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8400622

Rosentreter, Roger Lynn

TO FREE UPPER CANADA:

MICHIGAN AND THE PATRIOT WAR, 1837-1839

Michigan State University

University
Microfilms
International

Ph.D.

300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106

Copyright 1 9 8 3
by
Rosentreter, R oger Lynn
All Rights R eserved

1983

TO FREE UPPER CANADA:
MICHIGAN AND THE PATRIOT WAR, 1 8 3 7 - 1 8 3 9

By

R o g e r L.

R o sen treter

A DISSERTATION

S u b m itted to
M ichigan S t a t e U n iv e r s ity
in p a r t i a l f u lf illm e n t of the req u irem en ts
fo r th e degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

D epartm ent of H is to ry

1983

ABSTRACT
TO FREE UPPER CANADA:
MICHIGAN AND THE PATRIOT WAR, 18 3 7 - 1 8 3 9
By
R o g e r L.

The l a t e

1830s produced e x c ite m e n t along

S tates/C an ad ian
co n tro lled

R osen treter

border.

C onvinced

C a n a d ia n p r o v i n c e s were r i p e

A m e ric an s and C a n a d ia n r e f u g e e s ,
a b o r t e d 1837 r e b e l l i o n s
arm ies,
forays
for

issued

s e r i o u s problem s
P a trio ts'

These

lib erato rs,

the

forays,

lib e rty ,

la tte r

having

fled

v io lated

the

organized

filib u sterin g

and A m e ric a n e n t h u s i a s m

who w e r e c a l l e d

m o ve d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

for

and u n d e r t o o k

fo r U nited S ta te s

a ctiv itie s

th e B r it is h -

i n U p p e r and Lower C a n a d a ,

pro clam atio n s

in to Canada.

th ese

th at

the U nited

P a trio ts,

posed

au th o rities.

The

A m erican n e u t r a l i t y

and G r e a t B r i t a i n

la w s and

tow ard h o s t i l i ­

ties .
T h e P a t r i o t War i n M i c h i g a n d e m o n s t r a t e s
p erceiv ed

th eir

lib erty .

Ignoring

re stra in t,
ranged
th e

sense of m ission

coupled w ith
tim es vague

t o armed

in v a d in g Upper Canada.

the p o l i t i c i z a t i o n
lin es

of a u th o rity

th e cau se of

and e f f o r t s

the P a t r i o t s

from n e w sp a p er e d i t o r i a l s

b o r d e r and

in sp read in g

governm ental p le a s

M ichiganians o ffe re d

how A m e r i c a n s

for

su p p o rt,

bodies

which

crossing

These a c tio n s ,

o f M ichigan s o c i e t y
betw een f e d e r a l

and a t

and s t a t e

g o v e r n m e n t s , c r e a t e d a dilemma f o r American a u t h o r i t i e s .
S i n c e t h e P a t r i o t War was an i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n c i d e n t ,

state

a u t h o r i t i e s , who were s u b j e c t to p o l i t i c a l r e p r i s a l s f o r
t h e i r a c t i o n s , were l e s s w i l l i n g t o respond as e f f e c t i v e l y
as fed eral a u t h o r i t ie s .

Y e t , c o n f r o n t i n g a s i t u a t i o n where

i t s c i t i z e n s s o u g h t not to conquer a t e r r i t o r y ,

but to

e x p o r t an i d e a — de mocracy, th e f e d e r a l government responded
slu ggish ly.
The P a t r i o t War d id not su c c e e d i n l i b e r a t i n g Canada,
bu t i t p r o v i d e s im p or tan t c l u e s t o u n d e rs ta n d in g the c o n c e p t
o f M anifest D e stin y ,

t h e r e c u r r i n g dilemma o f o r d e r and

i n d i v i d u a l freedom i n American d o m e s t i c p o l i t i c s and the
l i n e s o f g o ve rn m e ntal a u t h o r i t y during the a n t e b e l lu m
period.

To my family, especially my father and grandmother

ii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

O nly one p e r s o n r e c e i v e s
its

co n trib u to rs

the g re a te s t

in sp ira tio n
to leran ce

in a id in g

As a f r i e n d

of p u b lish in g

ed itin g

sk ills

guiding
activ e

are

in terests,

F in ally ,

to

reading

of

th is

h is

by a s k i n g

so

helped

t h a t I w ould n o t have

I extend

thanks

to

in

to

thanks

looked o u t

teaching

t h e 901 d o c t o r a l
concerning

i n s p i r e me t o

for

sem i­

the

fin ish ,

in

a v o i d him i n p u b l i c .

t h e o t h e r m e m b e r s o f my c o m m i t t e e ,
as w ell as a

to P e te r L evine.

The a r c h i v i s t s
esp ecially

in

T h r o u g h o u t my

P a u l V a r g , S t e p h e n B o t e i n and Anne M e y e r i n g ,
sp ecial

Professor

and p a t i e n c e

f o r me a s h i s

casual q u eries

p r o g r e s s o f my d i s s e r t a t i o n

her

m anuscript,

has used p e r s i s t e n c e

eith er

the d a ily

any I have e x p e r ie n c e d .

th e d o c t o r a l program .

Mo re r e c e n t l y ,

o r d e a l and

M ichigan H i s t o r y .

a s s i s t a n t o r d e f e n d i n g my e f f o r t s

part

an unending

g r a d u a te s t u d e n t c a r e e r he r e p e a t e d l y

my b e s t

nar.

she has provided

over in to

a careful

me t h r o u g h

t h i s work i s

sp illed

su p erio r

D. W i l l i a m s

com pletion of

lik e

yet

T h e p e r s o n who h a d

and c o l l e a g u e ,

when t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n

ro u tin e

F red erick

the

d u r i n g w hat seemed

B esid es

for a d is se rta tio n ,

a r e ma ny a n d v a r i e d .

im pact

Sandra C lark .

cred it

at

th e N a tio n a l A rchives

t h e O ld M i l i t a r y

B ranch,
i ii

in W ashington,

a s w e l l a s Ken S h a n k s a t

the r e g i o n a l branch i n C h ic a g o , p r o v i d e d i n v a l u a b l e and
e f f ic ie n t assistan ce.

The P u b l i c A r c h i v e s o f Canada i n

Ottawa r esp on d ed t o mny e v e r y qu ery and Harry B o s v e l d ,
s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f F o r t Malden N a t i o n a l M i l i t a r y Park,

led

me t o s e v e r a l i m p o r t a n t s o u r c e s t h a t I m i g h t have
overlooked.

F i n a l l y , Joe Old en berg g u id e d me t o th e s o u r c e s

i n t h e Burton H i s t o r i c a l C o l l e c t i o n .
Thanks t o LeRoy B a r n e t t , who s u g g e s t e d t h e P a t r i o t War
as a to p ic ;

D o r i s Swanson, who made b e i n g a g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t

e a s y ; my f a m i l y , who s u p p o r t e d me t h r o u g h o u t my educa­
tio n a l career,

and L a n e t t e , who endured many l o n e l y e v e n i n g s

when I was a t t h e l i b r a r y .

iv

T A B L E OF CONTENTS

I n t r o d u c t i o n ................................................................................................................................1 - 2
C h a p te r One:

M ichigan

C h a p t e r Two:

R eb ellio n

C hapter T hree:

in

th e

1 8 3 0 s .............................................................. 3 - 1 9

Comes

M ichigan

to

U p p e r C a n a d a ...............................2 0 - 5 6

Responds

to

C hapter

Four:

F ilib u ste rin g

C h ap ter

F iv e:

The R is e

C h ap ter

S ix :

C hapter

Seven:

The P a t r i o t

War

C h ap ter

E ig h t:

C o n clu sio n :

A m erican

W in d so r:

of
The

A long

th e

th e

th e

H u n ters

F in al

P a trio t

D etro it

C a u s e . . 57-80

R iv e r . . . 81-112

L o d g e s .........................1 1 3 - 1 4 6

C a m p a i g n .................................... 1 4 7 - 1 7 2
in

M ich ig an
in

th e

Fades

17 3 - 2 0 4

1 8 3 0 s ..............2 0 5 - 2 2 7

E p i l o g u e ................................................................................................................................2 2 6 - 2 2 8
M a p s ............................................................................................................

229-230

B i b l i o g r a p h y .................................................................................................................... 2 3 1 - 2 3 7

v

LIST OF FIGURES

Map o f U p p e r C a n a d a ...................................................................................... . . . . . 2 2 9
Map o f D e t r o i t R i v e r .................................................................................................230

vi

INTRODUCTION

T h e P a t r i o t War w a s a n a t t e m p t by s y m p a t h e t i c A m e r i c a n s
to

aid

C anadian re fu g e e s

p rovinces
su p p o rters
ized
of

from B r i t i s h

in

the

ru le.

lib eratio n

issued pro clam atio n s

th e C an ad as from

th e C anadian

From D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 t o

of C anadian l i b e r a t i o n ,

arm ies,

of

the r e l a t i v e

1841,

kno w n a s P a t r i o t s ,
and u n d e rto o k

safety

organ­

in v asio n s

of U nited S ta te s

te rrito ry .
M ichiganians dem onstrated
lib eratio n

soon a f t e r

governm ent

in e x ile

1837.

th eir

support

th e C anadian r e b e l s

near B u ffalo ,

T h r o u g h o u t 1838 t e n s i o n s

S tates

in te rn a tio n a l

in cid en ts

g o v e rn m e n t and

U nited S ta te s

ro le

O ccasionally,

iso lated

have

g reater

hensive

eb bed and flo w e d

along

the

filib u ste rs

t h a t em barrassed
h o stilitie s

the U nited

betw een th e

to

asp ects,
treatm en t,

lib erate

been

in M ichigan h i s t o r i e s .

tr e a tm e n t o f M ic h ig a n 's

based e f f o r t s

in December

i n t h e P a t r i o t War h a s u s u a l l y

t o a few p a r a g r a p h

receiv ed

a

and G r e a t B r i t a i n .

M ic h ig a n 's
releg ated

th reaten ed

organized

New Y o r k ,

M ichigan/U pper C anadian b o rd e r as P a t r i o t
created

f o r C a n a d a 's

lik e
but

the B a t t l e
th ere

inv o lv em en t

U pper Canada

1

of W indsor,

ex ists

no c o m p r e ­

in A m erican-

in 1837-1839.

2
By u s i n g m a t e r i a l s
from s c h o l a r s — r e p o r t s
le tte rs

t h a t have a t t r a c t e d
from U .S .

from M ic h ig a n P a t r i o t s ,

lik e

S tates/C an ad ian

au th o rities
and l e t t e r s

p o r a r y M ichigan o b s e r v e r s — t h i s
M ichiganians,

little

in M ichigan,
from c o n te m ­

work e x p l a i n s

A m ericans e lse w h e re a lo n g

fro n tier,

sought to sec u re

atten tio n

how
the U nited

the

lib e ra tio n

of

th e C anadian p r o v in c e s .
S ec tio n one,
v ides

the

w hich

includes

b a ck g ro u n d o f e v e n t s and c o n d i t i o n s

and Upper Canada.

C h a p te r one h i g h l i g h t s

o f M ichigan in th e 1 8 3 0 s,

p lacin g

th e c h a o tic

n ature of a f f a ir s

in p o l i t i c s

and law e n f o r c e m e n t .

d etailed

c h a p t e r s one and tw o,

lo o k a t

the

causes of

in th e

in M ichigan

the ra p id

p articu lar

grow th

e m p h a s i s on

new s t a t e ,

C hapter

pro­

esp ecially

two p r o v i d e s a

t h e 1837 r e b e l l i o n

in Upper

Canada.
S ectio n
seven,

two,

traces

d isru p ted

the e v e n ts

to

sectio n ,

addressed

in clu d e

cause of

law s;

chapters

from l a t e

th ree

through

1837 t h r o u g h 1839 t h a t

and

ch ap ter e ig h t,

places

t h e P a t r i o t War i n t h e p e r s p e c t i v e

A m erican p e r s o n a l i t y

th e

includes

th e M ichigan/U pper C anadian f r o n t i e r .

The f i n a l
response

w hich

the

of the 1830s.

of the

th a t are

t h e A m erican s e n s e o f m i s s i o n to

lib erty ;

the p e rc e p tio n

th at

in f lu e n c e of both p o l i t i c s

of au th o rity ,

which c r e a t e d

responding

the P a t r i o t s .

to

Issues

M ic h ig a n 's

rig h ts

spread

superceded

and d i f f e r i n g

lin es

dilem m as f o r A m erican o f f i c i a l s

CHAPTER ONE: MICHIGAN IN THE 18 30S

The y e a r o f
o p tim istic

n ote

th e C anadian r e b e l l i o n s ,
fo r M ichiganians.

M ichigan T e r r i t o r y
stru g g le

to achieve

en tered

On J a n u a r y

th e U nion,

stateh o o d .

1837,

ending

In th a t

b e g a n on an

26 t h e
a tw o-year

stru g g le

M i c h i g a n i a n s h a d d e m a n d e d a d m i s s i o n o n t h e i r own t e r m s ,
f o u g h t a b l o o d l e s s w ar w i t h O hio o v e r a s t r i p
T o le d o and f i n a l l y
a c c e p t a com prom ise
w ere r e l i e v e d

forced
th at

by t h e

federal

fin ally

land

near

governm ent to

some r e s e n t e d .

t h a t M ic h i g a n had

of

N o n e t h e l e s s many
en tered

the

U n io n .1
W hile econom ic
a n d much o f

con d itio n s

th e U nited S ta te s

th e p ro s p e rity

th at

in U pper Canada
w orsened,

it

M ic h ig a n 's
larg est

exceeded 2 1 2 ,0 0 0 .
p o p u latio n

in crease

in

to

enjoyed

th e U nion.

in th e M ichigan T e r r i t o r y .

1837 t h e p o p u l a t i o n had d o u b l e d ,
decade

M ichiganians

accom panied a d m is s io n

1834 t h e i r w ere 8 5 ,8 5 6 p e o p l e

(now O n t a r i o )

and a t

In a l l ,

in creased

p o p u latio n of

th e end o f

d u ring

In
By

the

th e 1830s

by 7 0 0 p e r c e n t — t h e
any s t a t e

or te r r ito r y

in

1
W i l l i s F . D u n b a r a n d G e o r g e S . May, M i c h i g a n : A
H i s t o r y o f th e W o lv e rin e S t a t e , 3 rd ed . r e v . (G rand R a p id s:
W i l l i a m E e rd m a n s P u b l i s h i n g Company, 1 9 8 0 ) , p p . 2 4 3 - 6 0 .
3

4
th e n a tio n d uring
M ichigan,

occu rrin g

P en in su la,
fifth
of

of

the

also

t h e d e c a d e . 2 i n 1836 la n d
alm ost e x c lu s iv e ly

surpassed

a l l pu b lic

4 .2 m illi o n
land

sales

l a n d was p u r c h a s e d

reflected

sales

i n t h e s o u t h e r n Lower

acres

and r e p r e s e n t e d

in th e n a tio n .

by s p e c u l a t o r s ,

t h e wave o f s e t t l e r s

in

one-

T h o u g h much

th e enorm ous s a l e s

descending

upon th e

sta te .3
F ollow ing M ic h ig a n 's
le g islatu re
in te rn a l
three

in itia te d

w hich

One c a n a l ,

b e 216 m i l e s

long.

crisscro ssin g

the

v ate

com panies

railro ad

to taled

o v e r one

le g islatu re,

state,

bank.

in cluded

the

th at

the s t a t e

railro ad s

and
w as t o

lin es

by 18 38 t h e r e w e r e t w e n t y - f o u r p r i ­
i n M ich ig an whose p r o p o s e d

th at

needs of

trackage

A t t h e s am e t i m e

the s t a t e ' s

sim p lified

In a m a tte r of

th ree

t h r e e m ain r a i l

thousand m ile s .

convinced

b ill

th e U nion,

t h e C l i n t o n and K alam azoo,

B esides

not ad eq u ately m eet th e
a banking

to

a program of g o v e rn m e n t-sp o n so re d

im provem ents,

can als.

adm ission

the

se v e n te e n banks did

th e grow ing

th e p ro c e ss of

e i g h t m onths o v e r f o r t y

state,

adopted

startin g

a

new b a n k s w e n t

in to o p e ra tio n .^

^ Ib id .,

p.

195.

^ J o h n T. B l o i s , G a z e t t e e r o f th e S t a t e o f M ic h ig a n
( D e t r o i t : S y d n e y L. R ood & C o . , 1 8 3 8 ) , p . 7 6 ;
See a ls o
S i l a s F a r m e r , who o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e D e t r o i t L a n d O f f i c e was
s o o v e r r u n w i t h p u r c h a s e r s i n May 1 8 3 6 t h a t i t c l o s e d i t s
d o o r s and o n l y r e c e i v e d a p p l i c a t i o n s t h r o u g h t h e window.
( H i s t o r y o f D e t r o i t a n d Wayne C o u n t y a n d E a r l y M i c h i g a n , 3 r d
ed. rev .
( 1 8 9 0 , D e t r o i t : G a l e R e s e a r c h C om pa ny , 1 9 6 9 ) , p p .
3 7 -38 .)
^ D u n b a r a n d May,

M ichigan, pp.

266-73;

B lo is,

G azetteer,

This ra p id
the n a tio n 's

grow th b ro u g h t a c e r t a i n

tw enty-sixth

e v id e n t th an in D e t r o i t ,
on a b l u f f o v e r lo o k in g
was t h e s t a t e ' s
la rg e st city .
1701,

state,

and now here was t h i s

M ic h ig a n 's

then

the B r i t i s h

th irtee n

A year la te r

the

after

fin ally

first

the n in e te e n th

settled

th e French.

N o rth A m erican

in Essex C ounty, Upper

serve

in M ichigan h i s t o r y
in t h a t p r o v in c e 's

the Jay T rea ty

i n 1796

th e E rie C anal,

changed

of

surveyed

400 p e r c e n t i n t h e 1 8 3 0 s - - a

by

i n s t e a m s h i p s a nd

l a n d b e c k o n e d many e a s t e r n e r s
p o p u l a t i o n g r e w by m o r e t h a n
fig u re

not even approached

399-405.

^ D u n b a r a n d May,

a

i n t h e 18 3 0 s when t h e o p e n i n g

te c h n o lo g ic a l advances

As a r e s u l t D e t r o i t ' s

78-96,

c e n tu r y D e t r o i t rem ained

c o m m u n i t y w h o s e c u l t u r e was d o m i n a t e d

This a l l

the a v a i l a b i l i t y

pp.

to

th e A m ericans.

i n s t a l l e d A m erican c o n t r o l o v e r D e t r o i t .

sp arsely

w est.

its

electio n

The i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f

W ell in to

of

in

the T re a ty of P a r is

reorganized

sent several D etro it resid en ts
5

its

D e t r o i t rem ained u nder

e m p i r e i n 1 7 9 1 D e t r o i t w as i n c l u d e d

assembly.

D etro it

l e a d i n g p o r t and

and f i n a l l y

years

When G r e a t B r i t a i n

Canada.

more

low er G r e a t Lakes o u t p o s t f i r s t

Though p a r t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ,
co n tro l for

to

Located

F o u n d e d by A n t o i n e d e l a M o th e C a d i l l a c

f o r th e French,

o f 1783.

city .

t h e same n a m e ,

the s t a t e 's

D e t r o i t had b e e n t h e

B ritish

leading

the r iv e r of

cap ital,

amount o f chaos

M ichigan,

p.

105.

in

6
th e

c ity 's

g ro w th

d arin g

th e

rem ain d er

of

th e

n in eteen th

c e n t u r y .6
D e tr o it's
fiv e

m iles

from

G reat Lakes
m id -1 8 3 0 s

port
Lake

port

it

E rie.

cap ital

in

b u stle ,

v ariety ,

th e

la k e s."

was o n ly
fo ld .

995

on

th e

b rig s,

had

less

been

term s

of

to B u ffa lo

im p ressed

an im atio n "
and

years

as

as th e

th ey

average

of

hundred

passengers

rep o rted

or

s e a s o n .

sh ip s

each.

H isto ry

of

G azetteer,
1837.

had

of

its

up and

D etro it

harbor

state

number

in

had

th an

seven­
m ore

any

city

tw ice

as

1837, f if ty - f iv e

o v e r 1 , 8 00 w h e n b a s e d

down

1830

in c re ase d

a com m unity

in June

th e

"th e

d istric t

b ro u g h t m erch an d ise
c arrie d

steam b o ats

in

it

port

on

an

sh ip s
eig h t

7

m ain ly

th at

la te r

th e

"p erp etu al

p assin g

D e tro it

B u ffalo ,

week

harbor,

th re e

out

in clu d in g

a sin g le

alw ay s

by

lead in g

th e

from

tw en ty -

im p o rtan t

v isite d

w ith

1 O c to b e r 1836

o p eratin g

num erous

e ast,

of

th e

an

th an

tonnag e,

resu ltin g

schooners

seven

m onth n a v i g a t i o n

?B lo is,
June-4 Ju ly

was

to n s;

D e tro it

^F arm er,

o n ly

in

en tered

P ress

In

to n n ag e

D u rin g

th e

L o cated

D etro it

S h ip

la rg e .

from

and

E rie,

Though

w ell.

decades.

1 8 37 a n d

sh ip s

Lake

E rie,

second

F u rth erm o re,

reg istered

as

B r i t i s h a u t h o r Anna Ja m e s o n

Ju ly

steam ers,

for

was

on Lake

of

grew

In

o n ly

In

1837 an

a rriv ed

w ith

la te

May t h e

S em i-W eekly

tw o d a y s

p.

165-67;

2 ,5 0 0

tw o

goods

a day

D etro it,
pp.

passengers.

and

persons

to

th re e
Free

had

336.
D etro it

Free

P ress,

26

arriv ed

in D e tr o it.

D u rin g h e r t e n day s t a y a t D e t r o i t ,

A n n a J a m e s o n saw " e m i g r a n t s
little

c ity ,"

D etro it city
passengers

w hile J u l i u s
d irecto ry ,

arriv ed

v ices

and added
D etro it

ev id en t

the

to

its

in D e tr o it,

c ity 's

town.

number o f a n im a ls

only

b u t th e tem p orary

su fferin g

As l a t e

strain ed

its

ser­

le g islatio n

most d is t i n g u i s h e d

from p a r a d o x e s

I n many w a ys
as

rem ained

th e s t r e e t s , "

lo o s e prom pted

banning

it

the m i d - t h i r t i e s

peram bulate

running

a ls o proved a problem .

D e tro it's

thousand

grow ing c o n f u s i o n . 8

" b l a c k b e a r s wo.'Id o c c a s i o n a l l y

T raffic

t h e 1837

census l i s t e d

p o p u latio n ,

i n any booming co m m unity.

c o u n c il to en act

th is

t h a t one th o u san d

The 1837 s t a t e

i n 1837 was a c i t y

an untam ed f r o n t i e r

and th e

co m p ile r of

through

a t D e t r o i t d a i l y — o r tw o h u n d r e d

8,323 p erm an en t r e s i d e n t s
sw elled

McCabe,

estim ated

in a n a v ig a tio n season.

resid en ts

c o n s ta n tly pouring

th is

A ccording

the c i t y

activity.9

to S i l a s

n in eteen th -cen tu ry

Farm er,

h isto rian ,

8F arm er, H i s t o r y of D e t r o i t , p. 335;
Sem i-W eekly F r e e
P ress,
26 May 1 8 3 7 ; Anna B r o w n e l l J a m e s o n , W i n t e r S t u d i e s
a n d Summer R a m b l e s , e d . J a m e s J . T a l m a n a n d E l s i e McLeod
M u r r a y ( 1 8 3 8 , T o r o n t o : Thomas N e l s o n a n d S o n s , 1 9 4 3 ) , p p .
1 4 1 -4 2 ; J u l i u s P. B o l i v a r , D i r e c t o r y of th e C ity of D e t r o i t
( D e t r o i t : W illia m H a r s h a , 1 8 3 7 ) , pp. 3 5 -3 6 . See a l s o B l o i s
who o b s e r v e d t h a t " t h e c i t y i s m o s t l y b u i l t o f w o o d , a n d i n
a m anner t o accom m odate i t s e m i g r a n t p o p u l a t i o n , which i t i s
s u p p o s e d c o m p o s e s o n e h a l f o r tw o t h i r d s o f t h e c i t y . "
( G a z e t t e e r , p . 2 7 3 . ) On 24 May 1 8 3 6 t h e S a n d w i c h E m i g r a n t
r e p o r t e d t h a t 3 0 , 0 0 0 i m m i g r a n t s a r r i v e d Tn D e t r o i t d u r i n g
f i v e weeks in th e s p r i n g o f 1836.
^Jam eson,

W in ter S t u d i e s , pp.

11,

79-80.

m ig ra tio n through D e tr o it

i n 1837 was j u s t

as

in te n se as

had b e e n t h e y e a r b e f o r e when " a c a r e f u l e s t i m a t e "
h a d shown t h a t o n e w agon l e f t
d uring

the

left

the

c ity 's

the

roads

v i s i t o r observed
"you a re
are]

the

every

fiv e m inutes

in h o r r i b l e

i n mud,

from d u s t . " H
the

on t h e s e

in ad eq u ate.

co n d itio n .
and

fa c ilitie s

o f p e o p l e who a r e

stran g ers

inconvenience

in

the

su m m e r

[you

four

co m p leted M ichigan Exchange.
le d one v i s i t o r

betak in g

m ust p a t i e n t l y
till

One 1 8 3 7

D e t r o i t had o n ly

recen tly

Heavy

in ra in y w eather

[w hile]

" th e accom m odations of D e t r o i t a r e
in flu x

th at

w ere

t h a t during w in te r

in clu d in g

The s t r a i n
th at

serv ices

up t o y o u r k n e e s

in v isib le

h o tels,

city

fo r June

t w e l v e h o u r s o f d a y l i g h t . 10

Many o f
tra ffic

the

it

to

com plain

so i n s u f f i c i e n t

them selves

for

th ith e r,

p u t up w i t h much d e l a y

and

new h o u s e s o f e n t e r t a i n m e n t a r e

o p e n e d . "12
D e tro it's
the

p u b lic

1830s D e t r o i t

w ith

te m p o ra ry and

a city
force.

serv ices

responded

w ere e q u a l l y

to problem s of

in ad eq u ate m easures.

m a r s h a l l and s e v e r a l

co n stab les,

l°F arm er,

a m o nth when h a l f

H isto ry

of D e t r o i t , p.

the

In

law and o r d e r

Though D e t r o i t had
t h e r e was no p o l i c e

A n i g h t w a tc h had b e en e s t a b l i s h e d

banded a f t e r on ly

in ferio r.

in 1835,

force

of

but d is­

tw elve

335.

ll-F re d e ric k M a rra y a t, D iary in A m erica, ed.
(B loom ington: In d ia n a U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 960),

J u l e s Zanger
p.
120.

l ^ H a r r i e t M a r tin e a u , S o c i e t y in A m erica 2 v o l s . ,
Y ork: S a u n d e rs and O t l e y , 1 8 3 8 ) , 1 : 2 3 2 .

(New

rep o rted

d ru n k and d i s o r d e r l y .

lo cal c itiz en s

by t h i r t y

h astily -fo rm ed

posse of

attem p tin g
m ilitia

to a r r e s t

company,

D etro it s t i l l

or

the

t h e m ob."

Irish

an a s s a u l t on

laborers

in 1835,

citizen s'

w as b l o o d i e d

Follow ing

th is

th e Brady G u ard s,

did

c ity 's

fo rty

'w o rth y

fracas

was o r g a n i z e d ,

n o t have an e f f e c t i v e

The 1835 d i s t u r b a n c e
w hich

Follow ing

po lice

in
a

but

f o r c e . 13

clim axed a tw o-y ear p e r io d d u rin g

su d d en grow th fo rg e d

o r d e r and p ro m p te d e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n

a new c o n c e r n f o r

in m ethods o f

co n tro l.

