that an American cares to hear. He took about ten days or two weeks to get to Detroit, when three days was ample if he had wanted to serve his country well. He could, with prompt action, have captured Maiden and that part of Canada, whipped all the English troops stationed there and cowed their allies, the Indians. He had a seasoned lot of men, some of whom fought with Harrison at Tippecanoe the year before. But now lie was an arrant old coward. The tooth of time, whisky and tobacco had unmanned him. He dress paraded and dawdled away valuable time until the enemy gathered up some militia and with a big showing of their breech clout allies, the Indians, made a bluff at the cowardly American conmiander and to the eternal disgrace of a country he had served faithfully in the days of the Revolution, he sur- rendered his army. He was later court-martialed and sentenced to be shot, but before the sentence was carried out he was, because of 20 liis previous good record, i)ardoiied, dismissed from tke army and died in merited obscurity. That practically ended the campaign of 1812, as the Northwest was affected. Fort Dearborn and Mackinaw fell into the enemies' hands. The Indians were raiding the frontier and the outlook was gloomy indeed. Especially was this so in the Detroit and IManmee countr}^ the princi- pal seat of the Indian power, then guided by their Chief Teeumseh, whom the English had made their ally. The little settlement of whites at the Rapids, a few hundred all told, had to flee for their lives, leaving cornfields and cabins ; some in boats by the river, others by Hull's trail and Wayne's route to the interior of Ohio, and the INfaumee and swampy stretches to the south of it l)ecame the border line. STOEY OF TWO WOMEN AT THE RAPIDS. HESTER PURDY GREEN. Rather pathetic is the story of Hester Purdy Green, whose father located at the Rapids, 1810. She says : ''My father, Daniel Purdy, state of New York, with his family came to the Maumee in 1810. Several families came with us by the lakes and river. My father lived near the river. Fish were yery plenty. Large ones could be caught Avith hook and line. We would throw them ou the bank as we caught them, then selecting the finest for the table we would k'ave the rest for the pigs. Among the varieties Avere sturgeon, bass, muskalonge and pickerel. Indian neighbors were ])leuty. I have seen as many as fifty lodges camped liere on their way to Maiden, Canada, to get their presents. ''Ciauie was abundant; live stock was easily raised on the |ti-airies and we led a \'y(H' and easy life uiilil Ihe uuit- terings of wai- began to fill us witli alarm. Then tlu^ ar- i-i\al of (leu. Mull and liis ai'iuy reassured us. IFe left a small comniaud who Iniilt a I'oi-t foi- our protection. Then we lived in securitv J'or a time until one dav a niesseni>er 21 caiHo and lold us Hull had sold liis army to tlie Englisli and that we would all have to leave. ''Then all was fright and confusion. We, and most of the others, excepting the soldiers, gathered what we could handily and left. We stoi:>ped at Blalock's a short time, and an Indian messenger arrived telling us to come back, as they would not kill us, but only wanted some of our pro])erty; looking around until he found Blalock's gun, he took it, went out and got a horse my mother had ridden to this point, and departed. We went back and remained three days, in which time the Indians were pretty busy in driving otf our live stock (we lost sixteen head), and plundering the houses of such as had not come back. "But our stay was short, only three days, when the commandant of the stockade informed us that he would burn the fort and stores and leave, inviting us to take such of the provisions as we might need. Consternation again seized upon us, and we hastily reloaded our wagons and left. We stayed the first night at a house eight or ten miles south of the Rapids. In the Black Swamp, the load became too heavy and they rolled out a barrel of flour and a barrel of meat, which they had obtained at the fort. Mr. Hopkins, John Carter, Mr. Scrilmer and William Race went back the next fall to gather their crops, and they were all killed by the Indians. John Carter was attacked while in a boat on the river, and they had quite