Compendium of history and biography of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan, Part 11

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago H. Taylor & Co.
Number of Pages: 858

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Nevertheless Harrison determined to increase his forces. After warning the Indians that they must observe the provisions of the treaty of Greenville to the letter, he at once proceeded to break up the establishment of the prophet. Having further recruited his forces and received reinforcements, Harrison proceeded to a point on the Wabash river, some sixty miles above Vincennes in October. There he built Fort Harrison, near the site of what is now Terre Haute, Indiana; and there in the following month he was victorious in a brilliant action with the Indians, known as the battle of Tippecanoe. The prophet had promised victory for his brothers in this battle. Its adverse results to the Indians spelled the loss of popularity and power for the prophet and were conducive to the temporary cessation of hos- tilities along this part of the frontier.

CHAPTER IX.

(CONTRIBUTED BY O. M. BURTON.)

War Declared Against England, June 18, 1812-Hull Appointed Brigadier General-Raising of Volunteers-Failure to Notify Hull of Formal Declaration of War-Packet "Cuyahoga" Captured by the British-Militia Companies in Detroit-Arrival of Hull and His Army-Preliminary Operations in Canada-British Capture Fort Mackinac-Hull Delays Attack on Fort Malden-Van Horn's Command Attacked by Indians-British Learn Plans of Operation-Hull Retires From Canada-Battle of Monguagon-Brock Assumes Command of British Forces-Americans Retreat from Sandwich-Brock Demands Surrender of Detroit-Hull Refuses and Detroit is Bombarded-British Forces Cross the Detroit River-Hull's Letters to Brock- Surrender of Detroit by Hull-Articles of Capitulation-Captured Officers Taken to Montreal.

On June 18, 1812, while Governor Hull was absent from the Territory of Michigan, the United States declared war against England. In spite of the embargo and repeated pro- tests against continued outrages on American shipping by the British admiralty, the final breach between the two countries opened even more widely. The war is directly attrib- utable to the indignity suffered by the American ship "Chesapeake" at the hands of the British ship "Leopard," off the Virginia coast.

The list of grievances against Great Britain had been, it will be remembered, accumu- lating for ten years, Although it was well understood for several years before the final declaration, that war must sooner or later follow, the country was not prepared for the event when the time arrived. Within the limits of the present state of Michigan there were two fortified posts of importance,-Detroit and Michillimackinac. The latter post was lo- cated on the island of Mackinac, situated on the strait between the two peninsulas of Michigan, and was under the command of Lieutenant Porter Hanks, with a force of fifty- seven effective men and officers. Fort Lernoult was within the limits of the Detroit post, and at the time of the declaration of war contained Major Whistler's company of infantry and Captain Samuel Dyson's company of artillery.

Governor Hull was called into frequent consultation with the president at Washington, and the subject of the expected war was uppermost in their interviews; plans for raising forces for the protection of the northern frontier were fully discussed. At first Hull de- clined an appointment as brigadier general, which would place him in command of the army of the northwest, but he finally consented to accept the appointment. In April, 1812, the newly made general set out for Detroit. Descending the river Ohio, he reached Marietta May 3d, and Cincinnati May 8th. At the latter place he met Return J. Meigs, who had been enlisting volunteers for the army to accompany Hull to Detroit. A draft of ten com- panies was rendezvoused at Dayton. Volunteers from Kentucky poured north across the Ohio to supplement this force. Three companies of Ohio volunteers were formed to still further swell these numbers. Though the country had been engaged in various wars for years; though the men of the west had borne the brunt of the Indian fighting on the fron- tier, everyone was anxious to help defeat the British.

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At Dayton Hull met, on May 23d, twelve hundred men, comprising the three militia regiments of volunteers. The field officers of these troops were: Duncan McArthur, col- onel, and James Denny and William A. Trimble, majors of the First Regiment ; James Find- lay, colonel, and Thomas Moore and Thomas Van Horn, majors of the Second Regiment ; Lewis Cass, colonel, and Robert Morrison and J. R. Munson, majors of the Third Regi- ment. Colonel Meigs, governor of Ohio, turned over the command of these troops to Gen- eral Hull on the 25th of May, and on the Ist of June they marched to Staunton. At Urbana, on the 10th they were joined by the Fourth Regiment of United States regulars, consisting of about three hundred men. From Urbana to Detroit, a distance of some two hundred miles, a pathway had to be cut through nearly unbroken forests. The line of march as laid down on a modern map shows that Hull passed through Urbana, Kenton and Fort Findlay, and reached and crossed the Maumee river near the falls, not far from where the battle of Fallen Timber had taken place in 1794.

