History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 50

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094

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A whole month of anxiety, unrest, and scarcity had now been experienced ; but relief was near at hand. On June 30, about four in the afternoon, a schooner arrived with twenty-two men of the Thir-

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THE CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

tieth Regiment, Lieutenant Cuyler and twenty-eight men of Captain Hopkins' Rangers, together with one hundred and fifty barrels of provisions and a quantity of ammunition. The vessels had a narrow escape as they passed Presque Isle,-now Erie, Pennsylvania,-that place having been captured by Indians who went from Detroit about June 10. On the same day that the vessel arrived, Jacques St. Martin with his family sought refuge in the fort. On July I "three oxen, three cows, and two calves came lowing and bleating to the gateway," the Indians from whose camp they had escaped chasing them as near the fort as they dared. Although the Indians were not welcome, the bovines were, as fresh meat was a rarity. The next day Lieutenant McDougall, who had been a captive since May 10, escaped, and with three other white men returned to the fort. On the same day Pontiac held a council with the French inhabitants on both sides of the river, and tried to compel them to assist him, but they refused, asserting that they were bound by the terms of the capitulation. Some of the younger men, however, offered their aid, in spite of the oppo- sition of the older habitans, but Pontiac was pre- vailed upon to refuse their services. On July 3 M. Baby, with his family and goods, sought refuge in the fort, and on the same day the commandant called the people together, and read the Articles of Peace concluded between the French and the Eng- lish.

The next day the French were organized into a company of militia; they selected Mr. Sterling for their commander, and were provided with arms and ammunition. The same day a party, led by Lieu- tenant Hay, started for M. Baby's house to get some powder and lead which had been left there. Meeting the nephew of an Ojibway chief, one of the men killed him, tore off his scalp, and shook it towards the enemy ; whereupon his uncle ran to Mr. Meloche's house, where Major Campbell was con- fined, seized him, bound him to a fence, and killed him with arrows, afterwards cutting off his head, and tearing out and eating his heart. This incident awakened renewed fear of a long siege, and on July 8 many of the principal inhabitants brought their goods within the fort for safe keeping; one of them, Mr. Maisonville, brought over five boatloads, con- taining ten thousand pounds of furs and lead. Major Gladwin had a poor opinion of some of the inhabitants. In a letter to General Amherst he says, " I dare say that before long we shall see that half of the colonists deserve the gibbet and that the other half be dispersed. However, there are a few honest men among them,-M. Navarre and the two Babys,-and my interpreters St. Martin and La Butte."

Being disappointed in their efforts to starve out

the garrison, the Indians sought to burn the vessels anchored in the river, through which supplies were obtained. They fitted up a raft with fagots of birch-bark and tar, and on July 10 pushed it into the middle of the stream, and set it on fire, but the ves- sels sheered off, and no damage was done. They then shot burning arrows into the stockade, which lodged on the houses and set them on fire. The fires were extinguished, but so great and so continu- ous was their danger that for many weeks the garri- son slept in their clothes with their arms by their side.

From time to time during the progress of the siege the two vessels under Gladwin's command sailed down the river, discharging shot into the Indian villages. Finally the Wyandotts and Poto- watamies, wearied with hostilities, sought for peace : and on their returning the captives in their posses- sion, peace was made with them. Soon after, on July 29, twenty-two barges arrived with two hundred and eighty men from the Fifty-fifth and Eightieth Regiments, including twenty independent Rangers commanded by Major Robert Rogers of New Hampshire ; the vessels also brought several cannon and a large amount of provisions,-the whole in charge of Captain Dalyell. The barracks were too small to accommodate so large a force, and the soldiers were quartered among the inhabitants. Captain Dalyell, who had been a companion of Israel Putnam in many daring exploits, besought of Gladwin the privilege of attacking the Indians in their camp. Gladwin opposed the plan, but finally gave a reluctant consent, and on July 31, at two o'clock in the morning, with two hundred and fifty men in three detachments, Dalyell marched up the river road, supported by two large bateaux armed with a swivel.

Through treachery Pontiac had been informed of Captain Dalyell's plan, and with his warriors was lying in ambush at Parent's Creek, near a narrow wooden bridge which then spanned the creek, a little south of the present Jefferson Avenue. As Dalyell's force neared the bridge, the Indians com- menced to fire. The soldiers charged across the bridge, but their foes were concealed from view. The Indians had every advantage, and the force, led by Captain Grant, retreated. While trying to save a wounded soldier, Dalyell himself was shot dead. Meantime, Captain Rogers took possession of the · house of Mr. Campau, near the river, between what is now Dubois and Chene Streets on Private Claim No. 91, or the James Campau Farm. Communica- tion was soon established with the fort, reinforce- ments obtained, and about six hours after their departure the detachment returned, with a loss of twenty-one men, of whom three were taken captive and eighteen killed; thirty-eight were wounded.

