USA > Michigan > History of Michigan, civil and topographical, in a compendious form; with a view of the surrounding lakes > Part 9
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* Smollet, vol. 5, p. 56,
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GENERAL VIEW OF OPERATIONS ABROAD.
About four o'clock in the morning the troops began to land. At eight they ascended over steep rocks, clogged with formi- dable obstructions, for the purpose of gaining the plains of Abraham; for on the front they were protected by two field- pieces, and their landing was covered by the Royal Americans. The light infantry and a single regiment formed a reserve .*
On the 13th the Marquis de Montcalm, who was then at Beauport, marched across the St. Charles with only one field-piece, and before his forces could be concentrated, form- ed, imprudently, before the British army. He advanced most gallantly ; while his troops, composed chiefly of untrained militia, commenced a quick but ineffective firing when with- in only two hundred and fifty yards of the British line. The British, constituted of drilled soldiers, advanced regularly, with the mastiff-like obstinacy which marks the regulars of that monarchy, and opened a destructive fire, which was con- tinued until within about twenty yards of the French. They then gave a general volley. Here, at last, on the banks of the St. Lawrence, were unrolled the hostile banners of the two nations, who felt toward each other a more than Cartha- ginian hatred. It was a decisive struggle. The glory of the two crowns was at issue. The prize at stake was a magni- ficent empire. Quebec was the Gibraltar of the wilderness, the strong-hold of French power. But the French troops soon gave way before the vigorous charge of British bayonets and the stroke of the Highland broad-sword, although sup- ported by fifteen hundred Indian and Canadian marksmen, stationed behind the bushes and corn-fields of the neighbor- hood. The young and gallant Wolfe, during the early pe- riod of the action, received a bullet in his wrist, and binding it with a handkerchief, fought on. Soon after, another pierced his groin, and this wound he concealed. A third penetrated his breast, and he was carried from the field. At this mo- ment. while leaning his head upon the shoulder of a lieute- nant, he was aroused by the shout, " They fly." " Who fly ?" said the wounded patriot. "The French." "Then I die
* McGregor's British America.
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
happy ;" and his spirit passed away to heaven upon the storm of battle, with the exultation of victory trembling on his lips .*
The no less gallant Montcalm also fell, mortally wounded, and died a few days after, praying for death because he was conquered. It was believed that this battle was precipitated by the French commandant, on the ground that M. Vaudreuil, the governor of Canada, who proposed a different plan of de- fence from Montcalm, had doubted his courage, and that the battle was hastened under the goadings of wounded honor. Quebec capitulated on the 18th to Gen. Murray, who, after the fall of Wolfe, succeeded to the command. The remnant of the French army was concentrated around Montreal ; but General Amherst having exhibited himself before that place, with a force against which no resistance could be made, de- manded a capitulation. This capitulation, entered into in November, 1760, surrendered to the crown of England, De- troit, Michilimackinac, and all other places within the govern- ment of Canada then remaining in the possession of France.
Before the conquest of the country, Michigan preserved no distinct and independent character, and was far removed from the seat of war. The eastern line of the state was a ranging ground for Jesuit missionaries and traders, in their mercantile and religious operations through the wilderness. The few peasantry scattered along the solitary posts cultivated their small patches of land in Arcadian quietude and happiness. The interior had been but little explored, save by the savage or the Jesuit, who travelled through the Indian trails, which wound along pleasant landscapes, here stretching in a sunny hill-side, and there overshadowed by silent and noble forests. Drafts, indeed, had been made by the French government to forward their campaigns, and a number of soldiers, drawn from the lakes, were present at Braddock's defeat. Hostile bands of warriors were also sent on emergencies, from its lake shores, to devastate the English settlements ; but peace as yet smiled on its domain.
* Sec a painting of this scene in the Trumbull Gallery at New Haven, by an American artist, Col. John Trumbull,
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ENGLISHI TAKE POSSESSION OF MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER VI.
General Amherst orders Major Rogers to take possession of Michigan -- Rogers's Expedition -- First appearance of Pontiae- Rogers travels around Lake Erie-Letter to Bellestere, the French commandant of Detroit -- Rogers's Speech to the hostile Indians-Reply of Bellestere -- The Effigy- Prediction of the Indians verified-Rogers takes possession of Detroit -- Treaty with the Indians.
