History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 8

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.. > Part 8

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

time a considerable force on Navy Island. A rocket brigade was stationed at Windsor. Occasional musket shots were fired from Windsor into Detroit, and a correspondenee was opened between the authorities on each side with a view to stop this recklessness. The late Adjutant-General John E. Schwartz conducted the correspondence on the part of Michigan. He read it to the writer of this paper. About this time, I visited Detroit, stopping at the National Hotel, as the Russell House was then called, and before I had time to warm myself I met Col. Smith, then a member of the Legislature, from Monroe County, who invited me into the back parlor, where I met Gov. Mason, who ordered me back to Ann Arbor to raise a company of militia and report to Col. Smith who was then under orders from the Governor to march down the Detroit river and break up the encampment of Patriots in the neighborhood of Gibraltar, a small village near the mouth of the river, and drive them away. I had also an order, addressed to the late Col. Slin- gerland, to muster his (the 5th) regiment from which to reernit my company by volunteers, if possible, or by draft. The Colonel issued his orders and did his duty, but so strong was the sympathy in favor of the Patriots and against the English, that not over thirty men out of about 600 composing the regiment obeyed the Colonel's order. Of course I was obliged to report my inability to report the com- pany ordered. My recollection is that Colonel Smith made a similar report and the eneampment remained undisturbed. Gen. Ed. Clark states, that "the leaders of the Patriots had organized a secret society known as Hunters, with lodges in every village along the frontier. They had their secret signs, grips and pass-words, and were sworn to secrecy. A large proportion of the able-bodied men were Hunters, that is, members of hunters' lodges. I mention these facts to show the state of public feeling with regard to the Patriot war and the reason that Gov. Mason could not furnish the necessary foree to march on the Patriot encamp- ment and disperse the force there encamped. Before the close of navigation an expedition was organized by Brigadier General Theller, of the Patriot service. for the purpose of capturing Fort Malden. He embarked in the sloop Ann, and when she arrived off the fort was fired into and her rigging so cut up that she became unmanageable and drifted ashore. The General and Colonel Dodge and the crew were taken prisoners. That Winter a landing of a Patriot force was made on the Canada shore above Windsor, and a battle fought which proved disastrous to the invaders. Another battle was fought at Point an Pelee, where the Patriots were vietors. From these facts it can be seen that the magazine was ready and needed but a spark to explode it-that is, to involve the country in war.

When these events were taking place, but before the fight at Point an Pelee, General Sutherland, of the Patriot army, made his appearance at Ann Arbor in full uniform and posted hand-bills notifying the publie that he would address them at

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

the court-house on the subject of the Patriot war. The court-room was filled and the General was listened to with respect and attention. Before the meeting dis- persed a committee was appointed to wait on the General at his quarters, to confer with him. The writer was one of that committee. The committee called on the General that evening at his room, and spent an hour or two with him. From Ann Arbor he went to Manchester to address the good people of that village. His ob- ject was to get men and means to carry on the war. A short time afterward I received a package of papers from the General. Among them were enlistment. rolls and a long letter. He wished me to join the Patriot army and raise a battalion of men for the Patriot service, but ostensibly as volunteer militia, hold elections for commissioned officers as directed by the militia laws of Michigan, and apply to Gov. Mason for commissions. He said that as I was a personal and political friend of the Governor there would be no difficulty in getting the commissions. This accomplished, I was to put myself and battalion under the orders of the General, and as soon as the Detroit River was frozen over so as to make a passage safe, he would give me an order for arms, ammunitions, blankets, etc., and he would direct when and where the invasion should take place. I confess to a complete surprise-more, I was astonished. We were almost entire strangers to each other ; we had never met except at Ann Arbor, and then only for an hour or two, and knew nothing of each other's antecedents. During the visit of the committee at the General's room I endeavored to draw him into a conversation upon military subjects, tactics, his- tory, etc., but he evaded it, and I formed a small opinion of his military capacity or knowledge. And when he divulged to me, an almost entire stranger, his plan of operations, I lost confidence in him as a military leader. I remembered of reading an anecdote of Washington who was asked by an intimate friend and true Whig what his plan of campaign was. Washington asked, " Can you keep a secret ?" " Yes, General." "So can I," was the response. When the legislative committee visited General Jackson and demanded of him his plan for the defense of New Orleans, he raised a lock of hair from his head and said, "Gentleman, if I supposed this loek of hair knew what was passing in my brain on that subject, I would cut it off and burn it."

