Auglaize County, Ohio - Chapter 9: Harrison's Campaign, 1905 (part 2 of 2)

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 brought to them by either side with any degree of safety. Major Croghan, however, relieved them as much as possible - he contrived to convey them water over the picketing in buckets, and a ditch was opened under the pickets, through which those who were able and willing, were encour^ aged 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 three o'clock, the whole British and Indian force commenced a disorderly retreat. So great was their precipitation that they left a sail-boat containing some clothing and a considerable quantity of military stores; and on the next day seventy stand of arms and some braces of pistols were picked up around the fort. Their hurry and confusion was caused by the apprehension of an attack from General Harrison, of whose position and force they had probably received an exaggerated account.

It was the intention of General Harrison, should the enemy succeed against Fort Stephenson, or should they attempt to turn his left and fall 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 the 1st, 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 repelled by the garrison; he therefore determined to wait for the arrival of two hundred and fifty mounted volunteers under Colonel Renick, being the advance of seven hundred who were approaching -by 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 2nd 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 necessary discoveries. In the night a messenger arrived at headquarters with intelligence that the enemy was preparing to retreat. About 9 o'clock, Major Croghan had ascertained from their collecting about their boats, that they were preparing to embark, and had immediately sent an express to the commanderin-chief with this information. The General now determined to wait no longer for the 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 Fort Seneca several days before, to follow him with all the disposable infantry at that place, and. which at this time was about seven hundred men, leaving the numerous sick, and the force necessary to maintain the position, behind. Finding that the enemy had fled entirely from the fort, so as not to be reached by him, and believing that Tecumseh was somewhere in the direction of Fort Meigs, with two thousand warriors, he immediately ordered the infantry to fall back to Fort Seneca, lest Tecumseh should make an attack on that place, or intercept the small reinforcements advancing from Ohio.

At the close of the defeat at Fort Stephenson Proctor made a hasty retreat back to Malden. It has already been stated that troops from all portions of Ohio, were hurrying to the Sandusky. But when they arrived there the enemy had departed. It became necessary, therefore, to discharge most of the volunteer militia, as there was nothing for them to do, and they were only consuming provisions. In the meantime active preparations were being made which should decide who should have command of the lake with all its shores. Several hundred sailors had been ordered to Lake Erie early in 1812, under the command of Lieutenants Perry and Elliott. They seized and captured at different times, several British vessels, and destroyed such vessels as they could not tow into our harbors. Ship carpenters had been engaged in the building of war vessels at Cleveland and Erie. Soon after the British defeat at Fort Stephenson, nine vessels were ready for service, carrying, in all, fifty-four guns. Twenty-five active seamen, from Fort Meigs were sent over to join Commodore Perry's fleet at the mouth of Sandusky river. These sailors had withdrawn from service on the ocean, and now joined Perry's force, contributing much to his success. While Perry lay at the mouth of the Sandusky river, General McArthur sent him one hundred and fifty marines, additional to his force. The British fleet at Malden, under Commodore Barclay, consisted of six ships, carrying sixty-three guns.

About the first of September Commodore Perry's squadron sailed from the mouth of Sandusky river, for Put-in-Bay harbor, situated about thirty miles from Malden, where the British squadron was riding at anchor. After remaining at Put-in-Bay a short time the American squadron moved across the lake, and after various maneuvers in the vicinity of Malden returned to Sandusky Bay, and two days later anchored again in Put-in- Bay to wait for the sailing of the British fleet. They did not lave long to wait. On the morning of the ioth of September the British fleet was seen in the distance, under full sail. The American fleet was moved from the harbor, around Gibraltar Island and formed in line of battle. A flag was hoisted, bearing the motto, Don't give up the ship. It was greeted with repeated cheers from all the vessels.

It was the intention of the British Commodore to attack the American fleet before it could be moved from the harbor. The wind, however, was unfavorable to the execution of his design. Before io o'clock the American fleet had gained the open lake and was ready for battle.

The lightness of the winds prevented a rapid approach of the hostile squadrons. For two hours the crews of the contending vessels were subjected to an intense anxiety and suspense. It is described as being "a time of dreadful quiet."

