USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 17
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A VIEW FROM " THE OTHER SIDE"
Manned by experienced seamen taken from several frigates there blockaded in their seaports, and commanded by able and experienced officers, these vessels put out toward the close of August, and continued cruising off the harbor of Amherstburg, in which our fleet lay, awaiting the completion of the "Detroit, " a vessel of twenty guns, then on the stocks, and the arrival of the seamen, long promised and vainly expected from Lake Ontario. Captain Barelay had arrived some time previous to take the command, and with him several officers and forty men; but notwithstanding every remonstrance on the subject made by the com- manding officers of the division, no further assistance was afforded. The remaining part of the crews were provincial sailors willing and anxious to do their duty, but without that perfection and experience in their pro- fession which are so indispensably necessary to the success in a combat at sea. In defiance of this disadvantage, the enemy no sooner appeared, than the "Detroit" was launched in her unfinished state, and armed, in default of other guns, with long battering pieces taken from the ram- parts. Every calibre was used, sixes, nines, twelves, eighteens and even the two twenty-four pounders which had been used at the "Miami."
Our position at this period was getting very critical, the want of pro- visions, severely felt, and the ultimate possession of the garrison de- pended wholly on the result of the impending naval conflict, for which both parties were preparing. In the event of the enemy being successful, not only must we be open to the incursions of the large forces then col- lected in several quarters, and ready to overwhelm us at the moment that
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
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the command of the lake would afford them facility of movement, but the means of obtaining supplies from Fort Erie must be entirely cut off. The quantity of provisions already consumed had been enormous, for, inde- pendently of the wanton destruction of cattle by the Indians, who often shot them for the sake of obtaining their horns, in which they carried their powder, leaving the carcasses to putrify in the sun, ten thousand rations were daily issued to the warriors and their families; the latter apparently increasing in numbers as our means of supplying them be- came more difficult.
BRITISH FLAG SHIP OPENS BATTLE
Such was the situation of the garrison, reduced in its regular force to a handful of men, when Captain Barclay, who had hoisted the flag on board the "Detroit," made the signal early on the morning of September 9th to weigh anchor and bear across the lake. The little fleet consisting of six sails were, at daylight on the 10th, perceived by the enemy, then lying among a cluster of islands at some leagues distance, who immedi- ately bore up under a slight side wind, favorable at that moment for the approach of the two squadrons. At noon, (Barclay fixes the time at 11:45) the engagement commenced; the "Detroit" leading into action was opposed by the "Lawrence," mounting eighteen thirty-two pounders, and commanded by the American commodore; such was the effect of the long guns that the latter vessel was soon compelled to strike her flag, having only twenty serviceable men left. (Perry places the number at eight.) The "Detroit" and "Queen Charlotte" had, however, suffered severely in their sails and rigging from the fire of the enemy's gun- boats; and not only were every one of their boats so severely damaged as to render it impossible to take possession of the prize, but the united and unceasing exertion of their crews could not prevent their running foul of each other. Availing himself of this unfortunate accident, Commodore Perry, who had shifted his flag to the "Niagara," a vessel of equal force with the "Lawrence," bore up and discharged his broad- side with murderous effect. Coming closer immediately, a second equally destructive fire was delivered, and in this manner was the action con- tinued, rendering resistance almost hopeless. The smaller vessels, al- ready warmly engaged, could afford no aid, and the guns of the unfortu- nate wrecks were at length nearly all unserviceable,-those at least, of the only batteries that could be brought to bear on the enemy. Al- most every officer was compelled to leave the deck, and the helplessness of the crews could only be exceeded by their despair ; when after two hours and a half of incessant cannonading, the British flag was replaced by the American ensign.
CRIPPLED BRITISHI FLEET
The anxiety with which the issue of the combat was awaited at Am- herstburg, where the firing was distinctly heard, may easily be con- ceived. From the heights overlooking the lake, and nearly opposite to the islands, the first encounter of the fleets was clearly observed, but the heavy columns of smoke in which they were speedily enveloped, shut out the scene altogether, nor was it until the thunder of the artillery had been some time discontinued, that the clouds of vapour drifting away revealed the melancholy picture of our vessels, crippled and dismasted, following in the wake of the American fleet, then directing its course towards the bay of Sandusky.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
Thus closed one of the most remarkable naval battles of our navy, or of any navy. It was a victory won on equal terms, by our sailors under the gallant young Perry that reflected the highest credit upon the skill and bravery of our seamen, and was fraught with the deepest concern to both sides, for it virtually brought to an end the War of 1812.