I have described the feeling along the dividing line between the States and Canada. I remember that Sutherland said that one of his principal objects was to involve the two countries in war with each other. Doing this he would attain the height of his ambition. I believe there would have been but little difficulty in raising the number of men to fill the four companies required, and it seemed plain to me, that after receiving our commissions, and before the ink of the Governor's signa- ture was fairly dry on them, Sutherland would have ordered a forward movement at a place where we would have been met by an overwhelming force and been compelled

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

to surrender. I could come to no other conclusion than that Sutherland was false to the cause he pretended to espouse. If we had been taken prisoners, of course we would have claimed the treatment of prisoners of war. This may have been ae- corded to us in consideration of our commissions and we not have been hanged as Cunningham, Linn, Lount and others were. If the invasion had taken place, that might have been regarded by our Canadian neighbors as a commencement of hos- tilities on the part of the United States, and as a sufficient justification for the Rocket Brigade to open on Detroit and burn it. At that time there were no troops there except the Brady Guards, an excellent company of volunteer militia of less than 100 men. What the consequences would have been if Sutherland's order had been obeyed others may infer. I remembered that Sutherland told me that he had called meetings and made speeches through Oakland County as he had in Washte- naw. My duty seemed plain and simple, and I lost no time in going to Detroit with this package of papers. I found the Governor in his office in the old eapitol, and as soon as we were left alone I told him my errand and Jaid the papers before him. Ile read them attentively and arose from his chair and walked the office for some minutes without uttering a word. It was plain to be seen that a storm was brewing. At length it burst out in language more forcible than polite, too forcible for me to repeat in this paper. My impression was that if Sutherland had been present he would have felt the weight of the Governor's arm. A more angry man I have sel- dom seen. After the engagement at Point au Pelee occurred, Sutherland, under the pretense of joining the victorious patriots at the Point, attempted to pass Fort Malden with a horse and cutter on the iee and was captured by some of the garrison of the fort which he probably intended to be, and with Theller and Col. Dodge was held as a prisoner until the Spring opened, when the three were taken to Quebee and con- fined in a cell in one of the fortresses there. Theller and Dodge made their escape from the prison, and, after returning, Theller told me that on their journey down. which was by private conveyance (there were no railroads then), he and Dodge were confined in jails nights, but Sutherland was entertained at hotels. On reaching their prison, the three were shut up in the same cell for awhile, but so strong were their impressions that Sutherland was in British pay and a traitor to the Patriot cause that they laid plans to get rid of him. They believed him aspy on them ; they found him a coward and so worked upon his fears until he was removed. Af- ter Theller and Dodge had the eell to themselves. they applied themselves to work and effected their escape and returned to Michigan. The Canadian struggle for national independence was unsuccessful.

Another expedition was planned at Detroit for the capture of Fort Malden, and was to sail from that city under the command of a general from Cleveland. It had been aseertained that the garrison was lodged in the Queen's warehouse at the

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

foot of the wharf, and the officers quartered at hotels in the village of Amherst- burg, and that at night there was but a small force on guard at the fort. Three steamboats were to be employed, and when they arrived off the fort- one boat was to lay across the head of the wharf, and the other two, one on each side ; one party should march directly to the fort and take it; the second should capture the gar- rison in the warehouse ; and the third should capture the officers. This was to be done in the night. And however feasible the plan was, it was hinted that the General laeked the nerve to undertake it. It was like the eause, a failure. After the escape of Theller and Dodge, Sutherland was set at liberty, without trial and without punishment.

THE MEXICAN WAR.

There are few records extant of the action of Michigan troops in the Mexican war. That many went there and fought well, are points conceded ; but their names and country of nativity are hidden away in United States archives where it is almost impossible to find them.

The soldiers of this State deserve much of the credit of the memorable achieve- ments of Co. K, Third Dragoons, and Co.'s A, E and G of the U. S. Infantry. The former two of these companies, recruited in this State, were reduced to one-third their original number.

