History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 52

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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THE DRILL SERGEANT.

TUNE, The Happy Beggars.

Come, stand well to your order, Make not the least false motion, Eyes to the right, Thumb, muzzle height, Lads, you have the true notion. Here and there, Everywhere That the King's boys may be found, Fight and die ! Be the cry Ere in battle to give ground.

Come briskly to the shoulder, And mind when you make ready, No quid must slide From side to side,

To make your heads unsteady. Here and there, Everywhere That the King's boys may be found. Fight and die ! Be the cry Ere in battle to give ground.

5 Shrub.

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We beat them at the Cedars,

With those we call our light men Who, that same day,

Heard Yankeys say

They never saw such tight men. Here and there. Everywhere That the King's boys may be found, Fight and die ! Be the cry Ere in battle to give ground.

On March 15, 1777, an attack was made on Har- rodsburgh. This was repulsed, and about a month later an attack, equally unsuccessful, was made on Boonsboro.

The Indians next invested Logan's Station, re- maining before it for several weeks. They finally retired, after killing the soldiers of a small detach- ment that was on its way to the relief of the be- seiged. On the body of one them the following proclamation was found :

DETROIT, 24th June, 1777-

By virtue of the power and authority to me given by his Excel- lency, Sir Guy Carlton, Knight of the Bath, Governor of the Province of Quebec, General and Commander-in-chief, etc., etc., etc., I assure all such as are inclined to withdraw themselves from the tyranny and oppression of the rebel committees, and take refuge in this settlement, or any of the posts commanded by His Majesty's officers, that they shall be humanely treated, shall be lodged and victualed; and such as are officers in arms and shall use them in defence of His Majesty against rebels and traitors till the extinction of this rebellion, shall receive pay adequate to their former stations in the rebel service ; and all common men who shall serve during that period shall receive His Majesty's bounty of two hundred acres of land.

Given under my hand and seal,

HENRY HAMILTON, Lieutenant-Governor and Superintendent.

On July 27, 1777, Hamilton reported to Secretary Germain that he had already sent out fifteen parties, consisting of two hundred and eighty-nine braves with thirty white officers and rangers. At the attack on Fort Henry, now Wheeling, Virginia, in September, 1782, Hamilton's proclamation was read by George Girty, who promised the garrison the protection of the Crown if they would lay down their arms and swear allegiance. His force, consist- ing of several hundred Indians, came from Detroit. The fort was garrisoned by only twelve men and boys, but they refused to surrender, and the Indians, after a brief attack, withdrew a short distance. As the stock of powder in the fort was low, it was resolved to attempt to get a supply from the house of Mr. Zane, sixty yards away. Several of the men desired to go, but Elizabeth Zane, who was in the fort, insisted on going herself; and although the bullets whistled about her, she went and returned unharmed, and soon after the Indians retired.

On February 7, 1778, the noted pioneer of Ken- tucky, Daniel Boone, was captured by the Indians.

He was brought to Detroit, arriving on March 10. Governor Hamilton was anxious to have him as a hostage, and offered the Indians one hundred pounds for their prisoner, but they refused. On April 10 they carried him to Ohio, and soon afterwards he escaped.

The next attack was made on the ill-fated village of Wyoming, and the English and the Indians com- posing the attacking party were largely from Detroit. The party consisted of about three hundred white men and five hundred plumed and painted Indians, led by Colonel John Butler. They appeared before the place on July 3, 1778, and demanded its surren- der. The inhabitants deemed it best to comply, but paid dearly for being faint-hearted. The entire settlement was destroyed, and the people massacred or carried into captivity.

In his Life of Brant Mr. Stone says that while he was writing his work, he received a letter from Samuel C. Frey, son of Philip R. Frey, an ensign in the Eighth Regiment, in which was the statement that the Indians at Wyoming were led by Captain Bird, also of the Eighth Regiment. The letter con- tinues :

Bird had been engaged in a love affair at Detroit, but being very ugly, as well as having a hare-lip, was unsuccessful. The affair getting wind, his fellow-officers made themselves merry at his expense ; and in order to steep his grief in forgetfulness he ob- tained permission to lead an expedition somewhere against the American frontier. Joining the Indians placed under him and a detachment of his regiment to Butler's Rangers they concerted the descent on Wyoming. Ensign Frey stated that he was ill- natured during the whole march, and acted with foolhardiness at the battle.

