USA > Illinois > Massac County > History of Massac County, Illinois > Part 2
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The writer confesses that this was by far the most puzzling problem in the writing of this book, because of the conflicting theories and because he did not wish to shatter a beautiful legend if prevent- able. At the same time he wished to get at the truth as near as possible. Hence was the dilemma. The reader, though, must understand two things. First, as Allen Nevins warns: "Nothing is easier than to become enamored of a particular answer, a cherished hypothesis, for an historical problem. The only honest course is to confess error and bend to the evidence."*1 Second, as Ruth Painter Randall
*1Allan Nevins-The Gateway to History (D. C. Heath and Company. 1938), P. 230. By special permission.
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
says: "There is pressure upon publishers and au- thors to play up the legend to please the popular taste. The public wants to believe the romantic tale."*2
Moses, Brown, Hall, Wallace, Shea, O. J. Page and other older writers based their stories on here- say and insufficient evidence. Mrs. M. T. Scott in 1903 fell into error on a translation of French from the Margry papers. Professor George W. Smith adheres rather to the older group. Alvord was more cautious writing in 1920. As far back as 1910, Lans- den, the Cairo historian, located the tannery at or near Cairo. Schlarman, writing in 1929, did also.
Hockett, the historiographer, well said that an error, once in circulation, displays great vitality. Alvord and Carter said: "Fort Massac has enjoyed a greater reputation in the traditions that have grown up around its abandoned earthworks than can be derived from its actual history." (14) W. P. Bunn was the first Massac County historian to evince a new critical view of this topic. In a pre- pared paper read in 1944 he voiced skepticism of the various legends and began certain history with 1757.
Trained workers in the field of historical research have gone to original sources and are to be believed over the words of the older school. Research and archeology have made great progress in recent years.
*2Ruth Painter Randall-Mary Lincoln, Biography of a Marriage (Little, Brown and Company. 1953), P. 405. By special permission.
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TRADITIONS
We have had to revise many of our beliefs. The evidence so well presented by Dr. Norman Caldwell is sufficient to cause the author to take a new view, though his regrets are as keen as those of any other native Massacan. Even Dr. Caldwell admits dif- ficulty on the question of the location of Juchereau's establishment. The chronicler Charlevoix perhaps in the last analysis is the best guide. The key phrase as to location is "two or three leagues above the mouth of the Ohio." Fort Massac is four times farther upstream. (15)
At this point let us return to the other versions, though each of these has variations. A second view and one most likely is that the French tannery was located near Mound City. Father Mermet preached there. The expedition broke up, but due to the loss of the leader in an epidemic rather than to Indian trouble. Dr. Caldwell takes this view. Lansden says: "There can be little doubt as to this old fort being at or near the mouth of the Ohio River and not at the site of Fort Massac." (16) Schlarman says it was "a short distance above the present Cairo, Illinois. The Jesuit Father Mermet was ap- pointed missionary of this post." (17)
A third account is that of Moyers. (18) He locates Juchereau de St. Denys' post at or near the head of the Grand Chain of Rocks, or Va Bache, on the Ohio. Hunting parties went out and depots were set up in 1703. One depot was Belle Garde near the mouth of Massac Creek. By April 1704 the
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
post had 13,000 skins. Mermet preached at Va Bache. Troubles arose in June 1704 and the Indians massacred many. Juchereau escaped. Moyers seems to base his story on Thwaites who translated into 73 volumes the letters of Charlevoix. A mass of detail has been omitted from Moyers, but enough to say is it is fascinating reading.
Since so many theories and conflicting statements exist one is tempted to say "Take your choice." We do not want to renege on our acceptance of the sec- ond version, but for those die-hard martyrs to tradi- tion there is a tenuous middle-ground. Since, as Barbara Burr Hubbs agrees, the Va Bache outposts were scattered over a very extensive area, it is re- motely possible that Father Mermet did preach on the banks of the Ohio at the future site of Fort Massac. (19) The story, so well related by Kipp, is too pious to relinquish easily. (20)
THE MASSACRE-Definite records are lacking for the years up to 1757. Tradition maintains that a fort was built on the Fort Massac site between 1708 and 1711. The French may have returned to the area not only because the Mascoutens continued friendly but also because the Cherokees were in- truding upon Illinois by way of the Cherokee (Tennessee) River. From 1710 to 1725 the Fox Indians warred against the French and unallied Indians and threatened to cut asunder the colonies of France. (21) In 1731 a party of French and Shawnees descended probably as far as the future
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TRADITIONS
Fort Massac. According to Brown the fort was erected at this period. (22) Charlevoix had, in 1721, urged that a good garrison be built to keep the savages in awe.