Theodore Roosevelt's "The Naval War of 1812" is often referred to as a most fair description of this engagement and estimate of its re- sults. The reader will be no doubt interested in Colonel Roosevelt's narrative, to which he is respectfully referred; yet the official report of Captain Perry itself will be found a perfectly accurate and conclusive document written with modesty and bristling with the spirit of a truth- ful, generous victor.
[From Perry's Official Report ] "U. S. Schooner Ariel, Put-in-Bay, September 13, 1813.
"SIR: In my last, I informed you that we had captured the enemy's fleet on this lake. I have now the honor to give you the most important particulars of the action. On the morning of the 10th instant, at sunrise, they were discovered from Put-in-Bay, where I lay at anchor with my squadron under my command. We got under way, the wind light at southwest, and stood for them. At 10 A. M., the wind hauled to southeast and brought us to windward; formed the line and bore up. At fifteen minutes before twelve, the enemy began firing; at five minutes before twelve the action commenced on our part. Finding the fire very de- structive, owing to their long guns, and it being aimed mostly at the 'Lawrence,' I made sail and directed the other vessels to follow, for the purpose of closing with the enemy-every brace and bow-line being shot away, she became unmanageable, notwithstanding the great exertions of the sailing master. In this situation, she sustained the action upwards of two hours, within canister distance until every gun was rendered use- less, and the greater part of the crew either killed or wounded. Find- ing she could no longer annoy the enemy, I left her in charge of Lieuten- ant Yarnall, who, I was convinced, from the bravery already displayed by him, would do what would comport with the honor of the flag. At half past two, the wind springing up, Captain Elliott was enabled to bring his vessel, the 'Niagara,' gallantly into close action. I imme- diately went on board of her, when he anticipated my wish, by volun- teering to bring the schooner, which had been kept astern by the light- ness of the wind, into close action. It was with unspeakable pain that I saw soon after I got on board the 'Niagara,' the flag of the 'Law- rence' come down, although I was perfectly sensible that she had been defended to the last, and that to have continued to make a show of resist- ance would have been a wanton sacrifice of the remains of her brave crew. But the enemy was not able to take possession of her and circum- stances soon permitted her flag again to be hoisted. At forty-five min- utes past two, the signal was made for 'close action,' for the 'Niag- ara,' being very little injured, I determined to pass through the enemy's lines,-bore up and passed ahead of their two ships and a brig, giving a raking fire to them from the starboard guns, and to a large schooner and sloop from the larboard side, at half pistol shot distance. The smaller vessels, at this time having got within grape and canister dis- tance under the direction of Captain Elliott and keeping up a well di- rected fire, the two ships, a brig and a schooner, surrendered, a schooner or sloop making a vain attempt to escape. *
* * I have the honor to enclose you a return of the killed and wounded, together with a state-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
ment of the relative force of the two squadrons. The captain and first lieutenant of the 'Queen Charlotte' and first lieutenant of the 'De- troit' were killed; Captain Barclay, senior officer, and the commander of the 'Lady Prevost' severely wounded. Their loss in killed and wounded I have not been able to ascertain; it must, however, have been very great. I have caused the prisoners taken on the tenth instant, to be landed at Sandusky, and have requested General Harrison to have them marched to Chillicothe, and there wait until your pleasure shall be made known concerning them. The 'Lawrence' has been so en- tirely cut up, it is absolutely necessary that she should go into safe harbor. I have, therefore, directed Lieutenant Yarnall to proceed to Erie in her, with the wounded of the fleet, and dismantle her and get her over the bar, as soon as possible. The two ships in a heavy sea, at anchor lost their masts being much injured in the late action. I shall haul them into the inner bay at this place, and moor them for the pres- ent. The 'Detroit' is a remarkably fine ship, sails well and is strongly built. The 'Queen Charlotte' is a much superior vessel to what has been represented. The 'Lady Prevost' is a large, fine schooner. I also beg your instructions respecting the wounded. I am satisfied, sir, that whatever steps are taken governed by humanity would meet your approbation. Under this impression, I have taken upon myself to promise Captain Barclay, who is very dangerously wounded, that he shall be landed as near Lake Ontario as possible; and I had no doubt you would permit me to parole him; he is under the impression that nothing but leaving this part of the country will save his life. There are also many Canadians among the prisoners who have families. "I have the honor etc.
