History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 64

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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I offer you, Sir, my respects and good wishes. JAMES MADISON.

Gen'l H. A. S. Dearborn.

(Letter from Governor Lewis Cass.)

DETROIT, Aug. 27, 1824.

DEAR SIR,-

I received by last mail your letter, together with the accom- panying papers, containing your observations respecting General Hull's recent publications.

Your refutation of his injurious statements is complete and un- answerable. Your father's fame is based upon too solid a founda- tion to be affected by the feeble efforts of garrulity and imbecility, striving to shake off a load of obloquy, which must press down the unfortunate man and his memory forever.

I cannot tell what local and ephemeral effect these publications may have produced within the range of the papers which have printed them, but certainly, in the Union at large, they are wholly unknown or disregarded. I have seen but a few of the first numbers, and these accidentally, and finding that, like a " thrice-told tale," they were mere repetitions of what was long since too stale to be told, and too false to be believed, I dismissed them from my recollection. The events connected with the sur- render of Detroit are matters of history, and when we learn to believe that Arnold was faithful to his country, and that Gates in his southern campaign displayed the talents of a consummate General, we may, perhaps, believe that General Hull did not for- get the most sacred obligations of duty from the effect of sheer cowardice.

Should your father have returned, please to present my best respects to him.

My father early taught me to esteem his character and services.

With great respect, I am, Dr Sir, your ob't servant, LEWIS CASS. Gen. II. A. S. Dearborn.

CHAPTER XLIII.

THE BLACK HAWK WAR. - TOLEDO WAR .- PATRIOT WAR. - MEXICAN WAR.

THE BLACK HAWK WAR.

THE Black Hawk War originated in the refusal of Black Hawk to retire to the Indian Reservation on the west of the Mississippi, which had been set apart for his band by the United States.

In 1831 General Gaines and seven hundred vol- unteers compelled him to leave Illinois. In August of this year some members of the Sac and Fox tribes attacked and killed nearly twenty Menomenees near Prairie du Chien, and then joined Black Hawk's band. The United States authorities demanded their surrender. Black Hawk refused, and crossed the Mississippi to march on Rock River.

The Government called on Michigan for troops to defend the West, and Governor Mason directed a call to be issued for volunteers. Accordingly, on May 22, 1832, the adjutant-general gave orders to General Williams to raise not to exceed three hun- dred men; and the same day, the call for three hundred volunteers was made. Two days later, the Detroit City Guards, commanded by Edward Brooks, and the Light Dragoons, under Captain Jackson, responded. The two companies were placed under command of General J. R. Williams, with Edward Brooks as colonel; Jonathan Davis, lieutenant- colonel ; B. Holbrook, major ; Louis Davenport, quartermaster ; and J. L. Whiting, surgeon. They left on May 24, and proceeded as far as Saline, where the infantry were ordered to return. The dragoons went on to Chicago and the troops re- turned to Detroit, where they arrived on Wednes- day, May 30, 1832. On Tuesday, June 3, two com- panies of United States troops from Fort Niagara, in command of Major Whistler, left Detroit for Chicago in the Austerlitz. On June 30, 1832, Gen- eral Scott arrived on his way to Chicago ; and on July 4, the steamboat Henry Clay came with several companies of troops. While here the cholera broke out among the soldiers, and a large number perished. (See chapter on Diseases.)

Black Hawk was eventually captured and taken to Washington. On his return to the West he arrived at Detroit, on the Superior, about dinner- time on July 4, 1833, and was lodged at the Mansion House.

THE TOLEDO WAR.

The origin of the dissatisfaction which caused the so-called " Toledo War " dated back to the admis- sion of Ohio, in 1802, with an indefinite northern boundary.

