Tecumseh abandoned the siege at the end of thirteen days. The magnificent conduct of the garrison and the management of General Harrison reflected credit upon the Americans, and greatly added to the strength of their cause. Yet all through the siege General Harrison was anxious as to the results, and the people of Ohio, appreciating the situation, were making great efforts to aid him.

Governor Meigs called out fifteen thousand men, and led them in person. He had proceeded as far as Lower Sandusky, when he met General Harrison on his way to Cincinnati, who informed him of the raising of the siege of Fort Meigs and the retreat of Proctor and Tecumseh. General Harrison dismissed the militia in the following complimentary order, issued from his headquarters at Franklinton, May 16, 1813:

"The commanding general has observed, with the warmest gratitude, the astonishing exertions which have been made by His Excellency Governor Meigs, and the generals and other militia officers of this State, in collecting and equipping a body of troops for the relief of Camp Meigs. But the efforts of these men would have been unavailing had they not been seconded by the patriotic ardor of every description of citizens, which has induced them to leave their homes, at a most critical season of the year, regardless of every consideration but that of rendering service to their country. The General found the road from Lower Sandusky to this place literally covered with men, and among them

many who shared in the toils and dangers of the Revolutionary war, and on whom, of course, there existed no legal claims for military services. The General has every reason to believe that similar efforts have been made in Kentucky. He offers to all those brave men from both States his sincere acknowledgement, and is happy to inform them that there is at present no necessity for their longer continuance in the field. The enemy has fled with precipitation from Camp Meigs, and that fort is in much better situation to resist an attack than when the last siege was commenced.

"By order of the General,

"R. GRAHAM, Aid." Following the siege of Fort Meigs came the heroic defense of Fort Stephenson, which for gallantry and valor, has not been surpassed in the military history of Ohio. Fort Stephenson was located where Fremont now stands, in Sandusky county. It was garrisoned by one hundred and sixty men under command of Major George Croghan, a young Kentuckian just in his twenty-first year. The fort consisted of three block houses and a picketed inclosure ranging from fourteen to sixteen feet in height, outside was a ditch eight feet in width and depth. A six pound cannon composed their ordinance. At Seneca Town, nine miles from Fort Stephenson, General Harrison had his headquarters. He knew of a projected attack by the British and Indians upon Major Croghan; after a council of war with his officers, McArthur, Cass and others, it was decided to evacuate Fort Stephenson, and orders to that effect were forwarded to Major Croghan. The bearers of the official message

of the Commander-in-chief to the brave young officer did not arrive at Fort Stephenson until nearly noon the next day, when they found the situation such that withdrawal and retreat were impossible. The country surrounding the little garrison was swarming with the enemy. Major Croghan therefore sent word back to General Harrison that his order was received too late to be carried out, and added, “We have determined to maintain this place, and by heavens, we can." This reply greatly displeased General Harrison, and he ordered Major Croghan to appear before him to answer for his disobedience, and in the meantime placed another officer in command over Fort Stephenson. Croghan obeyed the summons of his superior officer, and demonstrated that his conduct was not disobedient. He satisfactorily proved to General Harrison that evacuation meant destruction to the brave band. General Harrison at once perceived the sound military discretion of Major Croghan, and sent him back to defend Fort Stephenson.

On the first of August, 1813, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy with General Proctor in command, appeared coming down the Sandusky River about a mile distant from Fort Stephenson. The force of the British amounted to twelve hundred men, of whom seven hundred were Indians. With these troops General Proctor began to besiege the garrison. As usual, he sent a flag of truce demanding of Major Croghan a surrender. The bearer of the message from the British threatened massacre by the Indians if the fort held out. The reply of the Americans was, (( When the fort shall be taken, there will be none to massacre." Major Croghan's comrades were all young

men like himself. They possessed unbounded patriotism and nerve, and like him, they were willing to die in defense of their flag rather than to surrender to a band of savages under an inhuman white leader, who had, up to this date, violated every rule of war and civilization in the treatment of his captives. The laconic and Spartan reply of Croghan maddened Proctor, and he opened fire from his five six pounders and howitzer. This firing was kept up all night, but withlittle effect on the stockade. Major Croghan responded from his single gun, rapidly moving it from one point to another in firing, so as to make it appear that he was not limited to a solitary ordinance.

The next morning, (August 2d) found the flag still floating proudly over the brave band within the fort. Again all through the day the roaring of British artillery was kept up. Towards the afternoon it became evident that Proctor was preparing for an attack. The objective point of his firing all day was the northwest angle of the fort. Major Croghan saw this, and with bags of sand and flour he strengthened this weakened point. He further concealed his gun at this assailable quarter and loaded it heavily with slugs and grape shop. Here it rested for a terrible utterance. Now the attack commenced. It was about five o'clock in the hot August afternoon when the two columns of the British, five hundred strong, advanced towards what they believed the weak and broken down portion of the stockade. While this party was marching towards the fort, another column of two hundred grenadiers started for the southern side of the stockade. This attack was feigned, and

the gunners in the fort kept their single cannon trained to the storming party. Tramp, tramp, came the advancing British through the dense smoke of their artillery, which was constantly playing upon the fort, and it was only when they were within twenty paces of the ditch that they were discovered by the besieged. They were met with a rainfall of rifle bullets from the cool aims of Croghan's Kentuckians. Nothing daunted, yet shocked, they leaped into the ditch and started to storm the stockade. Then the single cannon spoke with terrific effect. A shower of slugs and grape scattered death right and left, and when the smoke had risen, the commanding officer and twenty-five men were killed and twenty-six wounded. Again did the British rally, and again did Croghan's single gun send forth damage and death. Repulsed, stunned and panic-stricken, the enemy fled to the woods for shelter. At three o'clock on the morning of August 3d, Proctor sailed down the Sandusky, retreating in much confusion, and leaving his military stores to the Americans.

The defense of Fort Stephenson was accomplished with the loss of but one man and the wounding of seven. The British lost, in killed and wounded, about one hundred and fifty.

Major Croghan at once received the praise of the people of Ohio, as well as that of the whole country. The patriotic ladies of Chillicothe addressed him as follows:

"CHILLICOTHE, August 13, 1813.

'SIR:-In consequence of the gallant defense which, under Divine Providence, was effected by you and the troops under your command, of Fort Steph