"O. H. PERRY. "Hon. W. Jones, Secretary of Navy."
At the time of the battle of Lake Erie, neither Perry nor Barclay were commodores, but captains. Perry's commission as commodore was dated September 10th, the date of his victory. The commodore of the Americans was Isaac Chauncey, and of the British, Sir James Lucas Yeo.
The return made by Perry gave the number of his killed and wounded as follows :
Vessels
Killed
Wounded
Total
Lawrence
22
61
83
Niagara
2
25
27
Caledonia
0
3
3
Somers
0
2
2
Ariel
1
3
4
Trippe
0
2
2
Scorpion
2
0
2
Total
27
96
123
There were numerous instances of great personal bravery and skill during this terrific engagement. Captain Perry left the disabled "Law- rence" in an open boat to take command of the squadron from the "Ni- agara," and during this perilous passage the enemy delivered no less than three broadsides fired at him, but he escaped unhurt. Lieuten- ants Farnell and Elliott exhibited the most daring courage and handled their ships with admirable skill.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
The laconic despatch of Perry, after the battle is bound to live as long as the English language is read : "We have met the enemy and they are ours."
PERRY'S SQUADRON IN ACTION
Name of Vessel and Commander
Tons
Crew
Broadside in Pounds
Long Guns
Calibre
Short Guns
Calibre
Lawrence, O. H. Perry
480
136
300
2
12
18 32
Niagara, J. D. Elliott
480
155
300
2
12
18 32
Caledonia, Turner
180
53
80
2
24
1
32
Ariel, Packet
112
36
48
4
12
Somers, Alney
94
30
56
1
24
1
32
Scorpion, Champlain
86
35
56
[1
32
24
Porcupine, Lendt
83
25
32
1
32
Tigress, Conklin
96
27
32
1
32
Trippe, Smith
60
35
24
1
24
1671
532
928
16
38
BARCLAY'S SQUADRON IN ACTION
Name of Vessel
Tons
('rew
Broadside in Pounds
Guns
24
1 24
Detroit
490
150
138
1
18
1
18
6
12
18
9
Queen Charlotte
400
126
192
4
12
14 24
Lady Prevost
230
86
78
3
9
10
12
Hunter
80
45
28
34
4
[2
2
· Little Belt
90
21
1
9
12
6
Chippeway
70
9
1
9
1360
440
466
35
28
Long
Calibre
Guns
Short Calibre
[2
2
6
2
12
.
/1
Vol. 1-Q
CHAPTER XI
STABLE GOVERNMENT
LEWIS CASS AND HIS RESPONSIBILITIES-BRITISH AND INDIAN AGGRES- SIONS CHECKED-MORE PEOPLE WANTED-AMERICAN . LAND SYSTEM ESTABLISHED-MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IMPROVED-HORNER SUC- CEEDS STEVENS AS GOVERNOR- REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT VOTED DOWN-EXTINGUISHMENT OF INDIAN TITLE-THE CASS INDIAN EX- PEDITION-TERRITORIAL AND STATE SEALS AND MOTTOES
In October, 1813, President Madison tendered the appointment of governor of the territory of Michigan to General Lewis Cass, in recog- nition of his signal and distinguished services to his country in time of its great need. This appointment was not sought by General Cass, and he was reluctant to assume the extremely onerous duties of the office by accepting it. The appointment, when it was learned by the people of this remote territory, excited the greatest enthusiasm among all classes. For they realized that there was no man who could be suggested who pos- sessed the qualifications for this difficult post that was so acceptable, as the man whom they had learned, during his campaigns among them, to respect and admire for his soldierly frankness and bravery, his prompt- ness and discretion in the hours of emergency, his courteous and friendly manners which had won their confidence and love.
