COLONEL GEORGE CROGHAN.
[Defence of Fort Stephenson.]
PRESENTED BY CONGRESS TO COLONEL GEORGE CROGHAN 1835. Bust of Colonel Croghan, in uniform, facing the right. FÜRST. F. (fecit).
In a pendant: PARS MAGNA FUIT[111] (His share was great.) Major Croghan is defending, with one hundred and sixty men, Fort Stephenson against the attack of the British army, one thousand strong. In the background, three gunboats on Lake Erie. Exergue: SANDUSKY 2; AUGUST 1813. FÜRST. F. (fecit).
As this medal was not voted by Congress until 1835, it is placed here according to the chronological order adopted.
George Croghan was born near Louisville, Kentucky, November 15, 1791. He was graduated at William and Mary College, Virginia, and in 1811 was aid-de-camp to Colonel Boyd at the battle of Tippecanoe; captain in 1812, major in 1813, and aid-de-camp to General Harrison at Fort Meigs. On August 3, 1813, with a garrison of one hundred and sixty men, he repulsed General Proctor at the head of an army of one thousand British troops and Indians. For this gallant deed Congress, in 1835, gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. In 1814 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel; resigned in 1817; was promoted to the rank of inspector-general and colonel in 1825; served under General Taylor in Mexico, and died in New Orleans, January 8, 1849.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Colonel Croghan, etc.
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems and devices, and presented to Colonel Croghan, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in the defence of Fort Stephenson; and that he present a sword to each of the following officers engaged in that affair: to Captain James Hunter, to the eldest male representative of Lieutenant Benjamin Johnston, and to Lieutenant Cyrus A. Baylor, John Meek, Ensign Joseph Duncan, and the nearest male representative of Ensign Edmund Shipp, deceased.
Approved February 13, 1835.
Major Croghan to General Harrison.
Lower Sandusky, August 5th, 1813.
To
Major-General Harrison,
Commanding Northwestern Army.
Dear Sir: I have the honour to inform you that the combined force of the enemy, amounting to at least 500 regulars, and seven or eight hundred 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 it 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 gunboats in the river, and from a five and a half inch howitzer on shore, which was kept up with little intermission through 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, but with little effect. About 4 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 front, 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 5 o'clock, having formed in close column, advancing to assail our works at the expected point, at the same time making two feints at the front of Captain Hunter's line, the column which advanced against the north-western angle, consisting of about 350 men, was so completely enveloped in smoke as not to be discovered until it had approached within fifteen 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 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 one hundred and fifty; one lieutenant-colonel, a lieutenant and fifty rank and file, were found in and about the ditch, those of the remainder, who were not able to escape, were taken off during the night by the Indians. Seventy stand of arms and several brace of pistols have been collected near the work. About three in the morning the enemy sailed down the river, leaving behind them a boat, containing clothing and considerable military stores. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates under my command for their gallantry and good conduct during the siege.
Yours, with respect,
G. Croghan,
Major 17th U. S. Infantry comdg. L. S.
March 4, 1837—March 4, 1841.
Martin Van Buren President of the United States A. D. 1837. ℞. Peace and friendship.