a hard fight before they got his scalp. After many years the government gave the Purdys $400 for the crops and stock left behind in their flight." MRS. PHILOTHE CLARK^ Among other reminiscences, says: "In the spring of 1812 my father planted potatoes and corn on the island in the river. The army made use of it, and he got his pay for it from the government. There was a company of soldiers stationed near us, but they left immediately after we heard of Hull's surrender. A British officer, with a few soldiers 22 and a band of Indians, came to take possession of what i)ul)- lic stores there were at that place. The Indians plundered a few lioiises, took all the horses and mules they could tind, and left. The inhabintants had to leave — some of them in open boats. Our family, in company with twelve other raniilics, Icl'l b> land. We took the road to L'rbaua, cut through by (Jeueral I hill's army. After a toilsome journey of two weeks tlirough the mud of the Black Swamp, nearly devoured ])y mosquitoes, sometimes with no water except what stood in the cattle tracks, we arjived safely at Urbana, where we drew government rations until w^e separated for our several destinations." A NEW COMMANDER. And now as we close this year of misfortunes and dark records, we cannot but wonder if it would not have been different if an Andrew Jackson or an Anthony Wayne had led that army of Hull's? But soon a new commander came. Hope, and new life and activity came and the year 1813 was to be crowned with i>reat deeds. For the time the j\Iaumee Kapids was to be the stage on which all eyes centered; wiiere the bloody drama of war was to be played in all its merciless, hideous aspects. General Harrison, now in command, was huii ying sup- plies forward to this point and even had planned a winter cam])aign; but this was frustrated, however, by the rash, unauthorized action of one of his subordinates. General Winchester, resulting in a disaster at the River Raisin whlcli clian^cMl I lai'i'ison 's plans, but onlx' ci'ipplcd him tem- iMuarily, as we shall see: 23 STORY OF FORT MEIGS. FKOM AN EYE WITNESS. Brevet Jjieut. -Colonel Eleazer D. Wood, Captain of tlie Corps of Engineers, U. hi. Army, and in honor of whom Wood county was named, was with Gen. Harrison at Ft. Meigs as constriieting engineer, continued witli Harrison into Canada and was finally killed at Erie. lie has left a most interesting journal of the scenes and incidents in which he participated in the Northwestern campaign of 1812-13. 'i'he student of history is much indebted to Brevet Major Ceneral George AV. Cullum, Colonel of the Corps of En- gineers U. S. Army, for rescuing from oblivion and giving to the world the journal of this brave officer, and from which the following synopsis can not fail to prove of much interest : Major General William H. Harrison, having been ap- pointed to the command of the Northwestern army, arrived at Upper Sandusky early in January, 1813, with two brig- ades of militia, together with a few regulars and volunteers — in all about 1,500 men. This force was denominated the right wing of the army. The object was to establish the security of the Northw^estern frontier, by expelling the in- vaders from our territory. This force of raw troops was to be licked into shape and discipline. It was also necessary to await the arrival of the field battering train of artillery, the latter consisting of five 18-pounders, together with pro- visions, forage and ordnance stores. A large portion of the troops were on daily duty, in building block houses and store-houses, the latter to deposit the supplies in, and the former for protection. About the 12th, the artillery came into camp, and large quantities of every kind of supplies were constantly arriving. Thus Upper Sandusky was established as the principal depot of the army. That place is 70 miles from the Rapids on the Maumee. Between these two places is almost an entire marsh, a sunken, miry region known as the Black Swamp, covered with water that can scarcely be passed at any other 24 t'mu' tliau iu tlio snimner or middle of winter nrtcr its waters are sunieieiitly frozen to bear the travelei'. 'I'lie Kapids of llie Maiiiiiee are a])()Ht IS miles from Lake Ki'ie, (io fi-om l^'ort \\'a\ne, .')