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THE CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

Tradition says that an old whitewood tree, standing on the south side of Jefferson Avenue, just beyond Adair Street, was a silent witness of the terrible slaughter of that early morning, and the tree for many years was called " The Pontiac Tree." It was cut down on June 2, 1886.

The body of Captain Dalyell, shockingly mutil- ated, was brought to the fort by young Mr. Campau, about three o'clock in the afternoon of August I. It was buried in the King's Garden, and as late as 1824 a gravestone erected to his memory was stand- ing in the grounds. Other officers slain at the time were also buried there. When Woodbridge Street was opened, some of the bodies were taken up and placed in a Pro- testant churchyard on Woodward Avenue. What afterwards be- came of them is un- known.

Six days after the battle of Bloody Bridge a schooner arrived with eighty barrels of provi- sions, a large quantity of naval stores, and some merchandise. While on the way the crew were attacked by some Indians and near- ly overpowered, but fin- ally escaped. On Aug- ust 13 the schooner Gladwin and sloop Beaver were sent to procure troops and sup- plies. While on their way back, on August 28, the sloop was wrecked at Catfish Creek, on Lake Erie. Her guns were lost and all her cargo except one hundred and eighty-five barrels, which were saved by the Glad- win

On August 29 two keys were found in the street at Detroit, one of which fitted the small gate of the fort. Treachery was feared, but these fears were not realized. The fall found the fort still besieged, though the Indians were greatly scattered, as they had neither provisions nor shelter. On September 3 they burned a windmill about three hundred yards from the fort. Two days later the Gladwin arrived with forty-seven barrels of flour and one hundred and sixty barrels of pork. She had left Niagara the last of August, with a captain, a crew of eleven men,

and six Mohawk Indians. On September 3, in the morning, she entered the river, where she was attacked by about three hundred and fifty Indians. The crew defended themselves bravely, defeated the Indians, and reached Detroit in safety.

The following letter from Captain Gladwin is of special interest, as it evidently refers to this particu- lar attack. The English distrust of the French, so prevalent in that day, is manifested by no uncertain words. The captain says :

THE PONTIAC TREE.

DETROIT, October 7, 1763.

DEAR SIR,-

What with business, vex- ation, and disappointment, I have scarce had time to think of any friend, much less to write to them, therefore I hope you will excuse my si- lence. I came hither much against my will, foreseeing what would happen ; I am brought into a scrape, and left in it; things are expected of me that can't be performed; I could wish I had quitted the service seven years ago, and that somebody else command- ed here. I shall say nothing in regard to our affairs, as you will hear enough of it be- low ; but I enclose you some papers concerning the scoun- drel inhabitants of Detroit, and the destruction of the outposts, which, perhaps, may amuse you for half an hour.

Daniel delivered me your letter to Captain Dalyell, which I took the liberty to open, knowing it concerned the service; I find the Indians (Mohawks) to be very faith- ful and ready to do anything they are desired ; the French attempted to blacken them by insinuating that they be- trayed the vessel, but I since find that two scoundrel Frenchmen, that went on board to sell greens, set the Indians upon the attempt.

I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you soon, either here or below, but I would choose the latter. I am with the greatest esteem, Dear Sir,

Your most humble servant,

HENRY GLADWIN.

On October 3 a schooner arrived with one hun- dred and eighty-five barrels of provisions, and early in the month Major Wilkins, with six hundred troops, left Niagara to relieve Detroit, but was at- tacked by the Indians and forced to return. The force again started, but a storm on Lake Erie caused the loss of sixteen out of forty-six bateaux, three officers, and seventy men, together with fifty-two barrels of provisions and other stores, and again the troops were forced to return to Niagara. News of the last disaster was contained in a letter from

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THE CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

Major Wilkins to Gladwin, brought, concealed in his powder-horn, the middle of November, by a friendly Wyandotte Indian.