B e tw e e n 1833 and 1835 D e t r o i t had c o m b a tte d c rim e w i t h
p a i d watchm an,
co m itatus,

v o lu n te e r patrolm en,

decade as
p o lice

the

order estab lish ed
city

became c o n d i t i o n e d

needs w ith a v a r i e t y

of

approach

fo r the next

to meet i t s

o ccasional

tem porary e x p e d ie n ts .

W ith

those ex p ed ien ts o fte n

in effectiv e.

D e tro it's
failed

a

the posse

T his d is p a r a te

a p attern

th e e x c e p tio n of th e B rady G uards,
proved

the m i l i t i a ,

and t h e q u a s i - v i g i l a n t e .

to m aintaining

"a

city

governm ent— a p r i m i t i v e

to encompass a l l p a r t s of

in effectiv ely

to

th e problem s

T h o u g h t h e Common C o u n c i l ,

ward s y s t e m

the c ity — o fte n

created

by r a p i d

w hich c o n s i s t e d

of

responded

grow th.
th e m ayor,

1 3 p a r m e r , H i s t o r y o f D e t r o i t , p p . 2 0 2 - 0 3 ; J o h n C.
S c h n e i d e r , " U r b a n i z a t i o n and t h e M a in t e n a n c e o f O r d e r :
D e t r o i t , 1824-1847,"
M ichigan H is to r y
60 ( F a l l 1 9 7 6 ) ,
267.
l 4S c h n e i d e r ,

"U rb an izatio n ,"

p.

268.

that

the

p.

10
r e c o r d e r and s e v e n a ld e r m e n ,
city

and i t s

For exam ple,

serv ices,

its

the c i t y

ja il,

was " o c c a s i o n a l l y

passed ordinances

effo rts

rep aired "

u su ally

im proving

proved

the

fu tile.

damaged i n an 1834 j a i l

break,

b u t became " i n c r e a s i n g l y

in se c u re ."I5
D e tro it's

fro n tier

com m unicating w ith
a le tte r

to

statu s

the e a s t .

reach D e tro it

G re at Lakes d u rin g

w as e v i d e n c e d
In 1836 i t

Sandusky,

less

tw e n ty -e ig h t days

to

six teen

in a

and even

bags of m ail

th a n one hundred m ile s d i s t a n t ,
reach D e tro it.

D e tr o it D aily Free P re ss re p o rte d
from W ash in g to n

The f r o z e n

th e w in te r meant o v e rla n d m ail

In December 1837,

w e e k .

in

t o o k two w e e k s f o r

f r o m New Y o r k C i t y .

g re a te r delay s.
O hio,

by d e l a y s

from

took

I n t h e same m o n th ,

it

had r e c e i v e d

the

no m a i l

16

However, D e t r o i t o f f e r e d many " c i v i l i z e d " a m e n i t i e s .
I n 1836 t h e enorm ous m i g r a t i o n had c a u s e d
goods of a l l

kinds

on J e f f e r s o n

Avenue,

fitted

t h a t ev ery house"

up f o r a s t o r e

the p r i n c i p a l
and f i l l e d

" s u c h a demand f o r

t h a t could

be p u r c h a s e d

b usiness d i s t r i c t ,

w ith g o o d s ." !7

"was

By J a n u a r y

l 5F arm er, H i s t o r y o f D e t r o i t , pp. 136, 147, 2 0 2 -0 3 , 215.
I n 1835 t h e c i t y c o u n c i l o r d e r e d t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f g a s
l i g h t s a l o n g W o o d w a rd A v e n u e , o n e o f t h e c i t y ' s m a i n
th o ro u g h fares.
B u t no D e t r o i t s t r e e t s w e re l i g h t e d u n t i l
1851.
(F arm er, H i s t o r y of D e t r o i t , p. 4 6 9 ).
On 1 F e b r u a r y
1837 t h e c o u n c i l v o t e d t o p a v e a number o f c i t y s t r e e t s , b u t
a l l a c t i o n was p o s t p o n e d u n t i l t h e l a t e 1 8 4 0 s .
(Farm er,
H is to ry of D e t r o i t , p. 9 29.)
l^ F a rm e r, H is to r y of D e t r o i t , p.
P r e s s , 8 December 1837.
l 7F a r m e r ,

H isto ry

o f D e t r o i t , p.

880;
770.

D e tr o it D aily Free

11

1 8 3 8 new i m m i g r a n t s
in

fo u n d numerous m e r c a n t i l e

th e M ichigan c a p i t a l ,

g ro ceries,

14 h a r d w a r e

d ru g g ists,

3 book sto res

The c i t y
d octors

w as a l s o
and

inclu d in g

sto res,

27 d r y g o o d s s t o r e s ,

7 clo th in g

s e r v e d b y 37 a t t o r n e y s ,

M e r c h a n t D. J .

th at

C olored S i l k s ;

and j e w e l e r s .
22 s u r g e o n s

included

Campau o f f e r e d

"R ich B la c k ,

and

a fa ll

stock

B lu e B l a c k and

R ich D ark and L i g h t F ren ch P r i n t s . . .F a n c y
D ress H a n d k e rc h ie fs ."

M ather,

sign

g lass

18

b elied D e tr o it’s

C h a l l y and S i l k
"at

25

tw o d e n t i s t s . 18

statu s.

o f d ry goods

sto res,

and 8 s i l v e r s m i t h s

Newspaper a d v e r tis e m e n ts o f t e n
fro n tier

estab lish m en ts

the

of

and e a r th e n w a r e

the

"at

larg e

the

B e n j a m i n Le B e r t o n ,

opp o site

p u rp o rted ly

the

stocked

Havana c i g a r s .

P atterso n ,

p itc h e r,"

sold

G ardner &

china,

l o w e s t New Y o r k p r i c e s , "

w hile

th e M ichigan Exchange H o te l,

c ity 's

best s p irits ,

The few l o c a l b o o k s t o r e s

as w e l l as

c a r r i e d G ib b o n 's

Rome, S h a k e s p e a r e ' s W o r k s a n d t h e E n c y c l o p e d i a A m e r i c a n a .
The c i t y

of

o ffices,

t h r e e o f w hich

inclu d in g

less

th ree

D e tro it also

than

ten

th o u s a n d had f o u r p r i n t i n g

issued

had a f l o u r i s h i n g

w a te r w orks s y ste m ,

l^ B lo is,

new spapers,

d a ilie s.

B e s id e s h o u s e s and w a re h o u s e s ,
city

a t o t a l of nine

co n stru ctio n

new c o n s t r u c t i o n

w hich opened

G a z e tte e r , pp.

in 1838.

in d u stry .
in clu d ed
It

used

274-75.

^•^S e m i - W e e k l y F r e e P r e s s , 3 ,
B l o i s , G a z e t t e e r , p^ 2 7 4 . "

14,

21,

24 M a r c h 1 8 3 7 ;

a
iron

12
p ip es

and q u a d r u p l e d

c ity 's
to

first

underground

co m p lain ts

and o u tr a g e d

the

tran sp o rtatio n

of

of

in tern al

s e w e r was b u i l t

term in al

g reeted

traffic

in to

D e tr o it w itnessed

the

s ta te 's

im provem ents p r o j e c t s .
Joseph R ailroad,

rid in g

Lakes.

w estern

crowd and

the

eye

in v ited

M as on i n a u g u r a t e d

t o a b a r b e c u e . 21

were r e l a t e d

fish in g

o f 70 t o

to

the G reat

and s h i p b u i l d i n g
to

sail

the G reat
in 1833.

steam ships p ly in g

G r e a t L a k e s w e re owned i n D e t r o i t .

H istory

m i l e s away.

t e r m i n u s w h e r e h e was

th irty -sev en

"enorm ous p r o f i t s "

and an a r r a y

tw en ty -fiv e

The l a r g e s t v e s s e l

the

of

the h u s tle

in terio r

t h e M i c h i g a n , was l a u n c h e d a t D e t r o i t

20parm er,

response

l a t e r known a s t h e M i c h i g a n

in d u stries

Throughout th e 1830s

1837 s e v e n t e e n o f

ow ners

The

By J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 t h e

to Y p s i l a n t i ,

its

la rg e st

expanded r a p id ly .
Lakes,

to

by a l a r g e

D e tro it's

"offended

f o r m o st m ain r o u t e s

M ichigan,

w as c o m p l e t e d

lin e,

in 1836 i n

th at

On 3 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 G o v e r n o r S t e p h e n s T.
th e

cap acity .

n o s t r i l s . "20

in to

D e t r o i t and S t .
C entral,

reserv o ir

ab o u t th e open d itc h e s

As t h e e a s t e r n

and b u s t l e

th e e x is tin g

In
the

T h e y h a d made t h e i r
80 p e r c e n t t h e p r e v i o u s

of D e t r o i t , pp.

60,

64-65.

2 l D u n b a r a n d May, M i c h i g a n , p . 2 7 4 . S t a g e s d e p a r t e d d a i l y
on th e T e r r i t o r i a l and C hicago Roads, as w e ll as d a i l y to
B u f f a l o and t h e F l i n t R i v e r .
B esid es the D e tr o it
and S t .
J o s e p h , t h e P o n t i a c a n d D e t r o i t R a i l r o a d w as u n d e r c o n s t r u c ­
t i o n , w i t h t h e f i r s t 1 2 . 5 m i l e s t o be c o m p l e t e d by 1 A p r i l
1 8 3 8 . (MacCabe, D i r e c t o r y , p p . 1 0 4 - 0 5 , 3 6 . )

13
y e a r .

22

on la n d ,

annual capacity

the C ity

Brewery opened

of 25,000 b a r r e l s ,

it

in 1837.

w as h a i l e d

W ith an

as

"th e

l a r g e s t w e s t o f A l b a n y . "23
C u ltu rally

the

city

offered

fe ssio n a l o rg an izatio n s,
M ichigan,

t h e new ly

in clu d in g

for

educatio n al

founded

whose t h r e e

and m o ra l

in stitu tio n s

S t.

P h illip 's

in 1836),

o th er p riv ate

(a c a t h o l i c

f o r men a n d

For e n te rta in m e n t r e s id e n ts

had opened

of

M inerals,

as w e ll as

th e m ost i n t e r e s t i n g

covered

four a cres

co ntained
p lan ts.

at

D e tro it also

23B l o i s ,

D e tro it's

the s t a t e

w o m e n .

"some o f

C oins,

c h a ra c te rs."
n o rthern

H isto ry

boasted

could v i s i t

the

The f o r m e r

fin e s t sp eci­

N atu ral

and a r t i f i c i a l
"of

of

a th eatre,

16,

of

fru it

town and
trees

and

whose p r o d u c t i o n s

909.

275.

24parmer, History of D e t r o i t , 1 6 ,
D i rec tor y, p p . 2 9 - 3 3 .

some

The M ich ig an G arden

ex trem ity

of D e t r o i t , pp.

G a z e tte e r , p.

u ni­

24

t h i r t y - s e v e n wax f i g u r e s

th e

for

f o r women a n d s e v e r a l

a r e s t a u r a n t a n d many k i n d s

22Farm er,

and

C. M c K i n s t r y ' s museu m o r g a r d e n .

mens o f O r n i t h o l o g y ,

and

a c a d e m y f o r men

and v i s i t o r s

in 1834 and c o n t a i n e d

c u rio sitie s,"

a branch of

sem inaries

of

h u n d r e d members met

im provem ent."

included

C ollege

three

schools

e i t h e r M a j o r D.

and p r o ­

the H i s t o r i c a l S o c ie ty

" t h e g e n e r a l d i f f u s i o n o f know ledge"

t h e i r own " i n t e l l e c t u a l

v ersity ,

fratern al

formed S t a t e H o r t i c u l t u r a l S o c i e t y

t h e Y oun g M e n ' s S o c i e t y ,
w eekly

v ario u s

731-32;

MacCabe,

14
in

1837 i n c l u d e d

"W illiam T e l l , "
rep o rted

" M a c b e t h , 11 " C a t c h i n g

a b o u t w hich t h e e d i t o r o f

t h a t he " s c a r c e l y

a u d i e n c e more d e e p l y

p ro m in en t m erchants

sought

of

can n o n -b alls

in te lle ctu al

cu latin g

lib rary

"fo o tb all"
If

D etro it offered

w h e r e Anna J a m e s o n f o u n d
i n F re n c h and

E n g l i s h .

of optim ism

the

th e y were d e s t i n e d
lib erty

encouraged

late

th irties

in d iv id u alism

first

n in eteen th

of

the

d e s t i n y was a p p a r e n t ,

co n tin u in g

the

best

be c o i n e d ,

b eliev ed
the

th at

co n tin en t

M ichiganians

in

m arch w e stw a rd d u r i n g

century.

f o r exam ple,

In d e p e n d e n c e day c e l e b r a t i o n

a c ir­

T his b e lie f

and a d v e n t u r e .

the

o r the

f o r many

long

and s e lf - g o v e r n m e n t.

of

"25

t o move w e s t w a r d a c r o s s

1830s were p a r t o f
th ird

had

O ther

one

" so m e o f

The te r m M a n i f e s t D e s t i n y had y e t t o

b u t A m ericans of

spreading

a game o f

on J e f f e r s o n A v e n u e ."

The 1830s was a p e r i o d
A m ericans.

th e w eekly g a t h e r i n g

stim u latio n ,

m odern p u b l i c a t i o n s

o f an

t h a n on t h a t o c c a s i o n . "

in clu d ed

for e ith e r

and

the Free P re s s

e v e r saw t h e a t t e n t i o n

engrossed

form s of e n t e r t a i n m e n t

"ro llin g

an H e i r e s s , "

T heir

th e
the

sen se of

i n an 1837 D e t r o i t

t o a s t drunk

to

"Texas— th e

i n f a n t R e p u b l i c — d a u g h t e r o f A m e r i c a n f r e e d o m ; may s h e n e v e r
prove

recreant

to

th e p r in c ip le s

o f h e r Alma M a t e r . " 2 6

25parm er, H is to r y of D e t r o i t , pp. 351-52;
D i r e c t o r y , p. 29; D e t r o i t D a ily F r e e P r e s s ,
1837;
Jam eson, W in ter S t u d i e s , pp. 143-44.
26p e t r o i t D a ily

Free P r e s s , 7 J u ly

1837.

MacCabe,
6 , 1 7 , 27 J u n e

15
At th e

s am e t i m e r e f o r m m o v e m e n t s ,

A m erican s o c i e t y
rev iv als
P u ritan
the

of

its

shortcom ings,

i n w e s t e r n New Y o r k
resig n atio n

view

th at

to

erad icate

B esides

to

ev il

spreading

the

zeal

in ju stices.

duty

change
to

the

T his

i n many d i f f e r e n t w a y s — t e m p e r a n c e ,
so cialism ,

p riso n

w om an's r i g h t s .
m ost of
m oving
th at
th ese

th ese

reform ,

"luggage"

r e f o r m s . 27

so cieties

included

supporting

in n o v ativ e,

eastern

regio n s

area,

ab o litio n ism

of

the

itse lf

utopian

fountainhead"

it

is

not

su rp risin g

fo r alm ost a l l of
formed

state
The 1835
th at

t h e more r e f i n e d

c o u n t r y . 28

P reoccupation with b u ild in g houses,

b r e a k in g ground and

r a i s i n g c r o p s f o r c e d many Yankee immigrants to pu t a s i d e
a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e s e reform programs u n t i l the

27ounbar and May,
28 Ibid., p p .

Michigan,

329-36,

of

th e people

e d u c a tio n a l program s
to

and

f o r e d u c a t i o n and

and t e m p e r a n c e .

e v e n when c o m p a re d

convert

expressed

a n d s i n c e many o f

support

included

to

ab o litio n ism ,

j n t h e 1830s M ich ig an ian s

M ichigan c o n s t i t u t i o n
w ere

sp irit

a

rev iv als

fro n tiersm en

W e s t e r n New Y o r k w as " t h e

re fo rm m ovem ents,

the

so ciety ,

a n d new s c h e m e s

t o M i c h i g a n ca m e f r o m t h i s

th eir

R elig io u s

t o make t h e w o r l d

the g o s p e l,

to

convey r e l i g i o n
and

up.

to w a rd a w ic k ed w o rld and s u b s t i t u t e d

relig io n

th e heathen,

sprang

t h e 1 8 2 0 s had d e s t r o y e d

i t was a C h r i s t i a n ' s

b e tte r p lace.
im parted

in

i n t e n t upon r i d d i n g

352-59.

pp.

351-52.

16
1 84 0 s and 5 0 s ,

but

cal

M ic h i g a n D e m o c r a ts had o r g a n i z e d

activ ity .

th irtie s

t h a t was n o t

and f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s

th e M ichigan T e r r i t o r y .
tio n

In

in Septem ber 1835,

stateh o o d ,

D em ocratic

S t e p h e n s T.

D etro iters
p o litic a l

enjoyed

can d id ate

v i r t u a l dom ination
first

o fficial

in

elec­

and T e r r i t o r i a l G o v e rn o r

g o v e r n o r by a n i n e

to one

But in m id-1837,

an o p p o s i t i o n p a r t y ,

co m p etitio n ,

in th e e a r l y

h e l d b e f o r e M ic h ig a n was g r a n t e d

clo sest riv a l.

o rganized

in th e c ase of p o l i t i ­

the s t a t e 's

M as on w a s e l e c t e d

m argin o v er h is

true

p articu larly

w ealthy

th e W higs,

in D e t r o i t ,

and

became

in ten se.
W hile th e e n t i r e
D e tro it's

sp rin g

1,100 c a s t ,
cial

1837 e l e c t i o n

v o ter

co n g ressio n al

e lectio n
tio n s,

D em ocratic s l a t e

electio n

and r e p o r t s

press

su m m e r a n d

Press

the

c ritic iz ed

d e f e n d i n g Mason fro m
o f v o te buying

and

of

th ese

events

and i n c r i m i n a ­

filled

p o litical
the D e tro it

a n d Whig g u b e r n a t o r i a l

"so rd id "
box

and

lifesty le,

"puerile"

7,

w hile

The D e t r o i t

s t u f f i n g . 30

Free P r e s s , 1 J u ly ,

candidate

Whig a c c u s a t i o n s

2^Floyd S t r e e t e r , P o l i t i c a l P a r t i e s in M ichigan;
1 83 7 -1 8 6 0 ( L a n s in g : M ic h ig a n H i s t o r i c a l C om m ission,
pp.
4-19.
3 0 p e t r o i t D aily
Septem ber 1837.

spe­

The D e t r o i t F r e e

f o r an e x t r a v a g a n t

b allo t

in th e

in th e g e n e r a l

im m inent p o l i t i c a l

f a l l o f 18 3 7 .

D etro iter

C h a r l e s C. T r o w b r i d g e

and

R ancorous a c c u s a tio n s

co n v en tio n s,
in

in Septem ber,

announcem ents of

in

by a 2 5 0 v o t e m a r g i n o u t o f

s e n tim e n t changed d r a s t i c a l l y

in November.

d aily

w as e l e c t e d

8,

15,

27

1918),

17
A d v ertiser,

th e W h ig 's

leading

slu g g ish

economy t o

a lo ss of

h o ld ers.

R eferrin g

program s,

t h e Whig p r e s s

to

responded

in b o nds t o be s o l d

good as

lo st

"the

faith

to

o n ly

the s t a t e

by e i g h t h u n d r e d

W ayne,

th e county

M ason,

and e l e c t e d

eig h t sta te

ex p lain ed

32

the

one of

m illio n

th e p r o j e c t s were as

they

D etro it,

two s t a t e

th eatre

of

saw t h e i r

th e

In

t h e W higs d e f e a t e d

sen ato rs

and f i v e

e a r l i e r m argins

for

lo st

of

of

the Free P re ss

aristo cracy

th eir

th e ir

shrink

i n Wayne C o u n t y

s ta te 's

the g r e a t e s t e x e rtio n
braced

though

T h o u g h t h e D e m o c r a t s won i n

t h a t t h e D e m o crats had

i t was t h e s e a t o f

Mason,

a lm o s t 30,000 c a s t .

s h o c k e d by t h e s e t b a c k ,

As M i c h i g a n i a n s

fiv e

and r e e l e c t e d

votes o u t of

because

state,

th at

im provem ents

th e D em ocrats r e t a i n e d

leg islatu re

rep resen tativ es.

c o n s i d e r a b l y .

the

d e p t h s o f Lake E r i e . "31

surrou nding

th e C ity of D e tr o it,

in tern al

fin an ce

I n t h e November e l e c t i o n s ,
c o n tro l of

attrib u te d

in D em ocratic o f f i c e ­

the e la b o ra te

d o llars

in

organ,

p o w e r .

first

fu ll

and

"the

"33
w in te r as a

t h e r e was an o p t i m i s m

in

the a i r .

A nother n a v ig a t io n

s e a s o n had b r o u g h t t h o u s a n d s

of

settlers,

w h i c h m e a n t new

P r e s s , 3 O c to b e r 1837; D e t r o i t
31petroit D a i l y F r e e
D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 23 J u n e , 1 2 - 1 3 J u l y , 10 A u g u s t , 21
S eptem ber 1837.
3 2S t r e e t e r , P o l i t i c a l P a r t i e s , p .
P r e s s , 2 D ecem ber, 9 November 18 3 7 .
33petroit D a i l y

Free P r e s s ,

10;

D e t r o i t D aily Free

14 November 1 8 3 7 .

18
tow ns,

fa rm s and r o a d s .

ahead.
w est,

The D e t r o i t and S t .
and M i c h i g a n i a n s

o th er p ro je c ts.
reassured

the

of

J o s e p h R a i l r o a d was f o r g i n g

Clem ens

o fficia ls

of

anxiously

in terested

th e ir d esire

th e

state,

because

the proposed c a n a l— a g u a ra n te e of

esp ecially

along

D etro iters

w atched a s

s p e c ie paym ents,

accepted

the n a tio n 's

th e A tla n tic

be t h e e a s t e r n

it

1836 d e c r e e

w as w i t h i n

D em ocrats c o n t r o l l e d

a m ile

t a m e d .

34

T h r o u g h o u t t h e su mme r
n atio n

suspended

t h a t o n l y g o l d a n d s i l v e r w o u l d be

at

th is

lands.

p o in t,

tem pered
the

b ra n c h e s and D e t r o i t ' s

s ta te 's

city

Though M ich ig an

some f e a r e d

some o f

the

th at

f r o n t i e r . 35

th e optim ism .

executive

governm ent,

these

and

Th e

leg islativ e

b u t th e y w ere

3 4 s e m i - W e e k l y F r e e P r e s s , 18 A p r i l 18 3 7 ; E d w a r d W.
B a r b e r , "The V e r m o n t v i l l e C olony: I t s G e n e s is and H i s t o r y ,
W ith P e r s o n a l S k e tc h e s o f th e C o l o n i s t s " M ichigan P io n e e r
a n d H i s t o r i c a l C o l l e c t i o n s 28 ( 1 9 0 0 ) , p . 1 9 8 .
3 5 o u n b a r a n d May,

M ich ig an , pp.

a

economy was w o r s e n i n g ,

the

i n f l u e n c e s w ould so o n r e a c h
to o ,

started

a s a r e s u l t o f P r e s i d e n t A n d re w

f o r payment fo r p u b lic

P o litics,

w hile

econom ic p r o s p e r i t y .

co ast.

banks a c ro s s

p artly

rem ained u n a f fe c te d
n eg ativ e

to

t h e M i c h i g a n w i l d e r n e s s w as b e i n g

On t h e o t h e r h a n d ,

J a c k s o n 's

citizen s

a group of V erm onters

on la n d t h e y p u r c h a s e d

In s h o rt,

a w a i t e d work on

t h e p r o p o s e d - C l i n t o n and K alam azoo C a n a l ,

cen ter of

v illag e

i m p r o v e m e n t s h a d moved

everyw here

I n M t.

state

term in al-o f
in

In tern al

272-73.

19
un derstandably d is tu rb e d
m argin of v ic to r y .

the

C o nversely,

few m in o r v i c t o r i e s ,
ity

w ith

b u t enjoyed

ero sio n of

t h e Whigs had

its

Her e x i s t e n c e

broke o u t

is

still

tasted

p o litical

f i r s t y ear as a s t a t e ,

a u t h o r of. th e M ich ig an G a z e t t e e r , w r o te ,
S tate.

"M ichigan

in c h o ate."3^

S ^B lois,

G azetteer,

p.

confirm ed.

28.

only

a

rapid

opponent.

John B lo is,

A fter

in n e i g h b o r i n g Canada t h a t D ecem ber,

v a t i o n s would be r e p e a t e d l y

th eir

confidence over the

w i t h w h i c h t h e y h a d b e co m e a v i a b l e

As M i c h i g a n e n d e d

th eir

is

a new

reb ellio n

h is obser­

CHAPTER TWO: REBELLION COMES TO UPPER CANADA

From h i s

ja il

W olfred N elso n ,
ers,

w rote,

cell

in M ontreal

one o f Lower C a n a d a 's m o s t m i l i t a n t

"We r e b e l l e d

son nor h e r G overnm ent,
m en t."l

i n J u n e 1 8 3 8 r D r.

a g a i n s t n e i t h e r Her M a j e s t y 's p e r ­
b u t a g a in s t C o lo n ia l m isgovern-

N e lso n exem pted

the B r i t i s h

crown a s a c a s u s b e l l i

i n an a tte m p t

to save h im s e lf

c a n be l i t t l e

d o u b t t h a t he was c o r r e c t r e g a r d i n g

of

th e C anadian R e b e llio n s
The u p r i s i n g s

responses

from t h e g a l l o w s .

