The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 59

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096

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British armed vessels soon appeared in sight, and the battery on the opposite shore began to play upon the fort. The fire was returned from our batteries and the fort, and one of the enemy's guns was silenced in a few minutes. Tradition says there was then standing, at the corner of Wood- bridge and Griswold Streets, a magnificent pear tree, some two feet in diameter, and the pride and delight of the citizens. During the cannonading from the opposite shore, it was perceived that this tree served as a mark to direct the aim of the enemy. A soldier, by the name of Miller, was therefore directed to cut it down. He proceeded cheerfully to his task, and plied his ax with vigor, but made no very rapid progress upon the tough old tree. A fortunate shot from the British battery soon struck it precisely where he was cutting, carrying off two- thirds of the trunk. Miller paused for a moment. and exclaimed, " Fire away, John Bull ! You cut a great deal faster than I can." He then completed the work.

As soon as the bombardment began there was great confusion in the town. Valuables of every sort were hastily packed up and buried, and even clothing and furniture were thus concealed. Several of the inhabitants sought refuge in a ravine on the Cass Farm; others, with beds and bedding, were sheltered in the fort. Some of the women, mean- while, were making cartridges and others scraping lint. Many kept a vigilant eye upon the movements of the enemy, and learned to dodge the shells. Numbers of dwellings were badly damaged. Some of the shots aimed at the battery struck the United States storehouse; one passed over it, and perforated the stone building (afterwards the Mansion House) where Judge Woodward had his quarters. He had just risen from his bed and was standing beside it when a shot came through the room, struck the pillow and the bed, and drove them into the fire- place, while the spent ball rolled out upon the floor. Another large shot fell upon Augustus Langdon's house, on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Congress Street, passed through the roof, struck

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upon a table around which the family were sitting, and went through the floor into the cellar.

In the evening General Hull sent a courier to the detachment under Colonels McArthur and Cass, ordering them to return, as the fort had been sum- moned to surrender. The detachment marched until two o'clock that night on their return, and the next morning arrived at the edge of the woods in the vicinity of Detroit, where they drew up in order of battle. A party of dragoons sent forward to reconnoiter returned with the news that, though the Indians were yelling through the commons, the American flag was still hoisted at the fort. Soon afterwards a note was received from General Hull, informing them of the capitulation and ordering them in. At 6 o'clock, on the morning of this day (August 16), the British began firing. Soon after. in full sight of General Hull and his army, their troops began crossing over to Springwells. Before eight o'clock they had landed, and begun their march towards Detroit. So satisfied, apparently, was Brock that he would not be attacked that he rode several hundred yards ahead of his troops. His army consisted of thirty royal artillerists, three hundred regulars, four hundred militia, and about six hundred Indians; the force also had three six, and two three-pounders. The troops advanced towards the fort without opposition, the militia and regulars on the margin of the river, and the Indians, under Tecumseh, next to the woods. At this time Hull had an opportunity to repulse General Brock. A battery of two twenty-four-pounders, under charge of Lieutenant Anderson, was stationed on Jefferson Avenue, where it now intersects Wayne Street. The high bluff then existing at that point afforded an excellent and commanding position. Colonel Anderson subsequently told C. C. Trow- bridge that he "had his fuse ready, and by one dis- charge could have blown Brock's close column to pieces; but, instead, he received a peremptory order from Hull not to fire."

Colonel Miller, with the Fourth Regiment, was inside the fort, and the volunteers from Ohio and a portion of the Michigan militia were on the com- mons in the rear of the town. The British troops were exposed on all sides except the river, but they continued to advance, and when they reached what is now the foot of Tenth Street, General Hull or- dered all the soldiers to retire inside the fort. Soon after a ball from the British battery, which now kept up a constant fire, was thrown inside the fort, and killed Captain Hanks, Lieutenant Sibley, and Dr. Reynolds, and wounded Dr. Blood. Another shot passed through the gate, killing two soldiers in the barracks. Two men were also killed outside. There were so many soldiers inside, together with

women and children who had come there for pro- tection, that it was almost impossible for a ball to strike in the fort without killing some one. Very little injury was experienced from the shells, for, though well-directed, they generally burst before reaching the fort.

