Pioneers of the Western Reserve

Front matter

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

PIONEERS

THE WESTEM RESERVE

CHAPTER I. Page

Western Reserve. — Diplomacy of Gov. Winthrop. — Charter from Charles II. to the Connecticut Colony. — Its Surrender demanded by James II. — Hidden in a Hollow Oak. — Reproduced and incorporated in the Constitution of Connecticut 1

Chapter VI

Surveyors arrive at Conneaut, July 4, 1796. '— Celebrate tlie Day. — Stow's Castle. — Indian Council. — Reply of Gen. Moses Cleaveland. — Pipe of Peace. — Mutual Gifts. — The Surveys allowed. — First Wheat sown in the Reserve

Chapter VII

Gen. Cleaveland with a Detachment of Surveyors leaves Conneaut. — Discovers a River. —Names it "Chagrin." — Arrives at the Mouth of the Cuyahoga River, July 22. — Selects the Spot for a City. — His Staff names it Cleaveland. — First Settlers. — Pease's Hotel. — First Live-stock. — Indian Sports. — The Bear. — Spafford's Map. — Price of Lots. — Lorenzo Carter. — James Kingsbury's Trip and Experiences. — Commerce. — Indian assassinated. —Dog-Feast. —Bicknell's Sad Fate ... 46

Chapter VIII

Additional Settlers at Cleveland. — First Dry-Goods Store. — First White Child born. —First Funeral. — First Wedding. — First Grist-Mill. — First Missionary. — First Distillery. — First Public Ball. —Hair Blankets. — First School. — Modern School-System 61

Chapter IX

First Election Precinct. — First Postmaster. — Cleveland made a Port of Entry. — First Collector of Revenues. —

CONTENTS. VU

Page Style of Early Courtship. — First Ship built. — Militia Drill. — First Court. — Execution of Omic, the Indian. — Death of Lorenzo Carter. — Farms and Ten-Acre Lots. — First Frame Barn. — Samuel Dodge 71

Chapter X

Gen. Hull's Surrender. — Alarm at Cleveland. — Stockade known as Fort Huntington. — Coffins of Dead Soldiers. — Uncle Abram; his Cornfield, Bucket of Powder, and Grave. — Uncle Jabez, the Jolly Man. — Uncle Gains, the Joker. — Young Dudley, the Scapegrace. — Cleveland incorporated. — Its Village Government. — First Newspaper. — First Steamboat on Lake Erie . , .85

Chapter XI

Cleveland and Vicinity. — First Panther killea in Euclid. — Rattlesnake on the Hearthstone. — James Covert and his Career. — The Bear and Churn. — Girls raise a House. — Powell no Fool. — Sheepskin Code. — Shakers and Ann Lee. — Lorenzo Dow at Cleveland 95

CHAPTER XXL

The Cleveland Bar in 1828. —Riding the Circuit. —Practical Jokes. — Wood and Willey in the Legislature and on the Bench. — The Election of a Justice of the Peace contested. — The Result glorified. — Last Gun. — Visit of Black Hawk. — Cuyahoga River. — Col. Charles Whittlesey. — Indian Earthworks 113

Chapter XIII

The Buffalo Company's Purchase. — Land-Speculators and their Machinations. — The Incorporation of Cleveland as a City, and of Brooklyn Village as Ohio City. — The Battle of the Bridge. — Adventists. — The Tabernacle. — William Miller. — Haystack Anecdote .... 127 viii CONTENTS.