The Indians had evidently learned that Major Wilkins with a strong force was on his way to De- troit, and on October 12 a chief of the Mississauguas came to the fort, ostensibly to sue for peace. A truce was then agreed upon, and Gladwin made use of it to gather provisions for the winter, of which the garrison was in great need. During the seven weeks previous to October 19 the soldiers had re- ceived but five pounds of flour and one half gallon of wheat each per week.

On October 29 M. Dequindre brought to Pontiac a letter from M. Neyon, the French commandant at Fort Chartres on the Mississippi, dated September 27, saying that he would give him no help; and on the next day he brought a letter to the fort giving the same information. Soon after most of the In- dians left the vicinity, and as the winter was coming on, and supplies for the garrison were uncertain, Major Gladwin decided to reduce his force to two hundred and twelve men, as that was as many as he could take care of. The rest were sent to Niag- ara, where they arrived on the 27th of November. The winter passed away without excitement of any kind. On the evening of March II an attempt was made, probably by some traitor, to fire the maga- zine, but the brand fortunately went out without accomplishing its purpose.

On June 4 His Majesty's birthday was celebrated by the discharge of three volleys from the troops and three discharges from the cannon. His health was drunk on parade by all the officers, and several Frenchmen who were invited guests, and at night the town was illuminated.

On June 28 the schooner Victory arrived from Niagara in company with a new schooner, the Bos- ton. As the fort and settlement were still in dan- ger, General Gage, the commander-in-chief, resolved to chastise the Indians by carrying the war into their own country. Two expeditions were therefore fitted out,-one, under Colonel Boquet, to proceed by way of Fort Pitt against the Indians between the Ohio and the Lakes; and the other, under Colonel Brad- street, to proceed against the Northern Indians by way of Lakes Erie and Ontario to Detroit. Brad- street's forces assembled at Albany; they consisted of three hundred Canadians and nine hundred colo- nial troops, two hundred and nineteen of the num- ber from Connecticut, and commanded by the noted Israel Putnam. They reached Niagara the last of June. His force was there joined by three hundred Iroquois, under Sir John Johnson and Henry Montour, and by nearly one hundred Ojibways and Mississauguas, under the command of Alexander Henry. These last soon became disaffected and

left. The army reached Detroit on August 26, 1764. bringing provisions and clothing, and the garrison, which had been confined to the ramparts for fifteen months, was now relieved. Their joy was so great that for the time being military discipline was almost lost sight of. Chests and bales were eagerly opened, new suits donned, and the dangers of the past were forgotten in the delights of security and plenty.

Bradstreet's force was the largest body of troops that had ever been seen at Detroit ; and when the scores of bateaux and barges thronged the river, and the troops landed with all the pomp of military dis- play,-colors flying, bugles blowing, and drums beating,-the Indians were at once so overwhelm- ingly convinced of the power of the English that they made no further resistance to their domina- tion ; and were no longer to be counted as the allies of the French. On August 30, by order of the commandant, all the inhabitants over fifteen years of age appeared to renew their oath of allegiance. The next day Gladwin was relieved of his command, and went east the day following.

On September 7 a council was held, and a treaty of peace concluded with several of the tribes. The next day Captain Howard and Alexander Henry, with three hundred Canadians, left for Mackinaw. Bradstreet inquired about and punished such of the Canadians as had aided the Indians. Some of them, however, did not await the result of his inquiries, but fled before his arrival.

Among those whom Bradstreet proposed to pun- ish-even by hanging -was Jacques Godfroy ; but on his promising to act as guide for Captain Morris, in an expedition to the Illinois Indians, he was released. He accompanied Captain Morris on his trip, saved his life several times, and returned with him to Detroit on September 17, the mission having accomplished nothing. Three days before their re- turn, General Bradstreet set out for Sandusky, leaving behind seven companies of soldiers as a reinforce- ment for the garrison. He remained at Sandusky until October 18, when he embarked his forces for Niagara. When near Rocky River, on Lake Erie, a storm arose, which destroyed twenty-five of the bateaux and most of the baggage and ammunition. The soldiers were consequently obliged to go by land ; they struggled through the wilderness, suffer- ing great hardships, and some of them did not reach Niagara until the last of December, 1764.

In February, 1765, Captain George Croghan, accompanied by Lieutenant Frazer and a small guard, was sent west by Sir William Johnson to distribute presents to the Indians, and thus prepare the way for the coming of English troops. Near the mouth of the Wabash Croghan and his party were made prisoners by the Kickapoos, and taken to Vincennes, and from there to Ouatanon, where

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THE CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

Croghan found friends, and their captivity ended. While on his way to visit Fort Chartres, by invitation of the commandant, Croghan met Pontiac, and con- cluded a treaty of peace. He then gave up the visit to Chartres, and with Pontiac started for Detroit, where they arrived August 17, 1765, and on September 26 Croghan left for Niagara. His treaty with Pontiac ended the war; Detroit alone of all the western posts had held out against the Indians until peace was thus declared.

