the early part of the year 1813, great activity had been manifested in the north-west, although no material results had been attained. The spirit 1813. of the people was roused to a pitch of enthusiasm, and there was an earnest determination to prosecute hostilities with vigor; but, as we have stated, (p. 185,) without the command of the lake, offensive operations could not be carried on to any great advantage. The utmost exertions, accordingly, were made by Perry to complete his naval armament, and to test the ability of our gallant sailors in a contest with the enemy on Lake Erie. with the usual threats of butchery and massacre, if the garrison should hold out; but Croghan, who found that all his companions, full of zeal, like himself, would support him to the last, re turned a spirited answer; to the effect that, "when the fort should be taken, there would be none left to massacre; as it would not be given up while a man was able to fight." A brisk firing was kept up by the enemy during the night; and at an early hour next morning, three sixpounders which had been planted during the night, within two hundred and fifty yards of the pickets, began to play upon the fort, but with little effect. About four in the afternoon, all the enemy's guns were concentrated against the northwestern angle of the fort, for the purpose of making a breach. To counteract the effect of their fire, Major Croghan caused that point to be strengthened by means of bags of flour, sand, and other materials, in such a manner that the picketing sustained little or no injury. But the British, supposing that their fire had sufficiently shattered the pickets, advanced, to the number of five hundred, to storm the place, at the same time 1813. Proctor, aware of the spirit and progress of the Americans, which threatened the supremacy which the enemy had acquired and maintained thus far on the lake, determined to strike a blow at Harrison's camp at the Rapids, for the purpose of interrupting his communication with the lake. Unable to induce Clay to quit his lines and risk an engagement, Proctor, on the 1st of August, invested Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky, on the Sandusky River, with five hundred regulars and militia, and above three thousand Indians. Major Croghan, who commanded there, had no more than one gun (a six-making two feints on different points. pounder) and a hundred and sixty men, and those young and inexperienced. Ingersoll justifiably insists upon the weakness of the place, its bad position, and the perplexing orders left with its commander, whom Harrison had instructed to fire the fort and retreat, (if he could,) should the enemy approach in force, and with artillery. Proctor demanded a surrender, accompanied The column which advanced against the northwestern angle, was so completely enveloped in smoke, as not to be discovered until it had approached within eighteen or twenty paces of the lines, but the men being all at their posts, and ready to receive it, commenced so heavy and galling a fire as to throw the column into confusion; but being quickly rallied, Colonel Short, the Ca. X.] CROGHAN'S DEFENCE OF FORT STEPHENSON. commander, exclaimed, "come on, my brave fellows, give the Yankee rascals no quarter!" and immediately leapt into the ditch, followed by his troops; as soon as the ditch was entirely filled by the assailants, Major Croghan ordered his one six-pounder, which had been masked in the block house, to be fired. It had been loaded with a double charge of musket balls and slugs. This piece completely raked the ditch from end to end. The first fire levelled the one half in death, Colonel Short being of the number; the second and third either killed or wounded every one except eleven, who were covered by the dead bodies. At the same time, the fire of the small arms was so incessant and destructive, that it was in vain the British officers exerted themselves to lead on the balance of the column; it retired in disorder under a shower of shot, and sought safety in an adjoining wood. The loss of the enemy in killed was about one hundred and fifty, besides a considerable number of their Indian allies. The Americans had but one killed, and seven slightly wounded. Early in the morning of the 3d of August, the enemy retreated down the river, after having abandoned considerable baggage and military stores. The garrison was composed of regulars, all Kentuckians; a finer company of men was not to be found in the United States. They were as humane as they were courageous. This was proved by their unceasing attention to the wounded enemy after their discomfiture; for during the night they kindly received into the fort, through the fatal port hole of the block house, all those 213 who were able to crawl to it; to those unable to move, they threw canteens filled with water. They even parted with their clothes to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded. Soon after this gallant