USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan > Part 102
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610
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
war in 1812, and during the earlier demonstrations against Detroit. But immediately after the defeat of the British in the battle of Thames in the year following, measures were taken again for a more effective defense of this section. Accordingly, Maj. Forsyth, of the regular army, supported by a detachment of the Second Infantry, commanded by Capt. Cobb and a force of Militia Rangers, as they were called, under Capt. Joe Roe, with Capt. Gratiot as an . engineer officer, left Detroit May 11, 1814, for the purpose of establishing a defensive work at the foot of Lake Huron. They were transported in twelve batteaux and a small sloop carrying one field piece, and reached their destination the 13th. On their arrival, they found the old French post occupied by a Canadian Frenchman with a small house, and about two acres in cultivation. This Maj. Forsyth took possession of, and commenced the erection of a stockade and earthworks for artillery the next day. and at the same time sent Roe's rangers across the river to scour the country to ascertain if there were any hostile forces in the vicinity. These troops remained until some time in 1817 or 1818, when they were relieved by a detachment of the Fourth Infantry, transferred from Maine, under the command of Capt. Fowle. At its establishment it took the name of Capt. Gratiot, the engineer officer in command, and the cost of construction was $305.25.
With the reduction of the army in 1822, this post was abandoned by the military and the buildings turned over to two missionaries by the names of Hart and Hudson, of the Presby- terian denomination, who opened a school for the education of Indians and what few whites were in the vicinity. This continued for about one year, when the school was broken up and one of the missionaries went to Mackinac for a like purpose. The works at this time were in so dilapidated a condition that Gen. Cass, then Governor of the Territory, called the attention of the Legislature to the subject, as well as to the bad condition of the fort at Detroit.
From the time the post was vacated by the missionaries until 1828, I find no record, but in that year troops were sent to occupy it, and the year following it was rebuilt, the grounds enlarged and inclosed in a stockade, the earthworks leveled down to its present condition, and the buidings arranged according to the present plan, with the exception of the hospital, which was much nearer the river. In 1847, the troops were withdrawn and ordered to Mexico, but it was again regarrisoned at the close of that war, and remained so until the opening of the rebellion, when the troops were ordered off. At the close of the war, a detachment of the Seventeenth Infantry was stationed here and it has remained in military possession since; after the Seventeenth Infantry, by the Forty-third Infantry, and then by two companies of the First Infantry, who garrisoned the post in 1871.
Understanding that the early history of this post was incomplete, and much relating to it very imperfectly understood, and believing that as time advances the early settlement and military occupation along the northern borders of the United States will possess an increasing interest, I have taken considerable pains to investigate this subject, and herewith somewhat imperfectly present the results. Its geographical position was of great importance to the French during their occupation of Canada, and in many of the contests between the authorities on either side of these northern waters. It also promoted the more peaceful relations of the natives among themselves, and with the whites it exerted an important influence."
Le Sueur, a noted voyageur, was at the mouth of the St. Clair for the first time, in 1683, making his way up the Fox River and down the Wisconsin to the Mississippi, thence to the Sioux country, where, at different periods, be spent seven years.
In 1684, Nicholas Perrot, who had assisted St. Lusson in 1671,it will be remembered, again made his appearance at the place. Perrot is a most notable figure in the early history of the Northwest. He employed a considerable number of men, and carried his operations as far as Lake Pepin. He was the trusted agent of the Government, and was invested with more extensive authority than ordinary traders. He was commissioned to manage the interests of commerce from Green Bay westward, and was employed as Indian agent for many years. He procured a peace among the Sioux, Chippewas and Foxes, and so far put to sleep the animosity of the latter toward the French, that while he was their agent they remained friendly. "I was sent hither," he writes, " charged with the commission to have chief command there, and in the most distant countries on the side of the west."
