USA > Missouri > A history of Missouri from the earliest explorations and settlements until the admission of the state into the union, Volume II > Part 6
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same year he sent a boatload of goods up to Prairie du Chien, at that time under British control. His removal to St. Louis to the Spanish possessions, seems not wholly unconnected with this transaction, so inimical to the United States. If Gratiot did not knowingly supply the goods to the enemies of Spain, did he supply goods knowingly to the enemies of the United States? In a note in 11 Wisconsin Collection, page 151, it is said "as a matter of fact he was aiding the Americans with supplies," referring to 10 Wisconsin Historical Collection, page 239. Gratiot in a letter to General Clark says that he removed from Caho- kia to St. Louis on account of the "excessive and unbridled license" that pre- vailed there, and because he had been charged "by three men with treason" (Draper's Collections, Clark MSS., No. 78). The English officers explaining the failure of the attack on St. Louis, charged afterward that in March it was generally known throughout the country that the expedition was being organ- ized. Gratiot was a merchant, but also had a saw-mill on the River des Péres. He was a large land owner, owning property on the Ohaha, Maramec, Mississippi and Missouri.
78 19 Michigan Historical Collection, p. 529, Haldimand Papers.
7º Reynolds' Pioneer History of Illinois, p. 99.
80 Ducharme's island, what is now Loutre island. (28 Draper's Collec- tions, Clark MSS., p. 48.) Full name was Jean Marie Ducharme. He was a native of Lachine; died at Sault St. Louis in 1791, eighty-five years old. Cerré saw him there.
81 19 Michigan Historical Collection, p. 303, Haldimand Papers.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
The Haldimand papers conclusively show that a direct attack on "Pancour" was planned by the British officers at Michilimackinac, for at that time the true name of the town of St. Louis was to them not even known, 82 because June 16, 1779, the day after war was declared, Lord George Germain wrote Haldimand "to reduce the Spanish posts on the Illinois." 83 In pursuance of this order, a body of Cana- dians, traders and their servants were assembled on the upper Mississippi early in 1780. On the 17th of February, 1780, Sinclair, lieutenant-governor of Michilimackinac, ordered a Mr. Hesse, " formerly of the 60th (Royal American) regiment,"' but then a trader among the Indians, to assemble the "Minomines, Puants, Sacks and Rhenards" in the neighborhood of the Portage of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, and to collect there all the canoes and corn in the country, for his own use and the use of other Indians, who would be ordered to join him at the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers, but he was particularly ordered not to make any movement from where he was stationed until instructions should be sent him by Sergeant (J. F.) Phillips of the 8th regiment, who would set out from Michilimackinac on the Ioth of March with a very noted chief, Machiquawish, and his band of Indians. The distinct object of assembling these forces was to reduce "Pencour" by surprise, and which from the easy admission of the Indians at that place, and from assault of those without, having for its defence as reported, only "twenty men and twenty brass canon,'' Sinclair did not consider very difficult. The capture of this place, Sinclair writes Governor Haldimand, would secure the rich fur trade on the Missouri, and redress the injuries done English traders who "attempted to partake of this trade." In order thoroughly to interest these English traders in this enterprise they were assured that any pecuniary advantages they might deny themselves in order to make this enterprise successful would be amply recompensed by a better and surer trade in case of success.
On the 2nd of May, 1780, Machiquawish and his band, having arrived from Michilimackinac, seven hundred and fifty Indians, together with Captain Hesse and other traders and servants, pro- ceeded down the Mississippi. While these Indian forces were being assembled by Hesse, an Indian detachment of "Minomines" stationed at Prairie du Chien captured the large armed boat, already mentioned as belonging to Charles Gratiot, of Cahokia, coming up-
