William Johnson letters regarding siege of Fort Meigs

The collection includes two letters written by WIlliam Johnson to his wife, Mary at Berkshire Township in Delaware County, Ohio regarding his service during the War of 1812. The first letter of April 12 describes how Johnson contracted for a tour of six months with the General Green Clay's Kentucky Brigade in Captain Thomas' Company and marched with it from Cynthiana to Dayton. The second partial letter of May 11 describes the actions of regiments under the commands of Colonels Boswell and Dudley on May 5 during the Seige of Fort Meigs. Johnson participated in Dudley's landing on the west side of the Maumee River and the attack on British forces, but this partial letter does not include details of how Johnson survived the ill-fated assault. William Johnson was born in 1789 in Mason County, Kentucky. In 1811 he married Mary Jenkins, who was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales and established residence in Delaware County, Ohio. By 1818 the Johnson family moved to Fulton County, Illinois. On May 5 Colonel Dudley led over 800 Kentucky soldiers across the Maumee River to spike the British guns. Rather than returning as commanded, he was drawn toward Fort Miami and was defeated. Nearly 650 soldiers were killed or captured. Those who were captured were taken to the stockade at Fort Miami and abused by Indian troops until Tecumseh intervened