USA > Michigan > History of Michigan, civil and topographical, in a compendious form; with a view of the surrounding lakes > Part 17
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vor,-that the boundary of our lands should commence at a small run, about half a mile from Walk in the Water's dwelling-house, on the north-east side, to run from thence along the Detroit River until it crosses the River Huron, for one mile, that is, the River Huron beyond Brownstown to the south-west, thence to extend back to the United States' purchase on a line established by the treaty of Detroit ; beyond which to Rocky River we will for ever abandon fur- ther claim. Father, you know there is a bed of land be- tween the two villages. The chiefs of the Wyandots and sen- sible young men of our nation wish you to let them have that bed of land which lies between the two villages. Father, the reason why your children like this bed of land so well is, they have made valuable improvements thereon, which have cost them both labor and expenses ; and, what is still more sensible to our feelings, we love the land that covers the bones of our fathers.
" Father, listen : Those lands are our sole dependence for cultivating and hunting.
" Father, listen again : You inform us concerning our land, that we are only to enjoy them for fifty years. Your chil- dren are very uneasy at this information ; they say, let us en- joy and have our land for ever.
" Father, listen : Your children say,-Let your children, the Wyandots, have their land for one hundred years. The rea- son why we say one hundred years, is this ; if your children, the principal old chiefs of the Wyandot tribe of Indians, live so long in peace and quietness, when that day comes, at the end of one hundred years, father, we will again talk on the same subject.
" Father, listen : It surprises us, your children, that our great father, the President of the United States, should take as much upon himself as the Great Spirit above, as he wants all the land on this island. Father, we think he takes the word out of the mouth of the Great Spirit. He does not con- sider that he is master. Father, he does not think of the Great Spirit above, that he is omnipotent, and master of us all and every thing in this world.
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" Father, listen to the request of all your Wyandot children. Grant us, we supplicate you, our land, in the quantity we have requested in this speech; then, father, we will thank the voice of the Great Spirit above, and thank our father, the President of the United States, in granting this.
" Father, listen : You requested your children last spring to take into consideration this subject concerning our land. We have complied with your request, and now give this an- swer.
" Father, listen : We hope you will not think it is for want of respect to you that we make known our sentiments on paper by our friend Jacob Visger. Father, as you liave repeat- edly promised your children that you would assist them, we will never forget your paternal care of us, if you will assist us at this present time in forwarding these our wishes and sentiments to our father, the President of the United States. (Signed.)
Schow-Han-ret, The Black Chief.
Maera, Walk in the Water.
Ha yane me-dac, Isedore.
Sin dac we no Yuch Sha Wa, no.
Te yuch-quant Rone-yae ta, Sky-light.
Han-nac-saw, Split Log. Ta-han none-ka.
The design of Tecumseh and his brother the Prophet, was to combine the tribes along the lakes into one general confe- deracy. The points insisted on were, that the Americans should be driven back over the Alleghany Mountains, and that the war should not be terminated until that objcet was ac- complished. That after this was effected, the Indians should have undisturbed possession of their ancient hunting-grounds, and be placed under the protection of the British Govern- ment ; and that the warriors who distinguished themselves in the war, should receive a present from the British monarch of very large medals. A large belt of wampum, upon which was worked the figures of the tomahawk and such symbols of war, was passed from tribe to tribe, with presents of tobac- co and other customary ceremonies, as a pledge of belligerent co-operation. By this means a considerable portion of the
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Miamis, the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyandots, Potawatamies, Messessagas, the Shawanese, and the Winnebagoes, were in- duced to join that enterprize. In consequence of hostile de- monstrations founded on this Indian confederacy, it was found necessary to increase the defences of Detroit, and a stockade was erected around the new town in 1807. At this period bnt few settlements had been made in the interior. The minds of the inhabitants were more occupied in defending their settlements against the dangers which threatened them from the enmity of the surrounding savages, than in extend- ing their settlements further into the forest.