"No noise, no bustle, prevailed to distract the mind, except at intervals the shrill piping of the boatswain's whistle, or a murmuring whisper among the men who stood around their guns with lighted matches, narrowly watching the movements of the

At fifteen minutes before 12 o'clock, a bugle was sounded on the British flagship, Detroit, when a tremendous fire from the British long guns was opened on the American flagship Lawrence. The Lawrence, being armed with short guns was unable to respond for forty minutes. In a short time every brace and bowline of the Lawrence was shot away and the vessel became unmanageable. In the meantime the greater part of her crew had been killed, and her guns rendered useless. For two hours the Lawrence withstood the fierce attack. The wind was so light that the other vessels could not come to her assistance. A perfect discipline prevailed. As fast as the gunners were wounded they were taken below, their places were filled by others, and the dead were left where they fell until the close of the action. At the end of two hours the vessel was reduced to a perfect wreck. At two o'clock, Commodore Perry with the flag of the disabled vessel stepped into a small row-boat, and standing erect, was transported to the Niagara. During the passage he was exposed to a continuous broadside from the enemy, but escaped unharmed. When safe on board of the Niagara, the remnant of his crew in the Lawrence gave three cheers at his success. Upon reaching the Niagara he expressed his fears to Captain Elliott that the victory was lost. Captain Elliott remarked that the wind was rising and that there were still possibilities in store. The Captain was immediately dispatched to bring up the remainder of the squadron. In a small boat the Captain proceeded down the whole line of the enemy, exposed to their incessant fire ; "yet he accomplished the perilous task uninjured, though completely soaked with the water thrown upon him by the balls which struck around him. He brought up the gunboats, and placed them under the sterns of the heaviest vessels of the enemy, where they were able to do much execution."

"Finding the Niagara but little injured, the commander determined upon the bold and desperate expedient of breaking the enemy's line. He accordingly bore up and passed the head of the two ships and brig, giving them a raking fire from his starboard guns, and also a raking fire upon a large schooner and sloop from his larboard quarter at half pistol shot. Having engaged the whole squadron, he laid his ship alongside the British Commander.

The small vessels having got up within good grape and canister distance, on the other quarter, enclosed their enemy between them and the Niagara, and in this position kept up a most destructive fire on both quarters of the British until every ship struck her colors."

The victory was won. Perry with a touch of pride returned to the bloody deck of the Lawrence, and there received the surrender. After the formalities of the surrender, he wrote his famous dispatch to General Harrison : "We have met the enemy, and they are ours - two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop."

The engagement has no parallel in modern naval warfare. It was complete. The loss on board the American squadron, in killed and wounded was one hundred and twenty-four. Of these twenty-seven were killed. The British loss in killed and wounded was two hundred, and six hundred prisoners. Six vessels, and sixty guns, were the trophies conducted to Put-in-Bay on the day following the battle.

"The slain of the crews of both squadrons were consigned to the depths of the still waters of the lake. The next day the funeral obsequies of the American and British officers who had fallen were performed at an opening on the margin of the bay, in an appropriate and affecting manner. The crews of both fleets united in the ceremony. The stillness of the weather, the procession of boats, the music, the slow and regular motion of the oars, striking in exact time with the notes of the solemn dirge, the mournful waving of the flags, the sound of the minute-guns from all the ships and the wild and solitary aspect of the place gave to these funeral rites a most impressive influence, and formed an affecting contrast with the terrible struggle of the preceding day. Three British officers, Captain Finnis, and Lieutenants Garl and Stockoe - and two Americans, Lieutenant Brooks and Midshipman Lamb were interred on the northern shore of Put-in-Bay Island, facing Gibraltar Island." Four posts joined by chains mark the resting place of the heroes, at the present day.

