USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 4
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It was provided by the constitution that the Legislature should, as far as practicable, abolish the distinction between law and equity proceedings. The office of master in chan- cery was abolished, and the election of officers known as Circuit Court commissioners was authorized.
THE MILITARY RECORD.
COLONIAL AND INDIAN WARS.
First Conflict on Michigan Soil-One Thousand Indians Slain-Decisive Campaigns Elsewhere- Conspiracy of Pontiac- Battle of Bloody Bridge- Massacre of Mackinac.
The first encounter of hostile forces within the Territory of Michigan, of which we have any record, was between the French and their Indian allies on the one hand, and the Indians in sympathy with the British on the other hand. The French and their allies were be- sieged in their fort at Detroit, May 13, 1712, but the besiegers finally decamped and cn- trenched themselves at Windmill Point, at the foot of Lake St. Clair. They were fol- lowed and themselves became the besieged party. After four days they surrendered, and all but the women and children were slain. The loss of the French and allies was sixty Indians killed and wounded. The enemy lost a thousand .* The French, in their dealings with the Indians, were more fortunate (or more politic) than their English neighbors. Their policy was one of good fellowship, of conciliation and fairness, thus avoiding much of the friction from which the English colo- nists suffered.
The fate of nations is many times deter- mined by battles fought outside of their own territory. This has been the case twice, at least, in the history of Michigan. From be- ing a French dependency it came to the Brit- ish as a result of the wars between the two nations, 1754-63. The successful campaign of Gen. George Rogers Clarke against the British posts in the northwest during the war of the revolution secured Michigan and the Northwest Territory to the United States.
But the soil of Michigan, like that of every
other part of the habitable globe, has drank the blood of those who stood in its defense. The conspiracy of the famous Indian chief, Pontiac, in 1763, is detailed in all of the his- tories. It is said that a council of Indians was held, which was addressed by Pontiac. He told them that it was the design of the English to drive the Indians from their coun- try, and that they were their natural and in- veterate enemies. Whether the last be true or not, or whether the first was true, as a mat- ter of design, the aggressive chieftain was a prophet of his race. The Indians have been most effectively driven from their country. Pontiac drew to his standard the Ottawas, the Chippewas, the Miamis, the Pottowatomies, and others. Their military operations ex- tended along the entire line of the waters of the lower lakes. They attacked the posts of Le Bœuf, Venango, Presque Isle, Mackinac, St. Joseph, Miami, Green Bay, Ouiatonon, Pittsburg and Sandusky .* Detroit was the pivotal point to which the campaign was di- rected. It began substantially on May 1, 1763, and the first act in the drama occurred some days later, when the plot to capture the fort and garrison by surprise was betrayed to the British commandant, Major Gladwin. Pontiac and a party of his warriors, having been admitted to the fort under pretext of a conference, found the garrison under arms and prepared to receive him, and was con- fronted with the evidence of his treachery. There was thenceforth a well understood declaration of war. The Indians, as they passed out of the fort, turned round and fired upon the garrison, upon which they made suc- cessive attacks, morc annoying than danger-
*Judge Campbell's History, p. 84.
*Lanman, p. 44.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
ous, and committed various acts of cruelty and barbarism.
A regular state of scige was established, the fort was effectually blockaded and it supplies cut off. A vessel with reinforcements and supplies was sent from Niagara. Reaching Point Pelce, the officer in command, appre- hending no danger, made a landing and en- camped. They suffered an early morning attack from the Indians, by which two-thirds of the command were made prisoners, the bal- ance escaping to Sandusky. The Indians compelled their captives to man the boats, in which they proceeded up the river to Hog Island (now Belle Isle), where they were mas- sacred, except two who made their escape. There was a practical termination of the war with the battle of Bloody Bridge, or Bloody Run, July 31. Although this encounter was a costly one for the English, they had been so
fully reinforced by men, arms and supplies that they were beyond immediate want or danger. Intelligence of the treaty of peace between France and Great Britain placed the French inhabitants in the position of non- combatants, even were they inclined to be anything but friendly. The Indian force, unsupported, had gradually lost strength and confidence, and the British occupancy there- after met with no serious resistance. The massacre of the British garrison and post at Mackinac, June 8, 1763, formed one of the tragic scenes of the Pontiac conspiracy, but can only be mentioned in passing. No battles were fought on Michigan soil between the American and British forces during the war of the revolution, although Detroit was made the base of operations by the British for some of their military enterprises during the war.