82 Papers from Canadian Archives, 11 Wisconsin Historical Collection, p. 151.
83 Canadian Archives, Report, 1885, pp. 276 and 302.
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GRATIOT'S BOAT
stream with provisions, a boat which Sinclair says "was loaded at Pencour," and in charge " of twelve men and a rebel commissary." 84 At the lead mines a supply of lead was also obtained, and " seventeen Spanish and rebel officers" captured. Thus a war spirit was kindled among the Indians by the chiefs Machiquawish and Wabasha, who led the Indians. To cover the meditated attack. Sinclair ordered Captain Langlade with a chosen band of Indians to be stationed on the "plains" between the Wabash and the Mississippi to guard against hostile attacks from that direction. So confident was Sinclair that the attack would be successful that he ordered Captain Hesse to remain in command of "Pencour," and the chief Wabasha was ordered after the capture of the town to attack Misere (Ste. Genevieve) and Kacasia (Kaskaskia), and to such traders as would secure or capture posts on the Spanish side of the river, he promised the exclusive trade on the Missouri, and "that their canoes should be forwarded." The "Minomines" and Winnebagoes seem to have composed the principal part of this army. It was a band of thirty-six " Minomines" that captured the Gratiot boat coming up the river loaded with provisions. Supplied principally with the provisions obtained from the boat of Gratiot, this army moved south, and about the end of May reached the vicinity of St. Louis. The country there was full of rumors of the approach of this hostile force, and Sinclair in his letter to Haldimand laments this want of secrecy and which he said "must always be hurtful to the service." On account of this want of secrecy he states that the Spaniards at St. Louis threw up "a breastwork around a stone house." 85 But Reed says that a line of intrenchment was made by the people and governor along or near what is now Third street (Rue des Granges), on the west side of the town. The Intendant Navarro writes that a wooden tower was
84 In November, 1780, David McCrae and John Kay presented a memorial to Governor Haldimand in which they set out that they sent "a certain Charles Gratiot" with goods to the Illinois country to trade, and that finding "the rebels" in possession of the country, he traded on the goods belonging to them, and that he only made one remittance of 700 or 800 pounds, "Halifax currency value in furs," that in April, 1780, Gratiot sent a boat load of goods under a Span- ish pass up the Mississippi, to be disposed of there, but that the boat was seized by Lieutenant Alexander Kay of the Indian department, a brother of one of the memorialists, and the goods sent to Michilimackinac, except the provisions, tobacco, rum, etc., which were used by order of Governor Sinclair at Prairie du Chien by the Canadians and Indians on their way "to attack the Illinois," and they pray that the goods seized and used may be paid for, and the remainder delivered to them. (12 Wisconsin Historical Collection, p. 55.) It is an open question whether the petitioners received these goods and payment or not, likely, however, the goods were paid for by the government. 85 II Wisconsin Historical Collection, p. 154.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
built at one end of the town, overlooking it, and that five cannon were placed in it; and that two other intrenchments were built, and that these intrenchments were manned by twenty-five veteran soldiers and two hundred and eighty-one militia.
About the 24th of May, 1780, the English-Indian forces reached the neighborhood of Cahokia, lurking around in the woods on the east side of the river and near Cahokia, where Gratiot then lived; and on the 25th the Indians, accompanied by twenty volunteer Canadians, a few traders and their servants crossed the river86 several miles above St. Louis, and Riviére says that the attack was made about noon on the 26th of May, on the north side of the town where no opposition was expected, but here this attacking party was repulsed by the mili- tia. For some time a vigorous fire was kept up on both sides, so the Intendant Navarro writes. The Indians finally discovering that the town could not be taken, scattered about over the country, where they found several farmers and slaves at work who, although rumors of the contemplated Indian assault prevailed, did not believe that an ac- tual attack would be made, paying so little attention to these rumors that they were out in their fields at work when the Indians appeared. Thus Jean Baptiste Riviére, then residing in St. Louis, was captured by the Indians in the Grand Prairie at a place known as "Fontaine à Cardinal," belonging to Jean Marie Cardinal, while sleeping in the house there.87 Cardinal was also there, and in making his escape was wounded by the Indians, and died upon reaching Marais Castor (a name under which Beaver Pond was then known), about three miles away.88 Riviére himself was tied to a tree near the spring, and when the Indians retreated was taken by them to Chicago, and after re- maining in captivity for some time escaped, returning to St. Louis, where, long afterward, in his testimony before Commissioner Hunt, he gives this account of the attack. It is evident, however, that Reviére only details incidents relating to himself. Chouteau in his evidence gives no particulars, and merely states that the year of the Indian at- tack was known among the residents as "Année du Grand Coup," and erroneously gives the date of the attack to have been on May 6, 1780.89 The burial register of the St. Louis Catholic Church shows
