As they left the table and gathered upon deck on the evening of the
next day, the captain announced that they were nearing Mackinaw.
"I am glad of that, papa," said Grace; "for we shall have a lovely view
of it by moonlight."
"Are we going to stop there, sir?" asked Walter.
"Not unless someone particularly desires it," returned the captain;
"but we will pass slowly and quite near, so that we may all have a good
view of it. Ah! it can be seen in the distance now," he added, pointing
it out.
"And though the sun has set the moon will, as Gracie says, give us a
lovely view of it," remarked Violet.
"Yes, she is nearly full," said the captain, glancing skyward, "which
will help us to a more vivid conception of how things looked to Darman
when he set out for Fort St. Joseph, on the 16th of July, 1812."
"I'm glad of that," said Lucilla. "I want to be able to imagine just
how things looked at that time."
"Yes," said Grace, "but it is far more delightful to know that no war
is going on now, and we are in no danger from either civilized or
savage foes."
"It is indeed!" responded her father. "Peace is a great blessing; war a
dreadful scourge."
"It is an Indian name the island bears, is it not, captain?" asked
Evelyn.
"Yes; and the meaning is the Great Turtle, alluding to its shape.
Notice that as we approach, and see if you do not think the name
appropriate."
"To the tongue of which of the Indian tribes does the name belong,
sir?" asked Walter.
"The Algonquin."
"The harbor is considered a fine one, is it not?"
"Yes; it is semicircular, 1 mile long; the strait is 40 miles long and
4 miles wide; the island 7 miles in circumference. Now we are near
enough for a good view."
"What makes it look so white, papa?" queried little Elsie.
"It is limestone rock, my child," replied her father. "See the village
down near the water and the fort on higher ground--the white cliffs
half covered with green foliage--beyond it the ruins of old Fort
Holmes."
"The one the British took in that war you told about, papa?"
"The very same," he said. "I believe you were not by when I pointed it
out to the others on our former visit to the island."
"No, sir; I think Neddie and I were asleep in our berths."
"Yes, so you were," said her mother. "Ah, my dear," to her husband,
"what a lovely sight it is by this witching light!"
"Yes," he said. "I think we will visit it again one of these days, when
we can spend more time in viewing the various interesting places--such
as the Arch Rock, a natural bridge almost as picturesque as the famous
one in Virginia, the Rabbit's Peak, Giant's Causeway, and the Lover's
Leap. We are passing that last now; and I want you all to notice a
projecting crag at the other end of the island, called Robinson's
Folly. These are all famous places, and each has its legendary story."
They steamed slowly past, greatly enjoying the moonlight view of the
island; then, as it faded from sight, the speed of the vessel was
increased, and before the older ones had retired they had entered Lake
Huron.
The pleasant weather continued, and most of them spent the greater
part of the following day upon the deck.
"We will reach Detroit early this evening, I suppose, Brother Levis?"
said Rosie, in a tone of enquiry.
"Should nothing happen to prevent," was the pleasant-toned reply. "And
now I wonder if my pupils can tell us most of the history of that city?"
"Beginning with the war of 1812, I suppose, as we have already gone
over the story of the doings of Pontiac?"
"Yes; but first I shall give you a few facts concerning its settlement,
growth, and so forth:
"It is by far the oldest city in the western part of our country,
and older than either Philadelphia or Baltimore on the seaboard. It
was founded by the French in 1670, as an outpost for the prosecution
of the fur-trade; and as late as 1840 it still had less than 10,000
inhabitants. It is on the west side of Detroit River, about 7 miles
from Lake St. Clair and 18 from Lake Erie. Can you tell me the meaning
of the name Detroit, Elsie, daughter?"
"No, papa, you never taught me that," replied the little girl.
"It is the French for strait," he said. "The strait or river connecting
Lakes St. Clair and Erie gave the name to the city."
"At the time we are talking of--when General Hull was marching toward
the place--Detroit had only 160 houses and a population of about 800,
most of them of French descent. It was a very small place considering
its age, for it was a trading-post as early as 1620, and established as
a settlement as early as 1701, when a Jesuit missionary came there with
one hundred men. So it was a very old town though so small; but seven
years before there had been a fire that destroyed all the houses but
one."
"But there was a fort, was there not, papa?" asked Grace.