In May, 1846, our Governor was notified by the War Department of the United States to enroll a regiment of volunteers, to be held in readiness for service whenever demanded. At this summons, thirteen independent volunteer companies, eleven of infantry and two of cavalry, at onee fell into line. Of the infantry, four companies were from Detroit, bearing the honored names of Montgomery, Lafay- ette, Seott, and Brady upon their banners. Of the remainder Monroe tendered two, Lenawee County three, St. Clair, Berrien and Hillsdale each one, and Wayne County an additional company. Of these alone the veteran Bradys were accepted and ordered into service.

In addition to these, ten companies, making the First Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, springing from various parts of the State, but embodying to a great degree the material of which the first volunteers was formed, were not ealled for until October following. This regiment was soon in readiness and proceeded to the seat of war.

THE WAR OF 1861-65.

As soon as the President called for troops to suppress the Rebellion in April, 1861, the loyal people of the Peninsular State promptly responded and furnished the quota assigned. Austin Blair, a man peculiarly fitted for the place during the emergeney, was Governor, and John Robertson, Adjutant-General. The people of Michigan have ever since been proud of the record of these two men during the

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

war, but this does not exelude the honor due all the humble soldiery who obediently exposed their lives in defense of the common country, Michigan has her full share of the buried dead in obscure and forgotten places all over the South as well as in decent cemeteries throughout the North. It was Michigan men that captured Jeff Davis, namely : the 4th Cavalry, under Col. B. F. Pritchard ; and it was Michigan men that materially aided in the successful capture of Wilkes Booth, the assassin of the martyred Lincoln.

The eensus of this State for 1860 showed a population of 751,110. The num- ber of able-bodied men capable of military service was estimated in official documents of that date at 110,000. At the same time the financial embarrassment of the State was somewhat serious, and the annual tax of $226,250 was deemed a grievous burden. But such was the patriotism of the people that by December 23, 1882, an aggregate of 45,569 had gone to battle, besides 1,100 who had gone into other States and re- cruited. By the end of the war Michigan had sent to the front 90,747, or more than four-fifths the estimated number of able-bodied men at the beginning! The military history of the county deals very fully with this subject.

CHAPTER VI.

POLITICAL HISTORY.

Previous to the formation of the Northwestern Territory, the country within its bounds was claimed by several of the Eastern States, on the ground that it was within the limits indicated by their charters from the English Crown, In answer to the wishes of the Government and people, these States in a patriotie spirit sur- rendered their claims to this extensive territory, that it might constitute a common fund to aid in the payment of the national debt. To prepare the way for this ces- sion, a law had been passed in October, 1780, that the territory so to be ceded should be disposed of for the common benefit of the whole Union ; that the States ereeted therein should be of suitable extent, not less than 100 nor more than 150 miles square ; and that any expenses that might be ineurred in recovering the posts then in the hands of the British should be reimbursed. New York released her elaims to Congress, March 1, 1781 ; Virginia, March 1, 1781; Massachusetts, April 19, 1785, and Connecticut, September 4, 1786.

Under the French and British dominion, the points occupied on the eastern boundary of what is now the State of Michigan were considered a part of New France, or Canada. Detroit was known to the French as Fort Pontchartrain.

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

The military commandant, under both governments, exercised a civil jurisdiction over the settlements surrounding their posts. In 1796, when the British garrisons at Detroit and Mackinaw were replaced by detachments by General Wayne, Mich- igan became a part of the Northwestern Territory and was organized as the county of Wayne, entitled to one Representative in the General Assembly, held at Chilli- cothe. In 1800, Indiana was made a separate Territory, embracing all the country west of the present State of Ohio, and of an extension of the western line of that State due north to the territorial limits of the United States. In 1802, the penin- sula was annexed to the Territory of Indiana, and in 1805 Michigan began a sepa- rate existence. That part of the Territory that lies east of a north and south line through the middle of Lake Michigan was formed into a distinct government, and the provisions of the ordinance of 1787 continued to regulate it. Under this Con- stitution the executive power was vested in a governor, the judicial in three judges, and the legislative in both united ; the officers were appointed by the General Gov- ernment, and their legislative authority was restricted to the adoption of laws from the codes of the several States. This form of government was to continue until the Territory should contain 5,000 free white males of full age. It then became optional with the people to choose a legislative body, to be supported by them ; but subsequent legislation by Congress more liberally provided a legislature at the expense of the general Government and also added to privileges in the elective franchise and eligibility to office ; as, for example, under the ordinance a freehold qualification was required, both on the part of the elector and of the elected.