On August 11, 1778, Boonsboro was again attacked by a party of French and Indians from Detroit. This time they were led by Colonel Du Quesne, possibly the very man after whom old Fort Duquesne was named. This same year, early in November, the noted Kentuckian, Simon Kenton, was captured, brought to Detroit, and ransomed by one of the British officers.

McDonald's " Western Sketches " gives this his- tory of Kenton's life in Detroit, and his subsequent escape :

The next day after Kenton had passed into the possession of the British at Detroit, the commanding officer sent for him, and had a long conference on the subject of the strength and number of the inhabitants in the infant settlements of Kentucky. He next inquired of the prisoner what he knew of the strength and design of the movements of General McIntosh, who, it was understood, was on the way, or preparing to invade the Indian country. To all of which interrogatories Kenton gave such answer as a patriot might be expected to give.

He told the truth where the truth would not injure his country, and evaded direct answers where the information might afford advantage to the enemy. After the British commander had inter- rogated him as long as he thought proper, he dismissed him, and gave an order on Captain McGregor, the commissary of clothing, for two suits of clothing, which were furnished forthwith. He was now permitted the liberty of the city of Detroit, but was

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charged not to leave the town ; if he did, the Indians, in all prob- ability, would kill him. Here he did some work, and drew half rations from the British, and lived pretty much at his ease. Early in the spring of 1779, the Indians brought to Detroit several pris- oners whom they had taken from Kentucky. Amongst them were some of Kenton's old associates. These prisoners had also the liberty of the town, and Kenton and they strolled about at pleas- ure. Among these prisoners were Captain Nathan Bullit and Jesse Coffer. With these two men Kenton began to meditate an escape.

They could make no movement to procure arms, ammunition, or provision, without exciting suspicion ; and should they be once suspected they would be immediately confined. Kenton was a fine-looking man, with a dignified and manly deportment, and a soft, pleasing voice, and was everywhere he went a favorite with the ladies.

A Mrs. Harvey, the wife of an Indian trader, had treated him with particular respect ever since he came to Detroit, and he con- cluded if he could engage this lady as a confidant, by her assist - ance and countenance, ways and means would be prepared to aid them in their meditated flight. Kenton approached Mrs. Harvey on the delicate and interesting subject, with as much trepidation and coyness as ever a maiden was approached in a love affair. He watched an opportunity to have a private interview with Mrs. Harvey ; an opportunity soon offered, and he, without disguise or hesitation, in full confidence, informed her of his intention, and requested her aid and secrecy.

After a few chit chats, she entered into the views of Kenton with as much earnestness and enthusiasm as if she had been his sister.

She began to collect and conceal such articles as might be neces- sary on the journey ; powder, lead, moccasins, and dried beef were procured in small quantities, and concealed in a hollow tree some distance out of town. Guns were still wanting, and it would not do for a lady to trade in them. Mr. Harvey had an excellent fowl- ing-piece, if nothing better should offer, that she said should be at their service.

They had now everything that they expected to take with them in their flight ready, except guns. At length the third day of June, 1779, came, and a large concourse of Indians were in the town engaged in a drunken frolic; they had stacked their guns near Mrs. Harvey's house. As soon as it was dark, Mrs. Harvey went quietly to where the Indians guns were stacked, and selected the three best-looking rifles, carried them into her garden, and concealed them in a patch of peas. She next went privately to Kenton's lodging and conveyed to him the intelligence where she had hid the Indians guns. She told him she would place a ladder at the back of the garden (it was picketed) and that he could come in and get the guns. No time was to be lost ; Kenton conveyed the good news he had from Mrs. Harvey to his companions, who received the tidings in ecstacies of joy ; they felt as if they were already at home. It was a dark night ; Kenton, Bullit, and Coffer gathered up their little all and pushed to Mrs. Harvey's garden. There they found the ladder ; Kenton mounted over, drew the ladder over after him, went to the pea patch, found Mrs. Harvey sitting by the guns; she handed him the rifles, gave him a friendly shake of the hand, and bid him a safe journey to his friends and countrymen.

