The Battle of Fort Stephenson was an American victory in Ohio during the War of 1812. In August 1813, American forces led by Major George Croghan successfully defended the fort during a two-day siege by British and Indigenous forces.
After failing to capture Fort Meigs in May 1813 during an 11-day siege, British Major General Henry Procter decided to launch an attack on Fort Stephenson on the Sandusky River. His Indigenous allies, however, led by Tecumseh, insisted on a second attack on Fort Meigs. Tecumseh's warriors staged a mock battle in the woods to make it appear as if they were attacking a relief column in order to lure the Americans out of the fort. The Americans, however, knew no reinforcements were coming, and the ruse failed. Procter abandoned the siege and proceeded east to attack Fort Stephenson.[2]
The fort was located on the west bank of the Sandusky River, 10 miles (16km) upstream from Sandusky Bay in what is now Fremont, Ohio, and had been built to guard a supply depot further upriver.[3]
The fort, commanded by Major George Crogham, had a garrison of 160 regulars from the 17th Infantry Regiment. Major General William Henry Harrison, the American commander of the Army of the Northwest, believed Procter's force to be larger than it was and had ordered Croghan to destroy the fort and withdraw. Croghan insisted that he could hold the fort and stayed. Harrison agreed to let Croghan stay, but still fearing the worst, the commanding officer moved all other available forces 10 miles (16km) away from Fort Stephenson.[3]
Battle
Battle depicted in 1912 history book
Procter arrived with a superior force that included at least 500 British regulars, 800 Indigenous warriors under Major Robert Dickson, and at least 2,000 more under Tecumseh.[4] Procter met Croghan under a flag of truce and urged him to surrender, but Croghan refused.[5][6] The British then bombarded the fort by artillery and gunboat, to little effect.[7] Croghan returned fire with his single cannon, "Old Betsy" while frequently changing its position in the hopes that the British would believe he had more than one artillery piece.[7] When Croghan's supply of ammunition ran low, he ordered his men to cease fire.[7][8][9]
Croghan deduced that the British were going to strike in full force at the northwestern angle of the fort, so he ordered his men to conceal "Old Betsy" in a blockhouse at that location.[9][10][11] The next morning, the British feinted twice at the southern angle, then approached the northwest one.[5][12] American gunners surprised them by uncovering "Old Betsy" and firing at point blank range, which destroyed the British column.[12][13][14] Procter withdrew and sailed away.[11][15] British casualties were reported at 26 killed, 41 wounded, and 29 missing.[7][1] American casualties were only one killed and seven wounded.[1]
Results
The battle was a victory for the Americans. Croghan was celebrated as a national hero and promoted to lieutenant colonel.[7] Both Procter and Harrison were criticized for their parts in the battle. The British and Tecumseh were growing increasingly aware of Procter's shortcomings. Harrison was criticized for not making a whole-hearted effort to come to the fort's aid. Yet the British had been defeated, and Procter withdrew to Canada. In the following months, the Americans won decisive victories at the battles of Lake Erie and the Thames.
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