() from the River ikaisiii and 7S mih's from Detioit. (Jen. Wineliester, in eommand of the kd't wiiii;- of the ai'my, was directed to take the route of Fort Wayne for strengtliening tliat point. Parties had l)eeu sent aliead from U])per Sandusky to open roads, bridge creeks, and picpai'e the way as much as possihh'. The aitillery had already ai'rived and been sent on towards tiie U'apids. Aliout the bltli of January intelligence was brought to cam}) that (ieneial Winchester had already arrived at the IJapids and pi'oposed advancing innnediately to the River Kaisin. (Jeiieral Harrison was astonished at the imjaidence and inconsistency of such a step, which could be viewed in no other light than one attended with the inevitable destruc- tion of the corps. Gen. Harrison dispatched two hrigades to the sui)])ort of Winchester, who arrived at the River Ilaisin on the bSth, fought a l)attle, in which he claimed a victoi-\ . hut on the morning of the 22d he was overwhelmed with tile IJiitisli ;ind Indians, and there followed that in- disci-iminate and hai'harous slaughter of brave men, whose lives were wretchedly sacj-iHced to the im})rndeuce of their rash <'(.)mmander. When (ieneral Harrison I'eached the Rapids, he had the |iain and niort ilication to meet the fugitives flying l'ron\ the hloodx t I'agedy of the Iviver Raisin. He at once fell hack n|>on the Portage Kiver (near l^emberville), a distance of If) miles, as well for the pni'pose of covering the artillery, then in the swnmp. as to meet the reinforcements, already f;ii- ;id\;ince(l finni 1 pper S;in(lnsiave tlie Indians such a l)itt('r di'uhhiiii; in 17!)4. It was a wise choice made by General Harrison and ('ai)tains Gratiot and Wood of the engineers. Here hiy the army with its rear to the river, covered by a consideral)le ravine in front, which extended around and communicated witii another very deep and wide one, whicli passed the k-ft, and entirely secured it. Here General Harrison directed that a camp for 2,0(10 men should be laid out and strongly fortified with block houses, batteries and palisades, in such manner as to stand the test of British artillery. This work was continued in a state of progression, the lines of the construction were at once designated, and a large portion of labor assigned among every corps or regiment in the army. Each brigade or regiment commenced that particular poi'tion of work as- signed it with patriotic vigor and spirit. A fine train of artillery, consisting of five 18-pounders, six 12-pounders, six six-pounders, and three howitzers, together with a small supply of annnunition, having arrived in cam}), the little army brightened in appearance and began to feel en- couraged. The camp was about 2,500 yards in circumference, which distance, with the exception of several small intervals, left for the block houses and batteries, was every foot pick- eted with timber, 15 feet long, from ten to twelve inches in diameter, and set three feet in the ground. To complete this picketing, to put up eight block houses, of double tim- ber, to elevate four large batteries, to build all the store- houses and magazines required for the su])i)lics of the army, together with the ordinary duties and fatigues of the cam]), was an undertaking of no small magnitude. Aside from all this, an immense deal of labor was performed in exca- vating ditches, making abatis, and clearing away the wood 26 about tlie caiiiii, and all tliis was done, too, when the weather was intense! \- severe, and the ground so hard frozen, that it required the most strenuous labor to open it with spade and i)ick-axe. It scenicd that the use of axe, mattock and spade ('(>nii)rised all the military knowledge of the army. Tliey continued to work and bury tlieiiiselves as rapidly as possible, and still heard nothing of the expected enemy. At this time the army enjoyed a fair degree of health, and was well |)ro\i(le(l with hi-ead and meat, as the woods were litei-ally ali\-e with beeves, hogs and pack lioi'ses loaded with ll(Mii'. On the -ttli of Mai-ch ('a]»tain Wood was sent to con- st i-uct some additional works at Lowei- Sandusky, where he spent some 15 days or more, and then returned to the Rapids. General Harrison, foreseeing the lamentable sit- uation