The first officers of the territory of Michigan were: Wm. Hull, governor ; Augustus B. Woodward, chief judge; Frederick Bates, Sr., assistant judge and treasurer ; John Griffin, assistant judge; Col. James May, marshal ; Abijan Hull, surveyor; Peter Audrain, clerk of the legislative board. May 5, 1807, Joseph Watson was appointed Legislative Secretary ; in November, 1806, Elijah Brush was appointed Treasurer, to succeed Mr. Bates, and the books of the office were deliv- ered over on the 26th of that month ; and William McDowell Scott was appointed Marshal in November, 1806, to succeed Col. May. The latter never held the office of Judge of the Territory, but about 1800-'3 he was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. Augustus Breevort Woodward was a native of Virginia ; was ap- pointed a Judge of the Territory in 1805, his term of office expired February 1, 1824. He was soon afterward appointed Judge of the Territory of Florida, and three years after that he died. The grand scheme of "Catholepistemiad," or State University of Michigan, with its numerous names described under sesquipedalian names from the Greek, owed its origin to Judge Woodward.

John Griffin was appointed Assistant Judge in 1807, his term of office expir-

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

ing February 1, 1824, when he was re-appointed for four years, and February 1, 1828, he was appointed Territorial Sceretary.

When, in 1818, Illinois was admitted into the Union, all the territory lying north of that State and of Indiana was annexed to Michigan. In 1819 the terri- tory was authorized to elect a delegate to Congress, according to the present usage with reference to territories; previous to this time according to the ordinance of 1787, a territory was not entitled to a delegate until it entered upon the " second grade of Government," and the delegate was then to be chosen by the General Assembly.

In 1823 Congress abolished the legislative power of the Governor and Judges, and granted more enlarged ones to a council, to be composed of nine persons selected by the President of the United States from eighteen chosen by the electors of the territory; and by this law, also, eligibility to office was made co-existent with the right of suffrage as established by the act of 1819; also the judicial term of office was limited to four years. In 1825 all county officers, except those of a judicial nature, were made elective, and the appointments which remained in the hands of the executive were made subject to the approval of the legislative council. In 1827 the electors were authorized to choose a number of persons for the legisla- tive couneil, which was empowered to enact all laws not inconsistent with the ordinance of 1787. Their aets, however, were subject to abolishment by Congress, and to veto by the territorial executives. When Gen. Wm. Hull arrived at Detroit to assume his official duties as Governor, he found the town in ruins, it having been destroyed by fire. Whether it had been burned by design or accident was not known. The inhabitants were without food and shelter, camping in the open fields ; still they were not discouraged, and soon commenced rebuilding their houses on the same site. Congress also kindly granted the sufferers the site of the old town of Detroit and 10,000 aeres of land adjoining. A territorial militia was organized, and a code of laws was adopted similar to those of the original State. This code was signed by Gov. Hull, Augustus B. Woodward and Frederick Bates, Judges of the Territory, and was called the " Wood ward code."

At this time the bounds of the Territory embraced all the country on the American side of the Detroit River, east of the north and south line through the eenter of Lake Michigan. The Indian land claims had been partially extinguished previous to this period. By the treaty of Fort McIntosh, in 1785, and that of Fort Harmar, in 1787, extensive cessions had been either made or confirmed, and, in 1807, the Indian titles to several tracts became entirely extinet. Settlements having been made under the French and English Governments, with irregularity or absence of definite surveys and records, some confusion sprang up in regard to the titles of valuable traets. Accordingly, Congress established a Board of Com- missioners to examine and settle these conflicting claims, and, in 1807, another aet 6

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

was passed, confirming, to a certain extent, the titles of all such as had been in possession of the lands then occupied by them from the year 1796, the year of the final evacuations by the British garrisons. Other aets were subsequently passed, extending the same conditions to settlements on the upper lakes.

