ness and rapidity of the attack dazed the enemy. They were driven from their batteries, their cannon spiked, and Colonel Miller returned to the fort with forty-two prisoners. Considering the inequality of numbers between the Americans and British, this sortie must be regarded as one of the most heroic and brilliant actions of the war. Proctor now saw that the further investment of Fort Meigs was impracticable. He had tested to his sorrow, the fighting spirit of the Americans. He found that though the contest was unequal, they, fewer in numbers as they were, were more than a match for his trained regulars and his blood-thirsty allies. He asked for a cessation of hostilities. During this time arrangements were made for the exchange of prisoners. Tecumseh agreed to surrender his prisoners provided some Wyandots held by General Harrison were delivered up. The disheartening results of the siege caused Proctor's Indian allies to abandon him, and the Canadian militia were discontented and wanted to go home. The greatest disappointment fell to the Prophet. He had been promised the Territory of Michigan for his reward. Tecumseh was equally disgusted. Proctor had promised him the body of General Harrison against whom he was filled with hatred and revenge since the battle of Tippecanoe. Angered at the failure on all sides, the Indians left; Tecumseh, however, was held to the enemy by receiving a commission and the pay of a brigadier-general in the British army. In the siege of Fort Meigs the American loss was eighty-one killed and one hundred and eighty-nine wounded. This does not include the killed and wounded under Colonel Dudley. The British under Proctor had five hundred and fifty regulars, eight hundred Canadian militia and fifteen hundred Indians. During the truce Proctor, in a communication to General Harrison, promised to furnish a list of his killed and wounded, but he never kept his promise. On May 9, 1813, at noon, Proctor embarked his men under the artillery fire of the fort and sailed away, humiliated, defeated and disappointed. Thus ended the thirteen days' siege of Fort Meigs. Its capture would have been a serious blow to the country, and a frightful calamity to Ohio. It contained nearly all the military stores, provisions and supplies of the Northwestern Army, and was the sole protection against the invasion of the State by the British. Realizing this situation, while the siege was on, Governor Meigs called out the full strength of the Ohio militia and led them in person to relieve Fort Meigs. He had proceeded as far as Lower Sandusky, when he met General Harrison on his way to Cincinnati, who informed him of the raising of the siege and the retreat of Proctor and Tecumseh. General Harrison dismissed the militia in the following complimentary order issued from his heaquarters at Franklinton, May 16, 1813: "The Commanding General has observed, with the warmest gratitude, the astonishing exertions which have been made by His Excellency Governor Meigs, and the generals and other militia officers of this State, in collecting and equipping a body of troops for the relief of Camp Meigs. But the efforts of these men would have been unavailing had they not been seconded by the patriotic ardor of every description of citizens, which has induced them to leave their homes, at a most critical season of the year, regardless of every consideration, but that of rendering service to their country. The General found the road from Lower Sandusky to this place literally covered with men, and among them many who shared in the toils and dangers of the Revolutionary War, and on whom, of course, there existed no legal claims for military services. The General has every reason to believe that similar efforts have been made in Kentucky. He offers to all those brave men from both States his sincere acknowledgment, and is happy to inform them that there is at present no necessity for their longer continuance in the field. The enemy has fled with precipitation from Camp Meigs, and that fort is in much better situation to resist an attack than when the last siege was commenced." This order disbanding the militia created great dissatisfaction in Ohio. There was an intense feeling against the British, and a general desire among the people to participate in the war. It was therefore a great disappointment when Harrison dismissed the troops. His complimentary references in his order did not satisfy the public. General Harrison's policy was the result of the direct orders of the Secretary of War, who, in a confidential letter forbade the calling out of any more militia until Lake Erie was free from British domination. This letter also stopped all further efforts toward recovering Detroit. These orders were confidential and secret, and General Harrison had to obey them, and at the same time receive without explanation, the bitter opposition and criticism to which they gave rise. General Harrison needing more troops, and with the orders of the Secretary of War forbidding the use of the militia, proceeded to Cincinnati and thence to the Newport Barracks, in Kentucky, hoping to secure regular troops. Here he found the Twenty Fourth Regiment of the United States which he ordered to Franklinton. |