By this time, if not before, General Hull seems to have fully made up his mind to surrender, and his son, Captain A. F. Hull, was ordered to display a white flag from the fort. The firing from the bat- tery on the Canadian side soon ceased, and Captain Hull was sent with a flag of truce to meet Brock's forces. The inappropriateness of sending such a man on such an errand is indicated by the state- ment of Colonel Snelling, who says that Abram Hull was always intoxicated when an emergency occurred, and but a short time prior to his being sent to negotiate terms of surrender, was disgust- ingly drunk and noisily foolish in his conduct and remarks. Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell and Major Glegg, who were sent by General Brock to agree upon the terms of surrender, were allowed to ride in before the terms were agreed upon ; and almost before the garrison knew what was going on, they were prisoners of the British army. Many of the militia distinctly witnessed the arrival of Brock's army at Springwells, and were chagrined beyond measure at the apathy of their commander ; and when required to surrender their rifles, disbanded in disorder, many of them breaking their guns, and all was confusion, every man seeming to act upon his individual convictions. When the soldiers were drawn up in line, to be delivered as prisoners, A. C. Truax, one of the territorial militia, determined that he would endeavor to escape. Handing his gun, with a careless air, to a soldier near by, he entered one of the buildings of the cantonment, shouldered his trunk, and proceeded on his way, passing succes- sively and successfully English and American offi- cers, both of whom supposed him to be detailed for the purpose of carrying the trunk. Once out of reach, he travelled at leisure, and made his way to Schenectady.

About 12 o'clock, on August 16, the British forces, with General Brock at their head, marched into the fort, and the Americans marched out, the American flag was pulled down, and the British colors hois- ted. The terms of capitulation, printed at the time, are given herewith in fac-simile. By the capitulation General Hull surrendered about two thousand men, forty barrels of powder, four hundred rounds of twenty-four-pound shot, one hundred thousand ball cartridges, twenty-four thousand stands of arms, thirty-five iron and eight brass cannon, and a large supply of provisions.

The next day the British commenced removing

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the military stores to Malden, and for a month the river was covered with small boats engaged in their transportation. General Hull stipulated that Cap- tain Brush and the stores at the river Raisin should also be surrendered, and Captain Elliott, a son of the British Indian agent, was sent to him with the articles of capitulation; but in this case, the British " caught a Tartar," for Captain Thomas Rowland, who was with Colonel Brush, in command of a volunteer rifle company, raised and equipped by

CAMP at DETROIT 16 Avzuf 1812.

CAPITULATION for the Surrender of FortDETROIT,Enter. ed into between Major General BROCK, commanding His BRITANNIO MAJESTY's forces, on the one part ; & Brigadier General HULL, commanding the North-Weftern Army of the UNITED-STATES on the other part.

1ft. Fort DETROIT, with all the troops, regulars as well as Mi- litia, will be immediately Surrendered to the Britifh forces un- der the Command of Maj. Gen. BROCK, & will be sonfidered. prifoners of war, with the exception of fuch of the Militia of the MICHIGAN Territory who have not joined the Army.

Rd. All public Stores, arms& all public documents includ- ing every thing elfe of a public nature will be immediately given up.

gd. Private Perfons & property of every decription fhall be Telpected.

4th. His excellency Brigadier Gen. HULL having expreffed a defire that a detachment from the State of Ohio, on its way to join his Army as well as one fent from Fort DETROIT, under the Command of Colonel M ARTHUR, fhould be included in the above CAPITULATION, it is accordingly agreed to. It is how- ever to be understood that fuch part of the Ohio - Militia, as have not joined the Army, will be permitted to return to their homes, on condition that they will not ferve during the war, their arms however will be delivered up, if belonging to the public.

5th. The Garrifon will march out at the hour of twelve o'clock, & the British forces will take immediately poffeffion of the Fort.

APPROVED S( Signed. ) J.Mc. DONELL Lieute Col. Militia. P. A. D. C.

(SIGNED) W. HULL, Brigr. ¿ Genl.Comg. the N.W.Army APPROVED.

(SIGNED) ISAAC BROCK,

J. B. GLEGG Major A. D. C. JAMES MILLER Lieut. Col. 5th. U. S. Infantry.

'Major General.

E. BRUSHCol. Comg. 1 ft .Regt. Michigan Militia.

Atrue Copy.

ROBERT NICHOL Lieut, Col & Or. M. Genl. Militias

FAC-SIMILE OF PRINTED ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION. [Size of original, 6 x 12 inches.]

himself, detained Elliott as a prisoner, carried him thirty miles, and then released him, retaining his horse, however, to aid in carrying the sick, and they, with Captain Brush and all his command and stores, successfully escaped to Ohio.

