Events of the War "Niles' Register," vol. 5, pages 8-9, September 4, 1813 MILITARY From the Pittsburg {sic} Mercury. [The editor of the Mercury has been politely favored by a friend with the following copy of a letter from Dr. Samuel M'Keehan. It details many interesting particulars of the affair at Sandusky, on the 2d inst. not hitherto published. Dr. M'Keehan is the same gentleman who last February was sent by general Harrison {William Henry Harrison} with a flag to Malden, who was wounded on his way thither, arrested, -- sent to, and confined in the cells of Montreal, on the pretext of his being engaged in carrying on a secret correspondence. He is a man of unexceptionable character, warmly attached to the cause of his country, and on whose statements the utmost reliance may be placed.]

LOWER SANDUSKY, August 3, 1813.
Yesterday, sun about an hour and an half high, the
British to the amount of about 500, with a large body of
Indians, attempted to storm this post, aided with six
field pieces, playing upon the N.W. corner. In order that
you may form some idea of the place, mark the following.
The pickets 18 feet high, bayonets nailed to the
sides of the tops with pieces of iron, with their points
outwards, a ditch six feet deep and six wide; but not
having enough of bayonets, about twenty-five feet of the
east side was left destitute of them, as well as of a
block-house in the S.E. corner.

left our cannon played
column. at this place.
xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx British attempt
x x x can.--> to storm.
x x-------------x x--------------------------
xB.H. x xB.H. x
x x x x
xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx






middle wall.


muskets
and
xxxxx x rifles
x x
x B.H. x
------------------------------------------------x x
from this block x x
house our xxxxxxxx right
musquetry played col.
upon the enemy.

The enemy were under the impression, that our piece of
artillery, a six pounder, was in the block house, having
discovered by the manoeuvres of the enemy where they
intended to storm.
In twenty-four hours, they had struck our works with
upwards of 500 shot; 100 of them, shells, &c. came within
the fort, and more than 300 balls struck the place where
they attempted to storm, and made considerable havoc among
the pickets.
The enemy's middle column came up 15 deep and 150
strong, commanded by lieut. col. Short {sic}, sustaining a
heavy fire from our muskets; when they came up to the
ditch, and saw what was before them, the soldiers stopped;
but Short and a lieutenant drove them into the ditch, and
followed in quick succession themselves. Col. Short was
the first who endeavored to gain the summit of the
picketed side; but failed and fell back into the ditch.
At this moment, our piece of artillery was let loose
about 35 yards from, and upon them. In this fire, Short
received a small slug in his body. The terror which
took place in consequence of the execution done,
together with his own critical and perilous situation,
caused him to hoist a white handkerchief on the end of
his sword, and cry for quarters {sic}: but being
enveloped in smoke and dust, our engineers did not see
his flag. A second fire carried it away, and drove
through his body several slugs, of one and a fourth inch
square, and one through his mouth. The enemy gave way in
every direction, and left dead, dying and wounded in the
ditch 52, including their two officers.
Previous to the attempt to carry the post by storm,
colonel Elliott came with a flag, and demanded the
surrender of the fort. Ensign Shipp went to meet him;
an Indian came up and made an attempt to take off his
coat. He drew his sword and made him stand off, and
informed Elliott and Dixon {sic} that major Croghan and
those under him were determined not to capitulate to a
combined British and Indian force. Says Elliott you
are a fine young man, but I am sorry for you; our
Indians are so numerous, col. Proctor {Henry Proctor}
says he will not be able to restrain them in case of
obstinacy, and now is the only time mercy can be expected.
The insult offered to ensign Shipp attracted the attention
of Croghan, who mounted the pickets and hallowed out, what
does that mean? Shipp, come in, and we we'll {sic} blow
them all to hell. Shipp retired, bidding Elliott and Dixon
good-bye. At this time the Indians and engineers had
advanced within forty steps of the pickets. Croghan ran
to the other side and ordered his men to fire, which they
did, and killed a lieutenant and some Indians. The contest
lasted till sun-set, and with small arms till an hour after
dark, and scattering shots till midnight, during which time
our people supplied the wounded in the ditch with water,
by throwing full canteens over the pickets. They got in
all the wounded by 1 o'clock in the morning. From the
marks of blood, &c. there could not be less than 200
killed and wounded.
They left 70 muskets, 2000 cartridges, 100 rounds
of fixed ammunition, a boat with a considerable number of
blankets and clothing, three kegs powder, and a quantity
of cannon ball.
----
CAMP, SENECA, August 5, 1813.
I came up last evening, four of the British are
dead and dying last night. Amongst the prisoners here,
are a sergeant and corporal who stood guard over me in
Canada last winter, and I dressed the wounds of a
soldier who took me by the throat. -- They appeared glad
to see me, and I know that I was glad to see them here.
Major Croghan not having a disposable force, the
enemy were enabled to take away most of their killed and
wounded (after dark) to their boats. It does appear that
the enemy were confident of success, as they came up col.
Short was whistling, and the lieutenant swearing. It also
seems that they did not intend to be merciful; as the
colonel was heard to say, "press on boys, no quarters
{sic}."
----
From the National Intelligencer.
"We are sorry to perceive that all the accounts
hitherto received, concur in representing the conduct of
the British on this occasion, as affording ample proof
of the characteristic barbarity and the sanguinary
disposition of that nation, which has been called by men
professing themselves to be Americans, the "bulwark of
our religion," and the "shield of oppressed humanity."
From sources entitled to credit, we learn that when col.
Elliott demanded the surrender of the fort, he stated
that, unless his demand was promptly acceded to, a
general massacre would ensue. And when col. Short, who
commanded the British regulars destined to storm the
fort, had formed his troops in a line parallel with the
ditch, he ordered them, in the hearing of our men, to
leap the ditch, cut down the pickets and give the
Americans no quarter. This barbarous order, which none
but a savage could give, was not, however permitted to
go unpunished; for the words were hardly out of the
mouth of the British commander, when the retributive
justice of Providence arrested him; and the wretch was
obliged to sue for that mercy which he had determined not
to extend to others. It may be observed here, in
honor of the character of the American soldier, that
though our little band were well aware of the fate
which the enemy had prepared for them: yet, they were
no sooner subdued, than the Americans forgot their
crimes in their sufferings; and the wounded in the ditch,
whose groans and constant calls for water were heard by
our men in the fort, were supplied with that necessary
article, on the night succeeding the discomfiture of the
enemy by the generosity of the Americans, who, with
considerable hazard, ventured to risk their lives in
order to alleviate the sufferings of the very men who
had plotted their entire destruction."
It may be well still further to impress on the mind,
the sublimity of those generous deeds, by stating the
fact that the fire upon the fort was yet occasionally
kept up; and that the garrison could not possibly
discover, in the night, the real condition of the enemy.
Let the "shield of humanity" emulate this example, and
furnish us with one instance of like hazardous
magnanimity, to ameliorate her barbarous conduct.
Compare this with the privations suffered by our gallant
seamen; and call to memory the starvations on board the
Jersey prison ship. [ED. REG. {Hezekiah Niles, editor
of "The Weekly Register."}