"The fate of Barclay, the British Commander, was melancholy indeed. He had lost an arm at Trafalgar. And now, in addition to the terrible and humiliating defeat he had encountered, he lost the other. Commodore Perry, in his official dispatch, spoke in the highest terms of respect and commiseration for his

"Two days after the battle, two Indian chiefs, who had been selected for their skill as marksmen, and stationed in the tops of the Detroit for the purpose of picking off the American officers, were discovered snugly stowed away in the hold of the Detroit. These savages, who had been accustomed to ships of no greater magnitude than what they could sling on their backs, when the action became warm were so panic stricken at the terrors of the scene and the strange perils that surrounded them, that, looking at each other with amazement, they vociferated their significant 'quonh,' and precipitately descended to the hold. In their British uniforms hanging in bags upon their famished bodies, they were brought before Commodore Perry, fed, and discharged, no further parole being necessary to prevent their afterwards engaging in the contest."

The roar of the cannonading was distinctly heard at Malden. An allied force of British and Indians, amounting to five thousand five hundred men, was at the fort anxiously awaiting the result. The defeat of the British squadron would render it necessary for them immediately to vacate their works. General Proctor tried, for a time, to conceal the disaster from the Indians. But the eagle eye of Tecumseh immediately detected the indications of a retreat. Demanding an interview with General Proctof, for whom he had but little respect, he thus addressed him :

"In the war before this, with the Americans, you gave the hatchet to the Indians when our old chiefs were alive. They are now dead. In that war the British were thrown flat upon their backs by the Americans. You took them by the hand and made peace without consulting us. We fear you - will do so again. When this war was declared our British father gave us the tomahawk and told us that he wanted our assistance, and that he would certainly get back for us our lands, which the Americans had taken from us.

"You told us to bring our families here, and promised to take care of them, and that while our men went out to fight the Americans our women and children should want for nothing. Your fleet had gone out ; we know that they have fought ; we have heard the great guns. But we know not what has happened to the chief with one arm. Your ships have gone one way, and we are much surprised to see our father tying up everything and preparing to run in the other direction. You always told us to remain here, and declared that you would never take your foot from British ground. Now we see that you are drawing back, without waiting to get sight of the enemy. We must compare our father to a fat dog, who, when affrighted, drops his tail between his legs and runs away.

"The Americans have not yet defeated us by land. We are not sure that they have by water. We therefore wish to remain here and fight our enemy, should they make their appearance. If they defeat us we will then retreat.

"At the battles of the Rapids, in the last war, the Americans certainly defeated us. And when we fled to the British fort the gates were shut against us. We are afraid that it might be so again ; but instead of that we see our British friends preparing themselves to flee from their garrison. You have the arms and ammunition which our British father sent for his red children. If you intend to go away give them to us, and then you may go and welcome. Our lines are in the hands of the Great Spirit. We are determined to defend our lands, and if it be His will we wish to be buried beneath them."

The news of the great naval victory spread with great rapidity, and as it reached the various detachments, pressing forward to the shore of the lake, it quickened their speed, and awakened a desire to achieve a victory equally brilliant over the enemy under Proctor.

In the mean time Commodore Perry had moved his sixteen vessels and eighty small boats from Put-in-Bay to the mouth of Portage river, where they were held in readiness for the embarkation of the American Army. On the evening of the 16th of September, General McArthur received orders at Fort Meigs to embark the artillery, military stores and provisions at that place, in vessels which were sent from headquarters to receive them ; and to march the regulars of the garrison across the country to the rendezvous at the mouth of Portage river, preparatory to their embarkation with the remainder of the army. He had already reduced For Meigs to a small post, in the upper part of the old works, and quickly executed the orders for his removal. The remaining Kentuckians at that place under General Clay, had determined to accompany General Harrison, though their term of service had nearly expired ; and the General himself had particularly solicited the governor for leave to accompany him, in case his men were not permitted to go. He now embarked with his suite, and a number of his men, in the transport vessels which had come for the stores.

The mounted regiment under Colonel Richard M. Johnson, which was then at Fort Meigs, received orders from General Harrison to encamp under the guns of the fort and wait for further orders.

In concentrating the forces for the invasion of Canada, General Harrison had notified the Wyandots, Shawnee, and Seneca Indians near Upper Sandusky, that they would be received into his service ; and about two hundred and sixty had, in consequence, joined him at Fort Seneca and accompanied him to the point of embarkation, under their chiefs, Lewis, Blackhoof, and Snake.

