CAPTIVITY OF J. KINZIE, SEN.--AN AMUSING MISTAKE
It had been a stipulation of Gen. Hull at the surrender of Detroit that
the inhabitants of that place should be permitted to remain undisturbed
in their homes. Accordingly the family of Mr. Kinzie took up their
quarters with their friends in the old mansion, which many will still
recollect as standing on the north-east corner of Jefferson avenue and
Wayne street.
The feelings of indignation and sympathy were constantly aroused in
the hearts of the citizens during the winter that ensued. They were
almost daily called upon to witness the cruelties practiced upon the
American prisoners brought in by their Indian captors. Those who could
scarcely drag their wounded, bleeding feet over the frozen ground,
were compelled to dance for the amusement of the savages, and these
exhibitions sometimes took place before the Government House, the
residence of Col. McKee. Some of the British officers looked on from
their windows at these heart-rending performances; for the honor of
humanity we will hope such instances were rare.
Everything that could be made available among the effects of the
citizens was offered to ransom their countrymen from the hands
of these inhuman beings. The prisoners brought in from the River
Raisin--those unfortunate men who were permitted after their surrender
to Gen. Proctor to be tortured and murdered by inches by his savage
allies, excited the sympathies and called for the action of the whole
community. Private houses were turned into hospitals, and every one
was forward to get possession of as many as possible of the survivors.
To effect this, even the articles of their apparel were bartered by
the ladies of Detroit, as they watched from their doors or windows the
miserable victims carried about for sale.
In the dwelling of Mr. Kinzie one large room was devoted to the
reception of the sufferers. Few of them survived. Among those spoken as
objects of the deepest interest were two young gentlemen of Kentucky,
brothers, both severely wounded, and their wounds aggravated to a
mortal degree by subsequent ill-usage and hardships. Their solicitude
for each other, and their exhibition in various ways of the most tender
fraternal affection, created an impression never to be forgotten.
The last bargain made was by black Jim, and one of children, who had
permission to redeem a negro servant of the gallant Col. Allen, with an
old white horse, the only available article that remained among their
possessions.
A brother of Col. Allen afterwards came to Detroit, and the negro
preferred returning to servitude rather than remaining a stranger in a
strange land.
Mr. Kinzie, as has been related, joined his family at Detroit in the
month of January. A short time after suspicions arose in the mind of
Gen. Proctor that he was in correspondence with Gen. Harrison, who was
now at Fort Meigs, and who was believed to be meditating an advance
upon Detroit. Lieut. Watson of the British army waited upon Mr. Kinzie
one day with an invitation to the quarters of Gen. Proctor on the
opposite side of the river, saying he wished to speak with him, on
business. Quite unsuspicious, he complied with the invitation, when to
his surprise he was ordered into confinement, and strictly guarded in
the house of his former partner, Mr. Patterson of Sandwich. Finding
that he did not return to his home, Mrs. Kinzie informed some of the
Indian chiefs, his particular friends, who immediately repaired to
the headquarters of the Commanding Officer, demanded their "friend's"
release, and brought him back to his home. After waiting a time until a
favorable opportunity presented itself, the General sent a detachment
of dragoons to arrest him. They had succeeded in carrying him away, and
crossing the river with him. Just at this moment a party of friendly
Indians made their appearance.
"Where is the Shaw-nee-aw-kee?" was the first question. "There,"
replied his wife, pointing across the river, "in the hands of the
red-coats, who are taking him away again."
The Indians ran to the river, seized some canoes that they found there,
and crossing over to Sandwich, compelled Gen. Proctor a second time to
forego his intentions.
A third time this officer was more successful, and succeeded in
arresting Mr. Kinzie and conveying him heavily ironed to Fort Maiden,
in Canada, at the mouth of the Detroit River. Here he was at first
treated with great severity, but after a time the rigor of his
confinement was somewhat relaxed, and he was permitted to walk on the
bank of the river for air and exercise.
"On the 10th of September, as he was taking his promenade under the
close supervision of a guard of soldiers, the whole party were startled
by the sound of guns upon Lake Erie, at no great distance below. What
could it mean? It must be Commodore Barclay firing into some of the
Yankees. The firing continued. The time allotted the prisoner for his
daily walk expired, but neither he nor his guard observed the lapse of
time, so anxiously were they listening to what they now felt sure was
an engagement between ships of war. At length Mr. Kinzie was reminded
that the hour for his return to confinement had arrived. He petitioned
for another half-hour.