But th e r e

in l a t e

fru stratio n s

c a u s e d by t h e r u l i n g

Lower Canada

(now Q u e b e c )

L ouis Jo sep h P ap in eau ,

in flu x

of non-French

C anadian t r a d i t i o n a l
reb els

led a re v o lt

au th o rities.

im m ig ran ts,
way o f

M ackenzie,

life.

w as t h e

the French-

C lo s e r to M ichigan,
led

by W i l l i a m Ly on

the o lig a rc h y

s t r a n g l e h o l d on th e g o v e rn m e n ta l sy ste m .
effo rts

In

a respected

the u p r is in g

who j e o p a r d i z e d

(now O n t a r i o ) ,

sought to overthrow

elite .

a g a in s t E ng lish-sp eaking

A m ajor cause of

in U pper Canada

focus

1837 w ere

to

co lo n ial

the

of 1837.

t h a t p la g u e d Canada

s e i g n e u r and l a w y e r ,

reform ­

t h a t had a

Though P a p i n e a u ' s

g a r n e r e d more p o p u l a r s u p p o r t t h a n t h o s e o f

I j o h n C h a r l e s D e n t , The S t o r y o f The U p p e r C a n a d i a n
R e b e l l i o n ( T o r o n t o : C. B l a c k e t t R o b i n s o n , 1 8 8 5 ) , t i t l e p a g e .
20

21
M ackenzie,

b o th u p r i s i n g s w ere q u i c k l y

Upper C anadians
i n 1837 f o l l o w i n g
enjoyed

t o o k up a r m s a g a i n s t t h e i r g o v e r n m e n t

a dozen y e a rs

in term itten t

successes

any r e a l power b e c a u se of
p ro v in ce.

across

stag n atio n .

the

in tern al

at

border o u td istan ced

take

saw A m e r i c a n s

provem ents
of

in

tran sp o rtatio n

in Upper Canada,

they

land,

denounced dem ocracy,

th eir

em pire
they

considered

B ritish

n e v er enjoyed

m ent,

im­

av ail

them ­

Though la n d s a l e s

rem aining

t h e s am e s u c c e s s a s

F ru strated
change,
u n tried

w ith

th e m ain c a u s e s o f

an o l i g a r c h y .

weapon— armed r e b e l l i o n .
from B r i t i s h

t h e i r N o rth A m erican
R eacting

th at reb ellio n ,

the d e lib e r a te

A ccording

t h e A m erican s had e n jo y e d

the d im in ­

a few r a d i c a l s

th e A m erican R e v o l u t i o n .

o r g a n iz e d Canada w ith

in stillin g

own

im provem ents p r o j e c t s w ere u n d e r ta k e n

of w hat rem ained of

follow ing

in t h e i r

from c o m m e rc ia l

U pper C a n a d a 's g o v e rn m e n t had e v o lv e d
reo rg an izatio n

ro le

governm ent-sponsored

and b e n e f i t

p r o s p e c ts of any r e a l
to

the

W hile B r i t i s h

and c o m m u n ic a tio n s,

t h e i r A m erican c o u n t e r p a r t s .

reso rted

co n tro lled

settlem en t.

c a u s e d by w e s t w a r d m i g r a t i o n .
in tern al

b u t were d e n ie d

th a t p erp etu ated

a more a c t i v e

enjoy expansive

cheap p u b lic

and s e v e r a l

ha d

them i n s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t ,

C anadians

ish in g

system

im p ro v e m e n ts and w e s t e r n

self-g o v ern m en t,

th at

reform ers

Upper C an a d ia n s w atched as A m ericans

lead ers

advances

the p o lls ,

the o lig a rc h y

i m p e r i a l and p r o v i n c i a l

selv es

d u r i n g w hich

B e sid e s a g overnm ental

p o litic a l

suppressed.

to

to what
the

aim o f

the B r itis h

govern­

t o o much d e m o c r a c y a n d

too

22
little
an

m onarchy,

estab lish ed

th e

A m erican

m em bers
th e

or

been

th e

act

ap p o in ted

th e

and

power

a m ilitary
k in g ,

lay

in clu d ed
assem b ly ,

and
th e
a ll

th e

and

in to
each

e x ecu tiv e

p ro v in c ia l

pow ers

w ith
a

had

life

th e

to

in

U pper and
governor,

c o n sistin g

and

a house

of

of

The g o v e rn m e n t's

The p r o v i n c i a l

th e

by

1 7 9 1 .2

ap p o in ted

B esid es

co u n cx ls,

sought

lie u te n an t

who w a s

w ith

surren­

elem en ts

le g islatu re
for

in

ap p o in ted

governm ent

a

and

or p rero g ativ es.

Act of

pow ers.

m ilitia

th an

governor

h o l d e r s . 3

c o u n cil,

filled

tw o p r o v i n c e s ,

B ritain ,

le g islativ e

w ere

ra th e r

ex ecu tiv e.

ex ten siv e

they

a risto crac y
upper houses

m o n arch ial

ap p o in ted

from

w ere

B ritish

co u n cil,

th e

tru e

co lo n ia l

v ario u s

by p r o p e r t y

w ith

ex ercised

ex ecu tiv e

of

p ro v id ed

o ffice r

house

th e

Q uebec

co u n cil

elected

a

th e re

C o n stitu tio n a l

ex ecu tiv e

le g isla tiv e

real

lo w er

m istak es,

d iv id ed

Lower C an ad a,

assem b ly

th e

a risto cratic

th ro u g h

The

by

b o th

le g islatu res,

strip p e d

stren g th en

a

Though

F u rth erm o re,

such

an

church.

c o lo n ial

To p r e v e n t

Canada

lack in g

e lec te d

crow n.

dered

w h ile

by

th e

ap p o in tin g

th e

g o v e rn o r's

o fficers

o ffice rs,

governor,

of

and

p atro n ag e

th e
many

lo cal

2 G e r a l d M. C r a i g , Up p e r C a n a d a : T h e F o r m a t i v e Y e a r s ,
1 7 8 4 -1 8 4 1 ( T o ro n to : M cC le lla n d and S te w a r t, L t d . , 1963) p p .
9 - 1 7 ; J . L . F i n l a y a n d D . N. S p r a g u e , T h e S t r u c t u r e o f
C an ad ian H is to r y (S ca rb o ro u g h , O n ta rio ! P r e n ti c e - H a l1 of
Canada, L td ., 1979), p. 106.
^ N o rah S t o r y , The O x fo rd C om panion to C a n a d ia n H is t o r y
and L i t e r a t u r e (T o ro n to : O xford U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 6 7 ), p.
187.

23

o fficials,
in flu en ce

inclu d in g
a t the

ju stices

lo cal

known a s

defray

the

vided

c o s t of governm ent.

m i g h t be e x e r c i s e d
The e x e c u t i v e

of

the

B ritish
legal

reform s.

sid ered

through

purse.

b ills

its

advice.

in itia te

leg islativ e

d i s a p p r o v e d was a l l o w e d
th e assem bly,

in flu en ce.
to pass

the

th at

4

in a manner

The m ain f u n c t i o n
c o u n te rp a rt of
b ills

the

in stitu tin g

co uncil u su ally

s e n t up by t h e a s s e m b l y ,
h is

to

b u t h e w as u n d e r no

the c o lo n ia l

was t o

But the

the

the governor

P riv y C ouncil,

co u n cil,

th e governor e x erted

As f o r

th e power of

c o u n cil advised

House o f L o r d s ,

to

The r e s e r v e s w ere a l s o p r o ­
co n tro l

to seek o r follow

leg islativ e

which he c o u ld s e l l

freed o m from l e g i s l a t i v e

to th e B r i t i s h

o b lig atio n

In a d d itio n

t h e g o v e r n o r was p r o v i d e d w i t h

t h e Crown R e s e r v e s ,

to g u aran tee

sim ilar

t h e p e a c e w hose pow er and

l e v e l was e x t e n s i v e .

h i s power of a p p o in tm e n t,
lan d s,

of

con­

a n d i t w as h e r e

th at

No m e a s u r e h e
c o u n c i l a n d be com e l a w .

i t was a s d e m o c r a t i c

as

its

A m erican

c o lo n ia l co u n terp art.

M embers w e r e c h o s e n f r o m d i s t r i c t s

based

but u nlike

upon p o p u l a t i o n ,

A m erican c o l o n i e s ,

th e C anadian

pow ers

fin a n c e s.5

to g e n e ra te

assem blies
p ro v in cial

in th e

form er

a s s e m b l y h a d few

^ A i l e e n Dunham, P o l i t i c a l U n r e s t i n U p p e r C a n a d a ; 1 8 1 5 1 8 3 6 , 3 r d e d . r e v . ( T o r o n t o : M c C le lla n d and S t e w a r t , L t d . ,
1965), pp. 3 0-31, 3 5-37, 40-41;
F i n l a y and S p r a g u e , The
S t r u c t u r e , pp. 106-07.
^Du nha m,

P o l i t i c a l U n r e s t, pp.

31-34.

24
T h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l A c t o f 17 91 m e t no r e s i s t a n c e
Low er C an a d a when i t

was e n a c t e d

continued

of

p ro tectio n

g i o n and s e i g n i o r i a l
it

was a l s o

a p rovince

C anadians.

But w ith

system of

land
it

the

a s 1800 o l i g a r c h i c

th e U nited S ta te s ,
in flu en ce

gave

coming o f

the

upon C anada,

ca m e t o d o m i n a t e
p riv ileg e

the p o s itio n s

in Upper Canada.

A m erican c o l o n i e s ,
found atio n .

"a

lo c al o lig arch y

ill-b o rn ,

a sm all p ro v in c ia l
p itch fo rk ed
tio n

i n t o p o w e r . "7

lacked

the

t h e F a m ily Compact m a i n t a i n e d

of

the

a stab le

th e Fam ily

by o n e h i s t o r i a n

some w e l l - b o r n ,
whom t h e

w ith a code a l l
m

and econom ic

b e t t e r kno wn a s

has been d e s c r ib e d

so ciety ,

and

an a r i s t o c r a c y

the a r i s t o c r a c y

some s t u p i d ,

As

scru tin y .®

in ten d ed ,

c o m p o s e d o f men,

some b r i l l i a n t ,

opp o sitio n .

the g r e a t e s t

th e C anadian a r i s t o c r a c y

Compact in U pper C anada,
as

w ith

in ten se

But l ik e

the

in G re at B r i t a i n

of p o l i t i c a l

The C a n a d ia n e l i t e ,

of French-

t h e new c e n t u r y ,

tw o c o u n t r i e s

re li­

I n U pper Canada

free

encountered

As t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l A c t h a d

language,

the

the E n g lish -sp e ak in g

ex clu siv en ess

was u n d e r

g uaranteed

ten u re.

they could d ev elo p

a tte m p t to m a in ta in an o lig a r c h y
early

it

th e French-C anadian

unopposed because

p o p u latio n

because

in

its

some

cap rices
ow n,

of

had

fa c e o f grow ing o p p o s i­
a firm

h o ld upon Upper

®W. L. M o r t o n , Th e K in g d o m o f C a n a d a : A G e n e r a l H i s t o r y
fro m t h e E a r l i e s t Tim es ( T o r o n t o : M c C le lla n d and S t e w a r t ,
L t d . , 1 9 6 3 ) , p . 1 9 0 . S e e a l s o Q u e b e c G a z e t t e , 16 J u l y 1 7 9 5 .
^D u n h a m , P o l i t i c a l U n r e s t , p p . 4 1 - 4 6 ; R o b e r t F.
S a u n d e r s , " W h a t Was t h e F a m i l y C o m p a c t ? , " O n t a r i o H i s t o r y
( 1 9 5 7 ) : 1 7 3 - 7 8 ; W. S t e w a r t W a l l a c e , A C h r o n i c l e o f t h e

49

25
C a n a d a 's p o l i t i c a l

and econom ic d ev elo p m en t th ro u g h o u t th e

1820s and 30 s.
I n U pper Canada
i m m ig r a n t s and t h e
decade of

tw o m a i n i s s u e s ,

state-su p p o rted

in ten se p o l i t i c a l

the

church,

co n tro v ersy

i n f l u x o f A m erican
inaugurated

th at

led

a

to

reb ellio n .
Many A m e r i c a n s h a d m i g r a t e d
A ttracted

by c h e a p

b elief

th at

b ility

t h a n was a v a i l a b l e

S tates,

life

land,

th e Canadas a f t e r 1783.

few er In d ia n d i f f i c u l t i e s

u n d e r th e U nion J a c k o f f e r e d
in

the

A m ericans headed n o r t h

estim ated

to

e ig h t of every

in

larg e

ten p ersons

num bers.

A m erican im m ig ran ts e n jo y ed

th e p r iv i le g e s

By 1 8 1 2 a n

t h e War o f 1 8 1 2 t h e s e

B ritish

s o u g h t to d i s c o u r a g e A m erican im m ig ra tio n

th e B r itis h
d em ocratic
settlers
tra te s

th e w ar,

reg u lar

citizen s.

Not o n ly d id

end of

of

B ritish

Canadas.

sta­

i n U pper Canada w ere of

U n til

the

g reater

newly c r e a t e d U n i t e d

A m erican d e s c e n t o r b i r t h .

Toward

and t h e

how ever,
to

the

the

t h e s h e e r numbers p o s e a t h r e a t ,

but

hoped t h a t k e e p in g A m e ric an s o u t w ould p r e v e n t
notions

from e n t e r i n g .

In 1814 g r a n t s

from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w ere

were p r o h i b i t e d

land

to

f o r b i d d e n and m a g is­

from a d m i n i s t e r i n g

g ian ce w ithout s p e c ia l p erm issio n .

of

o a th s of a l l e ­

Three y e a rs

la te r

the

R e b e l l i o n i n U pper Canada (T o r o n to : G lasgow , Brook and C o .,
1 9 2 0 ) , p . 7 ; S .F . W ise , "The F a m ily C om pact: A N e g a t iv e
O l i g a r c h y , " i n The F a m ily C om pact: A r i s t o c r a c y o r
O l i g a r c h y , e d . D a v i d W. L. E a r l ( T o r o n t o : Copp C l a r k
P u b l i s h in g C o ., 1 9 6 7 ), pp. 1 4 2 -4 5 .

26
B ritish

governm ent d e c la r e d

n atu ralized

by a n a c t

y ear resid en cy

of

t h a t A m ericans

the

crow n.

became a c o n d i t i o n

actio n s

fears

produced

of Upper C a n a d a 's

who h a d h e l d e l e c t e d
th e m i l i t i a ,

lands.

B ritish
to

in 1827.

leg es

leg islatio n

to a l l p erso n s

th e governm ent,
g ian ce or

leg es

giving

in

lobbying,

the

w as f i n a l l y
the

citizen sh ip

a g ra n t of

p riv i­

lan d

from

ta k e n an o a th of a l l e ­

b e fo re 1820.

before

the

A m erican

reb ellio n ,

im portant because

o ffice

8C r a i g , U p p e r C a n a d a , p p .
T h e S t r u c t u r e , p . 9 9 ; Du nha m,
^C raig,

in

1820 w e re g iv e n t h e s e p r i v i ­

to B r ita in .

co lo n ial

or served

th e p r o v i n c i a l governm ent

from t h e a s s e m b l y 's

a n ativ e V irg in ian ,

many

residency.9

a decade
is

These

who h e l d o v e r

assem bly p r e s s u r e ,

o ffice,

the p ro v in c e

A m erican im m ig ran t i s s u e
stemmed i n p a r t

to

issu e

who h a d r e c e i v e d

after

lan d .

a c tio n s.8

fu ll B ritish

a seven-year

Though r e s o l v e d

p o sitio n s

alien

d irected

th a t arriv ed

follow ing

the

held p u b lic

settled

im m igrants

by t h e

Succum bing

co lo n ial o ffic e

enact

fo r holding

The fo rm e r A m e ric a n s,

and a p p o i n t e d

were o f f e n d e d

a seven-

to v a rio u s o aths

among f o r m e r A m e r i c a n s ,

W h a t b e c a m e kn ow n a s
resolved

F urtherm ore,

r e q u i r e m e n t and s u b s c r i p t i o n

and d e c l a r a t i o n s

h alf

c o u l d o n l y be

Upper C anada, pp.

its

th e

reso lu tio n

sending R obert R a n d a ll,

As a r e s u l t o f R a n d a l l ' s

rejected

M a itla n d 's

so lu tio n

1 1 4 -1 5 ; F i n l a y and S p r a g u e ,
P o l i t i c a l U n re s t, p. 74.
116-19.

27
and a c c e p te d

t h e more

lib eral

B esides

th e p r a c tic e

B ritain

for so lu tio n s,

was p o s s i b l e

of going

under the

A m erican im m ig ran ts

reso lu tio n

co lo n ial
sin g le

g ro w in g movement t o r e f o r m

th e problem .

over th e g o v e rn o r's

th e a lie n

the

of

issu e

showed t h a t

system .

It

also

l a r g e s t elem ent

th e p ro v in c e 's

s y s t e m — a m o v e m e n t t h a t won d e c i s i v e

head

to

reform

le ft

in

the

governm ental

v icto ries

in

t h e 1824

and 1826 a s s e m b ly e l e c t i o n s .
The o t h e r g r e a t
sp ecifically

ize

the

to

contended

lessen

in flu en ce

John S trach an ,
leg islativ e

of

the

the s ta te - s u p p o r te d

c o lo n ia l po licy
essen tial

issu e

tw e n ties

was r e l i g i o n ,

A n g lic a n Church.

th a t a state-su p p o rted

th e g ro w th o f dem ocracy and

of

th e C a t h o l i c Church

B ritish
c h u r c h w as

to n e u t r a l ­

in Lower C an a d a .

a member o f U p p e r C a n a d a ' s e x e c u t i v e

co u n cils

th e o lig a rc h y 's

and l a t e r

p o sitio n

"The g r e a t bond o f

on th e

a r c h d e a c o n o f York,
estab lish ed

a tta c h m e n t betw een th e

B r i t a i n depends e n t i r e l y

church

co lo n ies

upon th e p r o g r e s s

and

and
d efined
in 1824.
and G r e a t

in flu en ce

of

t h e Church p r i n c i p l e . " H
To g u a r a n t e e

the e x is te n c e

of

th e A n g lic a n Church,

C o n s t i t u t i o n a l A ct had p r o v i d e d an a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f
for relig io u s
clerg y .

purposes

to m a in ta in and s u p p o r t

These C lergy R eserv es c o n s is te d

lO lb id .,

p p .

the

lands

th e A nglican

of o ne-seventh of

120-22.

^ G e o r g e W. S p r a g u e , e d . , T h e J o h n S t r a c h a n L e t t e r B o o k :
1812-1834 (T o ro n to , 1 9 4 6 ), pp. x x v -x v , in Changing
P e r s p e c t i v e s i n C a n a d i a n H i s t o r y , e d s . , K.A. M ac K ird y , J . S .

28
a ll

land g ra n te d

pro v in ce
acres

after

b e f o r e 1791 and a l l

th a t d ate.

had b e en r e s e r v e d

m ent and

any r e a l

C lergy R eserv es.
vided

to

R eserves
all

revenue

the

the

But slow s e t t l e ­
from t h e g o v e rn m e n t

be r e a l i z e d

by l e a s i n g

the

r e v e n u e was p r o ­
Since

th e C lergy

i n c l u d e ma ny s m a l l t w o - h u n d r e d - a c r e p l o t s s c a t t e r e d

n u isan ce,

esp ecially

The is s u e

grew

to

land

Church o f E n g lan d .

about the p ro v in c e ,

tio n al

of o th e r

As a r e s u l t p r o v i n c i a l

support

in

By t h e m i d - 1 8 2 0 s o v e r two m i l l i o n

in Upper Canada.

the a v a i l a b i l i t y

had n u l l i f i e d

land a l l o t t e d

of

the

in

in itia te d

be a n e c o n o m i c

of

r o a d s .

relig io n

w ithout re c eiv in g

assumed a d d i ­

the p r e f e r e n t i a l

Le d by E g e r t o n R y e r s o n ,

Upper C a n a d a 's dom inant r e l i g i o u s

ag g ressiv e

12

t h e m i d - 1 8 2 0 s w he n o t h e r d e n o m i n a t i o n s

ment g iv e n to A n g lic an s.
M eth o d ists,

to

b u ild in g

state-su p p o rted

im portance

in s tre n g th

in

they proved

tre a t­

the

group,

o p p o s itio n a g a in s t John S trach an ,

the

C hurch o f England and th e C le rg y R e s e r v e s . H
R esponding
h is

an aly sis

1827.

M oir,
122.

of

to

the M eth o d ists'

the

church

situ atio n

C om pletely d is r e g a r d in g

Y .F.

Z oltvany

attack s,

(T oronto:

the

J.M .

S trachan

in U pper Canada

facts

issued
in

t h a t confirm ed

D ent and S o n s ,

the

1967),

p.

l 2c r a i g , U p p e r C a n a d a , p . 1 3 2 ; R o b e r t G o u r l a y ,
S t a t i s t i c a l A ccount o f u p p e r C anada, 2 v o l s . (1822, r e p r i n t
e d . , New Y o r k : J o h n s o n R e p r i n t C o r p o r a t i o n , 1 9 6 6 ) , 1 : 2 8 0 .
l^Craig, Upper Canada, pp. 165-74.

29
m in o rity

statu s

of

S trachan s ta te d
s h o u l d go t o
in

th e A nglican

th at

the A n g lic an s

the p ro v in c e .

h o stile

the

he added,

civ il

of

t h e y had

the R eserves

th e m ost c le r g y

e x c e p t i o n o f a fe w C h u r c h o f

came f r o m t h e U . S .

to

and c o n g r e g a t i o n s ,

from any s a l e

because

W ith th e

S cotland m in is te rs ,
m in isters

revenue

clerg y

"the o th e r d isse n tin g
and d i s s e m i n a t e d

and r e l i g i o u s

d o ctrin e

in stitu tio n s

of

the

m other c o u n tr y ." ! ^
H aving r e c e i v e d
S tr a c h a n 's

rep o rt,

co n tro v ersy

are

same t i m e ,

the

assem bly

and c o n c lu d e d

an e s t a b l i s h e d
jects

a six-thousand-nam e p e t i t i o n

th at

a v a st m ajo rity

d issen ters,

m u s t be i n

lam entable

a group o f

sig n atu re p e titio n

governm ent to

in

the

reform ers

thousand

alien

c ritic a l

E g erto n R y e rso n 's

before

w hile

the

forces

of

to England.

a parliam en tary

governm ent s i t u a t i o n
d ev o ted m ost of

of

its

the

P o l i t i c a l U nrest,

At th e

the p r o v in c ia l
in England,

who h a d

O ther p e t i ­

co lo n ial o ffic e ,
circu lated

Inundated

by t h i s

com m ittee r e s e a rc h e d

in Canada.
atten tio n

the sub­

and s e n t an e i g h t

b ro th er

at

of

Though t h e

to

p.

the

com m ittee

th e problem s

91.

is

the s u c c e s s f u l

t h e Church of E ngland a l s o

t h a t w ere s e n t

flood of paper,

to

th ere

sta te ."

a H o u s e o f Commons c o m m i t t e e .

from Lower C an ad a a r r i v e d

l^D unham ,

retu rn ed

controv ersy

tio n s

p etitio n s

in w hich

from w hich

used

placed

"a c o u n t r y

the r e l i g i o u s

church

strateg y

it

in v estig ated

p ro testin g

i n Lower

30
Canada,

it

recom m ended

b en efit

from

th e

A re la ted
was

1827
to

issu e

ed u catio n .

prom inent
th e

led

o p en in g .

In

p ro p o sals

for

Though
A n g lican

th e

1832

w ith

sch o o ls

p roblem s

th at

p ro v in ce

th ro u g h o u t

d eclared

in

source

th e
of

th e

co n tro v ersy

In

A n g lican
and

co lleg e

d elay

a

au th o rizin g

assem bly
The

took

p ro v in ce.

w ith

le g islativ e

B ritish

reduced

M eth o d ists

th e

him

adm in­

th e
co n tro ­

s c h o o l's

co u n cil

rejected

th e

stip en d

peace

1830s.

A n g lican
a ll

th e

th e

stip en d

p aid

settled

many o f

th e ir

governm ent

state-su p p o rted

th e

15

A n g lican s

S trach an

to

sh o u ld

c o l l e g e . 16

governm ent

d istu rb ed

1840,

th e

p ro v in cial

and

in

th e

governor

th e

R eserves

th e

th e

to

th e

a co lleg e

th e

a

th e

sm all

1820s

and

accep ted

years,

th e

u n d ertak in g .

m eantim e

a secu lar

clerg y ,

d ifferen c es

p o litic a l

At once

p ro v in cial

in

g en erated

a ch arter

th e

clerg y

R e s e r v e s .

U pper Canada

assa iled

P ro testan t

C lerg y

ad v an cin g

teach ers.

th e

a ll

th e

th a t

issu ed

in

and

M eth o d ists
versy

in

crow n

istra to rs

of

T hroughout

ro le

esta b lish

sale

th at

in

1833),

church
and

(th ey
th e

rem ain ed

tra n q u ility

even
C lerg y
u n reso lv ed
of

As G o v e r n o r P o u l e t t
C hurch

tro u b les

"has
in

been,

th e

for

the
Thom son
many

p ro v in ce;

th e

1 5 C r a i g , U p p e r C a n a d a , p p . 1 7 5 - 7 6 ; A. G. D o u g h t y a n d N.
S t o r y , e d s . , D ocum ents R e l a t i n g to t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l
H is to r y of C anada, 1819-1828 (O ttaw a, 1 9 3 5 ), pp. 379-80 in
M acK irdy, M o ir, & Z o ltv a n y , C h an g in g P e r s p e c t i v e s , p . 123.
l^craig,

Upp e r Canada,

pp.

182-85.

31
n e v er-failin g
sp rin g

w atchw ord a t

of d is c o rd ,

B oth th e
fu eled

relig io u s

from th e

actio n s

crown s t r e n g t h e n
"gentlem en"

M ackenzie.

the

cou n try

should

be p l a c e d

in 1 8 1 9 .I 8

D uring

in p o l i t i c a l

in 1795,

a new j o u r n a l ,

the p r o v in c ia l

governm ent soon r e f u s e d

pp.

unpopular
th at

cap ital.

179-81,

19

w a s W i l l i a m L.

M a c k e n z i e mo ve d t o
In 1824 M ackenzie

R eacting

D uring

(la te r

to

the

of M ac k e n z ie 's p r e s s ,

t o p a y hi m f o r p r i n t i n g

186-87;

th at

p o s i t i o n s .

the C o lo n ia l A dv ocate.

(an im p o r ta n t s o u rc e of

l? Ib id .,
97-101.

the

who u r g e d

s a m e y e a r h e m oved f r o m Q u e e n s t o n t o Y o r k

deb ates

when

in 1817,

from t h e

most v o c a l c r i t i c s

v i c i o 'i s n e s s and p a r t i s a n s h i p

pp.

start

th e p r o v i n c i a l governm ent

i n 1820 and became a s h o p k e e p e r .

T oronto),

issue

t h e C hurch o f E n g lan d and b e l i e v e d

Born in I r e l a n d

began p r in t in g

its

of G overnor M aitlan d ,

One o f M a i t l a n d ' s

Canada

tow ard

r e f o r m movement drew s t r e n g t h

and a r b i t r a r y

only

f i r s t got

a S c o t who h a d come t o C a n a d a

and was e x p e l l e d

th e

c o n t r o v e r s y and t h e a l i e n

up much r e s e n t m e n t

1820s the

the p e rp e tu a l

and h a t r e d . " ! ?

a r e f o r m movement t h a t

R obert G ourlay,
stirre d

strife

the h u s tin g s;

the

the
assem bly

income f o r e a r l y

Dunham,

P o litic a l U n rest,

l 0 Du nham, P o l i t i c a l U n r e s t , p p . 5 1 - 6 1 ; F r e d C o y n e H a m i l ,
" T he R eform Movement i n U p p e r C a n a d a , " i n P r o f i l e s o f a
P r o v i n c e : S t u d i e s i n The H i s t o r y o f O n t a r i o ( T o r o n to :
O n ta r io H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , 196 7 ), pp. 9 -1 9 .
l^D unham ,

Po l i t i c a l

U n re s t, p.

103.

32
new spapers).

M ackenzie c o u n te re d

g ratu ito u sly .
in

attack ed

had been a c q u i t t e d

O utraged,

of

broke

M a c k e n z ie 's p r e s s

a mem be r o f

follow ing

was k i l l e d .

tossed

fin an ces

became a c e n t r a l

fig u re

in

it

is

and gro w in g

by i t s

reasoned

th at

' o l d w higs of

"nor of

to

England'

overthrew
th e bay.

is

not

any d i s t a n t

M ackenzie
On 3

the C o n s titu tio n a l
it

be s u b m i t t e d

th at

" th e exam ple of

and sons

is

to ."

not

freedom ,

D efining

a

im posed upon a p e o p l e
a u th o rity ,"

M ackenzie

th e A m erican c o l o n i e s

p r o v i d e d ample p r o o f

th at

the

plus

the

im posi­

o f s u c h a p s e u d o - c o n s t i t u t i o n a l g o v e r n m e n t was wrong

and r e s i s t a n c e

to

s u c h a s y s t e m was l a w f u l and r i g h t . "21

M a c k e n z ie 's e d i t o r i a l
the

support,

not a c o n stitu tio n ,

a s an e le m e n t

governm ent,

opponent

in to

t h e r e f o r m movement.

a g o v e rn m e n t w hich w i l l

co n stitu tio n

tio n

is

type

who

w o n . 2 0

J a n u a r y 1828 t h e A d v o c a t e , r e f e r r i n g
"th is

o ffices,

some o f h i s

W ith

im proved

in which h i s

th e A d v o c a te 's

f o r dam ages and

charged

papers

th e F am ily C om pact,

a group of governm ent c l e r k s

in to
and

a duel

M ackenzie su ed

A ct,

h is

The A d v o c a t e w as on t h e v e r g e o f b a n k r u p t c y

1826 when i t

o fficials

by d i s t r i b u t i n g

r e f o r m movement e n jo y e d

in clu d in g

M a itla n d 's

inau g u rated
several

a y e ar during

w hich

im portant trium phs,

d i s m i s s a l and an e l e c t o r a l

v icto ry .