Proceeding down the northerly bank of the Maumee to a point near the present site of Toledo, Hull took a direct course to Monroe, or Frenchtown as it was then called, on the river Raisin, and thence proceeded along the line of the government road,-probably at that time an Indian trail,-hugging the shore line of the Detroit river until he reached De- troit. On the way, four block houses were built, in which were left the invalids and a few soldiers for the protection of convoys.

Although there is some evidence to the contrary, there seems to have been an inexcusa- ble delay on the part of the Washington government in notifying Hull of the declaration of war. While warlike preparations were openly being made, no formal advice that war ex- isted had been issued and until that notice was given, either side was at liberty to proceed about its own affairs without fearing to be molested by the other. As before stated, the declaration was dated June 18th, and notice was at once given to the British officials. They made haste to convey the news across the border and the soldiers in the various garrisons as well as the militia officers were notified as quickly as special messengers could convey the news to them. On the other hand, the president trusted to the slow movements of the mail carriers to give to Hull the notice that was of more importance to him than to any other American. When Hull was at Findlay, Ohio, he received a letter announcing that war would soon be declared. This letter was dated June 18th, the very day that the dec- laration of war was issued, but the letter did not convey that news to him nor inform him when he might expect it.

Hull proceeded with his army and was well on his way to Detroit before the letter con- taining the official news of the declaration of war reached him, on July 2d. The letter that Hull received at Findlay did not convey news of great importance but was sent by special messenger, while the other letter, containing news of the greatest possible impor- tance, reached Cleveland in the ordinary mail, and might have remained there several days longer had it not been for a young attorney named Charles Shaler, who was hired to take the letter forward, for the consideration of thirty-five dollars. This inexplicable de- lay resulted in a serious loss to Hull.

There was a small force of British regulars and quite a force of Canadian militia stationed at Malden, as the fort at Amherstburg was called, at the time Hull crossed the river Maumee. This British force was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel T. B. St. George. He had been informed of the declaration of war and was on the lookout for the approach of Hull's army. When the latter reached the Maumee river, he employed a small packet, called the "Cuyahoga," Captain Chapin, to carry his luggage and some sick sol-

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

diers up the river to Detroit. At this time Hull did not know that war had been declared. When the packet undertook to pass between Fort Malden and Bois Blanc island, it was easily captured by the British soldiers. Its officers were made prisoners and the luggage was ransacked. In the luggage was a dispatch box containing the private letters and in- structions of Hull and the plans for his future work; the possession of these gave informa- tion of much importance to the British.

Hull pushed on with his troops, but his progress was greatly delayed by rains and bad roads. It was not until the 7th of July that he reached Detroit. On the 6th of July, at about the time the troops reached the river Rouge, Hull sent Colonel Cass and Captain Hickman, Hull's son-in-law, to Colonel St. George at Amherstburg, with a note demand- ing the return of the baggage captured on the "Cuyahoga." He also suggested the com- pletion of an understanding for the exchange of prisoners. The captured baggage was not returned.

In anticipation of the declaration of war, the citizens of Detroit had made some prep- arations for arming the militia. There were many men living in the place who had taken active part in the Revolution, and their ardor was not abated by the trials they had passed through. Their desire now to punish England for her constant insults and aggressions since the close of that war, revived their spirits, and they enrolled themselves in militia companies and were drilled, preparatory to the conflict that for years had seemed to be in- evitable. A committee of safety was chosen and a popular subscription was started to obtain funds to purchase a supply of powder to be distributed by the committee. Hull, as governor, was also commander of the militia and in his absence such duty fell upon Reuben Att- water, secretary of the territory and acting governor. James Witherell, one of the judges of the supreme court, was appointed major in command of the detachment of militia raised at the rivers Huron, Raisin and Maumee. A troop of cavalry and a company of infantry were organized at Detroit, and a three-gun battery was erected close by the military store on Jefferson avenue, near the present Wayne street, on the bluff that overlooked the river. Other officers of the militia, George McDougall, Solomon Sibley and Elijah Brush, were present with their companies to welcome Hull with his army on his arrival, and to put themselves under the command of the general. The soldiers spent a few days resting and employed themselves in cleaning and repairing their arms, and getting ready for active work. Early in the morning of the 12th of July, the army passed along the river road to the eastward of the village and crossed the river at Belle island, to the Canadian shore, meeting with no opposition.