Chapter XIV

Pagb Warren and its First Settlers. — Capt. Quinby and his Log Cabin.— The "Old Man of the Woods."— Salt Springs, and Price of Salt. — Depredations of Wild Animals. — Slaughter of the Snakes. — The First Dry-Goods Store. — A Periodical Boat on the Mahoning. — First Fourth-of- July Celebration at Warren 137

Chapter XV

The Whiskey Debauch at Salt Springs. — Two Indian Chiefs killed by White Men. — Consequent Alarm among the Settlers. — Arrest of McMahon for Murder. — His Trial and Acquittal. — Indians reconciled. — Burial of their Dead. — First Territorial Court held at Warren between two Corn-Cribs. — Trials of Daniel Shehy and Lorenzo Carter. — First Post-Route. — Simon Perkins, Postmaster. — Trump of Fame. — Panks and Bankers . , . 147

CHAPTER XVL

Rev. Joseph Badger, Mission and Career. — Exemplary Character of First Settlers at Warren. — Ashtabula County. — Jefferson, the County Seat. — Its Founder and its Eminent Men. — Conneaut, originally an Indian Town. — Two White Captives made to run the Gauntlet. — Ancient Burial-Ground. — " The Chip " and its Record . . .164

Chapter XVII

Harpersfield and its First Settlers. — Threatened Famine. — Two Heroic Young Men. — One breaks through the Ice. — Deacon Hudson. — Church at Austinbvirgh. — Wonderful Revival. — Antics of Converts. — Infallibility of Judge Austin. — His Decision as to Church-Membership . . 177

CONTENTS. ix

Chapter XVIII

Page Woodmen of Geneva. — Morse's Slough. — Bread cast on the Waters, — Comic Sequel. — A Hunter attacked by- Wolves. — Attempt of Two Women to shoot a Bear. — The Deer-Hunter of Conneaut drifted in a Canoe across the Lake. — His Experiences and Safe Return . . . 186

Chapter XIX

Chardon. — Burton. — First Settlers. — Their Trials and Hardships. — Acting as their own Doctors and Mechanics. — The Hurricane. — John Miner and his Children. — Early Judicial Proceedings in Geauga County. — Judge Pease pronounces Sentence on Robert Meeker. — Exploration of a Mound 197

Chapter XX

Ravenna. — Its Founder, Benjamin Tappan. — His Experiences. — His Reply when asked for a Church Subscription. — Lewis Days Arrival at Deerfield. — Want of Supplies. — First White Child. — Matrimonial Engagement. — Messenger sent to Warren for a Justice of the Peace to ''tie the Knot" 208

CHAPTER XXL

Arrival of the Young Magistrate and his Legal Adviser from Warren. — Performance of the Nuptial Ceremonies. — Merriment of the Festivities. — Characteristics of the Two Calvins. — Horse Trade with the Indians. — Trouble which grew out of it. — Mohawk shoots Daniel Diver. — Flight of the Indians. — Nicksaw and Mohawk overtaken and killed. — Trial of their Associates, and Acquittal 216

Chapter XXII

Page Characteristics of Huron County. — Founder of Norwalk. — Its First House. — Churcli Horn. — Two Trappers murdered by Indians. — The Murderers arrested, tried, and sentenced to be hanged. — Break Jail, and escape. — Re-arrested and hanged. — Their Religious Belief . . . 226

Chapter XXIII

Harrisville and its Founder. — Explorers from Wooster, and their Experiences. — The Cold Winter. — The Ancient Pathway of Indian Travel. — Their Hunts, and Methods of Transportation. — Differences of Races. — Indian Theology ........... 233

Chapter XXIV

The Grand Circular Hunt. — Its Wonderful Results. — The Name "Medina" a Vexed Question. — Zenas Hamilton its First Settler. — County Court held in a Barn. — Rev. Roger Searle. — First Wedding. — Styles of Dress. — Low Prices of Farm Produce. — Social Distinctions . . 241

Chapter XXV

Lorain County. — Lake-Shore Ridges. — Geology of the North- Western Lakes. — Heman Ely. — Name of Elyria. — Falls of Black River. — Rocks and Caves. — Girls caught bathing. — Stone Relics and Inscriptions. — River-Valley. — Rev. John J. Shipherd, the Founder of Oberlin College . 250

Chapter XXVI

How Erie and Sandusky derived their Names. — The City founded on a Rock. — A Record of the Lost Ages. — Nature's Idea. — Distressed Family. — How a Lady crossed Black River. — Boys captured at a Bee-Tree. — Castalia. — Discovery of a Cave 259

CONTENTS.