This period is the source of the tradition which tries to explain the origin of the name "Massac". Those who contend that the name comes from the word "Massacre" base their belief on the massacre which is said to have occurred at this time. Those who disregard this source say the fort was named "Massiac" in honor of M. de Massiac, who was French Minister of Marine and Colonies in 1758.
The story is that the Indians had arranged for the extermination of the inmates of the fort, which was to be effected by a curious, though as Hall says, not uncommon stratagem. (23) Under cover of night, some Indians crossed the river and showed themselves next morning arrayed in bearskins. The others crept up to the fort. Completely deceived, some of the French next morning rowed across the river in pursuit of the "game", leaving the others on the bank to observe the sport. The bruins disap- peared and the French to their dismay found too late that those at the fort had been annihilated. (22)
It is unlikely that such an event happened. How- ever, the story gained currency and was repeated by many of the older historians. So far as is known, the fort experienced only one attack. It was made in 1757 by the Cherokees who were repulsed. (24) American State Papers, Foreign Affairs 1:458, an
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
undisputed authority, states: "The fort was named Massiac after a French Minister, and not 'Massacre' because of the massacre of the French garrison. That event never took place." (21)
CHAPTER III
LAST YEARS UNDER THE FRENCH
For seven years Fort Massac was the scene of stirring events in the French struggle for supremacy in the Ohio Valley. Massac's part began with the coming of Charles Philippe Aubry to the site in 1757, a man who was in many respects the most dis- tinguished personage of the period. Major de Makarty was at this time commander of the Illinois Country, and learning that the British were planning to send a war party to the Mississippi by way of the Tennessee River, ordered Aubry to erect a fort on the Ohio. (21)
Aubry came to Massac by way of the Mississippi and soon a temporary structure was begun. Aubry says in his account that he built the fort on May 10, 1757. This being on Ascension Day, the fort was named Fort de l'Ascension. The corner stone was laid on this day but the fort was not completed until June 20. The fort was "a square flanked by two rows of tree trunks joined and set against a ban- quette inside." It was believed effective against the savages but not the English. (17)
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
The fort was not far west of Massac Creek which placed it at about the present site. M. Aubry led a party of forty men up the Tennessee in quest of the English for a distance of "about 120 leagues", but finding no trace of them, returned to Fort Ascension. Soon after Aubry repelled an attack on the fort by the Cherokees. (21)
The following year Aubry conducted an expedi- tion which carried supplies to the French at Fort Duquesne, and was engaged in several skirmishes while there. But the French, seeing that they could hold Duquesne no longer, burnt it in October and began the retreat of a thousand miles to the Illinois Country, Aubry coming down the Ohio to Fort Ascension again.
Along with Aubry came the noted St. Ange de Belle Rive, who had once served as Illinois com- mandant and who was destined to play an important role in the struggle. Aubry brought with him eight cannon and 100 men for garrison duty. Upon ar- rival, he strengthened and enlarged the fort by throwing up new earthen works and erecting a stockade with four bastions. Aubry departed and, it is said, left in command a young subaltern, M. Marsiac, or Massaiac, who was also the engineer of the fort. Some authorities claim the fort was now named for him, but no one has been able to find anywhere any record of such an officer. (25) Be that as it may, henceforth, in French records it was
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LAST YEARS UNDER THE FRENCH
known as Fort Massac, and was the last fort to be built by the French in America.
St. Ange was instructed to remain at the fort and stop every pursuing expedition. He served well in that capacity, warding off the English in several instances. Later he went to New Orleans where he died some years later.
