Battle of Fort Stephenson

DATE: August 2, 1813
LOCATION: Fort Stephenson, Ohio
VICTORY: American
COMMANDERS: Maj. George Croghan (American)/ Gen. Henry Proctor (British) Tecumseh (Indian)
CASUALTIES:
AMERICAN................ (160 regulars) 8 -KILLED & WOUNDED
BRITISH/INDIANS...... (unknown) 97 -KILLED & WOUNDED

For plan of Fort and Battle diagram, CLICK HERE

BATTLE DESCRIPTION:
After failing to defeat American forces in the siege of Fort Meigs, the British under Henry Proctor withdrew. Proctor attempted to take Fort Meigs again in July by staging a mock battle to lure the defenders out of the fort. The ploy failed and Proctor abandoned the idea of taking the fort for good. Now the British and Indian force moved on to capture an American supply base on the Sandusky River guarded by 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.
Expecting Harrison to be moving to Fort Stephenson's aid, Proctor had no intentions of conducting a siege as he had at Fort Meigs. The British artillery and gunboats began shelling the fort but with little effects. On August 2, Proctor ordered an infantry assault. Croghan ordered the defenders to hold fire until the attackers were withing close range. Once within range the garrison opened fired along with the fort's artillery. The attack fell back and Proctor tried again several more times which all failed. Lacking scaling ladders Proctor finally realized that the attackers could do very little against the fort. Proctor called off the attack and the Indians returned to the field late at night to carry away the wounded.
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.
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Gen. William Harrison leaves Fort Meigs with a large portion of his force soon after Gen. Henry Proctor lifts his seige and the British withdraw. Fort Meigs is now under the command of Gen. Clay.
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.
Fort Stephenson was garrisoned by 160 U.S. regulars under the command of Maj. George Croghan. Harrison was under the impression that Proctor's force was much larger than it was, he ordered Croghan to burn Fort Stephenson and either join him or retreat up to Sandusky, which ever offered the best chance of escape. Croghan insisted he could defend the fort and after a great deal of argument Harrison agreed to let him try. Harrison then moved his available forces up stream to Fort Seneca, here he was only 10 miles away and could move to Groghan's assistance if he chose to do so.
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.

" Repulse of the British"


Artist conception of Fort Stephenson