MacKINAWinaw, or Michilimackinac
In the bosom of the clear, cold, and damp waters of the strait between Lakes
Huron and
Michigan—a strait 40 miles in length —stands a limestone rock about 7 miles in circumference, rising in its centre to an altitude of nearly 300 feet, and covered with a rough and generous soil, out of which springs heavy timber.
The
Indians, impressed by its form, called it Mich-il-imack-i-nac— “The
Great Turtle.”
On the opposite shore of the peninsula of
Michigan,
French Jesuits erected a stronghold and called it Fort Michilimackinac, which name has been abbreviated to
Mackinaw.
This fort fell into the hands of the
British, in their conquest of
Canada in 1760, but the Indians there remained hostile to their new masters.
“You have conquered the
French,” they said, “but you have not conquered us.”
The most important village of the Chippewas, one of the most powerful tribes of
Pontiac's confederacy, was upon the back of Michilimackinac.
Early in the summer of 1763 the front of the island was filled with
Indians, who, professing warm friendship for the
English, invited the garrison at Fort Mackinaw to witness a great game of ball—an
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MacKINAWinaw from round Island. |
exciting amusement.
They did so. At length a ball, making a lofty curve in the air, fell near the pickets.
It was a preconcerted signal.
The warriors rushed towards the fort as if in quest of the ball, when their hands suddenly pulled
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gleaming hatchets from beneath their blankets and began a massacre of the garrison; but, hearing that a strong British force was approaching, the Indians abandoned the fort and fled.
This fort came into the possession of the
United States in 1796, when the
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Fort MacKINAWINAWinawinaw. |
Northwestern posts were given up by the
British in compliance with the treaty of peace in 1783.
The fortification called
Fort Holmes, on the high southwest bluff of the island, was garrisoned in 1812 by a small force of
Americans, under the command of
Lieut. Porter Hancks, of the United States artillery.
It was supported by the higher ground in the rear, on which was a stockade, defended by two block-houses, each mounting a brass 6-pounder.
It was isolated from the haunts of men more than half the year by barriers of ice and snow, and exposed to attacks by the
British and
Indians at Fort St. Joseph, on an island 40 miles northeast from
Mackinaw, then commanded by
Capt. Charles Roberts.
When
Sir Isaac Brock, governor of
Upper Canada, received at
Fort George, on the
Niagara River, from British spies, notice of the declaration of war, he despatched an express to
Roberts, ordering him to attack
Mackinaw immediately.
He was directed to summon to his assistance the neighboring
Indians, and to ask the aid of the employes of the
Northwestern Fur Company.
On the morning of July 16
Roberts embarked with a strong motley force of whites and
Indians, in boats, bateaux, and canoes, with two 6-pounders, and convoyed by the brig
Caledonia, belonging to the
Northwestern Fur Company, loaded with provisions and stores.
Hancks, suspicious of mischief, sent
Captain Daurman to
St. Joseph, to observe the temper and disposition of the
British there.
On his way he met the hostile flotilla, and was made a prisoner.
News of the declaration of war had not reached the far-off post of
Mackinaw.
The overwhelming force under
Roberts landed, and took possession of the fort and island.
The summons to surrender was the first intimation that
Hancks had of the declaration of war. The
Indians were ready to massacre the whole garrison if any resistance were made.
The post was surrendered without firing a gun.
In the spring of 1814 the
Americans planned a land and naval expedition forits recapture.
A small squadron was placed at the disposal of
Commander St. Clair, and a land force was placed under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Croghan.
They left
Detroit at the beginning of July.
A part of the force went against the post of the
Northwestern Fur Company, at the
Falls of St. Mary, the agents of which were among the most active of the
British emissaries in inciting the Indians to make war on the
Americans.
The keepers of the post fled when the armament appeared, and the
Americans destroyed everything of value that could not be carried away.
Then the whole expedition started for
Mackinaw.
The
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force of the
Americans was too small to effect a capture, and the enterprise was abandoned.
Some vessels cruised in those waters for a time.
The expedition returned to
Detroit in August, and no further military movements were undertaken in the
Northwest, excepting a raid by
Gen. Duncan McArthur (q. v.).
McKINLEY, William
