War of 1812 Battles |
Colonial Wars |
American Wars |
Battle of Fort Stephenson
August 2, 1813, Fort Stephenson, Sandusky County, Ohio
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For plan of Fort and Battle diagram depicted in 1912 history book
After failing to defeat American forces in the siege of Fort Meigs, the British under Henry Proctor withdrew. On July 20th Proctor again moves up the Maumee River, this time without heavy artillery. At the urging of Chief Tecumseh, the British again tried to take Fort Meigs. The plan was to stage a mock battle in the woods to the south of the fort. This mock battle was susposed to make General Clay believe that a column of American reinforcements were under attack thus the troops in the fort would rush to their rescue.
The plan failed to produce this result as Clay knew there were no reinforcements coming. The Americans sat in the fort and let the enemy use their ammunition. General Proctor decides against attempting an assault on the fort.
On July 28th Proctor moves his force by ship along the shore of Lake Erie and up the Sandusky River, his goal is a supply depot located up river. But first he must take Fort Stephenson.
The fort was commanded by Maj. George Croghan with a garrison of 160 U.S. Regulars under his command. The American commander of the Northwest Frontier, William H. Harrison believed Proctor's force to be larger than it was and ordered Craghan to destroy the fort and withdraw. Croghan insisted that he could hold the fort and stayed. Harrison agreed to let Croghan stay but still fearing the worst moved all available forces only 10 miles away from Fort Stephenson.
Proctor, thinking Harrison would do just that, was in a hurry to capture the fort. Proctor first demands the Americans surrender, Croghan makes it clear that he will not surrender under any circumstances he also makes it clear he will fight to the last man. The British open fire from gunboats and artillery only to find that their 6-pounders have very little effect on the walls of the fort.
Now on August 2, late in the afternoon, Proctor orders an infantry attack. The British, Canadians and Indians move forward with determination. Croghan orders his men not to fire until the enemy is within 50 yards. Once in that range the Americans open fire with grapeshot from their 6-pounder and musket fire from inside the fort. After the first blast from the American cannon, the Indians run from the battlefield. The British and Canadians tried time after time to get into the fort. Some made it into the ditch and up against the stockade, here they could go no further having no scaling ladders long enough or decent tools to climb over or punch holes in the forts walls.
Proctor halts the attack at this point when he realizes his force can advance no further. After dark that night, the Indians crawl up close to the fort and pick up the wounded British, Canadians and Indians that had fallen early in the day. In the end, the British had 30 men missing, 26 killed and 41 wounded. The Americans had one killed and seven wounded.
The British force knew it was Proctor's incompetence that had wasted the day. Harrison's reputation was also tarnished after this battle. All through the two day seige he stayed at Fort Seneca, hearing the battle, he showed no interest in Croghan's fate. Had Croghan lost Fort Stephenson, Harrison probably would have set fire to Fort Seneca and retreated to Upper Sandusky.
On the night of August 2nd a messanger brings word that the British General was withdrawing, Harrison had missed a golden opportunity to destroy Proctor's force.
The battle had been a decisive victory for the Americans. Croghan emerged from the battle as a hero and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Both Proctor and Harrison suffered criticism for their parts in the battle. The British as well as Tecumseh were growing increasingly aware of Proctor's incompetence. Harrison was criticised for not making a whole hearted effort to come to the fort's aid. Yet the British had indeed been defeated and Proctor withdrew to Canada and in the following months the Americans were to win decisive victories at the battles of Lake Erie and the Thames.
