CONTENTS—The French—Their policy—Trading posts—Cahiaque—Variations—
Name of River—Foundation of Fort Frontenac—A change—Site of old
fort—La Salle’s petition—A Seigniory—Governors visiting—War
Expedition—Fort destroyed—Rebuilt—Colonial Wars—Taking of Fort
Oswego—Frontenac taken—End of French domination.
HISTORY OF THE FRENCH OCCUPATION.
It was the policy of the French, to penetrate, as far as possible, into
the interior of the country, and, by all possible means, secure the
peltry traffic with the Indians. The Recollets and the Jesuits, while
seeking to convert the Pagan Indian, endeavoured as well, to win him to
the interest of their country. As soon as practicable, trading posts
were established at convenient points, at which to buy furs of the
Indians. Not sure, even at the first, of the continued friendliness of
the natives, and subsequently exposed to tribes, who assumed a hostile
attitude, they proceeded to fortify their trading depots against sudden
attacks; not alone to secure this, but to maintain a constant menace to
those who might venture to assume such attitude. It was in carrying out
these designs, that M. de Courcelles, in 1670, ascended the St.
Lawrence, direct to Lake Ontario, from the mouth of the Ottawa, being
the first European to do so. Two years later, he convened a meeting at
the head of the St. Lawrence, of Indian chiefs of the region round
about, when, concealing his ulterior object, he gained permission to
erect a fort; but being immediately thereafter recalled to France, it
was left for his successor, Conte de Frontenac, to establish the fort.
The first name which is found applied to the place, where the fort was
founded, is _Cahiaque_, or _Cadaroque_. It is an Indian name, and most
probably signifies “the strongest fort in the country.” This is inferred
from the following fact:—When certain of the chiefs of the Mohawks, were
in London, in 1710, desirous of doing honor to their host, where they
stayed, at King Street, Covent Garden, they called him _Cadaroque_,
meaning “the most powerful man in London.” Or, possibly, in using the
word, in connection with Frontenac, they may have referred to the strong
expedition which accompanied him. For many years the fort was known by
this name, or one derived from it. It must be remembered that this word,
with many others spoken by the Indians, was written by the French
according to the particular idea of the person hearing the
pronunciation. Hence it is that we find this word changed frequently as
into the following. Beside the two already mentioned are found
Catarcoui, Catarcouy, or Cataraccouy, Catarakvy, Catarakouy, Catarasky,
Cataracto, Cataracouy, Cadaraque, Cadarachqui, Kadaraghke, Kadaraghkie,
Kodakagkie, Cadarochque, Cadaacarochqua, Catarocoui, Cuadaraghque,
Crederoqua, Cataraqui.
While the fort, or place of the fort, was thus known mostly by the
Indians, it was, according to Charlevoix, called by the French, the fort
of Lake St, Louis, the name then applied to Lake Ontario. Subsequently,
the fort was spoken of as the one built by Frontenac; and ultimately, it
came to be permanently designated _Fort Frontenac_. After the conquest,
and at the time of the revolution, the place was known in the rebel
colonies, as Cataraqui; and, in speaking of going to Upper Canada, they
would say to Cataraqui. The river between Ontario and Montreal, was
sometimes called Cariqui, or Iroquois.
The following account of the foundation of the fort, is extracted from
Draper’s Brochure. He says “the expedition was a vast one for those
days, 120 canoes, 2 batteaux, and 400 men.” He then quotes from a
journal of Frontenac’s voyage, describing the entrance into the river
Cataraqui;—“12th, broke up camp very early in the morning, and having
proceeded till ten o’clock, halted three hours to rest and eat. On
approaching the first opening of the lake, the Count wished to proceed
with more order than had been already done, and in line of battle. He
accordingly arranged the whole fleet in this wise:—
“Four squadrons, composing the vanguard, went in front and in one line.