The plan of the Indian confederation was, in more than one respect, similar to that of Pontiac. It was proposed to surprise by stratagem the posts at Detroit, Fort Wayne, Chicago, St. Louis, and Vincennes ; and to bring into the confederacy all the tribes upon the Mississippi. The British agent, Elliot, who was stationed at Malden, addressed a Miami chief in these words, " My son, keep your eyes fixed on me ; my toma- hawk is now up, be you ready, but do not strike till I give the signal." The Prophet and Tecumseh were doubtless in- stigated by the British Government to effect this confedera- tion, in order to co-operate with the English when war should be declared between England and the United States. This confederation having been ripened, the flame of war at length broke ont in 1811, near the Prophet's town on the banks of the Wabash. During the engagement between the troops of Gen. Harrison and the Indians at that place, in which the Indians practised the utmost address and perfidy, Tecumseh was absent. While the battle was raging, the Prophet was seen on an eminence, singing a war-song in order to inspire the Indians with greater confidence.
While these events were transpiring, the territory of Mi- chigan was in a comparatively defenceless state. For the pur- pose of securing protection from the United States, a memorial was presented to Congress on the 27th of December, 1811, setting forth the condition of the territory, and praying for aid from that body against the angmenting hostility of the sa- vages. There were then in Michigan only nine principal
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settlements. These-were on the River Miami, the Raisin, the Huron of Lake Erie, Ecorce, Rouge, Detroit, Huron of St. Clair, the River Sinclair, the Island of Mackinaw, besides several groups of cabins scattered through the forest. Those on the Miami, the Raisin, and the Huron of Lake Erie, com- prised a population of 1340; the establishments at Detroit, the river Rouge, Ecorce, and the Huron of St. Clair, contained 2227 inhabitants ; and the Island of Mackinaw and the de. tached colonies constituted a population of 1070. The fort at Detroit was garrisoned by 94 men, and that of Mackinaw by 79. The aggregate population of Michigan at that time was 4860; four fifths of whom were French, and the re- mainder Americans, with a small portion of British .*
The hostile spirit, which had been thus excited by Tecum- seh and the Prophet upon the lakes, soon manifested itself upon the Michigan frontier. The scattered settlements along the inland streams were at that time much exposed to the depredations of the Indians ; and the emigrants found their horses and cattle slaughtered around their huts. At French Town this devastation was carried on to the most formidable extent before the declaration of war between England and the United States. At one time bands of naked warriors, with feathers in their heads, whom the French called des Iroquois, made descents upon that village ; and in silence proceeded to destroy all property which was supposed to be required for the support of the army in the coming contest. Entering the houses of the French peasantry, they plundered the defence- less tenants of the provisions within them without exchang- ing a word with the occupants ; cut down the cattle in the fields, and with their tomahawks demolished the bee-hives which were found in their gardens. At that period, which was but a year before the declaration of war, the agency of the British was also manifest in the fact that a blacksmith's shop was erected near Kalamazoo ; and here were forged scalp- ing-knives and hatchets for the use of the savages ; and near it was a retired spot, nearly enveloped with vegetation, where
Memorial from Michigan. For this document, see American State Papers.
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the Indian women were collected to plant corn, while the warriors were assembling along the frontier and the British posts.
In the year 1804 a land office had been established at De- troit ; but its principal design was doubtless to adjust certain land titles springing from French grants, which were found to be defective, under the sanction of the Coutume de Paris, the law of France which governed the territory while under the French dominion. The public lands, which have been found to be a mine of immense value to the United States, could not then be regularly brought into market, because the Indian title had then been only partially extinguished.
In the year 1785 a treaty had been held with the tribes of the Ottawas, Chippewas, Delawares, and Wyandots, at Fort McIntosh, by which a belt of land, commencing at the River Raisin and extending to Lake St. Clair, with a breadth of six miles along the strait, was ceded to the United States ; and to this was added a tract of twelve miles square at Mi- chilimackinac. In the treaty of Fort Harmar, in the year 1787, all the stipulations embraced in the former treaties were confirmed ; and in 1795 the belt of land, which has before been mentioned embracing Detroit, was again granted to the United States by the treaty of Greenville ;* and also twelve miles square at the Rapids of the Miami, together with the islands of Bois Blanc and Mackinaw ; and also a tract of land, six miles by three, on the main, to the north of the Island of Mackinaw. The gifts or grants to the British and French were also ceded to the United States. The tract of land first described as running from the River Raisin to Lake St. Clair, was the only soil which could be appropriated by the Whites to cultivation.
