The Battle of Fort Stephenson was an American victory during the War of 1812.
Background
After failing to defeat American forces in the siege of Fort Meigs, the British under Henry Proctor with drew. Proctor attempted to take Fort Meigs again in July by staging a mock battle to lure the defenders out of the fort. The ploy failed and Proctor abandoned the idea of taking the fort for good. Now the British and Indian force moved on to capture an American supply base on the Sandusky River guarded by Fort Stephenson . The fort was commanded by Major George Croghan with a garrison of 160 US Regulars under his command. The US commander of the Northwest Frontier, William Henry Harrison believed Proctor's force to be larger than it was and ordered Craghan 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 moved all available forces only 10 miles away from Fort Stephenson.
The Battle
Expecting Harrison to be moving to Fort Stephenson's aid, Proctor had no intentions of conducting a siege as he had at Fort Meigs. The British artillery and gunboats began shelling the fort but with little effects. On August 2 Proctor ordered an infantry assault. Croghan ordered the defenders to hold fire until the attackers were withing close range. Once within range the garrison opened fired along with the fort's artillery. The attack fell back and Proctor tried again several more times which all failed. Lacking scailing ladders Proctor finally realized that the attackers could do very little against the fort. Proctor called off the attack and the Indians returned to the field late at night to carry away the wounded.
Results
The battle had been a decisive victory for the Americans. George Croghan emerged from the battle as a hero and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Both Proctor and Harrison suffered criticism for their parts in the battle. The British as well as Tecumseh were growing increasingly aware of Proctor's incompetance. Harrison was criticised for not making a whole hearted effort to come to the fort's aid. Yet the British had indeed been defeated and Proctor withdrew to Canada and in the following months the Americans were to win decisive victories at the battles of Lake Erie and the Thames.
Sources