The Canadian militia had been summoned to the aid of the regulars and had gathered at Malden and Sandwich. At the latter place there were four hundred and sixty men under Colonel James Baby and Mathew Elliott. These were supported by a detachment of regulars. In addition to troops at Malden there were, as allies, between two and three hundred Indians under command of the chief Tecumseh. The militia were but partly armed. They had left their farms at the call of their officers, but were impatient to return to their homes and harvests.

St. George, who was in command of the troops and militia, did not have a very high opinion of the latter. In his letter of July roth he says that if the Kent and Essex coun- ties' militia continue to be so much alarmed as they then were, he would withdraw them from Sandwich to Malden. Continuing he writes: "I am at present so disagreeably sit- uated from the prevailing disposition of both officers and men, that I have no doubt in an attack on Sandwich, which the enemy appears to be preparing for, the force there will be

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

obliged to retreat to this place (Amherstburg ) before that happens, which would throw the militia into a state of confusion liable to disorganize the whole body. Before it is too late I shall most likely think it incumbent on me to bring them down to this place, and make the most of them-perhaps they will show a better spirit when they have a larger body of regulars to set them an example."

Immediately upon seeing Hull cross the river the Canadian militia withdrew to Am- herstburg, taking with them all the cattle and provisions that could be found, Mr. Francis Baby having been commissioned to carry off everything that might assist the Americans if captured by them. The Canadian militia began to desert the army in large numbers and St. George reported a few days later that only four hundred and seventy-one men were left. These were in such a state as to be entirely inefficient in the field.

General Hull was now at Sandwich and took possession of Mr. Baby's house as his head- quarters. Intrenchments were thrown up, and batteries were erected along the line towards Malden. Hull issued a proclamation promising protection to the Canadians and directing them to remain in their houses. The proclamation is dated July 13th, and Lewis Cass claimed to be its author. Hull's army at this time, as reported in "Defense of General Dearborn," consisted of 2,075 soldiers as follows :

Fourth regiment of infantry. 483

Colonel Findlay's regiment of volunteers and militia. 509

Colonel Cass' regiment of volunteers and militia 483

Colonel McArthur's regiment of volunteers and militia 552

Colonel Sloan's troop of Cincinnati light dragoons. 48

Total . 2,075

Hull claimed, however, shortly after his surrender, that but fifteen hundred men passed with him into Canada, and that none of the Michigan militia, and only a portion of the Ohio militia, would cross the river. In his proclamation Hull threatened to put to death any white man of the Canadians, found fighting by the side of an Indian. The proclamation quickly circulated among the Canadians and found its way to the militia assembled at Malden. Assured that their lives and property would be protected in any event, the militia hastened to leave for their homes. A letter from Mathew Elliott, the British Indian agent, explains the situation as follows: "Their proclamations have operated very power- fully on our militia (who had come forward with as much promptitude as could have been expected). Since their issuing our militia have left their posts and have returned to their homes, so that since Sunday the number is reduced to about one-half, and I expect that in two or three days more we shall have very few of them at the post. We expect to be attacked to-day or to-morrow. The Indians with us are between three and four hundred, who have resisted every allurement which General Hull lay before them. Tecumseh has kept them faithful-he has shown himself to be a determined character and a great friend of our government."

Hull did not proceed at once to attack Malden as predicted by Elliott. A council of officers decided to wait until preparations could he made for heavy ordnance. Work was begun for this purpose, and continued till August 5th. Not to keep the American forces idle in the meantime, Colonel McArthur was sent with a detachment to the river Thames (La Tranche) to secure some flour and other provisions belonging to the British. He returned with a quantity of goods for which he had given receipts. Hull had given com- mands forbidding his soldiers to take anything from the Canadians, but his official seizure

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of supplies from McGregor, Baby and David, three Canadian citizens, was in retaliation for the taking of the baggage captured on the "Cuyahoga" by the British.

Colonel Cass, with two hundred and fifty men, went down the river to reconnoitre and to determine the enemy's position. On reaching the river Canard, he found the bridge that spanned the stream guarded by British troops. By ascending this river for some dis- tance he was able to ford it, and with a part of his force he returned on the other side and drove the guard back to Malden, taking possession of the bridge and thus opening a road to that place.

