he was met by Indian messengers, with whom an agreement was made, that hostilities should not take place until the next morning, and that then an amicable conference should be held. Just before day-break, the savages, in violation of their engagement, made a sudden and furious attack upon the troops in their encampment. Nothing but the precaution of sleeping in order of battle, on their arms, saved them from total defeat. A dreadful slaughter was made, but the savages were finally repulsed, dispersed, and their town laid waste. In the same year, occurred an event of more momentous consequence to the west, than the issues of a thousand battles. This was the voyage, from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, of the first steam boat ever launched upon the western waters.

In June, 1812, the United States declared war against Great Britain. Of this war, the west was a principal theatre. Defeat, disaster, and disgrace marked its opening scenes; but the latter events of the contest were a series of splendid achievements.

Colonel Croghan's gallant and successful defense of Fort Stephenson, was among the most brilliant. He was in the 22d year of his age, when left by General Harrison, in command of 160 men, and with one six-pounder at Fort Stephenson. On the evening of the first of August, the British and Indians, who had come up the Sandusky river, from the bay, commenced from their boats a heavy cannonading upon the fort, and threw in a great number of shells from their batteries. They continued their operations without success, until the evening of the second, when, after throwing a great number of balls from a six-pounder, at the north-west angle of the fort, for the purpose of making a breach, a column under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Short, advanced to the point on which the artillery had been played, with the intention of storming, but the judi cious management of Colonel Croghan, foiled the enemy in his attempt. The ditch which surrounded the works, was

about eight feet wide, and of equal depth. This the enemy had to enter before they could approach the pickets, which had a bayonet driven through the top of each, in a horizontal direction. While in this situation, a six-pounder which was masked in a block-house, poured upon them a tremendous shower of musket balls, which did terrible execution. This so confounded the assailants, that Lieutenant Colonel Short, who had previously ordered his men to scale the pickets and show the d—d Yankee rascals no quarters, now exhibited a white handkerchief as a signal of distress, evincing a disposition to have quarters shown him, after he had proclaimed that the garrison should be murdered. It was, however, too late; the next discharge proved fatal; he fell, and Lieutenant Gordon, of the 29th regiment, died by his side. This was near two hours before sunset. The firing from the block-house, was principally directed at the enemy, who had taken refuge in the direction of the ravine, the slaughter there was immense, and General Proctor, who commanded in person, ordered the allied armies to retreat to their boats. The greater part of the night, was occupied in carrying off the dead and wounded; and from the number of trails, it was evident, that no less then fifty of the dead were dragged away. About thirty killed, including the two officers just mentioned, were left in the ditch and ravine, and thirty prisoners, eighteen severely wounded, which General Proctor in his hurry, left behind, were afterwards brought into the fort. Major Croghan had but one man killed, and seven slightly wounded. The brevet rank of lieutenant colonel, was conferred by the President of the United States, upon Major Croghan, and the ladies of Chillicothe, presented him with a sword, and a flattering address.

Croghan's gallant defense of Fort Stephenson, Perry's vic tory upon Lake Erie, the total defeat, by Harrison, of the allied British and savages, under Proctor and Tecumseh, on the

Thames, and the great closing triumph of Jackson at New Orleans-all reflected the most brilliant lustre upon the American arms. In every vicissitude of this contest, the conduct of Ohio, was eminently patriotic and honorable. Her sons volunteered with alacrity their services in the field; and no troops more patiently endured hardships, or performed better service. Hardly a battle was fought on the western frontier, in which some of these brave citizen soldiers, did not seal their devotion to their country with their blood.

In 1816, the seat of the state government was removed to Columbus, and the year following, the first white settler located himself within the present limits of this county.

HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

Aborigines-War between the Wyandots and Senecas-Naval fight-The Wyandots settle upon the Sandusky-Treaty with the Indians-Grant of land to the Senecas-Seneca Indians-Their removal to the westAn execution for witch-craft.

THE Country, watered by the Sandusky and its tributaries, was originally inhabited by a powerful and war-like tribe of Indians, known as the Wyandot or Huron tribe.

According to a tradition of this nation, their home was once, on the north side of the river St. Lawrence, down to Coon lake, and from thence, up the Utiwas. Their name for it, was Cunone-tat-tia. The Senecas, who were blood relations of the Wyandots, owned the opposite side of the river, and the island on which Montreal now stands. They were both large tribes, consisting of many thousands.

A war originated between the two tribes, in this way: A man of the Wyandots wanted a certain woman for his wife; but she objected and said he was no warrior; he had never taken any scalps. To accomplish his object, he raised a small war-party, and in their scout, fell upon a party of the Seneca hunters and killed and scalped a number of them. This caused a war between the nations, that lasted more than a century, which they supposed was fully a hundred winters, before the French came to Quebec.