in which the army would be placed on account of the near approach of the time when the terms of service of many of the militia would expire, went to Chillicothe on the Gth of March, to arrange for supplying the army and to take seasonable measures for getting a reinforcement of militia. Without going into details, suffice it to say that General llan-ison's instructions were disregarded during his ab- sence, and progress in the work of fortifying the works en- tirely ceased. The officer left in command proved utterly nn faithful to his trust, and was culpably negligent and dis- ol)edient. Toward the latter end of March it was learned through a trnstwoi'thy source that General Pi'octor had issued a proclamation directing his militia to assemble at JSandwich on the 7tli of April, for the purpose of aiding in an expedi- tion again^st Camp Meigs. It was further learned that the ])rincii)al ])lan of attack was as follows: On arriving before tiie camp the Indians were to he immediately thrown in our real-, oi' lather tlie\' weic to invest the camp, and cut off at once all comnnmication, while the ti'oops were to be em- l)loyed on tin- opposite side of the rivei" in i)i-eparing the 27 batteries niul luountiug- tlic ,<2,iins lo cannonade iiiid lK)iiil>ari-il, when all wovo convinced that in a very few days a visit mii^iit he expected from liis Excellency General I'roctor, acc()ini)anie(l by tiie ,i;reat Te- cumseh and theii- i-etinue. About 150 of the pat liotic militia from L^enusylvania wei-e prexailed on to remain fifteen days longer. On the eigiith Lieut. -Colonel liall, with about 200 dragoons, arrived at the ilapids, and in line time to af- ford the assistance, very much wanted, in the comjjletion of the works. Soon afterwards General Harrison arrived with a small corps of regulars and militia. About the 20tli the fifteen days' volunteers from Penn- sylvania were paid off, highly complimented in general or- ders, and permitted to return home. The whole number of troops in camp at this time, was about 1,200 or 1,.'>00, of which not more than 850 were reported fit for duty. They were better than half regulars and volunteers, and the rest Kentucky and Ohio militia, who had just been drafted into service, and of course were quite ignorant of their duty. Our block-houses, batteries, magazines and connecting lines of defense were now generally completed, and the ap- pearance of the camp in its every feature was such as to in- spire confidence in those who were to defend it against the assault of the invaders of our country. Fuel for the garri- son and timber to repair breaches and to make bombproofs, should it be found necessary, were brought into cam]) in great abundance. Also, two or three wells were instantly commenced — in fact -everything was done that possibly could be thought of to place the camp in the best situation to sustain a long siege. On the 25th the combined British and Indian forces con- sisting of 800 militia, 500 regulars and 1,500 Indians, all un- 28 der eoiiimand of Goiieral Proctor, ai'i-ivod at tlio montli and landed on the left sliore of the Maiimee, and instantly a party of Indians was thrown across the river to observe and watch the coiiduci of oni- ti'(»(>))s, should any of thera be sent out to reconnoitre, as was the constant i)ractice. The following (hiy Proctoi''s ai'niy was ]nit in motion, keopini>- its left to the river, and arriving with the gnnhoats and ])at- teries, in wliicli were the artillery and ordnance stores, and adxaiiccd nj) until it arrived on the 27th at the old Fort Miami. The hatteaux were at once unloaded and employed in conveying the balance of the Indians to our side of the ri\«'r. The following night the enemy In'oke ground in four ditferent i)laces and were very industriously em])loyed until morning, when their works showed good progress. When these nocturnal works were discovei'ed, our guns that could be brought to bear opened upon them and those works of the night were completely destroyed. Understanding now the enemy's plan of attack, and where each of his batteries were to be located, and the par- ticular object of each, and knowing that we should be great- ly annoyed by his artillery in our present state, it became necessary to intrench the