THE WAR OF 1812.
Indian Discontent-Tecumseh and His Brother, "The Prophet"-The Hull Surrender-Massacre at the River Raisin-Perry's Victory on Lake Erie- Battle of the Thames and Death of Tecumseh- British Occupancy of Detroit-A British Provis- ional Government-Joint Proclamation by Gen- eral Harrison and Commodore Perry-Capture of Mackinac Island by the British.
Michigan enjoyed comparative exemption from wars and rumors of wars until during the first decade of the present century. Dis- content with the Indian tribes then began to manifest itself under the leadership of Tecum- sch, a Shawanese chief, who seems to have been endowed with an organizing power cqual to that of Pontiac. His plan was to surprise the posts of Detroit, Fort Wayne, Chicago, St. Louis and Vincennes, and to unite all of the tribes east of the Mississippi. He had a valu- able ally in a brother, called the Prophet, whose mission was to work upon the super- stitious fear of the Indians. He repeated the warning of Pontiac, that the design of the whites was to push the Indian steadily back- ward and to occupy his land. But except some cases of lawlessness and violence, the agi-
tation seemed to bear no worse fruit than as a preparation on the part of the Indian tribes for becoming the allies of the British in the war which was then threatened and which be- came a fact in 1812.
Gen. Wm. Hull was then governor of Michigan, and the defense of the territory fell to his lot. Troops were mustered in Ohio and dispatched to the territory. Among them the name of Lewis Cass appears as a colonel. After various manœuvers and skirmishes on the frontier on both sides, the British forces under Gen. Brock crossed the river from Sandwich on Angust 16. Advancing up the river, they were preparing to engage the American forces, when a flag of truce dis- played by order of Gen. Hull stopped their progress and the disgraceful surrender of the town and of the American army without a shot being fired, became a matter of history. Comment upon the transaction and upon the character and motives of Gen. Hull would be entirely out of order in this connection. He was tried by court-martial for treason and cowardice, but was acquitted on the first
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MEN OF PROGRESS.
charge and eonvieted on the other, and sen- teneed to be shot. He was pardoned by the President in consideration of his former ser- vices in the war of the revolution.
The massaere of the River Raisin was the next notable event in the progress of the war immediately affeeting Michigan. To recover the ground lost by the surrender of Detroit and to give the British forces ample occupa- tion, three armies were organized, threatening the Canadian frontier, that of the west being under Gen. Harrison, whose base was to be at the head of Lake Erie. An advanee division of the army, composed of reeruits from Ken- tncky, reached Frenchtown, on the River Raisin, January 13, 1813. On January 22 they were surprised and attacked by a foree of British and Indians from Malden, now Ani- herstburg. A sanguinary battle ensued, re- sulting in the surrender of the American forees, with a guarantee of protection from Indian barbarities. The stipulation on the part of the British may have been intended in good faith, although in view of the well- known ernel instinets of the commander, Proetor, this supposition may be taken with umch allowance. The American prisoners were placed under guard, most of them being confined in two honses, and Proetor, with his regulars and Indian allies, took up a return march to Malden, the ice affording passage way. Next morning many of the Indians re- turned, most of them drunk and decked with war-paint. The sequel hardly needs to be told. The houses in which the prisoners were confined were, set on fire and the inmates burned within them. Others were ent down and tomahawked, until the massacre was com- plete.
The naval command of Lake Erie now be- came a necessity for recovering Detroit, which was the key to the northwest. This was effected by the victory of Commodore Perry, September 10, 1813. This was soon followed by the evaluation of Detroit by the British. The water route to Canada being made clear by the vietory of Perry, the American troops, under Harrison, oeeupied Malden, September
27. The place had been abandoned by Proe- tor and the fort and storehouses burned. On September 30 Col. Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, afterwards Vice-President under Van Buren, reached Detroit by a land march, with a division of Harrison's army. The British occupaney of Detroit continued from August 16, 1812, to September 28, 1813, substantially thirteen and a half months. Dur- ing the time many of the leading citizens were compelled by the British commandant, Proe- tor, to leave, because he feared, or pretended to fear, their influence in opposition to his rule. The citizens were subjected to many other hardships for which, however, they were amply repaid by events soon to follow.
