Last Major Action in Ohio-- Part 2: Confrontation at Fort Stephenson

British plans called for a demonstration toward Fort Seneca, which they expected William Harrison would reinforce with troops from heavily defended Fort Meigs.  Tecumseh and his warriors had been left by Fort Meigs and as soon as the Americans left the fort to defend Fort Seneca, they were to attack.

The British were not expecting any problems at Fort Stephenson as related in the last post.  However, they hadn't figured on the fort's commander, 21-year-old Major George Croghan.

British ships came up the Sanduskey River from Sanduskey Bay in Lake Erie and their scouts reported that Fort Stephenson was just ahead and was occupied.  British General Proctor hadn't expected Harrison to defend such a weak post and determined to capture it and its garrison,  (Harrison had actually ordered Croghan to abandon the fort,)

When Croghan received the word that the British were on their way, he immediately alerted Harrison of the situation.  Harrison ordered him to abandon Fort Stephenson (where present-day Fremont is located) and burn it.  However, before those orders could arrive, Croghan had decided to defend his fort.  He ignored Harrison's orders.

He had but one cannon operating.  The British arrived and took up position to the north of the fort.  They sent messengers under a flag of truce to demand he surrender his fort.

What did Major Croghan tell the British?

Here's Where It Gets Interesting.  --Brock-Perry

Last Major Action in Ohio (1813): Going Up the Sanduskey River and George Croghan at Fort Stephenson

From the Touring Ohio site.

The British failed to take Fort Meigs in a second attack and then turned their attention to the Sanduskey River as a way to get around Fort Meigs.  They came up the river from where Port Clinton is located today.

They were hoping to draw out the Fort Meigs defenders and to have them make a stand, not at Fort Stephenson, but Fort Seneca.

Fort Stephenson (where Fremont, Ohio, is located today) was the first of three forts Harrison had built along the Sanduskey River.  Then next one upriver was Fort Seneca and then there was smaller one, essentially a depot) called Fort Ball (present-day Tiffin, Ohio).

The British knew that Fort Stephenson was a poorly constructed outpost and only mounted one or two cannons so they figured it wouldn't be too difficult of an obstacle.  However, what they hadn't counted on was that the fort was commanded by 21-year-old Major George Croghan.

Meet George.  --Brock-Perry

Harrison Takes Charge in Ohio-- Part 4: Heading for the Sanduskey

Once the British had left, William Henry Harrison sentn his forces east to the Sanduskey River to construct a series of forts along it.   Like the Maumee River, British ships could go up it from Lake Erie until they reached a distance where they could go no further.

It was here that Harrrison built another fort for defense.  In addition, several forts were constructed further upriver as fall-back positions  However, these additional forts were not as heavily protected and not expected to withstand a major assault like Fort Meigs

They were there for supplies and a point of safety for soldiers as they moved from one position to another.

The Touring Ohio site has a picture of Gen. Harrison's headquarters at Franklinton which appears to be nothing more than a very rustic log cabin.  The Harrison House, which I have written about, is a much more luxurious structure and I imagine this is where the general lived.

There is also a picture of a weather vane from the top of the Franklinton  courthouse which is pockmarked by bullet holes from Harrison's recruits who were using it for target practice during training.

--Brock-Perry

Harrison Takes Charge in Ohio (1812)-- Part 3: Siege of Fort Meigs

A good defensive spot, Harrison believed, would be at the point where the first set of rapids on the Maumee River would force ships to stop and unload.  Here, near present day Perrysburg, he determined to build Fort Meigs.

Construction on the fort began in the late winter of 1813 and weather conditions were horrible, but the fort was completed in just three months.  And that was just in time.

The fort was designed for defense and as a major supply area for the proposed invasion of Canada.  Because of its large size, the interior of the fort was constructed to protect men and supplies from bombardment.  As it turned out, this was a good thing.

The fort was attacked by British forces almost immediately.  On May 1, 1813,  British forces under General Proctor came down the Maumee River and took up position across the river from the fort.  Despite a few successes, they were never able to dislodge the Americans from the fort before additional American forces arrived.

The siege of Fort Meigs lasted four days.

Tecumseh and his Indians could not understand why the British withdrew so quickly   Even more puzzling was why they were to remain opposite Fort Meigs while the British left to flank the Americans there by coming down the Sanduskey River.

--Brock-Perry

A Frontier in Flames-- Part 18: Last British Offensive in Northwest Territory

Proctor and Tecumseh tried again in late July to take Fort Meigs with a combined force of 5,000 regulars, militia and Indians.  They tried to lure the Americans out of the fort by staging a mock battle, hoping they would think that a relief column had been ambushed.  But the defenders were not fooled and stayed in the fort.

On August 2, Proctor sent 400 regulars and militia, plus a number of his tribal allies to attack Fort Stephenson, a small outpost on the Sanduskey River commanded by George Croghan.  Though garrisoned by only 160 men, the fort was surrounded by a deep ditch that slowed the attackers, making them perfect targets for the Kentucky sharpshooters inside the fort.

Thwarted, Proctor again withdrew to Fort Malden in Canada, and abandoned Detroit, the recovery of which had caused so much death and suffering.

This campaign was the last major British attack on the Northwest Territory.

--Brock-Perry

Lt.Col. Mills Stephenson-- Part 2: Masonic Apron

I found some more information about him at the Ohio Memory Collection.

At Fremont, Ohio, there is a Mills Stephenson Masonic Apron which belonged to the colonel.

He is mentioned as one of the builders of Fort Stephenson (now Fremont, Ohio) and was the fort's first commander.

It served as a trading post from 1806 to 1813 and was built on high ground on the western bank of the Sanduskey River,

In the spring of 1813, Stephenson rebuilt the trading post as a military supply fort.  In mid-June 1813, George Croghan took command and became famous for his victory a few weeks later.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Stephenson-- Part 2: Site Located On Croghan Street

There is a Croghan Street in Fremont, named after you-know-who.

The Croghan Monument and site of the fort is located at 423 Croghan Street.

Croghan Day is observed every August 2nd., anniversary of the battle.

I came across mention of British gunboats in the Sanduskey River who also bombarded the fort.  However, I have not been able to find out the names of the boats.

They stopped at Whitaker's Wharf, 3 miles downriver from Fort Stephenson and did a lot of damage.  They also destroyed the Whitaker home.

The Battle of Fort Stephenson is the final western battle fought on American soil during the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Stephenson-- Part 1: Built By Mills Stephenson

From Touring Ohio Sites.

Colonel Mills Stephenson sited and built the fort in June 1812 on the western side of the Sanduskey River.  Following the trend of the day, he named the fort after himself.  It was built by Ohio militiamen.

After his great victory at the fort, George Croghan was brevetted to the rank of lieutenant colonel by the president.

In 1835, Congress awarded Croghan the Congressional Gold Medal.

--Brock-Perry

George Croghan-- Part 6: The Bombardment of Fort Stephenson

On August 1, 1813, Porter's gunboats on the Sanduskey River and field artillery opened fire on Fort Stephenson, but with little effect.  George Croghan moved his one artillery piece, "Ol' Betsy" around so the British thought he had more artillery.

He also noted the British were firing particularly at the northwest corner of the fort and determined this would be the point of attack when it came.  Sandbags were used to reinforce it so he also posted "Ol' Betsy" there and loaded it with grape shot and musket balls.

On August 2, the barrage ended and British General Proctor began his assault.

--Brock-Perry