The delay of our government in neglecting to notify the frontier posts of the declara- tion of war caused a serious disaster at this time. Lieutenant Porter Hanks was in com- mand of the fort at Mackinac. He was in entire ignorance of the existence of war. Cap- tain Charles Roberts, in command of the British post, Fort St. Joseph, was better informed, however, and planned to capture Fort Mackinac. With three hundred and twenty men, Canadians and Indians, Roberts took the Mackinac post by surprise. His expedition crossed the island, dragging a six-pound gun. The attack was made on July 17th and a flag of truce was sent to the fort, demanding its surrender. Lieutenant Hanks felt com- pelled to yield, as he was unable to resist the threatened assault. The fort fell into the pos- session of the British without the firing of a shot. John Askin, Jr., in command of the In- dians, reported that had the Americans resisted, not a soul would have escaped the hatchet. Lieutenant Hanks and his fifty-seven men were paroled and sent to Detroit, where they were again captured a month later.

Lieutenant Colonel St. George had, according to the report of July 30, 1812, four hun- dred and seventy militia and three hundred regulars at Fort Malden. The militia continued to desert and those that remained could not be depended upon. The fort was in poor con- dition, but had twenty pieces of ordnance. It was believed that Hull would attack the place at once, and every effort was made to put it in condition to resist him. An armed ship, the "Queen Charlotte," was used by the British to guard the bridge at the river Canard, over which the Americans would be forced to march in attacking Malden. In order to advance, Hull endeavored to drive off the "Queen Charlotte" and set about build- ing floating batteries heavy enough to attack the ship. Three such batteries were begun and two of them were completed. At this time a foraging party under Captain Robert Forsyth captured a large drove of cattle and sheep, at Baldoon, on the river St. Clair. At Hull's trial by court marshal it was was alleged that these supplies were given the general as a reward for his perfidy in surrendering Detroit. Colonel Cass testified to the recapture of the sheep at the surrender of Detroit.

St. George was superseded by Colonel Henry Procter, who arrived at Malden July 26th, with reinforcements of about three hundred regulars. On August Ist news was re- ceived at Detroit of the fall of Mackinac. There was an occasional skirmish with the Brit- ish and Indians but no decisive battle took place, nor was there any effort made to pro- ceed against Malden with the army. A spot for the erection of a picket fort was chosen near Sandwich and work was begun under the supervision of Colonel John Anderson. A few days after the receipt of the news of the fall of Mackinac the officers in Hull's army were called in council and it then appeared that the floating batteries and the heavy guns would be ready, soon, for an attack on Malden. Although the officers were anxious to make the attack at once, Hull was not confident of success and was afraid that his defences on the American side were in great disorder. Again he delayed. Hull's dispatches to the secretary of war, fell into the hands of the British, a habit they seem to have acquired.

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

Thus the enemy were given full knowledge of the situation of the American army. Hull stated in these dispatches that the council of officers had determined that it was not advisable to attempt to storm Malden. At his subsequent trial, however, nearly all the testimony introduced directly contradicted this statement. Our general was much depressed by the news of the approach of Major Chambers, of the British army, who was proceeding across country from Niagara to attack him in the rear. He was also afraid that the fall of Mackinac would let loose a horde of savages from the north, who were allied to British interests. He proposed to complete the work on the floating batteries and then march down the river to attack Malden, unless it became necessary to send a portion of his troops across the river to the American side in order to keep open his communications with Ohio. Just what he feared regarding his food supply happened. The Wyandotte Indians, who were friendly to the Americans but who had not taken any part in the war, were seated on their reservation in Monguagon, some fiften or eighteen miles below Detroit. On August 2d a detachment of Indians and British troops crossed the river and drove the Wyandottes as willing prisoners to Malden, in expectation that they would join the other savages on the British side.

Governor Return J. Meigs of Ohio notified Hull that Captain Henry Brush, with a de- tachment of soldiers, and Captains Rowland and Campbell, with their companies, were on the road to Detroit with supplies for the troops. At the time this news was received, Brush had not entered the territory of Michigan. Hull was again afraid. He feared that communication between his army and its supplies would be cut off and that the supplies would be captured by the enemy. At a council of the officers Hull stated that he proposed to send Major Van Horn down the river on the American side to keep open the com- munication with the party under Brush. Accordingly Van Horn was dispatched with two hundred men, though Colonels Cass, Findlay and McArthur protested that the number of troops was too small to successfully resist an attack. The Detroit-Ohio road passed along the margin of the river so close to the water as to be easily guarded by boats.

