esque and practical one, being situated upon the bank about forty feet above the bed of the Sandusky river.

Few readers are unacquainted with Major Michael G. Croghan's disobedience of General Harrison's orders in holding Fort Stephenson (Lower Sandusky), and in totally defeating the Indians and British, under General Proctor, on August 2, 1813. For some time prior to this, General Harrison made his headquarters at Fort Seneca, a half day's march up the river from Fort Stephenson. Having the opinion of a military council that Croghan's position was untenable against the approaching Indians and British, he dispatched Thomas Connor to that post with orders for its instant evacuation. Connor and his guides did not arrive there until July 28, when the commandant returned an answer to the general, that orders came too late and the fort would be defended to the last. On July 30, Colonel Ball and Major Wells, in charge of two cavalry companies, were sent forward to arrest Croghan and place Wells there to carry out the evacuation. Croghan was brought before General Harrison, explained his plans, was restored to his command, and on returning to Fort Stephenson completed his preparations and disposed his 160 men to receive the British and Indians. This reception was held August 2, 1813, a most disastrous one for the English and their allies. On August 3rd, Harrison's force evacuated Fort Seneca to pursue the allies.

The following interesting sketch was written by the late Hon. W. W. Armstrong, who was for many years an honored citizen of Tiffin. Major Armstrong writes that one of the memorable days of our country's history, and one of special local interest "is the second of August. On that day, in 1813, a gallant young American officer, only twenty-one years of age, Major George Croghan, with 160 men, repulsed an attack of British and their Indian allies, on Fort Stephenson.

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"The fort was but a large stockade, with three block houses at the angles and a gate opening toward the Sandusky river. ditch eight feet wide and deep surrounded the fort. Croghan's only cannon was an iron six-pounder, but his men were hardy riflemen, whose aim was unerring and whose bravery was tried. and proven.

"The British embarked from Fort Meigs in their gunboats for Sandusky bay, and the news of the expedition reached General Harrison at Fort Seneca, and, believing Fort Stephenson untenable against so strong an attacking party, he sent messengers to Croghan, commanding him to leave the fort. These messengers reached Fort Stephenson at 11 o'clock, the next morning. The British were already in sight and the forest was swarming with savages.

"Croghan sent word back to Harrison that his order had come

too late, concluding with: 'We have determined to maintain this. place, and, by heaven, we can.' The British, after landing, sent a flag of truce demanding a surrender. Accompanying the flag were Colonel Elliott, Captain Chambers and Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers. Lieutenant Shipp met the party and was told that if the Americans did not surrender, the savages would not be restrained from massacreing if the fort was taken.

"Shipp replied: 'When the fort shall be taken, there will be none to massacre.'

"While returning to the fort, an Indian tried to snatch Shipp's sword. Croghan, standing on one of the block houses that bastioned the place shouted: 'Shipp, come in, and we'll blow them all to h-l.'

"The British gunboats and howitzers then opened fire. Croghan shifted his one cannon to various points of the block house to create the impression that the fort's ordnance was heavy. He finally moved the six-pounder to the southwest angle, marked by the embrasure, and loaded it with a double charge of slugs and grape shot.

"At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the British, led by Colonel Short and Lieutenant Gordon, began the assault. They were within twenty-five or thirty paces of the fort, when Major Croghan sprung his trap on the men who were already leaping into the ditch. He unmasked his six-pounder, the discharge of which left the ditch a shambles. The slaughter was awful. Croghan and his heroes loaded and fired their one piece again and again into the densely packed ranks of assailants.

"Colonel Short shouted: 'Cut away the pickets, my brave lads, and give the d-n Yankees no quarter.' The next instant he fell dead. The British faltered and then fled.

"Major Croghan was honored by an act of congress, which also presented him with a sword, as did the women of Chillicothe, Ohio. In the brief half-hour's battle he achieved an immortality of fame, and in Ohio he will always be remembered as one of the bravest of the brave pioneer soldiers.

"Fremont was formerly called Lower Sandusky. On the site of the old fort a public library now stands, and near it may be seen 'Old Bess, the gun with which Major Croghan did such gallant service in the defense of Fort Stephenson."

The pioneers of this country suffered many privations and hardships. The aborigines were a fierce, warlike and treacherous people. They did not take kindly to European civilization and they opposed the "westward progress" on every hand. Hundreds of explorers and settlers were murdered or massacred in cold blood. To contend against such treacherous foes some kind of protection was demanded. The protections most commonly used were en

closures of heavy logs which were known as forts or block houses. These forts were the places where the early settlers gathered for protection. Out from their sheltering walls they would go to perform their daily toil of winning from the wilderness their earthly sustenance and marking the elements of nature by the civilizing influences of human agency.

We have in Seneca county the remains of several of these evidences of pioneer life. One of these we have in the present limits of Tiffin. In the early development of the northwestern part of Ohio it was known as Fort Ball. The value and importance of this old fort can only be realized when we see the prosperity of the country and the city which has been the immediate outgrowth of this early place of protection.