The experiences of another prisoner, named John Leeth, a clerk and interpreter detained at Detroit by Governor Hamilton, are thus narrated. He says :

One day, while detained in the fort, I observed some soldiers drawing the cannon out of the fort, and placing them on the bank of the river ; and whilst I was ruminating in my mind what could be the meaning of this singular manœuver, a young silversmith, with whom I was intimately acquainted, came and asked me to walk with him and see them fire the cannon. I walked with him to the place where they had carried them. When we arrived there, we found Governor Hamilton and several other British officers

who were standing and sitting around. Immediately after our arrival at the place, the Indians produced a large quantity of scalps; the cannon fired, the Indians raised a shout, and the soldiers waved their hats, with huzzas and tremendous shrieks which lasted some time. This ceremony being ended, the Indians brought for- ward a parcel of American prisoners as a trophy of their victories, among whom were eighteen women and children,-poor creatures ! -- dreadfully mangled and emaciated ; with their clothes tattered and torn to pieces in such a manner as not to hide their naked- ness ; their legs bare and streaming with blood, the effects of being torn with thorns, briers, and brush. To see these poor creatures dragged like sheep to the slaughter, along the British lines, caused my heart to shrink with throbbings, and my hair to rise with rage; and if I ever committed murder in my heart, it was then, for if I had had an opportunity, and been supported with strength, I should certainly have killed the governor, who seemed to take great delight in the exhibition.

My business hurried me from the horrible scene, and I know not what became of those poor wretches who were the miserable vic- tims of savage power.

Every man in the fort, capable of bearing arms, was trained twice a week while I remained there.

Up to this period the movements at Detroit had been conducted under orders from Major-General Carlton ; but for some reason his administration failed to please the home government, and on Sep- tember 26, 1777, he wrote to Hamilton, " The con- duct of the war has been taken entirely out of my hands, and the management of it upon your fron- tiers has been assigned to you, as you have seen by a letter from Lord George,-a copy which I sent you."

This news was doubtless pleasing to Hamilton, and there can be no doubt that, soon after this, he commenced to plan an incursion which he should lead in person. Meantime, on June 26, 1778, Gen- eral Haldimand succeeded General Carlton, and Hamilton, apparently, began to fear that his powers would be restricted. In great haste he completed his preparations for an attack on the American posts. He began to talk of what he proposed to do, and was confident and even boastful. His preparations were finally completed, and he waited only for the arrival of Captain Bird and fifty of the King's Regiment from Niagara. They came on October 7, 1778, and on the same day Hamilton and his party set out for Vincennes. He was accompanied by Philip Dejean, his secretary, John McBeath, a surgeon, thirty-two of the Eighth Regi- ment under Lieutenant Shourd, eighty-eight Detroit volunteers, forty-two volunteers commanded by La Mothe, and one hundred and twenty-four Indians. They had gone but a little distance when the fusee of Lieutenant Shourd accidentally went off and broke his leg; the surgeon returned with him to Detroit, but subsequently overtook and accompanied Hamilton's party.

Governor Hamilton arrived before Vincennes on December 17, when, although he was unaware of it, the fort was occupied only by Captain Helm and

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a Mr. Henry. On seeing Hamilton's forces ap- proach, Helm placed a cannon in the gateway, and with lighted fuse stood ready to discharge it. When Hamilton came within hearing Helm called out, "Halt !" Hamilton demanded the surrender of the garrison. Helm replied that until he knew the terms no man should enter. Hamilton said, " You shall have the honors of war." Helm then surren- dered, and with his garrison of one man marched out in single file.

In a letter to General Haldimand, Governor Hamilton claimed that the force at Vincennes which surrendered to him was as follows: "One Major, four Captains, two Lieutenants, two ensigns, one Indian agent, one adjutant, one commissary, one interpreter, four sergeants, and two hundred and sixteen rank and file; of the last, one hundred and sixty were volunteers." His statement does not agree with any other, and seems improbable unless in his "rank and file" he includes all the inhabitants of the town. It is evident also that his letter did not make a very favorable impression upon a certain official or clerk at Quebec, for a series of sarcastic endorsements upon it show that the writer did not hold in high esteem his military capacity or judgment.

Hamilton had intended to proceed to Kaskaskia. but he weakened his forces by sending out parties to fall upon and destroy the settlers. He wrote to the commandant at Natchez, "Next year there will be the greatest number of savages on the frontier that has ever been known."