Chapter XXVII

Page Why called "Summit." — David Hudson and his Career. — Alo-on, so named by Olcott. — Its First Settlers. — Minor Spicer and the Indian Hunter. — Akron Flour-Mills and "Brand." — Cuyahoga Falls. — Swapping Horses. — Stow and a Party of Surveyors luxuriate on Rattlesnakes. — The Twin Brothers and Twinsburgh . . . 269

Chapter XXVIII

Early Settlement at Mentor. — Judge Walworth and Gen. Paine. — Painesville. —Old Seneca, the Indian Chief. — Hon. Samuel Huntington and his Great Expectations. — How he was attacked by Wolves. — First House built in Lake County. — Bones and Relics. — Pagan Baptism. — Little Mountain 283

Chapter XXIX

Little Things. — Joe Smith. — Discovery and Translation of the Golden Plates, or Book of Mormon. — Novel written by Solomon Spalding. — How Rev. Sidney Rigdon obtained the Manuscript. — Scheme of Smith and Rigdon. — Latter-Day Saints. — Temple at Kirtland. — Removal to Nauvoo*. — Flight into the Western Wilderness. — Salt Lake City. — The Prophet 295

Chapter XXX

Ottawa and the Islands. — Battle of Lake Erie. — Burial of the Dead at Put-in-Bay. — Ashland a Piece of Patchwork. — Daniel Carter its First Settler. — David Burns a Grand Juror. — Early Settlement at Jeromeville. — Capt. Pipe, the Indian Chief. — Fate of his Daughter and her Lover 309

Xll CONTENTS.

Chapter XXXI

Page Mahoning, why so named. — Abounds in Coal, Iron, and Salt Springs. — John Young, — Canfield and Youngstown. — Enterprising Population. — Murder of Kribs and of two other Men. — Terrible Fight with Indian Marauders on the Banks of Yellow Creek 322

Chapter XXXII

The Happy Valley. — Meeting of Old Friends. — Rev. William Wick and his Legacy. — How a Contractor carried the Mail. — First Wedding at Poland. — Two Sisters drowned. — Re-union of Pioneers at Youngstown. — Untold Love 330

Chapter XXXIII

The Western Reserve. — Her Pioneer Life and her Modern Life. — Comparative Characteristics. — The Eminent Men she has produced. — Her Unborn Future .... 341

Chapter I

"Western Reserve, — Diplomacy of Gov. Winthrop. — Charter FROM Charles II. to the Connecticut Colony. — Its Surrender DEMANDED BY JaMES II. — HlDDEN IN A HOLLOW OaK.

— Reproduced, and incorporated in the Constitution of Connecticut.

There are many incidents connected with the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve which possess an interest scarcely less seductive than the fascinations of romance. In fact, they constitute what may be regarded as the romance of pioneer life, though founded in truth.

There is something truly sublime in the valorous spirit of the times, which led to the transformation of a remote wilderness into a land of beauty, wealth, and social refinement. The early pioneers who contributed so largely to accomplish this result exhibited, in the midst of embarrassments, a degree of courage and perseverance which not only challenges our admiration, but is worthy of the heroic ages.

The north-eastern part of Ohio, known as the Western Reserve, embraces a territory containing nearly three and a half millions of acres. It is so called because it was "reserved" as the rightful share of the State of Connecticut in the final adjustment of colonial land-claims made by Congress between the States soon after the close of the Revolution. It seems somewhat surprising, however, that the little State of Connecticut should have succeeded in obtaining so large a share of the "spoils." But the fact shows that Connecticut, even in the days of her youth, was shrewd at a bargain, — a peculiar trait of character, which has grown with her growth, and strengthened with her strength. The truth is, she always did love land and liberty, and has always thought she could not have too much of either.