2 0 i b i d . , p p . 1 0 7 -0 8 ; W illia m K i l b o u r n , The F i r e b r a n d ;
W i l l i a m Lyon M a c k e n z ie and t h e R e b e l l i o n i n U p p er C anada
( T o ro n to : C la r k e , I r w in and C o ., 1 9 5 6 ), pp. 4 7 -4 9 .
21colonial A d v o c a t e ,

3 January

18 2 8 .

33
Though th e

reform ers

they

lacked

s till

co n tro l

assem bly p a sse d
vetoed,

reform

the

assem bly

to

in cluding

could

law s.

w hose

M a itla n d 's

so cial

in creasin g

p o litic a l

v icto rio u s

in

the

1 8 3 0

d ifferen ces

for

B etter

led

sh o w t h e

in te rn a l

less

of

the p r o s p e r ity
facto r

the T o rie s

were

a setb ack ,

th eir

than
borrow ing

E n ergy and e n t e r p r i s e

tradem ark.

S ince

th is

blamed p r o v i n c i a l

w as n o t
leaders

the
for

and U p p e r C a n a d a .

im provem ents w ere c o n t i n u a l l y

econom ic d i s s i m i l a r i t i e s

P o litical

proved

t h e i r program ,

co u n tries.

22ounham,

but

and o r g a n i z e d

betw een th e U n ite d S t a t e s

and

and

t h a t a Tory

a personal

had e x p e r i e n c e d

th e R eform ers

coun­

e l e c t i o n s . 2 2

from A m erican p r a c t i c e s .

in Canada,

to

successor,

and z e a l

they r e f in e d

w ere becom ing an A m erican

cited

apparent

th e

1 8 2 8 - 3 0

le g islativ e

As a r e s u l t ,

assem bly

in creased .

t h e i r Tory o p p o n e n ts,

Land p o l i c i e s

th e

h im f r o m b e i n g

u n rest.

Though th e R efo rm ers

th e

Between

C o l b o r n e w as a s t a u n c h T o r y

urb an ity

o f U pper Canada p r e v e n te d

case

leg islativ e

to a b o lis h p rim o g e n itu re

th e Tory c au se .

in te lle ct,

rep eated ly

th at

they not

a c c o m p l i s h more t h a n a r e f o r m o n e ,

to

effectiv en ess

b u t the

N ot o n l y was i t

G overnor Jo h n C o lb o rn e,
a lia b ility

strin g s,

b ills

acts

in th e assem bly,

Not o n ly d id

b lo c k any re fo rm s .

fifty -th ree

jury

a m ajo rity

any r e a l pow er.

th e governm ent p u rs e

c o u n c il con tin u ed

c il

o btained

U n r e s t, pp.

1 1 5 - 2 0 .

betw een th e

tw o

34
A m erican la n d s w ere b o th r e a d i l y
cases

fu lly

n eith er

surveyed.

sim ple

nor ch eap .)

the p ro sp e ctiv e
o ffice

fees,

lan d

asked,

state

and he i s

but tens

v irtu e

of

lands

th at

M aitland
fu tu re

th eir

le t
the

lo rd

U pper Canada
p o licy ,

a ffid a v its,

of

lacked
of

in flu en ce

lessen in g
speeding

torm ented w ith

before

in

h is

the

th e C lergy

j n 1824 t h e

the

th e C lergy

But John S tr a c h a n 's

by

a n d C ro w n R e s e r v e s —

guarded.

attachm ent

of

lan d

a c r e s w ere n o t a v a i l a b l e

fin a n c ial o b lig atio n

up t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n

m i n u t e s . "23

a com prehensive

jealo u sly

lin k of

p a n y w as t o be g i v e n a l l

he g e t s

appear a t

in f i f t e e n

t h e C a n a d a Company f o r

its

R eserves.

so il

not only

and t h e M o th er C o u n tr y ."24
form ation of

life

t h e C row n R e s e r v e s a s
and

in 1826,

c o u n c il days,

h is

thousands of

the o lig a rc h y

in most

he w a n t s , — t h e m o d e r a t e p r i c e

th e

in clu sio n

regarded

"is

observed

h im go t o M i c h i g a n ,
lo t

and

i n C a n a d a w as

As o n e c r i t i c

i s weaned o u t o f

d o n e ...b u t

o ffice,

lan d

b u y e r i n U pper Canada

p etitio n s,

l o c a t i o n s . . . and
b u sin ess

(P urchasing

av ailab le

the

G overnor
"b e st source

of

betw een th e P r o v in c e
crown a llo w e d

the

the dual purpose of
to

the p ro v in ce

reserves.
and h a l f

o p p o sitio n

to

and

The la n d

com­

t h e Crow n
th e proposed

23colonial A d v o c a t e , 18 May 1 8 2 6 ; Gerald M. Craig, " T h e
American Impact on the Upper Canadian Reform Movement before
1 8 3 7 , " Canadian Historical R e v i e w , 29 No. 4 (December 1 9 4 8 ) ,
pp. 3 3 4 - 3 5 .

24craig,

Upper Canada, p. 134.

35
sellin g
from

p rice

receiv e

p a rt of

for

to

th e w ith d ra w a l of

th e c o m p an y 's p u rv ie w .

tu a lly

cial

led

the

a m illio n

c o m p an y 's

governm ent,
its

C onsidering
the

su p p o rt of

lik e

the

border,

co n stru ctio n

d eclared

to

attacked

to

Even th o u g h
the p ro v in ­

t h e C a n a d a Company

t h e g o v e r n m e n t w he n i t

flu rry
is

of

in tern al

no w o n d e r t h a t

in U pper Canada

R eferring

t h a t w ere s o l d . )

even­

fell

d o m i n a t i o n . 25

it

M ackenzie u rg e d

jects.

acres

s a l e s w ere c o n t r i b u t e d

under the o l i g a r c h y 's

across

( T h e C a n a d a Company d i d

th e R eform ers

fin an cial

the C lergy R eserves

concerned

the p ro v in ce

to

the E rie C anal,

im provem ent p r o j e c t s
th e absence of such
th e R eform ers.

undertake

Men

s im ila r pro­

th e C o lo n ia l A dvocate

in 1824,

T h e s t a t e o f New Y o r k h a s g i v e n t o t h e w o r l d a u s e f u l
l e s s o n — i t h a s s h o w n w h a t a m i l l i o n o f f r e e m e n may a n d
c an e f f e c t , in a c o u n tr y w here t h e i r freedom i s b u i l t
on a s o l i d b a s i s , w here th e c i t i z e n s u n i t e
t a l e n t and a d d r e s s w i t h
p ru d e n c e and p r o f i t s in
c o m m e r c i a l t r a n s a c t i o n s . . . . 2 *>
O thers

a g re e d w ith M ackenzie.

n eighboring
to

states

com m ercial

co lo n ial

Some b u s i n e s s m e n

in terests,

and q u e s t i o n e d

s y s t e m m a r k e d by e x t r a v a g a n c e ,
from i m p e r i a l a u t h o r i t i e s ,

tio n

lo cal

and

the adequacy of a
u n p red ictab le

132-38.

2 ^ C o l o n i a l A d v o c a t e , 27 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 2 4 ;
A m erican I m p a c t," p. 339.
2^C raig,

"The A m erican I m p a c t,"

p.

in ter­

in su ffic ie n t atten ­

n e e d s .2?

2 5ibid., p p .

to

whose g o v e rn m e n ts w ere o f t e n s y m p a t h e t i c

ference
to

looked

339.

C raig ,

"The

36
B u t e v e n w he n t h e p r o v i n c i a l
im provem ents

it

was c r i t i c i z e d .

n e c tin g Lakes E rie
E rie C anal,

the p ro v in ce.
in

its

M o re i m p o r t a n t l y ,

f a r m e r s who w e r e u n a b l e
g rain

c a n a l s were

it

w hile

did

to en jo y

to e a s te r n m arkets

abysm al ro a d s.

in 1829.

U nlike

the
to

c h a r g e d m ism an ag em en t and c o r r u p t i o n

m e r c h a n t s and v e s s e l o w n e rs,

th e ir

opened

con­

t h e W e l l a n d b r o u g h t no p r o s p e r i t y

C ritics

b u ild in g .

The W e ll a n d C a n a l ,

and O n t a r i o ,

how ever,

governm ent prom oted

little

the

because of

" t o o much i n a d v a n c e o f

for p ro v in cial

b en efits

As o n e v i s i t o r o b s e r v e d

G overnm ent s p e n t o n e - h a l f

th e W elland h e lp e d

the

of sh ipping

the p r o v in c e 's

in A p ril

18 3 8 ,

the

country;

and had

the

t h e money i n o p e n i n g

c o m m u n ic a tio n s and m aking good r o a d s ,

t h e p r o v i n c e would

h a v e b e e n much m o r e b e n e f i t e d . " 2 8
A m erican p o l i t i c a l p r a c t i c e s
R eform ers.

In t h e i r

also

1828 p e t i t i o n

to

R e fo rm e rs demanded a g o v e rn m e n t t h a t
o p in io n .
little
tio n

of

E lectin g

v a l u e w he n a n o l i g a r c h y

nors

to

the

crown,

responded

C anadian
the

to p u b lic

t h e a s s e m b ly was o f

h eld a l l

the

jobs,

the

d irec­

t h e p r o v i n c i a l e co n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t and a m onopoly

of pu b lic
n atio n .

rep resen tativ es

in flu en ced

land

th a t b en efitted

a m inority

The A m e r ic a n s y s t e m o f f e r e d

and b o th h o u s e s o f s t a t e

the v o te rs.

R eform ers

2 8 l b i d .; M arry at, D iary
M. L o w e r , C o l o n y t o N a t i o n
L t d . , 1 977), p. 234.

rem edies.

leg islatu res

suggested

th at

relig io u s

the

denom i­

S tate

gover­

w ere e l e c t e d

by

leg islativ e

i n A m e r i c a , p p . 2 0 0 - 0 1 ; A r t h u r R.
( T o r o n t o , M c C le lla n d and S t e w a r t ,

37
c o u n c i l be e l e c t e d

and s e r v e

a s an u p p e r h o u se s i m i l a r

to

t h e A m e r i c a n s e n a t e . 29
R eform ers
o fficia ls

to

criticize.
average

com pared

those of

the s a l a r i e s

th eir

A m erican s t a t e

$2,000 a n n u a l l y ,

re c e iv e d o v e r $ 1 5 ,0 0 0 ,
p a y and e x p e n s e s .

of

th eir

co u n terp arts

governm ent

a n d f o u n d much t o

g o v e r n o r s w ere p a id

w hile

the p ro v in c ia l

and an a d d i t i o n a l

The c h i e f

ju stic e

governor

$7,000 a s m i l i t a r y

o f U pper Canada

received

$7,000 a n n u a l l y ;

$5,000.

T h e i r A m erican c o u n t e r p a r t s were p a id

and $900 r e s p e c t i v e l y .
receiv ed

sym pathetic

p o p u l a t i o n . 30

low er ju d g e s,

approxim ately

a tten tio n

from a r a t h e r

e le c tio n of

by b a l l o t .

ju ries

appointm ent of

ju ries

R eform ers a ls o

favored

an end

resu lted
the

(The R e f o r m e r s '
in b ia s e d

use of

th e

the

voice v o tin g ,

but also

the

ju rie s.)

th at

The
a s was

R eform ers

im prove

th e ir p o li­

in tim id atio n asso ciated

make p r o v i n c i a l

and th e

argued

secret b allo t

b a l l o t w ould n o t o n l y

s u p p o r t by e n d i n g

from

to p rim o g e n itu r e

done in m ost n e ig h b o r in g A m erican s t a t e s .

tical

im po v erish ed

O t h e r Reform p ro g ra m s w ere d e r i v e d
by u r g i n g

th at

o n ly $5,000

These e v id en c e s of e x tra v ag a n c e

A m erican p r a c t i c e s

b elieved

on t h e

electio n s

w ith

more p e a c e ­

f u l . 31

2 ^ C r a i g , Up p e r C a n a d a , p p .
Im p a c t," p. T45.

19 3 - 9 4 ;

3® C raig, "The A m erican I m p a c t,"
P o l i t i c a l U n r e s t, pp. 39-40.
31C raig,

"The A m e ric an I m p a c t ,"

p.
pp.

C raig,
340;

"The A m erican

Dunham,

340-43.

38
Even th o u g h
d uring
siv e

the e a r ly

group.

cized

1830s

posed

But as

a m ajo rity

prom ise of
c ially

for

long
of

p ro v in c e 's

as

both

the

had c r i t i ­

n a tu r e of

th is

tactic

in flu x of B r itis h

by f i f t y

th eir

showed l i t t l e

im m igrants,

w hich

increased

new f o l l o w e r s .

tie s.

espe­
the

p e r c e n t betw een 1 8 3 0 -3 3 ,
S upporters

pro­

who

th o u g h t o f A m erican dom inance o r

severance of B r itis h

cohe­

o f A m e r i c a n d e s c e n t com­

and A n g l i c a n I r i s h ,

p o p u latio n

t h e i r program s

the T o rie s

rep u b lican

settlers

The

th e T o rie s w ith

d etested

the

tw en ties

th e p rovince

success.

P ro testan t

so lid ified

th e y were n ot a s in g le - m in d e d ,

T hroughout the

th e R eform ers

program .

v ided

the R eform ers

the

The R eform m ovement was a l s o

w e a k e n e d by t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f E g e r t o n R y e r s o n a n d t h e
M ethodist C onference,

w h i c h made p e a c e w i t h

in 1833.

tim e,

A t t h e same

R eform ers'

ranks.

a d iv is io n occurred

The d o g m a tic M ack en zie,

cerned w ith p r i n c i p l e s

than p ro c e ss e s ,

fro m t h e more m o d e r a t e

factio n

m o d e r a t e s w e r e no l e s s

c ritic a l

more c o n c e rn e d w ith
resu lts,

rath er

led

th e p r a c tic e

of

w ith in

the

a lw a y s more c o n ­

was s l o w l y

sp littin g

by R o b e r t B a l d w i n .

Th e

t h e F a m ily Com pact,

but

o f g o v e rn m e n t and

its

t h a n m o r a l p u r i t y . 32

Even th o u g h he was s t i l l
leader,

th e governm ent

M ac k e n z ie 's

t h e m o v e m e n t's

accu satio n s

in sp iratio n al

and demands o f t e n

em barrassed

th e m oderate R eform ers.

E xpelled

from and

3 2F i n l a y
Canada, pp.

and S p r a g u e , The S t r u c t u r e , p. 118; C r a i g , Upper
2 2 7 -3 2; H a m il, "The R eform M ovem ent," p p . 1 5 - 1 6 .

39
reelected

to

the T o ry -c o n tro lle d

assem bly

th e perio d

1831-33,

H is b a t t l e s

helped

in

t h e 1834 a ss e m b ly e l e c t i o n s .

tim e

for

M a c k e n z ie became
u nify

M ackenzie as
o ffen siv e

th eir

ag ain st

c o n tro l of

spokesman,

they

the p r o v in c ia l

a lb eit

the

p o litic a l

v ig ilan ce

of

the

C anadian A llia n c e

le g isla tu re ."

c a l educatio n
form ed

the

in clu d ed

a l li a n c e w ith

co u n cil,

another

g o v e r n m e n t . 3 3

co lo n ial o ffic e
larizatio n

of

a s s o c ia tio n 's

the

w hile

serving

33craig,

the

undue

affairs

34

as T o r o n to 's

members

v ario u s
the

as

the

D uring

estab lish ed

branches

first

Upper C anada, pp.

to

m ayor,

secu­

c o n tro l of

secretary .

R eelected

goals

by t h e

the p ro v in c e ,

and a s s e m b ly

th at

le g isla ­

in terferen ce
of

of a

to p o l i t i ­

tracts,

a b o litio n of

M ackenzie s e r v e d

the A llia n c e

p r o v i n c e .

them selves

The A l l i a n c e ' s

lo cal

revenues.

the d u tie s

the p ro ceed in g s

p a m p h le ts and

governm ent,

corresponding

s e v e r a l m onths
of

in

in Upper Canada

ex ercise

by w a t c h i n g

th e C lergy R eserves

th e p ro v in c e 's

p arts

"to

d isc o n tin u a n c e of

the
W ith

any s i m i l a r a s s o c i a t i o n s

i n Lower C a n a d a .

resp o n sib le

tem p o rarily ,

assem bly.

launched

B esides d ev o tin g

by d i s t r i b u t i n g

a clo se

w ere form ed

tiv e

com m ittee,

during

As i n 1 8 2 8 ,

I n D ecem b e r t h e more r a d i c a l R e f o r m e r s
organized

tim es

t h e m o v e m e n t's m a r t y r .

the R eform ers,

R e f o r m e r s won o v e r w h e l m i n g

four

the

next

i n many

th e 1834 a ss e m b ly
M a c k e n z ie became

220-21

3 4 i b i d . , p. 222;
C h a r l e s L i n d s e y , The L i f e and Tim es of
W i l l i a m Lyon M a c k e n z i e , 2 v o l s . ( T o r o n t o ; Sam uel P i k e ,
1863), 1:319.

40
chairman of a newly created committee on grievances and
undertook a grand inquisition on the province's executive.
His committee produced a five-hundred-page report,

entitled

the Seventh Grievance Report, which the assembly accepted
without reading.

A blanket indictment against most

provincial officers,

the report came back to haunt moderate

Reformers when its many factual errors were exposed.
Britain,

however,

the colonial secretary presumed

In

the report

characterized the actual conditions in Upper Canada and
replaced Governor

C o l b o r n e .

35

But a new governor was not the answer.

Mackenzie and

the radicals believed Upper Canada could not flourish until
it had a written constitution and an elected governor.
Convinced that the discontent in Upper Canada was
widespread,

the crown directed Colborne's successor,

Francis Bond Head,
correcting abuses

Sir

to cooperate with the assembly in
in every possible way short of seriously

changing the basic form of government.

But the nature of

the new governor guaranteed that antagonism would prevail
rather than

s u b s i d e .

36

Historians have regarded Sir Francis Bond Head's
appointment as one of the strangest ever made by the colo­
nial

office.

37

a

former military engineer with no colonial

35craig, Upper C a n a d a , pp. 2 2 4 - 2 5 .
36ibid., pp.

225-26,

37ibid., p. 2 3 2 .

233.

41
or p o litic a l
v o te),

exp erien ce

Head p r o v e d

assignm ent t h a t
sworn

(he had n e v e r e v e n b o t h e r e d

the w orst p o ssib le

req u ired

ap pointee

An a r d e n t f o e o f d e m o c r a c y ,

concessions

rad icals

"cap tio u s
p e o p l e .

"38

^ m onth a f t e r

th r e e m oderate R eform ers,
execu tiv e

co u n cil.

c o n s u lt w ith

assem bly

he b e l i e v e d

be a v o i d e d ,

in an e f f o r t

in cluding

o b lig atio n

led

responded w ith

ta n c e of an e x e c u tiv e
S h o rtly

th ereafter

m otion,

an a c t i o n

to

to w in th e

R o b ert B aldw in,

th at

to

the c o u n c il

the

inform ed

u n d e r th e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l Act
of p u b lic

th eir

b u sin ess.

resig n atio n .

a reso lu tio n

council

the

th at

and th e

c o u n c i l a p p e a r t o be a n u s u r p e r o f

pow er and

to

i n a u g u r a t i o n he a p p o i n t e d

them on i t e m s

r e p l y ma de t h e
e x e c u tiv e 's

his

to

S e v e r a l weeks l a t e r

th e governor of h is
to

were

assem bly p a sse d o v e r

He was

to o k an im m ediate d i s l i k e

th e R eform ers.
to the

f o r an

d e l i c a c y and d ip lo m a c y .

i n o n 15 J a n u a r y 18 36 a n d

to

em phasizing

to a d v ise

assem bly

adopted

th e y w ere n o t

H e ad 's
the
The
the

im por­

the g overnor.
a lack of co n fid en ce

leg ally

allow ed

to

t a k e .39
In m id -A p ril

an a ss e m b ly co m m itte e

m a t t e r recom m ended t h a t
means o f e n f o r c i n g
assem bly v o ted

38ounham,
39I b i d .,

to

the

assem bly w ith h o ld s u p p ly

its

w ishes.

stop

funding

On 18 A p r i l

169-71.

the
as a

1836 t h e

th e g o v e rn m e n t's o p e r a t i o n s —

P o l i t i c a l U n r e s t, p.
pp.

in v estig atin g

168.

42
the

first

tim e s u p p ly

Head r e s p o n d e d
unprecedented
sch o o ls,

people

re ta lia to ry
bridges

first

a s s e m b ly and

m easure,

halted

and a l l p u b l i c

co lo n ial

ensuing

vig o ro u sly .
A m ericans,

in an

a l l m onies

for

im provem ent.

He t h e n

governor to appeal d i r e c t l y

assem bly

L abeling
he warned

w ith B r i t a i n

sizin g

the

in Upper Canada.

to

the

i n a n e l e c t i o n . 40

In th e

tie s

by d i s s o l v i n g

roads,

became t h e

had b e en w i t h h e l d

th at

th e R eform ers
th at

if

the e le c tio n

of

regim ent of m i l i t i a

d a r e . "41

the T o rie s

H e ad d r a m a t i c a l l y

them

lo st,

suffered

and

the p ro v in c e 's

C o n tin u ally

d eclared ,

in u p p er Canada,

[A m erican i n v a d e r s ]

S h o c k e d by t h e

th e R eform ers

rep u b lican s

was b e tw e e n a l o y a l p e o p l e

factio n ,

prom ulgate— l e t

H e ad c a m p a i g n e d

w ould s o o n be b r o k e n .

d islo y al
every

electio n s

e x e c u tiv e 's

"In

empha­
and a

the

name

I p u b licly

come i f

aggressive

th ey
cam paign,

an o v e rw h elm in g d e f e a t and w ere l e f t

w i t h a two t o o n e d i s a d v a n t a g e

in

the

new a s s e m b l y .

Even

M a c k e n z i e w a s d e f e a t e d . 42
Though t h e R e fo rm e rs
w o u l d be m o r e b e n e f i c i a l
th e only

thing

40I b i d . ,

pp.

and T o r i e s
to

claim ed

the p ro v in c e ,

t h a t was c e r t a i n

was t h a t

t h e i r program s

by t h e m i d - 1 8 3 0 s
a decade of

171-72.

4 i F re d L a n d o n , W e s te r n O n t a r i o and th e A m e ric an F r o n t i e r
(T o ro n to : R yerson P r e s s , 1 9 4 1 ), p. 163; C ra ig , Upper C anada,
pp. 236-38.
4 2 Dunham,

P o l i t i c a l U n r e s t, pp.

17 3 - 7 4 .

43
p o litic a l

t u r m o i l had

stag n ate.

An i n f l u x

C a n a d a 's p o p u l a t i o n
p ro v in ce,

l e f t Upper Canada e c o n o m ic a lly
of

t o a l m o s t 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 by 1 8 3 7 . 4 3

w hich b o r d e re d

was l a r g e l y

on f o u r o f

w ild ern ess.

and w h a te v e r in d u s tr y
C a n a d a 's

i m m i g r a n t s had b o o s t e d U pper

ex isted

w as

backw ardness s tr e tc h e d

expressed

fiv e G reat Lakes,

Most U pp er C a n a d ia n s w ere f a r m e r s ,

T hroughout th e 1830s v i s i t o r s ,
B ritain ,

the

But the

in

a ll

its

infancy.

across

esp ecially

sh o ck and dism ay a t

Upper

the p ro v in ce.
those

from G r e a t

the c o n d itio n s

th ey

en countered.
U p p e r C a n a d a ' s c a p i t a l was Y o rk .
O n tario ,

Y ork was f o u n d e d

p ro v in cial

assem bly g a th e re d

rem ained s m a ll u n t i l
im m igrants,
T oronto,

in 1793.

and

the e a r ly

in 1834,

th e p o p u la tio n

Four y e a r s
for

1830s.

the

on L a k e
la te r

first

stood

a t six

the

tim e.

York

T h e n came a n i n f l u x

w he n i t w a s i n c o r p o r a t e d

E n g l i s h w o m a n A nn a J a m e s o n ,
V ice C h a n c e llo r of

there

L ocated

of

as

t h o u s a n d . 44

w ife of R obert Jam eson,

the C ourt of E q u ity , v i s i t e d

first

the c i t y

in

Decem ber 1836 an d w r o t e

th a t the c a p it a l

was "a l i t t l e

ill-

b u ilt

at

a frozen

w ith

t o w n o n low l a n d ,

one v ery u gly

church,

ment o f f i c e s ,

b u ilt

of

the

w ith o u t
starin g

bottom of

tow er o r s t e e p l e ;
red

b rick ,

bay,

som e g o v e r n ­

in th e most

4 3 j . B a r t l e t B r e b n e r , C a n a d a : A Modern H i s t o r y , 2nd e d .
r e v . (A n n A r b o r : U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n P r e s s , 1 9 7 0 ) p .
228.
4 4 E d w i n C. G u i l l e t , E a r l y L i f e i n U p p e r C a n a d a ( 1 9 3 3 ,
r e p r i n t e d ., T o ro n to : U n iv e rs ity of T oronto P r e s s , 1963),
322.

p.

44
ta stele ss
m onths
fifth

v u lg ar s ty le

in T o ro n to ,
rate

im ag in ab le."

she lik en ed

p ro v in cial

the

town w i t h

A fte r spending
city

to

two

"a f o u r t h

or

the p re te n s io n of a c a p it a l

c i t y ." 45
C onditions
those

in

border

the

cap ital.

in-the

"ignorance,
v ailed

th ro u g h o u t the prov ince d if f e r e d

sp rin g

V isitin g
of 1837,

reck lessn ess,

i n an a r e a w here

cleared ,
border,

fe rtile

N ia g a ra along

from

th e A m erican

J a m e s o n w o n d e r e d why

despondency

and

in eb riety "

t a x e s w e r e s o low a n d t h e

and c u l t i v a t e d ,

B u f f a l o was a l l

little

"b u stle,

esp ecially

pre­

lan d

wh en a c r o s s

the

a n i m a t i o n and

a c t i v i t y . " 46
T rav ellin g
O n tario ,

from H a m ilto n ,

to D e t r o i t ,

co u n ties,

of

of an a c c e s s i b l e

keeps

a n d few s i g n s

th e a g r i c u l t u r a l p o t e n t ia l

so u th ern
road,

th is

Jam eson o b serv ed

the

Between B r a t f o r d
she

of

22,

69.

1,

30.

produce,

ign orant

The t e r r i b l e

im ag ined."

great

" th e want of a l in e

im provem ents

W inter S t u d i e s , pp.

4 6 i b i d ., pp.

roads,

of p ro g ress.

in the

roads

con­

in Upper Canada.

and London Ja m e so n c o n f r o n t e d

"never beheld o r

45jam eson,

in tern al

o f Lake

the p ro v in c e 's

th at

m a g n i f i c e n t c o u n t r y p o o r and

need f o r

tip

mark f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l

m idst of unequal c a p a b i l i t i e s ."
firm ed

the w estern

Jam eson endured m is e ra b le

e x p a n s e s o f untam ed w i l d e r n e s s
R egarding

at

roads

th at

45
T h e r o a d s w e r e t h r o u g h o u t s o e x e r a b l y ba d t h a t no
w ords can g i v e you an i d e a o f them .
We o f t e n s a n k
i n t o m u d -h o les above th e a x l e . . . .
By t h e t i m e
we a r r i v e d a t t h e t o w n s h i p o f B l a n d f o r d , my h a n d s
w e r e s w e l l e d a n d b l i s t e r e d by c o n t i n u a l l y g r a s p i n g
w i t h a l l my s t r e n g t h a n i r o n b a r i n f r o n t o f t h e
v e h i c l e , t o p r e v e n t m y s e lf from b e in g f l u n g o u t ,
a n d my l i m b s a c h e d w o e f u l l y . 47
J a m e s o n w as n o t a l o n e
th e U nited S t a t e s

in her o b s e rv a tio n s .

and t h e n t r a v e l l i n g

C a p ta in F r e d e r ic k M arry at noted
of

th e most b e a u t i f u l

mous r o a d s
It

is

v ellers
turned

th at

are

t o be m e e t w i t h

ecstasy

of Canada"

m a rk e t of W estern C anada,"
whose t r a v e l s

by t h r e e y e a r s .
s e e n no p l a c e

town o f D e t r o i t ,

.