"Yes," replied the captain; "on a hill back of the town, about 250
yards from the river; built by the English after their conquest of
Canada more than 100 years ago. It covered about 2 acres of ground, was
quadrangular in shape, with bastions and barracks. It had embankments
nearly 20 feet high, a deep, dry ditch, and was surrounded by a double
row of pickets.
"The town too was surrounded by strong pickets 14 feet high, with
loopholes to shoot through. Those pickets had been erected as defences
against the Indians, and were still in good condition. There were in
them four strong gates on different streets."
"Then the British couldn't get in to harm the folks, could they, papa?"
asked Elsie.
"They would be able to, when they had finished the fortifications they
had begun to build on the opposite side of the river," replied the
captain; "so General Hull decided that it would be best to cross at
once and drive them away.
"It was not easy to find boats enough to take his twenty-two hundred
men across, but by great exertion he succeeded in getting enough to
carry four hundred at a time, but should the British see them crossing
they would in all probability attack that small number before the
others could cross to take part in the fight. So Hull resorted to
strategy. Toward the evening of the 11th all the boats were sent down
the river in full view of the British, while at the same time Colonel
M'Arthur with his regiment marched away in the same direction. The
British were deceived and made ready to dispute their passage. But
after dark troops and boats returned up the river past Detroit to
Bloody Bridge, a mile and a half above the town, and made arrangements
to cross the river there, which they did."
"Why was it called by that dreadful name--Bloody Bridge, papa?" asked
Elsie.
"Because the Indians in Pontiac's time attacked and killed so
many--fifty-nine--of the English there. Do you not remember my telling
you about it?"
"Oh, yes, sir, when we went to Mackinaw before!" exclaimed the little
girl.
"At dawn the regular troops and the Ohio volunteers crossed over to
the Canadian side, and there hoisted the American flag," continued the
captain.
"But I shall not now go into all the details of the marching and
fighting that followed--how Hull changed his orders and restrained his
brave, patriotic officers and men from attacks upon the enemy which
they were eager to make, until they were almost convinced that he was
either a traitor or a coward.
"He was doubtless too old for the command which had been given him. He
had done good service in the Revolutionary War, and no doubt was really
a patriot still, but he lacked energy, vigilance, and decision, and was
too slow to take advantage of the necessities and mistakes of the foe;
though he might have done much better but for the remissness of the
Secretary of War and General Dearborn. His mistakes and dilatoriness
bore very hard upon the brave fellows under him, who were burning with
patriotic zeal for the discomfiture of the foe, and he perceived that,
though they obeyed orders, there was a mutinous spirit among them
that could scarcely be restrained. Therefore he called a council of
field-officers, and by their advice it was agreed to march immediately
upon Malden.
"Orders were at once issued for all the needful preparations and
received with universal joy by the little army of men longing to defend
their country.
"But before these were completed, or the long summer day was quite
over, there came another order from the commanding general; an order
for the army to recross the river to Detroit--abandoning Canada and
its people to the vengeance of the British; leaving unprotected its
inhabitants, who, trusting Hull's promised protection, had refused
to take up arms for defence against the Americans. That order was in
consequence of news which had reached Hull that a considerable force of
British regulars, militia, and Indians were coming to attack the little
army in the rear."
"Did our soldiers like to go back without fighting the British first,
papa?" asked Elsie.
"No, my child, not at all; but they were obedient soldiers, and did
as they were ordered by their commander, though sullenly, feeling
themselves humiliated by being compelled to act like cowards. During
that night and the next morning they crossed the deep, dark river and
encamped on the rolling plain back of Fort Detroit.
"Not quite all of them, however. Major Denny, with 130 convalescents,
and a corps of artillerists, under Lieutenant Anderson, were left
behind in a strong house that had been stockaded and called Fort
Gowris. Denny was ordered to defend the post to the last extremity,
so long as attacked with only musketry, but to leave it if powerful
artillery should be brought against it.
"Hull and his army were in need of supplies, which he knew were being
sent him under the command of Captain Brush, who had come as far as the
River Raisin, but was detained there by the knowledge that a party of
Indians under Tecumseh, with perhaps some British regulars, had crossed
the Detroit from Malden and were lying near the mouth of the Huron
River, twenty-five miles below Detroit, for the purpose of seizing the
men, cattle, provisions, and mail that Captain Brush had in charge.
"Brush had asked Hull to send him an escort. Hull at first flatly
refused; but, after much persuasion on the part of his officers,
despatched Major Van Horn with a detachment of two hundred men to join
Brush and help convoy the cattle, provisions, and mail. The major
obeyed promptly, but was not successful; being surprised by the
Indians, who lay in ambush and attacked him by the way. The Americans
fought gallantly, but lost seventeen killed and several wounded.
