ble to assist those who were fortunate enough to escape-these were very few-the great depth of snow prevented their getting far in advance of their pursuers. They were overtaken and captured.

Immediately after the affair at Frenchtown, General Harrison marched his army to the rapids of the Miami, where he constructed Fort Meigs. Here, in May, 1813, he was besieged by two thousand British and Indians, under Proctor and Tecumseh. The bombardment by land and water continued several days. The enemy first appeared on the 25th of April, and on the 9th of May were repulsed, routed, and forced to abandon the siege. Having ascertained that they had left the vicinity, Gen. Harrison left Fort Meigs under charge of Gen. Greene Clay, and marched to Lower Sandusky.

Remaining there a short time, he proceeded to Franklinton, where the soldiers were to assemble to prosecute the campaign, and retake the territory lost by Gen. Hull. Major Croghan, a young officer of the regular army, was left with one hundred and sixty men at Lower Sandusky, in garrison at Fort Stephenson. Here he was attacked by a large force under Proctor, and with but a single cannon, repulsed them completely. An account of this siege, though familiar to the reader, is worthy of repetition, if it be only to commemorate the invincible courage of the young commander and his youthful companions.

On Sunday evening, August 1st, 1813, six hundred British regulars, and from seven to eight hundred Indians, under the immediate command of Proctor, appeared before Fort Stephensen. He made such disposition of his troops as effectually to cut off the retreat of the garrison if they should attempt one. He then sent Col. Elliott and Major Chambers to demand the surrender of the Fort, with the stereotyped assertion that "he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood, which would be out of his power to effect if he should be compelled to take the fort by storm."

Croghan's reply was, that he was determined to defend the place to the last extremity, and that no force, however large, should induce him to surrender. This reply being communicated to Proctor, he commenced a brisk fire upon the fort from his gunboats in

the river, and a howitzer on shore. The fire was kept up through the night with but little effect. At an early hour the next morning, three six pounders, which, in the night, had been placed on shore within two hundred and fifty yards of the pickets, opened their fire, but with no great effect. From the manœuvres of Proctor, Croghan judged that he would attempt taking it by storming it at its northwest angle. With the best means in his power he strengthened the point of anticipated assault. He had divined the intentions of Proctor. Finding that his guns were ineffectual, Proctor formed his men into two columns. Lieut. Col. Short led the principal one, of one hundred and fifty men, and advanced to within twenty paces of the lines. The garrison opened a destructive fire upon them, which threw them into confusion. They were quickly rallied by their leader, and again advancing leaped into the ditch; just then the single six pounder of the fort was brought into requisition. A fire of grape was poured from it which killed or wounded nearly every man who had entered the ditch. The fall of the advance threw the balance of the column into such disorder and fear, that their officers were unable to rally them. They retired and sought safety in the adjoining woods. During the assault a fire was kept up against the fort, from five six pounders and a howitzer. The only loss sustained by the garrison was, one man killed, one wounded. The loss of the enemy

was at least one hundred and fifty. In the ditch were found killed, Lieut. Col. Short, one Lieutenant and fifty soldiers. Early on the morning of the 3d, the enemy sailed down the river, leaving behind them a boat containing clothing and military stores and several stands of arms.

The defence of this fort was a desperate undertaking. The adventurous bravery and daring resolution of the young commander, achieved what the wisdom of more experienced officers would have decided to be impossible. It was truly a forlorn hope for that brave band of youths in their illy protected fort, to expect even to survive the determined attack of their enemies. The pickets were eighteen feet high; the bayonets of the soldiers were nailed upon the side of the upper end, pointing downwards. The charge of the enemy evinced a disposition to conquer the post

at all hazards. In the course of twenty-four hours, they discharged five hundred shots, one hundred of which fell within the fort, hap→ pily doing no injury.

Among the incidents of the brilliant defence, showing the confidence of the enemy in obtaining an easy victory, was the insolence of the Indian allies previous to the charge. When Elliott went to demand the surrender of the fort, he was received outside the pickets by Ensign Shipp. While conversing, one of Elliott's Indians came up, and taking hold of Shipp attempted to take off his coat. Shipp drove him off with his sword. The Indian was certain there would be a capitulation, and pleased with Shipp's coat, intended to secure it for himself, in advance. The enemy intended to punish with outrageous barbarity, the refusal of Col. Croghan to surrender. The threat made by Elliott, that if they were compelled to take the fort, there would be a general massacre, would have been realized, had the event of the day been favorable to the besiegers. Col. Short, who led the attack, was not less bloody minded than Proctor and his agents. As he advanced to storm the fort he shouted to his men "to give the Americans no quarters."