THE war between the French and English had heretofore raged without the bounds of Michigan, although detach- ments of the French were occasionally levied from Detroit, Green Bay, and Michilimackinac, to oppose the advances of the English toward the Lakes. Three days after the capitu- lation of Montreal, Major Robert Rogers, a brave and ener- getic officer, of great experience in the service, was ordered by General Amherst to advance with a proper force, take possession of the posts of Michigan, and to administer the oath of allegiance to the French subjects in that quarter. That order was in the following words :
" By his Excellency Jeffery Amherst, Esq., Major-general and Commander-in-Chief, of all his Majesty's forces in North America, &c. &c. &c.
" You will, upon the receipt hereof, with Captain Waite's and Captain Hazen's companies of Rangers under your com- mand, proceed in whale boats from hence to Fort William Augustus, taking along with you one Joseph Powpao, alias La Fleur, an inhabitant of Detroit, and Lieutenant Brehme, assistant engineer.
" From Fort William Augustus you will continue your voyage by the north shore to Niagara, where you will land your whale boats, and transport them across the carrying-place into Lake Erie, applying to Major Walters, or the officer com- manding at Niagara, for any assistance you may want on that or any other occasion; requesting of him, at the same time, to deliver up to you Monsieur Gamelin, who was made
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prisoner at the reduction of said fort, and has continued there ever since, in order to conduct him, with the above-mentioned Powpao, to their habitations at Detroit; where, upon taking the oath of allegiance to his most sacred Majesty, whose subjects they are become by the capitulation of the Sth inst. they shall be protected in the peaceable and quiet possession of their pro- perties ; and so long as they behave as becometh good and faithful subjects, shall partake of all the other privileges and immunities granted unto them by the said capitulation.
" With these, and the detachment under your command, you will proceed in your whale boats across Lake Erie to Presque Isle, where, upon your arrival, you will make known the or- ders I have given to the officer commanding that post ; and you will leave said whale boats and party, taking only a small detachment of your party, and marching by land to join Bri- gadier-general Monkton wherever he may be. Upon your arrival with him, you will deliver into his hands the despatches you shall herewith receive for him, and follow and obey such orders as he shall give you for the relief of the garrisons of the French posts at Detroit, Michilimackinac, or any others in that district, for gathering in the arms of the inhabitants thereof, and for administering to them the oath of allegiance already mentioned ; when you will likewise administer the same to the before-mentioned Gamelin and Powpao ; and when this is done, and that you have reconnoitered and ex- plored the country as much as you can, without losing time unnecessarily you are to bring away the French troops and arms to such place as you shall be directed by General Monk- ton.
And when the whole of this service is completed, you will march back your detachment to Presque Isle or Niagara, ac- cording to the orders you receive from Brigadier Monkton ; where you will embark the whole, and in like manner, as be- fore, transport your whale boats across the carrying-place into Lake Ontario, where you will deliver over your whale boats into the care of the commanding officer, marching your de- tachment by land to Albany, or wherever I may be, to receive what farther orders I may have to give you.
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ENGLISH TAKE POSSESSION OF MICHIGAN.
" Given under my hand, at the head-quarters in the camp of Montreal, 12th September. 1760.
" JEFFRY AMHERST.
" By his Excellency's Command,
"J. APPY."
A secret order was at the same time given, to be shown `only to the commandants of the posts which he might visit, for the purpose of preventing any obstruction from the hostile Indians whose territory he was to cross. It is here subjoined.
" Major Walters, or the officer commanding at Niagara, will judge whether or not there is provision sufficient at Presque Isle ; and Major Rogers will accordingly take pro- visions at Niagara. Eight days' provisions will take him from Montreal to Fort William Augustus ; there he will apply to the commanding officer for a sufficient quantity to proceed to Niagara. Major Rogers knows where he is going and the provisions he will want ; some should be in store, likewise, at Presque Isle for the party Brigadier-general Monkton will send. JEFFRY AMHERST."
" Montreal, Sept. 12th, 1760."