We now turn to consider the efforts of the Amer- ican forces to obtain possession of Detroit and the West. In 1778 Virginia raised a body of troops to defend her western settlements. Colonel George Rogers Clark was placed in command, and pro- ceeding to Kaskaskia he captured it on July 4. On December 12, 1778, Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, gave instructions to Colonel John Todd, county lieutenant or commandant of the County of Illinois as follows :

You are to give particular attention to Colonel Clark and his corps, to whom the State has great obligations. You are to co- operate with him in any military undertaking when necessary, and to give the military every aid which the circumstances of the people will admit of. The inhabitants of Illinois must not expect settled peace and safety while their and our enemies have footing at Detroit, and can interrupt or stop the trade of the Mississippi. If the English have not the strength or courage to come to war against us themselves, their practice has been, and will be, to hire the savages to commit murders and depredations.

Illinois must expect to pay in these a large price for her free- dom, unless the English can be expelled from Detroit. The means for effecting this will not, perhaps, be found in your or Colonel Clark's power. * * * But the French inhabiting the neighborhood of that place, it is presumed, may be brought to see it done with indifference, or perhaps join in the enterprise with pleasure.

While Clark was still at Kaskaskia, Colonel Fran-

cis Vigo, of St. Louis, a Spanish subject in sym- pathy with the American cause, went to him and tendered his services. Clark gladly availed himself of the offer, and Colonel Vigo, with a single ser- vant, proceeded to Vincennes, to learn the strength of that post and the possibilities of its capture. As was anticipated, he was captured, and brought before Governor Hamilton. Being a Spanish sub- ject, he could not be held as a spy in the absence of proof. He was, however, forbidden to leave the fort ; but finally, on giving a written pledge not to attempt anything injurious to British interests while on his return to St. Louis, he was allowed to depart. Colonel Vigo kept his pledge by going to St. Louis without telling on the way anything he had learned of the force of Hamilton at Vincennes. He, however, waited at St. Louis only long enough to change his dress, and then hurried back to Kas- kaskia, arriving there the 29th of January. He at once made known the number and condition of Hamilton's forces, and Colonel Clark resolved to attempt the recapture of Vincennes.

The following verbatim letter from Clark to Gov- ernor Henry, dated February 3, 1779, gives details of his plans, and reflects great credit on his spirit, if not on his spelling.

SIR,-

As it is now near twelve months since I have had the least Intelligence from you I almost despare of any releif sent to me. I have for many months past had Reports of An Army Marching against De Troit, but no certainty. A Late Menuvr of the Famous Hair Buyer General Henry Hamilton, Esq., Lieutenant Governor of De Troit, hath allarmed us much. On the 16th of December last, he with a Body of Six Hundred men, Composed of Regulars, French Volunteers and Indians, Took possession of St. Vincent (Vincennes) on the Wabash, and what few men that com- posed the Garrison, not being able to make the least Defence. Being sensible that without a Reinforcement, which at present I have hardly the right to Expect, that I shall be obliged to give up the Country to Mr. Hamilton without a turn of Fortune in my favor, I am Resolved to take advantage of his present situation and Risque the whole in a single Battle. I shall set out in a few Days, with all the Force I can Raise of my own Troups and a few militia that I can Depend on, Amounting in the whole to only one Hundred and Seventy * * men * * of which goes on Board of a small Gally * * out some time ago, mounting two four pounders and four large Swivels, one nine pounder on board. This boat is to make her way good, if possible, and take her Station Tenn Leagues below St. Vincent untill furthur orders, if I am Defeated She is to join Col. Rogers on the Mississippi. She has great stores of amunition on Board. Comd. by Lieut. Jno. Rogers, I shall march across by Land myself with the Rest of my Boys. * You must be sensible of the Feeling that I have for those Brave officers and Soldiers that are Determined to share my Fate let it be what it will. I know the case is Desperate, but Sir, we must Either quit the Country or attack Mr. Hamilton. No time is to be lost was I shoar of a Reinforcement I should not attempt it. Who knows what Fortune will do for us. Great things have been effected by a few men well conducted. * *

In pursuance of his determination, he sent forty- six men by water with stores; and taking one hun- dred and thirty men, he set out for Vincennes. No

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easy task was before him. The route lay over low lands, recently flooded, and the soldiers marched through water which was often from two to four feet deep. Part of the force, as has been said, went by boat, but all of them really went by water. Daily rains made the journey more and more dis- agreeable, yet nothing could dampen the ardor of the troops. The drummer of the party was a jovial little Irishman, with a rich voice and a memory well- stored with comic songs, all of them full of the " Begone-dull-care " spirit that animates the natives of Erin's Isle. When the men were wading through mud and water, Colonel Clark would seat the drum- mer on his drum, on which he floated and sang, keeping up the spirits of the men with his lively melodies.