On the 20th of September General Harrison embarked with the regular troops, Generals McArthur and Case, and arrived the same day at Middle Bass Island about ten miles from Portage Bay. On the two days following all the militia were transported to the island, where they remained until the 24th, in waiting for the arrival of the necessary stores and provisions for the forward movement.

On the 28th, eighteen days after Perry's victory, General Harrison disembarked with a force of nearly three thousand men at a short distance south of Malden, and made an immediate advance upon the works, but Proctor, brave, when defenseless prisoners were to be slain, robbed or ill treated, had fled without firing a gun. Before deserting the place, however, he burned the fortress, and public store houses. About sundown, of the same day, the army entered Malden in triumph, heralded by the national air of "Yankee Doodle." On the 29th, the army reached Sandwich, in pursuit of the retiring army.

When the army reached Sandwich, on the 29th, General Mc- Arthur was detached with his brigade to retake possession of Detroit, which for thirteen months had been in possession of the British and Indians. The latter did not leave it until startled by a few rounds from one of the vessels. On the same day, the General, seizing the first moment to abrogate the martial law in

On the first of October, Colonel Johnson, with his mounted regiment crossed the strait and rejoined the army. On the 2d, the pursuit was renewed. On a fork of the Thames, near Chatham, a large body of Indians were found prepared to dispute the passage of the stream. A few shot from Wood's artillery dispersed them. This was the place appointed by Proctor, in his conference with Tecums'eh, to make a stand. "Here," said the former, "they would either defeat General Harrison, or there lay their bones." Tecumseh approved of the position, and said, "when he should look at the two streams, they would remind him of the Wabash and Tippecanoe."

On the 5th, the American army overtook the retreating enemy. General Proctor had posted himself very strongly with the river Thames protecting one flank, and an almost impassible marsh on the other. The Indians occupied a very dense forest -just beyond the swamp. The position of the enemy, was well calculated to exercise the best military talent in the opposing general, and valor in his troops. As the wings could not be turned, General Harrison made his arrangements to concentrate his forces against the British line. The first division, under Major General Henry, was formed in three lines at one hundred yards from each other - the front line consisting of Freter's brigade, the second line of Chile's brigade, and the reserve of King's brigade. These lines were in front of the British troops and parallel to them. The second division, under Major General Desha, composed of Allen's and Caldwell's brigades was formed at right angles to the first division. Governor Shelby, as senior Major General of the Kentucky troops, was posted at the angle, formed between the first and second divisions. Colonel Simrall's regiment of light infantry was formed in reserve, obliquely to the left division and covering the rear of the front division; and after much reflection as to the disposition to be made of Colonel Johnson's mounted troops, they were directed as soon as the front line advanced, to take ground to the left, and, forming upon that flank, to endeavor to turn the right of the Indians. A detachment of regular troops of the 26th United States infantry, under Colonel Paul, occupied the space between the road and river for the purpose of seizing the enemy's ar- tillery; and simultaneously with this movement, forty friendly Indians were to pass under the bank to the rear of the British line, and by their fire induce the enemy to suppose their own Indians had turned against them. At the same time, General Wood had been instructed to make preparations for using the -enemy's artillery, and rake their own line by a flank fire. By delaying the attack by the second division, the Indians were held in a state of expectancy, in a position in which they were useless. It is readily seen, as the general anticipated, they awaited in their position for the advance of the second division, whilst the British left was contending with the American right. The Indians afterwards inquired why this division did not charge their line. This disposition of the troops was a combination of the modern tactics of Europe, with that prescribed by Washington and adopted by General Wayne. Johnson's corps consisted of nine hundred men, and the five brigades under Governor Shelby amounted to between fifteen and eighteen hundred, in all not exceeding two thousand seven hundred.