86 Ibid., p. 155.
87 Jean Marie Cardinal, came from St. Philippe and must not be confused with Jean Baptiste Cardinal. The Cardinal place or claim was afterwards bought by Dr. John Watkins.
£8 2 Hunt's Minutes, Book I, p. 51, Missouri Historical Society Archives.
8º I Hunt's Minutes, [Book I, p. 126, Missouri Historical Society Archives.
39
NAVARRO'S LETTER
that among others Amable Guion, Guillaume Bissette, Joseph Calve, Junior, and Chancellier's negro were all "murdered" on the 26th day of May by the Indians, thus giving the true date of the attack. No mention is made of the burial of Cardinal, who, Riviére says, died from the effect of his wounds.
The only detailed report of the attack on the village is preserved in Navarro's letter dated August 18, 1780, written to Don Joseph de Galvez, then minister of the Indies. Navarro's report probably is based on a report of this attack made by De Leyba. Reed in his evi- dence says that at the time the Indians made the attack on St. Louis he was seventeen years old, and that he mounted guard in Michael Lami's barn, along the line of intrenchments built by the government and people.90 This statement is about the only evidence of an actual resident of St. Louis at the time, that an actual attack,was made on the town, but is confirmed by Navarro. Sinclair himself says that the Winnebago Indians without exception attempted "to storm Pancour," that they lost a chief and three men on the spot, had four men wounded, one of them mortally, that they were "enraged against the backward- ness of the Canadians, and the base conduct of the Sacks, who had been debauched by the rebels on account of the lead mines, and the traders in their country."91 He further says that the Indians "would have stormed the Spanish lines, if the Sacks and Outagamies under their treacherous leader, Monsieur Calvè, had not fallen back so early as to give them but too well grounded suspicions that they were between two fires."92 According to Sinclair, the Indians brought off forty-three scalps and eighteen prisoners, whites and blacks, and that in all about seventy persons were killed, although "beat off on their attack." We have only the names of four persons killed in this attack on St. Louis, yet Riviére says that fifty-eight or fifty-nine persons were killed and taken prisoners,93 but it has generally been considered that his testimony gives an
90 I Hunt's Minutes, Book 1, p. 107, Missouri Historical Society Archives. 91 II Wisconsin Historical Collection, p. 154.
92 II Wisconsin Historical Collection, p. 156. Calvè complained to Haldimand in a letter dated April 23, 1780, of the reception lieutenant-governor Sinclair accorded him and the "Sacqs, Renards and the Aimaiois" (Menom- onees) on their return, "of our campaign" when he arrived at Michilimackinac, and which be says greatly surprised him, as he "had no reason to expect it," and he applies to Haldimand for an opportunity to prove that his conduct has been "irreproachable." (12 Wisconsin Historical Collection, p. 52.) Calve seems still to have been in English service in 1783. (12 Wisconsin Historical Collection, p. 66.)
93 2 Hunt's Minutes, Book 11, p. 51, Missouri Historical Society Archives
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
exaggerated account of the events of this attack. The statement, however, contained in Sinclair's letters to Haldimand lends support to Riviére's testimony. Navarro's letter gives the number of whites killed as fifteen, wounded six, and prisoners fifty-seven, and slaves killed as seven, wounded one, and prisoners thirteen. No doubt, in the number of persons reported by Sinclair to have been killed are included all persons killed on this raid on both sides of the river.