The two batteaux followed next. After these came Count de Frontenac at
the head of all the canoes, of his guards, of his staff, and of the
volunteers attached to his person; having on his right, the squadron
from Three Rivers, and on his left, those of the Hurons and Algonquins.
“Two other squadrons formed a third line, and composed the rear guard.
“This order of sailing had not been adhered to for more than half a
league, when an Iroquois canoe was perceived coming with the Abbe
D’Ursé, who, having met the Indians above the River Katarakoui,
(Cataraqui) and having notified them of the Count’s arrival, they were
now advancing with the captains of the Five Nations.
“They saluted the admiral, and paid their respects to him with evidence
of much joy and confidence, testifying to him the obligation they were
under to him for sparing them the trouble of going further, and for
receiving their submissions at the River Katarakoui, which is a very
suitable place to camp, as they were about signifying to him.
“After Count Frontenac had replied to their civilities, they proceeded
him as guides, and conducted him as guides, and conducted him into a
bay, about a cannon shot from the entrance, which forms one of the most
beautiful and agreeable harbors in the world, capable of holding a
hundred of the largest ships, with sufficient water at the mouth, and in
the harbor, with mud bottom, and so sheltered from every wind, that a
cable is scarcely necessary for mooring.” “On the 13th of July, 1673,
the fort was commenced, and on the 19th, it was finished, and De
Frontenac left on the 27th for Montreal, having laid the foundation of
the future City of Kingston.”
How different was the appearance then from that presented to-day. No
clearing, as yet, broke the woody shores. At this conference between
Frontenac and the Iroquois chiefs, the charms of nature only were
displayed. Where now stands the city of Kingston, was then a dense
forest. The gently curving shore, which now forms the front of the city,
with its line of piers, was undisturbed, except by the birch canoe. The
quiet Bay, within the Point, then more prominent than now, stretching up
with its low sand banks, and begirt with marshes, was then the safe
abode of the wild fowl and muskrat. Across the inlet of the bay, and
where now is the Navy Yard, the land was thickly covered with the
greenest foliage; as well as was the higher and more beautifully wooded
peninsula of Point Henry. And still beyond, to the south, the third
point, stretching out almost to the rugged little island, called Cadar
Island, increased the variety of the picture; and the two indentations
where now is Navy Bay, and the “Dead Man’s” Bay, at one time called
Hamilton’s Cove, added thereto. Then, turning toward the south, there
reposed the magnificently green, long island, now Wolfe Island, with
Gage Island in its front; and still extending the view around the Bay,
was to be seen the islands, now called Simcoe and Amherst, all richly
clothed with the garments of nature. One would wish to look upon a
faithful picture of this primeval appearance of Kingston Bay, before
even the French had planted a post or cleft a tree. However beautiful
Kingston of to-day may be regarded, with its graceful architecture, as
displayed in its public and private edifices; however grand the strong
fortifications, which silently utter words of warning to the passing
stranger whose nation covets our territory, while pretending to
depreciate it; however striking the combination which composes the
picture of Kingston and its harbor of to-day, they cannot exceed, as a
whole, in attractiveness, the prospect seen by Frontenac, of wood and
water so remarkably associated, and charmingly blended, ere the hand of
man had marred it.
It was immediately after this conference, between Frontenac and the
chiefs, when he concealed the true designs he entertained, that the
erection of the first fort was proceeded with. Its site was upon the
point of land by the entrance of the bay, near the _Tete du Pont_, and
commanded the entrance to Cataraqui Creek. It seems, from the testimony
of early settlers of Kingston, that the fort was separated from Kingston
by a deep trench, so that the point was converted into an island, upon
which was built the original village of Cataraqui. In later years, this
ditch has been obliterated by the filling in of material, and, in like
manner, a portion of the bay, immediately north of the point has
disappeared.
In the following year, LaSalle, who has been particularly referred to in
the introductory chapter, presented the following petition to King Louis
XIV.
