USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume I > Part 9
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
Couterot's administration had left old Fort St. Francis in wretched condi- tion, the Englishmen found the houses without roof or cover of any kind, the stockade was rotten and ready to fall and a general air of destitution and neg- lect prevailed. Captain Balfour only remained two days at the bay post leaving in command on his departure Ensign James Gorrell, a native of Maryland, who had joined the 60th foot, Royal Americans two years before. The journal of this youthful but responsible officer forms the principal historic source for the beginning of the English regime in Wisconsin, covering as it does, the period from his assuming command at Green Bay in the autumn of 1761, to the depar- ture of the English troops from that post in 1763. The detachment under Gorrell numbered one sergeant, a corporal, fifteen privates and a French inter- preter, Goalie by name, who proved himself later untrustworthy and treacher- OLIS.
To this dismal outpost was given the name of Fort Edward Augustus, and La Baye from that time on ceased as the appellation for the fort at the mouth of Fox river. The Englishmen found but one family of Indians left in the village, the rest "being gone a hunting, according to their custom, at this time of the year," and there was little chance of their returning in any great number before early spring. It was a fortunate circumstance for Ensign Gorrell, as he was destitute of any wampum belts. strings of wampum, tobacco or medals, Captain Donald Campbell, the officer in charge at Detroit having failed to fur- nish the Green Bay detachment with these necessary articles toward holding initiatory councils with the Indians.
Two English traders, Messrs. McKay from Albany and Goddard from Mon- treal had made bold to join this first invasion of the English into the French fur trading stronghold. and their coming only added to the difficulties of the young commander. He proved himself, however, very tactful and pacific; efficient also in the discharge of his duty as head of the army post. During the long, cold winter the men were kept busy in repairing the dismantled fort and in procuring sufficient firewood to keep great fires blazing in the bare rough bar- racks, and which Gorrell reports must be brought from a long distance away
La Baye settlement now extended for some distance on both sides of the river and the French creoles, the Jourdains, L'Eveilles, Augustin Langlade's son- in-law, Pierre Le Duc Souligny, the Ducharmes and many others were now definite residents of the place, and not friendly to English rule. They exas- perated the English traders by boasting of superior French valor, and it was complained that the Indians were kept in ferment by stories of open war between the French and English and warnings that should they come to the post to trade the new commander would put poison in their rum.
Lieutenant Gorrell merits admiration for the tactful firmness displayed in keeping comparative peace and order in the midst of these diverse and warring elements. His time was amply engaged in maintaining strict discipline in his own garrison and in laying in a sufficient supply of wampum and trading articles to suitably reward the Indian hunters when they returned in the spring. He bought all the beads to be had in the kits of the traders and then borrowed from the squaws in the village all the wampum they had on hand, with the under- standing it should be returned with interest when the first trader from outside came to the place. At three different times during that hard winter Gorrell
LANGLADE'S PISTOLS
LANGLADE'S COAT
CHEN .: - PUBLIC LHE. ARY
TILDEA FOUNDATIONS.
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
tried to send messengers to Detroit for supplies, both by way of Michilimackinac and St. Josephs, but without success. Sir William Johnson while in Detroit in October of 1761, presented to Dennis Croghan, a trader, "one hundred and fifty earbobs of silver, two hundred brooches or breast buckles and ninety large crosses of silver, to send to Ensign Gorrell of the Royal Americans posted at La Bay on Lake Michigan, in order to purchase therewith some curious skins and furs for General Amherst and myself" ( Journal of Sir William John- son ). but these trinkets were not received by Gorrell until the following year.
Meantime the French Canadians, in residence near Fort Edward Augustus, did all in their power to harry and torment the plucky young commander. Tales of proposed raids and massacres by Indian tribesmen were constantly brought to him, but only made him more zealous in strengthening his fortifi- cation, and in making preparation to meet his unruly subjects in the spring. He succeeded in securing beads enough to have six belts made, one for each of the tribes that he found were in the habit of visiting the place, in all about nine thousand warriors; with the Sioux, who also depended largely on the Fox river post, 39,000. After the supreme effort required to arrange for his six belts, Gorrell was told by the habitants that some nations demanded two, three or four of these peace trophies or as many as they had towns, and that the French always gave them in addition rum and money, thus annually renewing the peace compact.