.

c r o s s i n g U pper Canada t r a ­

a f t e r em erging

life ."

Jameson

from " t h e

"throw n su d d en ly
"D etro it is

in to

the g r e a t

w ro te Englishm an P a t r i c k

to N o rth A m erica p re c e d e d J a m e s o n 's

"S ince

bearing

" th e most i n f a ­

i n a l l A m e r i c a . "4 8

and b e in g

t h e m i d s t o f crowded c i v i l i z e d

S h irreff,

t h e p r o v i n c e h a d some

upon r e a c h i n g D e t r o i t .

"giddy w ith e x c ite m e n t"
fo rests

in Upper Canada,

l a n d he had s e e n and

no w o n d e r t h a t a f t e r

expressed

so litary

th at

A fter v is itin g

le av in g M o n tre al,"h e added,

t h e m a rk s o f age and w e a l t h ,
. ranks next to

th at city

" I had
and t h e

in

a p p e a r a n c e . "^9
Though

47I b i d . ,

located

pp.

4^M arryat,

in a ric h

73-74,

ag ricu ltu ral

region,

the

82-83.

D ia ry , pp.

201-02.

49Jam eso n , W in te r S t u d i e s , pp. 1 3 8 -3 9 ; P a t r i c k S h i r r e f f ,
A T o u r T h r o u g h N o r t h A m e r i c a W i t h a C o m p r e h e n s i v e V ie w o f
The C a n a d a s and U n i t e d S t a t e s ( E d i n b u r g h : O l i v e r and Boyd,
18 3 5 ), p. 216.

46
C anadian s e t t l e m e n t s
p ariso n

to

th eir

along

neig h b o rin g

fa rm e rs had c u l t i v a t e d
riv er
real

as e a r ly

as

settlem en ts

D e t r o i t .

50

w indm ills

the

had

la n d s on th e e a s t e r n
cen tu ry ,

is

in blossom ,

R iver

[R iv er],

of th e

The s e t t l e r s

are

as any

th ere,

a ttain

A pples,

in

size,

i n any o t h e r p a r t

of

the

two m i l e s

in

in h ab itan ts.

M a ld e n 's o n ly

5 °G u illet,
S lib id .,

p.

and th e
fru it
the

th e w o r l d . "51

in

pears,

beau ty ,

so f a r

plum s,

trees
stra it

Twenty

the D e tro it
as re g a rd s

peaches,

the

grapes,

and f l a v o u r ,

Its

only

S an d w ich T o w n sh ip had
com m unity was S a n d w ic h ,
S o u t h o f S a n d w i c h w as

few er th a n sev en hundred

com m unity,

those ra ise d

P r o v i n c e . " 5 2

d o w n r iv e r from D e t r o i t .

M alden T ow nship w i t h

ad jo in in g

through

"The b a n k s o f

tim e o f H o w iso n 's v i s i t

one thousand

When t h e

several

the h ig h e s t degree of p e r f e c tio n

and e x c e e d

At th e

are

num erous,

t h e p r o s p e c t a s you p a s s

fru it.

and n e c t a r i n e s

"th ere

and an o r c h a r d

th e Eden o f Upper C anada,

p ro duction of

first

D etro it

l a t e r J o h n H ow ison w r o t e ,

R iver are

the

the

C anadian sh o re

perhaps as d e lig h tf u l

years

but

of

evacuated

im p ro v em e n ts handsome and e x t e n s i v e .
are

sid e

B ritish

on t h e D e t r o i t
house.

French

come i n 1 7 9 6 w h e n t h e

I n 1 7 9 9 D. W. S m i t h w r o t e ,

alm o st every

i n com­

M ichigan co m m u n ities.

the m id -e ig h te e n th

soon th e

flo u rish ed .

th e D e tr o it R iver p aled

A m herstburg,

E arly L i f e , p.

resid en ts.

was l o c a t e d

tw elve

144.

146.

5 2 jo h n H ow ison, S k e t c h e s o f U pper Canada (1 8 2 1 ;
e d . , New Y o r k : J o h n s o n R e p r i n t C o r p o r a t i o n , 1 9 6 5 ) ,

rep rin t
p. 200.

47
m iles

from D e t r o i t a t

Founded

in 1784,

t h e m outh o f

A m herstburg

s o o n became t h e

C a n a d ia n com m unity on t h e e a s t e r n
1821 v i s i t o r

observed,

sons of w e alth ,
they

is

the

compose i s

of

southw estern

the r i v e r .

and t h e c i r c l e

a more r e f i n e d

F o r t M alden.

in the

B u ilt

after

C a n a d a .

years

post

to w nships,

d escrib ed

the

55

to w n o f

p o ten tial

b u t where

v i s i t o r observed

53ibid., p .

in th e 1830s

as a compact v i l l a g e

b u ilt

and as a p l a c e w ith n a t u r a l

"no p r o g r e s s "

th at

the

in e a s t e r n Upper

to A m herstburg

hundred

an i n d i f f e r e n t m anner,"

doubled d u rin g

settlem en ts

v isito rs
six

in cluded

p r o g r e s s was v i r t u a l l y

n o n e x i s t e n t when c o m p a r e d t o
M i c h i g a n .

in

54

from 1 8 2 4 -3 7 ,

Canada o r

by

the ev ac u a tio n of

f o r t was t h e o n l y B r i t i s h m i l i t a r y

b o t h M alden and San d w ich

"in

which

and a g r e e a b l e

Though t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f E ssex C o u n ty , w hich

th irteen

One

p a r t o f A m h e r s t b u r g ' s d o m in a n c e was c a u s e d

th e proxim ity of
th e

leading

in h a b ita n ts .. .a re p er­

t o be m et i n any o t h e r v i l l a g e

P r o v in c e . "53

D etro it,

"Many o f

sid e

and r e s p e c t a b i l i t y ,

c o llectiv ely

one than

th e D e tr o it R iver.

"ev ery th in g ,

w a s b e i n g m a d e . 56
w ith

one

the e x ce p tio n of

the

201.

S ^ F r a n c i s C l e a r y , " H i s t o r y o f F o r t M alden o r F o r t
A m h e r s tb u r g ," M ic h ig a n P i o n e e r and H i s t o r i c a l C o l l e c t i o n s
(1912), pp. 370-86.
5 5 c u i l l e t ,

E arly

L i f e , pp.

131,

323.

56john Blois, Gazetteer of Michigan (Detroit: Sydney L.
Rood and C o . , 1 8 3 8 ) , p . 2 4 8 ; Jameson, Winter Studies, p .
147.

38

48
two handsom e r e s i d e n c e s

decay." 5?

listle ss
w ere

"arranged

o th er,

u seless

th e en tran ce

fo rt,

to

poverty

com m anding,

in a s t a t e

of

th a t houses

a n g l e s w ihh each
a n d m e a n n e s s . " 58

th at

As

i t was a "W retc h e d

or rath er,

the D e tr o it R iv e r,"

S h irreff

ap p alled

n o t commanding,

and g a r r i s o n e d

by " a few

th o u g h t A m herstburg d i s a p p o i n t i n g ,

by S a n d w i c h .

c o u n t y s e a t was i t s

C onvinced

only

th at

hundred
th ree

resid en ts,

tw o c h u r c h e s ,

o p p o site D e tro it,

of only

1830s,

d escrib ed

the
not th ink

had o n ly

tw o m i l l s ,

it

fifteen

a brew ery

5? G u ille t,
58S h i r r e f f ,
59Jam eso n ,
80S h i r r e f f ,

shore of

Though

ferry

E a r ly L i f e , p.

in

the

in h i s M ichigan G a z e t t e e r

co n sid erab le

cap ital

and

148.

A Tour Through N o rth A m erica, p.
W inter S t u d i e s , p.

con­

the s e tt le m e n t

o r tw e n ty wooden h o u s e s

of

the

n o r t h o f Sandw ich and

W in d s o r was w h e re t h e

by 1 8 3 8 J o h n B l o i s
as a v illa g e

the e a s te rn

Two m i l e s

n e c t e d U pper Canada and M ich ig an .

early

as

he d id
it

he was

taverns.

D e t r o i t R i v e r was W in d s o r .

co n sisted

statu s

By 1 8 3 8 ,

The o n l y o t h e r com m unity a lo n g

d irectly

its

redeem ing q u a l i t y ,

had any c h an c e o f p r o g r e s s i n g .

fiv e
and

rem arked

at rig h t

Jameson re c o u n te d

seems

s o ld ie rs ." 5^
If

it

streets,

and a lm o s t b e sp e a k in g

little

town,

1834 S h i r r e f f

in to

f o r F o r t M alden,

id le

below t h e

215.

147.

A Tour Through N o rth A m erica, p.

216.

49
en terp rise
less

"in

a flo u rish in g

com plim entary.

d u l l . 62

o th ers

c o n d i t i o n . " 6 1

H a r r i e t t M artineau

thought i t

w ere
looked

J a m e s o n w r o t e o f D e t r o i t and t h e C a n a d ia n

settlem en ts:
I h a r d l y know how t o c o n v e y t o y o u a n i d e a o f t h e
d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e tw o s h o r e s ;
i t w ill appear
t o y o u a s i n c r e d i b l e a s i t i s t o me i n c o m p r e h e n ­
sib le.
O ur s h o r e i s s a i d t o b e t h e m o r e f e r t i l e ,
and h as been t h e l o n g e r s e t t l e d .
But to f l o a t
b e tw e e n them , t o b e h o ld on one s i d e a c i t y , w it h
i t s to w e r s and s p i r e s and a n im a te d p o p u l a t i o n ,
w i t h v i l l a s and handsome h o u s e s s t r e t c h i n g a lo n g
t h e s h o r e , and a h u n d re d v e s s e l s o r m ore, g i g a n t i c
s te a m e r s , b r i g s , s c h o o n e rs crow ding th e p o r t ,
l o a d i n g and u n l o a d i n g ;
a l l the b u s tle , in s h o rt,
o r p r o s p e r i t y and com m erce;— an d , on th e o t h e r
sid e, a l i t t l e
s t r a g g l i n g h a m le t, one s c h o o n e r,
o n e l i t t l e w r e t c h e d s t e a m b o a t , some w i n d m i l l s ,
a C a t h o l i c c h a p e l o r tw o,
a supine
ignorant
p e a s a n t r y , a l l t h e symptoms o f a p a t h y ,
indolence,
m i s t r u s t , h o p e l e s s n e s s ! — Can I , c a n a n y o n e , h e l p
w o n d e r in g a t t h e d i f f e r e n c e and a s k i n g whence
it arises?63
T r a v e l and t r a d e
f r e q u e n t and e a s y .

betw een b o th s i d e s o f

B lo is noted

p rin c ip a l support a ris e s
C anadian v i l l a g e

an a c t i v i t y

re v e n u e o f G overnm ent a n n u a ll y
can tile

p.

in te re s t of D etro it

6l G u i l l e t ,
382.

E arly

62Martineau,
63jameson,

64]31ois,

t h a t W in d s o r's

from an i l l i c i t

and D e t r o i t ;

L i f e , p.

the

lo ses

trade"

r i v e r was
" g r e a t and
betw een th e

"by which th e

tho u san d s,

and t h e m er­

i s much i n j u r e d . " 6 4

148;

B lo is,

Society in A m e r i c a , p .

Winter S t u d i e s , p p .

M ichigan G a z e tte e r ,

p.

233.

144-45.
382.

M ichigan G a z e t t e e r ,

50
Though
lacked

th e

C anadian

econom ic

m ost h o s t i l e

and

tow ard

1834 e l e c t i o n s ,
assem b ly ,
urged

th e

v o ters
to o ls

H eeding

th e

who w e r e

C olborne

th e

Sandw ich

as

"staunch

early

you w ould
th e

th e

v o ters

th e

and w ish e d

h is

successor

w o rth less

M ackenzie.

Proud

th e

lo y alty

of

g riev an ce

w h in ers

A ssem b ly ,"

th e

of

th e

assem b ly

lam b asted
its
and

th e

new spaper,
rev o lu ­

w o rk s !'"

of

a consp icu o u s

tru th

w ho f o r m

n atu re

farew ell

p lace

lu ck ,

have

th e

w ill

to

b u t added

65sandwich E m i g r a n t , 4 ,

"co n sid erin g

d e a l w i t h ."66

R eform ers,

"b attlin g

a m iserab le

m ajo rity
th e

esp ecially

wh o w e r e

of

th e

R eform ers

allo w

set

of
as

them

18 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 4 .

24 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 6 .

th at

a n d G o v e r n o r Head e x c h a n g e d

ag ain st

not

tim e

to G overnor

t o b e r e s p e c t e d , a n d wh o i n s t e a d o f p u t t i n g
t h e i r s h o u l d e r s to th e w heel and t h e i r hands to
th e p lo u g h .. . choose r a t h e r to o b ta in a d i s t i n c t i o n

66ibid.,

the

th e

on ly
h is

In

two r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

good

assem blym en,

E m ig ran t d e s c rib e d

men w h o se c o r r u p t

of

and h i s

a d ifficu lt

dem agogues he w i l l

E m ig ran t

seem ed

m ovem ent.

a r e a 's

elec te d

E m igrant bade

th e

citizen s

co n tro l

'D e v il

th e

as

D e tr o it R iv er

L ist."6 5

th e

sid e

R eform ers

1836

th a t year,

th eir

reform

l o y a l i s t s . . .w orthy

B lack

th e

[s i c ] M a c k e n zie and

new g o v e r n o r w o u l d h a v e

b low s,

progress,

E m ig ran t,

th e

L ater

along

p r o v in c e 's

"Enshew

ad v ice,

on M a c k e n z ie 's
In

so cial

w hich gave

to

tio n ary

v illag es

of

on

51
i n d e p r a v i t y by c l a m o u r i n g a b o u t i m a g i n a r y e v i l s ,
a n d p r o m o t i n g a d i s c o r d by w h i c h t h e y h o p e t o o b t a i n
an a g g r a n d iz e m e n t w hich i n t h e i r i n d o l e n c e o r t h e i r
d i s h o n e s t y w i l l n o t l e t t h e m o b t a i n by o t h e r m e a n s .
In th e J u ly

e lectio n s

th e assem bly.
Providence,

E ssex C ounty a g a i n r e t u r n e d T o r i e s

The E m i g r a n t e x p r e s s e d

th a t B rito n s

of a h e a rtle ss

from t h e

problem s,

th an k s

impended yoke

Th e R e f o r m m o v e m e n t

but not destro y ed .
th e w orsening

fin an cial

in N o rth A m erica and t h e v a r i o u s d i f f e r e n c e s

betw een

U pper Canada and th e U n ite d S t a t e s prom pted M ackenzie
in ten sify

h is

new spaper.
b o lically
p a trio ts

attack s

through h is

The f i r s t

issue

fav o rite

the p u b lic

In

him i n a " d a n g e r o u s "

fo r nobler a ctio n s

t h e A m e r i c a n s y s t e m by p u b l i s h i n g

old

tim es,"

people

m e diu m — t h e

it

he i n v i t e d

course

in

than our ty r a n t s

In th e C o n s t i t u t i o n M ackenzie

in stitu tio n s

to

o f M a c k e n z i e ' s C o n s t i t u t i o n sym­

a p p e a re d on 4 J u l y 1836.
to jo in

reaffirm ed

"preparing
dream o f." ® 9
h is

faith

"were o b l i g e d

to

th e uneducated
labour hard

S ^ Ib id .,

9 F ebruary 1836.

® ® Ibid. ,

26 J u l y 1 8 3 6 .

and i l l - f o r m e d

"In
common

a n d f a r e p o o r l y by

See a l s o 5 ,

69Rilbourn, T h e Firebrand, p .

in

le n g th y com parisons of th e

o f U pper Canada and t h e U n ite d S t a t e s .
he a r g u e d ,

to

faction."® ®

thanks to o soon.

and d i s o r g a n i z e d ,

C ontinuing p o l i t i c a l
c risis

now f r e e

and d e s p i c a b l e

The E m ig ra n t g a v e
was d e f e a t e d

are

"h eartfelt

to

159.

12 A p r i l 1 8 3 6 .

52
w hichever f a c t i o n

ruled

in th e

w h e re more c o r r e c t n o t i o n s

sta te ."

But in A m erica,

have p r e v a i l e d ,

T h e l a b o u r e r a n d m e c h a n i c , no l o n g e r d e c e i v e d by h i g h
s o u n d i n g t i t l e s , a s k t h e m s e l v e s why i t i s t h a t O h i o
and M ich ig an p r o s p e r w h ile U pper Canada i s d e p r e s s e d .
They h e a r a g r e a t d e a l a b o u t r e f o r m , r e v o l u t i o n ,
r e p u b l i c a n i s m , d e m o c ra c y , and so f o r t h , and a r e t o l d
t h a t s e lf-g o v e rn m e n t i s a d r e a d f u l th in g , a lm o st too
a w f u l t o n a m e . S t i l l , t h e y a s k , why d o e s p r o p e r t y r i s e
i n v a l u e , in O h io , and e m i g r a t i o n p o u r i n t o M ic h ig a n
w h i l e th e C an ad as a r e t o r n w it h f a c t i o n and t h e i r
p r o g r e s s to a p r o s p e ro u s c o n d i t i o n m arred?
S ince

th e C anadians

having
the

and A m ericans

t h e s am e n a t i v e

s am e l a n g u a g e , "

w ith

the c i v i l

energy,

"are

t h e s am e p e o p l e ,

t h e s am e o r i g i n ,

M ackenzie c o n c lu d e d

in stitu tio n s,

s e c r e t of our poverty

and s p e a k i n g

the d if f e r e n c e

w hich r e v e a l e d

and t h e i r g r a n d e u r ,

lay

"the g re a t

of our dependence

and t h e i r w e a l t h . "70
The r a d i c a l s '

effo rts

were a id e d

by t h e a c t i o n s

p r o v i n c i a l governm ent.

Not c o n t e n t o n ly

R eform ers,

to d e s tr o y

H e ad p r e s s e d

them .

i n E n g l a n d who s o u g h t c o n c i l i a t i o n
T o ries,

o p p o sitio n

of dem ocracy."

o lig arc h ic
th e

the

to d e f e a t th e
D efying

su p erio rs

b e tw e e n t h e R e f o rm e rs and

Head a p p o i n t e d men whom h e a d m i t t e d w e r e i n f e r i o r

except for th e ir
cip les

of

sp irit.

leg islato rs

custom o f

to

"the

The a s s e m b ly d e m o n s t r a t e d

In a n t i c i p a t i o n

secured

low g r o v e l l i n g

th e ir places

fresh electio n s

in case of

pp.

t h e sam e

o f King G e o r g e ' s
by o b v i a t i n g

the

d eath,
usual

t h e m o n a r c h ' s d e a t h . 71

^ C o n s t i t u t i o n , 24 A u g u s t 1 8 3 6 .
71-K libourn, The F i r e b r a n d ,

p rin ­

161-62.

53
By t h e
u p risin g .

su m m e r o f 1 8 3 7 M a c k e n z i e h a d d e c i d e d o n a n a r m e d
P rim e M i n i s t e r J o h n R u s s e l l had ended any c o n ­

cilia to ry

p o licy

ta k e m onies

i n L o w e r C a n a d a by a l l o w i n g

from t h e

treasu ry

to vote

supply.

lu tio n s

w ere more s u i t a b l e

dealin g s

Indignant,

w i t h P o l a n d . 72

o rg an ized

secretary

of

of

o rg an izin g

j n late

com m ittee,

o th er v ig ilan ce

com m ittees.

to

im prove

in search of

7 2 ib id .,

At o n e town b a n n e r s
o r D eath ."

M ackenzie i n t o

At

tow n.

him w i t h a s s a s s i n a t i o n

hy p n o tic p resen ce

his

cause.

and money s c a r c e r .

if

p.

73K ilb o u rn ,
7 4 i b i d ., pp.

163;

a s a n o r a t o r made

In U pper Canada

to have

j o b s .

74

C raig,

jobs

One t h o u s a n d

l e f t T oronto

oth ers

felt

U pper Canada ,

The F i r e b r a n d , pp.
164-65;

the

The a s s e m b l y had d o n e

t h e econom ic p r o s p e c t s .

m e c h a n ic s w ere r e p o r t e d
S tates

the p ro v in ce

r e b e l l i o n — seem t h e p r o p e r c o u r s e ,

economy a i d e d

w ere s c a r c e

a

c o n t i n u e d . 73

h i s p r o p o s a ls — even

nothing

"L ib erty

threatened

W hile M a c k e n z ie 's

w orsening

and i s s u e d

As a g e n t a n d c o r r e s p o n d i n g

armed f a r m e r s e s c o r t e d

th e m eetings

the re s o ­

J u ly T oronto r a d i c a l s

M ackenzie t o u r e d

a l o n g M ain S t r e e t p r o c l a i m e d

E lse w h ere Tory p a p e rs

th at

refusal

f o r th e R u ssia n Czar in h is

independence.

the

th e a s s e m b ly 's

M ackenzie c h a rg e d

t h e C om m ittee o f V i g i l a n c e

d eclaratio n

an o th er,

d esp ite

th e g o v e rn o r to

the

p.

f o r th e U nited
sam e

244.

164-65.

Sandw ich E m ig r a n t,

24 May 1 8 3 6 .

54
d esp eratio n

th at

fa rm e r R o b e rt D avis e x p re s s e d

t h a t he p u b l i s h e d

i n a book

in 1837.

. . . t h e a u t h o r h a s b e e n i n C a n a d a s i n c e he w a s a
l i t t l e b o y , . . . H e h a d i n m o s t i n s t a n c e s t o make
h i s own r o a d s a n d b r i d g e s , c l e a r h i s own f a r m ,
e d u c a t e h i m s e l f a n d c h i l d r e n , b e h i s own m e c h a n i c ,
a n d e x c e p t now a n d t h e n , h a s h a d no s o c i e t y b u t
h i s own f a m i l y .
H a s h a d h i s b o n e s b r o k e n by t h e
f a l l o f t r e e s , h i s f e e t l a c e r a t e d by t h e a x e ,
a n d s u f f e r e d a l m o s t e v e r y t h i n g e x c e p t d e a t h . He
w a i t e d y e a r a f t e r y e a r in hope o f b e t t e r d a y s ,
e x p e c t i n g t h a t t h e g o v e rn m e n t w ould c a r e l e s s
f o r t h e m s e l v e s and more f o r t h e p e o p l e . B ut e v e r y
y e a r he h a s b een d i s a p p o i n t e d , and i n s t e a d o f
t h i n g s g e t t i n g b e t t e r , i n many i n s t a n c e s t h e y
h av e b e e n g e t t i n g w o rs e . The C hurch a s c e n d a n c y
h a s b e en g e t t i n g w o rs e and w o r s e . . . t h e
O r a n g e mob [ I r i s h P r o t e s t a n t s ] i s w o r s e
e v e r y e l e c t i o n , so t h a t i t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r any
h o n e s t, p e a c e a b le re fo rm er to g iv e h is vote
f o r a member o f p a r l i a m e n t w i t h o u t t h e f e a r o r
r e a l i z a t i o n of h a v in g h i s head b ro k en .
A lso, h o n e st reform m a g is tr a te s a re alm ost
d a i l y g e t t i n g t h e i r d i s c h a r g e from th e
com m ission o f th e p e a c e , and C o u rt of R e q u e s ts:
w h i l e t h e m o st i g n o r a n t and w o r t h l e s s o f t h e
t o r i e s a r e b e c o m i n g m a g i s t r a t e s . 75
In th e m id st of a l l
refused

to

take

few B r i t i s h

rifle
tro o p s

Lower Canada t o b o l s t e r
and H e a d 's

refusal

p ractice

76

jn

t h e

at

statio n ed
forces

to p lace

M ackenzie u rg ed an a t t a c k .
d e l a y e d .

d i s s e n s i o n G o v e r n o r Head

any p r e c a u t i o n s .

t e e members h e l d
the

th is

m eantim e,

Even a s v i g i l a n c e

com m it­

t h e i r m eetings,

Head s e n t

a t F o r t s York and H enry t o

th ere.

W ith t h e

even th e m i l i t i a

t r o o p s away

on s ta n d b y ,

B u t h i s more c a u t i o u s

com rades

M a c k e n z i e ' s p r e s s w as a c t i v e .

7 ^ R o b e r t D a v i s , Th e C a n a d i a n F a r m e r ' s T r a v e l s i n t h e
U n ite d S t a t e s o f A m erica ( B u f f a l o , 1 8 3 7 ), p r e f a c e , pp. 3 -4 ,
i n F re d L andon, W e s te rn O n t a r i o and t h e A m erican F r o n t i e r
(T oronto:
R yerson P r e s s , 1 9 4 1 ), p. 159.
76Craig, Upper Canada, p. 245; Kilbourn, The Firebrand,

55
C o n f i d e n t t h a t U p p e r C a n a d a w o u l d f a r e much b e t t e r
of

th e U nited

S tates,

fo r the S ta te
d istrib u ted

of Upper Canada.

When w o r d a r r i v e d

December s e v e r a l

the

th e

lead ,

th is

exchanged

ragtag

On t h e e v e n i n g o f 4

rallied

a t M o n tg o m e ry 's

The f o l l o w i n g
army,

headed

and r e t r e a t e d

day,

w ith M ackenzie

whose weapons w ere m a in ly

f o r the

a n d t w o d o z e n men a l o n g

fire

i n t o m o tio n f o r an

t i m e h a d c om e.

n o rth of T oronto.

sh eriff

independence.

t h a t Lower C anada had r e b e l l e d ,

hundred r e b e l s

p i t c h f o r k s and p i k e s ,
the

f o r C anadian

November p l a n s w ere p u t

M a c k e n z ie was s u r e

in

to

the

cap ital.

E ncountering

t h e way,

the

tavern.

On 6 D e c e m b e r

C o l o n e l A l l a n McNab a n d o v e r a t h o u s a n d m i l i t i a
num bered r e b e l s
w e s t D r.

in to

dem oralized

b e tw ee n London and B r a n t f o r d ,
W ith th e

pp.

flig h t.

C h a r l e s D un co mb e r a i s e d

o th er reb els

co n stitu tio n

b e r e c o n c i l e d t o B r i t a i n — we h a v e h u m b l e d
to th e Pharoah of England, to th e M in is te r s
p e o p l e , and th e y w i l l n e i t h e r r u l e us
l e t us go.
Up t h e n , b r a v e C a n a d i a n s !
y o u r r i f l e s , a n d make s h o r t w o r k o f i t .
t h o s e t h a t o p p o s e u s , f o r " I n God i s o u r

By l a t e

T avern,

h is proposed

A b o u t t h e s am e t i m e h e

a h an d b ill c a llin g

We c a n n o t
o u rselv es
and g r e a t
ju s tly or
Get ready
Woe b e t o
t r u s t . "77

u p risin g .

he p u b lis h e d

as p a r t

rev o lt
fled

to

the

p u t the o u t­

F urth er

to

the

stan d ard of re v o lt

b u t was q u i c k l y

a failu re,

in su rg en ts

M ackenzie,

the U nited S t a t e s .

d i s p e r s e d .