“The proposer, aware of the importance to the Colony of Canada, of the
establishment of Fort Frontenac, of which he was some time in command,
and desiring to employ his means and his life in the King’s service, and
for the augmentation of the country, offers to support it, at his
expense, and reimburse its cost, on the following conditions, to wit:—
That His Majesty be pleased to grant in Seigniory, to the proposer, the
said fort, four leagues of country along the border of Lake Frontenac,
the two islands in front, named Ganounkouesnot and Kaouenesgo, and the
interjacent islets, with the same rights and privileges obtained
hitherto by those who hold lands in the country in Seigniory, with the
right of fishing in Lake Frontenac and the adjoining rivers, to
facilitate the support of the people of said Fort, together with the
command of said place and of said lake, under the orders and authority
of His Majesty’s Governor, Lieutenant-General in the country; on which
condition, the proposer will be bound:—1st. To maintain the said Fort;
to place it in a better state of defence; to keep a garrison there, at
least as numerous as that of Montreal, and as many as fifteen to twenty
laborers, during the two first years, to clear and till the land; to
provide it with necessary arms, artillery and ammunition, and that so
long as the proposer will command there, in His Majesty’s name, and
until some other persons be authorized to settle above the Long Sault of
the River St. Lawrence, through which people pass to the said Fort,
without being charged with similar expense, or to contribute to that
which the proposer will be obliged to incur for the preservation of the
said Fort.
“2nd. To repay Count de Frontenac, His Majesty’s Governor and
Lieutenant-General in Canada, the expense he incurred for the
establishment of said Fort, amounting to the sum of 12,000 to 13,000
livres, as proved by the statements thereof prepared.
“3rd. To make grants of land to all those willing to settle there, in
the manner usual in said country; to allow them the trade (_la traite_)
when their settlements will be in the condition required by the Edicts
and Regulations of the Sovereign Council of said country. 4th. To grant
them land for villages and tillage; to teach them trades, and induce
them to lead lives more conformable to ours, as the proposer had begun
to do with success, when he commanded there. 5th. To build a Church,
when there will be 100 persons; meanwhile, to entertain one or two
Recollet Friars, to perform Divine service, and administer the
sacraments there. 6th. His Majesty, accepting these proposals, is very
humbly supplicated to grant to the proposer letters of noblesse, in
consideration of the voyages and discoveries which he made in the
country at his expense, during the seven years he continually lived
there, the services he rendered in the country, and those he will
continue to render; and all the other letters necessary to serve him as
titles possessory to said Seigniory.”
In the succeeding year this petition was granted, and a decree to that
effect was issued by the King on the 13th May, 1675, and a Patent of
Nobility issued to La Salle; and Fort Frontenac, with four leagues of
the adjacent country, was created a Seigniory of Canada, and LaSalle its
first Seignior.
In the decree making the grant, it is specified that LaSalle shall
“induce the Indians to repair thither, give them settlements, and form
villages there in society with the French, to whom he shall give part of
said land to be cleared, all which shall be cleared and improved within
the time and space of twenty years. * * His Majesty wills that appeals
from the Judges (to be appointed by La Salle), be to the
Lieutenant-General of Quebec.” But, the subsequent chequered career and
early death of La Salle, probably prevented the carrying out of these
intentions.
When La Salle set out on his western exploring expedition, he “left
Sieur de la Forest in charge of the fort.” As before stated, La Salle
had many enemies, and among them the Governor, M. de la Barre, “who
actually sequestered Fort Frontenac and took possession of it,
pretending that La Salle had abandoned it. This was in 1682.”