In accordance with this instruction Major Rogers embarked from Montreal on the 13th of September, 1760, with Captain Brewer, Captain Wait, Lieutenant Brheme, assistant engineer, Lieutenant Davis of the Royal train of artillery, accompa- nied by two hundred Rangers. The embarkation was made in fifteen whale boats. Having arrived at the site of the old Fort Frontenac, the party met a body of Indians who were out on a hunting scout, and to these they communicated the news of the capitulation. They seemed to be gratified with the intelligence, and supplied the expedition with wild fowl and venison. Another party of fifty Indians was also met by the English detachment on a stream which flows into Lake Ontario, where they were fishing for salmon. As soon as these Indians descried the English colors, they ran down to the edge of the lake, and fired their pieces in apparent joy ; and when information was given them of the surrender of the French, they appeared also to be gratified. This, in fact,
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seemed to be the feeling of all the savages whom they met on their journey. Passing through Toronto, and halting at Niagara, where the detachment provided themselves with shoes, blankets, moccasins, and other necessaries for the expe- dition, they proceeded on their march toward Detroit. On the Sth of October they arrived at Presque Isle. From that point Rogers embarked in a canoe, with three men for Pitts- burgh, where he delivered the despatches from General Am- herst to Brigadier-general Monkton at that fort. Here Major Rogers was reinforced by a detachment of Royal Americans, who marched to Presque Isle under the command of Captain Campbell; Rogers having returned to Presque Isle, which was on the Pennsylvania shore of Lake Erie, despatched Captain Brewer by land to Detroit with a drove of forty oxen, which had been provided by Colonel Bonquet ; and this expedition was protected by Captain Monter with twenty Indians, comprised of the Iroquois, the Delaware, and Shawanese tribes. Cap- tain Wait was at the same time sent back to Niagara for pro- visions, and was ordered to coast along the northern shore of Lake Erie, and encamp about twenty miles east of the Detroit river. The following was the order of march from Presque Isle to Detroit, issued by Major Rogers :
" The boats to row two deep ; first, Major Rogers's boat ; abreast of him Captain Croghan's ; Captain Campbell follows with his company ; the Rangers next ; and lastly, Lieutenant Holmes, who commands the rear guard, with his own boat and that of Ensign Wait's, so as to be ready to assist any boat that may be in distress. Boats in distress are to fire a gun, when Mr. Holmes, with the other boats under his com- mand, are immediately to go to their relief, take them to the shore, or give such other assistance as he thinks may be best. When the wind blows hard, so that the boats cannot keep their order, a red flag will be hoisted in the Major's boat ; then the boats are not to mind their order, but put after the flag as fast as possible to the place of landing, to which the flag boat will always be a guide. It is recommended to the soldiers not to mind the waves of the lake ; but when the surf is high, to stick to their oars. and the men at helm to keep the
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ENGLISH TAKE POSSESSION OF MICHIGAN.
boat quartering on the waves, and briskly follow; then no mischief will happen by any storm whatever. Ten of the best steersmen amongst the Rangers are to attend Captain Campbell and company in his boats. It is likewise recom- mended to his officers commanding in those boats to hearken to the steersmen in a storm or bad weather, in managing their boats. At evening (if it is thought necessary to row in the night time) a blue flag will be hoisted in the Major's boat, which is the signal for the boats to dress, and then proceed in the following manner ; the boats next the hindermost are to wait for the two in the rear, the two third boats for the se- cond two ; and so on to the boats leading a-head, to prevent separation-which in the night would be hazardous.