She began life by helping herself, and still continues the practice ; yet she abounds in good works, but has a policy of her own, and generally acts from motives of policy. As an evidence of her beneficence, she gave at an early day, to such of her citizens as had lost their property by fire and sword in the Revolution, five hundred thousand acres of her Western Reserve lands, since known as the

" fire-lands." This was a generous act, and a practical recognition of the golden rule.

In acquiring title to her Western Reserve lands from the English crown in 1662, she resorted to a diplomacy not less artful than successful. She was then known as the Connecticut Colony, and had sympathized with Cromwell in his efforts to establish a protectorate on the ruins of the English monarchy.

In attempting to achieve power, Cromwell had sanctioned the execution of Charles I., and sought to exterminate Charles II. on the battle-field, who adroitly evaded pursuit by springing into the branches of an oak, and hiding himself within its dense foliage. In a few years afterward the death of Cromwell, in connection with the speedy downfall of the protectorate, resulted in restoring Charles II. to the throne, who hated the memory of Cromwell with a hatred so intense that he ordered his dead body to be disinterred, hanged, and buried under the gallows.

The colonists, though fearing their sympathies with Cromwell had prejudiced the king against them, did not despair of obtaining from his Majesty a grant of more land and liberty. They therefore proceeded at once to acknowledge their allegiance to Charles II. They then prepared the draught of such a charter as they desired, and delegated their shrewdest diplomatist, Gov. Wintlirop, to visit England, present it to the king, and request his approval and royal signature.

The governor accepted the mission, proceeded to England, obtained an informal interview with the king, and, by way of introducing the subject of his mission, exhibited a rich finger-ring of massive gold, set with a costly diamond, which the king's father, Charles I., had bestowed in his lifetime on the father of Gov. Winthrop as a mark of honor for valuable political services. This unexpected exhibit of the ring touched the heart of Charles, and moved him to tears, when Gov. Winthrop, availing himself of the golden moment, presented the prepared charter, and requested the royal approval and signature. By its specific terms the charter granted to the Connecticut Colony the rights and liberties of selfgovernment, and so enlarged her territory as to include the New Haven Colony, and extend westward from the Narragansett River to the Pacific Ocean. His Majesty, after hearing the charter read, asked the distance from the Eastern to the Western sea, and received an expression of belief from Winthrop that the latter could be seen from the Western hilltops that bounded the colony. Accepting this informrition as satisfactory, his Majesty cheerfully affixed to the charter his royal seal and signature. It is hardly probable that either the kmg or Winthrop had any just conception of the vast territory included in the grant. However this may have been, it is quite certain that the king did not comprehend the amplitude of his generosity. It was an instance in which diplomatic art achieved more than it anticipated.

"The pleasure, doubtless, is as great Of being cheated as to cheat."

At any rate, Gov. Winthrop was highly delighted with the success of his mission, and, bearing the charter with him, returned with all possible despatch to his constituents in America, who received him with enthusiastic demonstrations of applause. By this liberal charter the Connecticut Colony received more land and liberty than she had expected, but not more than she was quite willing to accept. On admission into the Union as a State, Connecticut still claimed the vast sweep of Western territory as specified in the colonial charter granted by Charles II. ; but a conflict of claims to this territory induced Congress to interfere, and settle the conflict by awarding to Connecticut so much of her claim only as is embraced within the limits of what is now known as the "Western Reserve." This was accepted by Connecticut as a final adjustment.

When Charles II. was succeeded by James II., the new monarch attempted to adopt a restrictive policy in reference to the colonists ; and, as a preliminary step, appointed Andross to the governorship of New England, and directed him not only to assume authority over the Connecticut Colony, but to demand a surrender of her charter, which had been so graciously granted by his royal predecessor.

