preserve order and quiet among the inhabitants. The existing laws of the province, so far as they regard the public peace, and not interfering with the regulations of the army, will be considered in force until other measures are taken. The magistrates are particularly required to give information at head-quarters, of all violences committed by American troops on citizens, unless they are authorized by a written order. The general enjoins the inhabitants to submit to their magistrates, and those who refuse obedience must be reported to head-quarters. The brigadier-general invites all the inhabitants who are disposed to be peaceable, orderly, and neutral, to return to their homes and their business. He cannot promise complete security, but he engages, as far as his power extends, to protect the innocent, the unfortunate, and the distressed. GEO. M'CLURE, Commanding Niagara Frontier.

Head-Quarters, Fort George, October 16, 1813.

SIEGE OF LOWER SANDUSKY.

Copy of a Letter from Major-General Harrison to the Secretary of War, dated

Sir,

Head-Quarters, Seneca Town, August 4, 1813. In my letter of the 1st instant, I did myself the honour to inform you that one of my scouting parties had just returned from the lake shore, and had discovered, the day before, the enemy in force near the mouth of the Sandusky bay. The party had not passed Lower Sandusky two hours, before the advance, consisting of Indians, appeared before the fort, and in half an hour after a large detachment of British troops; and in the course of the night they commenced a cannonading against the fort with three six-pounders and two howitzers; the latter from gun-boats. The firing was partially answered by major Croghan, having a six-pounder, the only piece of artillery.

The fire of the enemy was continued at intervals, during the second instant, until about half after five, P. M., when, finding that their cannon made little impression upon the works, and having discovered my position here, and apprehending an attack, an attempt was made to carry the place by storm. Their troops were formed in two columns; lieutenant-colonel Short headed the principal one, composed of the light and battalion companies of the 41st regiment.

This gallant officer conducted his men to the brink of the ditch, under the most 'galling and destructive fire from the garrison, and leaping into it was followed by a considerable part of his own and the light company; at this moment a masked port hole was suddenly opened, and a six-pounder with a half load of powder and a double charge of leaden slugs, at the distance of 30 feet, poured destruction upon them, and killed or wounded nearly every man who had entered the ditch. In vain did the British officers exert themselves to lead on the balance of the column; it retired in disorder under a shower of shot from the fort, and sought safety in the adjoining woods. The other column headed by the grenadiers had also retired, after having suffered from the muskets of our men, to an adjacent ravine. In the course of the night, the enemy, with the aid of their Indians, drew off the greater part of the wounded and dead, and embarking them in boats descended the river with the utmost precipitation. In the course of the 2d instant, having heard the cannonading, I made several attempts to ascertain the force and situation of the enemy; our scouts were unable to get near the fort, from the Indians which surrounded it. Finding, however, that the enemy had only light artillery, and being well convinced that it could make little impression upon the works, and that any attempt to storm it would be resisted with effect, I waited for the arrival of 250 mounted volunteers, which on the evening before had left Upper Sandusky. But as soon as I was informed that the enemy were retreating, I set out with the dragoons to endeavour to overtake them, leaving generals M'Arthur and Cass to follow with all the infantry (about 700) that could be spared from the protection of the stores and sick at this place. I found it impossible to come up with them. Upon my arrival at Sandusky, I was informed by the prisoners that the enemy's forces consisted of 490 regular troops, and 500 of Dixon's Indians, commanded by general Proctor in person, and that Tecumseh, with about 2000 warriors, was somewhere in the swamps, between this and Fort Meigs, expecting my advancing, or that of a convoy of pro

visions.

As there was no prospect of doing any thing in front, and being apprehensive that Tecumseh might destroy the stores and small detachments in my rear, I sent orders to general Cass, who commanded the reserve, to fall back to this place, and to general M'Arthur with the front line to follow and support him. I remained at Sandusky until the parties that were sent out in every direction returned-not an enemy was to be seen.

I am sorry that I cannot transmit you major Croghan's official report. He was to have sent it to me this morning, but I have just heard that he was so much exhausted by 36 hours of continued exertion, as to be unable to make it. It will not be amongst the least of general Proctor's mortifications to find that he has been baffled by a youth who has just passed his twenty-first year. He is, however, a hero worthy of his gallant uncle (general George R. Clark).

Captain Hunter, of the 17th regiment, the second in command, conducted himself with great propriety; and never were a set of finer young fellows than the subalterns, viz. lieutenants Johnson and Baylor, of the 17th, Anthony of the 34th, Meeks of the 7th, and ensigns Shipp and Duncan of the 17th.