The failure of the attack was attributed, by the English, to the treachery of Calvè and Ducharme, who were partners in trade and interpreters for the English among the Saukees and Renards, and who preferred "a little underhand commerce in that country" to the promise of the advantages " of the trade the British agents held out to them" on the Missouri, provided they would gain and garrison the Spanish Illinois country. Calve and Lecroix, Sinclair afterward complains, although in English employ, sent one Provençal equipped with goods to the Spanish country to winter there, "which they made a sham attack upon," 94 and he is much mortified to find that "the protection Monsieur Calvè and others have received should meet so perfidious and so ungrateful a return." 95 In connection with this attack it has been attempted to make it appear that General George Rogers Clark sent troops to St. Louis to aid the people to resist the attack. Cerré, a most intelligent and reliable man, says that he has no recollection of any such thing. In 1828 Mr. Chouteau, in his conversation with the Duke of Saxe-Weimar, does not mention it.96 At the time of the attack Clark was at the Iron-banks, engaged in building "Fort Jefferson" and had two hundred men with him, and a flotilla.97 De Leyba may have sent Gratiot to him to ask for help, but there is no evidence that troops crossed the river, or would have reached St. Louis in time; then, too, Cahokia and Kaskaskia were threatened as well as St. Louis. Colonel Montgomery says nothing about Clark having gone to St. Louis or sending men there, but says, "Luckily, he joined him at Cahos in time enough to save the country," as the enemy appeared within twenty-four hours after his arrival, and says that the Indians, after "doing some mischief on the Spanish shore"' returned, and that the mischief could have been prevented if the high winds had not prevented the signals from being heard. In Bradford's
94 II Wisconsin Historical Collection, p. 158.
95 Ibid., p. 161.
96 Travels of the Duke of Saxe-Weimar, vol. 2, p. 103.
97 Draper's Collections, vol. 28, Clark MSS., p. 9.
4I
DE LEYBA DIES
Notes (Stripp's edition), pages 54 and 56, it is said that the Spanish commandant offered to confer upon him (Clark) the command of St. Louis (?), but that he declined to accept it until he was certain that the assault would be made, and that he remained in St. Louis only two hours- yet at the time Clark was at the Iron-banks, or Kaskaskia.98 It is very likely true that Clark sent three hundred men under Mont- gomery to follow the Indians, and this may be what is meant when it is said that he sent three hundred men to the relief of St. Louis, because undoubtedly such a movement would have had the effect to relieve St. Louis. The expedition up the Illinois destroyed the Indian towns on Rock river.99 Peck thinks he sent two hundred of "his gallant men to the ferry opposite the town, and made a demonstration of crossing with two hundred men, " and that "this disconcerted the Indians and caused the Indians to retire after killing sixty of the inhabitants and carrying thirty into captivity." 100
Collot says that out of this attack a mass of "absurd exaggera- tion has been invented," and Professor Waterhouse states in a letter to Draper dated March 29, 1882, that "old French documents convince him that no attack was made at all," but he does not specify the documents upon which he rests his opinion. As a matter of fact, documents and records make it clear, that an attack was made. If any doubt ever existed as to this attack on St. Louis, and attempt to capture the town by the English, the correspondence of Governor Haldimand and the detailed report of Intendant Navarro (a copy of which I recently received from the Spanish archives in Seville) should set all such doubts at rest.
De Leyba died a short time after this event, June 28, 1780, and was buried in the little church of the village. His death, it is claimed, was hastened by "dissipation and remorse." But it will be difficult to sustain this statement. By hearsay, in every respect, the memory of De Leyba has been covered with obloquy, but the archives show that he was a man of clear intelligence, business knowledge and sound judgment. His insight into the principles of law and his impartiality in the administration of justice are unmistakable evidence of high qualities.101 He was on terms of intimacy with George Rogers Clark, and omitted nothing in his power to show his attachment to the
98 Annals of the West, p. 241.
99 28 Draper's Collections, Clark MSS., p. 9.