At last, nearly starved, exhausted and cold, yet brave and hopeful, they reached Vincennes. On his arrival, Clark in a letter addressed to the inhab- itants, said :

I request such of you as are true citizens, and willing to enjoy the liberty I bring you, to remain still in your houses ; and those, if any there be, that are friends to the King, will instantly repair to the fort and join the hair-buyer General.

On February 24 he addressed the following letter to Governor Hamilton :

SIR,-

In order to save yourself from the impending storm that now threatens you, I order you to immediately surrender yourself, with your garrison, stores, etc. For if I am obliged to storm, you may depend on such treatment as is justly due to a murderer. Beware of destroying stores of any kind, or any papers or letters that are in your possession, or hurting one house in town, for by Heaven ! if you do, there shall be no mercy shown you.

G. R. CLARK.

Several interviews were held, in which Hamilton sought other terms than unconditional surrender ; but Clark would give none, and Hamilton was com- pelled to yield. On March 5, at ten o'clock in the morning, the British forces marched out of Vin- cennes.

Many histories of the United States entirely ignore this really great victory of Colonel Clark. In its prac- tical value and importance it far exceeded a score of victories in the East which are frequently dilated upon at length not warranted by their importance to the country at large. Clark's victory was of national value, for it largely relieved the West of fear and saved the region of the Lakes.

Before Clark's arrival, Hamilton had sent Philip Dejean to Detroit for supplies, and on February 9, he and Mr. Adheimer set out with seven boats loaded with goods, worth $50,000. Clark was in- formed of their approach and sent sixty men to intercept the boats, which, with their stores, were captured on the 26th as they were coming down the Wabash.

On March 7 Clark sent Captain Williams, Lieu- tenant Rogers, and twenty-five soldiers with Gover- nor Hamilton, Philip Dejean, Major Hay, Captain La Mothe, Lieutenant Schiefflin, and twenty others, to Virginia as prisoners of war. The Volunteers who came with Hamilton were drawn up in line, told of the real nature of the war, and exhorted, as they were to be paroled instead of imprisoned, to go home and use their influence for the American cause. They returned to Detroit, and obeyed the request so effectually that, as Colonel Clark says, in one of his letters :

They made great havoc to the British interest, publicly saying that they had taken an oath not to fight against Americans, but they had not sworn not to fight for them, etc., and matters were carried to such a height that the commanding officer thought it prudent to take no notice of anything that was said or done. Mrs. McComb, who kept a noted boarding-house, I understand, had the assurance to show him the stores she had provided for the Americans.

Colonel Clark repeats this information, and gives further details, in a letter to the Governor of Vir- ginia, dated Kaskaskia, April 29, 1779. He says:

By your instructions to me I find you put no confidence in Gen- eral McIntosh's taking Detroit, as you encourage me to attempt it if possible. It has been twice in my power. Had I been able to raise only five hundred men when I first arrived in the country, or when I was at St. Vincennes could I have secured my prisoners, and only had three hundred good men, I should have attempted it ; and since learn there could have been no doubt of success, as by some gentlemen, lately from that post, we are informed that the town and country kept three days in feasting and diversions, on hearing of my success against Mr. Hamilton, and were so certain of my embracing the fair opportunity of possessing myself of that post that the merchants and others provided many neces- saries for us on our arrival; the garrison, consisting of only eighty men, not daring to stop their diversions. They are now com- pleting a new fort,1 and I fear too strong for any force I shall be able to raise in this country.

Further details of the capture of Vincennes, and the subsequent confinement of Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton and other officers, are contained in the following series of letters and documents. Gover- nor Patrick Henry, in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, written May 18, 1779, says :

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History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 52

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