Proctor, in his retreat, had taken a position on the Thames river, near Lake St. Clair, in Canada, his force consisting of some nine hundred regulars and fifteen hundred In- dians under Tecumseh. He was pursued and given battle by Gen. Harrison, with a force of about twenty-seven hundred, largely young Kentuekians, who were burn- ing to avenge the massaere of their fellows at the River Raisin. The battle, which occurred on October 5, was deeisive in its results. Proetor was defeated and his soldiers, other than the Indians, were made prisoners. Te- eumseh was killed, and by his death the Indian power in the northwest was broken.
During their occupaney of Detroit, the British, having virtual possession of the northwest, established a provisional govern- ment. Upon their return to Detroit, after the victory over Proctor, October 18, 1813, Gen. Harrison and Commodore Perry issued a joint proclamation for the better govern- meut of the territory, and guaranteeing to the inhabitants their rights of property and the enjoyment of their ancient laws and usages.
With peculiar alertness, those in command of the British forees in Canada dispatched a body of troops to capture the island of Maeki- nac, immediately upon the breaking out of hostilities. These troops, supported by a thousand or more Indians, were the first to apprise the American garrison at Mackinac,
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
consisting of a mere handful of men in charge of a lieutenant, that war had been declared. The alternative was presented to the garrison of a peaceful surrender or a massacre as the price of an assault, and as resistance would have been hopeless, the prudent course was adopted from necessity. An unsuccessful
effort was made in July, 1814, under Col. George Croghan, to recover the island, but as its possession was of little importance with Detroit secure to the American arms, it was thereafter suffered to remain in the undis- puted possession of the British till the close of the war.
THE SHADOW OF TWO WARS.
The Toledo War-A Bloodless Campaign-The Patriot War-Canadian Refugees in Detroit- Local Sentiment in Sympathy With Them- Efforts of State and Government Officials to Maintain Neutrality-Invasion of Canada at Windsor-Its Disastrous Failure-Participants Hanged and Transported-John H. Harmon-Dr. E. A. Theller.
Two wars that cast brief shadows over the borders of Michigan are usually adverted to by writers with more or less of lightness, bor- dering on the Indicrous. The campaign undertaken by Michigan, known as the To- ledo war, to assert her just claim to the strip of land in which the city of Toledo is situated, was one fully justified by the condition of affairs at the time. The land unquestionably belonged to Michigan, and Michigan had a right to assert her claim to it by force of arms as a last resort. A military force was regu- larly mustered and dispatched for the purpose. Had the expedition resulted in a sanguinary battle, it would have been dignified in the his- tories, but as its greatest recorded exploit was a charge upon a melon patch, it has been re- garded as a burlesque. The peaceful issue was more to the honor of the chief actors than a bloody battle would have been.
The "Patriot War" was of another stamp. The occasion of it was a revolt on the part of certain Canadians against British authority, and an effort to wrest Canada from the Brit- ish crown. The first outbreak was on the Niagara frontier, but the scene soon changed to the west, and was the cause of a local agita- tion for over a year. In December, 1837, large numbers of refugees sought asylum in Detroit. The general sentiment of the peo- ple was favorable to them and their cause, but
international comity required at least a show of neutrality. It should be borne in mind that at that time popular feeling in the United States was specially hostile to everything Brit- ish. It could hardly be characterized by any term short of bitter, and was not modified by any refinement of sentiment among a people whose environment compelled them to wrestle with the stern realities of a life on the border. The spirit of '76 was still very much alive in the hearts of the Americans, and the recollec- tion of the war of 1812 was still vivid with many. Hence, while officially there was a sincere effort to preserve neutrality, the popu- lar voice favored the so-called partiots. Arms designed for the local militia readily found their way into the hands of the patriots. Steamboats on the river were either stolen or otherwise impressed into their service, and they were given aid and comfort by means of supplies and in various other ways. The patriots planned to establish a base of opera- tions against Fort Malden at Gibraltar, a point on the river a few miles below Detroit. They occupied Fighting Island, and were shelled by the Canadians with considerable loss. In the winter of 1837-8 a small company openly pa- raded at Pontiac, receiving some recruits there. The United States and State authori- ties co-operated in the effort to prevent overt acts that would compromise the country, al- though largely no doubt sympathizing with the patriots. The last desperate cast was made December 4, 1838, when a band of two hun- dred or more boarded the steamboat Cham- plain (which had doubtless been left in a con- dition to be so taken), crossed the river to a point a short distance above Windsor, and
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MEN OF PROGRESS.