100 Beck's Gazetteer, pp. 220-225.
101 See a number of cases, cited in I Billon's Annals of St. Louis, pp. 152 et seq.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
American cause during the Revolution.102 As soon as Clark took possession of the Illinois country, he opened a correspondence with him, and Clark says that he was surprised to find him free from the reserve that characterizes the Spaniards.103
Upon the death of De Leyba, Don Silvia Francisco de Cartabona, lieutenant of the Spanish troops at Ste. Genevieve, acted as governor ad interim, until the arrival of Don Francesco Cruzat, who for a second time was appointed lieutenant-governor, and until October 7, 1787, administered the affairs of the Illinois district of upper Louisi- ana. Immediately on his arrival he divided the militia into two companies for the defense of the village, as had been suggested by De Leyba. Before the death of De Leyba Don Benito Vasquez had been made captain of one company and Auguste Chouteau and Pedro Montardy lieutenants; of the other company, Don Eugenio Pourèe was captain and Carlos Tayon and Luis Chevalier were lieu- tenants, this company being a company of cavalry, although the offi- cers were commissioned as infantry officers. Don Benito . Vasquez was afterward appointed adjutant (Ayudante Mayor), to instruct the force in the essential parts of "royal military service," he having seen active service; and then Auguste Chouteau became captain of the first company. The fortifications of the village were also ex- tended and strengthened, but St. Louis was not attacked again.
It was during the second administration of Cruzat, in January, 1781, that a military expedition was organized in St. Louis by him to invade the British possessions east of the river, under orders from Havana. Of this expedition, Don Eugenio Pourèe,104 known as " Beausoliel," was made chief, Don Carlos Tayon being appointed second in command, and Don Luis Chevalier sub-lieutenant and interpreter. Pourèe's force consisted of sixty-six Spaniards and Frenchmen and sixty Indians-Outagamies, Saukees and Pottowato- mies, designated in the Madrid "Gazette" of March 12, 1782, as "Outaguos, Sota and Putuami." With this small force, Captain Pourèe in mid-winter marched through the wilderness, a distance of six hundred miles, his soldiers carrying their supplies on their backs through snow and ice, through forests and prairies, environed by
102 Vigo was at the time of the conquest in partnership with De Leyba the governor of upper Louisiana, and furnished Clark all the supplies needed from both sides of the river. (8 Draper's Collections, Clark MSS., p. 33.) Vigo was a native of Genoa, and came to New Orleans in about 1774.
103 Clark's Campaign in the Illinois, pp. 35-46.
104 Name usually spelled "Pouré," but he signed himself "Pourée."
43
CAPTURE OF FORT ST. JOSEPH
unknown perils and hostile Indian tribes, and successfully accom- plished the object of the expedition by capturing the little British fort, St. Joseph, located within the present state of Michigan. Here Pourèe raised the standard of His Catholic Majesty, hauling down the flag of England. The fort was plundered and the supplies found there divided among the Indian allies of the Spaniards. After remaining at the fort for a short time, the expedition returned to St. Louis, bringing along the captured British flag and delivering it to the lieutenant-governor at St. Louis. For his services in this expedition Pourèe received the rank of lieutenant in the army, with half pay. Tayon was appointed sub-lieutenant with half pay, and the governor of Louisiana was authorized to assign Chevalier an appropriate "gratification."