On January 11, 1805, Congress defined the boun- dary between Michigan and Ohio by an imaginary line, which, according to present boundaries, would have given Michigan a strip across the north of Ohio, five miles wide on the western end, and eight miles wide on the eastern. As the country became settled and the location of the Lakes better known, it was ascertained that the boundary of 1805 would place Toledo within the bounds of Michigan. Under authority of Congress, a line was run in 1817, by William Harris, which placed the disputed territory within the limits of Ohio, but Michigan continued to control the territory. Early in 1835 Governor Lucas, of Ohio, issued a proclamation assuming the control, and three commissioners were appointed to re-mark the Harris line. The Ohio Legislature at the same time created the county of Lucas, including in it the city of Toledo, and providing for holding a session of the Court of Common Pleas at that place on September 7. In anticipation of this action, the Legislative Council of Michigan had passed an Act making it a criminal offense, punishable by five years' imprisonment and a fine of one thousand dol- lars, for any other than Michigan or United States officials to exercise, or attempt to exercise, any official authority in the disputed territory. In order to enforce this law, on February 19, 1835, Governor Mason wrote to Brigadier-General J. W. Brown, commander of the Third Division of the Michigan militia, directing him to prevent any of the officers of Ohio from exercising authority in the disputed territory, and to use the civil officers only if possible, but the militia if necessary, to preserve the rights of Michigan; also to report the names of all civil or military officers supposed to favor Ohio, and by visitation find out proper persons to be appointed in their places. Meantime, a public meeting was held at Detroit, and a committee appointed to draft a memorial to the President in relation to the subject ; and on March 6, 1835, an adjourned meeting was

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THE TOLEDO WAR .- THE PATRIOT WAR.

held at the Capitol to hear the report of the com- mittee, which contained a strong protest against the claims of Ohio. On April 6 an attempt was made to elect Ohio town officers at Toledo. On April 8, when the fact was made known at Monroe, the sheriff, with a number of persons, entered Toledo, and arrested Messrs. Goodsell and Mckay of that place. They were subsequently admitted to bail and returned home. Between April 8 and 14 the sheriff of Monroe County, at the head of two hundred persons, again entered Toledo to make further arrests, but did not find the persons he was in search of.

On April 26 several shots were exchanged between Michigan troops and the Ohio commissioners, who were engaged in running a boundary line about twelve miles southwest of Adrian, and the com:nis- sioners, with a portion of their guard, were captured. The next day the Governor of Ohio was at Port Miami, with two hundred militia, to oppose the forces of Michigan ; but on May 2 he disbanded his forces. On Saturday, July 18, about 5 P. M., the sheriff of Monroe County again appeared in Toledo, with a posse of about two hundred and fifty armed men. Seven or eight persons were arrested on a civil process, and some of the men attacked the office of the Toledo Gazette, and did considerable damage.

These arrests were chiefly on account of individ- ual grievances, but they grew out of the question of jurisdiction. The governors of both States being determined to hold control, troubles began to thicken and troops to gather. Mulholland's in Monroe County was fixed upon as the head- quarters of the Michigan troops, and on September 5, about 7 P. M., a detachment from Detroit arrived by boat at Monroe, and soon after left for the rendezvous.

On September 6, 1835, Governor Mason and Gen- eral Brown, at the head of from eight hundred to twelve hundred men, entered Toledo, to prevent the holding of the session of a court on the 7th, as pro- vided for by the Ohio Legislature.

The judges, however, by agreement, came to- gether immediately after midnight. The proceed- ings, written on loose sheets of paper, were hastily deposited in the clerk's hat, and the court then literally took to the woods, and ran from their pur- suers.

The holding of that court sessior: gave Ohio a judicial and bloodless victory. A further practical victory for Ohio was obtained the next day by the removal of Governor Mason, the order reaching him while he was addressing the troops. His successor as secretary and acting governor was John S. Horner. On September 10 the Michigan troops left Toledo.

The whole affair was regarded by many as simply an executive joke, and the following, from a war- song of the period, illustrates the humor of that day :

Old Lucas gave his order all for to hold a court, And Stevens Thomas Mason, he thought he'd have some sport. He called upon the Wolverines, and asked them for to go To meet this rebel Lucas, his court to overthrow.

Our independent companies were ordered for the march, Our officers were ready, all stiffened up with starch;

On nimble-footed coursers our officers did ride, With each a pair of pistols and sword hung by his side.

The troops from Detroit came home on the steamboat General Brady, and the day being the anniversary of Perry's victory, they celebrated that instead of the one they did not win. The occasion was an enjoyable one. John McDonnell was called to the chair, with Franklin Sawyer as secretary. Toasts were offered by Captain Griswold, Colonel Goodwin, Surgeon-General Wall, Colonel Bacon, Lieutenant Howard, of City Guards, K. Pritchette, Captain Bull, Captain Rossiter, Captain Ripley, Major Bucklin, Quartermaster Ten Eyck, Sergeant Sawyer, Tallman of the Rifle Corps, H. G. Hubbard, Mr. McClure, Squire Abbott, Jr., Alexander Bates, and Messrs. Cicotte, Garland, Moran, White, Wil- cox, Emmons, and Rice.