"When the news reached the fort Hull was greatly disconcerted. His
officers urged him to send a larger force to the aid of Brush--as many
as five hundred; but he refused. 'I can spare only one hundred,' he
said.
"That, as the officers knew, would not be enough; so, though indignant
and alarmed for the safety of Brush and the needed stores he was
bringing, they had to give up the hope of helping him for the present.
"But Hull perceived that his troops were angry and felt mutinous, and
it was then he called his officers together, and after consulting them
gave the orders for preparations to march upon Malden; but, as we
have seen, before they could be carried out he changed his mind and
ordered the army to cross the river to Detroit. He now felt the need
of securing the supplies under Brush and ordered Colonel Miller to
take six hundred men, go to that officer's assistance, and escort him
to Detroit. Before starting upon their perilous expedition the troops
paraded on the north side of Jefferson Avenue, and there Colonel Miller
addressed them as they stood in marching order. 'Soldiers,' he said,
'we are going to meet the enemy, and to beat them. The reverse of the
5th (that was Van Horn's) must be repaired. The blood of our brethren,
spilled by the savages, must be avenged. I will lead you. You shall
not disgrace yourselves or me. Every man who shall leave the ranks or
fall back without orders will be instantly put to death. I charge the
officers to execute this order.'
"Then turning to the veteran Fourth Regiment of regulars, he
said, 'My brave soldiers, you will add another victory to that of
Tippecanoe--another laurel to that gained upon the Wabash last fall. If
there is now any man in the ranks of the detachment who fears to meet
the enemy, let him fall out and stay behind.'
"He paused, and a loud huzza went up from the entire corps, and 'I'll
not stay! I'll not stay!' came from every lip.
"Miller led them to the River Rouge that night, and they bivouacked
on its southern shore, having crossed it in two scows. Early the next
morning they took up their march again, Major Thompson Maxwell, with
his spies, leading the way; next a vanguard of forty men under Captain
Snelling of the Fourth Regulars, while the infantry marched in two
columns, about two hundred yards apart, the cavalry keeping the road
in the centre in double file. The artillery followed, with flank guards
of riflemen at suitable distances. Marching in that order a line of
battle could be formed almost instantly, but it was slow and toilsome
work to move the cannon over the marshy ground along which their road
lay.
"It was Sunday morning, the weather sultry, the sky overcast with
clouds, not a leaf stirring on the trees; in the distance they could
see a few fleet Indians hurrying along; but nothing of much consequence
occurred until some time in the afternoon, when they were nearing the
Indian village of Maguaga, fourteen miles below Detroit. But there a
man named White, who had joined them as a new recruit, hurrying on
ahead of the rest, was shot from his horse near the cabin of an Indian
chief called Walk-in-the-Water, by some Indians concealed behind it,
and before the vanguard could reach the spot he was scalped.
"There were oak woods near Maguaga, which Captain Snelling and his
regulars reached between three and four o'clock in the afternoon. In
the meantime the flying savages the Americans had seen that morning,
and who were the scouts of Major Muir, the commander of the Forty-first
British regiment, had carried to him, in his camp at Brownstown, the
news that the Americans, strong in numbers, were advancing upon them.
There were in that camp 100 regulars, a good many Canadian militiamen,
and between 200 and 300 Indians. Lossing mentions 4 chiefs of note
among those--Tecumseh, Walk-in-the-Water, Split-log, and Lame-Hand.
"These troops had been sent over from Fort Maiden by Proctor to
repeat their doings of the 5th--when Van Horn was defeated--cut off
communication between Detroit and Captain Brush at the Raisin, and get
possession of the stores he was bringing.
"As soon as Muir and Tecumseh heard the news brought by the spies they
broke up their camp, hurried on to Maguaga, and formed an ambush in
the Oak Woods, where the trees and bushes were thick enough to conceal
them. There they watched for the coming of the Americans and were
joined by a fresh detachment of troops sent by General Brock.
"Snelling and his soldiers had just entered the clearing when there
came first a single shot, then the terrific yells of the scores of
savages, followed by a terrible volley from the whole British line."
"Oh, papa! then did our soldiers turn round and run back to the
others?" asked little Elsie.