LEWIS CASS, AND HIS RESPONSIBILITIES
The responsibilities which Governor Cass now assumed were of the most trying and arduous character. Located in a remote frontier, sur- rounded by thousands of warlike savages, whose friendship, even if prom- ised, could not be relied upon, the inhabitants were in constant fear of hostile attacks from them. For two years subsequent to his assuming the government of the territory there were frequent outbreaks of hostil- ities by the savages, arising from their inordinate and unconquerable propensity to rob, plunder and murder the defenceless. To prevent serious consequences resulting from these outbreaks required the con- tinual watchfulness, diplomacy and tact on the part of the governor. The war had scattered the people, and the population was much reduced. It was not until peace was finally declared that the country began to be relieved from the ravages of the hostile Indians. While most of them had made peace and behaved reasonably well, the Saginaw band of Kish- kaukon was very troublesome. Murders and outrages were committed in the immediate neighborhood of Detroit, and even within its corporate limits. The country south, as far as Frenchtown on the River Raisin was not free from the incursions of bodies of these roving bands.
General Cass acted in these emergencies with great energy and promptitude, and often went out in person with the volunteers to chas- tise the marauders. After the failure of the Mackinaw expedition,
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
no further attempt was made in that quarter, till the treaty of peace. Fort Gratiot, built at the place once occupied by Fort St. Joseph in the seventeenth century, was intended to control the passage to and from Lake Huron, for which its location at the foot of the lake and at the northern extremity of the river St. Clair was admirably adapted, it was through this passage that the northern Indians generally travelled in their canoes.
The treaty of peace with Great Britain did not put an immediate end to the bad feeling between the people of the two countries. This stipu- lated an immediate restoration of all places captured, with all papers public and private, and for determining by commissioners the boundary line in those waters where the position of islands and other difficulties made it doubtful, and pledged each government to place the Indians where they were in 1811.
BRITISH AND INDIAN AGGRESSIONS CHECKED
The British officers near Detroit paid no attention to the boundary lines, but pursued deserters into the United States, and even undertook to assert jurisdiction over American citizens in Grosse Isle and in Amer- ican waters. An Indian was killed at Grosse Isle in the act of attempting to murder an American, and the commanding officer at Malden, Colonel James directed an inquest, and offered a reward for the person who killed him. Governor Cass at once issued a proclamation enjoining the proper assertion and protection of American jurisdiction. Colonel Butler, commanding at Detroit, had also occasion to hold a sharp correspondence with Colonel James concerning various and frequent infractions of right. In addition to other grievances, it was understood that Mack- inaw was not likely to be surrendered, and that the Indians meant to hold it, which meant, probably, that the fur traders intended to hold it. Malden was retained until such arrangements were made as ensured the delivery of Mackinaw.
On the first of July, 1875, Malden was turned over to the British, and an American force sailed for Mackinac and took possession. The distance from their headquarters, or some other cause, rendered the British officers in this region extremely insolent, and for a year or two there were continued aggressions. The intrigues with the Indians were kept up, both about Detroit and in the north and American territory was used, in that region for purposes very unfriendly to the United States. The trading companies paid no heed whatever to law or inter- national obligations. It was not until two Indians were hung for murder at Detroit, instead of being as usual dispatched in more summary fash- ion, that a full check was put to their outrages in that direction and neighborhood.
MORE PEOPLE WANTED
The first crying need of the country was now for more people. No lands had been surveyed before the war, except the old private claims. In 1812, among other war legislation an act was passed setting aside two millions of acres of land in Michigan as county lands for soldiers. As soon as the war was over, and circumstances permitted, Mr. Tiffin, the surveyor general, sent agents to Michigan to select a place for locat- ing these lands. Their report was such as to induce him to recommend the transfer of county locations to some other part of the United States. They began on the boundary line between Ohio and Indiana, which was the western limit of the lands surrendered to the United States by the Indian treaty of 1807, and following it north for fifty miles, they
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
described the country as an unbroken series of tamarack swamps, bogs and sand barrens, with not more than one acre in a hundred and prob- ably not more than one in a thousand fit for cultivation. Mr. Tiffin communicated this evil report to the commissioner of the general land office, Mr. Josiah Meigs, and he and the Secretary of War, Mr. Craw- ford, secured the repeal of so much of the law as applied to the territory · of Michigan. They were stimulated by a second report of the surveyors, who found the country worse and worse as they proceeded. In April, 1816, the law was changed and lands were granted in Illinois and Mis- souri. This was a blessing in disguise, for, while it postponed settlements in Michigan for some time, it saved the state from one of the most troublesome sources of litigation which has ever vexed any country.
