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 5
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
"At first salutation when we met," says Major Rogers in his narra- tive, "he demanded my business into his country, and how I happened to dare to enter it without his leave. When I informed him that it was not with any design against the Indians that I came, but to remove the French out of his country, who had been an obstacle in our way to mutual peace and commerce, and acquainted him with my instructions for that purpose. I at the same time delivered to him some friendly messages and belts of wampum, which he received, but gave me no other answer at the time than that he 'stood in the path I traveled in,' giving me a small string of wampum, saying I must not march farther without his leave. When he departed for the night he inquired whether I wanted anything that his country afforded, and he would send his warriors to fetch it. I assured him that any provisions they brought should be paid for; and the next day we were supplied by them with several bags of parched corn, game and other necessaries. At our second meeting he gave me the pipe of peace, and both of us by turns smoked with it; and he assured me that he had made peace with me and my detachment; that I might pass through his country unmolested and relieve the French garrison; and that he would protect me and my party from any insults that might be offered or intended by the Indians; and as an earnest of his friendship he sent a hundred warriors to protect and assist us in driving a hundred fat cattle, which we had brought for the use of the detachment, from Pittsburgh, by the way of Presque Isle and the River Raisin. He like- wise sent to several of the Indian towns on the south side and west end of Lake Erie to inform them that I had his consent to enter the country. He attended me constantly after this interview till I arrived at Detroit, and while I remained in the country, and was the means of preserving the detachment from the fury of the Indians who had assembled at the mouth of the strait, with an intent to cut us off.
"I had several conferences with him in which he displayed great strength of judgment, and a thirst after knowledge. He endeavored to inform himself of our military order and discipline. He often intimated to me that he could be content to reign in his country in subordination to the King of Great Britain, and was willing to pay him such annual acknowledgment as he was able, in furs, and to call him his uncle. He was curious to know our method of manufacturing cloth, iron, etc., and expressed a great desire to see England, and offered me a part of his country if I would conduct him there. He assured me that he was inclined to live peaceably with the English while they used him as he deserved, and to encourage their settling in his country, but intimated that if they treated him with neglect he should shut up the way and exclude them from it. In short, his whole conversation sufficiently indi- cated that he was far from considering himself as a conquered monarch and that he expected to be treated with the respect and honor due to a king or emperor by all who came into his country or treated with him."
In 1763 (resuming the general thread of the narrative) this Indian had the art and address to draw a number of tribes into a confederacy, with a design, first, to reduce the English forts upon the lakes and then make a peace suited to his own interests, by which he intended to estab- lish himself in his imperial authority; and so ably were his measures formed and executed that in fifteen days' time he reduced or took ten of our garrisons (which were all we had in his country), except Detroit ; and had he carried this garrison also, nothing was in the way to complete his scheme. Some of the Indians left him and by his consent made a separate peace; but he would not be personally concerned in it, saying
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that when he made a peace it should be such an one as would be useful and honorable to himself and to the king of Great Britain.
Major Rogers continues to state concerning his relations with Pon- tiac: "In 1763, when I went to throw provisions into the garrison at Detroit, I sent this Indian a bottle of brandy by a Frenchman. His coun- sellors advised him not to taste it, insinuating that it was poisoned and sent with a design to kill him, but Pontiac, with a nobleness of mind, laughed at their suspicions, saying it was not in my power or disposition to kill him who had so lately saved his life."
Pontiac meditated a sudden and contemporaneous attack upon all the British posts on these lakes, and upon the forts at Niagara, Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, Venango and Pittsburgh. His design was to carry them by treachery, and to massacre their garrisons. He then intended to take possession of the country, and to oppose the introduction of any British force. He calculated that these successes would give confidence to all the tribes, and unite them in a general confederacy. His first object was to gain the loyal support of his own tribe and of the warriors, who generally attended him. Topics, to engage their attention and inflame their passions, could not be wanting. A belt was exhibited, which he pretended to have received from the King of France, at the same time urging him to drive the British from the country and to open the paths for the return of the French. The British troops had foolishly neglected to conciliate the Indians, and mutual causes of complaint existed. Some of the Ottawas had been disgraced by blows. But above all, and worse than all, the British were intruders in the country, and would, ere long, conquer the Indians, as they had conquered the French, and wrest from them their lands.