Among those arrested by Mason's forces was Major B. F. Stickney, of Toledo. The door of his residence was broken open, he was taken prisoner and brought to Monroe, but he and all of the prison- ers captured by Michigan were soon released. An official communication of Governor Horner, dated October 5, 1835; gives the following reasons for their release :

In consequence of an anticipated change of Territorial to State Government, on the first Monday of November next, the Execu- tive lost all legal control over the ministerial and executive offices, the District attorney, James Q. Adams, absolutely refusing to enter a Nolle Prosequi. * *

* The country was in a great state of excitement and the officers of insubordination. Salus populi suprema lex.

Congress would not admit the State of Michigan unless she gave up this territory, and she was finally obliged to yield.

In 1837 the sum of $13,658.76 was appropriated by the State to pay the expenses incurred in en- deavoring to defend and save the territory in dis- pute.

THE PATRIOT WAR.

The cause of this war was similar to that which gave rise to the American Revolution; but the troubles in Canada seemed aggravated by a com- parison of the condition of Canada at that time with the prosperity of the United States. The agitation finally found vent in an open war between rival par-

301

THE PATRIOT WAR.

ties in Canada. The Patriots, so-called, fortified Navy Island in the Niagara River, and began to collect troops and munitions of war. The steam- boat Caroline was fitted out at Buffalo, and plied between Buffalo, Black Rock, and Navy Island, carrying visitors and oftentimes supplies to the Patriots. This exasperated the Canadian officials, and on December 29 she was boarded, twelve per- sons killed, and the vessel set on fire. This act called forth energetic protests from the United States, and General Scott was sent to the frontier to preserve the peace. The "rebels," as they were called, were defeated at several points by the Cana- dian Government, and in December, 1837, three hundred and twenty refugees had gathered at De- troit. Threats were made by some excited in- dividuals to pursue them, even here, and to burn the town if they were not delivered up.

Hunters' Lodges, so-called, composed of the friends of the rebels, were soon formed in Detroit and elsewhere, and were in daily receipt of news from the Patriot army.

On Monday, January 1, 1838, a meeting of citi- zens, friendly to the Patriot cause, was held at the theatre, to assist refugees in the city, and to aid the Patriot army. $134.56 and ten rifles were sub- scribed. The Morning Post favored the Patriots, and there was much feeling both for and against them. As a measure of safety, four hundred and fifty stands of arms had been stored at the jail, but between 2 and 3 A. M. on January 5 some twenty or thirty men went there, knocked until they aroused Mr. Thompson, the jailor, and when he opened the door rushed in, seized the guns, and carried them off. The next day they seized the schooner Ann, and with the stolen arms, one hundred and thirty- two men, and provisions for the Patriots, the boat left the city.

The vessel was chased by an English steamer, and hailed at Ecorce by a United States marshal with a posse of citizens. She, however, proceeded on her way, was joined by several other boats, and - the Patriots and about three hundred Canadian refugees were landed at Gibraltar. The same evening they were joined by sixty men from Cleve- land, who came on the steamboat Erie, under the lead of a Scotchman, T. J. Sutherland. The design was to go over from Gibraltar and capture Malden.

On the day that the Ann left, a public meeting was held at the City Hall to devise means to pre- serve neutrality ; and on January 8, 1838, at 2 A. M., Governor Mason, with two hundred and twenty volunteer militia, embarked on the steamers Erie and Brady, to arrest the schooner Ann for a viola- tion of neutrality, and to gain possession of the arms taken from the jail. The Ann escaped to one

of the islands outside of American jurisdiction, and the boats returned at II P. M. entirely unsuc- cessful.

Meantime Sutherland's forces attempted to take possession of Bois Blanc Island, but the Canadian officials rallied their militia, and, with a few troops, took possession themselves, and prevented his land- ing. Sutherland then retired to Fighting Island, and the Canadians, fearing he would make an attempt on the main land, returned to Amherstburg. Sutherland now ordered Theller, who was in com- mand of the Ann, to join him. The next day Theller attempted to do so, but the British soldiers on the shore fired into the Ann, and cut her ropes and sails, so that she drifted on shore and was captured. as was also Theller, who was carried to Quebec as a prisoner. Sutherland now retired to Sugar Island, and from there to Gibraltar, on the American side of the river. To aid him in his plans, the Patriots at Detroit, on January 9, 1838, seized the steamboat Erie, but the next day they returned her. On Jan- uary 13 there was a meeting of citizens at the City Hall, held in pursuance of proclamations by Gov- ernor Mason and Mayor Howard. Addresses were made by G. C. Bates, T. Romeyn, Mr. Morey, Attorney- General Pritchette, D). Goodwin, and Major Kearsley; and the meeting resolved to sus- tain the Government in its efforts to preserve neutrality.

