550

PONTIAK.-SIEGE OF DETROIT.

[BOOK V an approaching event, big with their destiny. It was heightened in the past night, when a cry was heard in the Indian encampment different from what was usual on peace occasions. The garrison fires were extinguished, and every man repaired to his post. But the cry being heard no more, the remainder of the night was passed in silence.

The appointed hour of ten o'clock arrived, and also as punctual arrived Pontiac and his 36 chiefs, followed by a train of warriors. When the stipulated number had entered the garrison, the gates were closed. The chiefs observed attentively the troops under arms, marching from place to place; two columns nearly inclosing the council house, and both facing towards it. On Pontiac's entering it, he demanded of Major Gladwin the cause of so much parade, and why his men were under arms; he said it was an odd manner of holding a council. The major told him it was only to exercise them. The Indians being seated upon the skins prepared for them, Pontiac commenced his speech, and when he came to the signal of presenting the belt, the governor and his attendants drawing their swords half out of their scabbards, and the soldiers clinching their guns with firmness, discovered to the chiefs, by their peculiar attitudes, that their plot was discovered. Pontiac, with all his bravery,, turned pale, and every chief showed signs of astonishment. To avoid an open detection, the signal in passing the belt was not given, and Pontiac closed his speech, which contained many professions of respect and affection to the English. But when Major Gladwin commenced his, he did not fail directly to reproach Pontiac with treachery; told him he could not do any thing to insnare the English, and that he knew his whole diabolical plan. Pontiac tried to excuse himself, and to make Major Gladwin believe that he had laid no plot; upon which the major stepped to the chief nearest himself, and, drawing aside his blanket, exposed his short gun, which completed their confusion.

The governor, for such was Major Gladwin, ordered Pontiac to leave the fort immediately, for it would be with difficulty he could restrain his men from cutting him in pieces, should they know the circumstances. The governor was afterwards blamed for thus suffering them to withdraw, without retaining several of them as hostages for the quiet behavior of the rest; but he, having passed his word that they should come and go without hinderance or restraint, merited, perhaps, less censure for keeping it, and respecting his honor, than those who reproached him.

A furious attack was the next day made upon the fort. Every stratagem was resorted to. At one time they filled a cart with combustibles, and run it against the pickets, to set them on fire. At another, they were about to set fire to the church, by shooting fiery arrows into it; but religious scruples averted the execution, a French priest telling Pontiac that it would call down the anger of God upon him. They had frequently, during the siege, endeavored to cut down the pickets so as to make a breach. Major Gladwin ordered his men, at last, to cut on the inside at the same time, and assist them. This was done, and when a breach was made, there was a rush upon the outside towards the breach, and at the same instant, a brass four-pounder, which had been levelled for the purpose, was shot off, which made a dreadful slaughter among them. After this they merely blockaded the fort, and cut off its supplies, and the English were reduced to the greatest distress, and for some time subsisted upon half rations.

There was great difficulty in throwing succor into the garrison at Detroit, as there was such an extent of country between it and the other most western posts, in possession of the English. Fort Pitt and Niagara had been besieged, and all communication for a long time cut off; the former had been reduced to great extremities, but they were at length relieved by Colonel Bouquet. Captain Dalyell was at the same time sent for the relief of Detroit, where he arrived on 29 July, 1763.* A bloody scene was shortly to follow. Captain Dalyell, with 247 men, went out of the fort to surprise Pontiac in his camp; but the wary chief had runners out, who gave him timely notice, and

he met them in an advantageous place, and, being vastly superior in numbers, and concealed behind a picket fence, near a bridge where the English were to pass, poured in upon them a dreadful fire. Many fell at the first onset, but they kept their order, and exerted themselves to regain the bridge they had just passed. They effected their purpose, but many fell in the attempt, among whom was Captain Dalyell. The famous Major Rogers, the second in command, and Lieutenant Brehm, with about 200 others, recovered the fort. This bridge, where so many brave men were slain, is called to this day Bloody Bridge.

Pontiac ordered the head of Captain Dalyell to be cut off and set upon a post. Between eighty and a hundred dead bodies were counted upon the bridge the next morning, which entirely blocked up its passage.

We have thought proper to give this account as it is generally found in our histories, but having been put in possession of the official return of Sir Jeffery Amherst, minutely detailing this important affair of Bloody Bridge, we will lay it before the reader, as it appeared at the time. From which it will be seen that the common report is probably erroneous in some of its most important features.