The outcome was eminently satisfactory. The Indians seemed well pleased with the frank, kindly, young English officer. They accepted his meagre gifts graciously and promised him obedience and many beaver skins. In the interval between the evacuation by the French of La Baye post and its regarrisoning by the English, the western Indians had been brought nearly to the verge of starva- tion for lack of ammunition and they were disposed to treat in friendly fashion with the new rulers of their territory.
The English government, however, showed a decidedly parsimonious spirit toward their Indian subjects. Gorrell's request for a generous supply of pres- ents for the purpose of holding the friendship of the Indians was met by refusal, the general's orders being to give the savages only such supplies as were absolutely necessary to keep them in good humor. Gorrell reports that this answer to his request made him very uneasy, for the Canadians followed up his refusal to give rum to the Indians by calling attention to the lavish expendi- ture of the French in contrast to the policy of the poverty-stricken English.
In the spring of 1762, Ensign Gorrell received promotion to a lieutenancy, remaining at Fort Edward Augustus as officer in charge. His treatment of the great bands of Indians who crowded to the post during the summer and fall was remarkably judicious, and his small gifts of tobacco and a few trinkets seasoned with much good talk sent them away contented. To their repeated requests for rum he gave answer that their great father, King George, knowing that they were poor from being so long at war, had ordered that no rum be brought among them, lest they neglect their wives and children, and the pur- chase of clothing of which they stood much in need. The Indians seemed docile under the commandant's good advice and promised to follow any instructions he Vol. 1-5
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
miglit give, but said that the French commandant always gave them rum as a true token of friendship.
The winter of 1762-63 passed without any occurrence of note, except an increase in the number of traders, French and English who came to the little French hamlet of La Baye. Many went on to the Sioux country along the Mississippi, others sent up their goods, remaining themselves in the vicinity of the fort. Meantime, unknown to the commandant, Indian emissaries from the powerful chief Pontiac were carrying wampum war belts among the western tribes, to bribe them to join in the general uprising against the English, which the chief planned should be accomplished early in the spring of 1763. Con- stant squabbles continued between the English and French traders at Gorrell's post, and bad feeling was engendered among the Indians by the boastful talk of the rival nations. Among the most prominent of the English merchants were Gerrit Roseboom, Tennis Visscher, Cummin Shields and William Bruce, all well known Albany traders, who remained at La Baye all that winter. In the deposition made by them the following year as to conditions at 'the post during these troublous times there is much talk of the "Lyes propagated to disturb the Indians." Shields declared that he heard "Young Langlad say before him and Ducharm that there were 1,000 English killed at the Portage of Niagara," and many other boastful and untrue statements were made by Charles, accord- ing to the testimony of the angry trader.
Gorrell held his peace and maintained a neutral stand among all these en- broilments, but he realized that the Indians were growing threatening and un- safe. News of the murder of his partner and relative Abraham Lansing by two Frenchmen was brought to the Dutch trader Roseboom, and added fuel to the mounting flame. Then on the eighteenth of May, 1763, when almost all the great Indian population had assembled at the Green Bay post on their return from the winter's hunt, Lieutenant Gorrell received private information that an attack was to be made on the little fort. Immediately he called the chiefs in council and told them that he knew of their design. The Ottawas said that they had heard nothing of the plot ; the Menominees admitted that the failure to re- ceive colors and medals promised them the preceding year had made their young men uneasy and discontented, but Gorrell by a belt and some strings of wampum renewed all his former treaties and the Indians went away apparently satisfied.
Young Gorrell seems to have gone serenely on his way despite the anxious time. On June fourteenth a band of traders came down from the Saki country and confirmed the story of the murder of Lansing and his son by the French. With this band came Winnebagoes and other Indians asking that traders be sent among them and these Gorrell pacified with presents.
On the following morning, June fifteenth, Gorrell having made up his careful account for the year was preparing to dispatch the document by Edward Moran, a trader leaving for Detroit, when in the sunshine outside the fort appeared ten Ottawas and a little crowd of Frenchmen bringing to the English commandant great news from Captain Etherington of Michilimackinac.