78

Dun co mbe a n d

Th e C a n a d i a n

168-69.
77Kilbourn, T h e Fireb ran d, p p .
78jbid., p p .

179-206?

C raig,

178-79.

Upper C anada, pp.

247-49.

56
R e b e l l i o n s o f 1837 m i g h t h a v e e n d ed t h e r e
for

t h e A m e r i c a n s who h a d w a t c h e d

autum n.
B ritish

C onvinced t h a t

th is

th eir

d em o ralized C anadians.

as e v en ts

it

n o t been

unfolded

was a p o p u l a r u p r i s i n g

o p p r e s s i o n and ty r a n n y ,

M ichigan o f f e r e d

had

A m ericans

sym pathies

th at
ag ain st

from V erm ont to

and a c t i v e

support

to

the

CHAPTER THREE:

In e a rly

MICHIGAN RESPONDS TO THE PATRIOT CAUSE

December 1837/

Canada and p ro m is e d
S ecretary
U .S.
"to

to explode

atto rn ey s

be a t t e n t i v e

to a l l

peace w ith
p o ssib le

fo reig n

th e U nited S ta te s
ially

along

d istan ce
But as

as

w hich have been e n a c te d
F o rs y th 's

in to

reb els

fled

to

sym pathy and

and to p r o ­

of

tho se

of peace

neared

law s

to- p r e s e r v e
the
betw een

A m ericans,

b o r d e r had w a tc h e d

th e C anadian p ro v in c e s

New Y o r k

w arning of

of o v e r tw enty y e a rs

th e U .S ./C an ad a

turned

v io lato rs

and C anada was p r o p h e t i c .

the d e fe a te d

in te re st

a ll

and

ch aracter

w ith in your d i s t r i c t ,

p o w ers."!

d isru p tio n

U .S.

the governors

movements o f a h o s t i l e

w ith o u t d is c rim in a tio n ,

the U nited S t a t e s

i n Lower

in M ic h ig a n , Verm ont and

contem plated o r attem p ted

of

flared

in Upper Canada,

of S ta te John F orsyth ordered

d istric t

secu te,

as r e b e llio n

at

espec­

a

c i v i l war in 1837.

th e U nited S t a t e s
i n some c a s e s

th at

activ e

involvem ent.
The g r e a t e s t o u t p o u r i n g
C anadian r e b e l s

of

s u p p o r t f o r th e Upper

ca m e a t

B u ffalo ,

New

York.

even b e fo re M a c k e n z ie 's

u p risin g

w a s know n t o

On 5D e c e m b e r —

^ F o r s y t h t o Mason, 7 December 18 3 7 , in N i l e s N a t i o n a l
R e g i s t e r , 13 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 ; F o r s y t h t o D a n i e l G o o d w i n , 7
D e c e m b e r 18 3 7 , i n i b i d .
57

58
A m ericans— 1,500 p e o p le
and p a sse d

reso lu tio n s

Support fo r
sifie d

the

in

th is

B u ffa lo 's

reb ellio n

arm s,

as w e ll as

to

defeat

the

a t T oronto.
the

fo rm atio n of

tim e M ackenzie

the S ta te

activ e

fu llest

.

. C iv il

ex ten t

.

.

city

there

food,

in ten ­
a week

money and

of v o lu n teers,
P a t r i o t Army.

soon
At th e

th e P r o v i s i o n a l Governm ent of
whose o b j e c t s

to a l l ,

.

secured

in clu d ed

"a g o v e r n ­

by a w r i t t e n

and R e l i g i o u s L i b e r t y ,

in

its

. The A b o l i t i o n o f H e r e d i t a r y H o n o r s , "

w e ll as a p o p u la rly
tu re.

so -called

created

ment of e q u a l r i g h t s
C o n stitu tio n

recru itin g

the

of Upper Canada,

P ledges of

larg est h all

in Upper Canada.

Lake E r i e p o r t

when W i l l i a m M a c k e n z i e s o u g h t r e f u g e
h is

same

in to

endorsing

reb els

a fte r

led

poured

elected

On 13 J a n u a r y

g o v e rn o r and b ic a m e r a l

M ackenzie announced

t h e P a t r i o t Army w o u l d r e c e i v e

300 a c r e s

th at

as

leg isla­

volu n teers

and $100 i n

to

silv er

o n o r b e f o r e 1 May 1 8 3 8 . 2
By C h r i s t m a s
army o f

fiv e

the p r o v is io n a l

hundred

ill-clo th ed ,

governm ent,

in clu d in g

ill-h o u sed ,

badly

y et en th u siastic

men,

C anadian s id e

the N ia g ara R iv e r.

san ctu ary ,
tu re

of

M ackenzie p la n n e d

T oronto.

lead

th e

on Navy I s l a n d ,
From t h i s

a th ree-p ro n g

arm ed,
on th e

islan d

movement t o

New Y o r k e r R e n s s a e l e r v a n R e n s s a e l a r ,

tw en ty -sev en -y ear-o ld
to

had g a t h e r e d

forces

son of

a War o f 1 8 1 2 h e r o ,

from Navy I s l a n d .

an

cap­

the

was c h o s e n

At H am ilton,

w est of

2A l b e r t C o r e y , T h e C r i s i s o f 1 8 3 0 - 1 8 4 2 i n
C a n a d i a n - A m e r i c a n R e l a t i o n s (New H a v e n : Y a l e U n i v e r s i t y
P r e s s , 1 9 4 1 ), pp. 30 -3 1 ; L in d se y , M ackenzie, 2 :3 6 3 -6 9 .

59
T oronto,

R e n s s a e l e r was to

re n d e z v o u s w ith Dr.

Duncombe,

who w a s o p e r a t i n g

Jefferson

S u th erlan d ,

d in ate

the

cam paign

n o rth w est of T oronto,

who h a d b e e n s e n t

a n d Thomas

to D e t r o i t

to

response

to

the

e a s t did

the P a t r i o t

cause.

not delay
On 12 D e c e m b e r —

th e day a f t e r M ackenzie re a ch e d B u f f a lo — D e t r o i t e r s
at

city

h all

reb els.

to d e m o n strate

P resid ed

th e assem blage
v io la te

U .S.

B ritain ,
act

oppressed
serv ices

law s o r

jeo p ard ize

. . .

in th e

to

Such a c t i o n s

the B r itis h

to

h o t e l ow ner,
should

not

w ith G reat

and a t

lib erty

an i n j u r e d

to

and

in clu d ed o f f e r in g

the C ity

and

as

netted

th eir

a m eeting

so ld ie ry ."

C r i s i s , pp.

to

"th e
to ld

th e atre
"of

blo o d -h o u n d c r u e l t y

The P o s t r e p o r t e d
in d ig n atio n "

ease

$134.56 and te n

th e C anadian r e fu g e e s

th e m urderous,

" th e m ost l i v e l y

^C orey,

T heatre,

th e D e t r o i t M orning P o s t ,

excess"

su fferin g s,

e licited

free

cause of

of C anadian r e f u g e s ,

A ccording

was th r o n g e d
th e ir

a lo cal

as s o l d i e r s .4

su fferin g

rifles.

is

g athered

th e C anadian

our n e u tr a lity

" e v e ry A m erican c i t i z e n

p eo p le."

support fo r

t h a t w h ile A m ericans

On C h r i s t m a s Day a t
the

th e ir

o v e r by J o h n L a n g y ,

reso lv ed

fo r him self

coor­

in w e ste rn Upper C an ad a.3

Poor com m unications w ith
M ic h ig a n 's

C h arles

th at

from t h e

the

of

sto ries

a u d ien ce.5

34-36.

^ D e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t , 13 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 ;
H is to ry of D e t r o i t , pp. 481.

Farm er,

^ D e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t , 27 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 . T h e C i t y
T h e a t r e had a c a p a c i t y o f f o u r h u n d r e d . (M acCabe, D i r e c t o r y ,
p. 28).

60
The f o l l o w i n g
in

the

day a n o th e r m eeting

creatio n

v isio n s,

o f a com m ittee

arms and m u n i t i o n s

refugee p a tr io ts ,

c o m m itte e was a l s o

effo rts

agents

to e s t a b l i s h

h all

resu lted

a depot fo r pro­

of war " n e c e s s a r y

to p r o te c t

p ro tect

t o be c o n d u c te d

the

The

volunteers

refugees.

"w ithin

the

from i n s u l t o r

of any c o u n tr y o r p o w e r."

charged w ith e n r o llin g

and q u i e t l y "

w ere

the c i t y

who s e e k o u r p r o t e c t i o n ,

from th e k id n a p p in g

"peaceably

at

to

A ll of

the p a le of

the

these
law s o f

o u r c o u n t r y . "6
Support
ways.

for

On 23 D e c e m b e r D.

T h eatre,

donated

form ance to

"the

th e a tr e m eeting,
claim ed

a ll

th a t as

have h a l f . 7

th e proceeds

stru g g lin g

long

Support

boarding

larg est

overw helm ingly ad o p ted

in

the

the

th irty

refugees

s o c ie ty 's

t h e y would
even su rfa ce d

a h ighly p a r tis a n

h isto ry —

ju stify in g

the

reb ellio n . 8

^ D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 29 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 .
7 P e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t , 27 D e c e m b e r 18 3 7 .
^D e tr o it D aily A d v e r t i s e r , 18,

and

Y oun g M e n ' s S o c i e t y .

sessions,

report

At th e

th e E agle T av ern ,

th e C anadian r e b e ls

debating

the C ity

from t h a t e v e n i n g ' s p e r ­

owner of

of D e t r o i t 's

tw o s e p a r a t e

audience— the

p ro p rie to r of

a s he had one s h i l l i n g ,
for

in o th e r

p e o p le o f C anada."

H orace H e ath ,

th e w eekly d e b a te

F ollow ing

w as d e m o n s t r a t e d

D. M c K i n n e y ,

t h a t he was a l r e a d y

prom ised

at

the P a t r i o t s

2 5 December 1 8 3 7 .

61
M ichiganians o u ts id e
the P a tr io ts .

On 21 D e c e m b e r c i t i z e n s

o v e r tw o t h o u s a n d
gath ered
tio n s

at

the

t h e m outh o f

"th e en slav ed

the

reb els'

cause.

had a r i g h t

C anadians"

to

onward

in

On New Y e a r ' s

"aid

Eve,

o v e r tw enty m ile s

the P a t r i o t s

"indom itable

u ab le

course

app ro b atio n

"to

pledged

rid

rig h ts

h a p p in e s s .'"

of

th e

by e v e r y

lib e rty "

the

th at

th at

lib erty

B efore ad jo u rn in g ,

and

in
I n Ann

resolved

R ecalling

th e A m ericans

"th e

a t C.

and

S.

spread

of

t h a t C anadians

th o s e " g r e a t and

ha d

in v al­

th e p u r s u i t of

a c o m m i t t e e o f s e v e n w as

^ M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 30 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 .
5 January

reb els'

l a w f u l means

E n g lan d ."

confirm ed

im portance of

lO ppntiac C o u rie r,

for

was h e l d

t h o s e who g a t h e r e d

in Canada"

'lif e ,

rally

from th e

and crowded m e e tin g "

H otel e x p re ssed p le a s u r e

realize

d istan ce

and t y r a n n y of

shared,

lib e ra l p rin cip les
come t o

assem blage

n o r t h w e s t o f D e t r o i t . 1°

o f Canada,

s p i r i t of

C anadian P a t r i o t s
G o o d ric h 's

the

t y r a n n y and c h e e r e d

th eir

a P atrio t

"A l a r g e

a g a i n s t the o p p re s sio n
th e

reso lu ­

f r o m o p p r e s s i o n . "9

A rb o r on 5 J a n u a r y ,
to

the

re sist

D e t r o i t R iv er boundary e x p re sse d

P o n tiac,

a to w n o f

Led by some o f

Even c o m m u n itie s a c o n s i d e r a b l e

g o als.

o f Monroe,

the D e tr o it R iv er,

m ost prom inent c i t i z e n s ,

t h a t a l l people

them selves

at

sym pathized w ith

c o u r t h o u s e and u n a n i m o u s ly a d o p t e d

su p p o rtin g

co m m u n ity 's

of D e t r o i t a ls o

18 3 8 .

62
appointed

to a c c e p t c o n tr ib u tio n s

The P a t r i o t s
press.

received

c ity 's

i n Lower C an a d a ,

Whig p a p e r ,

lib erty

o th e r has

on o ne s i d e ,

commenced.

D e tro it's
of

the

aid

the o u tb reak

responded,

As A m e r i c a n s ,

ind ep en d en ce,

it

speed

them ,

At the

the

t h a t th e

B ritish

p ersecu tio n ,

p ath ies

because

s am e t i m e

Journa l

"The s t r u g g l e

sons

in

May

th at

the

th e U nited S ta te s

beating

w ith

th e A d v e r tis e r announced
of our c i t i z e n s ,"

a century of

the P o n tia c C o u rier o ff e re d
.

.

its

sym­

. alw ays sym pathize w ith

On 4 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 t h e

(A nn A r b o r ) ,

who

l i b e r t y . 1^

w ere o v e rth ro w in g

l 2P e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r ,

t h o s e who

em otions.

boasted

C anadian q u e s t f o r
reb els

of

A w e ek a f t e r

hearts

p o rtio n

"Our c i t i z e n s

the o p p ressed . " ! 5

the

t h e D e t r o i t M orning P o s t , one

thousands

"w ith a la rg e

sym pathized w ith

U state

rig h t!"I2

rally ,

th e hands of

agreed

P roclaim ing

the

and tw e lv e m i l l i o n

"13

of

we c a n n o t w i t n e s s

tw o D e m o c r a t i c d a i l i e s ,

"have

s y m p a t h y .

th at

of

and g o v e r n m e n t c o e r c i o n on t h e

. . .

f ir s t P a trio t

c ity 's

P atrio ts
to

from th e M ic h ig a n

m ovements w i t h o u t t h e m o s t t h r i l l i n g

t h e God o f b a t t l e s

the P a t r i o t s . H

th e D e tr o it D aily A d v e r tis e r ,

en th u siastically

f o u g h t f o r and a c h i e v e d
th ese

support

On 30 N o v e m b e r a m i d s t r e p o r t s

reb ellio n

for

also

to a s s i s t

S tate Journal

11 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
30 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 7 .

1 3 p e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t , 19 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 .
l ^ D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 14 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 .
l 5P o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 5 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

(Ann

63
A rbor)

rejo iced

reso lv ed
take

to

"th at

th e

throw o f f

a stan d ,

if

t i m e h a s come w he n t h i s

the sh a c k le s of

p o ssib le,

among t h e

people

f o r e i g n pow er,

are

and

ind ep en d en t n a tio n s

of

th e e a rth ."1 6
H eavily p a r t i s a n ,
th eir

alleg ian ces

new spapers o c c a s io n a lly

by p u b l i s h i n g

p o sitio n s.

Such a l e t t e r

P ost d uring

the

C anadian,

the

th eir

fiv e-p art

the

au th o r

ta sted

and

of

th e

of

the

D e tro it because of
re b e l cause.

when r e p o r t s

said

the

sw eets,

fo u n tain

c ity 's

were

for
to

of D e tro it fo r

but s o c ia l,

and l i v e

free

and

also

m e n . "17

b en efited

tow ard D e t r o i t .

th e proposed

burning

dem o n stratio n of su p p o rt
becam e e v e n more

a r s o n was t o

of

w is h t h e w hole

h o stilitie s

in v o lv ed

The c a n a r d
the

c itizen s

t h e i r A m erican a l l i e s

report

by a n U p p e r

th e need

not s e lf is h

its

from num erous rum ors o f B r i t i s h
The m o st o u t l a n d i s h

A uthored

th e g lo rio u s p r in c ip le

"is

th eir

t h e D e t r o i t M orning

d ram atized

th at

argued,

to d rin k

The P a t r i o t s

the

in

confirm ed

th e C anadian r e b e l l i o n

" I t proves

t h o s e who h a v e

hum a n f a m i l y

if

e p istle

b e g a n by t h a n k i n g

support.

lib e rty ,"
th at

It

appeared

th at

l a s t week o f D ecem ber.

A m erican a s s i s t a n c e
succeed.

le tte rs

d ram atized

of

for

in trig u in g

be a c c o m p l i s h e d

by b l a c k

C anadians w ith a s s i s t a n c e

from t h e i r D e t r o i t c o u n t e r p a r t s .

D e t r o i t was n e v e r b u r n e d ,

b u t the

Insta te

Journal

(Ann A r b o r ) ,

l ^ D e t r o i t M orning P o s t ,
1837.

25,

rum ors

increased

ten sio n s,

4 Ja n u a ry 1838.
27,

28,

29,

30 D e c e m b e r

64
re su ltin g

in m o b iliz in g

blacks

to

reassure

ity

such a c c u s a t i o n s .18

of

the

the m i l i t i a
c ity 's

As A m e r i c a n s u p p o r t
border,

w hite p o p u la tio n of

the P a t r i o t s

along

the

cials

took p r e c a u tio n a r y m easu res.

i n Lower Canada
fearful

a l l A m ericans

rem inded

t h e i r governm ent.

November,

rev o lt

not

to obey U .S.
th at

if

they

fe ll

th e y w ould r e c e i v e
to C ongress

Van
in to

the

no a i d
in

late

th e dilem m a A m e ric an o f f i ­

A m erican f i l i b u s t e r i n g .

reco g n izin g

an o b l i g a t i o n

to

rem ain n e u t r a l

Van B u r e n a l s o

sym pathy

i n armed

proclam a­

law s.

in p re v e n tin g

an e x p re s s io n of

all

broke o u t

tim o ro u s,

faced

A m erican c i t i z e n s ,

absurd­

governm ental o f f i ­

w ould e v e n t u a t e

In h i s message

Van B u r e n u n d e r s c o r e d

in ten sified

A fter

if

filib u sterers

th e C anadian o f f i c i a l s

the

P r e s i d e n t M a r t i n Van B u r e n ,

an u n i n s p i r i n g ,

th a t ordered

hands of

cials

in m id-N ovem ber,

issued

B uren a l s o

from

f e d e r a l and s t a t e

t h a t A m erican f i l i b u s t e r i n g

c o n flict,
tio n

both

for

and c o n v e n in g D e t r o i t ' s

ad m itted

f o r C anadians

in

W hile

and r e s t r a i n
the p r o p r i e t y
th eir

of

stru g g le

f o r freedom . ^
B esides

h is

sin cere

s y m p a t h y f o r a n y o n e who s o u g h t

1 8 p e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 2 9 , 30 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 , 1
J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 . S ee a l s o D e t r o i t M orning P o s t f o r a r e p o r t o f
a n A m erican c r o s s i n g from D e t r o i t and b e in g s h o t a t from t h e
C a n a d i a n s i d e (29 D ecem ber 1 8 3 7 ) . I t was a l s o ru m o r e d t h a t a
U .S.
o f f i c e r had b een s h o t to d e a t h w h ile in S an d w ich .
(P o n tia c C o u rie r, 5 Ja n u a ry 1838).
19corey, Crisis, pp. 44-46.

65
freedom /
w ith

Van B u r e n ' s

filib u ste rin g

situ atio n .
the

state

navy to

lack of

hindered

Not o n ly d id
m ilitia,

au th o rity
his

a b ility

expected

and r e p e l

f o r a n y p e r s o n who i n s t i g a t e d
th is

respond

to

fin es

a m ilitary

m e a s u re was p e n a l ,

sh o rtco m in g s,

use

the

the

army and

F in ally ,
and

ex p ed itio n a g a in st
not p rev en tiv e.

the

V an B u r e n

in stru cted

C ongress

to d e term in e w hether th e e x is t in g

n eu trality

to meet th e c o n d itio n s

w hile

im prisonm ent

Aware o f

w ere a d e q u a te

la w 's

to

in v asio n .

t h e N e u t r a l i t y A c t o f 1818 p r o v i d e d

a f o r e i g n pow er,

to

ad eq u ately

t h e p r e s i d e n t h a v e no c o n t r o l o v e r

he was o n ly

curb r e b e llio n

to d e a l

laws

on th e C an a d ia n

f r o n t i e r . 20
I n M i c h i g a n G o v e r n o r S t e p h e n s T.
S ecretary

of S ta te

F o r s y t h o n 21 D e c e m b e r t h a t

M i c h i g a n i a n who p l a n n e d
H ow ever,

a week l a t e r

cau tio n in g
a ll

and d e s i s t
le ast

to

resid en ts

resid in g

from t h e

degree,

in terfere

Mason i s s u e d

and e n j o i n i n g

o th e r persons

M as on i n f o r m e d

w ith in

in

h e kne w o f

th e C anadian c r i s i s .

a form al p ro c la m atio n
of
its

the s t a t e ,
borders,

as w e ll as

"to

the

law s o f

th e U nited S t a t e s ,

d istu rb

t h e p e a c e and a m ity

of

U nion and t h e g o v e rn m e n t o f G r e a t B r i t a i n . "

th is

also

ordered

n eu trality

the a r r e s t of

l a w s . 2 *-

ab stain

c o m m i s s i o n o f a n y a c t w h i c h ma y,

v io late

no

now e x i s t i n g

a l l persons

in

the

or

betw een th e p e o p le

v io latin g

Mason

U .S.

The D e t r o i t D a ily A d v e r t i s e r , ag re ed

2 0 lb id •
2 l M a s o n t o F o r s y t h , 21 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 i n U . S . A r c h i v e s ,
S -7 9 7 , B u rto n C o l l e c t i o n , D e t r o i t , M ich ig an ( h e r e a f t e r BC);

66
w ith
of

th e g o v e rn o r and c a u ti o n e d

the n e u t r a l i t y

l a w s a n d how t h e y

B u t many M i c h i g a n i a n s ,
reb ellio n

rep resen ted

o p p ressiv e B ritis h
The p e r s i s t e n c e

P atrio t

ru le,

rejected

and m a g n itu d e of

o fficia l

to e x p re ss

in te re st

fe lt

te rs

"by a p r o p o r t i o n "

th is

deep m o r t if ic a ti o n ."

citizen s,

r e c e n t war f o r T exas
d eclared

support

th at

noble

th at

ardor,

in t h i s

led

holy

th e stro n g
c i t i z e n r y . 23

the g o v e rn o r's

zealous P a t r i o t

th ese

" 24

free-born
the

t h 3 P o n tiac C ourier

in d iv id u als

in alm ost every s t a t e

sent m ilitary

ex p ed itio n s

to

prepared

and

f i g h t M exico— a n a t i o n w ith

C h aracterizin g

"hum bug,"

to

in

rem arks

R ecallin g

th at

p ro clam atio n as

tim ely
suppor­

cau tio n ary

so h o n o r a b le

cause.

independen ce,

w h i c h we w e r e a t p e a c e .

one p u b l i c

"w hich w ould have u l t i m a t e d

But added

w ou ld n o t "dampen t h e

t h e m . 22

th e C anadian

of D e tr o it's

w ould p r e v e n t t h e o v e r l y
effo rts

bew are

p o p u l a r movement a g a i n s t

g re a t asto n ish m en t a t

from i n i t i a t i n g

A m erican

th at

to

th e g o v e rn m e n t's p l e a s .

The D e t r o i t M orning P o s t b e l i e v e d
d eclaratio n

tam pered w ith

con fid en t

a w idespread

su p p o rters

M a so n 's December

the C o u rie r p resag ed

E x e c u t i v e P r o c l a m a t i o n , 28 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 ,
C o u r i e r , 5 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 .

th at

it

would

in P o n tia c

2 2 P e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 29 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 .
2 ^Hugh B r a d y t o W i n f i e l d S c o t t , 6 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 , i n
F r a n c i s P a u l P r u c h a , e d . , " R e p o r t s o f G e n e r a l B r a d y on t h e
P a t r i o t W a r ," C a n a d i a n H i s t o r i c a l R e v i e w , 31 (M arch 1 9 5 0 ) ,
p. 58.
2 4 p e t r o i t M orning P o s t ,

30 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 .

67
n o t dampen t h e

enthusiasm

f o r th e C anadian P a t r i o t s .

"P eo p le w i l l meet in p u b l i c .
And i f

they

th in k p ro p er

t o Canada and j o i n

expressed

dem onstrated

a s m e e tin g s and r e s o l u t i o n s
o rganized

arm ies

in ten t

C anadian re fu g e e s

H a r r y S.

and D e t r o i t e r s
app o in ted
w hile
th e

by t h e C o u r i e r a n d o t h e r s

were

had o r g a n i z e d

s o u t h e a s t e r n M ichigan

transform ed

B u ffalo ,

in to

sem i­

B efore

M ichiganians

t h e P a t r i o t Army o f

Handy o f I l l i n o i s

E lijah J.

go o v e r

t h e y w i l l do i t . " 25

across

left

reso lu tio n s.

rifles,

upon in v a d in g C anada.

P a t r i o t G eneral S u th erlan d

N o r th W est.

shoulder th e ir

t h e Whig c a u s e ,

The d e t e r m i n a t i o n
was i n c r e a s i n g l y

to

They w i l l p a s s

and

the

com ma nde d t h e a r m y ,

R o b e r t s a n d E d w a r d A. T h e l l e r w e r e

b rig a d ie r g en erals.

a " c o u n c il of w ar,"

O ther o f f i c e r s

w hich a l l e g e d l y

l e a d i n g men o f M i c h i g a n , "

recru ited

w ere sw orn

in clu d ed

in,

" so m e o f

and c o l l e c t e d

s u p p l i e s . 26
On 31 D e c e m b e r a d o z e n v o l u n t e e r s w e r e e n l i s t e d
ra lly

in P o n tia c ,

Macomb C o u n t y ,
p o rted ly
aid

w hile

the s t a t e ' s

raised

Ann A r b o r r e s u l t e d

26L indsey,

of

six th

an a d d i t i o n a l

in Upper C a n a d a 's

25p o n tia c

rep o rts

hundred v o lu n te e r s

27

a

C o u r i e r , 5 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 .
M ackenzie,

27pontiac C o u rier,

2:167-68.

5 Ja n u a ry 1838.

pur­
to

6 January m eeting

in tw e n ty -fo u r v o lu n te e rs

leaving

a

in

most p o p u lo u s c o u n ty ,

th ree

l i b e r a t i o n .

s im ila r m eetings

at

for

in

68
D etro it.

A ccording

"were going
w here
ru in

.

.

to

to a tte n d

a great

. some t h r e e

and d e v a s t a t i o n

days a f te r

t h e Ann A r b o r S t a t e J o u r n a l ,
bear hunt a t

hundred

to

the

black bears

surrounding

t h e Ann A r b o r m e e t i n g ,

affirm ed P a tr io t
i n t e r i o r . "29

v o l u n t e e r s w ere

By t h e e n d o f
hundred P a t r i o t s
D e tr o it R iv er.

the

refugees

"hourly

had g a t h e r e d

a t v ario u s p o in ts

an e s t i m a t e d

circu lated

several
along

the

th at

c o n ta i n e d o v e r one

along

t h e p r e v i o u s week r e b e l s

(A nn A r b o r ) ,

from t h e

s e v e n h u n d r e d men h a d

from M ic h ig a n c o u n t i e s

Journal

t Wo

the P a t r i o t s '

f i r s t week o f J a n u a r y ,

th o u s a n d names, w h ile

28s t a t e

arriv in g

One D e t r o i t o b s e r v e r r e p o r t e d

D uring

. th reaten

f l e e i n g U p p e r C a n a d a . 30

being

R i v e r . 31

.

the D e tr o it A d v e rtis e r

"su b sc rip tio n papers"

been e n ro lle d

.

