possessed themselves of some out-houses within their reach, were obliged to retreat from their lines in the encampment, for the purpose of occupying ground less exposed. This retreat being discovered by the enemy, the whole Indian force, together with a portion of the militia bore down upon them with redoubled violence, and prevented, by their superiority of numbers, and the severity of their fire, the practicability of ever again forming this portion of our troops in order of battle. It was from this division that our principal loss was sustained, few indeed having escaped. Every effort, in vain, was employed to form them in some order of action, as affording the only means of either repelling the pursuers, or regaining the temporary breast-work, from behind which, the remaining part of our troops still gallantly defended themselves; but every exertion was in vain employed, and the very few who survived, of the party, surrendered as prisoners to the enemy.

Our loss, in this action, will be ascertained by the list herewith enclosed. Among the killed, I have to lament several brave and valuable officers, some of whom had distinguished themselves in the action of the evening of the 18th, and fell on the 22d, while unavailingly engaged in rallying the troops, who retreated in disorder from the lines. Among those the loss of Col. John Allen and Major Elijah M'Clannahan, is to be particularly regretted, also Capt. John H. Woolfolk, one of my aidsde-camp; their exertions were unsuccessful, notwithstanding every possible exertion was employed; they bravely fell in discharge of their respective duties. While I regret the fate of those who bravely fell upon this occasion, I should do injustice to pass over, without notice, the few partakers in their danger, who were fortunate to survive them. To Lieut. Col. William. Lewis, who commanded on the 18th, and to Capt. John. Overton, my aid-de-camp, who attended my person on the field, my thanks are particularly due, for their prompt and willing exertion, during every period of the

conflict. To the officers and soldiers, who bravely maintained their ground in the temporary fortifications, too much praise cannot be bestowed. Assailed by numbers greatly superior, supported by six pieces of artillery, constantly employed, they gallantly defended with small arms alone, for near four hours of constant battle. No troops ever behaved with more cool and determined bravery; from the commanding officer down to the private soldier, there was scarce a single abandonment of duty; and at the last, when their ammunition was nearly exhausted, and surrounded by the enemy, greatly superior in number and the means of war, surrendered with a reluctance rarely to be found upon similar occasion. The officers commanding in the breast-work, and who deserve particular notice, if distinction could easily be drawn, were Majors Benjamin Graves and George Madison; Captains Hightower, Hart, Williams, Cholier, Sebree, Hamilton, Keleby, Bledsoe, Ballard, and James; Brigade-major James Garrard, Adjutant John M'Calla, and Qr. Master Pol-lard Keen; they defended themselves to the last, with great gallantry, and merit my warmest gratitude, as well as the highest praise of their country.

With sentiments of the highest respect, &c.

J. WINCHESTER, Brig. Gen. U. S. A

Hon. Sec. at War.

Our loss in killed and missing is 397-the wounded. being included in the list of prisoners forwarded..

CHAPTER XVI.

Subject Continued.

General Harrison, upon the first intelligence of this defeat, constructed hastily, a stockade upon the Miami of the Lake, for the protection of his troops, which he called fort Meigs.

*

General Proctor followed up his victory; advanced to meet general Harrison, and invested him in fort Meigs. He commenced his attacks upon this fort, with great fury, which continued for several days, until general Clay and colonel Dudley advanced for the relief of the fort, and put the enemy to flight. Colonel Dudley, in his unguarded pursuit of the enemy, fell into an ambush, and suffered severely, in the loss of his whole. party.

General Clay, in co-operation with the garrison, suc-. ceeded in raising the siege, and dispersing the enemy; and thus fort Meigs was relieved, after a siege of thirteen days.

GEN. HARRISON'S ARMY

Copy of a letter from Gen. Harrison, to the Secretary of War, dated Head-Quarters, Camp Meigs, 9th May, 1813.

SIR-I have the honor to inform you, that the enemy, having been several days making preparations for raising the siege of this post, accomplished this day the removal of their artillery, from the opposite bank, and about 12 o'clock left their encampment below, were soon embarked, and out of sight.--I have the honor to

* In honor of the then governor of the state of Okie.

enclose you an agreement between Gen. Proctor and myself, for the discharge of the prisoners of the Kentucky militia, in his possession, and for the exchange of the officers and men of the regular troops, which were respectively possessed by us. My anxiety to get the Kentucky troops released, as early as possible, induced me to agree to the dismission of all the prisoners I had, although there was not as many of ours, in Gen. Proctor's possession; the surplusage is to be accounted for, and an equal number of ours released from their parole, whenever the government may think proper to direct it.

The

The two actions on this side of the river, on the 5th, were infinitely more important, and more honorable to our arms, than I had at first conceived. In the sortie made upon the left flank, Capt. Waring's company of the 19th regiment, a detachment of 12 months volunteers, under Major Alexander, and three companies of Kentucky militia, under Col. Boswell, defeated, at least, double the number of Indians and British militia. sortie on the right was still more glorious. The British batteries, in that direction, were defended by the grenadier and light infantry companies, of the 41st regiment, amounting to 200 effectives, and two companies of militia, flanked by a host of Indians. The detachment sent to attack these, consisted of all the men off duty, belonging to the companies of Croghan and Bradford, of the 17th regiment, Langham, Elliott's (late Graham's) and Waring's, of the 19th, about 80 of Major Alexander's volunteers, and a single company of Kentucky militia, under Capt. Sebry, amounting, in the whole, to not more than 340. Yet the event of the action was not a moment doubtful, and, had not the British troops been covered in their retreat, by their allies, the whole of them would have been taken.

It is not possible for troops to behave better than our's did, throughout; all the officers exerted themselves to execute my orders, and the enemy, who had a

full view of our operations, from the opposite shore, declared that they had never seen so much work done, in so short a time.

To all the commandants of corps, I feel particular obligations; these were Col. Miller, of the 19th infantry, Col. Mills, of the Ohio militia, Major Stoddart, of the artillery, Major Ball, of the dragoons, and Major Johnson, of the Kentucky militia.

Captain Gratiot, of the engineers, having been, for a long time, much indisposed, the task of fortifying this post devolved on Captain Wood; it could not have been placed in better hands. Permit me to recommend him to the President, and to assure you that any mark of his approbation, bestowed on Captain Wood, would be highly gratifying to the whole of the troops who witnessed his arduous exertions.

From Major Hukill, my aid-de-camp Major Graham, Lieutenant O'Fallon, and my volunteer aid-de-camp, John Johnson, Esq. I received the most useful assist

ance.

I have the honor to enclose you a list of the killed and wounded, during the siege, and in the two sorties; those of the latter were much greater than I had at first expected.

Want of sleep, and exposures to the continued rains which have fallen almost every day, for some time past, renders me incapable of mentioning many interesting particulars; amongst others, a most extraordinary proposition of Gen. Proctor's, on the subject of the Indians, within our boundary; this shall form the subject of a communication, to be made to-morrow or next day, and for which I will provide a safer conveyance than that which carries this.

All the prisoners and deserters agree in saying, that the information given to Major Stoddard, by Ryland, of the British having launched a sloop of war, this spring,