"Dear Sir: (So the letter ran.)
"This place was taken by surprise on the fourth instant, by the Chippewas at which time Lieutenant Jamet and twenty more were killed, and all the rest taken prisoners; but our good friends the Ottawas have taken Lieutenant Les-
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
ley, me, and eleven men out of their hands, and have promised to reinstate us again." The letter proceeded to instruct Gorrell to evacuate Fort Edward Augustus without delay and to proceed with his detachment and all the English traders at La Baye, to L'Arbre Croche, as a general revolt of Indian tribes under Pontiac was anticipated.
Contrary winds prevailed on the capricious Baye des Puans, and it was not until six days later that Gorrell was able to make a start. In the meantime he had called the Menominee chiefs in council and apprised them of their brother Captain Etherington's distress. The lieutenant's straightforward policy with the Indians of the bay had made them his staunch friends, no heed was paid to the emissaries of Pontiac, and the chiefs when Gorrell placed the situation before them immediately called their entire village together and all unanimously agreed to accompany and protect their brave commander. Representatives from the other great tribes of Saki, Winnebago and Outagamie also joined the escort and it was the powerful influence of this large band of warriors, allies of the Ottawas, that, on their arrival at Michilimackinac, definitely stopped rebellion and allowed the release and safe conduct to Montreal of Etherington and the rest of the English prisoners.
While the fleet was on the shore below Fort Edward Augustus awaiting favorable winds, the Indians busied themselves in gumming their canoes and preparing for the voyage, while the commandant collected all the traders within call and saw that the merchandise was packed for shipment, or placed under the care of a trusty French Canadian in the Fox river hamlet. He also gave freely of presents to the faithful Indians, a luxury that he had been obliged to forego heretofore. Finally on June twenty-first the convoy set forth, the canoe bearing Gorrell being placed in the center for fear of possible surprise and attack. At Beaver island great clouds of smoke rising in all directions made the expedition fear that the Ottawas had proved treacherous and that mischief was brewing. Then on the shore they saw three or four naked Indians holding up lighted calumets, who proved to be messengers from Etherington bearing the intelligence that the Chippewas were still on the war path; that they had camped on Great Turtle island (Mackinac of today) and were plundering all canoes that passed that way.
The English fort at Michilimackinac was situated on the mainland, where Mackinac City now stands. Under safe conduct of their Indian dependants the little band of Englishmen on June thirtieth, joined Captain Etherington at an Indian village about thirty miles from the fort where he and his remnant of a garrison were held as prisoners. Renewed negotiations between the friendly Bay Indians and the warring tribes finally led to the release of the Englishmen and their safe return to Montreal.
Etherington in his instructions to Gorrell had bade him place Fort Edward Augustus under the care of the head chief of the Menominee nation, lest it be burnt before his return, which it was prophesied would be very soon, but the English lieutenant had looked his last upon the isolated, forest-girt little canton- ment and the line of traders' cabins on the shores of Fox river. Fort Edward Augustus was never regarrisoned, and Gorrell, still serving faithfully under the English flag died not many years later, on one of the islands of the Carib- bean sea.
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
A certificate dated Niagara, August 1, 1764, the year following the Pontiac uprising, was sent to "Ogemawnee, chief of the Menominys," by Sir William Johnson in recognition of loyalty shown by the western tribes at that time; "Whereas I have received from the officers who commanded the Out posts as well as from other persons on account of your good behaviour last year in pro- tecting the Officers, Soldiers, etc., of the Garrison of La Baye, and in escorting them down to Montreal as also the Effects of the Traders to a large amount and you having likewise entered into the strongest engagement of friendship for the English before me at this place, I do therefore give you this testimony of my esteem for your service and good behaviour.
"Given under my hand and Seal at Arms the first day of August, 1764. "W.M. JOHNSON."