Fort Massac at once became a charge upon Fort Chartres, sending its requisitions to Major Makarty for arms, ammunition, provisions and other needed supplies. (26) During the last years of Makarty's command he, in 1759, took further measures to pro- tect the country along the Ohio by stationing a considerable party of Chaoumon (Shawnee) Indians at Fort Massac, with an ample supply of provisions for the season. He gave as his reason that "they will be more useful and less dangerous than at Fort Chartres." The Indians did not remain long enough to be of any assistance, but becoming fearful, with- drew northwards toward Fort Chartres again. (21) (26)
In June 1759, 300 soldiers and militia and 600 In- dians marched from the Illinois Country by way of Fort Massac for the relief of Fort Niagara. M. Hertel, who had maintained his ground among the Indians on the Scioto, reported that though friendly he recommended an early removal of the Scioto to a point near Fort Massac. (27)
On April 12, 1760, Makarty heard of the menac- ing operations of the English at Fort Duquesne and
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
said : "I have caused Fort Massac to be terraced, fraized and fortified, piece upon piece, with a strong ditch." He continued to send it cannon until at the surrender it had eight guns mounted. (26)
The next person of note who appeared upon the local scene was Philippe Francois de Rastel, Cheva- lier de Rocheblave. Villiers, Makarty's successor, assumed the command of Illinois in 1760, and in the same year gave Rocheblave the command of Fort Massac to guard against the British attacks from the Tennessee. Rocheblave arrived on May 22 with two boats and fifty soldiers to supersede the Sieur de Clouet, then stationed there. (21)
The French began gradually but steadily to lose ground and in 1761 only the Illinois Country re- mained to them. The British continued to triumph until in 1763 the Peace of Paris was signed. When Villiers learned of the treaty he ordered his scattered forces to be drawn in. The garrison under Roche- blave was reduced to 15 men and one officer. Roche- blave occupied Fort Massac only a short time, for after the Peace of Paris he was appointed to other duties. In a report of Robertson he says : "a captain and sixty men are to relieve the French garrison at Massiac, thirty five leagues up the Ohio, on the left bank from the river's mouth opposite to the Chero- kee River." (28) In a letter signed by Dabbadie he said two pieces of cannon could be left to the British. These, along with others from various ceded forts, were to be taken to New Orleans. (28) Before the
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LAST YEARS UNDER THE FRENCH
British arrived the French had abandoned the fort.
The French garrison was directed to give up Fort Massac by a special order of April 21, 1764, but technically they continued to hold it for another year. The order then was formally carried out by a Captain Thomas Stirling who "embarked in boats at Fort Pitt with 100 Highlander Veterans of the 42nd English regiment, and descended the Ohio to its mouth, accepting the surrender of Fort Massac en route." (27)
With the end of the French and Indian War Fort Massac and the Illinois Country passed into British hands. The lilies of France ceased to grow on Illi- nois soil, and the French dominion of over 100 years ended.
CHAPTER IV
MASSAC UNDER THE BRITISH
The British rule of fifteen years in the Illinois Country began with the coming of Captain Thomas Stirling in October 1765. As has been said, he came down the Ohio to Fort Massac and accepted its surrender.
The French were ignorant of the true state of affairs so soon after the peace signature, and had influenced the Indians against the expected arrival of the English. Being aware of this, Stirling sent Lieutenant Rumsey by land with two Indians and two French from Fort Massac to acquaint St. Ange of the approach, and asked him to pacify the Indians. The French lowered their lily-splashed banner, and journeying morosely down to New Orleans, left the British flag floating over the now decimated popu- lation.
The old French forts were in many instances rebuilt by the British. Fort Massac was among those mentioned as being of some consequence. In an account of the French forts ceded to Great Britain in Louisiana by the Treaty of 1763, written by an
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MASSAC UNDER THE BRITISH
officer well acquainted with the place he described, he says : "13 leagues from the Mississippi on the left bank of the Ohio, is Fort Massac or Ascension, built in 1757 a little below the mouth of the Cherokee. It is of consequence for the British to preserve it as it secures the communication between the Illinois and Fort Pitt."
The French had restrictions placed upon their trading activities-it was the policy of the British to compel the French to make full account of trade- but illegal trade and smuggling was carried on, and it was difficult for the British to hold the trade monopoly. They began planning for the prevention of French trade. It is strange that no action was ever taken towards rebuilding Fort Massac.
Captain Stirling remained in command only three months, and was succeeded by Major Robert Farmer, who in turn was appointed governor. He at once advised the establishment of a good post on the Ohio at Fort Massac where, he said, the French had one burnt a few months previously by the Chickasaws. Robertson also advised that the fort be rebuilt.