The foundation of many of the old French claims to land, is an act which passed the Congress of the United States in 1807, granting a confirmation of claims, to a certain extent, to those who had been in the possession of lands in the year 1796, when the country came under the actual jurisdiction of the
* See Appendix.
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United States, and who had maintained their occupancy up to the date of that act. Subsequent acts passed Congress, ex- tending the same advantage to the settlements upon the upper lakes.
In 1807 the Indian title to the soil began regularly to be extinguished. During that year Gov. Hull entered into a treaty at Detroit with the Ottawa, Chippewa, Potawatamie, and Wyandot tribes, which annexed the lands that had not been ceded under former treaties within the line running on the western side of the counties of Saginaw, Shiawassee, Washtenaw, and Lenawe. These, however, were not brought into market until the year 1817. The southern boundary of this cession was the river and bay of the Miami, and embraced the lands lying east of a line drawn due north from the mouth of the Au Glaize, until it intersected the parallel of the outlet of Lake Huron, and extending in a north-eastern course to White Rock upon this lake. In 1806 there were about four hundred farms in the territory.
At this time there was no substantial defence to Detroit be- sides the fort, which was situated outside of the stockade, and in the rear of the original town, until the year 1807. During that year a stockade was constructed around the new town of Detroit, on account of certain threatening movements of the Indians, which continued until the year 1817. The progress of the settlement at this period was slow, but as rapid as could be expected from the circumstances of a remote and small village, located far away from the Atlantic coast, which con- tained the bulk of the American population, and destitute of any extraordinary means of advancement. Enterprize had not then pushed its energies so far into the wilderness as in modern times, and capital floated along the shores of the east- ern States. In fact a great portion of that cultivated tract of country, which constitutes the splendid scenery of western New-York, adorned, as it now is, with large cities and villages, and intersected by rail-roads and canals, was a dense forest. The principal business of the settlements in Michigan was the fur trade ; and the wilderness around, instead of revealing its treasures to the substantial labors of agriculture, was pre-
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served a waste for the propagation of wild game and the fur-bearing animals. No permanent settlements of any con- siderable importance had been made throughout this section of the country besides those at Detroit, Michilimackinac, a small establishment on the St. Mary's River, Fox River, of Green Bay, Prarie du Chien, and certain trading posts of eastern companies, some of which are now in ruins. "Grim- visaged war had smoothed her wrinkled front ;" and the coun- try which had been for so long a period drenched in blood, now shone out in the mild but glorious light of peace.
But a crisis had now arrived which again called forth the military energies of this section of the country, and brought de- vastation upon the frontiers. Thedifferences which had gradu- ally sprung up between Great Britain and the United States, on the ground of international rights, soon ripened into open re- bellion. It was preceded, however, in 1811, by hostilities upon the Wabash, under the instigation of Tecumseh, aided by his brother the Prophet. The basis of these hostilities was the fact that Elshwatawa the Prophet, who pretended to certain supernatural power, had formed a league with Te- enmseh, to stir up the jealousy of the Indians against the Uni- ted States. It seems that this was an act of pre-concert on the part of these brothers, in order to produce a general confede- racy of Indians against the United States. Mutual complaints were urged on both sides. It was maintained by Governor Harrison that the Indians had endeavored to excite insur- rection against the Americans, had depredated upon their property, and murdered their citizens ; and that they were, moreover, in league with the British. He ordered them, therefore, to return to their respective tribes, and to yield up the property which they had stolen, and also the murderers. Te- cumseh, in answer, denied the league. He alleged that his only design, and that of his brother, was to strengthen the amity between the different tribes of Indians, and to improve their moral condition. In answer to Governor Harrison's de- mand for the murderers of the whites who had taken refuge among their tribes, he denied that they were there; and se- condly, that if they were there, it was not right to punish
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them, and that they ought to be forgiven, as he had forgiven those who had murdered his people in Illinois. The Indians, comprised of seceders from the various tribes, were incit- ed by the conviction that their domain was encroached upon by the Americans ; that they were themselves superior to the white men ; and that the Great Spirit had directed them to make one mighty struggle in throwing off the dominion of the United States. British influence, which had before exert- ed its agency in the previous Indian war, was active on the American side of the Detroit River ; and it must be admitted that it had strong ground of action. An ardent correspond- ence had for some time existed regarding the conduct of the savages, and powerful efforts were made to dissuade them from advancing in their projects. In a speech which was sent to Tecumseh and his brother, complaining of injuries which had been committed by the Indians, and demanding redress, Gov. Harrison, who then resided at Vincennes, remarks, " Bro. thers, I am myself of the Long Knife fire ; as soon as they hear my voice, you will see them pouring forth their swarms of ' hunting-shirt men,' as numerous as the mosquitoes on the shores of the Wabash. Brothers, take care of their stings."