army entirely ane"\v, and which was done within the original lines of the camp. Captain Wood connnenced the new intrenchments on the morning of the 28th, when the whole army was set to work and contin- ued in the trenches until "tatoo," when their labors were suspended, and work in the ti-enches was resumed at break of day with unflagging zeal. Never did men behave better, on any similar occasion, than did ours on this. I'lifoi'tunately we had not been able to clear the wood away to a sullicient distance on our left, of which circum- stance llic Indians very readily availed t licmsclves, and from the tops of the trees, poured into our cam))s prodigious showers of nniskcti-y. '^Phe distance, howc\'ei', was so great, that out of the nuni('i-ous (|uantity of balls poured in, com- |i;i r;ili\('l\ tew took ('lT('<'t. A number of our men wei'e 29 woiiiidcd, iiotwitlislaiidiiig, and rcudci-cd iiicapaWlc of duty for SOUR' tiuie. After the first da\'s lalior in the ireuclics, one lliii'd of tlie troo])S only were kept iu tlieui eoustautly, wlio wei'e re- lieved every three hours l)y fresh ones. In this way we con- tinued our ox^erations, while General Harrison was extreme- ly active, and was every wliei-e to l)e seen in the trenches, urging on tlie Avork, as well hy exanii)le as i)recei)t. He slept but little, and was unconunonly vigilant and watcliful through the night. The first thing conmienced to shield the troops against cannon, was a traverse, about "20 feet l)ase, laid parallel with the river, on the most elevated ground, which was near the middle and running the whole length of the camp. It was from 10 to 15 feet high, and was completed early on the morning of the first of May, just as it was discovered that the enemy had finished three of his principal batteries, had his guns in, and was then loading and bringing them to battery. Orders w^ere now given for all our tents in front to be instantly struck and carried to tlie rear of the traverse. It was done in almost a moment, and that prospect of beat- ing up our quarters, wiiich but an instant before presented itself to the view of the eager artillerists had now entirely fled, and in its place suddenly api^eared an innnense shield of earth, obscuring from the sight of the enemy every tent, every horse, of which there were 200, and every creature l)e- longing to the camp. At 11 o'clock a. m., the British batteries were o])ened, and a most tremendous cannonading and boml)ardnuMit was commenced and ke])! u]), the former until dark and the latter until 11 o'clock at night, when all was again silent. Our loss was one or two men killed, and five or six wounded — the lat- ter priuci]ially by the Indians. Our ammunition l)eing in- adequate to the necessity of a long siege, we fired vei-y little, contenting ourselves in safety and listening to the nmsic furnished bv the enemy. 30 ( )ii the second at dawn, the cannonade commenced again willi ^rcat \i,<;oi-, and the batteries continued to play with nuicli l)riskness tliroiigli the day, and with about the same eifect as on tlie preceding day. A 24-pound shot struck tlie roof of one of onr magazines. All the batteries were in- stantl>' (lii'ected u])on it, tlie traverse not being of sufficient lieight tt) protect the roof, which was blown off by a shell. Xo damage of consequence was done. When firing ceased in the evening Ca])tain Bradford, with a party of men, went to work and before morning had the magazine thoroughly rei)aired, making it im]tregnabh' to any shell that might strike it. Tn ordei' that we might be ])repared to receive the enemy at all points, another traverse, parallel with the first, and distant abont P)0 yards, had been connnenced — was soon finished, and the two connected by several short ones. By this means ricochet firing lengthways of the cam]) would be attended with no injury while the men were in tjieir tents. I'his rendered onr intrenchments a complete citadel making it well nigh impregnable. At Pi o'clock a. m., on the tliiid, it was discovered that the enemy had crossed the i-ivei', and had three or four of his cannon on onr left stnck in the edge of a small ravine. In the conrse of the third da>' we had two oi" three dragoons kilh'th se\-ei"al slightly \\-onnded and a nnnil)er