Near This Spot

On August 1 and 2, 1813, British cannon from Commodore Barclay's fleet bombarded Major Croghan in Fort Stephenson while General Proctor attempted to capture the fort by assault with his Wellington veterans assisted by Indians under Tecumseh. Major Croghan, with only 160 men and one cannon, "Old Betsy," repulsed the assault. The British retreated to their ships with many killed and wounded, leaving Lt. Colonel Short, Lieut. Gordon, and 25 soldiers of the 41st Regiment dead in the ditch. Commodore Barclay was wounded and, with his entire fleet, including the cannon used against Fort Stephenson, was captured by Commodore Perry at the Battle of Lake Erie on Sept. 10, 1813. General Proctor, with his British Regulars, was defeated and Tecumseh, with many of his Indians, was killed by General Harrison at the Battle of the Thames on Oct. 5, 1813. Major Croghan was awarded a gold medal and each of his officers a sword by the Congress of the United States for gallantry in the defence of Fort Stephenson.

Fremont, Ohio · United States