M alden,

c o u n t r y . "28

B e s id e s M ichigan r e s i d e n t s ,

ra n k s were s w e lle d w ith

[F ort]

they

the D e tro it
had s t o l e n

over

11 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

29p^t^-Qxt D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 8 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
3 0 A c c o r d i n g t o H am ish L e a c h , t h e r e w e re 320 r e f u g e e s i n
D e t r o i t by 1 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 . ( " A P o l i t i c o - M i l i t a r y S t u d y o f
t h e D e t r o i t R iv e r B o u n d ary D e f e n s e s D u rin g t h e December
1 8 3 7 - M a r c h 1 8 3 8 E m e r g e n c y " (P hD . d i s s . , U n i v e r s i t y o f
O ttaw a, 1 9 63), p.
6 1 ) . On 23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 t h e S a n d w i c h
W e s te rn H e r a ld c la im e d t h a t s i n c e M ackenzie had been d r i v e n
i n t o e x i l e , ma ny C a n a d i a n r e f u g e e s h a d f l e d t o D e t r o i t
" f e a r i n g t h e v e n g e a n c e o f t h e law s t h e y had o p e n ly
v i o l a t e d . " T h e s e men c r o s s e d " w i t h o u t t h e l e a s t a t t e m p t
h a v i n g b e e n made by o u r m a g i s t r a t e s t o i n t e r c e p t t h e m . "
Dr.
C h a r l e s Duncombe, a p r o m i n e n t r e b e l from t h e London a r e a ,
r e a c h e d D e t r o i t "a m ere s k e l e t o n " a f t e r h id in g in c e l l a r s ,
w o o d s a n d swa mps f o r s i x w e e k s . (D . M cL eo d , A B r i e f R e v i e w
o f th e S e t t l e m e n t o f U pper Canada (1 8 4 1 ), in G u i l l e t , E a r ly
L i f e , pp. 6 8 3 -8 4 .)
3 1 u n id e n tif ie d D e t r o i t c o rre sp o n d e n t, 7 Jan u ary 1838,
i n N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 . T h e D e t r o i t

69
e i g h t hundred s ta n d o f
th e s ta t e

arsenal

arm s from t h e D e t r o i t

i n M onroe.

G r a t i o t n e a r P o r t Huron,

city

ja il

and

Two c a n n o n a t a b a n d o n e d F o r t

seventy m iles

n o rth e a st of D e tro it,

w e r e a l s o p i l f e r e d . 32
M ichigan o f f i c i a l s
Because of

sought to d isc o u ra g e

th e ordnance

th efts

a t D e t r o i t and M onroe,

B r i g a d i e r G e n e r a l Hugh B r a d y ,

commandant o f

M ilitary

a sin g le

D istrict,

n o t having

m ent t h a t he c o u ld o r d e r

company o f

fifty -tw o

D earb o rn sv ille
also

Known a s

fed eralized

th e B rady G u ard s,

men w a s d i v i d e d

from F o r t G r a t i o t

to D e tr o it.

lo ss of

w ere t r a n s p o r t e d

to

the

S eventh

a com­
the

betw een th e

a r s e n a l and th e D e t r o i t m ag az in e .

s e n t a s q u a d o f men t o r e m o v e

to p re v e n t th e

th e U .S.

man i n t h a t d e p a r t ­

fo r guard d u ty ,

pany o f M ichigan m i l i t i a .

the P a t r i o t s .

B rady had

t h e arms and m u n i t i o n s

The t r o o p s a r r i v e d

tw o c a n n o n ,

too

late

b u t many o t h e r s t o r e s

t h e M ichigan c a p i t o l ,

w hile p ro v is io n s

D a ily F ree P r e s s r e p o r t e d t h a t betw een f o u r and e i g h t
h u n d re d P a t r i o t s w ere g a t h e r i n g a t t h e m outh o f t h e D e t r o i t
R i v e r (8 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ) . A r e p o r t t o t h e U . S . D i s t r i c t
A t t o r n e y f r o m T o l e d o , O h i o , i n d i c a t e d t h a t many men w e r e
e a g e r t o f o l l o w t h e P a t r i o t s " a s so o n a s t h e y c a n f i n d an
e f f i c i e n t l e a d e r . " E . D. P o t t e r t o H .G . R o g e r s , 7 J a n u a r y
18 3 8 , N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s and R e c o rd s S e r v i c e , R e c o rd s o f U .S.
Army C o n t i n e n t a l C om ma nds, 1 8 2 1 - 1 9 2 0 , E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n ,
L e t t e r s R e c e i v e d , R e c o r d G r o u p 3 9 3 ( h e r e a f t e r NARS, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ) .
32U n i d e n t i f i e d
D e tr o it c o rre sp o n d e n t, 7 Jan u ary 1838,
i n N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; B r a d y t o S c o t t ,
6 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , P r u c h a , " R e p o r t s , " p . 5 8 ; B r a d y t o S c o t t , 14
J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s and R e c o rd s S e r v i c e , R ec o rd s
o f th e A d ju ta n t G e n e r a l's O ffic e , 1822-1860, L e tte r s
R e c e i v e d , R e c o r d G r o u p 94 ( h e r e a f t e r NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ) .

70
w ere e n a c te d

to p r o t e c t

On 6 J a n u a r y
at

those

th e

reb els

seized

the D e t r o i t w h arf,

loaded

i t w ith

of p ro v isio n s

im m ediately
more th a n

tw enty

v o lu n teers.

fam ilies.

by s e v e r a l

T h a t same e v e n i n g

P a t r i o t Army o f

ru sh in g

reso lv ed

arriv al

w ater

the

s i x t y - t w o men who h a d

sw elled

the P a t r i o t 's

tax

G eneral

encampment n o r t h o f D e t r o i t ,
t h e New Y o r k g e n e r a l

and th e s t o l e n

G eneral T h e lle r,

command

s c h o o n e r Ann.
a d r u g g i s t and

to

command t h e A n n . 35

1838,
18 3 8 ,

Prucha, "R ep o rts,"
NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 .

co llecto r,

33urady to S c o t t , 6 Ja n u a ry
B r a d y t o S c o t t , 14 J a n u a r y

th e

th at

n o t know e v e n e x i s t e d .

from a P a t r i o t

then d ire c te d

D etro it city

P atrio t

reached

t h e N o rth W est— an o r g a n i z a t i o n

th e dow nriver e x p e d itio n

the

i n C l e v e l a n d . 34

t h e m a t t e r by g i v i n g

S u therland

jo u rn ey ,

carry in g

S utherlan d

a

The v e s s e l

c o n f u s i o n w h e n h e d e m a n d e d command o f

M a c k e n z ie 's governm ent did
Handy,

ordnance,

a ham let of not

tw enty m ile

a fo rce of

A lthough S u t h e r l a n d 's
created

sto len

for G ib raltar,
On t h e

v o l u n t e e r e d when he s t o p p e d

it

s c h o o n e r Ann, m oored

the

sm a lle r boats

G i b r a l t a r encampment w ith

ranks,

n o t b e m o v e d . 33

a nd o v e r o n e h u n d r e d men.

headed d o w n riv er

Ann w a s j o i n e d

58;

could

the

q u an tity

of

th at

p.

34unidentified Detroit correspondent, 7 January 1 8 3 8 ,
in National I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 2 3 January 1 8 3 8 ; Nathaniel W.
Brooks to Caroline Jeffords, 16 January 1 8 3 8 , Nathaniel
W i l s o n Brooks Papers, BC; Robert B. Ross, "The Patriot War,"
Michi ga n Pioneer and Historical C o l l e c t i o n s , 2 1 ( 1 8 9 2 ) , p.
522.
35Lindsey, M a c k e n z i e , 2 : 1 7 0 - 7 1 ; J o h n T. B l o i s ,
G a z e t t e e r o f M i c h i g a n ( D e t r o i t : S y d n e y L. Ro od & C o . ,
p. 290.

1838),

71
T h a t s am e n i g h t
G o v e r n o r Mason,
to

back

in D e tro it,

activ itie s.

D e t r o i t Mayor H en ry H ow ard,

o b lig ated
affairs

of

of

men,

to r e f r a i n

"any c o lo n y ,
are

fellow

proper"
th eir

fo r concerned

" p e rso n a l aid

B efore

adjou rning,

those

to

eith er

posse,
th e ir

surrender.

e n ro llm e n t of

co llectio n

o f war

the
the

lib erty "p u rity "
deemed

The r e b e l s

an e i g h t e e n p o u n d e r i f

of
"it

th e contending p a r t i e s . "
to o rg a n iz e

a body o f

c i t y . 36
realized

On t h e

confronted

T e n E y c k ' s men w e r e

^ D e t r o i t D aily

in tern al

th at re so lu tio n s

sam e d a y t h a t

t h e Ann

M a r s h a l l C onrad Ten Eyck o r g a n i z e d

headed d o w n riv er,

source,
of

U .S.

the

the g a th e rin g

of

But governm ental o f f i c i a l s

l e f t D etro it,

M ic h ig a n ia n s w ere

t o go t o C a n a d a a n d l e n d

the

th e P a t r i o t s .

th at

in a t te n d a n c e were u n a b le

a m o tio n was p a s s e d

o n e h u n d r e d men t o p r o t e c t

w ould n o t s t o p

of

to q u e s tio n

citizen s

reso lv ed

the

co m p u lsio n to a id

m o tiv es,

h all

o r p e o p l e w i t h whom t h e

C ritical

R efusing

citizen s'

in

of a rm ie s and th e

an o v e r r i d i n g

seek in g C anadians.
th eir

sy m pathizes,

a t p e ac e."

the o r g a n iz a tio n

escape

assem blage

d istric t

the c i t y

P r e s i d e d o v e r by

from i n t e r f e r i n g

m a t e r i a l on M ich ig an s o i l ,
to

the

th e ir personal

U nited S ta te s

th e urging of

a p u b l i c m e e t in g was h e l d a t

denounce th e P a t r i o t s '

reg ard less

at

refused

the P a t r i o t s

and o r d e r e d

and a c c o r d i n g

"th re a ten e d

w ith

they approached

the

nearer

F r e e P r e s s , 11 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

a

to one

contents
than

72
h ailin g

d i s t a n c e . "37

F o llo w in g Ten E y c k 's
t h e U .S.

D is tr ic t A tto rn ey ,

hundred

state

M aso n 's

fo rce proceeded

at

t h e U .S.

m ilitia.

arsen al.

t h e g o v e r n o r and h i s
P atrio ts

P atrio ts

Leaving

retu rn ed

force,
the

"to

the

co n fiscated

L ate

a.m .

s e a t of

to

it

was arm ed

t o D e t r o i t by m i d - a f t e r n o o n ,

ordnance,

the

boarded

they d is c o v e re d

seize

two

th at

the

the

"a la r g e

body

s c h o o n e r B rady and

The g o v e r n o r s '

weapons

as a " s lig h t

tro o p s also

fo llo w in g what th e Free

s k i r m i s h . "38
th e C anadians

n o t a p p e a r unduly alarm ed
On 26 D e c e m b e r v o l u n t e e r s

m eeting

i n Sandw ich t o e n r o l l

border.

Two d a y s

later

tw o

t h e e v e n i n g Mason and t h e m i l i ­

th e w ar."

th e P a t r i o t s '

of

on th e e i g h t h ,

i n t e n t upon d i s p e r s i n g

in

A lthough a p p re h e n s iv e ,

M ichigan.

th e urging

to D e t r o i t where th e y d i s p e r s e d

P ress d escrib ed

R iv er did

a t 1:00

sto len

o f m e n , " who h a d a t t e m p t e d
head

at

to D e a r b o r n s v i l l e where

R eaching G i b r a l t a r ,

had l e f t .

Mason,

D a n i e l Goodw in, m o b i l i z e d

R eturning

and r e t u r n i n g

schooners.

tia

fa ilu re ,

th eir

along

the D e tr o it

about ev en ts
gathered
serv ices

th e Sandw ich f o r c e

at

in
a p u b lic

to defend

to taled

the

150,

3?unidentified Detroit correspondent, 7 January 1 8 3 8 ,
in National Int ell ige nc er, 23 January 1 8 3 8 .

3 8 B r a d y t o S c o t t , 14
J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ;
D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 8 , 9 , 1 0 , 13 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; D a n i e l
Goodwin t o F o r s y t h , N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s and R e c o r d s S e r v i c e ,
G e n e ra l R ecords o f th e D epartm ent of S t a t e , M isc e lla n e o u s
L e t t e r s , 1 7 8 9 - 1 9 0 6 ( h e r e a f t e r , NARS, DOS, M i s c , RG 5 9 ) ;
E x e c u t i v e O r d e r , 7 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , S t e p h e n s T. M a s o n P a p e r s ,
BC.

73
a lth o u g h m ost la c k e d weapons o r
to

the

rumor t h a t C a n a d ia n s p la n n ed

Sandw ich m a g i s t r a t e s
to

d i s c i p l i n e .

use th e

G ran t,

sid e

of

the

e d ito r of the

M ag azin e, hoped t h a t
shores,

bein g s,

m i g h t be b e t t e r

r i v e r . 4°

a

few d a y s

the

harmony e x i s t i n g

filled
for

were

they o u t of

the P a t r i o t s

P atrio ts,

th e W estern H erald e x p re sse d

a s t o n i s h m e n t and r i g h t e o u s

"treach ero u s

R ecounting

to

in

th e w orld

th e aid

s t a t e .

th at

g iv en the

"no s m a l l d e g r e e o f
R egarding

Sandw ich

th e W estern H erald denounced

v illa in s,"

two

i t . "41

in d ig n a tio n ."

who s o u g h t t h a t

several

"to q u ie t
them a s

"we s h o u l d

continue

"42

As t h e W e s t e r n H e r a l d i n t i m a t e d ,
going

l a t e r H e n r y C.

betw een th e

a ll

M i c h i g a n i a n s who v i s i t e d

in a d efen celess

in itiated

had i n t e n s i f i e d ,

became o u t r a g e d .

our ap p reh en sio n s,"

in ten t

f o r t h e s a k e o f a few

C anadians

"in o fficio u s"

the

Sandw ich W e s te rn H e ra ld and F a r m e r ' s

who b u t o c c u p y a s p a c e

But as su p p o rt

th eir

t h a t v i o l e n c e w as n o t

" w o u ld n e v e r be d i s t u r b e d

w o rth less

j n response

burn D e t r o i t ,

o n 30 D e c e m b e r e x p r e s s e d

law t o e n s u r e

from t h e i r

to

39

be c a u g h t u n p r e p a r e d .

th e C anadians were n o t

S in ce m ost of

the p r o v in c e 's

3 ^ A l a n R. D o u g l a s , e d . , J o h n P r i n c e : A C o l l e c t i o n o f
D o cu m en ts, ( T o r o n to : The C ham plain S o c i e t y , 1 9 8 0 ), p . 16.
^ M a g i s t r a t e s P r o c l a m a t i o n , 30 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 ,
S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 3 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 .
41sandwich W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 3 J a n u a r y

4 2 ib id .,

23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

1838.

in

74
m ilitary

forces

had been c o n c e n t r a t e d

o p p o site B uffalo,

w e s te rn C anadians p ro ceed ed w ith o u t aid
governm ent.
rifles,

L acking

the d e fe n se

a llie s.

F earing

any B r i t i s h
co n sisted

th at

reg u lars,

of m i l i t i a

refused

the c a l l

t h e d e f e n s e o f w e s t e r n Canada f e l l

th is

v o lu n teers;

new e m e r g e n c y h a d

b u t was an A m e ric an

little

and t h e i r

Indian

to

As a r e s u l t ,

to a sm all co rp s of

four

men who w e r e c o n v i n c e d

co nquest.

reality ,

in to musket b a l l s

to arm s.

th at

t o do w i t h C a n a d i a n l i b e r t y ,

in v asio n of

i n v a s i o n move d c l o s e r
was c a s t

a s w e l l a s ample

t h e y m i g h t be m arch ed t o Lower C an a d a ,

ma ny F r e n c h - C a n a d i a n s

hundred poorly-arm ed

from t h e c e n t r a l

As t h e

th r e a t of

p o w d e r w as c o l l e c t e d ,

a n d C o l o n e l Th o m as R a d c l i f f ,

N a p o l e o n i c War v e t e r a n

i n command o f

the w estern

p o s itio n e d m ost of h is

t r o o p s a t A m h e r s t b u r g by 9

lead
a

fro n tier,

Janu ar y.43

Aware o f M a s o n 's e x c u r s i o n
P atrio ts,

w ith o r

to talin g

moved t o S u g a r I s l a n d
betw een G i b r a l t a r
day,

approxim ately

tran sp o rted

E arly

army o c c u p i e d B o is B la n c ,
A m herstburg.

of

H o istin g

the

the

h u n d r e d me n,
the

and A m h e r s tb u r g on t h e e i g h t h .

G eneral T h e lle r aboard

w i t h F o r t M alden.

them ,

th ree

on t h e A m e ric an s i d e

as sm aller v e sse ls

m ainland,

to d i s p e r s e

t h e army o f f

boundary
On t h e

sam e

the

t h e Ann e x c h a n g e d g u n f i r e

n e x t m orning S u th e r l a n d

a C anadian

the P a t r i o t

and h i s

islan d op p o site

flag

of

tw o s t a r s

4 3 A l b i o n ( A l b a n y , New Y o r k ) , 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ;
"A P o l i t i c o - M i l i t a r y S t u d y , " p p . 6 2 - 6 4 .

on a

Ham ish,

75
field

of red,

w h i t e and b l u e ,

ap p ro x im ately
the

islan d

"So p r e c i p i t a t e

after

w ere

the

he b o a s t e d

off,

leaving

tity

of p ro v isio n s

firin g

by a s u b o r d i n a t e

C a n a d a by i s s u i n g

p ro clam atio n s.

rem ain d i s c i p l i n e d

arm y."

H oping t o a r o u s e

C anadians,

"they

ran

quan­

some m u n i t i o n s . " 4 4

a s a man " w h o s e l u n g s w e r e

S u th erlan d

army t o

reach of

to R e n s s a e le r ,

w ith

on

sh o ts.

camp e q u i p a g e — a l a r g e

and s t o r e s ,

c re d ita b le ,"

a fe w i n e f f e c t i v e

report

th eir

th at

and I n d i a n s

enemy t o g e t b e y o n d t h e

in h is

us m ost of

D escribed
certain ly

reported

tw o h u n d r e d C a n a d i a n m i l i t i a

had f l e d

our g u n s,"

S utherland

began h is o c c u p a tio n of
He o r d e r e d

h is

v icto rio u s

a n d sh ow " m e r c y t o a s u b d u e d

s y m p a t h y among d i s e n c h a n t e d U p p e r

S utherland o ffe re d

a second d e c re e .

You a r e c a l l e d u p o n by t h e V o i c e o f y o u r b l e e d i n g
C o u n try to j o i n t h e P a t r i o t F o r c e s , and f r e e y o u r
Land from T y r a n n y .
H ordes of w o r t h l e s s p a r a s i t e s
o f t h e B r i t i s h C ro w n a r e q u a r t e r e d u p o n y o u t o
devour your s u b s ta n c e , to o u tra g e your r i g h t s , to
l e t l o o s e upon y o u r d e f e n c e l e s s W ives and D a u g h te r s
a b ru ta l so ld iery .
R ally th en around th e S tan d ard
o f L i b e r t y , and V i c t o r y and a g l o r i o u s f u t u r e , o f
i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d p r o s p e r i t y w i l l be y o u r s . 45
U n fortunately,
tro o p s w ith
cam paign.

the g e n e r a l's

the n e ce ssa ry

bom bast did

clo th in g

not provide

and s h e l t e r

A lthough T h e l l e r r e c a l l e d

h is

fo r a w in ter

several years

later

th at

^ S u t h e r l a n d to R e n s s a e le r, 9 Jan u ary 1838, in N ile s
N a t i o n a l R e g i s t e r , 3 F e b r u a r y 18 3 8 ;
B r a d y t o S c o t t , 14
J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ; L a w t o n T . H e m a n s , L i f e a n d
T i m e s o f S t e p h e n s T. M a s o n ( L a n s i n g : M i c h i g a n H i s t o r i c a l
Com m ission, 1 9 3 0 ), p . 34 0 .
^ S u t h e r l a n d 's P ro c la m a tio n s , 9 Jan u ary 1838, P u b lic
A r c h i v e s o f C a n a d a , S t a t e P a p e r s A d d r e s s e d by t h e
S e c r e t a r i e s of S t a t e f o r th e C o lo n ie s to th e L t. G overnors

76
" m ir th and m e rrim e n t"
P a trio t cap tain ,

On t h e e v e n i n g o f

in to

raised

" h o r r i b l e ."46

the

.47

n in th

t h e Ann, b o a s t i n g

m ilitia

T h e Ann q u i c k l y

t w e n t y - o n e men a b o a r d ,

C anadian r e f u g e e ,

was k i l l e d .

one s m a ll

some r o u n d s h o t a n d g r a p e "

th e v e ss e l neared

C olonel R a d c l i f f 's

A n n 's r i g g i n g .
Of t h e

w ere

a

w r o t e from t h e D e t r o i t

a n c h o r and " th r e w

A m h e r s t b u r g

shore,

among t h e P a t r i o t s ,

E. M. T o w n s e n d ,

R iver th a t c o n d itio n s

cannon,

p rev ailed

opened

th e C anadian
fire,

dam aging

the

r a n a g r o u n d and was c a p t u r e d .

o n ly David A n d e rso n ,

a

S e v e r a l o t h e r s w ere wounded,

i n c l u d i n g T h e l l e r a n d C o l o n e l W. W. Dod ge o f M o n r o e .
B esides
m uskets,

the p r is o n e r s ,

th e C anadians

te n kegs of pow der,

arm am ents.

The p r i s o n e r s ,

th ree

in clu d in g

o f whom w e r e M i c h i g a n i a n s ) ,

w ere

cap tu red

three

hundred

cannon and m i s c e l la n e o u s
th irtee n

in carcerated

A m ericans

(nine

in

A m h e r s t b u r g . 48
On t h e

ten th ,

P a trio t a ssau lt,

as

th e C anadians

braced

fo r th e next

S u t h e r l a n d who h a d o b s e r v e d

th e A n n 's

cap-

o r O f f i c e r s A d m in is te r in g th e Governm ent o f th e P r o v in c e o f
U p p e r C a n a d a , 1 8 3 8 ( h e r e a f t e r PAC, S t a t e P a p e r s ) , RG 7 , SG
1 , v o l . 8 8 ; E. A. T h e l l e r , C a n a d a i n 1 8 3 7 - 3 8 , 2 v o l s . ,
( P h i l a d e l p h i a : Henry F. A n n e rs , 1 8 4 1 ) , 1 : 1 2 8 .
46 e . M. Townsend to Friend Umbstaeter, 12 January 1 8 3 8 ,
In National Intelligencer, 25 January 1 8 3 8 ; Theller, Canada
in 1837-38, 1:134.
47«rhomas Radcliffe to John Strachan, 10 January 1 8 3 8 ,
in Detroit Daily Free P r e s s , 20 February 1 8 3 8 .
48jbid., E. A. Theller to Friend Peltier, 23 January
1 8 3 8 , in Pontiac C o u r i e r , 9 February 1 8 3 8 .

77
tu re,

issued

"deluded

y e t an o th er proclam atio n .

su p p o rters

of B r i t i s h Tyranny

P a tr io t g en eral ordered

C anadians

retu rn

D esirous of

to

th eir

homes.

bloodshed S u th e rla n d

to

A ddressing

the

in Upper C anada,"

l a y down t h e i r
avoiding

the

arms and

fu rth er

added

You a r e e n j o y i n g a m o i e t y o f l i b e r t y V o u c h s a f e d
t o y o u f r o m m o t i v e s o f c a p r i c e o r i n t e r e s t on
th e p a r t of your r u l e r s .
We w i l l s e c u r e t o y o u
a l l t h e b l e s s i n g s o f f r e e d o m by a p e r m a n e n t a n d
h o n o u r a b l e t e n u r e . A v o i d t h e n t h e h o r r o r s o f War —
e n r a g e n o t t h e S o l d i e r s a l r e a d y e x a s p e r a t e d by
opp ressio n .
Save y o u r s e l v e s from C o n f i s c a t i o n .
C e a s e r e s i s t a n c e , a n d a l l w i l l be w e l l w i t h y o u . 49
In ex p licab ly ,

after

S uth erlan d ordered
retu rn ed

th is

a retreat,

b o ld announcem ent,

abandoned h is

troops

and

t o D e t r o i t . 50

On t h e

same m o r n i n g ,

an o th er v e s s e l,
the P a tr io t

D etro it P a trio ts

the E r i e , to

carry

camp. A l t h o u g h o p p o s e d

few m i l i t i a m e n ,
they

issu in g

receiv ed

the P a t r i o t s

A m erican o f f i c i a l s '

refusal

su p p lies

and r e c r u i t s

to

by G e n e r a l B r a d y a n d a

succeeded

from s y m p a t h e t i c

seized y e t

because of

b y stan d ers,

to open f i r e

th e aid

as w ell as

to

stop

the

the

P a trio ts.
A ctiv ities
ic al

stag e.

along

D escribed

^ S u th erlan d
P apers.

t h e D e t r o i t R i v e r had r e a c h e d
as

"th e

P roclam ation,

th eatre

of

in te n se,

10, Jan u ary 1838,

the

c rit­

alm ost

PAC, S t a t e

5 0 A l b i o n ( A l b a n y , New Y o r k ) , 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; D a n i e l
G o o d w i n t o F o r s y t h , 17 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS, M i s c , RG 5 9 .
5 1 D a n i e l G o o d w i n t o F o r s y t h , 9 , 17 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
DOS, M i s c , RG 5 9 ; R o s s , " T h e P a t r i o t W a r , " p . 5 2 7 .