In the spring of 1769 the Indians again became troublesome, and there was much alarm at Detroit; as another war seemed imminent, the traders did not venture west, and the inhabitants began to fortify.

Conciliatory measures were, however, adopted ; the Indians proved more docile, and from this time, under British rule, there was in Detroit but little feat of trouble with the Indians.

PONTIAC'S CONSPIRACY REVEALED, AS REPRESENTED IN THE PAINTING BY J. M. STANLEY.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR .- BRITISH AND INDIAN WARS AND FIRST AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF DETROIT .- FRENCH AND SPANISH INTRIGUES.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

WHEN the war of independence began in the East, its effects were immediately felt in Detroit. Martial law was established in this region and in all the British provinces, by proclamation of Guy Carl- ton, on June 9, 1775, and deliberate and remorseless plans were made for Indian forays from this post.

The Government feared that the rebel settlers in the West would seek to aid their brother colonists of the East and the South; and they especially dreaded an attack upon Detroit by the brave pioneers on the Ohio and in Western Virginia. The English knew well the importance of this place, as the gate- way of the West, and they lost no time in availing themselves of the help of their Indian allies in their efforts to retain their western possessions. In order the more effectually to interest the savages and secure their co-operation, the office of lieutenant- governor and superintendent was created for the three posts of Detroit, Michilimackinac, and Vincen- nes. This office did not exist in the West except at the three posts named, and it was unknown prior to and ceased with the close of the war of the revo- lution. Captain Henry Hamilton, of the Fifteenth Regiment, was appointed for Detroit, Patrick Sin- clair for Michilimackinac, and Edward Abbott for Vincennes.

It has been said that Hamilton was appointed under the Quebec Act by Governor Carlton, and that various military officers, including the com- mandant at Mackinaw, were under him, and that he had charge of the entire Northwest; but none of these statements are correct. The Quebec Act con- tained no provisions that could have any bearing on this office. All three of the appointments were made by the Earl of Dartmouth, the colonial secretary, and the appointees were to act under instructions from the commander-in-chief of the Province of Quebec. Governor Sinclair claimed the perquisites of his post from May 1, 1775, and it is probable that all three appointments were made on that date.

Governor Hamilton left Montreal for Detroit in September, and arrived here on November 9, 1775. The position of lieutenant-governor was deemed a desirable one, for Mr. Hay, who succeeded Hamil-

ton, claimed to have paid a large amount for his commission. The sequel proved that it was not worth as much as had been supposed. Consider- able rents were received from lands and lots claimed by the Crown, and it was also a common custom for the Indians to send presents of game to the governor on their return from the chase; he received also some portion of their harvests. Both Governor Ham- ilton and Colonel De Peyster, who succeeded him as acting lieutenant-governor, received and made use of these perquisites, but, much to their chagrin, they were called upon to account for them to the Government. Colonel De Peyster, in a letter dated November 21, 1782, strongly objected to this claim, on the ground that he had saved the Government at least ten thousand pounds, and that if he was required to refund the rents received at Detroit, it would be greatly to his damage, as he had " lived up to them in support of the dignity of a British commandant." The Government, however, perse- vered in the demand.

The powers of these quasi governors could be exercised only over the inhabitants of their posts and the Indians who were in the habit of resorting thither, and were extremely vague. As Lieutenant- Governor Cramahe expressed it, the wording of their commissions must have "escaped some person young in office." While the general intent seems to have been understood, some of their claims were con- tinually and successfully disputed by the local commandants, between whom and the lieutenant- governors at Detroit and Mackinaw quarrels were very frequent. General Haldimand, in one of his letters to Governor Hamilton, confessed that the powers connected with the offices of commandant and governor were "unhappily blended," but both commandants and lieutenant-governors were en- joined, for the good of the service, to do their utmost to promote harmony. Governor Hamilton, in a letter written August 12, 1778, complained that he had be- come almost a " cypher " through this conflict of au- thority; and General Haldimand, on August 20, 1779, wrote to Governor Sinclair, " I have ever viewed the situation of lieutenant-governor of the posts as awkward, and productive of misunderstanding."