"Let me stay," said he, "till we can learn how the battle has gone."
Very soon a sloop appeared under press of sail, rounding the point, and
presently two gun-boats in chase of her.
"She is running--she bears the British colors," cried he--"yes, yes,
they are lowering--she is striking her flag! Now," turning to the
soldiers, "I will go back to prison contented--I know how the battle
has gone."
The sloop was the Little Belt, the last of the squadron captured by
the gallant Perry on that memorable occasion which he announced in the
immortal words:
"We have met the enemy, and they are ours!"
Matters were growing critical, and it was necessary to transfer all
prisoners to a place of greater security than the frontier was now
likely to be. It was resolved therefore to send Mr. Kinzie to the
mother country. Nothing has ever appeared, which would explain this
course of Gen. Proctor, in regard to this gentleman. He had been taken
from the bosom of his family, where he was living quietly under the
parole which he had received, and protected by the stipulations of the
surrender. He was kept for months in confinement. Now he was placed on
horseback under a strong guard, who announced that they had orders to
shoot him through the head, if he offered to speak to a person upon the
road. He was tied upon the saddle in a way to prevent his escape, and
thus they sat out for Quebec. A little incident occurred, which will
help to illustrate the course invariably pursued towards our citizens
at this period, by the British army on the North-western frontier.
The saddle on which Mr. Kinzie rode had not been properly fastened, and
owing to the rough motion of the annual on which it was, it turned,
so as to bring the rider into a most awkward and painful position.
His limbs being fastened, he could not disengage himself, and in this
manner he was compelled by those who had charge of him to ride until he
was nearly exhausted, before they had the humanity to release him.
Arrived at Quebec, he was put on board a small vessel to be sent
to England. The vessel when a few days out at sea was chased by an
American frigate and driven into Halifax. A second time she set sail,
when she sprung a leak and was compelled to put back.
The attempt to send him across the ocean was now abandoned, and he was
returned to Quebec. Another step, equally inexplicable with his arrest,
was now taken. This was his release and that of Mr. Macomb, of Detroit,
who was also in confinement in Quebec, and the permission given them
to return to their friends and families, although the war was not
yet ended. It may possibly be imagined that in the treatment these
gentlemen received, the British Commander-in-chief sheltered himself
upon the plea of their being "native born British subjects," and
perhaps when it was ascertained that Mr. Kinzie was indeed a citizen of
the United States, it was thought safest to release him.
In the meantime. General Harrison at the head of his troops had reached
Detroit. He landed on the 29th September. All the citizens went forth
to meet him--Mrs. Kinzie, leading her children by the hand, was of the
number. The General accompanied her to her home, and took up his abode
there. On his arrival he was introduced to Kee-po-tah, who happened to
be on a visit to the family at that time. The General had seen the
chief the preceding year, at the Council at Vincennes, and the meeting
was one of great cordiality and interest.
* * * * *
In 1816, Mr. Kinzie and his family again returned to Chicago. The fort
was rebuilt on a somewhat larger scale than the former one. It was
not until the return of the troops that the bones of the unfortunate
Americans who had been massacred four years before, were collected and
buried.
An Indian Agency, under the charge of Charles Jewett, Esq., of
Kentucky, was established. He was succeeded in 1820 by Dr. Alexander
Wolcott, of Connecticut, who occupied that position until his death in
1830.
The troops were removed from the garrison in 1823, but restored in
1828, after the Winnebago war. This was a disturbance between the
Winnebagoes and white settlers on and near the Mississippi. After
some murders had been committed, the young chief. Red Bird, was taken
and imprisoned at Prairie du Chien to await his trial, where he died
of chagrin and the irksomeness of confinement. It was feared that
the Pottowattamies would make common cause with the Winnebagoes, and
commence a general system of havoc and bloodshed on the frontier.
They were deterred from such a step, probably, by the exertions of
Billy Caldwell, Robinson, and Shau-bee-nay, who made an expedition
among the Rock River bands, to argue and persuade them into remaining
tranquil.[69]
The few citizens of Chicago in these days, lived for the most part
a very quiet unvaried life. The great abundance of game, and the
immense fertility of the lands they cultivated, furnished them with a
superabundance of all the luxuries of garden, cornfield, and dairy. The
question was once asked by a friend in the "east countrie:"
"How do you dispose of all the good things you raise? You have no
market?" "No." "And yet cannot consume it all yourselves?" "No." "What
then do you do with it?"
