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Note: [v17t1968.ftw] Emigrated to Boon Co., MO 1824, emigrated to Jasper Co., MO 1838. From Elijah P. Dale's tombstone in the Old Salem Baptist Church Cemetery. Fort Meigs-a noted Military Fortification, erected in the Winter of 1812-1 3, on the Southeastern bank of the Maumee River, at the lower Rapids of that River, a few miles from its mouth. Distance, S outherly from Detroit, 70 miles and Northwesterly 36 miles from Fort Stephenson. It is of an oblong figure, and when first c ompleted enclosed an area of 11 acres. The wall consisted of palisades 14 feet high, sunk four feet into the ground, wi th embankments of earth on each side, taken from a broad ditch, and a deep exterior moat. At suitable distances are regular b astions, mounted with artillery. This Post is remarkable for a siege which it sustained from the British and Indian s, in April, 1813, and until the 5th of May, following, when the garrison, together with a reinforcement from Kentucky, made a gal lant sortie, driving their enemy in every direction, and compelling them to raise the siege. Since the siege, it h as been considerably reduced from its former dimensions, and is now (1816) going to decay. General Harrison at first had but 600 troops, but the garrison was augmented by the arrival of General Clay with 1500 Kentuckians. Of Clay's force, General Harrison ordered 800 under Colonel Dudley to cross to the north side of the river and there engage the British and Indians under Proctor and Tecumseh. Dudley's detachment succeeded in storming and taking the British batteries, but fell into an ambuscade prepared by Tecumseh. In their attempt to escape, Dudley and 600 of his men were mercilessly slain and scalped. At the same time, the remaining 700 troops of Clay's command, under Colonel Miller, were sent against the British and Indian force back of the fort, but were driven from the field with heavy losses in dead and wounded. But the Americans in their stronghold had the advantage, and Proctor was forced to a realization of his inability to capture the fort. Reluctantly he raised the siege and with his Canadians and Indians returned to his headquarters on the Canadian side. During the siege of Fort Meigs Tecumseh's bravery, generalship and ability as a leader were impressively displayed. His generosity and humanity were no less in evidence. Coming upon the scene of Dudley's defeat and ensuing massacre, he threw himself between the infuriated Indians and their victims and in thundering tones commanded a cessation of cruelties, at the same time denouncing Proctor for his acquiescence in the slaughter. In July James McClain enlisted March, 1813 in the Kentucky Militia after serving t hree tours of duty in the Revolutionary War. He served under Captain Dudley Farris and Colonel William Dudley. James McCla in was drowned at a battle at Fort Meigs, Ohio called "Dudley's Defeat". This battle is named after Lt. Col. Willi am Dudley, who along with 796 Kentucky soldiers was ordered by Green Clay acting on orders from Governor Shelby of Kentuc ky to sp ke the enemy cannon and immediately withdraw across the Maumee River to the Fort (Fort Meigs) befo re the superior British forces could counterattack. Instead of withdrawing after overrunning the guns, Dudley 's overexcited militiamen pursued the fleeing a tillerymen into the British main camp, where 634 of the 796 Americans we re killed or captured. As the surviving Kentuckians were marched towards a termporary prison compound, Indians ser ving with the British overwhelmed the guards and slaughtered an addi ional forty prisoners. Though the British s oon abandoned their unsuccessful siege of Fort Meigs, General William Henry Harrison's position was little improved.
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