In the midst of these arrangements, and just as the order was about to be given to the front line to advance, at the head which General Harrison had placed himself with his staff, Major Wood approached him with the intelligence, that having reconnoitered the enemy he had ascertained the remarkable fact, the British lines, instead of the usual close order, had been drawn at open order. This departure from ordinary military principles in the formation of the British troops, at once induced General Harrison to adopt the novel expedient of charging the British lines with Johnson's mounted troops. This determination was communicated to Colonel Johnson, who was directed to draw up his regiment "in close column, with its right fifty yards from the road, (that it might be, in some measure, protected from the artillery,) its left upon the swamp, and to charge at full speed upon the enemy."

General Harrison in his official report wrote : "I determined to break the British line at once, by a charge of the mounted infantry. I placed myself at the head of the front line of infantry to direct the movements of the cavalry and to give the necessary support. The army had moved on in this order but a short distance, when the mounted men received the fire of the British line, and were ordered to charge. The horses in front of the column recoiled from the fire. Our column, at length getting into motion, broke through the enemy with irresistible force. In one minute the contest in front was over.

The result of this charge decided the battle. It uncovered the Indian left, and necessarily compelled a retreat, although the battle continued to rage severely to the left along the Indian line. Colonel Richard M. Johnson, by the extension of his line, had come in contact with the Indians, who had made some impression upon him and the left of Trotter's brigade. As soon as the charge upon the right had taken effect, General Harrison dispatched an order to Governor Shelby to bring up Simrall's regiment to reinforce the point pressed by the Indians, and then the general passed to the left to superintend the operations in that quarter. The governor, however, had anticipated the wishes of the general, and bringing up Simrall's regiment, met the general near the angle, and soon after the battle ceased. The commanding general then directed a portion of the right batallion, under Major Payne, to pursue General Proctor, who had fled under the escort of a troop of dragoons and some mounted Indians. The pursuit was so hot for six miles beyond the Moravian town, that the British general was compelled to abandon his sword, papers, and carriage, which, with sixty-three prisoners, several Indians killed, and an immense amount of stores, was the result of this daring enterprise by seven officers and three privates, who alone continued the pursuit after the first few miles. After the surrender of the English, General Harrison turned all his force upon the Indians. The savages fought persistently for a time from behind the trees. But at length, having lost their leader and a large number of their bravest warriors, they fled precipitately with yells into the thick woods, where no mounted foe could follow them. The defeat of the British army was e entire. Proctor lost, of his regular troops, sixty-nine in killed and wounded. Six hundred of his soldiers and officers were taken prisoners. The Indians left one hundred and fifty on the field of battle. Among the slain was their renowned chieftain, Tecumseh. The artillery which was taken from the British with Burgoyne at Saratoga, and which General Hull had surrendered at Detroit, was all captured.

answer. His ultra political bias, however, disqualified him for writing an impartial history of Richard XM. Johnson, for whom the honor was claimed. Atwater was an ardent admirer of General Harrison, and published his book as a sort of campaign document, at the time that General Harrison was a candidate for the presidency. His opposition to Colonel Johnson arose from the fact that Colonel Johnson was a zealous supporter of President Madison, who had incurred the displeasure of the Whig party.

The following biographical sketch, from Dr. Thomas' American Biographies, is probably as impartial, as any one that has ever been presented to the public :

"Richard Mentor Johnson, ninth Vice-President of the United States, was born near Louisville, Kentucky, in 1780. He studied at Transylvania University, and practiced law with success. Elected a representative to Congress in 1807, he zealously supported the administration of President Madison, and he was regularly re-elected for a period of twelve years. On the breaking out of the war of 1812, he raised and commanded a regiment of mounted riflemen on the Indian frontier. In 1813 he again took the field, and contributed greatly to Harrison's victory of the Thames, (October 5th, 1813). The Indian chief Tecumseh, who fell in this battle, is generally believed to have been killed by Colonel Johnson, who was dangerously wounded. In 1819 he was transferred to the United States Senate, of which he was a member for ten years. He was again returned to the House of Representatives in 1829, and was regularly re-elected till chosen Vice-President in 1837. He died in 1850.