་

The following account of the unworthy artifice and conduct of the enemy will excite your indignation. Major Chambers was sent by general Proctor, accompanied by colonel Elliott, to demand the surrender of the fort. They were met by ensign Shipp. The major observed, that general Proctor had a number of cannon, a large body of regular troops, and so many Indians whom it was impossible to controul; and if the fort was taken, as it must be, the whole of the garrison would be massacred. Mr. Shipp answered, that it was the determination of major Croghan, his officers and men, to defend the garrison or be buried in it; and that they might do their best. Colonel Elliott then addressed Mr. Shipp, and said, "you are a fine young man; I pity your situation; for God's sake surrender, and prevent the dreadful slaughter that must follow resistance." Shipp turned from him with indignation, and was immediately taken hold of by an Indian, who attempted to wrest his sword from him. Elliott pretended to exert himself to release him, and expressed great anxiety to get him safe in the fort.

I have the honour to enclose you a copy of the first note received from major Croghan. It was written before day; and it has since been ascertained, that of the enemy there remained in the ditch one lieutenant-colonel, one lieutenant, and 25 privates: the number of prisoners, one serjeant and 25 privates; 14 of them badly wounded: every care has been taken of the latter, and the officers buried with the honours due to their rank and bravery. All the dead that were not in the ditch, were taken off in the night by the Indians. It is impossible, from the circumstances of the attack, that they should have lost less than 100., Some of the prisoners think that it amounted to 200. A young gentlemen, a private in

VOL. II.

3 F

the Petersburg volunteers, of the name of Brown, assisted by five or six of that company, and of the Pittsburg blues, who were accidentally in the fort, managed the six-pounder which produced such destruction in the ranks of the enemy. I have the honour to be, &c.

WM. HENRY HARRISON. N. B. Of our few wounded men there is but one that will not be well in less than six days.

Dear sir,

Major Croghan's Note.
(Copy.)

Lower Sandusky, August 3, 1813. The enemy made an attempt to storm us last evening, but was repulsed with the loss of at least 100 killed, wounded, and prisoners. One lieutenant-colonel (lieutenant-colonel Short), a major, and a lieutenant, with about 40 privates, are dead in our ditch. I have lost but one in killed, and but few wounded. Further statements will be made you by the bearer.

GEO. CROGHAN, Major, Commanding Fort Sandusky. N. B. Since writing the above, two soldiers of the 41st regiment have got in, who state that the enemy have retreated. In fact, one of their gun boats is within 300 yards of our works, said to be loaded with camp equipage, &c. which they in their hurry have left.

GEO. CROGHAN.

From General Harrison to the Secretary of War.

Head-Quarters, Seneca Town, 5th August, 1813-6 o'clock, A. M. I have the honour to enclose you major Croghan's report of the attack upon his fort, which has this moment come to hand. Fortunately the mail has not closed.

With great respect I have the honour to be, sir, your humble servant,

Dear sir,

WM. HENRY HARRISON.

(Copy.)

Lower Sandusky, August 5, 1813. I have the honour to inform you, that the combined forces of the enemy, amounting to at least 500 regulars and 700 or 800 Indians, under the immediate command of general Proctor, made its appearance before this place, early on Sunday evening last, and so soon as the general had

made such disposition of his troops as would cut off my retreat, should I be disposed to make one, he sent colonel Elliott, accompanied by major Chambers, with a flag, to demand the surrender of the fort, as he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood, which he should probably not have in his power to do, should he be reduced to the necessity of taking the place by storm. My answer to the summons was, that I was determined to defend the place to the last extremity, and that no force, however large, should induce me to surrender it. So soon as the flag had returned, a brisk fire was opened upon us from the gun-boats in the river, and from a 51 inch howitzer on shore, which was kept up with little intermission throughout the night. At an early hour the next morning, three sixes (which had been placed during the night within 250 yards of the pickets) began to play upon us with little effect. About four o'clock, P. M., discovering that the fire from all his guns was concentrated against the northwestern angle of the fort, I became confident that his object was to make a breach, and attempt to storm the works at that point, I therefore ordered out as many men as could be employed for the purpose of strengthening that part, which was so effectually secured by means of bags of flour, sand, &c. that the picketing suffered little or no injury; notwithstanding which the enemy, about 500, having formed in close column, advanced to assault our works at the expected point, at the same time making two feints on the front of captain Hunter's lines. The column which advanced against the northwestern angle, consisting of about 350 men, was so completely enveloped in smoke, as not to be discovered until it had approached within 18 or 20 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 a little into confusion; being quickly rallied, it advanced to the outer works, and began to leap into the ditch. Just at that moment a fire of grape was opened from our six-pounder (which had been previously arranged so as to rake in that direction), which, together with the musketry, threw them into such confusion that they were compelled to retire precipitately to the woods.

During the assault, which lasted about half an hour, an incessant fire was kept up by the enemy's artillery (which consisted of five sixes and a howitzer), but without effect. My whole loss during the siege, was one killed and seven wounded, slightly. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners, must exceed 150: one lieutenant-colonel, a lieutenant,