Last Major Action in Ohio-- Part 3: Greetings, Salutations and Demands, Defending "The Post to the Last Extremity"

British officers Colonel Elliott and Captain Chambers, along with a group of Indians under a flag of truce approached the fort.  Major Croghan sent out 2nd Lt. Shipp along with 15 others to meet them.

After the usual salutations, Col. Elliott is reported as saying:  "I am instructed to demand the instant surrender of the fort, to spare the effusion of blood, which we cannot do should we be under the necessity of  reducing it by our powerful force of regulars, Indians and artillery."

Lt. Shipp replied:  "My commandant and garrison are determined to defend  the post to the last extremity, and, bury themselves in its ruins, rather than surrender it to any force whatever."

The British colonel then replied:  "Look at our immense body of Indians.  They cannot be restraining from massacring  the whole garrison in the event of our undoubted success.  It is a great  pity that so fine a young man as you and your commander, should fall into the hands  of the savages.  Sir, for God's sake, surrender, and prevent the dreadful massacre that will be caused by your resistance!"

Shipp then calmly replied:  "When the fort shall be taken,  there will be none to massacre.  It will not be given up  while a man is able to resist."  With these words, Shipp and his men turned to return to the fort.  But as they did, an Indian jumped forward from some bushes and tried to grab Shipp's sword.  The British captain stopped Shipp from killing the Indian on the spot.

Major Croghan had been watching from the fort and yelled,  "Shipp come in , and we'll blow them all to hell!!"

Croghan and the Americans did not fall for the Indian threat like William Hull did at Detroit.

The Battle Is On.  --Brock-Perry