exploit, which called forth the admiration of the whole country, Tecumseh, having raised the siege of Fort Meigs, followed Proctor to Detroit; and all hope was given up by the enemy of reducing the American forts, until they could gain entire ascendancy on the lake. 1813. Commodore Perry, in spite of all obstacles and hindrances, pushed forward his preparations, and by the 2d of August, the fleet was equipped; but some time was lost in getting several of the vessels over the bar at the mouth of the harbor of Erie. On the 4th, he sailed in quest of the enemy; but not meeting him, he returned on the 8th. After receiving a reinforcement of sailors brought by Captain Elliot, he again sailed on the 12th, and on the 15th anchored in the Bay of Sandusky. Here he took in about twenty volunteer marines, and again went in search of the enemy; and after cruising off Malden, retired to Put-in Bay, a distance of thirty miles. His fleet consisted of the brig Lawrence, his flag vessel, of twenty guns; the Niagara, Captain Elliot, of twenty; the Caledonian, Lieutenant Turner, of three; the schooner Ariel, of four; the Scorpion, of two; the Somers, of two guns and two swivels; the sloop Trippe, and schooners Tigress and Porcupine, of one gun each; amounting in all to nine vessels, fifty-four guns, and two swivels. Commodore Barclay, who had heretofore avoided the encounter, soon after deemed it prudent to meet Perry's fleet and test the question of superiority on this inland sea. Accordingly, very early on the morning of the 10th of September, he bore down upon Perry's squadron; which immediately got under weigh, and stood out to meet him. The Americans had three vessels more than the British; but this advantage was fully counterbalanced by the size, and the number of guns, of those of the enemy. The fleet of the latter consisted of the Detroit, Commodore Barclay, of nineteen guns and two howitzers; the Queen Charlotte, Captain Finnis, of seventeen guns; the schooner Lady Prevost, Lieutenant Buchan, of thirteen guns and two howitzers; the brig Hunter, of ten guns; the sloop Little Belt, of three guns; and the schooner Chippewa, of one gun and two swivels; in all, six vessels, sixty-three guns, four howitzers and two swivels. About ten o'clock, a change in the wind to the southeast, gave the American squadron the weathergage. Commodore Perry then hoisted his union jack, having for a motto, the dying words of the lamented Lawrence, "DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP!" It was received with repeated cheerings by the officers and crews. And now having formed his line he bore for the enemy; who likewise cleared for action and hauled up his courses. At a quarter before twelve, the enemy's flag ship, and the Queen Char enough for her guns, which were carronades, to return it. She continued to bear up, making signals for the other vessels to hasten to her support; and at five minutes before twelve, brought her guns to bear upon the enemy. The tremendous fire to which Perry was exposed, soon rendered the Lawrence unmanageable; she was reduced almost to a wreck; nearly the whole of her crew was either killed or wounded; and the commodore saw that he must make a bold movement or lose the battle. With a courage and spirit which deserved success, Perry determined to abandon the Lawrence, and hoist his flag on board the Niagara, which was then in the thickest of the fight. Leav ing Lieutenant Yarnall in the Lawrence, he hauled down his inspiriting colors, and taking them under his arm, gave orders to be put on board the ship where Elliot was in command. In quit ting the Lawrence he gave his pilot choice either to remain on board, or to accompany him; the faithful fellow told him "he'd stick by him to the last," and jumped into the boat. Perry went off from the ship in his usual gallant manner, standing up in the stern of the boat, until absolutely pulled down among the crew. Broadsides were levelled at him, and small arms discharged by the enemy, two of whose vessels were within musket shot, and a third one nearer. His brave shipmates who remained behind, stood watching him, in breathless anxiety; the balls struck around him and flew over his head in every direction; but the same Providence that watched over the he CH. X.] PERRY'S GREAT VICTORY. roic commodore throughout this desperate battle, conducted him safely through a shower of shot, and they beheld with exultation his flag hoisted at the mast head of the Niagara. No sooner was he on board, than Captain Elliot volunteered to put off in a boat, and bring into action the schooners which had been kept astern by the lightness of the wind; the gallant offer was accepted, and Elliot left the Niagara to put it in execution. About this time Perry saw, with great regret, the flag of the Lawrence come down. The event was unavoidable; she had sustained the whole fury of the enemy, and was rendered incapable of defence; any further show of resistance would but have