After these measures had been skillfully managed, a great council was convened at the River aux Ecorces, when Pontiac addressed the In- dians with eloquence and effect. He called to his aid their prevalent superstition, and related a dream, in which the Great Spirit had recently disclosed to a Delaware Indian the conduct he expected his red children to pursue. I shall not occupy space by a recital of the various circum- stances attending the translation of this seer, from earth to heaven. They were distinctly narrated by Pontiac, and such is the effect of super- stition upon the savage mind, that they were perhaps related with as much good faith as they were received. In the interview between the Great Spirit and his chosen minister to the Indians, minute instructions were given for their conduct in this, the peculiar crisis of their fate.
They were directed to abstain from ardent spirits, and to cast from them the manufactures of the white man. To resume their bows and arrows, and the skins of the animals for clothing. "And why," said the Great Spirit, indignantly to the Delaware, "why do you suffer these dogs in red clothing to enter your country and take the land I gave you ? Drive them from it, and when you are in distress I will help you."
The speech of Pontiac and the dream of the Delaware produced a powerful effect upon the wild and reckless multitude, who eagerly lis- tened to the tales of their wrongs, and the offer of revenge. A plan of operation was concerted, and belts and speeches were sent to secure the co-operation of the Indians along the whole line of the frontier.
In the month of May, 1763, the preparatory arrangements having been completed, the Indians commenced a sudden and simultaneous attack upon each of the twelve British posts, extending from Niagara to Green Bay in the northwest, and to Pittsburg in the southwest. So well had their plans been laid and so secretly guarded that the storm burst upon the garrisons, before they had time to learn the intentions of their enemies; much less to prepare for them. And a more signal
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proof cannot be given of the deep and deadly feeling of the Indians, and of the influence exercised over them by Pontiac, than is furnished by the progress of this enterprise. In a period of profound peace and along a line of frontier extending a thousand miles, and secured upon all the important points by fortified posts, simultaneous attacks were made with- out the slightest suspicion being excited on the part of the British. Nine of these posts were captured. The circumstances attending the surprise of Michillimackinac are better known than those which led to the success of the Indians at any other place. The fort was then upon the main land, near the northern point of the peninsula. The Ottawas, to whom the assault was committed, prepared for a great game of ball, to which the officers were invited. While engaged in play one of the parties grad- ually inclined towards the fort, and the other pressed after them. The ball was once or twice thrown over the pickets, and the Indians were suffered to enter and procure it. Almost all the garrison were present as spectators, and those upon duty were negligent and unprepared. Suddenly the ball was again thrown into the fort, and all the Indians rushed after it. The rest of the tale is told. The troops were butchered and the fort destroyed.
SIEGE OF FORT DETROIT
Upon the possession of Detroit, however, depended, in the opinion of the Indians, the ultimate issue of their project. Its capture would re- lease the French inhabitants of the strait from their temporary allegiance to the British and would unite their line of operations by this connecting link. Its reduction, therefore, was undertaken by Pontiac in person. The half bastioned work was not at this period erected. That was pro- jected and completed during the Revolutionary war when an attack was apprehended from the struggling colonies. And this apprehension was not without cause, for as early as 1776, Congress, in secret session, directed the plan of an expedition against Fort Detroit, and an estimate of the expense to be prepared and submitted to them. And, on a subse- quent day this inquiry was extended to the necessary means for securing the naval ascendancy upon Lake Erie. The expedition, however, was not undertaken. The pressure of more immediate danger probably with- drew the attention of Congress from so remote and doubtful an enter- prise.