The captured Ohio troops were paroled, and sent home by way of Cleveland. The Michigan militia were released. Most of the regular troops were conveyed in flat-bottomed boats down the St. Law- rence to Montreal and Quebec, and some of them were literally "sent to Halifax." General Brock

garrisoned Detroit with two hundred and fifty men, and left it in command of Colonel Proctor with A. B. Woodward, one of the American judges, as secretary of the Territory. A reduced copy of two Proclamations of Colonel Proctor's, from an original 12X1 5 inches in size, is given.

The news of the surrender of General Hull was received with universal execration and astonishment. Many believed him a traitor, and there are not a few stories and traditions embodying this belief. Rev. Dr. Alfred Brunson, a soldier in General Har- rison's army, in a work called the "Western Pio- neer," tells of a midshipman on one of Perry's ships, who said it was a fact that Hull sent word "to the British that war was declared before the news of it reached Detroit."

He said that although born in the United States, he lived at Malden, and that before he knew of the war he was warned out of bed and pressed into service, and so closely watched he could not make his escape. That, being a sergeant, he took his turn in being orderly for General Brock, and was so when he landed at Springwells, three miles below Detroit. This brought him in close proximity with Brock. He said that while Brock was waiting be- hind the sand-hills, at the wells, he sent his aid out three times to see if Hull had raised the white flag. When the aid returned the second time with the word, "No flag yet, General," Brock's knees so trembled that they fairly smote together, and he said, "D-n me, I'm afraid the old dog will trick me yet." But when the aid returned the third time with word that the flag was out, Brock's countenance changed, and he ordered a forward movement to take possession of the city. When they came to the west gate of the city, and saw the cannon planted so as to rake down the road, with lighted matches by them, he, with others, felt and looked pale at the thought of what would have been the consequence if they had been let loose upon them.

And when they saw the rage of the Americans at being thus sold, and without a chance to defend themselves, Brock said it would have been hard taking those men.

" Then," said Brunson to the midshipman, " Hull sold his men, did he ?" " Oh, yes, that was understood, or Brock would not have ventured over the river with a force so much less than that of the Americans." "Well, what did Hull get for them ?" "Why, he was to have sixteen dollars a head for the men, and pay for the pro- visions, guns, ammunition, etc. But when Hull lay in Sandwich he sent General McArthur up the St. Clair River to Selkirk's settle- ment, and took eight hundred merino sheep, which were valued at from twelve to fourteen hundred dollars a head at that time, and butchered them for his army. When Brock had him a pris- oner in Montreal, and settled with him, he said, ' You stole those sheep after you had made the bargain, and shall pay for them,' and thus brought Hull in debt and served him right."

A confirmation of a part of this sheep story is found in Colonel J. Snelling's reply to "Hull's Memoirs," published in the Detroit Gazette for September 13 and 20, 1825. Colonel Snelling said :

Among the anomalies in our army was a corps commanded by a militia Lieutenant. I do not believe he reported to the adjutant- general, nor is his name mentioned in any of the papers of those days. My impression is that he received his orders directly from the General. This officer, among other excursions, made one to Beldoon, a settlement then recently established by Lord Selkirk. My company had been ordered to recross the river, to be employed in ordinance duties, and I saw the Lieutenant and his detachment

THE WAR OF 1812.

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when they returned. They brought with them several articles of personal property, and a large flock of Merino sheep. These sheep were pastured in the public fields adjoining the fort, and in my walks on the ramparts, I saw them delivered daily, two and three at a time, to persons who appeared to be purchasers.

As they were not slaughtered for the use of the troops, and as the General passes over them in silence in his Memoirs, it may be inferred that in this Merino speculation he had other views than merely subsisting the army. Many of the sheep remained in the fields when Detroit was surrendered and were restored to Lord Selkirk's agent. I have introduced this circumstance only to show that we were in no immediate danger of starvation.

Nothing could justify this outrage on private property, but an absolute scarcity in our camp. It was a direct violation of that clause of the General's proclamation in which he says to the in- habitants of Canada, " I promise you protection to your persons, property, and rights. Remain at your homes, pursue your peace- ful avocations, and raise not your arms against your brethren." This and similar transactions, particularly the plundering of Colonel Bâby's house, materi- ally impaired the confidence of the Canadians in the General's promises, and lost him the re- spect of the army.