"On the evening of the 30th of July, Captain Dalyell, aid-de-camp to General Amherst, being arrived here with the detachment sent under his command, and being fully persuaded that Pontiac, the Indian chief, with his tribes, would soon abandon his design, and retire, insisted with the commandant, that they might easily be surprised in their camp, totally routed, and driven out of the settlement; and it was thereupon determined, that Captain Dalyell should march out with 247 men. Accordingly, we marched about half an hour after two in the morning, two deep, along the great road by the river side, two boats up the river along shore, with a patteraro in each, with orders to keep up with the line of march, cover our retreat, and take off our killed and wounded; Lieutenant Bean, of the Queen's Independents, being ordered, with a rear guard, to convey the dead and wounded to the boats. About a mile and a half from the fort, we had orders to form into platoons, and, if attacked in the front, to fire by street-firings. We then advanced, and, in about a mile farther, our advanced guard, commanded by Lieutenant Brown, of the 55th regiment, had been fired upon so close to the enemy's breastworks and cover, that the fire, being very heavy, not only killed and wounded some of his party, but reached the main body, which put the whole into a little confusion; but they soon recovered their order, and gave the enemy, or rather their works, it being very dark, a discharge or two from the front, commanded by Captain Gray. At the same time, the rear, commanded by Captain Grant, were fired upon from a house, and some fences about twenty yards on his left; on which he ordered his own and Captain Hopkins's companies to face to the left, and give a full fire that way. After which, it appearing that the enemy gave way every where, Captain Dalyell sent orders to Captain Grant, to take possession of the above-said houses and fences; which he immediately did; and found in one of the said houses two men, who told him, the enemy had been there long, and were well apprized of our design. Captain Grant then asked them the numbers; they said, above 300; and that they intended, as soon as they had attacked us in the front, to get between us and the fort; which Captain Grant told Captain Dalyell, who came to him when the firing was over. And in about an hour after, he came to him again, and told Captain Grant he was to retire, and ordered him to march in the front, and post himself in an orchard. He then marched, and about half a mile farther on his retreat, he had some shots fired on his flank; but got possession of the orchard, which was well fenced; and jus as he got there, he heard a warm firing in the rear, having, at the same time, a firing on his own post, from the fences and corn-fields behind it. Lieutenant M'Dougal, who acted as adjutant to the detachment, came up to him, (Captain Grant,) and told him, that Captain Dalyell was killed, and Captain Gray very much wounded, in making a push on the enemy, and forcing them out of a strong breastwork of cord-wood, and an intrenchment which they had taken possession of; and that the command then devolved upon him. Lieutenant Bean immediately came up, and told him, that Captain Rogers had

552

PONTIAK ATTACKS A VESSEL AND IS REPULSED.

[Book V. desired him to tell Captain Grant, that he had taken possession of a house, and that he had better retire with what numbers he had, as he (Captain Rogers) could not get off without the boats to cover him, he being hard pushed by the enemy from the enclosures behind him, some of which scoured the road through which he must retire. Captain Grant then sent Ensign Pauli, with 20 men, back to attack a part of the enemy which annoyed his own post a little, and galled those that were joining him, from the place where Captain Dalyell was killed, and Captain Gray, Lieutenants Brown and Luke, were wounded; which Ensign Pauli did, and killed some of the enemy in their flight. Captain Grant, at the same time, detached all the men he could get, and took possession of the enclosures, barns, fences, &c. leading from his own post to the fort, which posts he reinforced with the officers and men, as they came up. Thinking the retreat then secured, he sent back to Captain Rogers, desiring he would come off; that the retreat was quite secured, and the different parties ordered to cover one another successively, until the whole had joined; but Captain Rogers not finding it right to risk the loss of more men, he chose to wait for the armed boats, one of which appeared soon, commanded by Lieutenant Brehm, whom Captain Grant had directed to go and cover Captain Rogers's retreat, who was in the next house. Lieutenant Brehm accordingly went, and fired several shots at the enemy. Lieutenant Abbott, with the other boat, wanting ammunition, went down with Captain Gray. Lieutenant Brown and some wounded men returned also, which Captain Grant supposes the enemy seeing, did not wait her arrival, but retired on Lieutenant Brehm's firing, and gave Captain Rogers, with the rear, an opportunity to come off: so that the whole from the different posts joined without any confusion, and marched to the fort in good order, covered by the armed boats on the water side, and by our own parties on the country side, in view of the enemy, who had all joined, and were much stronger than at the beginning of the affair, as was afterwards told us by some prisoners that made their escape; many having joined them from the other side the river, and other places. The whole arrived at the fort about eight o'clock, commanded by Captain Grant, whose able and skilful retreat is highly commended.