We may infer from the diary which has been preserved, of the occur- rences of the siege and from the traditionary descriptions, which can be collected, that the town was enclosed by a single row of pickets, forming nearly the four sides of a square. That there were blockhouses at the corners and over the gates, and on open spaces called the Chemin du Ronde, (Road around,) intervened between the houses and the pickets, forming a place of arms, encircling the town. The fortifications did not extend to the river, and during the siege all the gates were closed, except the water gate, which opened toward the stream. Two armed vessels were anchored in front of the town, and formed an important portion of its defences. One of these was the Beaver. The name of the other is not known. There were in the fort two six-pounders, one three-pounder, and three mortars. But they were badly mounted and rather calculated to terrify than to annoy the Indians. Major Gladwin had superseded Major Campbell a few days before in the command, and the garrison consisted of one hundred and twenty-two men and eight officers. To these were added forty traders and engagées, who resided in the town. Such was the relative situation of the British and Indians, when Pontiac, having completed his arrangements, on the 8th of May, 1763,
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presented himself at the gates of the town with a considerable body of his warriors, and requested a council with the commanding officers. His plan was well devised, and had it been secretly kept, must have been suc- cessful. The Indians had sawed off their rifles so short as to conceal them under their blankets. One of the most intelligent French inhabit- ants of Detroit, Col. Beaufait, stated that his father, returning that day from the fort, met Pontiac and his party upon Bloody Bridge. One of the warriors was his particular friend, and as he passed him he threw aside his blanket, and exhibited the shortened rifle, intimating at the same time the project they had in view. The Indian chief intended to meet the British commander in council, and at a given signal, which was to be the presentation of a belt of wampum in a particular manner, his attendants were to massacre all the officers, and rushing to the gates to open them and admit the band of warriors who were to be ready on the outside for immediate entrance. An indiscriminate slaughter was to follow, together with the demolition of the fort, and the annihilation of the British power.
CHAPTER II PONTIAC, THE GREAT OTTAWA
CHARACTER OF THE INDIAN LEADER-HIS AMBITIOUS PLAN-THE ATTACK ON DETROIT-THE CONSPIRACY THWARTED-WHEN DEATH HOVERED -THE RED MEN DEPART-MAJOR GLADWIN'S POSITION-DEATH OF MAJOR CAMPBELL-INDIANS CAPTURE RELIEF EXPEDITION-MASSACRE AT "BLOODY RUN"-PONTIAC RAISES THE SIEGE-BYRD AND CLARK EXPEDITION-POSTS PASS INTO AMERICAN HANDS.
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Although the French surrendered the territory held by them until 1760, when the British occupation began, and their chief military leaders had returned to France, the English were not permitted to possess the land for long before a dangerous and secret foe sought their destruction. They had taken no pains to cultivate the friendship of the French families who remained in the settlements, nor to exercise tact and pru- dence towards them, consequently there was little attachment for the new government; meanwhile the hostility of the Indians had deepened. Whereas they had always been on quasi friendly terms with the French, who by their suave manners and hospitable treatment had won their good will, they cordially hated the English, and hoped for their speedy overthrow.
CHARACTER OF THE INDIAN LEADER
Pontiac, ambitious, crafty, powerful, aimed to accomplish a federa- tion of all the western tribes, and to precipitate a war of extermination upon all the English posts west of the Alleghany mountains. He was well qualified to originate and carry forward such a plan; he was an effective, magnetic speaker, a bold, able and cunning warrior; having won first place among all the Indians of his day; added to which qualifi- cations was the greater one of a sagacious and far seeing general who could not only originate, but manage the most complicated plans.
HIS AMBITIOUS PLAN
Pontiac's present plan, as has been stated, was for an attack upon all the English posts west of the Alleghanies, at about the same time. The Indians were to massacre the soldiers of the garrisons, and thus, at a single stroke, they hoped to rid themselves of the presence of a people whom they hated and regarded as intruders upon their own domains throughout the western valleys. The plan of operations included a line of posts scattered from Niagara to Chicago, twelve forts in all, three of which were in Michigan, viz .: Detroit, Michillimackinac and St. Joseph. Pontiac's ambassadors were sent to instruct the various tribes of Indians and succeeded in enlisting all of the Algonquins, most of the Wyandottes, and some of the southern tribes in this undertaking.