burned the barracks. Their march was quickly cut short by the British regulars. They suffered a loss of over twenty killed, with many prisoners, and in their efforts to recross the river a number were frozen to death. Among those who were of the party, and who escaped, was the late ex-Mayor John H. Harmon, of Detroit, then a young man about twenty years of age. Several who fell into the hands of the Canadians during the
imbroglio were hanged, but the greater num- ber were transported. The agitation was kept up for some time after this tragic end- ing. Dr. E. A. Theller, who had been taken prisoner during the early part of the trouble and confined in a prison at Kingston, had escaped, and was a resident of Detroit. In the winter of 1839-40 he was publishing a paper devoted to the patriot cause, entitled "The Spirit of '76."
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
Causes Leading to the War The Annexation of Texas-Michigan Troops in the War-General Taylor-General Scott-Alleged Political Schem- ing.
The war with Mexico came as a conse- quence of the admission of Texas as a State of the Union. The Territory of Texas was a part of Mexico, but the northern portion of it was settled by emigrants from the United States, who set up an independent govern- ment. The government of Texas was recog. mized by the United States as a sovereign power, but was not recognized by Mexico, although she had probably little hope of ever recovering the territory. It was the general expectation that the annexation of Texas, which had been agitated for some years, meant war with Mexico. Among the last acts of the twenty-eighth Congress, in the expiring days of the administration of President Tyler, was the act for the admission of Texas as a State of the Union, in 1845. Thereupon en- sued a political game of chess. President Polk's administration expected war, but did not want to begin it. Mexico would proba- bly have swallowed the annexation pill, even though a little bitter, if the River Neuces had been made the southern boundary. But the United States claimed to the Rio Grande, and Gen. Taylor, with the "army of occupa- tion," was ordered to the north bank of that river, metaphorically with "a chip on his shoulder." The Mexicans crossed the river in force and gave him battle at Palo Alto, May 8, 1846, suffering a defeat, however.
On May 13 Congress declared that "by the act of the republic of Mexico a state of war ex- ists." In this way the war with Mexico came about. The record, so far as it affects Michi- gan directly, is a brief one.
The first requisition for troops for the war was for a company of dragoons for the regu- lar army, which was soon raised. Gen. An- drew T. McReynolds, who died at Grand Rapids during the last months of 1898, was captain, and the men were recruited under his direction. A company of infantry was also raised for the regular army, and an addi- tional company for garrison duty. A full regiment of infantry was subsequently raised, with T. B. W. Stockton as colonel, A. S. Will- iams as lieutenant-colonel, John V. Ruehle as major, and J. E. Pittman as adjutant. This regiment was made a part of the force with which Gen. Scott made the campaign fromn Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico.
A word as to the course of the Mexican cam- paign. Gen. Taylor had won every battle in which he had encountered a foe in Northern Mexico, and in every case with greatly in- ferior numbers. The Washington authorities changed the plan of campaign, placing Gen. Scott in command of the principal army that was to march against the City of Mexico, by way of Vera Cruz. The greater part of Gen. Taylor's force was withdrawn to help make up the army under Gen. Scott. It was charged at the time that this was dictated by political considerations. The national admin- istration was Democratic, and Gen. Taylor
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
was understood to be a Whig in politics. It was alleged that the principal campaign had been diverted from Taylor and his force deci- mated, lest his continued success should give him a prestige that would make him a dan- gerous rival in the next presidential cam- paign. But Gen. Scott, to whom the main command was given, was also a Whig and & presidential possibility, and if there was any
politics in the deal the more reasonable pre- sumption would be that it was designed by Gen. Scott himself to prevent the rise of a rival in his own party. There would seem to have been good military reasons for the change, however. The land march from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico was less than half what it would have been by an overland cam paign from the north.
THE GREAT CIVIL WAR.