of horses killed. ( )n the fonrtli, the enemy neither ojieiied his hattei'ies so eai'ly in the morning as he had l)een accnstomed to. nor did he lii'e them willi his nsnal \'igor and activity. Firing almost ceased toward evening. It apjiearei'i as thongli the enemy was con\-ince(| that the attack fi'om that side of the rix'ei' was simply an innnense waste of ]»o\\(ler and ball and wonid nitimately proN'e of no a\ail. Abont III o'clock' on llic ninlit of the fonrtli, Majoi" ()li\('r, who hail Icfl camp on the L'Slh of April, l)i'onglit word that (jieneral C'la\' was aljout eiiiht miles above with 31 1,200 militia. General Harrison tlieii planned to Iiavc tlie Itattei'ies across tlie river stormed, the i;nns si)iked and the magazine destroyed. Colonel Dudley was j'ni-nished with spikes for the purpose. According to the ordei's received General Clay landed 800 of his men to storm the batteries, with Colonel Dudley in command. After the accomplish- ment of their work they were ordered to return at once to the Fort. AVith a great yell they stormed the batteries, the artillerists fled with great ]ire.cipitation. Colonel Dudley was then in complete i^ossession of the guns. Only a portion of them were spiked and the magazine was left untouched. The Kentuckians, elated with their victory, pursued the Indians into the woods, in defiance of the orders of Genei-al Harrison that they should destroy the battery and at once return to the Fort. While pursuing the Indians a column of P)ritish regulars marched up from Fort Miami, and at- tacked the rear of Colonel Dudley's badly demoralized force. Thus between two fires and surrounded by over- whelming numbers his fate and that of the l)rave men under him was inevitable. Of the 800 men thus entrapped only al)out TOO escaped — 80 or more reached Fort Meigs, the 1)al- ance escaped to Fort Wayne, some 60 or 70 were killed and the rest were taken prisoners. About 600 were marched under an escort of Indians to Fort Miami. The Indians were then permitted by General Proctor to assemble upon the surrounding rampart, and there at their leisure amuse themselves l)y firing at the prisoners uutil at length they preferred slaughtering their wretched victims in a manner more suitable to their savage hatred. They laid aside their rifles, went into the slaughtei- pen, seized those they pleased, and leading them to the gateway tomahawked and scalped them without meicy and without restraint. Nine bodies were found lying in one ])ile near the gate of the Fort after General Proctor left the Maumee. Many were found in other places tomahawked and scal])ed, and their bodies mangled in the most inluunan and barliar- 32 oils iiunmci'. (Ntloiicl Dudley was found on the field scalped, Ills Idcast cut (>i)('ii and his heart taken ont. Such was the result of a disolx'dience of orders. \\'hile this was i^oing on the l)alanee of General Clay's coiiiiiiaud met with considerable o])|)osition from the In- dians. I')iit with sharp firiiii;' the Iventuckians pushed on, aided l)\' L''K) th-agoons and a battalion of infantry sent from tlie b'ort. They completely repnised the Fndians before they reached the Fort, with the loss of 15 or 20 killed. The guns which ('olitiiel Dudley failed to spike were played upon our camp, and the reai- of our troi)])s during the skirmish with the Indians, with much vigor and considerable effect. Colonel ^liller of the 19th Regulars, with 850 men, stormed the batteries in the ravine at our left in the most gallant manner, soon bad complete possession, and the guns wei-e dismounted, the enemy being pursued some distance. Jn this assault our loss was 30 killed and three times that nunil)er wounded. Captain, (afterwards Colonel) Croghan was })articularly distinguivshed in this action, while the vol- unteers from Peteisburg (Va) were bighly commended for thvir cool and intrepid conduct while approacliing the bat- teries under a heavy fire of musketry. Huring tlie siege General Proctor had the audacity to summon General ilanison to surrender, and was veiy l)roperl\ told that if he ever got possession of Fort Meigs, it would he under such circumstances that would give liim greater claims u])on the gratitude of his country than he possibly could have by the Fort being surrendered — or words to that effect. Genei"al Di-octoi-, without troubling us further, on the moi'uing of the iiiiilh, raised the siege and left for Alalden. The prisoners he had taken were carried down to Huron •iiid there landed. II;i\iiiii man\- sick and wounded after the close of the siege of many days (live days haltei'ies o))en) and our force greatly impaired, such measures were taken as might tend Gen. Wm. H. Harrison. 