"No, my child, they stood their ground and returned the fire like the
brave men and patriots they were. Colonel Miller heard the sounds and
he and his men started on the double quick, came up, and formed in
battle order, and as they did so he waved his sword high over his head,
crying in his clear, loud voice, 'Charge, boys! charge!' His order was
instantly, gallantly, and effectually obeyed, Lossing tells us, while
at the same time a six-pounder poured in a storm of grapeshot that
harmed the foe not a little.
"At the same time the Michigan and Ohio volunteers charged a body of
Indians at the left of the British and near the river, driving them
back, and causing them to flee; and the whites in the ranks of the
enemy, mistaking them for helpers of the Americans, fired upon them
also, and the Indians returned it. So that our foes were helping us by
fighting among themselves, and the mistake created such confusion in
the British ranks that they wavered, broke, and fled, leaving Tecumseh
and his Indians to bear the brunt of the fight.
"Muir rallied his men, in a good position, but the sound of firing in
the woods on their left alarmed them again, so that they ran away, got
in their boats, and fled across the river to Malden with all possible
expedition.
"After a little more fighting the Indians too broke, and Miller ordered
Sloan to pursue them. But he seemed to hesitate, and Snelling rushing
up to him gave him a peremptory order to dismount, sprang into the
saddle himself, and dashed away at the head of his troops, his red
hair streaming in the wind, for he had lost his hat in the course of
the fight. He pursued the flying foe for more than two miles; then
Lieutenant-colonel Miller, realizing the danger of an ambuscade, and
that night was approaching, and the wounded needed attention, ordered a
suspension of the chase."
"Ah, that was a victory!" exclaimed Walter; "one that ought to have
encouraged Hull to defend Detroit; it seems it didn't, though."
"Were there many killed in that battle, papa?" asked Grace.
"Of the Americans 18 were killed and 57 wounded," replied the captain.
"The British, according to their account, lost 24 of their regulars,
only 1 of whom was killed. They failed to mention how many of the
militia and Indians, but our troops found 40 of the Indians dead on the
field; how many of the militia, if any, I do not know.
"Miller was anxious to follow up his advantage, to press on to the
assistance of Captain Brush and the getting of his stores to Detroit;
so sent a messenger to Hull to carry the news of his successful fight
with the enemy and ask for a supply of provisions.
"In response Hull sent Colonel M'Arthur with 100 men and 600 rations,
ordering him to go down the river in boats to the relief of Miller and
his men. M'Arthur, who seems to have been always ready and prompt,
set out a little past two in the morning, in nine boats, and in the
darkness and rain passed the British vessels _Queen Charlotte_ and
_Hunter_, and reached his destination in safety.
"Then the wounded were at once carried to the boats to be taken to
Detroit. But it was now daylight, and it was found impossible to pass
the British vessels. Fortunately M'Arthur had foreseen that difficulty,
and ordered wagons sent down, and now leaving the boats he had the
wounded carried through the woods to the road, placed in the wagons,
and so taken the rest of the way to their destination."
"But what did he do with the boats, papa?" asked Elsie.
"The British took them," replied her father. "Colonel Cass had
gone down and tried to secure them, but the enemy had already got
possession.
"Miller had been thrown from his horse during the fight, and was too
much injured to press on immediately to the River Raisin. He sent a
messenger to Hull, and Cass met him on his way. He knew that time
was precious, that Proctor would be likely to send a larger force to
prevent our men from reaching Brush, and attack him himself. Therefore
Cass wanted to take Miller's place and hurry on with the detachment
to Brush's assistance, so he sent a laconic despatch to General Hull:
'Sir, Colonel Miller is sick; may I relieve him?--L. CASS.' No reply
came, and he returned to Detroit, meeting on the way an express
taking positive orders to Miller for him and his troops to return to
headquarters.
"Miller and his men were only twenty-two miles from the Raisin, and
were sorely disappointed by this order, but obeyed it, leaving their
camp at noon on the day after the battle, and going slowly back to
Detroit."
"Oh, I do think that was too bad!" exclaimed Lucilla. "I don't think I
could have obeyed such a man as Hull."
"It would have been even worse than rendering obedience to Captain
Raymond has sometimes proved, eh?" her father said, with a humorous
look and smile.
"Oh, ten thousand times, papa, dear!" she answered earnestly. "Haven't
you found out that for years it has been--almost always just a pleasure
to me to obey you?"
"It is long since I have felt at all doubtful of that, daughter," he
returned, in tender tones.