611
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
In 1686, Daniel Greysolon Du Lhut, better known as Du Luth, arrived at the post and assumed military command under the superintendency of the commandant at Mackinaw. While making preparations to go to war against the Iroquois, he was assisted by Perrot in collecting In- dian allies. The last-mentioned voyageur was then trading among the Foxes in the Northwest. On the 8th of May, 1689, he (Perrot), then commanding a post among the Sioux, was com- missioned by the Governor of Canada to manage the interests of commerce among the Indian tribes of Green Bay, and he proceeded to make more certain the taking possession of the whole country in the name of the French King. In other words, he supplemented the work of St. Lusson done in 1671.
During the same year, the Baron Le Houtan visited the locality and was entertained in a distinguished manner by the Sacs, Pottawatomies and Menomonees, as well as by the Otchip. wes and Frenchmen.
In the autumn of 1678, La Salle, upon the St. Lawrence, in order to forward his design of erecting a fort upon the River Illinois, sent fifteen men up the lakes to trade for him, with orders to go hence to that river and make preparations for his coming next year. Some of these men went on as far as Green Bay, where they collected a large store of furs; and here, on one of the islands at its mouth, La Salle, in the " Griffin," the first sailing craft that ever floated on the upper lakes, found them in the month of September, 1679. La Salle resolved to send back his vessel from this point, laden with these furs and others collected on the way. She fired a parting shot, and on the 18th of September set sail for Niagara, with orders to re- turn to Mackinac as soon as she had discharged her cargo. But the "Griffin" was never heard of from that time. She was engulfed in the wild waves, probably, of Lake Michigan soon after leaving the island. La Salle, with fourteen men in four canoes, proceeded to the country of the Illinois. The fur traders, who, it will be remembered, preceded the Jesuit missionaries to this region, maintained their relations here with more or less regularity for a great many years.
Following the visit to Green Bay of the fur traders under La Salle, in 1678, and of that famous explorer the year after, was that of Louis Hennepin, in 1680. He and his party, as a detail from La Salle's expedition to the Illinois, reached the mouth of the St. Clair in that year, on his way from the Upper Mississippi down the great lakes, passing down this river to the older posts on the St. Lawrence.
WAR OF 1812.
In 1811, a few men forming a company known as the St. Clair Militia, assembled at Ft. Gratiot, subsequently at St. Clair; but when required to be present on review at Mt. Clemens that year, they could not be present, giving as a reason the want of timely notice.
In May, 1812, a company of artillerists camped at St. Clair, and toward the close of that month took up quarters on the site of the old Fort St. Joseph. This company is referred to in the following paper:
TROOPS CAMPED AT ST. CLAIR IN 1812.
Muster roll of a company of artillerists, under the command of Lieut. Porter Hanks, in the regiment commanded by Col. Henry Burbeck, from the 31st day of May, when last mus- tered, to the 30th of June, 1812, at Michilimackinac, Territory of Michigan. Many, if not all, of these men were present at the affair of July 17, 1812:
:
612
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
Porter Hanks ..
First Lieutenant.
Archibald Danagh.
First Lieutenant.
Sylvester Day
Second Mate.
John Penny
Sergeant
Joseph Vaillencourt.
Sergeant
John Gordon
Sergeant
Noel Boudrie
Corporal
Maurice Martin.
Corporal
Nathan Steward
Corporal .
Hough Kelley.
Corporal
Redmond Magrath
Musician
Alexander Parks.
Musician.
Joseph Tacier .
Musician.
John B. Vaillencourt.
Musician
Henry Vaillencourt.
Musician
A boy learning music. Re-enlisted.
John Kane. .
Artificer
John O'Donnell
Artificer
Osborn Smith
Artificer ..
John Whelpley
Artificer.
Joseph Benoine.
Private
Peter Bourdonne
Private
Robert H. Boyd.
Private
Mathias Bromley
Private
Peter Brown .
Private
Edward Burleson
Private
Nathan Burr
Private
Jedediah Cannon
Private
John Davis .
Private
Pierre De Bourdeaux
Private
Jacob Farmer
Private
James Farrell .
Private
Edward Fitzgerald.