[242]

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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

The office does not seem to have required great ability, and none is known to have been manifested by either of the appointees. The lieutenant-governor was not sent to administer justice, and any powers of that kind were an afterthought, and conferred merely for the sake of convenience. That the office was not a local necessity is shown by the fact that Lieutenant-Governor Abbott left his post early in 1778, arriving with his family at Detroit on March 7 of that year; he stated that he could not be of any service at Vincennes, as there were no goods in the place for the Indians. Governor Hamilton left his post to go on a foray; Colonel De Peyster, who succeeded him, filled the positions both of lieutenant- governor and commandant ; and Governor Sinclair, although appointed to Mackinaw in 1775, did not go there until 1779, after Colonel De Peyster had left. Indeed, it seemed a matter of much indifference whether or not there was a lieutenant-governor resident at Detroit. Governor Hamilton's real suc- cessor, Jehu Hay,' was restrained from coming here for more than a year. He arrived at Quebec the last of June, 1782, but Colonel De Peyster, then in command at Detroit, anticipating his appointment, had written to General Haldimand asking that he might be allowed, in case Hay was appointed, to · leave the place " either before or immediately on his arrival," as he did not wish to have anything to do with Mr. Hay. De Peyster's abilities were so mani- fest and so valuable at Detroit that General Haldi- mand was not willing to displace or displease him. Consequently, after Governor Hay had reached Montreal he was not allowed to go any farther. He was very indignant that he should be prevented from going to Detroit to "enjoy his office and emolu- ments," but General Haldimand would not yield to his angry demands, and on several occasions sharply reproved him, and compelled him to retract some of his utterances. At last on October 30, 1783, Colonel De Peyster was summoned to Niagara, and three days later Lieutenant-Governor Hay was ordered to Detroit. He started on his journey, reaching Carl- ton Island on November 24; here he was taken seriously ill, and wrote to General Haldimand that he should go no farther until spring. On December 6, however, though still very ill, he left Carlton Island, and went back to Montreal. De Peyster learned of his detention, and on December 8, 1783, wrote from Detroit that " the lateness of the season and the severity of the weather prevented his depart- ure, but he would go as early as the season would

permit." In the spring Governor Hay recovered, and on July 12, 1784, arrived at Detroit. Colonel De Peyster remained until some time in June, and possibly later.

By order of Governor Haldimand the militia at Detroit were disbanded soon after Governor Hay's arrival. This officer, when finally allowed to assume the governorship, found the powers of the office much restricted ; for Haldimand, before giving him leave to go to Detroit, had directed the distribution of the goods for the Indians to be made under the direction of Sir William Johnson. This order was resented by Governor Hay, but his protests were of no avail. He continued to serve, but claimed that he was so restricted in his powers that he could not do for the Indians what was really best. The dis- appointments which he met undoubtedly hastened his decease. He died at Detroit in August, 1785. Governor Hamilton, who in the meantime had re- turned to Canada, endeavored to secure the appoint- ment of Alexander McKee to the vacant office, but Governor Henry Hope disapproving, no one was appointed.

The chief duties of the lieutenant-governor evi- dently consisted in distributing goods to the Indians, in order to induce them to make war on the "rebels," in fitting out the warriors and encouraging them to keep on the "war path." Nowhere was this work so diligently carried on as at Detroit. Of all the posts west of Montreal and New York, at the time of the Revolution, this was the most important. It was not only a leading army center, but also the chief naval depot of the West. After August 10, 1776, no vessels were permitted on the Lakes except such as were enrolled at Detroit, and armed and manned by the Crown. It is almost impossible to realize the extent of English operations in this region during the progress of the war, and it is cer- tain that no one locality in the East was the field of so many and such varied manifestations of the strife as were exhibited here. The prominent feature in every scene during that period was scores or hundreds of painted savages, with uplifted toma- hawks, scalping knives in their belts, and fusils, lead, and flints at hand. All the materials for war were supplied by their " white father," and all were to be used against the American rebels. Everything that could be done to attach the Indians to the service of the King was done in unstinted manner. They were coaxed with rum, feasted with oxen roasted whole, alarmed by threats of the destruction of their hunting-ground, and supplied with everything that an Indian could- desire. Now one tribe, and now another, were invited to Detroit for a council, and council followed council in rapid succession, the Indians gathering by thousands at these meetings. As Captain Bird expressed it in one of his letters,

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History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 50

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094