Gov. Andross, fearing opposition, marched on Hartford, where the Colonial Assembly was in session, with a military force of seventy men, and demanded, with an imperious air, the surrender of the charter, which was promptly produced and laid on the table. The moment this was done, the Assembly commenced an animated debate on the question of its surrender. The discussion continued until nightfall, when lights were sent for and brought; but, when the lights appeared, the charter had disappeared. Its sudden abstraction was a mystery, and produced a sensation. Not a soul could be found who could explain the matter ; and thereupon, amid confusion, the Assembly adjourned.

In due time, however, after all danger of losing the charter had passed, a man known as Capt. Wardsworth, a patriotic colonist, disclosed the fact, that, while the Assembly was sitting in darkness awaiting the lights, he seized the charter, sprang out of the open window, and concealed it in the hollow trunk of a sturdy old oak, which stood but a little distance from the legislative hall in which the Assembly was convened.

This has ever been regarded as an adroit feat. It had the effect to preserve intact what the colonists most loved, — the charter of their land and of their liberties. In fact, the colonists revered this charter , and, when Connecticut became a State, she adopted it as her constitution.

The hollow oak in which the charter was hidden acquired a wonderful fame from this incident, became a shrine of liberty, and was reverently visited by thousands of pilgrims. It stood erect until within a few years, unconscious of its own fame and the homage it received, when it was rudely assailed by a violent storm, and heroically fell in battle with the elements. It was indeed a ''brave old oak," worthy the Puritanic soil in which it grew. In years while it was yet standing the writer of these pages had the gratification of paying it a reverential visit, and of plucking from its branches a leaf, which he still preserves as a precious memento of its history.

The oak has come to be regarded as a patriotic emblem. In ancient times it was revered as a

"sacred tree." The Druids believed in its divine powers. History has proved that it possesses a saving power. It saved the life of Charles 11., and preserved within its heart the true principles of American freedom. It bequeathed to England her loyal " hearts of oak," and to America her " tree of liberty."

" Though girt with forests and a mountain cham, Whose slopes and glens and secret caverns dark

Had ever been the red man's wild domain, The Pilgrims clung to hope's expiring spark, And struggled with their foes, and set the mark

Of empire there on Ocean's circling strand, And, like the chosen few who left the ark,

Went forth to scatter blessings through the land,

And rear the < tree of liberty ' with fostering hand.'*

INCIDENTS AND EXPERIENCES.

CHAPTER 11.

The Eries. — Ship Griffin. — French and English Trade and Strife. — Pontiac at Detroit. — His Stratagem discovered. — Cannibal Feast. — Major Campbell seized, assassinated, and his Remains mutilated. — Col. Rogers succeeds him.

The Indians, prior to the organization of Connecticut as a State, had occupied what is now called the Western Reserve for unknown centuries, and were, in fact, the rightful proprietors of the entire Western wilderness. The tribe known as the '' Eries " were a warlike race, who occupied the south-eastern borders of Lake Erie, and from whom the lake takes its name. At an early period they attacked the " Five Nations " of New York, suffered an indiscriminate slaughter, and, as a race, soon afterwards became extinct. Their principal record is that of the mounds which still exist in considerable numbers along the southerly shore-lands of the lake. The Eries were succeeded by fragmentary tribes of other Indian races.

It is not certain at what date white men first visited this region of country ; but it is known that as early as 1679 La Salle, a French adventurer.

launched on the waters of Lake Erie a vessel of sixty tons burden, which he named the " Griffin." He built the vessel at a point near Buffalo, and coasted along the southerly shore with a view to exploration and the fur trade with the aborigines, and doubtless intended to continue his voyage to the upper lakes.