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1
CHAPTER XI,
War declared between Great Britain and the United States -- Representations of Governor Hull-Governor Hull appointed to the command of the western army-Marches over to Sandwich, and addresses the Canadians-Policy of Prevost-Surrender of Detroit-Indians under Tecumseh-Conduct of Go- vernor Hull-Expedition to the River Raisin-Capture of Chicago-Battle of the River Raisin -- Gen. Harrison's Campaign --- Naval Battle on Lake Erie -Harrison arrives at Malden-Marches to Detroit -- Attack of Mackinaw- Peace declared.
IN June of 1812, an act was passed by the Congress of the United States, declaring war against Great Britain. The ma- nifesto alleged, as grounds for this war, the violation of the American flag upon the high seas by the impressment of American seamen ; the harassment of American vessels as they were entering or departing from British harbors : the shedding of American blood within the bounds of her juris- diction ; blockading the ports of the enemies of Great Britain, and not supporting these blockades by the application of fleets adequate to make them legal ; in consequence of which Ameri- can commerce had been plundered, and her products cut off from their markets ; and for having employed secret agents to subvert the Government and to destroy the Union ; and for stimulating the Indian tribes to hostility against the United States. At that period the country was unprepared for war. The regular army was small, and comparatively undisciplined. Most of the patriots of the Revolution had sunk into their graves, and the energies of the nation had be- come somewhat enervated by a long peace. Nor was the re- venue adequate to the support of a long campaign. The navy, which had become somewhat disciplined by contact with the Barbary powers, was in a much better condition than the other branches of national defence. About one year before the declaration of war, Gen. William Hull, then Go- vernor of Michigan, made an official statement to the general government of the condition of the American forces upon the
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upper lakes. He alleged that the Americans had military posts at Chicago, Detroit, and Michilimackinac; and that the British at the two last-named posts was about equal to that of the Americans at Chicago, Michilimackinac, and Detroit ; and in case of war, should the forces in Upper Canada join the British, their success in subjugating the American force on this side would be almost certain ; as the militia in Canada amounted to about one hundred thousand men, while the force on the American side consisted only of about five thousand. He alleged that it was probable the services of the Indians, who infested the forests for two hundred miles around Detroit, would be enlisted in favor of British influence. He stated, also, that Detroit was the key to the upper region of the north-western lakes, and to a vast extent of back coun- try ; and that this post might command a wide tract of terri. tory, and serve to keep the northern Indians in check. He therefore suggested that a naval force should be sent forward immediately on Lake Erie, sufficient to command the lake, and which might co-operate with the post at Detroit. In case that project should be defeated, Gov. Hull proposed that if war should be declared, Canada should be invaded by a pow- erful army sent over from Niagara, which should co-operate with the force at Detroit and subjugate the British provinces. If this was not done, he declared that the American posts must fall into the hands of the British.