"Tecumseh was found among the dead, at the point where Colonel Johnson had charged upon the enemy in person ; and it is generally believed, that this celebrated chief fell by the hand of the Colonel. It is certain that the latter killed the Indian with his pistol, who shot him through his hand, at the very spot where Tecumseh lay ; but another dead body lay at the same place, and Mr. King, a soldier in Captain Davidson's company, had the honor of killing one of them." battle ground, and the Moravian town about two miles above it, being employed in burying the dead and collecting the public property of the enemy, of which a considerable quantity was found in different places. In addition to the artillery already mentioned, and a great variety of military stores, there were at least five thousand stand of small arms captured by our troops and destroyed by the enemy on this expedition. A large proportion of them had been captured by the enemy at the surrender of Detroit, the massacre of the river Raisin, and the defeat of Colonel Dudley. Early on the 7th, General Harrison left the army under the immediate command of Governor Shelby and returned to Detroit ; and in the course of the same day the different corps commenced their return home, having embarked the greater part of the property they had captured in boats on the Thames, and set fire to the Moravian town, which was a very inconsiderable village, occupied chiefly by Delaware Indians, who professed to be of the Moravian sect of religion. On the 10th all the troops arrived with their prisoners at Sandwich. Upon their arrival the weather became so extremely cold and stormy that they were unable to commence their homeward march until the 12th.

In the meantime an armistice was concluded by General Harrison with the Indians. Before he marched in pursuit of Proctor, a deputation of Ottawas and Chippewas had sued for peace, which he had promised them on condition that they would bring in their families, and raise the tomahawk against the British. To these terms they readily acceded; and before his return the Miamis and Pottawatamies had solicited a cessation of hostilities from General McArthur on the same conditions. Even the ferocious and inveterate Maipock of the Potawatamies now tendered his submission, and an armistice was concluded with seven of the hostile tribes, which was to continue till the pleasure of the President was known. They agreed to deliver up all their prisoners at Fort Wayne, and to leave hostages as security for their good behavior. Separated from their allies, by the victories on the lake and the Thames, from whom they had received subsistence and council, they were now glad to accept American friendship on any terms, which would save them from extermination by famine and the sword.

bleaching in the village of Frenchtown. Governor Shelby directed the regiment of Colonel Simrall to collect and bury them; but they were so numerous and widely scattered, that he found it necessary to employ the brigade of General King in the same sad duty. On the 19th they arrived at the mouth of Portage river, and on the 20th a general order was issued, directing the return of the troops to Kentucky in detachments, passing by Franklinton (Columbus) where they were to deposit their arms. The governor concluded this order by observing:

"Although in the course of this campaign, you necessarily encountered many difficulties and privations, yet they were met with that cheerfulness and sustained with that manly fortitude which the occasion required. The uninterrupted good fortune which attended us, is a source of the most pleasant reflection, and can not fail to excite the warmest feelings of gratitude toward the Divine Being, who has been pleased in a peculiar manner to favor us, and to crown with success the exertions we have made for our country.

"In the course of the very active operations which we have performed, it is possible that expressions may have dropped, tending to irritate and wound the feelings of some who were engaged in them. The commanding general hopes, .that with the campaign will end every unpleasant sensation, which may have arisen from that source, and that we shall return home united as a band of brothers, with the sweet solace of having served our country from the purest motives, and with the best of our abilities."

In pursuance of this order the troops returned to Kentucky, and were discharged by Major Trigg at Limestone on the 4th of November. The mounted regiment under Colonel Johnson was detained a few days at Detroit, till the Indians had dispersed after the armistice, and then returned home without any remarkable occurrence.

The battle of the Thames practically closed the war in the North-West. General Harrison proceeded to Niagara in Perry's fleet and repaired to Newark, where he assumed command of the troops at that point. Later, he resigned his commission in the army and returned to his farm at North Bend, fifteen miles below Cincinnati.

the north-west. Governor Shelby declining on account of his official station, General Adair was selected to fill his place. A treaty was shortly afterwards concluded by them, with the Indians, at Greenville. After the peace in 1815, General Harrison was placed at the head of another commission, to treat with the Indians in regard to the restoration of the territory possessed by them before the war. The council was held at Detroit, and a .treaty made, which embraced nine important tribes.