But the report of the surveyors is one of the unaccountable things of those days, and it can only be attributed to the proceeding along the same lines of action used in other instances of our territorial and state experiences, where it has been discovered that surveyors made imaginary sketches of large tracts, and returned them as actual surveys, when, as a matter of fact, they had never been anywhere near them. That trick, however, was of later invention. In our case, it may have been that the surveyors did not desire to run the lines which bordered on the Pottawatamie country for fear of losing their scalps. But the country was not unknown. It had been traversed frequently by hunters and trappers and it was not many years before that it was frequented by buffaloes in great numbers as well as by almost every fur-bearing ani- mal indigenous to this latitude. The fact, too, that Michigan contained so many Indians was fair proof that the lands were good, for they seldom congregate in districts where the land is poor.
AMERICAN LAND SYSTEM ESTABLISHED
It has been already observed that during the administration of Gov- ernor Hull, there were no counties laid out; the divisions being all into districts. General Cass, who had much clearer notions about popular in- stitutions, began early to establish the ordinary American divisions. Wayne county as originally laid out in the northwestern territory was not exactly coincident with Michigan territory even in its diminished proportions, but a single county, covering the same geographical extent with an entire state or territory would appear to be an anomaly, and a county split up into several supreme judicial districts would be still more anomalous. Assuming that the surveys would be made, and the county lands located, Governor Cass began the county system, by lay- ing out that part of the territory in which the Indian title had been extinguished, into Wayne county, with its seat of justice at Detroit. At the same time he divided the whole territory into road districts co-inci- dent with the several militia districts, which were already defined. No provision had yet been made for establishing townships, and until the people became indoctrinated with ideas of self government, which the ordinance had not assumed as one of their early prerogatives, there was no place for these small republics.
In 1812, Congress had directed the President to have the northern boundary of Ohio surveyed in accordance with the law authorizing that state to form its constitution, and to cause to be made a plat or plan of so much of the boundary line as runs from the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan, to Lake Erie, particularly noting the place where the said line intersects the margin of said lake. The war interrupted this and it was not surveyed until some years thereafter. Meanwhile Indi- ana had obtained a population large enough to entitle it to admission
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117
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
into the Union. On the 19th of April, 1816, the people of that territory were authorized to form a state; and its boundaries, instead of being left as they were when Michigan was set off, were fixed on the north by an east and west line ten miles north of the southern point of Lake Michigan, thus taking a strip ten miles wide off from the southern por- tion of Michigan territory. As Michigan then had no representatives in Congress and as there was no public journal in the territory, this en- croachment into Michigan's domain, necessarily remained for future settlement. The state (Indiana) was admitted December 11, 1816. On the 8th of April, 1818, Illinois was authorized to form a constitution, and its boundary was continued northward, beyond that of Indiana to iatitude 42° 30', to that extent curtailing the future state of Wisconsin. Illinois was admitted on the third day of December, 1818. All of the old northwest territory north of Indiana and Illinois was from that time made a part of the territory of Michigan.
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IMPROVED
The territory was now in a very fair way to enjoy peace and pros- perity. There were very few roads as yet, and facilities for land travel did not abound for many years. Yet the business of Detroit was flourishing, the little community of Frenchtown was receiving additions to its population, and the country hereabouts, in spite of the damaging reports of the government surveyors was gaining in the good opinion of prospectors and new settlers. Their letters to friends in the east, too, encouraged a small emigration. Sometimes their expectations were not fully realized, owing, perhaps, to the exaggeration of conditions in the letters of enthusiastic writers and who were led to expect a land literally flowing with milk and honey. The lakes were but little navi- gated, and all travellers by water were obliged to take advantage of occasional schooners of small capacity and with no provisions for the comfort or convenience of passengers. Nevertheless the sums received in 1817 for transportation of passengers over Lake Erie to Detroit amounted to about $15,000 which, under all the circumstances indicated an encouraging business. The military road had been finished about ten miles beyond Monroe, and some travel came over that. In 1818 the exports of fish and cider reached $60,000.
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