On January 27, 1838, the steamboat Robert Ful- ton arrived from Buffalo, with three companies of United States troops in command of Colonel Worth. On February 12 six companies of militia were called out by Governor Mason to go to Gibraltar to preserve the peace. The weather was cold, and the expedition an undesirable one. In order to avoid going, two men endeavored to cross the river on the ice, but they broke through and were drowned.

The militia reached Gibraltar, and Governor Mason induced the Patriots to disband; but they soon began to gather for a new attempt. On Feb- ruary 12, 1838, twelve boxes of arms were brought to the city, from the arsenal at Dearborn. They were stolen by the Patriots, but found on the fol- lowing Wednesday in a garret over a ball-alley. On February 13 one hundred and one barrels of flour were stolen from the steamboat General Brady, by Patriots, as she was lying in the river near the city. The day following a company of troops, commanded by Captain Johnson, arrived from Buffalo; and the same day the Brady Guards left for Gibraltar to convoy provisions for troops at Monroe.

Prior to February 19, there had been a great number of Patriots in Detroit and vicinity. They now disappeared, having gone up the river ; and on

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THE PATRIOT WAR.

the 22d the Brady Guards went to St. Clair to pre- vent them from attacking Port Sarnia. On the 23d, about two hundred men assembled at Thomas's tavern, five miles below Gibraltar. In the night they moved up the river, in three divisions, as far as Ecorce; they remained until I P. M. on the 24th, and then crossed over to Fighting Island and began removing arms and ammunition in sleighs. The Canadian troops immediately gathered opposite the island; and the same day a company of United States troops and the Brady Guards left for Ecorce, reaching there about 4 P. M.

On Sunday, the 25th, the Canadians commenced to cannonade the Patriots, and thirteen were killed and forty wounded. The Canadians now moved over to the island, and the Patriots retreated to Gib- raltar and along the shore. The American troops intercepted them and took away their arms, taking two of the leaders into custody. On the 26th, Gen- eral Scott arrived to effect a proper distribution of the United States troops. On March 7 there was a meeting of citizens at the City Hall to consult in regard to warlike preparations made in Canada against Detroit, and also in regard to the treatment of the prisoners taken by the Canadians. A com- mittee of citizens was appointed on the subject, consisting of D. E. Harbaugh, A. D. Fraser, P. Desnoyers, C. C. Trowbridge, and E. Brooks. On March 10 there was firing on both sides of the river by unorganized bodies of men. On March 12 a great meeting of citizens was held at the City Hall; a committee, appointed March 7, reported favoring neutrality, and the meeting protested against state- ments made in the Canadian Parliament that the citizens of Detroit sympathized with and aided the Patriots. At this meeting, by request, John Farmer read a report of a survey made by him for Governor Stevens T. Mason, which established the fact that the capture of Thomas J. Sutherland by the British authorities was made within British jurisdiction on Detroit River. Sutherland had been accidently met on the ice by Colonel Prince and captured.

During the summer of 1838 two hundred or more Patriots were in camp near the Bloody Run. Meanwhile the United States made active prepara- tions to enforce neutrality, and between the 14th and 16th of November ten thousand muskets were forwarded to Dearborn.

On November 19 the steamboat Illinois left De- troit, and returned on the 21st, having captured a schooner near Gibraltar, with two or three hundred stands of arms designed for the Patriots. During the month reports were rife in Detroit that the Patriots were gathering at Cleveland and Sandusky. General Brady chartered the steamboat Illinois and stationed troops along the river to prevent disturb-

ance, and the United States steamer Erie sailed up and down the river, conveying troops and supplies. On the 21st of the month the Patriots stole the arms of the Brady Guards, but on the 23d they were recaptured. About this time nearly five hun- dred refugees gathered at Brest, and from there moved up to the Forsyth Farm, now within the city. On Sunday, December 3, 1838, they were dis- persed, and twelve boxes of arms captured by Gen- eral Brady, who left Detroit at 8 P. M. and returned at 2 A. M.