Private
Francis Foote.
Private
John Garlough
Private
Abel Gifford.
Private
John Gifford
Private
John Gerry
Private
William Harvey
Private
Henry Hannion.
Private
Seth Holmes
Private
Richard Joel ..
Private
Joseph Le Reveisore
Private
Benjamin Luker
Private
Michael McGill.
Private
Unfit for service. Re-enlisted.
Transferred to Capt. Rood's Company.
Unfit for service.
John Pound.
Private
John B. Perrault
Private
William Redman
Private
Anthony Rabbillard
Private
Paulite St. Nichols
Private
Noah Scott ..
Private
John B. Sylvester.
Private
John Sinnie .
Private
Francis Vaillencourt
Private
Simeon Windell
Private
James Woodbeck.
Private
John White ..
Private
Benjamin Weldon
Private
Anthony Sampitie.
Private
Surrendered himself from desertion at Detroit January 16, 1812.
Thomas Murphey
Private
Thomas Mullen.
Private
Jonathan Nutt.
Private
Ichabod O'Bryan
Private
Pascal Peters
Private
John Phillips
Private
Re-enlisted.
Sick.
Unfit for service.
William Maxwell
Artificer
Bartholomew Noble
Artificer
Reduced June 16.
..
613
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
The fate of this command is related in the following letter. The account being from a British source:
MACKINAW, 18th July, 1812.
Dear Sir: I am happy to have it in my power to announce to you that Mackinac capitulated to us on the 17th inst. at 11 o'clock A. M., Capt. Roberts at our head, with a part of the Tenth British Volunteer Bat- talion. Mr. Crawford had command of the Canadians, which consisted of about 200 men; Mr. Dickenson, 143 Sioux, Forlavians, and Winebagoes; and myself about 280 men, Attawas and Chippewas, part of Attawas of L'harb-Croche had not arrived. It was a fortunate circumstance, the fort capitulated without firing a single gun, for had they done so, I firmly believe that not a soul of them would have been saved.
My son, Charles Longdale, Augustin Nolin and Machello Badotte, Jr., have rendered me great service in keeping the Indians in order, and in executing from time to time such commands as were delivered by the commanding officer. I never saw so determined a set of people as the Chippewas and Attawas.
Since the capitulation they have not drank a single drop of liquor, nor even killed a fowl belonging to any person (a thing never known before) for they generally destroy everything they meet with.
I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,
The HON. COL. W. CLAUS, etc, Fort George. JOHN ASKIN, JR., Storekeeper's Department.
THE FORT IN 1832.
Owing to the rebellion of Black Hawk and his allies, the General Government was forced into prompt action. Nine military companies were detailed for service in the West, under command of Gen. Scott. This force arrived at Detroit July 1, 1832, where two of the troops were taken sick and deceased within a few hours. The Asiatic cholera was introduced into the upper lake region. The command hastened away from Detroit as from a plague spot. Arriv. ing at Ft Gratiot, Gen. Scott garrisoned that post with 280 troops and a number of West Point students. Of the remainder who proceeded to Chicago, thirty died on the passage, and their bodies were cast into the lakes. The number stationed at Ft. Gratiot died one after an- other at that post, or while flying from the ravages of the cholera. Almost all the students fell before this terrible pestilence.
The garrison at Ft. Gratiot was re-enforced in July, 1851, by the arrival of Company C, of the Fourth Infantry, from Detroit, which city was abandoned as a military station for the preseLt. Two companies of the Fourth Regiment of Infantry were stationed at Ft. Gratiot with the following officers in command: Major, G. J. Rains; Brevet Major, B. Alvord; First Lieutenant, T. J. Montgomery; Second Lieutenant, J. M. Henry; Second Lieutenant, W. A. Slaughter, and Surgeon, C. S. Tripler. Maj. Rains arrived from Green Bay, Lieut. Henry and Surgeon Tripler came with the company from Detroit.