"Why, we manage, when a vessel arrives to persuade the Captain to
accept a few kegs of butter, and stores of corn and vegetables, as a
present, and that helps us to get rid of some of it."
The mails arrived, as may be supposed, at very rare intervals. They
were brought occasionally from Fort Clark (Peoria), but more frequently
from Fort Wayne, or across the peninsula of Michigan, which was still
a wilderness peopled with savages. The hardy adventurer who acted as
express was, not unfrequently, obliged to imitate the birds of heaven
and "lodge among the branches," in order to ensure the safety of
himself and his charge.
Visitors were very rare, unless it was a friend who came to sojourn
some time, and share a life in the wilderness. A traveller, however,
occasionally found his way to the spot, in passing to or from "parts
unknown," and such a one was sure of a hospitable and hearty welcome.
A gentleman journeying from the southern settlements once arrived late
in the evening at Wolf Point, where was then the small establishment
of George hunt and a Mr. Wallace. He stopped and inquired if he could
have accommodation for the night for himself and his horse. The answer
was, that they were ill provided to entertain a stranger--the house was
small, and they were keeping "bachelor's hall."
"Is there no place," inquired the traveller, "where I can obtain a
lodging?"
"Oh! yes--you will find a very comfortable house, Mr. Kinzie's, about
half a mile below, near the mouth of the river."
[Illustration: SHAUBENA.
(Chief of the Pottawattomies.) From photograph of oil portrait in
possession of Chicago Historical Society.]
The stranger turned his horse's head and took the road indicated.
Arrived at the spot, his first inquiry was:
"Is this the residence of Mr. Kinzie?"
"Yes, sir."
"I should be glad to get accommodation for myself and horse."
"Certainly, sir--walk in."
The horse was taken to the stable, while the gentleman was ushered
into a parlor where were two ladies. The usual preliminary questions
and answers were gone through, for in a new country people soon become
acquainted, and the gentleman ere long found himself seated at a
comfortable hot supper--we will venture to say a fine supper--since the
table in this domestic establishment has always been somewhat famous.
Apparently, the gentleman enjoyed it, for he made himself quite at
home. He even called for a boot-jack after tea, and drew off his boots.
The ladies were a little surprised, but they had lived a good while out
of the world, and they did not know what changes in etiquette might
have taken place during their retirement.
Before taking his leave for the night, the traveller signified what it
would please him to have for breakfast, which was duly prepared. The
next day proved stormy. The gentleman was satisfied with his quarters,
and having taken care to ascertain that there was no neglect, or
deficiency of accommodation so far as his horse was concerned, he got
through the day very comfortably.
Now and then, when he was tired of reading, he would converse with
the family, and seemed, upon the whole, by no means disposed to hold
himself aloof, but to indulge in a little becoming sociability, seeing
they were all there away in the woods.
The second day the weather brightened. The traveller signified his
intention to depart. He ordered his horse to the door--then he called
for his bill.
"My house is not a tavern, sir," was the astounding reply.
"Not a tavern! Good heavens! have I been making myself at home in this
manner in a private family?"
The gentleman was profuse in his apologies, which, however, were quite
unnecessary, for the family had perceived from the first the mistake he
had fallen into, and they had amused themselves during his whole visit
in anticipating the consternation of their guest when he should be
undeceived.
* * * * *
It was in the year 1816 (the same year of the rebuilding of the fort,
after its destruction by the Indians), that the tract of land on which
Chicago stands, together with the surrounding country, was ceded to the
United States, by the Pottowattamies.[70] They remained the peaceful
occupants of it, however, for twenty years longer. It was not until
1836 that they were removed by Government to lands appropriated for
their use on the Upper Missouri.[71]
In the year 1830 the town of Chicago was laid out into lots by
commissioners appointed by the State. At this time the prices of these
lots ranged from ten to sixty dollars.[72]
* * * * *
Mr. Kinzie, who from the geographical position of this place, and the
vast fertility of the surrounding country, had always foretold its
eventual prosperity and importance, was not permitted to witness the
realization of his predictions. He closed his useful and energetic life
on the 6th of January, 1828, having just completed his sixty-fifth
year.