Captain Harry Gordon made a trip down the Ohio in the summer of 1766 and halted for a few hours at the fort. To quote from his journal: "The 6th in the morning we halted at Fort Massiac, for- merly a French post, 120 miles below the mouth of the Wabash, and 11 below that of the Cherokee River-The reason of the French's sending a gar-
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
rison to this place, was to be a check on the Cherokee parties that came down the river of that name-The situation of this fort is a good one, jetting with a point a little into the river, the beach of which up and down it discovers to a considerable distance. A garrison here will protect the traders that come down the Ohio; until they have accounts from the Illinois. It will prevent those of the French going up the Ohio or among the Wabash Indians. Hunters from this post may be sent amongst the buffalo, any quantity of whose beef they can procure in proper season, and the salt may be got from the Saline at an easy rate to cure it, for the use of the troops at the Illinois. The situation is a good one nowhere commanded from, nor can the retreat of the garrison (a consideration in the Indian Countries) ever be cut off-the river being, from the entrance of that called the Cherokee, from 7 to 800 yards wide. It will in a political light hold the balance between the Chero- kee and Wabash Indians, as it favors the entrance of the former, across the Ohio, into the latter's Country, and covers the retreat from it. There is no proper spot for a post nearer the Cherokee River above or below the Mississippi but this, as the grounds on the bank of the Ohio begin to get very low. The current of the river towards the Missis- sippi is very still and may be easily ascended if af- fairs are in any way doubtful at or near the Illinois.
"7th we got to the fork of the Ohio in Lat. 35-43 about 40 miles below Massiac; we took a survey of
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MASSAC UNDER THE BRITISH
the river in coming down." According to Gordon's estimate, it was 111834 miles from Fort Pitt to Fort Massac.
On January 17, 1767, George Gibsoa and an In- dian chief of prominence, Kayashata, arrived at Kaskaskia with the intelligence of Captain Smith at Fort Massac on the 5th instant. Smith had left Fort Pitt on November 15.
The British were in constant communication with the territory along the Ohio during these years. In 1776 John Jennings, who was the representative of a large firm for western trade, made a trip down the Ohio with a large cargo of goods on his way to Fort Chartres. To quote his journal for Thursday, March 27: "At half past six o'clock this morning set off, at half past seven, passed the Cherokee River and about twelve miles below the Shawnees River with an island at the mouth-at ten o'clock arrived at Massiac, or Cherokee fort, on the north side of the river, about ten miles below the Cherokee River. This fort (which is now in ruins) was four square about one hundred feet, was built with logs and earth and most delightfully situated, on a high bank by the river side. The land was very low for some distance." Gage also mentioned the ruinous con- dition of the fort.
In 1776 the Revolutionary War began, and soon after the colonists began the fight for the Ohio Valley. The British, for lack of men, could not maintain garrisons at all the posts in the Illinois
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
Country. Consequently, Fort Massac was not oc- cupied. Had it been so, the next chapter of western history might have been different.
In the great struggle the French inhabitants were allied with the British. Rocheblave, St. Ange, and other prominent French had not left for New Orleans as some had done. They were typical of those who accepted British rule with seemingly little regret, and were straightway employed in British service. Rocheblave, it will be remembered, was appointed as French Commander of Fort Mas- sac. Later he acted in the same capacity for the British, although if he occupied Fort Massac at all it was only for a short time. He dwelt constantly in fear of the expected attack of the colonists. Letter after letter, as the situation grew more menacing, he sent to Detroit beseeching assistance. "We are on the eve of seeing here," he wrote, "a numerous band of brigands who will establish a chain of communi- cation which will not be easy to break, once formed."
Detroit, however, gave him no aid and when he wrote these words the "brigands", under George Rogers Clark, were ready to spring upon him, and Fort Massac was soon to see the unfurling of a strange new flag-that of the United States of America .*
*This chapter is based largely upon The New Regime, by C. W. Alvord, of the Illinois Historical Collections Vol. 11.
CHAPTER V
THE "BIG KNIFE CHIEF"-CLARK
The greatest defender of the frontier in the War of Independence was George Rogers Clark, a daring hunter, Indian fighter, and born leader of men. He conceived the idea of wresting the Northwest Terri- tory from the British and presented his plans to Patrick Henry in the year 1778.