The Cleveland Herald of April, 1856, makes the following kindly notice of the widow of one of the most gallant and noble-hearted officers ever connected with the army of our country: "Mrs. M. arrived home some days since, and is now in the active discharge of her trust. Of course she is the most popular commandant the ancient stockade has ever had. Lieut. Mont- gomery, of the United States Army, not long since lost his life in the service in Oregon. His death left his widow, form rly Miss Northrop, of Akron, and one child, in comparative penury, as is generally the case with those who devote their lives to their country's service. She re- turned, and Gen. Jessup, with the kindness of heart and chivalry which characterizes a brave soldier, immediately gave to her the trust of Ft. Gratiot, now unoccupied by a garrison; a duty which she can fulfill, and the pay of which is very fair."
We find the following anecdote of the rebel chieftain in the Port Huron Times of the 29th of April, 1870: The Savannah firemen are said to have been greatly elated when Robert E. Lee sent them a note the other day accepting honorary membership. Well, perhaps it was an honor. Time works changes, and perhaps Robert E. Lee is an honorable man now. But years ago, when he was stationed at Ft. Gratiot, he tried to sneak out of paying a bill he owed to Mr. Charles Flugal, then the proprietor of a bakery in this city, and still a respected resident here. But Robert couldn't outwit Mr. F., and that gentleman ransacked the garrison and pulled the chivalrous son of the South from behind a door where he had tried to hide, shook him slightly, and notified him that unless the bill was paid within one hour a constable would wait on him. Chivalrous Robert lost no time in following Mr. Flugal to the city and meekly settled the bill.
The body of Corporal Frederickson, belonging to one of the Companies stationed at Ft.
614
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Gratiot, was found in the St. Clair River near Sombra, C. W., nearly opposite Newport, June 7, 1866. It will be recollected that on the night of the 12th of May, he, in company with George Bishop, a private in one of the companies stationed at the Fort, was out in a boat on the river, fishing, and that Bishop returned to shore without him, reporting that he had fallen overboard and was drowned. A Coroner's inquest was held at Ft. Gratiot on June 8, when the following verdict was given: "Corporal Frederickson came to his death on the evening of the 12th of May, 1866, by the hands of one George Bishop, a private of Company E, Second Battalion, Seventeenth Regiment, United States Infantry." Bishop was tried for mur- der before the United States Court at Detroit, and received his sentence of death from Judge Wilkinson. The terms of the sentence provided for his hanging on October 7, 1866.
MILITARY RESERVATION.
An act of the Legislature, approved May 9, 1846, ceded to the United States a tract of 612 acres round Fort Gratiot, between Black River and the St. Clair, for military purposes, on condition that the State hold a concurrent jurisdiction with the United States in civil and crim- inal matters. Under authority of an act, approved January 27, 1853, the State of Michigan ceded to the United States a tract of land at the mouth of Pine River, for light-house purposes. Another tract was ceded on the St. Clair Flats, by Legislative act, approved February 5, 1853.
The sale of lots in the Military Reservation commenced on December 14, 1870. The total number of lots sold was 98 -- fourteen blocks. The amount realized was $17,843, the av- erage price per lot being $181.25. The sales were as follows:
Thomas W. Ward, lot 1, block 1, $100; lot 1, block 2, $115; lot 1, block 3, $130; lot 1, block 4, $150; lot 6, block 5, $153; lot 6, block 6, $143; lot 9, block 4, $115.
John M. Gillett, lot 2, block 1, $150; lot 2, block 2, $170.
A. N. Moffat, lot 2, block 5, $517; lot 2, block 6, $280
George Fish, lot 2, block 7, $205; lot 2, block 8, $215; lot 10, block 7, $103; lot 10, block 8, $147.
Frank P. Goldie, lot 2, block 3, $249; lot 2, block 4. $360.
William Jenkinson, Richmond, lot 1, block 1, $352; lot 1, block 2, $313; lot 3, block 1, $410; lot 4, block 7, $161; lot 5, block 7, $100.