"Return of killed and wounded of the several detachments near the Detroit, July 31, 1763.

66

Of the 55th Regiment:-1 Sergeant, 13 rank and file, killed; 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 drummer, 28 rank and file, wounded.

"Of the Royal Americans:-1 rank and file, killed; 1 rank and file wounded. Of the 80th Regiment:-2 rank and file killed; 3 rank and file wounded. "Of the Queen's Rangers :—2 rank and file killed; 1 rank and file wounded. "Names of the officers: 55th Regiment: Captain Gray, Lieutenant Luke, and Lieutenant Brown, wounded.

"N. B.-Captain Dalyell, killed, not included in the above."

Hence it appears that but 19 were killed and 42 wounded in the celebrated "Battle of Detroit," but I am inclined to think that this return was made out before the exact state of the troops engaged in it was ascertained. It is evident that Captain Dalyell was found to be among the killed after the return was finished, or nearly so. It is unnecessary to apprize the reader, that returns were often made more favorable than strict scrutiny would warrant, from obvious motives.

About this time several small vessels fell into the hands of Pontiac, which were destined to supply the garrison, and the men were cruelly treated. The garrison was in great straits, both from the heavy loss of men, as well as from want of provisions and continual watching. In this time of despondency, there arrived near the fort a schooner, which brought them supplies of provisions, but nothing of this kind could be landed without Pontiac's knowledge, and he determined, if possible, to seize the schooner: a detachment made the attempt, and, to save herself, the vessel was obliged to tack short about, and proceed in an opposite direction. The Indians followed her in canoes, and, by continually firing into her, killed almost every man, and at length boarded her. As they were climbing up the sides and shrouds in every quarter, the captain, baving determined not to fall into their hands alive, ordered the gunner to set fire to the magazine, and blow all un together,

This was heard by a Huron chief, who understood enough English to know what was going forward, and instantly communicated it to his followers. They disengaged themselves from the vessel as fast as possible, and fled from her in a great fright, at considerable distance. Meantime the crew took the advantage of a wind, and arrived safe at the fort. In the pursuit of the vessel, the Indians discovered extreme temerity, often coming so close to the schooner as to be severely burned by the discharge of her guns.

This vessel had been sent from Niagara, and was manned with 18 men, 12 of whom were Mohawk Indians. They arrived at Detroit on the 3 September; and thus was the garrison saved from certain destruction. So sensible was Major Gladwin and his officers of their escape from a dreadful fate by the bravery of the crew of this vessel, that they caused silver medals to be struck and presented to each descriptive of the event.*

Many other circumstances are related of this famous siege, but it is believed the preceding are all that are well authenticated.

Pontiac having invested Detroit now for about twelve months, and the news of his operations having been carried to various parts of the British empire, extensive preparations were made to put down the Indian power. Aware of the movements of General Bradstreet, who was proceeding for Detroit with an army of 3000 men, he gave up, and sued for peace, which was granted him, and his warriors retired to their hunting-grounds. By some it is reported that he was killed, with many others of his chief men, by the Ioways, in the year 1769, in a war which at that time raged between the Ottowas and that nation. It is also said that he had a son named SHEGANABY, who was also a distinguished chief, and who, after the death of his father, revenged his murder by the destruction of almost the entire nation of the Ioways. When the revolution commenced, the Americans sent messages to Pontiac to meet them in council. He was inclined to do so, but was prevented from time to time by Governor Hamilton of Detroit. He seems now to have laid aside all resentment against the English, and became their friend; and to reward his attachment, the government granted him a liberal pension. It has also been reported that he became suspected in the time of the war, and as he was going to hold a council among the Indians in Illinois, as an agent for the English, a spy attended him to observe his conduct; and that, in a speech, he betrayed the English, and discovered his former enmity against them. When he had finished, the Indian who had accompanied him, plunged a knife into his breast, and thus ended the days of a chief who has been renowned for singular sagacity, daring courage, great spirit of command, and indeed numerous other qualities, found only in those born with such elementary organizations as produce them by their peculiar school of cir

cumstances.