After much difficulty Clark succeeded in enlist- ing 150 Virginians. Returning to Kentucky he en- deavored to raise more men. He told them nothing of his daring plans and they readily enlisted, think- ing it was for the purpose of home protection. Clark then descended the Ohio to Corn Island, expecting more recruits. Many arrived but discovering Clark's real purpose, deserted in great numbers. Full prep- arations were made at Corn Island for the campaign, and on June 24, 1778, during an eclipse of the sun, they set out on the voyage downstream. Clark's force of eight score men was divided into four com- panies, commanded by Captains Montgomery, Bow- man, Helm and Harrod.
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
CLARK MONUMENT-FORT MASSAC STATE PARK
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THE "BIG KNIFE CHIEF"-CLARK
They continued their journey day and night for four days until they came to the mouth of the Ten- nessee River and landed on a small island, where they stopped. While there, Clark's men picked up a party of hunters under the leadership of John Duff, an Englishman. Clark says in his Memoir : "as I intended to leave the Ohio at Fort Massac, three leagues below the Tennessee, I landed on a small island (Barataria) in the mouth of that river, in order to prepare for the march. In a few hours after, one John Duff and a party of hunters coming down the river were brought to our boats. They were men formerly from the states, and assured us of their happiness in the adventure (their surprise having been owing to not knowing who we were). They had been but lately from Kaskaskia, and were able to give us all the intelligence we wished-They hoped to be received as partakers in the enterprise, and wished us to put full confidence in them, and they would assist the guides in conducting the party. This was agreed to and they proved valuable men.
"The acquisition to us was great, as I had no intelligence from those posts since the spies I sent twelve months past. But no part of their informa- tion pleased me more than that of the inhabitants viewing us as more savage than the neighbors, the Indians. I was determined to improve upon this if I was fortunate enough to get them into my pos- session, and conceived the greater the shock I could give them at first, the more sensibly would they feel
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
my lenity and become more valuable friends." (29) (30)
Clark mentioned that he wished the inhabitants to feel a horror for his "savage" men. The Ken- tuckians at this time were men adept in the use of the long hunting knife of the period, and they had succeeded in inspiring a great terror in the Indians for their skill in its use. The Kentuckians were called the "Long Knives" and Clark was called the "Big Knife Chief". Later he used this nickname to advantage.
Clark did not say whether Duff's first inclination was to retreat or not. If he had retreated, no officer would have hesitated to cut him off. No chance could be taken as Clark's plan depended upon secrecy. "Hunter" was a term applied to all the free-lance wanderers and they took neither the American nor British side. They were, it may be said, without a country, and served as connecting links between the two sides. They were experienced on the trail. Their password was "furs" and they retailed news along the way. Palmer says: "Sudden historical importance had descended on Duff. He had good reason to be polite when he faced a leader who was surrounded by nine score of armed men- and Clark had good reason to be polite to him. There was no concealing the fact that the nine score were not seeking buffalo meat or looking for land for a settlement. They were plainly on the warpath
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THE "BIG KNIFE CHIEF"-CLARK
against the British garrisons."*1 Therefore, Clark told Duff his objective. The oath of allegiance was administered which, by Patrick Henry's instructions, gave Clark as much right over Duff's party as over his own army. Palmer continues : "Clark might still wonder if Duff were not telling him what Duff thought he would like to hear. In any event, Clark knew that here was good propaganda to arouse the confidence of his troops. He bade Duff circulate among them, repeating what Clark wanted him to say -. " Clark said this "put the whole in the greatest spirits, sure, by what they heard, of success." "'*2
Clark was favorably impressed by John Saunders (Sanders), one of Duff's party, and engaged him to be his guide to Kaskaskia. The entire party was willing to accompany Clark but he took only a few. It was seen plainly that these men could be invalu- able, although there was some risk in so brief an acquaintance. Sanders proved his worth and later was given a grant of land.
On the evening of June 28 the entire party de- scended the river and first stepped on Illinois soil at the mouth of Massac Creek, which Clark called a "gut" or gully. As there was no further use for the boats, they were hidden beneath some underbrush.
*1Reprinted by permission of Dodd, Mead & Company from Clark of the Ohio, by Frederick Palmer. Copyright 1929 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. P. 196.
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