The taking of the sheep is also confirmed by the testimony of Colonel Cass at the time of Hull's trial. He said : ' Another detachment

brought down a considerable number of sheep to the amount of several hundreds, which were taken care of at Detroit and its environs, when surrendered."

Additional indications of the popular opinion as Comty of Justice hall he held at wuala IV to Gen. Hull are found in the fact that the Bre- voort and other families preserve stories of a plan having been arranged to capture a British vessel, which was laden with provisions and lay near Bois Blanc Island ; but after everything was in readi- ness, General Hull delayed and hesitated, and would not allow the project to be carried out.

Soon after the surrender, officers were sent round to disarm the citizens. One of them came to the door of Mrs. Dodemead, who had in her care a little, old, dried-up, bedridden woman from Canada, whom she had kindly provided with a home. " Madam," said the officer, as Mrs. Dodemead opened the door, " I am ordered by Colonel Proctor to disarm the citizens, and take all guns to the fort. Have you any in your house?" Mrs. Dodemead replied that she had " one British piece." "Follow

me," she said, and leading the officer up stairs, she threw open a bedroom door, and, pointing to the old lady, said, " There, sir, is a British piece, all that I have. Seize her !" The officer turned on his heel, made a spring, hit the top, the middle, and the lower stair in his flight, and never called on Mrs. Dodemead again.

While these events were in progress the governor of Ohio was collecting reinforcements for Hull's army, and had ordered the remaining portion of the detached militia of his State, amounting to twelve hundred men, to be gathered. The response was gratifying in the extreme, and the ranks were soon filled. The most prominent, intelligent, and wealthy

REGULATION of the Civil Government of the Territory of Michigan,

WHEREAS the Territory of Michigan, war on the fixteenth day of Augal, une thoufand eight hundred twelve, Ceded by Capitulation to the arms of His BRITANNIa MAJESTY, & the American flag,was removed and the British Ang fubffituted on the fame day at noon : And whereas on the fame day a Prodatratios was illued by . ISAAC BROCK Efit. Major General Commanding His Majesty forces in the Province of UPPER CANADA. Bet &c. &co. And the faid Proclamation, among otherthings announces to all the In- habitants of the laid Territory thal D withing.to give an early proof of the 'moderation and " jaftfee of the British Government the Americanlaws heretoforeja exiflehce Thall confioud ": in force, until His MAJESTY's pleafure be Inown, or, fo Jong as the peace & Safety of the "faid Territory will admis thereof And whereas the faid Jawa cannot be carried into execuy tion according tothe effect & intendton fo announced to the Inhabitants without providing for the esiftence & continuance of the proper civil. Officers ; for the execution of the fame, & without the neceftary courtt & ormer judicial authorities for the adminification of Juftice among ibe faid Inhabitants.

Now therefore, be it known that I, the underlighed, HENRY PROCTER, Colonel in the Military forces of His BRITANNIC MAJESTY, now Commanding in the Territory of Miche gan, do imake & ellablihy for the time bring, the following Regulation, for The Civil udns' niftration of the Said Territory.

The civil Oficers, remaining in the country, fball continue to eleteile the telgetica Funcions appertaining to their offices, without any new commilions for the fame, & shora plices which are fofpended by the departure from the country of thale hodiny them, thall the Supplied at herein atiet provided. IT.

the civil executive powers fhall be eseteifed by a civil Governofa The Chin, dox-men Shall appoint to all civil officer which are or shall be vacant, & That take care than the Area ts faithfully executede

Segunda graffiour need not be adopted from the laws ofany of the American Sitte Ansqueity Thall uut benecefary when any of the ofices are vacant, 'The Sertetary Thaif Anskestup copies of all executive proceedings & Teplilive Regobfiont, one, DE was man. 's tomtmind for the use of the British Government; & the other hal bu renforts

The expences of the civil administration fall be delayed quiteff, by the proper OF cer in the military department paying the lawfall amountthereof to the civil freafurer. The doties, cullomt, & revenues accruing wecording to the Laws of the United Statery Thall be paid quarterly, by ihe collectors to the proper Officeran the Military department. The Internal doties & revenues nectuing jo the Territory of Michigany Dall bo yund to the pro, per ircafurets thereof.