As chief among the fathers of this State we may mention Gov. Lewis Cass, Gabriel Richard, Stevens T. Mason, Augustus B. Woodward, John Hornell, William Woodbridge, John Biddle, William A. Fletcher, Elon Farns- worth, Solomon Sibley, Benjamin B. Kircheval, John R. Williams, George Morrell, Daniel Goodwin, Augustus S. Porter, Benjamin F. H. Witherell, Jonathan Sheaver and Charles C. Trowbridge, all of Wayne County ; Edmund Munday, James Kingsley and Alphens Felch, of Washentaw; Ross Wilkins and John J. Adam, of Lenawee; Warner Wing, Charles Noble and Austin E. Wing, of Monroe County ; Randolph Manning, O. D. Richardson and James B. Hunt, of Oakland ; Henry R. Schoolcraft, of Chippewa ; Albert Miller, of the Saginaw Valley ; John Stockton, Robert P. Eldridge and Christian Clemens, of Macomb ; Lucius Lyon, Charles E. Stuart, Edwin H. Lathrop, Epaphroditus Ransom and Hezekiah G. Wells, of Kalamazoo ; Isaac E. Crary, John D. Pierce and Oliver C. Comstock, of Calhoun ; Kinsley S. Bingham, of Livingston ; John S. Barry, of St. Joseph ; Charles W. Whipple, Calvain Britain and Thomas Fitz- gerald, of Berrien, Bunce, of St. Clair, and George Redfield, of Cass. These men and their compeers shaped the policy of the State, and decided what should be its future. They originated all and established most of the great institutions which are the evidences of our advanced civilization, and of which we are so justly proud.

ADMINISTRATION OF GEN. CASS.

At the close of the war with Great Britain in 1814, an era of prosperity dawned upon the infant territory. Gen. Lewis Cass, who had served the Govern- ment with great distinction during the war, was appointed Governor. The condi- tion of the people was very much reduced, the country was wild, and the British flag still waved over the fort at Mackinaw. There was nothing inviting to immi- grants except the mere facts of the close of the war and the existence of a fertile soil and a good climate. The Indians were still dangerous, and the country was still comparatively remote from the centers of civilization and government. Such a set of circumstances was just the proper environment for the development of all those elements of the "sturdy pioneer," which we so often admire when writing up Western history. Here was the field for stout and brave men ; here was the place for the birth and education of real Spartan men,-men of strength, moral courage and indomitable perseverance.

At first, Gen. Cass had also the care of a small portion of Canada opposite

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

Detroit, and he had only twenty-seven soldiers for defending Detroit against the hostile Indians and carrying on the whole government. Believing that a civil governor should not be encumbered also with military duty, he resigned his brigadier-generalship in the army. But as Governor he soon had occasion to exer- cise his military power, even to aet on the field as commander, in chasing away marauding bands of Indians. The latter seemed to be particularly threatening at this time, endeavoring to make up in yelling and petty depredations what they lacked in sweeping victory over all the pale-faces.

In times of peace Gov. Cass had high notions of civilizing the Indians, encour- aging the purchase of their lands, limiting their hunting grounds to a narrow com- pass, teaching them agriculture and mechanies, and providing the means for their instruction and religious training. The policy of the French and English had been to pacify them with presents and gewgaws, merely to obtain a temporary foothold for the purpose of carrying on the fur trade. Those benefited by the trade lived thousands of miles away, and had no interest in the permanent development of the country. The United States Government, on the other hand, indorsed Gov. Cass' policy, which was to result in the development of the country and the establish- ment of all the arts of peace. Govs. Cass and Harrison were accordingly empowered to treat with the Indians on the Miami and Wabash ; and, July 20, a treaty was signed with the Wyandottes, Senecas, Shawnees, Miamis and Delawares, which restored comparative tranquility. During the Summer, however, there was Indian war enough to call out all Gov. Cass' men, in aid of Gen. Brown on the Niagara.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 8

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814