The amount charged up by Evan, Shelby & Company, a Maryland firm, for losses in the Indian trade shows the amount of goods taken by the Indians at Fort Edward Augustus in 1763, as amounting to the sum of 1,440 pounds, in Pennsylvania currency. This was merchandise belonging to Edward Moran, and left at La Baye when the fort was evacuated. Gorrell's account of goods pur- chased by him from different traders for presents to the tribes amounted in 1763 to 1,165 pounds, English money.
Charles de Langlade had shown great discretion during the Pontiac upris- ing and was highly praised by Captain Etherington, the Commandant at Mack- inac, for his aid in preventing a general massacre at that place. The English officer writes to headquarters that he thoroughly believes Monsieur Langlade was entirely ignorant of the design of the Chippewas and that he did all in his power to quiet the savages and to save the lives of the officers and the soldiers who were taken prisoners.
A letter of August 16, 1763 is addressed to Monsieur Langlade, père, at La Baye, showing that the senior Landlade was residing at Green Bay at that period ; on the same date is one from Etherington at Montreal to Monsieur Langlade, Fils, at Michilimackinac thanking him for all his favors, which proves that Charles still had his residence at that post and was in command there. While La Baye proper, which included the fort and settlement at the mouth of the river was within the provincial limits of English control, there was a large terri- tory known as the Sioux country in the days of French rule, under authority of the commandant of Fort St. Francis, but not comprised in the cession made to England in 1760 and therefore not within British jurisdiction. This entire tract, however, was part of the gift bestowed by King Louis XV of France on Rigand de Vaudreuil and his wife, who on the accession of the British promptly sold this extensive domain to a "Mr. Wm. Grant" with exclusive right to trade. and with the liberty to erect houses and make establishments thereon. There- upon Sir William Johnson wrote an indignant letter of protest to the Lords of Trade telling of the trickery practiced by Governor Vaudreuil in procuring this grant for his brother just previous to Quebec's downfall, with the express determination of selling the same to some unwary Englishman who might hope to profit by this perquisite. How the complication was concluded is not known, but it is certain that La Baye did not go as a concession to any one person or corporation.
All along the river shore French Canadians came in and took up claims, just
Mis Hijostages wiele agent and muprintenfants
Ofemawheel ichup of the Menonings
" the officers che Comprende the inte posto as stages from other prisenit is ain't your an protecty the Officers Political
. file therapie give you " this balimany
Given Under my hand held at thomas at Prepare the first daund Sugest vous.
SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON'S CERTIFICATE TO OGEMAWNEE
THE NAA TORE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AUTOR, LEMAX AND TILDER FOUNDATIONA
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
a narrow strip of land running to the water's edge where lay the bark canoe of the owner. Houses were for the most part built of logs with bark covered roof, and were chinked with mud so that they were warm and snug.
Fine gardens were the property of every habitant, filled with all sorts of succulent vegetables and melons of large size and delicious flavor. In every direction stretched wide fields of Indian corn, for succotash was a favorite Indian dish even in the days of Baron La Hontan, and corn and dried peas the backbone of the Canadian voyageur's larder. These great corn fields were many of them tilled in common so that the whole settlement might have sufficient food, and thus "the commons" which at an early day occupied much space in Green Bay and vicinity, showed in their even furrows traces of primitive and extensive corn fields, dating back to still earlier occupants of the land, the Indians.
Over this Acadian life Sieur Charles de Langlade (the de being added dur- ing his military exploits in Mackinac) exercised patriarchal sway. From the period of taking up his residence at "Baye Verte" as the place was now called, all disturbance from the surrounding Indians ceased entirely. Langlade, as well- trained and tactful in Indian diplomacy as was Nicholas Perrot of a century before, commanded alike the respect of French. English and savage.
Still another pen picture of La Baye as it appeared in 1766, three years after the June day that James Gorrell and his command evacuated Fort Edward Augustus, is the description given by Jonathan Carver, a keen faced periwigged traveller and trader, who in pursuance of a large grant of land supposedly due him, reached the southwest terminus of Green Bay in September of that year. Arriving on the 18th at fort La Baye he reports the buildings much dilapi- dated. not having been garrisoned since Gorrell's departure three years previous. A few families were living in the fort, on the west side of Fox river, while on the east side were considerable farms.