VI,

The underligned will act as civil Governor of the Territory of Michigan for the Tion being. AUGUSTUT B, WOODWARD Chief Juftice of the fail Territory is appointed Secretary The offices of regifter, Se receiver of the Land-Ofice, & Pollmatter, are faperceded, refered ing a full right to adjut all anterior concerns. All offices in the Indian department. med Supercededa

Given under my hand at Detroit the twenty first day of August, one thousand eight hundred twelve, & # Filly Second year of His MAJESTY'S reign

( SICHER ) HENRY PROCTER, CeLOKIL?

A PROCLAMATION:

By His Excellency HENRY PROCTER Elgo Gowarner of th Territory of Michigan, 13c. ESe 4

WHEREAS exifing circumftances render It me- cellary, for the Peace & fafety of the faid Territory, that the LAws now in Force therein, should, for the prefent, be ff- pended, & that, Martial Law Should be Proclaimed . Nowy therefore, I the faid HENRY PROCTER Efqr.'Do by thele pre- fents declare, that, the Civil & Criminal Laws now in Force in the faid Territory thall be for the prefenr fufpended ; & I do order & direct that the faid Territory shall be Governed by.Martial Law untill fuch time, as the Danger now exifting, & to bs. apprehended, shall be removed. And all Perfonsie- Thing within the faid Territory are required to take Notica of the Brefent Proclamation, & to Govern themfelves accorda inglya Given under my Hand & Scal at Detroit this foszt day of Febr: 1813, and in the 58d year of BIS MAJESTY'S REIGN.

HENRY PROCTER COLONELKONYA

REDUCED FAC-SIMILE OF PROCTOR'S PROCLAMATIONS OF 1812 AND 1813.

young men of the country eagerly enrolled them- selves for service. A new quota of Kentucky vol- unteers went into camp at Georgetown ; and by a strange coincidence, on August 16, at the very time General Hull was capitulating at Detroit, Henry Clay was addressing these troops, anticipating in his address the fall of Malden and the conquest of Upper Canada.

The surrender of Detroit did not dishearten the Western States, neither did they propose to leave it in the hands of the British; during all the fall of 1812 preparations and plans were being made for its re- capture, and in January, 1813, General Winchester,

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THE WAR OF 1812.

in command of one of the divisions, was marching towards Detroit. On arriving at the rapids of the Maumee, he learned that the Indians were meditat- ing an attack on Frenchtown, in Monroe County, and immediately sent Colonels Allen and Lewis with six hundred and sixty men to defend the place. On January 18 they defeated the British and In- dians, and on the evening of the 20th General Win- chester arrived with three hundred additional troops. Soon after reaching Frenchtown, the scouts informed him that he would be attacked on the evening of the 2Ist by a force from Malden. He did not credit the report, and therefore failed to make adequate preparations for defence. Early on the morning of January 22, his sentinels fired three guns in quick succession. The troops were instantly formed, and almost immediately the British opened a heavy fire on the camp from several pieces of artillery. This was quickly followed by a charge of British regulars, a general fire of small arms, and Indian yells on the right and left.

The American army was soon in confusion. Lieu- tenant Garrett, with fifteen or twenty men, retreated about a mile and a half, and then surrendered. All of his force were massacred, he alone escaping. Another party of about thirty men ran nearly three miles, but were overtaken by the savages, and, after they had surrendered, half of their number was shot and tomahawked. In short, the greater part of the retreating force fell a sacrifice to the fury of the Indians. The snow was so deep, and the cold so intense, that the troops were soon exhausted; and unable to elude their pursuers.

After the surrender Colonel Proctor informed the American officers that his own wounded must be carried to Malden in the first boats, but that early in the morning their wounded should also be re- moved; and that a guard, in the meantime, should be left with them. About twelve o'clock the pris- oners were marched off. Drs. Todd and Bowers, of the Kentucky volunteers, were left with the wounded. The only guard left to protect them was Major Reynolds and two or three interpreters. Soon after the British forces had left, a large body of Indians, painted black and red, came into the town. Their chiefs held a council, in which it was determined to kill all the wounded who were unable to march, to revenge their warriors lost in battle. The houses of Jean B. Jeraume and Gabriel Godfroy, which contained most of the prisoners, were imme- diately set on fire, and the greater part of the wounded were consumed in the flames; many, who were able to crawl, endeavored to get out of the windows, but as fast as they appeared, they were tomahawked, scalped, and pushed back alive. Some, who were not in these houses, were killed and thrown into the flames; and others were scalped

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The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 59

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096