"Mr. Brheme is not to mind the order of march, but to steer as is most convenient for him to make his observations ; he is, however, desired never to go more than a league a-head of the detachment, and is to join them at landing or encamping. On landing, the regulars are to encamp in the centre, and Lieutenant Holmes's division on the right wing with Mr. Croghan's people. Lieutenant McCormick on the left wing with his division ; Mr. Jequipe to be always ready with his Mohegan Indians, which are the picquet of his detachment, part of which are always to encamp in the front of the party ; Captain Campbell will mount a guard, consisting of one sub- altern, one sergeant, and thirty privates, immediately on landing, for the security of his own encampment and battoes ; Lieutenant Holmes's division to keep a guard of one sergeant and ten Rangers on the right, and Lieutenant McCormick the like number on the left; and likewise to act as adjutant to the detachment, and the orderly drum to attend him, to be at the sergeant's call. The General to beat when ordered by the Major ; at which time the whole party is to prepare for embarking, the troops half an hour after, when all the guards are to be called in, and the party embark immediately after. There is to be no firing of guns in this detachment without permission from the commanding officer, except when in dis- tress on the lake. No man to go without the sentries when in the camp, unless he has orders so to do ; great care to be 12
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taken of the arms, and the officers to review them daily Captain Campbell will order a drum to beat for the regulation of his company when landed, at any time he thinks proper for parading his men, or reviewing their arms, &c. It is not doubted but due attention will be paid to all orders given. Mr. Croghan will, at landing, always attend the major for orders, and to give such intelligence as he may have from the Indians throughout the day."
At this period there sprung upon the stage the most remark- able savage who has ever figured in Indian history. He was a chief of the Ottawa tribe, which claimed to be the oldest of the Indian nations in this quarter ; and he was acknow- ledged to be the principal sachem and warrior of the Algon- quin Confederacy, the autocrat of the savages along the lakes. Distinguished for his noble form, commanding address, and proud demeanor, he seems to have allied to himself the respect and confidence of all the Indians in this region, and was a marked example of that grandeur which is sometimes found among the savages of our American forest. He was an avowed friend of the French and an enemy to the English ; and he combined all those traits of character which distin- guish men among civilized states, whether in the forum or on the field. He was grasping in his projects, while he had suf- ficient dissimulation to conceal them; his courage was uncon- querable ; his pride was the pride of the proudest chief of the proudest nation on the earth ; and as an orator he was more re- markable for pointedness and vigor than for burning eloquence. This chief had watched with jealousy the progress of the English arms, and had imbibed a hatred of the English, which had been handed down to his race. He had seen them pushing their conquests through his country, destroying his tribes, driving the game from his hunting grounds, which had been bequeathed from his forefathers, and crimsoning his land with the blood of his friends and companions the French. The name of this Algonquin chief was Pontiac.
About eight miles above Detroit, at the head of the Detroit River, is Pechee Island. A green spot, set amid the clearest waters, surrounded by dense forests, at all times cool from the
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breezes of the northern lakes, and removed from the rest of the world, Pontiac made this island his summer residence, and in winter lodged at the Ottawa village opposite, on the Canadian bank, and which has been described as having been situated above the town of Detroit. Poetry may imagine him here, musing upon the inroads of the English and the declining fortunes of his race, and looking upon the gorgeous domain which was spread around him, and which now constitutes the most beautiful part of Michigan-as a territory which was soon to pass from his hands. To this land he held a right of pre-emption, the time whereof the memory of man ran not to the contrary ; and superadded to this, a patent from the Great Spirit, which established his title on solid ground.
When, therefore, Pontiac was informed that Major Rogers, accompanied by the first English detachment which had ever advanced into this quarter, was on the march toward Detroit, he roused like a lion attacked in his den. On the 7th of Novem- ber, when Rogers arrived with his detachment at the mouth of Chogage River, he was met by a body of Ottawa mes- sengers, who requested him to halt his forces until Pontiac, the king of the country he was in, and who was a little dis- tance off, should come up. At the first salutation, Pontiac demanded of Rogers the business on which he came, and asked him how he dared to enter his country without his per- mission .* He was informed by Rogers that he had no design against the Indians, and his only object was to remove the French out of the country, who had been an obstacle in the way of mutual peace and commerce between the Indians and English. With this information friendly messages were given by Rogers to Pontiac, and also several belts of wam- pum. In answer, Pontiac told him that he should " stand in his path" until the next morning, and at the same time pre- sented him with a small string of wampum, indicating that he must not advance farther without his leave. When he de- parted for the night, Pontiac asked Major Rogers whether he wanted any thing that his country contained ; and stated that
* Rogers's concise account of North America.