The history of the French occupation of Cataraqui is marked by
occasional visits of the French Governor, and the presence of large and
small bodies of armed forces. In 1684 M. de la Barre, the successor of
Frontenac, tarried at Cataraqui two weeks with his convoy, which was
composed of 130 regular soldiers, 700 armed Canadians, 200 savages, and
a mixed body of several hundred from the west. It must have been a
picturesque sight, the encampment of this army. The veterans from France
in their uniform attire, the Canadians in their various hued garments,
and the Algonquins and Ottawas in their wild garb of paint and feathers
formed the components of a picture truly striking. A year or two later
and De Nonville, another Governor, was likewise found encamped here with
an army of 2000. At this time the original fort of wood was at its
greatest pitch of renown and glory. Here was kept stored within the
palisaded walls, arms, ammunition, and provision, beside furs. It was
while enjoying this considerable power that De Nonville committed the
act of treachery toward the Ganneyouses and Kentes Indians. But this act
was followed by an attack by the Indians, and the fort was in a state of
siege for the space of a month; “but was not taken.” Two years later,
however, finding it difficult to maintain this out-post so far from
Montreal, De Nonville ordered De Valrenne, the commander, to blow up the
fort, which was accordingly done, and “three barks on the lake were
scattered,” and “property to the extent of 20,000 crowns,” was
sacrificed.
The fort thus destroyed was rebuilt by the orders of Frontenac, and in
1695 he sent 700 workmen for the purpose. (For the circumstances and the
opposition respecting this, see Introductory.) The fort being completed
it was garrisoned with 48 soldiers. “The expense of re-victualling and
re-establishing the fort, cost 12,000 livres, or between £600 and
£700.”—(Draper).
Respecting the situation of the fort, a manuscript published in 1838,
under the direction of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec,
says, “it was situated _at the bottom of a bay_, which a little river
flowing into Lake Ontario forms, close to the junction of Lake Ontario
and the River St. Lawrence. It consisted of four stone curtains, 120
feet each, defended by four square bastions. The walls were defended by
neither ditches nor palisades. There was no terrace to sustain it on the
inside. A wooden gallery was built all round for communicating from one
bastion to another. The platforms of these bastions were mounted on
wooden piles, and the curtains were pierced for loopholes.”
Father Charlevoix, writing in 1720, says of Fort Frontenac, “that it is
a square with four bastions built of stone, and the ground it occupies
is a quarter of a league in compass; its situation has something very
pleasant; the sides of the river present every way a landscape well
varied, and it is the same at the entrance of Lake Ontario.”
Fort Frontenac now fully re-established on a stronger basis, continued
for many years to be an important post, with respect to trading, and
likewise offensive and defensive operations against the Indians, and
also the English. Here was deposited vast stores of provision, and
materials of a war-like nature for the use of other forts.
In the first years of the 18th century, rivalry and jealousy between the
French and English Colonists, assumed a more determined form. Already
was gathering the fierce elements of Colonial war, which were to
culminate in the siege of Quebec, and spend its fury upon the Plains of
Abraham. We have seen that the two powers tried zealously, and often by
unscrupulous means to secure the alliance and aid of the savages, whose
love of war and desire to engage in the bloody attack, with the
allurements of promised presents, led them too often to scenes of blood
and rapine. The regions about Cataraqui were often the place of sudden
attack and cruel torture. The fort was an object of dread to the
Iroquois, of jealousy to the English, and with the view of breaking the
chain of forts, of which this was so important a one, the English set
about erecting one at Oswego.
In 1754 the eventful seven years war began, and one of the first events
was the sending of a force of 4000 men and 12 guns by the French
Governor, to attack Fort Oswego. But when the force reached Cataraqui,
it was found necessary to recall a portion of them to Lower Canada, and
defer the attack. One battalion was ordered to Niagara, while one or two
battalions were encamped under the walls of Frontenac. The total force
of Canadians and savages in arms west of Cataraqui at this time was
1000. The following year, it is found stated that, on “June 26, 1756,
English vessels were seen across the Bay of Quinté, coming toward
Frontenac. The French gave chase, and captured a sloop.”
