troops, and so many Indians, whom it was impossible to controul, that if the fort was taken, as it must be, the whole of the garrison would be massacred. Shipp answered, that it was the determination of Major Croghan, his officers, and men, to defend the garrison or be buried in it, and that they might do their best. Colonel Elliot addressed Mr Shipp again-" You are a fine young man, I pity your situation, for God's sake surrender, and prevent the dreadful slaughter which must follow resistance." Shipp turned from him. with indignation, and was immediately taken hold of by an Indian, who attempted to wrest his sword from him. Major Croghan, observing what passed, called to Shipp to come into the fort, which was instantly obeyed, and the action commenced. The firing began from the gun-boats in the rear, and was kept up during the night.

At an early hour the next morning, three six pounders, which had been planted during the night, within two hundred and fifty yards of the pickets, began to play upon the fort, but with little effect. About four, P. M. all the enemy's guns were concentrated against the North-western angle of the fort, for the purpose of making a breach. To counteract the effect of their fire, Major Croghan caused that point to be strengthened by means of bags of flour, sand, and other materials, in such a manner that the picketing sustained little or no injury. But the enemy, supposing that their fire had sufficiently shattered the pickets, advanced, to the number of five hundred, to storm the place, a the same time making two feints on different points.

The column which advanced against the Northwestern angle, was so completely enveloped in smoke, as not to be discovered until it had ap

proached within eighteen or twenty paces of the lines, but the men being all at their posts, and ready to receive it, commenced so heavy and gallant a fire as to throw the column into confusion; but being quickly rallied, Lieutenant-colonel Short, the leader of the column exclaimed, "come on my brave fellows, we will give these d-d yankee rascals no quarters," and immediately leapt into the ditch, followed by his troops; as soon as the ditch was entirely filled by the assailants, Major Croghan ordered the six-pounder, which had been masked in the block-house, to be fired. It had been loaded with a double charge of musket balls and slugs. This piece completely raked the ditch from end to end. The first fire levelled the one half in death; the second or third either killed or wounded every one except eleven, who were covered by the dead bodies. At the same

time, the fire of small arms was so incessant and destructive, that it was in vain the British officers exerted themselves to lead on the balance of the column; it retired in disorder under a shower of shot, and sought safety in an adjoining wood. The loss of the enemy in killed was about one hundred and fifty, besides a considerable number of their allies. The Americans had but one killed and seven slightly wounded. Early in the morning of the third, the enemy retreated down the river, after having abandoned considerable baggage.

The garrison was composed of regulars, all Kentuckians, a finer company of men was not to be found in the United States, perhaps not in the world. They were as humane as courageous. This is proved by their unceasing attention to the wounded enemy after their discomfiture; during the night they kindly received into the fort,

through the fatal port-hole of the block-house, all those who were able to crawl to it; to those unable to move, they threw canteens filled with water. They even parted with their clothes to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded.

Notwithstanding his disobedience of orders, for the successful defence of this post, Major Croghan was raised to the rank of Lieutenant-colonel.

In the beginning of July, an expedition for the recapturing of Michilimackinac, was intrusted to his command. This was fitted out from Detroit.

On the 20th of July, the troops were landed at St. Joseph's; and the fort, which had been evacuated, set on fire. Major Holmes was then ordered to the Sault St. Mary's, for the purpose of breaking up the enemy's establishment at that place. He arrived the day after; but the Northwest agent had received notice of his approach, and succeeded in escaping with a considerable amount of goods, after setting fire to a vessel above the falls: the design of this latter measure was frustrated. The vessel was brought down the falls on the 25th, but having bilged, was destroyed. Considerable property belonging to the enemy was taken.

On the 4th of August, a landing of the troops under Croghan and Morgan was effected, at Mackinac ; but the strength of the enemy's works rendered it impossible to carry the place by storm, with a small number of troops; and, after a severe conflict, a retreat became indispensable, and was accordingly effected.

Although this expedition proved unsuccessful în its issue, its failure was not ascribable to any misconduct on the part of the commanding officer. Every thing was done that vigilance, bravery, and perseverance could achieve.

The American loss was thirteen killed, fifty-one wounded, and two missing-loss of the enemy not known.

After this affair, Colonel Croghan determined to remain on Lake Huron for a time, with three companies, for the purpose of breaking up any depots which the enemy might have on the east side of the lake.

He learnt that the only line of communication from York to Mackinac, &c. was by the way of lake Simcoe and Nautawasaga river, which empties into Lake Huron about one hundred miles s. E. of Cabot's Head.

On the 13th of August, the fleet anchored off the mouth of that river, and the troops were quickly disembarked on the peninsula formed between the river and lake, for the purpose of fixing

a camp.

On reconnoitreing the position thus taken, it was discovered that the enemy's schooner Nancy was drawn up in the river a few hundred yards above, under cover of a block-house, erected on a commanding situation on the opposite shore.

On the following morning, a fire for a few minutes was kept up by the shipping upon the blockhouse, but with little effect-At twelve o'clock, two howitzers being placed within a few hundred yards, commenced a fire, which lasted but a few minutes, when the block-house blew up; at the same time, fire was communicated to the Nancy, (by the bursting of one of our shells,) which was: so quickly enveloped in flames as to render any attempts which might have been made to save: her, unavailing, giving the enemy barely time to make his escape, before an explosion took place.

The loss of the Nancy was severely felt by the enemy; her cargo consisting (at the time of her

2

being on fire) of several hundred barrels of provisions, intended as a six months' supply for the garrison at Mackinac.

Colonel Croghan afterwards returned to Detroit.

Colonel Croghan continued in active service during the remainder of the war, and some time after the reduction of the army he resigned his commission. In May, 1817, he was married to a daughter of John R. Livingston, Esq. at NewYork, in which city he has since resided.

COMMODORE

THOMAS MACDONOUGH

Of his

i Is a native of the state of Delaware. early years nothing has been said. At the siege of Tripoli, he held a midshipman's warrant, and served under Commodore Decatur, whose favourable report to Commodore Preble, of his good conduct, as one of the heroic volunteers by whom the frigate Philadelphia and Turkish gun-boats were destroyed, induced that officer to promote him. From that period to his appearance on Lake Champlain, nothing in the life of Macdonough is known.

It had become an object of solicitude with the belligerent parties on the Northern frontier, to obtain the superiority on the lakes. Indeed, the success of the land operations was considered to be entirely dependent on that of the marine. Commodore Perry had already established our dominion on Lake Erie: and that of Lake Ontario, had been successfully disputed by Commodore