Concerning this affair of St. Joseph, a letter of De Peyster to Brigadier-General H. Watson Powell, dated Detroit, June 8, 1781, gives additional facts, as follows: "A detachment from Cahokia, consisting of sixteen men only, commanded by a half Indian named Jean Baptiste Hammelain, timed it so as to arrive at St. Josephs with pack-horses when the Indians were out on their hunt, an old chief and his family excepted; they took the traders prisoners and carried off all the goods, consisting of at least sixty bales, and took the route to Chicagou. Lieutenant Dagreux de Quindre, who was stationed near St. Josephs, being informed of it immediately assembled the Indians and pursued them as far as the Petite Fort beyond the Rivière du Chemin, where, on the 15th of December, he summoned them to surrender, and they refusing to do so, he ordered the Indians to attack them. Without the loss of a man on his side, he killed four, wounded two and took seven prisoners; the other three escaped in the thick of the woods * * * I look upon these gentry as robbers and not prisoners of war, as they had no commission that I can learn other than a verbal order from Mons. Trottier, an inhabitant of Cahoes." As a consequence, on the 23rd of January, he says that he was visited by a great number of St. Joseph Indians, who "make event" of their loyalty. But in a subsequent letter De Peyster writes that afterward "the enemy returned, or rather a fresh party arrived in St. Joseph and carried the traders and the remainder of the goods off." This time De Quindre could not rapidly enough assemble a party large enough to pursue them, but he reports the substance of Mr. "Bean Solid's" speech or proclamation, to the Indians, amusingly enough making out of Captain Pourèe's nickname "Beausoliel," the
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
English words "Bean Solid."105 De Peyster also remarks that the Canadians are not to be depended upon, and that hence he cannot establish a reliable garrison at this fort.
This insignificant conquest of this insignificant fort, St. Joseph, afterward, when the terms of the treaty of peace were discussed between France, Spain, England and the United States, was made the basis of a claim by Spain to all the territory along the Illinois river to Lake Michigan, and caused the commissioners of the United States, who arranged the terms of the treaty, no little anxiety. So important was this military exploit considered that a translation of the detailed account of this expedition, as published in the Madrid Gazette, was promptly transmitted to Philadelphia by the United States representa- tive.106
Captain Pourèe, who so successfully conducted this expedition, died at St. Louis April 30, 1783. He was a merchant, and well known by the nickname of " Beausoliel" (Sunflower). No particulars of his life are now known, further than that he was one of the original
19 Michigan Historical Collection, p. 600. 105
106 "By a letter from the commandant general of the army of operations at 'the Havanna,' and governor of Louisiana, his Majesty has advices that a detachment of sixty-five militiamen and sixty Indians of the nations Otaguos, Sota and Putuami, under command of Don Eugenio Purrèe, a captain of the militia, accompanied by Don Carlos Tayon, a sub-lieutenant of militia, by Don Luis Chevalier, a man well versed in the language of the Indians, and by their great chiefs Eleturno and Naquigen, who marched the 2d of January, 1781, from the town of San Luis of the Illinois, had possessed themselves of the Post of St. Joseph, which the English occupied at 220 leagues distance from that of the above mentioned San Luis, having suffered in so extensive a march, and so rigorous a season, the greatest inconvenience from cold and hunger, exposed to continual risks from the country being possessed by savage nations and hav- ing to pass over parts covered with snow and each being obliged to carry pro- visions for his own subsistence and various merchandise which were necessary to content, in case of need, the barbarous nations through whom they were obliged to cross. The commander, by seasonable negotiations and precautions, prevented a considerable body of Indians who were at the devotion of the Eng- lish, from opposing this expedition, for it would otherwise have been difficult to have accomplished the taking of said fort. They made prisoners of the few English they found in it, the others having perhaps retired in consequence of some prior notice. Don Eugenio Purrèe took possession in the name of the King of that place and its dependencies, and of the river Illinois in consequence whereof the standard of his Majesty was displayed during the whole time. He took the English one, and delivered it on his arrival at San Luis to Don Fran- cisco Cruzat, the commandant of that post. The destruction of the magazine of provisions and goods, which the English had there (the greater part of which was divided among the Indians and those who lived at St. Joseph, as had been offered them in case they did not oppose the troops) was not the only advantage resulting from the success of this expedition, for thereby it became impossible for the English to execute their plan of attacking the fort of San Luis of the Illinois, and it also served to intimidate these savage nations, and oblige them to remain neuter, which they do at present." (Extract from the Madrid Ga- zette, in 8 Spark's Diplomatic Correspondence, pp. 77, 78.)
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