First Steps Taken in Michigan-First Troops Raised-Successive Calls for Troops-Ready Re- sponse on the Part of the State -Enlistments, Drafts and Commutations-Whole Number of Troops Sent to the Front from Michigan-Table of Enlistments by Counties-Bounty Jumpers- "We are Coming, Father Abraham"-Southern Refugees in Canada-C. L. Vallandigham-Cap- ture of the Philo Parsons- Bennet G. Burley- "Michigan in the War"-A Brief Summary- Tabular Exhibit of Michigan Regiments in the War-The Artillery Service-Col. C. O. Loomis- Grand Army of the Republic.
As we reach the greater military epoch in the history of the State and nation, the record must needs grow proportionately less as to detail. A reference to the history of politi- cal parties will show the trend of events lead- ing up to the armed conflict which raged for four years, beginning with the capture of Fort Sumter, April 4, 1861. For full details of the part borne by Michigan in the great struggle, reference is made to the work en- titled "Michigan in the War," a volume of over 1,000 pages, compiled by Adjutant-Gen- eral John Robertson, under authority of the Legislature, from which this sketch is mainly compiled.
The first act in the drama directly appcal- ing to Michigan was in response to the requisi- tion of President Lincoln, calling for a regi- ment of infantry from the State. A confer- ence, suggested by Gov. Blair, was held in Detroit, April 16, 1861, at which financial pledges were made on which the necessary work could be undertaken, there being no available fund in the State treasury for the purpose. By proclamation of the governor,
the work of raising the ten companies of in- fantry was at once begun. The Legislature was called to meet in extraordinary session May 7, at which a war loan of one million dollars was authorized. For such specific in- formation as can be given regarding the forces raised and sent to the front by the State dur- ing the war, reference is made to the tabular exhibit which appears in another place.
The troops first raised were for a three months' service only, it being believed and hoped that the war would be of short dura- tion. The requisition for one regiment was, however, soon followed by a call for three ad- ditional regiments. The enlistment of 500,- 000 volunteers was authorized by act of Con- gress, August 3, 1861, under which the quota of Michigan was 19,500. Quoting from the work above cited, page 20: "Michigan, in response to this requisition, continued con- stant recruiting, sending regiment after regi- ment to the field, and up to December, 1861, had sent to the front thirteen regiments of infantry, three of cavalry and five batteries of light artillery, with a total strength of 16,475 officers and men. In addition to this, thir- teen companies had gone into service in regi- ments of other States, failing to find service in those of their own." Reports made to the adjutant-general's office in July, 1862, showed a total enrollment of 24,281 officers and men,since the commencement of the war, to which, adding those gone outside and otlı- ers incidentally mentioned, gave a presumed total of 27,000. Recruiting was continued energetically and systematically. The con-
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MEN OF PROGRESS.
ference of loyal governors at Altoona, Pa., had advised President Lincoln to further steps for increasing the effective force, and on July 2, 1862, a further call for 300,000 troops was made, of which the quota of Michigan was 11,686. The next call for troops was for 300,000 to be raised by draft, the quota from Michigan being the same as under the last preceding call, 11,686. Not to follow up the various calls, the last of which was on Deceni- ber 19, 1864, for 300,000, the Annual Cyclo- pedia for 1865 gives the total under all the calls during the war at 2,759,049. Of this total, Michigan furnished, in round numbers, 90,000; 4,281 having been raised by draft at different times, the others by enlistment. Under a law of Congress, drafted persons were allowed to commute by a money payment of $300, and of the number drafted 1,982 are reported as having commuted, paying into the United States treasury the sum of $594,600. Without being exaet, it is near enough for the purpose to say that the State had sent to the front, before a draft was ordered, say 30,000. The remaining 60,000 of the total of 90,000 demanded of the State would pro- sumably have been raised by draft in default of enlistments. So that of the 60,000 that might have been raised by draft, only 4,281 were so raised; the remainder offered theie services by enlistment. Of this number (ove) 55,000), there is no means of knowing what proportion was impelled by a patriotic sense of duty, and what proportion by the large bounties offered. It is presumed, however, that, obedient to the patriotie spirit then prev- alent, a sense of duty was the controlling, if not the only, motive, with most of them. To- ward the close of the conflict, it is said in "Michigan in the War," page 60: "With the great increase of goverment, State and local bounties in 1864, commenced the deerease of patriotism to a great extent among those en- listing, and which continued to lessen and lessen, and at the commencement of 1865 it was not held out as any indueement to enter the service. Enlistments had become a mat- ter of bargain and sale, dollars and cents
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