The Langlade establishment comprising quite a group of dwellings for the immediate family, wide connections, and large trading house occupied an expen- sive tract of land on the east side of the river, between the present streets of Crooks and Stuart. To the river colony came in 1773, Pierre Grignon, a well born, educated Frenchman who later married Charles de Langlade's only daugh- ter, Domitelle. Tradition places the home of Langlade at the foot of Doty street, and close to the river, while Pierre Grignon's spacious dwelling is known to have stood at the intersection of Stuart and Washington streets. The description of this old house as given by John W. Arndt, depicts it as most interesting: "The roof was very steep, covered with cedar bark, of which there was many layers, showing that it had been frequently repaired without removing the old bark. which was now nearly six inches thick.
"The upper floor was supported by heavy beams, 12x14 inches, crossing the building east and west, four feet apart and dressed with an inch bead worked on the lower corners. The floors were all made of two-inch pine plank, dressed, plowed and grooved. All the partitions were dressed in the same way, but on both sides. There were two chimneys, one on each gable, built of limestone and flush with the outside timbers, showing the stone from top to base. The fire- places were high and broad, projecting well into the room and would easily take in a four-foot log.
"In the large front room was one of these fireplaces, also two triangular
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
closets, one in the northeast, and the other in the southwest corner of the room. They were made of pine, each had four doors, two below and two above. The two upper doors of each closet were ornamented with a carving in demi-relief representing the royal insignia of France, the fleur des lis."
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary war Langlade was induced to enter the British service, and this acquisition Captain De Peyster, at that time com- mandant of the fort at Michilimackinac declared equivalent to enlisting all the western tribes in that interest. These were exciting times at Baye Verte, for large bands of Indians collected by Captain Langlade and his nephew Gautier de Verville, rendezvoused at the little French village before passing on eastward and with pow-wows and war dances made hideous revel in the place.
It was previous to the war of the Revolution that Peter Pond, a British trader gives a detailed account of a trip westward in the interests of commerce. He tells of the immense delay and labor necessary in bringing a cargo of goods in 1773 from Canada to Michilimackinac, where still another readjustment was made in preparation for carrying several canoes across Lake Michigan to Green Bay. Pond's narrative is the first in which the English "Green Bay" is used instead of La Baye or Baye Verte for the small French village on Fox river. Here the traveller encamped for two days and finds the land excellent. "The inhabitants raising fine corn and other staples in their gardens. They have too another resource, the quantities of wild rice which in September they use for food. The French also raise fine black cattle and horses, with some swine." There was some trade, Pond reports, with the Indians, and the Menom- inees are the only tribe mentioned as having a village on the north part of the bay, and living by the game which was plentiful.
The Menominee chief, Chawanon "Grand Chief of the Folle Avoines" in consideration of his fidelity, zeal and attachment to the king's government dur- ing the War of the Revolution, was given the "Great Medal" by the English government with the command that all the Indians should obey him as Grand Chief, and all officers in his majesty's service were to treat him accordingly The medal was bestowed on the 17th day of August, 1778, when the chief formed one of the band of allies who followed Langlade to Montreal and the document is officially signed and sealed by Frederick Haldimand, Captain-Gen- eral and Governor-in-chief of the province of Quebec.
Chakachokama was the Indian name of this famous Menominee, "the old King" as he was called by the French habitants. "Old King's village." the cluster of Indian lodges which lay a half mile south of the fort on the west side of the river, appears as late as 1820, in descriptions of government lands. The abbreviation of Chakachokama's name, Chawanon, is perpetuated today in Shawano, county and town. The old king was of great assistance to Langlade. who in the fall of 1778, was at Green Bay trying to keep the nations well dis- posed until new orders should be received from the seat of war.
It was to stir up the Indians against the conquering George Rogers Clark who was sweeping everything before him in the Illinois country and had cap- tured Prairie du Chien, that De Peyster called a great council of the tribes at L'Arbre Croche in 1779. A messenger was sent to the Indians of Milwaukee but was met by cold indifference, then Verville essayed to rouse their enthusiasm but was treated with insolent ridicule, "Those runagates of Milwaukie," De
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