In consequence, probably, of this suggestion, a campaign was projected by the government of the United States, which doubtless had for its object the conquest of Montreal. But the American troops, instead of concentrating at that point, were scattered along the whole line of the north-western fron- tier. The design seems to have been to invade Detroit and Niagara contemporaneously, on the supposition that the ar- mies at these posts would move forward to Montreal, meeting on their way the force at Plattsburgh. For this object an army, destined for Detroit, was collected at Dayton, Ohio, even before the war was declared. It was comprised of about twelve hundred men, drafted from that State by the President of the United States ; and this number was considerably aug.
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mented by volunteers. The army was divided into three regiments, and these were placed under the command of Cols. M'Arthur, Cass, and Finelly. To these were added the fourth regiment, consisting of infantry and a few regulars, constitut- ing in the whole about three hundred men; and these were placed under the command of Col. Miller. This force, to- gether with an addition of a number of stragglers, was placed under the command of Gen. Hull. The prominent position which was sustained by Gen. Hull, as governor of Michigan ; the fact that from his official station he was presumed to pos- sess an accurate knowledge of the north-western frontier, and that he had formerly served with brilliant success in the ar- my of Washington, were circumstances which were deemed sufficient to establish the propriety of vesting in this indivi- dual the first command. The General, therefore, having been ordered to proceed to Detroit, and to await there for further orders, left Dayton with the army about the middle of June, and passed through the trackless regions from that place to the Maumee of the lakes, The army was obliged to cut its way through the forest, but after suffering extraordi- nary hardship, it finally arrived, on the 30th day of June, at the Rapids.
There was gross negligence on the part of the war depart- ment in furnishing to the western frontier information of the declaration of war ; because on the 26th day of the month Gen. Hull received intelligence by express from the Secretary of War, which contained no information of that event, al- though war had then been declared. The British diploma- tists, however, as soon as this had occurred, immediately con- veyed information of that fact to the frontiers to their own men ; and thus the English had already received information of the declaration before it had reached the American side. Gen. Hull, who had visited Washington, in order to relieve his army in some measure from its incumbrances, hired at the Rapids a vessel to convey to Detroit his baggage, a few who were sick, and certain hospital stores as well as valuable docu- ments ; and this vessel took the usual course to Detroit by the way of the Malden channel. On her approach to that point,
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the vessel was captured, and the information of the declara- tion of war first broke upon the astonished crew from British lips as they boarded the American vessel. From these facts it will be perceived that Michigan, from her exposed location on the very frontier of the western territory, her proximity to the British provinces and distance from military aid, was made the first victim of the war of 1812. Gen. Hull reached De- troit on the 5th of July, where his forces were for some time employed in recruiting their strength and cleaning their mus- kets, which had become foul from a long exposure to the rains and damps of the forest. On the 9th of that month he received orders from Mr. Eustice, the then Secretary of War, to the following effect :- " Should the force under your com- mand be equal to the enterprize, and consistent with the safety of your own posts, you will take possession of Malden, and extend your conquests as circumstances will allow."
His army were anxious to prosecute this enterprise imme- diately, and urged it upon Gen. Hull with great vigor. The garrison at Malden was at that time quite weak, and had no defence of any considerable consequence, excepting a few of the Canadian militia, who were of insufficient force to main- tain an encounter with Gen. Hull. It was perceived by the instructions of the Secretary of War, that to invade Canada or to remain on the defensive was left discretionary with Gen. Hull. Malden was at that time the key to the Canadian pro- vinces, and its possession would have been an immensely advantageous point in the subsequent campaign. Having made arrangements for the expedition, Gen. Hull crossed the River Detroit on the 12th day of July, aud established his forces at Sandwich. Here he issued a proclamation, which was an impressive and energetic paper, and, backed by the bayonets of his army, had a powerful influence in keeping the Indians and the Canadians, many of whom were at heart opposed to the American cause, upon neutral ground. He invited the sur- rounding people to come in under the American banners, pro- mising protection to the persons and property of the inhabitants of Canada in the name of his country, but extermination if they joined the British and savages against the United States. He at
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