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THE ATTACK ON DETROIT
The proposed attack on Detroit was to be led by Pontiac in person, and he it was who planned the enterprise which, but for the bravery of the young woman, who through her love for Gladwin, probably, or for some other motive, revealed the plot which she had overheard discussed in her father's house, would have been successful in the capture of De- troit at that time, and the awful massacre which would inevitably have followed. The crafty chief sought an interview with Major Gladwin, commandant of the post, on the 7th of May, which was granted, and Pontiac, accompanied by sixty chiefs armed with rifles which had been shortened to the length of three feet for concealment under their blan- kets. They were admitted, when followed one of the most dramatic scenes ever witnessed in military annals, and which is faithfully por- trayed in that interesting historical romance, "The Heroine of the Strait," by Mary Catherine Crowley from which we take the liberty to make extracts.
THE CONSPIRACY THWARTED
On the prairie outside the stockade many Indians began to gather, young braves who made a feint of playing at lacrosse, squaws and children apparently spectators of the game. Within the fort, the garri- son was under arms. Stirling (a young Scotch merchant of high stand- ing) and the English fur traders had closed their storehouses and armed their men; all awaited with calm courage the result of the approaching interview. At ten o'clock in the morning, Pontiac and his followers reached the gate that faced the Côte du Nord-est. It stood open, and as he passed in his immobile countenance betrayed no surprise at sight of the soldiers who lined both sides of the narrow street, their weapons gleaming in the sunshine. The roll of the tambour, like the growl of a mastiff, warned him to beware; but haughtily raising his head he led his warriors toward the council house, while from the homes of the French, the frightened women and children watched them as they passed by.
The door of the British headquarters was also ajar and entering they found Major Gladwin and his officers. Each of the white men wore a pair of pistols in his belt, and a sword at his side. The principal chiefs seated themselves upon the skins that had been spread for them, the others ranged around the walls and crowded the hallway; the place swarmed with them.
WHEN DEATH HOVERED
For a time the silence was unbroken. Then the Great Ottawa, turn- ing to the commandant, asked with affected mildness: "How is it that so many of my father's young men stand in the street with their guns ? Does my father expect the soldiers of the French ?"
Gladwin spoke a few words to the interpreter, La Butte, and the latter repeated them in the Indian tongue: "The commandant has ordered the young men under arms, to keep them ever prompt and ready in the military drill," he said significantly. "Thus, if a war comes they will be ready to fight well."
The sixty assembled chiefs remained grim and dumb, their eyes turning from Pontiac to Gladwin and furtively watching the guards in the room. Their severe training which taught them to endure even tor- ture with stolidity stood them now in good stead; not an eye quailed, not by the least motion did they betray the deadly purpose of their Vol. I-2
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coming. They were ready to slay or be slain. The manner whereby their chief should present the peace belt would decide the life or death of six hundred human beings at least.
After a time Pontiac rose and addressed Gladwin. "My father," said he, "we are come in friendship for the English. You are great chiefs. You have driven the French warriors from Le Detroit, because you are mighty in battle. The Ottawas and all the tribes of the country of the strait, wish to show you their good will and to smoke with you the pipe of peace. In token of this friendship, I, Pontiac, the chief of many tribes, offer you this belt of wampum."
As the great chief began to unfasten the white belt from his girdle, the guards in the hall clicked the locks of their muskets, the officers half drew their swords from their scabbards, the officer at the door signaled to the long row of armed soldiers stationed in front of the entrance; the drums rolled the assembly, and the soldiers made a noisy clatter of arms. Death hovered in the air, Pontiac felt its nearness. His hand did not tremble, the belt was unfastened; he retained it an instant in hesitation. All present seemed to stop breathing. Then he handed it to Gladwin in the usual fashion, and death passed them by.
It was now Gladwin's turn to speak. Having received the belt, he, with cold scorn poured upon Pontiac and his followers words of bitter reproach. "False redmen, you have sought to deceive me with lies and to slay me by treachery" he cried. "But I know your baseness. You are armed, every warrior among you, like this brave at my side." He rose from his chair of state, stepped to the nearest Indian and snatching open the folds of his blanket revealed the shortened gun concealed be- neath.
"My father does us wrong, he does not believe; then we will go," re- plied Pontiac, getting upon his feet.