George E. Brockway, lot 3, block 2, $225. James Goulden, lot 3, block 3, $360; lot 3, block 4, $510; lot 3, block 5, $405.
William Marr, lot 4, block 1, $176.
Charles Dane, lot 12, block 7, $416; lot 4, block 2, $128.
Burnet Butler, lot 4, block 3, $125.
C. Paille, lot 4, block 4, $126.
Charles Baer, lot 4, block 5, $126; lot 4, block 6, $116.
Thomas K. Whitman, lot 4, block 8, $272.
Edmund Atkinson, lot 5, block 1, $110.
F. L. Burke, lot 5, block 2, $82; lot 5, block 3, $96.
D. McKeller, lot 5, block 6, $93.
John Keveney, lot 5, block 8, $151.
D. B. Harrington, lot 6, block 1, $140; lot 11, block 9, $280; lot 9, block 7, $123; lot 10, block 3, $90; lot 10, block 4, $102.
Robert Walsh, lot 6, block 2, $137; lot 13, block 6, $305.
Otis Joslyn, lot 6, block 3, $140; lot 6, block -- , $160.
H. B. O'Neill, lot 6, block 7, $137; lot 7, block -, $86; lot 8, block 4, $70; lot 13, block 7, $206; lot 13, block 8, $236; lot 6, block 8, $166; lot 7, block 2, $101; lot 7, block 3, $162. John Walsh, lot 7, block 5, $106; lot 7, block 6, $110.
Thomas Burke, lot 7, block 5, $93.
Skinner & Ames, lot 8, block 5, $95; lot 8, block 6, $107.
Thomas Walsh, lot 9, block 1, $159.
William D. Wright, lot 9, block 2, $125; lot 9, block 3, $119.
615
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
S. S. Ward, lot 8, block -, $82; lot 9, block 6, $115; lot 5, block 4, $132; lot 5, block 5, $132; lot 8, block 1, $102; lot 8, block 2, $89.
Mary Crawford, lot 9, block 5, $127.
John Braithwait, lot 9, block 8, $170.
John Vergin, lot 10, block 1, $120.
Charles Steinborn, lot 10, block 2, $98.
John Delonga, lot 10, block 5, $112; lot 11, block 5, $155.
S. Goodman, lot 10, block 6, $52.
William Le Blanc, lot 11, block 3, $220.
John Miller, lot 37, block 4, $103; lot 14, block 3, $150.
John Asman, lot 11, block 6, $237; lot 11, block 7, $151; lot 11, block 8, $176.
William Hartsuff, lot 12, block 1, $240; lot 12, block 2, $233; lot 12, block 3, $200; lot 12, block 4. $254; lot 13, block 3, $211; lot 13, block 4, $355.
Henry Howard, lot 12, block 5, $200; lot 12, block 6, $210; lot 12, block 8, $360; lot 12, block 9, $520.
James Goulden, lot 13, block 15, $119; lot 13, block 2, $150.
Charles Sanburg, lot 13, block 5, $380; lot 14, block 2, $175.
James M. Twiss, lot 14, block 1, $110.
The sales took place on the grounds, Mr. John W. Twiss, auctioneer. Maj. Poe was pres- ent during the sale. The total number of lots offered was 240, of which 98 were sold.
Two hundred and forty lots, or sixty acres, on the Military Reservation, were sold Decem- ber 16, 1870, at an average price of $172.87 per lot. The largest sum paid for a single lot was $520 for lot 9, block 12, by Howard & Co. Mrs. Clara J. O'Neil bought seventeen lots, the greatest number purchased by a single bidder; Fish, Harrington and Moses bought twelve lots; James Goulden, nine; S. S. Ward, W. D. Wright and William Hartsuff, eight lots each, and T. W. Ward, seven lots.
The sale of the remaining portion of the Fort Gratiot Military Reservation, August 30, 1881, included all the old cemetery grounds in the city, being about forty acres in all, and seventeen acres lying north of the cemetery grounds. The proceeds of the sale of the cemetery grounds will go to the city, and of the other to the Government. The cost of removing bodies from the cemetery will be paid from the proceeds of the sale.