While Van Horn was en route, his command was fired upon at the river Ecorce, and when the advance guard of the detachment had reached Brownstown creek, it was again attacked by Indians. Van Horn's men were escorting the mail and a retreat was ordered to a point of cover in the woods. However, the soldiers fled at least a quarter of a mile be- fore they could be reformed. A short stand was made but the troops again retreated under direction of Van Horn, to once more form under a clump of trees that appeared like an island in the prairie. The soldiers did not obey the order to halt at these trees, but continued their flight in great confusion, closely followed by the savages. The loss in killed was eighteen; about seventy were missing and twelve were wounded. Van Horn reached Detroit the same evening, August 5th, and was soon rejoined by most of his scattered men. On this occasion the Indians, numbering about three hundred, were under the command of Tecumseh. The mail was captured and thus Hull's letters, containing full plans for the American operations, fell into the hands of the enemy.

On the morning of August 7th preparations were made by Hull for the long delayed attack on Malden, but his activities in this respect were discontinued at noon. It is prob- able that at that hour Hull had received news of Van Horn's defeat and that the general felt it was of more importance to keep open the road to his supplies on the south than to attack Malden. Preparations were accordingly made for a retreat, much to the disgust of both officers and men. On August 8th the army passed over the river, leaving only a few sol- diers, under Major John Anderson, to hold a position at Sandwich. At his trial Hull

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

stated that he had built a work opposite Detroit and had garrisoned it with two hundred and thirty infantry and twenty-five artillerists. Major Denny in command of the ordnance, was instructed to hold the position, to afford protection to all well disposed inhabitants and to fall back only in case of an attack by artillery. On the day of his retirement from Canada, Hull wrote Secretary Eustis of the movement and stated that his action was necessitated by the defection of the Wyandotte Indians, the fall of Mackinac, the advance of British reinforcements from Niagara and the resultant interruption of communication with Ohio.

In the general's defense it may be said that the defeat of Van Horn placed the Ameri- cans in a position of decided disadvantage. Hull, separated from his base of supplies and the reinforcements under Brush, feared lest Detroit would soon be at the mercy of the In- dians who were even then overruning the American farms, destroying crops and driving off cattle. Hull was afterward sharply criticised for not falling back, with his army, to the Maumee and thus abandoning Detroit but saving his army. He was separated from his source of supplies and practically surrounded by a force that was daily increasing in numbers and in fortified strength. He had neglected the only opportunity that presented itself to proceed against the enemy and it was doubtful if he could, at this time, have made a juncture with the south if he had attempted it with his entire force. Certainly he could not have retained Detroit and held open the communication with Ohio unless he first de- feated and captured or drove off the British. He contemplated a general retreat down the river, but feared, so he subsequently stated, a defection in the troops. This would indicate that his officers and men were not troubled with the temerity and caution with which their general seems to have been so generously supplied. Hull resolved, however, to do what he could to keep open his communication with Captain Brush, who was still at the river Raisin. For this purpose Colonel James Miller, with Majors Van Horn and Morrison and a force of six hundred regulars, was ordered to proceed down the American side of the river. The detachment set out on the night of August 8th and marched to a point near the present site of the village of Trenton, then a wilderness. The next morning they met the British and Indians under Captain Muir, who was accompanied by Tecumseh, a force of four hundred regulars and Canadian volunteers and between two and three hundred In- dians. The British were in position behind a breastwork of logs and the savages were de- ployed in the woods. Captain Josiah Snelling led the advance guard of the Americans and was the first to receive the fire of the enemy. He stood his ground until supported by the main body under Colonel Miller. On the arrival of the latter the engagement known as the battle of Monguagon became general. Both sides took advantage of whatever cover the fallen trees in the vicinity afforded and for some time no decisive movement was made by either. At length Miller ordered an advance which resulted in the dislodging of the enemy and their full retreat. They were enabled to make good their escape by means of their boats. Captain Maxwell was ordered forward to reconnoitre and on his report that the enemy could not be found, Miller believed that the road to the Raisin was now free and that his further advance was unnecessary. The American loss of twenty killed and sixty wounded in this engagement far exceeded that of the British. Miller's forces camped on the field of battle and Captain Snelling was sent back to Detroit for provisions.

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Compendium of history and biography of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan, Part 11

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932 Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago H. Taylor & Co. Number of Pages: 858

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago H. Taylor & Co.
Number of Pages: 858