224 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



port the army over the lake. These boat builders were com- 

 manded by major, now general Jesup of the United States 

 army. Cleveland, too, at that time, had in its hospital 

 seventy-five wounded soldiers. A company of volunteers 

 from Chillicothe, was there, and acted as boat builders and 

 nurses to Dudley's wounded men. Harrison, while here, inter- 

 changed communications with Perry at Erie, and received 

 orders from the secretary of war to call out the militia. He 

 returned on to the Sandusky river, and learned that Proctor 

 was on the point of landing on our coast, a force of five thou- 

 sand men. July 20th, the enemy ascended Maumee bay in 

 a large number of boats and landed on our shore. That night 

 Captain McCune of the Ohio militia, (and from Muskingum 

 county, we believe,) was despatched by Clay to Harrison-, 

 informing him of Proctor's landing. Harrison was at Lower 

 Sandusky at this time. 



Where this town now stands, there was an old picketing on 

 a piece of land, secured to us for a garrison and Indian trading 

 house, by General Wayne's treaty of 1795. It was a small 

 work, large enough for two hundred men, not more. This 

 little stockade was called fort Stevenson, at the time, Harrison 

 lay there. The defence of this little stockade was committed 

 to major George Croghan, a youth of twenty-one years of age, 

 and to Captain Hunter, lieutenants Baylor, Johnson and 

 Meeks; ensigns Ship and Duncan, and one hundred and sixty 

 privates. They were all young, athletic, bold and intrepid 

 men. The remainder of Harri.son's force were marched to the 

 Seneca old town, some miles, on the river above fort Stevenson. 

 The latter force consisted of only one hundred and forty men. 

 Harrison's own positition, was chosen as the best, about which, 

 to collect the troops, momentarily expected from the interior. 

 It was a good point from whence reinforcements might be des- 

 patched, either down the river, or up it, and to protect the vast 

 amount of property collected at Upper Sandusky. Captain 

 McCune was ordered to inform General Clay, that in case, his 

 garrison was seriously invested by the enemy, every effort 

 would be made to reheve him j but, to beware of being taken by 