The old garrison buildings at Fort Gratiot were torn down in May, 1882. Only three now remain of all that fronted on the handsome little square that overlooked the Grand Trunk depot. The hill itself will soon be cut down to the dead level of the present depot grounds, and the place it stood on covered by railroad tracks. The white walls of the old fashioned build- ings, that gleamed a welcome to incoming ships for two generations, that stood there when all around them was an unbroken wilderness, have passed away forever. It seems, to old resi- dents, like losing sight of a dear old friend, whose face has been many years familiar through storm and sunshine.
The old fort! It has sheltered, in its time, many a gallant soldier, and been the home of men whose names became eminent in the nation's history. Dear old memories cluster around it. Within its walls many a hopeful career began, and brave young hearts swelled with the first glory of martial life.
But the time came when its day of usefulness was over. In recent years it has served as a pleasant station for soldiers weary of the exposure and danger of life on the Western frontier. Now it gives way to the railroad in the march of improvement. It will not be many weeks before even the very ground it stood on will have yielded to the advance of the steam shovel. and been carried away to fill in the depot grounds on the south side of the river. So that por- tion of the city will become, more than ever, historic ground.
On May 22, 1882, a skeleton was found lying on the floor of one of the remaining hou s of the old fort. It was then necessary to find the man who unearthed the skeleton, and in a few minutes he was found. He stated that it was buried beneath the floor of the kitchen at- tached to the house which was occupied by the surgeons and their assistants. The skeleton was covered by only twelve or fifteen inches of earth, and appeared to be lying on some bark. The
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616
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
head was against the stone wall, and tied up in canvas, on which were blood stains. An iron spike, six inches long, with hair sticking to it, was also found near the head. The skull was in a good state of preservation, and the two rows of teeth were very fine and perfect. A num- ber of small black beads and two bone knife handles were lying near the neck. All the bones were found, except the legs. The hair of the head was a rusty brown color. The man who found the skeleton thinks it is that of a squaw.
Throughout the State, many localities formerly occupied by forts, cantonments, block- houses, magazines and navy yards, the potatoe fields, farms, commons, where the cattle graze, and graveyards were, are now compactly built over with buildings occupied by an enterpris- ing population, whose busy hum has so changed the scene of former times that the ancient habitant and those born and reared in the land are scarcely able to recognize it. Never were the following historic lines more appropriate than in the case of Fort Gratiot:
"On lawn and slope-the red man's late abode- The steam horse rushes on an iron road. The steeple rises and vast granaries groan With products of wide realms by commerce made our own; Ponds where the sportsman hunted duck and plover,
Now with parterres and parks are covered over. Green lanes through which the habitant alone Drove his chariot, to spacious streets have grown, Paved with cobbles, which perplexed the shore Of this blue 'strait ' -- by trade not docked of yore; Straits whose clear depths no pirogue's keel could reach, Now sullenly give back the screw tug's awful screech. Fresh from the 'back concession '-what surprise Illumes Jean Crapeau's honest, wond'ring eyes, To see the terrace where the rampart frowned, With lofty pile of brick and mortar crowned. Alas ! what greater change upbraid the modern place Containing now a less contented race, The simple virtues of the olden time Exchanged for coin-the more almighty dime."
GRATIOT LIGHT.
Fort Gratiot Light-House is numbered 48, and located in 40' 22" north latitude, and lon- gitude 82' 24' 44" west of Greenwich. It is in the Eleventh Inspection District, which com- prises all the lake coast above Detroit, of which Com. A. Murray is Inspector, headquarters at Detroit. It was built in 1825, and refitted in 1862. It is 82 feet high from the surface of the lake, and supplied with an F. V. F. light; a fixed white light, varied with flashes at intervals of two minutes; and has what is known as the third order of lens. An interesting record of progress is connected with the forty-seven years of its history.
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