34 to restore the army to liealtli and vigor. The block-houses about the lines were cleared of guns and scores and were converted into temporary hospitals. Tents were pitched with arbors about them and such arrangements made to al- leviate distress as the circumstances would admit. For some time, as might l)e expected, the camp exhibited a mel- ancholy si)ectacle. But the brave men bore up most patient- ly under their anxiety and gloom with the consciousness of having faithfully done their duty. SECOND SIEGE OF FORT MEIGS. On the 20th of July, at the solicitation of Tecumseh, (Jeneral Proctor returned with a larger force, while General Harrison was at Lower Sandusky. It was to be attempted, according to Tecumseh 's plan, to draw the garrison from the fort by a ruse, as it proved too strong and well equii)])ed to be taken by assault. The force of the enemy that had ascended the Maumee under the command of General Proctor and Tecumseh, was 5,000 men, while the number of Indians was greater than ever before assembled on any occasion during the war, while the defenders of Fort Meigs amounted to only a few hundred under command of General Green Clay. CAPT. McCUNE'S NARPOW ESCAPE. General Harrison was at Lower Sandusky, now Fre- mont, and Captain McCune was sent to apprise Gen. Harri- son of the situation. He did so and was ordered by Gen. Har- rison to return and inform Gen. Clay to be particularly cau- tious against surprise, and every eifort would be made to re- lieve the fort. Captain ^FcCune arrived near the fort about (lay break on the moi'iiing of the 2r)th, accompanied by .hiiiics Doohm, a Fixmch Canadian. As they left the woods tli('\- wei-e intercepted by a party of Indians. Immediately tlicy retreated at full gallo]) on the high bank of the river for several miles, pursued by the Indians also mounted. 35 Coming to a deep ravine they put up from the river in a southerly direction, when tliey turned to the river bottom, but soon found thems(;lves confronted by an impassable swamp. Tile Indians seeing tlieir dilenmui galloped to tiie ravine to head them off. McCune and his companion turned ui)on their own track for the fort, gaining several hundred yards from their pursuers. The Indians followed with all speed. Just as they neared the fort McCune dashed into a thicket across his course, on the opposite side of whicli other Indians were huddled, awaiting their prey. When this party of Indians had thought them to be their prisoners, McCune suddenly wheeled his horse, followed by Doolan, escaped from the thicket by the passage he had entered, and galloped around into the open space between them and the river, where the pursuers were checked by the fire from the block- house at the western angle of the fort. After their arrival their horses dropped from fatigue. The arrival of McCune, who brought the intelligence that Harrison would not come with any troops unless the enemy lay regular siege to Fort Meigs, undoubtedly saved them from the ingeniously devised stratagem of Tecumseh, as that scheme was at once entered into by the enemy. FAILURE OF TECUMSEH 'S PLOT. In the afternoon of the same day the British infantry were secreted in the ravine below the fort, and the cavalry in the woods above, while the Indians were stationed in the forest, on the Sandusky road, not far from the fort. About an hour before dark they began a sham battle among them- selves, to deceive the Americans into the belief that a battle was going on between them and reinforcements for the fort, in the hope of enticing the garrison to the aid of their com- rades. It was managed with so much skill that the garrison instantly flew to arms, impressed by the Indian yells, inter- mingled with the roar of musketry, that a severe battle was being fought and tlie lives of the reinforcement were in dang-er. Some