As the Griffin, with her sails spread to the breeze, approached the lake-coast of the Western Reserve, the natives were stricken with astonishment at the grotesqueness of the sudden apparition, and believed it to be a white-winged demon sent from the clouds by the Great Spirit to chastise or devour them. As the vision seemed to them partly to walk and partly fly on the water, they feared it might do the same thing on land, and, becoming greatly frightened, fled into the wilderness, and hid themselves in its dark recesses, and thus failed to reap the advantages of a friendly commerce. The Griffin continued on her voyage up the lake, reached Green Bay, purchased a cargo of furs, and, while returning, was, as is supposed, lost in a storm. La Salle, in the mean time, with a select party, proceeded to explore the valley of the Mississippi, and, after various haps and mishaps, was killed by one of his mutinous comrades. But, when the French had established trading-posts at different points along the lake-coast, the Indians were not long in overcoming their native timidity, nor were they slow in comprehending the avaricious motives of the white traders. The lessons thus learned soon made them adepts in practising the " tricks of trade," and often an overmatch in the metaphysical subtleties of logic.

The English soon followed the French in establishing commercial intercourse with the Indians along the coast-line of the great chain of lakes. This manifestation of commercial greed on the part of the English, in connection with other movements, aroused the suspicions of the Indians, and induced them to believe that the white race intended ultimately to exterminate the red race, and occupy the entire country. This state of feeling on the part of the Indians contributed largely to produce the outbreak of hostilities in 1763, known as " the Pontiac War,"

Pontiac was a bold and daring chief, and possessed of great tact and influence. He, in conspiracy with other tribes occupying the region west of the Cuyahoga River, attacked several of the English trading-posts, and massacred their garrisons. He even threatened to exterminate every Englishman who had intruded within the limits of his wild domains. He was, however, a true friend of^ the French, though an implacable enemy of the English. He was as deceitful as he was bold and brave. He made an attempt to misguide the commander of the English forces when marching on Detroit with a view to dislodge the French from the fort. But the English succeeded in expelling the French, and in detailing a small force in command of Major Gladwyn to maintain possession and strengthen the fortifications.

Pontiac, whose warriors were encamped in the vicinity of Detroit, conceived the idea of retaking the fort by stratagem. He contrived to send a message to Major Gladwyn, that he and a select few of his warriors desired to hold a council with him at the fort on the next day, with a desire to adjust difficulties and brighten the "chain of peace." The request was cheerfully granted. In the mean time Pontiac had selected his favorite braves who were to accompany him, and directed them to saw off their rifles so as to conceal them under their blankets, and, at a given sign during the session of the council, to rise and massacre the entire garrison.

It so happened, that, on the evening previous to holding the council, an Indian woman, who had been employed by Major Gladwyn to make him a pair of elk-skin moccasons, was admitted into the fort to return the moccasons with the remaining part of the skin, and receive her pay. The major was so well pleased with the moccasons, that, after paying for them, he requested the woman to retain the remnant of the skin, and make him another pair. It was observed that she took the remaining part of the skin with apparent reluctance. When she reached the gate of the fort which opened on the river, she lingered, and seemed unwilling to proceed. The guard inquired the reason, but received no satisfactory reply. He then reported her to tlie major, who ordered her into his presence, and demanded to know why she lingered at the gate. She replied that she had been treated kindly, knew that he valued the elk-skin, and therefore did not wish to take it away with her as she could never return it. The commandant thought this a strange reason, and demanded an explanation. The Indian woman, after being assured of her personal safety, disclosed the nefarious plot which Pontiac had devised to be carried into execution the next day at the council. The woman was then dismissed from the fort ; but the commandant, though discrediting the story, deemed it prudent to see that the garrison was forewarned and forearmed.

The next day (May 9, 1763), prompt to the hour appointed for holding the council, Pontiac appeared at the gate of the fcjrt, accompanied by a band of his favorite warriors, and was admitted. They were all seated on the ground in a circle, and in presence of Commandant Gladwyn. Pontiac seemed surprised to see the men of the fort with arms in their hands, and inquired the cause. He was then assured that such was the customary practice at public receptions. Pontiac, with a manifest look of distrust, then commenced the proceedings of the council by an ijnpassioned harangue, in which he professed a sincere friendship for the English ; but, when he arrived at the point at which the ominous sign was to be given, he gave his warriors, to their astonishment, a sign denoting silence, and, when he had concluded his harangue, sat down with an air of cool indifference.