July 29, 1757, witnessed the arrival at the fort of a considerable body,
and for days armed men continued to rendezvous here. The woods around
the fort were alive with soldiers. The attack upon Fort Oswego,
contemplated three years previous, was now about to be made. On the
evening of the 4th August, the party, of no small dimensions set out for
the attack. It consisted of 80 batteaux laden with artillery luggage and
provision, and canoes to carry the force of 3100 men. They started at
night, when the shades of darkness were gathering, and stealthily
directed their way, one boat after another, for the opposite shore. At
the approach of morning they came to a stop, where the thick woods met
the southern shore of the lake. The bushes were parted, and without
noise, the batteaux were, one by one, withdrawn from the water and
carefully covered with leaves, so that unless one passed directly by the
way, no indications could be observed of their existence. By the dawn of
day there was not a ripple upon the waters from the party, and the woods
were hushed, except by the denizens of the forest. All the day long the
party lay concealed. After night had fallen, re-embarkation took place,
slowly and calmly beneath the mild summer’s sky. For five days and
nights the same course was pursued, by which time they had reached the
neighbourhood of Fort Oswego, where reposed the English garrison,
unconscious of danger. The attack was so unexpected, and carried on with
so much spirit, that the garrison had to succumb before reinforcements
could be obtained, and the French returned to Fort Frontenac laden with
spoils.
But the time was approaching when the glory of Fort Frontenac should
depart. At this time the building itself was beginning to decay. Sixty
years had told upon the walls, and a writer of 1758 says they “were not
good.” However, had the fortifications been never so strong, the course
of events would have all the same witnessed the final fall of this
stronghold. “In this year, the commandant at Fort Frontenac was a
Monsieur de Noyan, King’s Lieutenant for Three Rivers. He was an old
man, but brave as a lion.” We have seen that de Lévis having withdrawn,
the fort was left with but a few men, Garneau says seventy; but
Warburton, one hundred and twenty Frenchmen and forty Indians. Even with
this number it was but an easy success for Bradstreet, with his three
thousand men and eleven guns, to possess himself of a fort weakened by
age. Having descended the Oswego River, Colonel Bradstreet crossed to
the Upper Gap and approached Cataraqui along the shore, observing great
caution, and landed about a mile to the west of the fort, August 25, in
the evening. During the following night he cautiously approached the
place of attack, and upon the ground where now stands the market
buildings, he erected a battery. So silently was this done, and with
such despatch, that before the morning of 27th August, 1758, he had it
all completed. The morning light revealed to the French how imminent was
their danger. Dismayed, but not discouraged, the intrepid commander
ordered every man to his post; but a few shots from the English guns
showed to him how futile was resistance. Having signified his intention
to surrender, which was about seven o’clock in the morning, he became,
with his garrison, prisoner of war. The conquerors found in “the fort
sixty pieces of cannon, sixteen mortars, an immense supply of
provisions, stores and ammunitions, with all the shipping on the lake,”
also, “several vessels richly laden with furs, to the value, it is said
of 70,000 louis d’ors.” There was also a large quantity of merchandise
intended for the western forts, beside some of the booty which had been
brought thither after the capture of Oswego. Colonel Bradstreet had no
intention of holding the fort; but to destroy, which he accordingly did,
with the vessels.
There was a feeble attempt to restore the fort in the fall, and “a small
detachment of troops and Canadians, under the command of the Chevalier
Benoit, was sent to Frontenac partly to protect merchandize and
ammunition passing up and down, and partly to rebuild the fort; and
subsequently the _Sieur de Cresse_, an assistant engineer, with Captain
Laforce, a sailor, were sent there to construct two new schooners, to
endeavor to maintain the supremacy on the lakes.” But the following year
the presence of Wolfe before Quebec, and Amherst at Carillon, rendered
the restoration of Frontenac an impossibility. The glory of Fort
Frontenac had forever departed. But the spirit of bravery again
appeared, in later days, in a people of another language, though,
nevertheless Canadians. In 1812–13 the Americans approached Kingston,
but the hostile and determined attitude assumed by the militia and
troops deterred them from attempting to touch the soil here, and when
they did attempt, both above and below, great indeed was the repulse and
discomfiture.