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if he did, he would send his warriors and bring it. He was, however, answered that any thing which was furnished by the Indians should be purchased. On the next morning a council having been held, Pontiac appeared at the English camp, and stated that he had made peace with the English detachment, and as a pledge, the English commandant and Pontiac both by turns smoked the calumet. He also inform- ed Rogers that he would protect his party from the assaults of the Indians, who were collected at the mouth of the Detroit River to oppose his progress; and he despatched a portion of his warriors to assist Captain Brewer in driving the oxen which had been sent from Presque Isle to Detroit. He also sent to the Indian villages on the north and west end of Lake Erie to inform the Indians that the English had his consent to pass through the country. The Indians supplied Rogers with venison, trukeys, and several bags of parched corn ; and they were in return provided with ammunition and wampum. After this interview, Pontiac attended Major Rogers until his arrival at Detroit. Having encamped some distance from the mouth of the Detroit River, Rogers sent Mr. Brheme with the follow- ing letter to Mr. Bellestre, at that time the French comman- dant of the Fort of Detroit .*
To Captain Bellestre, or the officer commanding at De- troit.
"SIR :- That you may not be alarmed at the approach of the English troops under my command when I come to De- troit, I send forward this by Lieut. Brheme, to acquaint you that I have General Amherst's orders to take possession of Detroit, and such other posts as are in that district ; which, by capitulation, agreed to and signed by Marquis de Vau- dreuil and General Amherst, the 8th of September last, now belong to Great Britain. I have met with the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letters to you, directed for your guidance on this occasion ; which letters I shall deliver you when I am at or
* The name of the French commandant is written in different modes in Rogers's correspondence and the records of that day. I have followed the records.
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near your post, and shall encamp the troops I have with me at some distance from the fort ; till you have reasonable time to be made acquainted with the Marquis de Vaudreuil's in- structions, and the capitulation ; a copy of which I have with me likewise.
I am, Sir,
" Your humble servant,
" ROBERT ROGERS."
When this had been despatched, Rogers advanced to the mouth of a river which runs into Lake Erie. He there found a number of Huron chiefs, who told him " that a body of four hundred warriors was collected at the entrance into the great strait, in order to obstruct our passage, and that Mon- sieur Bellestre had excited them to defend their country ; that they were messengers to know my business, and whether the person I had sent forward had reported the truth, that Canada was reduced." Rogers confirmed the report, and alleged that the Fort of Detroit had been given up by the French go- vernor. In order to appease their feelings, he made the sub- joined speech, presenting, at the same time, a large belt of wampum :--
" BROTHERS-With this belt I take you by the hand ; you are to go directly to your brothers assembled at the mouth of the river, and tell them to go to their towns till I arrive at the fort. I shall call you there as soon as Monsieur de Bellestre is sent away, which will be in two days after my arrival. We will then settle all matters. You live happily in your own country. Your brothers have long desired to bring this about. Tell your warriors to mind their fathers (the French), no more, for they are all prisoners to your brothers (the En- glish), who pitied them, and left them their houses and goods, on their swearing by the Great One who made the world, to become as Englishmen forever. They are now your broth- ers ; if you abuse them, you affront me, unless they behave ill. Tell this to your brothers the Indians. What I say is truth. When we meet at Detroit, I will convince you it is all true."
Rogers continued to advance toward Detroit, and next en- camped on the west side of Lake Erie, near the River Raisin,
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where he could scarcely procure fuel, on account of the wet prairies of that section of Michigan. On the next day he met the Indian messengers, whom he had before seen, who told him that their warriors had gone to Detroit, and that Bellestre was "a strong man," and intended to fight the English. Among these was a sachem of the Ottawas. The whole par- ty set out with the English. On the 24th, sixty of the Indians, who alleged that they had come from Detroit the day pre- vious, arrived at the camp of Rogers in the evening. These Indians offered to escort him to Detroit ; and stated that M. Brheme, who had been despatched with the letter to the French commandant, had been confined. The French command- ant at Detroit, in order to work on the minds of the Indians, -who, it is well known, are strongly impressed with symbols- when he had heard of the advance of the English under Ma- jor Rogers, erected a high flag-staff, with an effigy of a man's head on the top, and upon this head he had placed the image of a crow. The image of the head, he told the Indians re- presented Major Rogers, and the crow was himself. The in- terpretation of this group was, that the French commandant would scratch out the brains of the English. The Indians, however, were sceptical as to the truth of this emblem, and told him that the reverse would be the fact .*
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