The commandant then approached the circle of Indian warriors, opened the folds of several of their blankets, and thus exposed their short rifles as evidence of their treachery ; when, turning to Pontiac, he accused him of insincerity and a murderous design, and then ordered him and his warriors to depart without the least delay, and be thankful that their lives had been spared them. The moment they saw the gate of the fort opened, they took to their heels, and rushed out with all possible speed, and, when at a safe distance, turned and fired on the fort, accompanying the act with an unearthly war-whoop.

These savage fiends, while on their way to camp, murdered an English woman and her two sons, who resided in a cabin on the commons, scalped them, and then made soup of a part of the woman, and invited a friendly Frenchman to partake of the repast with them, and, when the feast was concluded, asked him if he knew what he had eaten. He said he supposed it a soup made of deer-meat. They then told him^ the truth of the matter, when he nearly fainted at the shock the information gave him.

Pontiac, encouraged by the aid of a French faction, made every effort in his power to destroy the English settlements and demolish the fort of Detroit. He directed his warriors to shoot blazing arrows into the chapel and other buildings, with a view to produce a general conflagration, and thus drive out the English and destroy the garrison. During the siege the Indians attempted to make a breach in the pickets, when the commandant of the fort, by way of stratagem, ordered his men to aid the savages by breaking into the pickets on the inside in the same direction, but took care to place a cannon loaded with grape-shot pointing directly in the line of the fiends as they should enter the fort. The breach was soon effected. The Indians began to rash in a solid body into the fort, yelling and brandishing their tomahawks and scalping-knives, when the cannon was discharged, cutting a wide furrow through their entire line. The slaughter was fearful. The survivors, panic-stricken, turned and fled in every direction.

Directly after this occurrence Major Campbell was placed in command of the fort. The siege was still continued with various successes and disasters on the part of both the English and the Indians. Pontiac finally succeeded by strategy in securing the person of Campbell, and proposed to spare his life and set him free if he would surrender the fort. This he peremptorily refused to do, and was soon afterwards assassinated by a revengeful Indian. The assassin, with a few other Indians who approved the act, disembowelled their victim, boiled and ate his heart, and then skinned his arms, and made pouches of the skin. The treacherous deed, however, was condemned by Pontiac, who would have slain the assassin had he not effected his escape. In the mean time Col. Rodgers had assumed the command of the fort, and for months, night and day, employed every soldier and servant of the garrison in guarding the ramparts, and in watching the movements of the crafty Indians, until re-enforcements, long expected, could arrive, and relieve him from the imminent danger to which he was exposed.

Chapter III

Col. Bradstreet's Expedition. — Destroys Indian Villages.— Protects Detroit. — Is censured. — Retires in Disgust with HIS Troops. — Suffers Shipwreck near the Mouth of Rocky River. — Relics found. —Dr. Kirtland.

The English had been dispossessed of most of their military posts in the region of the lakes by the allied forces of the French and Indians, prior to the arrival of Col. Bradstreet. The fort of Detroit was one of the few remaining forts held by the English. This fort contained supplies of great value, and commanded the entrance to the upper lakes. It was therefore important that the English should maintain possession, though the attempt at this time seemed almost hopeless.

The English government sent out a re-enforcement, consisting of three thousand men, in command of Col. Bradstreet, who embarked his troops in open boats at Niagara late in the summer of 1764, and, on his voyage up the lake, landed a detachment of his troops at Saudusky Bay, burned the villages, and destroyed the cornfields of the hostile Indians in that vicinity and along the valley of the Maumee