This fort was established in 1813 at the suggestion of General Harrison to the commander of the cavalry detachment which formed part of Harrison's army. This dashing cavalry officer selected as the place for his protection the west side of the Sandusky river in the present limits of the city of Tiffin. The fort was named after the man who founded it-Colonel Ball. As strategic points the forts along the Sandusky played a very important part in the war for national rights. Here was the impregnable wall that the British and Indians could not reduce, thus saving the United States from all dangers from the northwest. The success in this section virtually determined the outcome of the war.

The city and its citizens have seen fit to erect a monument to remind the oncoming generations of this historic place. It also shows the appreciation that we still have for the men who braved the hardships of fierce northern winters and faced the perils of savage warfare that this country might become great and glorious in all phases of civilization. It is fitting that we should call the attention of our visitors-the men who have carried the ensign of the Republic to victory on so many battle fields to this place of historic interest in the city they are visiting.

We point with pride to the noble character of the men who first founded a settlement in this county. Erastus Bowe, as he entered Fort Ball in 1817, little thought of the vast region that he was opening up to settlement. Bowe was only the first of the many, equally as courageous, who soon followed his example and founded a village that was destined to become a beautiful city. These men have a place in our history that cannot be filled by any others. They claim a share in the honor that we confer upon the heroes of America. But these are not the only persons who have a claim upon us. As we honor and respect these men so the whole nation honors and respects the men who were willing to give their lives for justice and for liberty-the Grand Army of the Republic.

This military post was established prior to the construction of

Fort Seneca, lower down. It appears that General Harrison sent forward Colonel Ball's cavalry command to erect quarters for the troops at some favorable spot on the banks of the Sandusky, where they could rest and recruit while acting as a corps of observation. Colonel Ball was led to the place by some friendly Indians, and was not disappointed when he beheld the locality. Near the river bank a stream of crystal water poured forth from its spring, and here the colonel determined to erect the stockade. The command worked steadily, and in a few days a camp (with drill ground and houses) was ready for occupation. The troops named the place Fort Ball, in honor of their commander. After the completion of Fort Seneca a portion of Harrison's infantry replaced the cavalry garrison of Fort Ball, and made an entrenched camp. During the month of July several soldiers died at Fort Ball, and even on the morning of July 31, 1813, when the garrison moved to Camp Seneca, a few died before the fort was lost sight of.

John Searles, who served in the war of 1812, moved with his family to Fort Ball in 1820, and made his home in one of the blockhouses of the old fort. Paul D. Butler and David Risdon, who boarded with him, lived in the same house during the building of Spencer's saw mill, when Henri or Levi Creesy, the blacksmith, and David Smith, the fiddler, had still another room in this quaint old hotel. At that time the three block houses were intact, all facing the river, with a half-acre parade ground extending north. This ground was enclosed by posts twelve inches thick, fixed firmly in the earth and fastened near the top with old bayonets, and all surrounded by a deep ditch. The roofs of the houses were simply clapboards. This post was occupied at intervals until peace was restored, when it was allowed to go the way of all frontier buildings. Where the old fort stood are the beautiful homes of a prosperous city's people, and close by stands a magnificent pile of granite to link together the glories and sorrows of 1813 and 1861-65.

CHAPTER XI

CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS

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SENECA SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1861-5-SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT DEDICATED HISTORY OF THE GIBSON MONUMENT," BY A. J. BAUGHMAN "OUR UNKNOWN HEROES," BY REV. E. J. CRAFT-SENECA COUNTY SOLDIERS IN THE "SULTANA" DISASTER TRUMAN SMITH'S EXPERIENCES-PURSUED BY CAVALRYCAPTURED DRIVEN TO CAHABA (MISS.) PRISON-WOULD NOT BETRAY THE BOYS-SWAM TO THE OLD FLAG-NEWS OF LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION-THE SULTANA HORROR, BY PARTICIPANT.

This chapter which deals with the Civil war, as it relates specially to the soldiers who went from Seneca county, goes into the personnel of our boys in blue. As far as possible, the individual enlistments are recorded, and an account is incorporated of the building of two note-worthy memorial monuments-one of a general character and the other erected to the splendid name of General Gibson. Mention is made of those soldiers who escaped the fatalities of the war, only to go down to their death with the "Sultana;" also of the heroes, unknown and unsung, but doubtless not unwept. Neither are the ill-starred victims of southern prisons forgotten; in short, an effort has been made to fill out the details of the general picture, which has already been given, of the part taken by the county in the suppression of the War of the Rebellion,

The first battle of the Civil war was fought at Philippi, West Virginia, June 3, 1861, and in which a number of Seneca county boys participated. In that engagement the Union troops, in command of Colonel Kelley, defeated the rebels under General Potterfield, killing fifteen Confederates. While this battle was comparatively small in the number of men engaged, it was of great importance in shaping the events which followed, and its victory was farreaching in its results, for its influence was as inspiring to the north as it was discouraging to the south.

Philippi is an historical name. But this is not the Philippi where Brutus fell, but the Philippi where the Union troops won the

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