been most uselessly and cruelly to have provoked carnage among the relics of her brave and mangled crew. The enemy, however, were not able to take possession of her, and subsequent circumstances enabled her again to hoist her flag. Commodore Perry now made signal for close action, and the small vessels got out their sweeps and made all sail. Finding that the Niagara was but little injured, he determined, if possible, to break the enemy's line. He accordingly bore up and passed ahead of the two ships and brig, giving them a raking fire from his starboard guns, and also to a large schooner and sloop from his larboard side, at half pistol shot. Having passed the whole squadron, he luffed up and laid his ship alongside the British commodore. The smaller vessels, under the direction of Captain Elliot, having, in the mean time, got within grape and canister dis 1813. 215 tance, and keeping up a well-directed fire, the whole of the enemy struck, ex cepting the Little Belt and Chippewa, which attempted to escape, but were pursued by two gunboats and taken. The engagement lasted three hours, and never was a victory more decisive and complete. The carnage was fearful; the Americans having lost twentyseven killed, and ninety-six wounded; and the British forty-one killed, and ninety-four wounded; Commodore Barclay was among the latter. Perry, who was unhurt, immediately sent a dispatch to General Harrison, which, for its brevity and point, is well worth quoting :— Directly after, he forwarded an equally terse but expressive communication to the secretary of the navy, saying, "It has pleased the Almighty States a signal victory over their eneto give to the arms of the United mies on this lake." The next day, he sent a more full account of the battle, in which he spoke, in fitting terms, of the bravery of Captain Elliot, and of the officers and men in general.* Both * A good deal of very unpleasant discussion and ill humor was subsequently manifested on the question as to the relative merits of Perry and Elliot in obtaining this famous victory. Sides were taken by the partisans Perry and Elliot subsequently received gold medals from Congress, and suitable rewards were bestowed upon the other brave defenders of their country's rights and honor. It would be unjust to Perry not to make mention of the fact, that his treatment of the British prisoners was courteous and considerate to the highest degree; and the English commander is said to have declared, that "the conduct of Commodore Perry towards the captain, officers, and men, was sufficient, of itself, to immortalize him." The results of this victory were instantaneous and of the first conseIt had been won by a squad quence. raue, by WHICH IT 1 Indians were supplied with provisions, and to land any force they chose in his rear, and entirely cut him off from Kingston and York. Abandoning, therefore, and destroying all his fortified posts beyond the Grand River, Proctor commenced a retreat at once, accompanied by Tecumseh and his Indians, Tecumseh not deserting his allies, of the two commanders; Perry spoke disparagingly of Elliot; Elliot recriminated, and in 1818, challenged Perry, who refused to meet him; etc. The reader who desires to look into the details, must consult the respective lives of Perry and of Elliot, with which may be compared the full and accurate narration, in Cooper's "Naval History," vol. ii., pp. 189–199. now that victory had turned against them; although almost all the other Indians abruptly left the camp. As soon as Proctor's attempt upon Sandusky was known, Governor Meigs of Ohio, ordered a levy in mass of the whole militia of the state; so that when Perry's victory had given to the United States the command of Lake Erie, there was an army ready to turn the advantage thus acquired to the best account. Part of the prizes and part of his squadron Perry now employed as transports, and twelve hundred of Harrison's troops were without delay carried over to Canada, where, on the 23d of September, they took possession of Malden, which had been deserted and dismantled. Detroit was next recovered, on the 27th; and there Colonel Johnson's regiment of mounted rifles joined the expedition, which was the more welcome, because Proctor had driven off all the horses of the country, to prevent pursuit. 1813. Two days sufficed for the restoration of the state authorities and government at the capital of Michigan, and then the Americans hastened to follow the trail of their flying enemy. Perry's squadron now attended the march of the army with supplies, and all needful aid for its rapid advance, while the British, almost starving, toiled through wretched roads and dreary forests. On the 4th of October, Harrison came up with the British rear, and succeeded in capturing nearly all their stores. Unable to retreat farther in any thing like military array, Proctor had now no alternative but to endeavor to check the Ameri cans by a general battle; and for this |