The Patriots disagreed among themselves as to the plan of the campaign, but on December 4, about 2 A. M., from one hundred and eighty to two hun- dred and forty persons, under Colonel Harvel and Colonel Cunningham, marched into Detroit, to the wharf where the steamboat Champlain lay. They boarded her, and crossed over about three miles above Windsor. There they formed and marched to the Canadian barracks, which they attacked, burning them, together with the steamer Thames. Meantime the British regulars had been rein- forced from Malden, and the Patriots were forced to retreat in canoes to Hog Island, with a loss of twenty-one killed. Four more were shot by order of Colonel Prince, nearly a dozen were frozen to death, and sixty-five were captured.

Colonel Payne, of the United States Army, fired on the Patriots as they were escaping to Hog Island. So great was the excitement in Detroit on the day of the battle that a night-watch of forty men was appointed, and on the following day an additional watch of one hundred and fifty prominent citizens was appointed.

On December 4, 1838, nearly a year after he was captured, Dr. Theller, who had escaped from Quebec, returned to Detroit. The next day he was arrested for violation of neutrality, gave bail, and on his final trial in June, 1839, he was ac- quitted.

On December 6, 1838, the Brady Guards were regularly mustered into the United States service for three months, unless sooner disbanded ; and all through this war General Hugh Brady co-operated actively with the British forces. Many who sympa- thized with the Patriots disapproved of the exertions of the United States officers, and on one occasion gathered at the Michigan Garden, Colonel James L. Gillis presiding, where they denounced the United States officers for the part they had taken.

On December 9 Major-General Scott and suite again visited Detroit for the purpose of maintaining neutrality, and on December 12 he delivered an ad- dress at the National Hotel on the Patriot ques- tion.

As late as December 25, there were one thousand troops at Sandwich, three hundred of them being

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THE MEXICAN WAR.

regulars ; but the war in this region was practically ended.

THE MEXICAN WAR.

The principal cause of this war was doubtless the desire of Southern congressmen to obtain more ter- ritory for slave States; but there were also real grievances, consisting of unsettled claims for out- rages committed upon American citizens living on the borders of Mexico. These difficulties, together with a dispute as to the boundary line, caused Con- gress to declare war on May 13, 1846.

Troops were soon called for, and ten new regi- ments were ordered to be raised for the regular army. Of these A. T. McReynolds was commis- sioned to raise one company for the Third United States Dragoons, John Brown was commissioned first lieutenant, and J. C. D. Williams second lieutenant.

This was the only mounted company to be raised in Michigan and Wisconsin, and men from both States enlisted. Though none less than six feet in height were accepted, the company was rapidly filled up. It presented so fine an appearance that, on its arrival in Mexico, General Scott pronounced it the finest body of troops he had ever seen, and made it one of the two companies composing his personal escort.

They left Detroit by boat on April 24, 1847, and reached Vera Cruz on May 20. The same day that they left, in honor of victories said to have been won at Palo Alto, Buena Vista, and Reseca de la Palma, a national salute was fired by order of the Common Council. There was a parade of the Frontier and Brady Guards, and in the evening the city was illuminated, and the firemen turned out in torch- light procession. These facts afford the best of evidence that Detroit, at that time, was not too conservative. Indeed, she was literally ahead of the time, for a few days later it was learned that the battles thus celebrated had not yet taken place. The celebration actually occurred about two weeks before the battles had been fought.

At this time the telegraph was not in operation, and any. news from the seat of war came by boat. Captain Joseph Taylor, a brother of General Zachary Taylor, was then stationed at Detroit, and was naturally very anxious to hear what was going on. On the day when definite news arrived of the victory of Palo Alto, he spent most of the time on the wharf, awaiting the vessel with the expected news. Judge Wilkins bore him company a part of the evening, but finally went home. Late in the night the judge's door-bell rang, and rang again, each peal accompanied by loud outcries and thundering raps on the door. When the judge opened the door to find out the occasion of all the disturbance, Cap-

tain Taylor was still alternately beating a tattoo and shouting at the top of his voice, " My brother has licked the Mexicans at Palo Alto! Hurrah ! hur- rah !” Soon after this the memory of victories in Mexico began to be preserved in the names of saloons and hotels. A noted bowling alley on Monroe Avenue was honored with the title of " The Palo Alto or 8th of May Saloon," and the hotel of Colonel Prouty, on the corner of Sixth Street and Grand River Avenue, was named the Buena Vista House, and retained the name for many years.

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History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 64

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