"When you asked to hold a council with me I agreed that you should be free to go forth again. I will abide by that promise, little as you de- serve such clemency," proceeded the commandant. "Howbeit, mur- derous dogs, you had best make your way out of the fort lest my young men, being made acquainted with your evil design, may fall upon you and cut you to pieces, as you richly deserve. Go!"
THE RED MEN DEPART
Pontiac's eyes gleamed with anger, but with royal dignity he gath- ered his blanket about his broad shoulders and walked slowly from the council room and out between the double file of soldiers, followed by his warriors.
Silent and sullen they filed once more through the town. The gates of the palisade which had been closed during the conference were again thrown open and the defeated savages were permitted to depart, con- gratulating themselves, no doubt, as they reached the open prairie.
MAJOR GLADWIN'S POSITION'
When they were finally all gone, there was great rejoicing in the fort. It was the general belief that since Major Gladwin had unmasked the . scheme of the Indians and yet shown them mercy, he had thus disposed of the whole matter, and they would in future be more favorably dis- posed towards the English. Sterling did not, however, share this feeling, and in the afternoon he called at headquarters to offer himself for whatever service might be required of him. Having stated his errand to the commandant, he added bluntly: "In faith, Major Gladwin, I
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regret that you suffered those perfidious Indians to escape. An en- trapped wolf meets with no quarter from the hunter, and a savage caught in his treachery has no claim to forbearance."
"Mr. Sterling," replied the major, drawing himself up to his full height, "it is not incumbent upon me to explain my position to any one at the Strait. Nevertheless I will say, that had I arrested the chiefs when they were gathered at a public council, the act would have been ill interpreted by both the French and the savages. I trust, however, that the threatened war cloud will soon blow over."
The Indians immediately retired and as soon as they had passed the gate they gave the yell and fired upon the garrison. They then proceeded to the commons where was living an aged English woman with her two sons. These they murdered and then repaired to Isle aux Cochon (Hog Island), where a discharged sergeant resided with his family, who were all but one, immediately massacred. Thus was the war commenced.
There were several buildings surrounding the fort, and but a short distance from it. Behind these and the picket fences the Indians sta- tioned themselves and commenced a violent fire upon the British. This was returned ; but such was the situation of both parties that little injury was done. The firing, however, was continued for some days, the Indians anticipating much more serious effects from these attacks than were actually experienced by their enemies. The British commander was ignorant of the system of tactics which teaches the Indians to consider the sacrifice of human life as dishonorable, and the weakness of his defences led him to fear an assault. Believing his position in such an event would be untenable, preparations were made for an immediate embarkation on board the vessels and a retreat to Niagara. The positive assurances, however, of the principal French inhabitants that so hazard- ous a measure would never be adopted by the Indians reassured him, and in the course of a few days all the wooden buildings, without the fort, which could afford security to the besiegers were burned, either by hot shot or by sorties which were made by the garrison. The Indians could then only annoy the fort by approaching the summit of the low ridge which overlooked the pickets where they continued their fire from time to time.
Major Campbell who had been superseded by Major Gladwin still remained in the fort. IIe had held the command since the surrender of the country and was well known to the Indians. He seemed to have exer- cised his authority moderately, and wisely and was esteemed both by them and the Canadians. Pontiac conceived the design of getting this officer into his possession and holding him as a pledge for the surrender of the fort. For this purpose he requested some of the French inhabit- ants, who were the means of communication between the British and the Indians, to inform Major Campbell he wished an interview with him at his camp that they might terminate the present difficulties and smoke the pipe of peace together. He promised solemnly that Major Campbell should be permitted to go and come in perfect safety. Messrs. Godfroy and Chapoton, who had visited him upon this occasion, were deceived by his professions and promises, and advised Major Campbell to meet him. Such was the anxiety of all to bring to a conclusion this irksome warfare that this officer, accompanied by Lieut. McDougall, repaired to Pontiac's camp in the hope of making a satisfactory arrangement with him. They were at first well received; but without entering into the details of the story it is sufficient to observe that they were ultimately detained and held as hostages. Pontiac offered Major Campbell's life for the surrender of the fort, apparently not aware that one violation of
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