*Holmes's Annals, ii, 122.

47

CAPTAIN PIPE Situation of affairs on the frontiers at the period of the revolution-Sad condition of the Moravian Indians at this period-Half-king engages to take them to Canada-His speech to them-They remonstrate-Half-king inclines not to mo lest them, but Captain Pipe's counsel prevails, and they are seized-Pipe's conduct thereupon Missionaries taken to Detroit and examined-Pipe cent to accuse them-Changes his conduct towards them, and they are acquitted-Remarkable deliverance -Captain WHITE-EYES opposes the conduct of Pipe-His speech to his people— Colonel Broadhead's expedition-Brutal massacre of a chief-PACHGANTSCHIHILAS Surprises the missionaries-GELELEMEND-BUOKONGAHELAS-Murder of Majer Trueman and others—In the battle of Presque-Isle-His death—His great intrepidity-Further particulars of Captain Pipe-His famous speech-Expedition and defeat of Colonel Crawford, who is burnt at the stake, and many more-ĈHIKTOMMO-TOM LEWIS-MESSHAWA-KING-CRANE-LITTLE TURTLE -Defeats General St. Clair's army-Incidents in that affair-Little-turtle's opinion of General Wayne-Vista Philadelphia-His interview with C. F. Volney-Anecdotes-BLUE-JACKET-Defeated by General Wayne in the battle of Presque-Isle.

PIPE, or Captain Pipe,* as he is usually called, from his having been a most conspicuous war-captain among the Delawares, during the period of the revolution, in particular, was chief of the Wolf tribe. His character is a very prominent one, in the memorable troubles among the frontier settlements, at the breaking out of the war. Situated as were the Delawares between the English of Canada and the Americans, it was hardly to be expected but that they should be drawn into that war. They could not well weigh its merits or demerits upon either side. A speech of the renowned Corn-plant contains the best commentary upon this matter. The English stood much the best chance of gaining the Indians to their interest, inasmuch as they were profuse in their presents of what was useful to them, as well as ornamental, whereas the Americans required all their resources to carry on the war. The commanding officer at Detroit, believing that the Moravian Indians upon the Susquehannah favored the Americars, ordered them, dead or alive, with their priests, to be brought into Canada., The Iroquois agreed that it should be done, but, unwilling to do it themselves, sent messengers to the Chippeways and Ottawas, to intimate that, if they would do it, "they should have them to make soup of." These two tribes, however, refused, and the Half-king of the Hurons undertook it himself. He had been formerly very friendly to the believing Indians, and now pretended that he only concluded to seize upon them, to save them from destruction; and, Mr. Loskiel adds, "even the Half-king would certainly never have agreed to commit this act of injustice, had not the Delaware, Captain Pipe, a noted enemy of the gospel and of the believing Indians, instigated him to do it." Pipe and his company of Delawares, joined by Half-king and his warriors, and some Shawanese, held a war-feast, roasted a whole ox, and agreed upon the manner of proceeding. The captains only of this expedition knew fully its destination. With such secrecy did they proceed, that the Moravian settlements knew nothing of their approach, until they were in their vicinity. They bore an English flag, and an English officer was among them. It was now 10 August, 1781. Half-king sent in a message to Salem, requesting the inbab

*His Indian name, according to Heckewelder, was HOPOCAN, and signified a Tobaccopipe. This name he bore until about 1763, when that of KOGIESCHQUANOHEL was substituted. This meant, Maker of Day-Light. Of the word pipe, a more extended notice should be taken. The French writers generally use the name calumet, which means the same thing. and, of its origin, Baron Lahontan, "Voyages dans L'Amerique," i. 401, observes as follows:-"It is a Norman word, which comes from chalumeau, and was introduced into Canada by the people of that nation, on their first coming into this country, by whom it has ever since been used. The Iroquois call it Ganondaoé, and the other Indian nations, PoAGAN;" this, allowing for the difference between the French and English idioms, will agree tolerably with Mr. Heckewelder's HOPOCAN. A chief named Pipe signed a treaty at Fort Greenville, in 1814, with 112 others, by which it seems the Delawares perpetuated it. It followed that of White-eyes.