Scarcely had he given utterence to the savage order, when he was laid prostrate by a shot from the fort. The man who would refuse quarters, found himself a supplicant for the kindness which he had resolved to deny to others. The men who were ordered to give "no quarters" were relieved and treated with the utmost kindness by the soldiers in the garrison; who while the fire was kept up against them, supplied the suffering and wounded enemy with water from their own canteens.

This victory, for such it may truly be termed, was hailed with joy and gratification. It was the turning point of the war in this section, and was the precursor of decisive and important success, which followed closely upon it, resulting in driving the enemy from his strong holds, and planting the American standard, both upon regained and conquered territory.

CHAPTER IV.

Reception of Col. Cass at Washington-His promotion-Confidence of the Government in him-Is appointed Brigadier General-He joins the army under Harrison-Harrison assigns to Gen. Cass the command of the army at its debarkation on the Canada shore-Proctor's flight-Movements of the army in Canada-Battle of the Thames-Gen. Cass, with Com. Perry, acting as aids to Gen. Harrison-Defeat and flight of Proctor-Is pursued by Gen. Čass-Harrison's testimony to the personal exertions and bravery of Gen. Cass-General Cass is left by Harrison in command at Detroit-Is appointed Governor of the Territory, by President Madison-The responsibilities of his Office-His qualifications-The attachment of the citizens of the Territory-His journey to Albany in midwinter.

COLONEL Cass, on repairing to Washington on his parole, was received by the administration with the favor due to his distinguished services, in Canada and Michigan. He held in Hull's army the rank of Colonel of militia. The administration conferred upon him a Colonelcy in the regular service. About the same time he was also elected by the volunteers of Ohio a Major General of militia. He could not, however, at that time, take an active part in the war. He was not enabled to do so until after the commencement of the year 1813. At the time of his appointment as Colonel, so great was the confidence of the government in his ability and judgment, that he was permitted to select his own officers for the regiment to be placed under his command. For this purpose, blank commissions were issued to him by the War Department. Col. Cass was exchanged and released from his parole in the middle of January, 1813. The rank of Brigadier General was con ferred upon him in March following. In April, the United States was divided into nine military districts, and General Cass, with Gens. Harrison and McArthur, was assigned to the command of the eighth division, composed of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Missouri.

In pursuance of his appointment, he left Washington for the west, to join in the patriotic movements there among the volunteers, and attach himself to the command of Major General Harris. An expedition against Malden was contemplated. General

son.

Harrison was at Senecatown, awaiting the arrival of the Erie flotilla under Perry, to carry his army to Canada. On the 20th of September, 1813, the army, two thousand regulars and three thousand militia, embarked. They reached the Canadian shore, a few miles below Malden, and landed on the 27th of the same month. To Gen. Cass was assigned, by Gen. Harrison, the charge of the army at their debarkation from the vessels. He formed the troops

into line and arranged them for their march upon Malden. The following is a part of the general order, addressed to the soldiers : "Kentuckians-remember the river Raisin; but remember it only when the victory is suspended. The revenge of a soldier cannot

be gratified upon a fallen enemy."

Within an hour after landing, the American force took possession of the town. Gen. Proctor, who was in command of the British army, retreated up the Detroit river, carrying with him every thing moveable. Before leaving, he burned the fort, navy-yard, barracks, and public store houses.

This sudden flight, betraying cowardice in Proctor, served, in some degree, to alienate his Indian allies. Tecumseh, and other warriors, were indignant that no resistance was to be attempted. In the name of all the chiefs and warriors, Tecumseh addressed a "talk" to Proctor, in which he used plain language to express his displeasure at the treatment they had received.

Gen. Harrison's army were entirely destitute of means of pursuing, expeditiously, the retreating enemy. Proctor had laid the country under contribution, and collected upwards of one thousand horses for the use of his flying army. The only horse in our army at the time, was a small French poney, devoted to the use of the venerable Gov. Shelby, of Kentucky, who was then sixty-five years of age, but as full of military ardor and laudable desire for revenge of the young officers around him. On the 29th September, Gen. Harrison moved up to Sandwich, opposite Detroit, crossed over and took possession of the town and territory. He was warmly welcomed by the poor and oppressed inhabitants, who had been so long subjected to the tyranny and robbery of their enemies. He issued his proclamation re-instating the civil government which had been interrupted by Hull's surrender. The officers who were, at the capitulation, exercising authority within the territory, were

as any