of the officers insisted on being suffered to 36 ■ iii:n-('1i (Hit lo the rescue. General Claj^ satisfied tlie officers that IK) troojis were to be sent to Fort ]\leigs until there would be further necessity for it. But the men were highly iiidij^iiaiil ihat they wci'c prcx'cnlcd from going out to share ihc dangers, as they believed, of their commander-in-chief and thcii- brother soldier. A shower of rain ended this sham battle. The enemy i-emained around the fort but one day after this, when oil the L'Sth they embarked with their stores and proceeded down the hdvc, and on to Fort Stephenson where they met with such a terrible repulse. That fort was defended Ijy one gun and IGU }'oung men commanded by Major George Croghan, a boy less than 22 years of age. Pi-oetor's force comprised 3,300 British and Indians and six pieces of artillery. A TILKILLING ALTERNATIVE. The information was given out by a volunteer aid of General (May, who was in the fort during the second siege, that preparations were made by General Clay to fire the magazine in case the enemy succeeded in the attempt to storm the fort, and thus involve all, friends and foe alike, in one coniinon fate. This terrible alternative was deemed far prel'eralih' to that of suffering the l)arbarities of their i-eleiitless foes, and finally perish under the tomaluiwks and scalping knives of those fiendish savages. P>RrTISIl POWER HUMILIATED This conchides the fighting at Fort Meigs, and soon after Proctor received severe chastisement at Fort Stephen- son. This was followed by Commodore Perry's brilliant \ictor\ on the lOtli of Sei)teniber, IS],'}, which swept the Lakes ol' the enemy and eiial)le(l ( leiieral Harrison to pursue I'roctor's force into ("aiiada. gaining a complete victory at the hattle of the Thames, in which 'IVn-umseh Avas slain and the I'ritish forces routed. Thus was England's second at- tenipl to snhdiie the colonies and disrupt the young republic I'orex er I'liist rated. In ISIT) the govei'imient removed the ordnance and stores and abandoned I'ort Meiiis. 37 FORT MEIGS IN 1840. Probably one of the most popular and imposing demon- strations in the history of tlie United States took })lace al Fort Meigs in June, 1840. No moi'e enthusiastic and im- pressive pageant has ever occurred in the history of this country. There were asseml)led on tliese grounds at that time thousands of visitors from ainu)st every (puirter of tiie Union. The great gathering was variously estimated at from thirty-five to forty thousand. All classes and condi- tions, rich and poor, young and aged were involved in tlie enthusiasm of that day. General Harrison with his veter- ans, many of the country's leading statesmen, oratoi-s iin o"(do(d< a. m.. and in the afternoon the h'ni't Mei^-s nionuuient will he unveiled. An excellent pro- '^v.ww has heen ai'i'an<;ed to pi'eeede the basket feast at noon. Ainoii^' the speakei's will he (ien. Bennet li. Younjx. of Kentucky, an ex-C"onfederate ot'lieer. (Ien. Young answered an invitation to atldi-ess the pioneers here several years ago. hut rain cut his speech short at the most interesting point. Several nthei- speeches are on the [)rograni. and the invocation will he delivei-ed hv Hev. X. H. C. Love. of Perryshurg. D. K. Ijullcnheidv. of I'eri-yshurg. will call the gathering to order. The ont iiig takes the |)lace of the annual affair of the pioneers, usually held nn SejitendxT 10. the date having been changed to Septendier 1 in order that those in attendance may witness the luiveiling of the FoiM .Meigs luonument. Cio\-erni>r I Ian-is will pi-eside over the exercises of dedicating the Fort .Meiu^s nionuineiit. it is expected that the governors of Kent 111 ky. X'irtriiiia and Pennsylvania will participate in the exer- cises. .\d.)utant (ieneral Critchfield has given orders that the Sec- ond Ivegiiiieiil ciic;iiii|t 1)11 [''ort Meigs (ill t li is occasion. Fxecllciil facilities are pro\i(led for reaching the grounds from Toledo, eight miles distant, by trolley line every 'AO minutes. S9 f •: C«"* »<» -or' . ; <- '^v ', ^ V .*r.-: -.■?j ■ .0^ * e< ?" :^^ '> 1^ ':k ^>,\ /^C^.,°o ^/\'^j^.\ ^^^*ji^'*°^- ?^' o' '^ '\'^Py* "v^S-^o'* \*^^*./ f!Ti G*- % "> 4 > . « • • . 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