NARS,

78
u n co n tro llab le

ex citem en t,"

D e tr o ite r w ro te,
ex citem en t

pu b lic

"You c a n n o t c o n c e i v e

in t h i s

tw o s i d e s o f

D e t r o i t was i n

c i t y . " 55

the r i v e r

and p r i v a t e

A ll

The S andw ich m a g i s t r a t e s

M ichigan,

it

C anadians a tta c k e d
th em ."5®
along

and

the

h is

sleep

and t h e s a f e t y

of

both

s o n t o arm h i m s e l f
in

the

Furtherm ore,

sto re

and f in d

w i t h h i m . 55

they

he c o n ­

if

M as on

the

adding

t h a t he w a n te d p e a c e

t h a t he c o u ld n o t

any in v a s i o n o f

the

o v e r w hich he p r e s i d e d . 5 ?

req u ired

if

in

" w h e r e v e r we c a n f i n d

responded

w ith o u t r e s is ta n c e ,"

inquired

"of your country"

th e P a t r i o t s

Mason i m m e d i a t e l y

situ atio n

the

betw een th e

a s k e d G o v e r n o r Mason i f

an i n v a s i o n

independent s t a t e

th at

to

the b o rd er p re s e rv e d ,

"perm it,

of

u p o n C a n a d a by t h e A n n , a v e s s e l a r m e d

an in v a s io n .

w ould c o n s i d e r

One

p r o p e r t y was o f g r e a t c o n c e r n . 5^

"som eone o f good p lu c k "

the a tta c k

in ten sity

in terco u rse

had c e a s e d

M erch an t J o h n B rooks o r d e r e d

sid ered

the

t u r m o i l . 52

more t h a n w r i t t e n

sovereign
R ealizin g

assurances,

5 2 P e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 13 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
55N a t h a n i e l W ilso n B rooks t o C a r o l i n e J e f f o r d s ,
J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , N a t h a n i e l W i l s o n B r o o k s P a p e r s , BC.
5 ^P e t r o i t D a ily A d v e r t i s e r , 8 J a n u a ry 1838;
t i f i e d D e t r o i t c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 13 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 27 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
55J o h n B rooks t o N a t h a n i e l B ro o k s ,
N a t h a n i e l W i l s o n B r o o k s P a p e r s , BC.
5 ® R obert M e rc e r e t a l . , t o Mason,
P o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 19 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

16

uniden­
in N a tio n al

23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
9 Jan u ary 1838,

5 ^Mason t o M a g i s t r a t e s o f S a n d w i c h ,
P o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 19 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

9 January

in

1838,

in

79
Mason p r o c e e d e d
retreated

to Sugar Is la n d ,

when S u t h e r l a n d

hundred-m an P a t r i o t

d eserted

army t h e r e

t h e i r w eapons and p e r s u a d e d

G e n e r a l Brady

d i s p e r s e .

h is

su p erio rs

P atrio ts

he w o uld

from Navy I s l a n d ,
of the ab le

t h e P a t r i o t s . "59

th eir

b o d i e d men o f

A nother D e t r o i t e r

th e C anadians

th at

if

effo rts

the

th ree-

58

But p e ssim ism and a p p re h e n s io n s
inform ed

had

co n fiscated

c a lm had r e t u r n e d

in

tr o u b le s w ith

ferried

to G i b r a l t a r ,

f o r c e s met w ith any d e f e a t

o n e-th ird

them ,

them t o

By m i d - J a n u a r y a t e n s e
D e tr o it R iv er.

w here th e P a t r i o t s

to

the

abounded.

the B r i t i s h
to o u s t

the

" n o t be s u r p r i s e d
th is

S tate

cau tio u sly

are over,

b ut,

if

would j o i n
added,

I fear,

"Our

only

t e m p o r a r i l y . "60

5 8 a r a d y co S c o t t , 14 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ;
H e m a n s , M a s o n , p . 3 4 4 ; G o o d w i n t o F o r s y t h , 17 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
NARS, DOS M i s c , RG 5 9 .
5 ^Brady to S c o t t ,

14 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,

NARS, AGO, RG 94

6 ° U n i d e n t i f i e d D e t r o i t c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 13 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
i n N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 27 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
A nother m a tte r
t h a t c r e a t e d c o n t r o v e r s y was t h e c a s e o f Andrew G rim e s o f
S w a n to n C r e e k , Monroe C o u n ty .
G rim e s c l a i m e d t h a t he was
f i r e d u p o n by C a n a d i a n s w h e n h e l e f t t h e P a t r i o t e n c a m p m e n t
a t B o i s B l a n c f o r D e t r o i t on 9 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
G rim e s was
f o r c e d t o d o c k a t A m h e r s t b u r g and was i m p r i s o n e d f o r s e v e r a l
days.
He c l a i m e d t h a t d u r i n g h i s i m p r i s o n m e n t t h a t h e w as
m i s t r e a t e d and a l m o s t d i e d f o r w an t o f " p r o p e r fo o d and
ra im e n t."
G rim es was d i s c h a r g e d , a l t h o u g h he c la i m e d t h a t
h i s s c h o o n e r , t h e G e o rg e S t r o n g , was " p l u n d e r e d " an d t h e
g o o d s a b o a r d t a k e n o f f f o r w h i c h h e w as p a i d a l o w e r p r i c e
t h a n he w o u ld h a v e " o t h e r w i s e o b t a i n e d . " R e s p o n d i n g t o
G o v e rn o r M aso n 's r e q u e s t f o r t h e C a n a d ia n v e r s i o n o f t h e
e p i s o d e , C o l o n e l P r i n c e c h a r g e d t h a t w h i l e G rim e s was d o c k ed
a t B o is B la n c he f r a t e r n i z e d w i t h t h e P a t r i o t s .
P rin ce a lso
a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e G eorge S tr o n g was n o t f i r e d upon and th e
crew n o t m i s t r e a t e d d u r in g i t s c a p t i v i t y . P r i n c e added t h a t
G r i m e s ' s a c c u s a t i o n s t h a t he was u n d e r p a i d f o r h i s g o o d s o r

80
A lthough governm ent o f f i c i a l s ,
g r o u p s and e v e n t h e U .S.
p eace along

the

the p o s s ib il ity

border,

new spapers,

Army s o u g h t t o p r e s e r v e
filib u sterin g

p ersisted

of war betw een th e U n ite d S t a t e s

citiz en s'
the

tenuous

and w i t h

it

and G r e a t

B ritain .

t h a t h i s v e s s e l h a d b e e n p l u n d e r e d w as " a b s o l u t e p e r j u r y . "
P r i n c e a t t a c h e d an a f f i d a v i t from th e d e p u ty c o m m i s s a r i a t a t
A m h e rs tb u rg v e r i f y i n g t h a t a f a i r p r i c e had been p a i d , w hich
G rim e s had r e c e i v e d w i t h " f u l l s a t i s f a c t i o n . " (Sandw ich
W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s ,
24 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ) .

CHAPTER FOUR:

A lthough

FILIBUSTERING ALONG THE DETROIT RIVER

the

first

i n v a s i o n o f U p p e r C a n a d a ha d p r o v e n

d isastro u s,

the P a t r i o t s

co n fid en t.

In th e

late

tro o p s

a t D etro it,

M ilitary

p rep aratio n s

w i l d ru m o rs and a c t u a l

tw een M ic h ig a n and Canada
P atrio ts

a ll

along

and Canada r e c e i v e d
sin k in g of
m aterial

the

chaos

on b o th s i d e s o f

through e a r ly

near S ch lo sser,

New Y o r k ,

l e f t one A m erican d e a d .
p raised

in

late

In i t s

the r a id e r s ,

vessel

S tates

follow ing

ferrying

t o M a c k e n z i e ' s g o v e r n m e n t o n N a vy I s l a n d .
the

the

M arch.

b o r d e r betw een th e U n ited

burned

in

k e p t th e b o rd e r be­

a renewed b o o s t of s u p p o r t

p arty

a tw o­

w h i c h c omm en ced

th e C a r o l i n e , an A m erican v e s s e l

C anadian r a id in g

p u b licly

in

fig h tin g

in cluding

th e y planned

in v a s io n o f w e s te rn Upper Canada,

February.

riv er,

th e D e t r o i t R iv e r rem ained

fa c e of governm ental p r e s s u r e ,

t h e a r r i v a l o f U .S.
pronged

along

the

men a n d
A

in A m erican w a te r s

December 1837.

The a c t i o n

wake C a n a d i a n o f f i c i a l s

w hich

l e f t A m ericans

fu rio u s.

I n New Y o r k d e f e n s e p r e p a r a t i o n s w e r e u n d e r t a k e n a n d n o i s y
dem onstrators

took

to

the

streets

from G r e a t B r i t a i n . 1

l-Corey,

C r i s i s , pp.

37-38.
81

dem anding s a t i s f a c t i o n

82
The C a ro lin e a f f a i r
in ten sify

its

effo rts

5 Jan u ary 1838,

forced

t h e U .S.

to m a in ta in peace along

S e c r e t a r y o f War J o e l R.

M ajor G e n e ra l W in f ie ld S c o t t to
U nfo rtu n ately ,

th e U .S.

fig h tin g

In d ian s

P o in sett

in stru cted

long

a s he d id

A rm y 's

in F lo rid a

it

governm ent to

the
fiv e

the

n orthern

fro n tier.

t h o u s a n d men w e r e
In stead ,

c a l l o ut the s t a t e

" d i s c r e e t l y ” and e x te n d e d

s o f a r a s c i r c u m s t a n c e s may s e e m t o

On

P o in s e tt ordered

and u n a v a i l a b l e .

S c o tt to

border.

m ilitia,

the c a l l

r e q u i r e . "2

as

"only

On t h e same

d a y P r e s i d e n t V an B u r e n i s s u e d y e t a n o t h e r p r o c l a m a t i o n
th reaten in g

a r r e s t a n d p r o s e c u t i o n o f a n y o n e who v i o l a t e d

A m erican n e u t r a l i t y
W ord o f
th e m idst of

the

sin k in g

its

lo udly

A d v e r tis e r claim ed
th e P a tr i o t
pathy

re a ch e d M ichigan in

In t h e M ic h ig a n House o f

th e C a r o lin e and th e

crew

tw en ty -tw o ]. . . .
w hich c a l l s

the C aro lin e

A l e x a n d e r W. B u e l o f f e r e d

th e d e s tr u c tio n of
of

of

t h e Ann f i a s c o .

R ep resen tativ es,

a p o rtio n

la w s.3

is
for

[estim ates

"inhum an m a s s a c r e o f

t o o u r common c o u n t r y ,

r e p a r a t i o n . "4

A lthough th e D e t r o i t

the C aro lin e sin k in g

co u ld have e f f e c t e d

th e p u b lic

" h a s d o n e more f o r

expressio n s

o f sym­

in m o n th s," M ichigan a p p ro b a tio n

2 i b i d . , p . 57; P o i n s e t t t o S c o t t , 5 J a n u a r y 1838,
S t a t e J o u r n a l (Ann A r b o r ) , 25 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
^C orey, C r i s i s , p.

th at

ranged as high as

an i n d i g n i t y

cause th en a l l

a re so lu tio n

in

49.

4M ic h i g a n . H ouse J o u r n a l , 1 8 3 8 , p .
13 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

54;

Monroe G a z e t t e ,

83
of

t h e a f f a i r was o f t e n

of

th e Ann. 5

t e m p e r e d by r e a c t i o n s

The D e t r o i t D a i l y F re e P r e s s c h a r g e d
who d i d
at

not

"feel

the r e c i t a l

of

p lace

in

th e ir

neig h b o rs

sim ilar

th e em otions of

th e A m erican c o n f e d e r a c y ."

in v asio n ,

ma n a n d a v e n g e
added

th at

avoid

a ll

it

th e r i v e r

any A m erican

The F r e e P r e s s w arned
if

they u n dertook a

t h e y eom anry o f M ic h i g a n w ould r i s e

t h e o u t r a g e . "6
planned

to co n tin u e

lead

e ith e r of

contending p a r t i e s . "

week l a t e r ,

its

ed ito rial

any of our c i t i z e n s

po licy

W ar o f 1 8 1 2 ,

offered

them i n

crow n.

A lthough

reb ellio n

had s u c c e e d e d ,

C anadians

"are

the e x ertio n s
in d ep en d en ce."

th at

or sacrifices

in

create

s id e s w ith
ed ito rial

lig h t of

"su b serv ien tly

" a r d e n tly " w ishing

the Free P re s s

not prepared,

take

"to

m orally
necessary

The F r e e P r e s s

the

surm ised

attach ed "
t h a t the
th at

and p h y s i c a l l y ,
to

achieve

then d e cla re d

th at

the

t o make

th eir
"there

^ D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 10 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 . S e e a l s o
S t a t e J o u r n a l (Ann A r b o r ) ,
25 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , P o n t i a c
C o u r i e r , 1 9 , 26 J a n u a r y , 16 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 a n d M o n r o e
G a z e t t e , 1 3 , 20 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 f o r s i m i l a r r e s p o n s e s .
^D e tr o it D aily

a

t h e A m e ric a n R e v o l u t i o n and

th e C an a d ia n s w ere to o

the B r i t i s h

to

to

In a len g th y

th e F ree P r e s s concluded

o p p o rtu n ities

a s one

However t h e D e m o c r a tic d a i l y

re m a rk s w hich m ig h t have any te n d e n c y

the

rise,

w o u ld be u n w o r th y o f a

th at

ex citem en t or

to

th at

the c a p tu re

in d ig n an t p a trio tis m

th e m urderous deed,

across

to

F r e e P r e s s , 10 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

is

84
no r e a s o n
th is

to b e lie v e

fro n tier,

w i l l again

th at

for h o s tile

t ^i e C a r o l i n e

dem onstrations

th at

"no a g g r e s s i o n s

a s o n e man t o

re sist

it."®

to

avoid

alread y

p rev ailin g

in

the

p u b lish

S u th e rla n d 's

rem ain open-m inded,

But th e A d v e r tis e r a ls o

in creasin g

the

com m unity when i t

the A d v e rtis e r p r in te d

to o v e rtu rn

R eferrin g

t o a new ly e s t a b l i s h e d ,

rep u b lic,

the

decided not

th eir

t h a t Upper Canada i s

a long

not Texas;

th a t G reat B rita in

t h a t C anadians

p ublished

b o t h o f M onroe,

10,

th eir P atrio t

on t h e Ann.
claim ed

th at

13,

are

not

le tte rs

alleg ian ces

from

after

W. W. Do dg e a n d S t e p h e n B r o p h y ,
t h e y had b e en d e c e i v e d

16 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

^D e tr o it D aily A d v e r tis e r , 9 Jan u ary 1838.
^ Ib id .,

th at

and e v e r rem em ber

S e v e ra l M ichigan new spapers a ls o

captured

le tte r

governm ent.

Mexico.''^

t w o men who h a d r e n o u n c e d

to

A m erican-supported

they a c t,

is

to

t h a t most

not

^ Ib id .,

P ledged

c o r r e s p o n d e n t c o n c l u d e d by w a r n i n g

"A m ericans s h o u ld exam ine b e f o r e

and

excitem ent

B ois B lanc p r o c la m a tio n s .

C a n a d i a n s had no d e s i r e

to

t h e w hole p e o p le w i l l

from an U pper C a n a d ia n L o y a l i s t e x p l a i n i n g

being

a g a i n s t Canada,

upon any p o r t i o n o f o u r

f o r o n e moment;

a d esire

Texans,

o f men o n

D e tr o it D aily A d v e rtis e r responded

s o i l w i l l be p e r m i t t e d

expressed

co llectio n

b e a t t e m p t e d . "7

The c o n s e r v a t i v e

rise

any f u r t h e r

23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

in to

85
b eliev in g

th at

governm ent.

th e C a n a d ia n s w ere re a d y

A ccording

G eneral S u th e rlan d ,
so fa r

"As f a r

determ ined

to

they

support

From h i s

S u th erlan d

are

to d is p e rs e

to

th eir

cell
h is

a s any p e o p le

to

le tte r

to

C o n stitu tio n
them ,

in the

in A m herstburg,
forces

h is

th eir

s e e and j u d g e ,

law s,

a s much a t t a c h e d

them ,

ja il

who a d d r e s s e d

as I can le a r n ,

from b e in g d i s s a f f e c t e d

and g overnm ent,

w o rld ."

t o Dodge,

to overthrow

and as

civ iliz ed

Do dg e

im plored

a n d go home .

T o g a i n t h e p o i n t we a i m e d a t i s u t t e r l y i m p o s s i b l e .
To p r e v e n t f u r t h e r b l o o d - s h e d i s o u r d u t y . N o th in g
c a n be g a i n e d by f u r t h e r h o s t i l e o p e r a t i o n s , and
a s y o u r f r i e n d and comrade e n g a g e d , a s I f o o l i s h l y
th o u g h t, in th e cause of l i b e r t y — an o p in io n based
upon f a l s e r e p o r t s and m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s — I a g a i n
i m p l o r e y o u t o s e p a r a t e — t o r e t u r n ho m e , a n d t o
a b a n d o n a c a u s e s o u t t e r l y h o p e l e s s , a n d I a s now
p e r c e i v e , s o t h o r o u g h l y u n j u s t . 10
D o d g e 's

le tte r

w a s a c c o m p a n i e d by a n o t e

Sandw ich m a g i s t r a t e ,

attestin g

to

its

from J o h n P r i n c e ,

acc u ra cy .H

On 13 J a n u a r y — t h e d a y a f t e r G o v e r n o r M a s o n d i s p e r s e d
the P a tr io t
city

force

a t Sugar Is la n d — D e tr o ite r s

h a l l w i t h Mason,

Mayor H e n ry Howard an d U .S .

A t t o r n e y D a n i e l Goodwin and p l e d g e d
g o v e rn m e n t's

effo rts

gathered

to p re s e rv e

support

for

n e u t r a l i t y . 12

at

D istrict

the
t 0 prevent

10w. W. D o d g e t o T h o m a s S u t h e r l a n d , 13 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 i n
M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 27 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 . B r o p h y ' s l e t t e r a p p e a r s i n
D e t r o i t D a ily F ree P r e s s , 1 F ebruary 1838.
H j o h n P r i n c e t o W a r n e r Wing e t
M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 27 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
linemans, Mason, pp. 344-45.

a l.,

15 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 i n

a

86
a recurrence

of

th e

arsen als,

D etro it

p a tro lle d

th e

em ergency

arose,

th e

also
th e

church.

The v a rio u s

federal

to m a in ta in

border.

th e

for

an a l e r t

T h eir

every

and

state

co n tro l

p u b licly

P a trio ts,

th e

to

If

frag ile

on
w hich

an

th e

b ell

of

ag en cies
peace

along

from M ic h ig a n A t t o r n e y

can cellin g

to G e n e ra l B ra d y 's

o f M ichigan m i l i t i a

n ig h t.

gov ern m en tal

of

ranged

raid s

by r i n g i n g

D e t r o i t M orning P o s t b e c a u s e o f

th e

p an ies

bank

th e

a tow n g u a r d ,

was s o u n d e d

effo rts

M o re y 's

t h e A nn a n d

o rg an ized

and r i v e r

P resb y terian

sought

of

o fficia ls

city

G eneral P e te r
to

seizu re

h is

its

su b scrip tio n

ex cessiv e

fed eralizin g

m eet a rum ored

zeal

six

c om ­

P atrio t

th re a t.
In

D etro it,

G eneral S u th erlan d

January

brought

W ilk in s

on s u s p i c i o n

A lthough
re le ase

due

to

of

C onvinced

th a t

W ilk in s

13r o ss,

D istric t

v io la tin g
and weak

in su ffic ie n t

was a r r e s t e d

p rep arin g

tria l,

U .S .

poor w itn esses

S u th erlan d
w ith

before

was a r r e s t e d

U .S .

T his

a m ilitary

ex p ed itio n

su ffic ie n t

evid en ce

order

th e

P a trio t

"The P a t r i o t W ar,"

^ D e tr o it D aily
M ason, 10 F e b r u a r y

A d v ertiser,
1 8 3 8 , NARS,

pp.

Ross

n e u tra lity

testim o n y

evidence

ag ain .

C ourt Judge

a n d o n 13

of

resu lted

h is

tim e

law s.
in

h is

g u ilt,

he was c h a r g e d

f r o m w e s t e r n New Y o r k .

ex isted

general

to

to

w arrant a

p o s t $ 5,0 0 0

528-29.

16 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; B r a d y t o
E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

bond

87
and a p p e a r a t

t h e U.S C i r c u i t C o u r t

G iven th e

"ex trao rd in ary

e x a s p e ra tio n m anifested
Canada b u t o f

th is

R ep resen tativ es

state

by t h e

sta te ,"

in t h a t d i s t r i c t .
o f e x c i t e m e n t and

in h ab itan ts,

t h e M ich ig an House o f

overw helm ingly re s o lv e d

th e governor re q u e st

t h a t no l e s s

in fo rm ed G e n e ra l S c o t t t h a t w h ile
F o r t G r a t i o t had been r e c o v e r e d ,
"u n till

the

w ith in su p p o rtin g

d istan ce

response

and o t h e r p l e a s ,

ordered
In
fro n tier

to

th ese

fo u r hundred
la te January,
a t B u ffalo ,

1 6 0 men a b o a r d
January,

hundred s ta n d s

C o l o n e l W. J .
journeyed

cold w eather,

15petroit

a P atrio t

arms a lo n g

W orth r e a c h e d

D aily

"acts

of

and

c an n o n from
fo lly "

w ould

t h e r e g u l a r Army i s
a u t h o r i t y ."17 j n

S ecretary
to

P o in sett

the b o r d e r .I 8

W orth,

commandant o f

the

to D e tr o it w ith approxim ately

th e Robert F u lto n .

of

tw o s t o l e n

the C iv il

army r e c r u i t s

W orth d i s p e r s e d

B rady c o n c u rre d

th ese

[s i c ] a p o r t i o n o f
of

o n 11 J a n u a r y t h a t

t h a n tw o r e g i m e n t s o f U . S .

t r o o p s be s e n t t o M i c h i g a n . G e n e r a l

p ersist

not only of

L e a v i n g New Y o r k o n 21
camp a n d s e i z e d

t h e way.

several

H a m p e r e d by i c e a n d

t h e m outh o f

th e D e tr o it R iver

Ft . e P r e s s , 19 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

^ M i c h i g a n . H ouse J o u r n a l , 1 8 3 8 , p . 5 8 . The g o v e r n o r a l s o
w a s r e q u e s t e d o n 24 J a n u a r y t o r e p o r t t o t h e H o u s e , " w i t h a s
l i t t l e d e la y as p o s s i b l e ," th e q u a n tity of ordnance
a v a i l a b l e i n M i c h i g a n t o arm t h e m i l i t i a (H o u s e J o u r n a l , p.
1 0 0 ).
l^B rady to A s s i s t a n t A d ju ta n t G e n e ra l,
NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 .
l 8P o i n s e t t t o R. J o n e s ,
D i v i s i o n , RG 393

3 Jan u ary 1838,

17 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
NARS,

E astern

88
a t 10 p . m .

o n 26 J a n u a r y .

F earing

F o r t M alden m ig h t m i s t a k e
tio n

and open f i r e ,

the

th at

th e C anadians

F u lto n fo r a h o s t il e

W orth l a i d

anchor.

A ccording

came a s a " g r e a t s u r p r i s e "

and b ro u g h t jo y to

"wh o w i t h o u t

of

tro o p s,

great d iffic u lty
Born
t h e U .S.
the

the

in h a b ita n ts,"
has

expedi­

The f o l l o w i n g

F u lto n docked a t D e t r o i t .

th ree-fo u rth s

at

to W orth,

th eir
"at

day th e
a rriv al

least

as w e ll a s G e n era l B rady,

found h i m s e l f

in c irc u m sta n c e s of

& h a r a s s m e n t."19

in P e n n sy lv an ia

in 1768,

Hugh B r a d y h a d e n t e r e d

Army i n 1 7 9 2 a n d saw a c t i o n

1 7 9 0 s a n d t h e War o f 1 8 1 2 .

b r i g a d i e r g e n e r a l and s i x

in th e

I n d i a n w ars of

I n 1822 he was c o m m issio n e d

years

later

statio n ed

in D e tr o it.

At the o u tb re a k of

t h e P a t r i o t War he com ma nde d t h e S e v e n t h

M ilitary

w hich e x te n d e d

D istric t,

from B u f f a l o

to

the

M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r . 20
W orth t r a n s f e r r e d
q u ick ly

m ost of

se n t sm all c o n tin g e n ts

D earb o rn sv iile

arsen al,

w hile

h is

troops

to B rady,

to F o r t G r a t i o t
retain in g

who

and th e

the rem a in d er a t

D e t r o i t . 21
W ith t r o o p s

to

c om ma nd,

B ra d y 's optim ism s u rg e d .

He

l ^ w o r t h t o S c o t t , 28 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ; E. D. K e y e s t o N. T o w s o n , 2 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
i b i d . ; W o r t h t o B r a d y , 27 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , Hugh B r a d y P a p e r s ,
BC; l e t t e r f r o m u n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t i n C o l u m b u s ,
O h i o , 24 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , i n N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 1 F e b r u a r y
1838.
20S atu rd ay N ig h t, 7 J u ly
2lBrady Order No.
Division, RG 3 9 3 .

1,

1923,

Hugh B r a d y P a p e r s ,

27 January 1 8 3 8 , NARS,

BC.

Eastern

89
rep o rted

th at

" th e b o rd e r war f o r

W orth c o n c u r r e d ,
th at

the

reassure

trip

and a f t e r

ten d ed

"to

the p re s e n t

retu rn in g

d isp erse

"th e

ab ility

tain

the

concluded

th at

the h o s t i l e

of

B rady

b o r d e r was s o q u i e t ,

inform ed S c o t t t h a t

h e s a w no n e e d

th e M ichigan m i l i t i a .

persuaded

t h e U.

th at

su ffic ie n t

for

th ese

'B rad y G u a rd s'

B rady p r e d i c t e d

S tates

. . .

th at

M a je s ty 's

troops

p u rp o ses,"

to m ain­

sin ce

to m u ster in to
"Indeed

the
serv ice

I am s o f u l l y

u n d e r my command a r e

he ad d ed ,

be d i s c h a r g e d ."

"no f u r t h e r

t o e m b o d y men f o r

"I

.

th e purpose of

.

. ordered

Four days

effo rt w ill

later

be made i n

inv ad in g

th is

her

d o m i n i o n s . "24

B ut even as G e n e ra l B rady penned
tran q u ility
January,

W orth

had b e e n t a u g h t

the a u th o r itie s

any p o r t i o n of

S tate

&

l a w s . 23

On 2 F e b r u a r y ,

th e

en terp rise

the our p e o p le ."

the P a t r i o t s

and d e t e r m i n a t i o n "

o v e r . " 2 2

t o B u f f a l o he r e p o r t e d

the w ell d isp o se d p o r tio n of

o p tim istically

is

along

the

b o r d e r was

th e s e w ords,

in je o p a rd y .

Van R e n s s e l a e r e v a c u a t e d N a v y I s l a n d ,

N atio n al I n te llig e n c e r

(W ashington,

when t h e news r e a c h e d D e t r o i t

22erady
RG 9 4 .

i t w ould

to A d ju ta n t G en eral,

23w orth to S c o t t ,
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

D .C .)
"be

On 14
prom pting

the

to p re d ic t

th at

the s ig n a l

for a

27 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,

28 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 , NARS,

the

NARS, AGO,

E astern

2 4 B r a d y t o S c o t t , 2 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ; B r a d y t o W o r t h , 6 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , Hugh
B r a d y P a p e r s , BC.

90
general d isp ersio n of
q u arter

fo r th e

n o t have been
P atrio ts

i n v a s i o n o f C a n a d a ."25

fu rth er

The f i r s t

J a m e s T.

th at

H omans a d d e d

num bering
th at

ro ad ,"

th at

number boxed up,

t h e w e s tw a rd movement o f
Navy L i e u t e n a n t

Homans w r o t e B r a d y f r o m

about 250.

in a d d itio n

pu rp o sely

to

th eir

o t h e r wagons c o n t a i n e d

C onversing w ith

t h e r e were e i g h t

he had p a s s e d

but co n tain in g

pork b a r r e ls

to

hundred

fiv e

tw en ty wagons,

arms and a c c o u t r e m e n t s . "

cases."

th e y w ere " d a i l y

w ere

th at

[s i c ]

pow der and o t h e r m u n it io n s

num bers" w i t h v o l u n t e e r s

them

In d ian s.

"half

resem ble p e d l a r s '

and o t h e r d e c e p tiv e

who c l a i m e d

"of

hundred

from t h e

w hich

they p a s s e d ,

"d estin ed

p lace

n e ar D e t r o i t m ost fa v o ra b le

" p u t up i n

th at

augm enting

th ese

th eir

tow ns and v i l l a g e s
to

The

But what p ro b a b ly

w o r r i e d B r a d y t h e m o s t w as H o m a n ' s o b s e r v a t i o n
P atrio ts,

lib eratio n

he had e n c o u n t e r e d d e ta c h m e n ts o f s e l f -

Homans l e a r n e d
on t h e

th at

The Navy i s l a n d

came f r o m U . S .

On 5 F e b r u a r y ,

p roclaim ed P a t r i o t s

scattered

in

The n e w s p a p e r c o u l d

t h e i r war o f

rep o rt of

P atrio ts

Homans.

O hio,

w agons,

tru th .

to g eth er

M ic h ig a n and n o r t h w e s t e r n O h io .

o fficial

t h e Navy i s l a n d

them ,

from t h e

h e a d e d w e s t and renew ed

from s o u t h e a s t e r n

M ilan,

t h o s e who h a v e b a n d e d

thro u g h

r e n d e z v o u s a t some

to e f f e c t

a landing

in

C a n a d a . "26

pp.

25national I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 23 January 1 8 3 8 ;
38-39.
26noman to Brady,

Corey, C r i s i s ,

5 February 18 3 8 , NARS, AGO,

RG 9 4 .

91
The commander o f
D o n a l d M cL eo d ,
S co tlan d ,

th e w estw ard-bound P a t r i o t

a d ju ta n t g eneral of

McLeod h a d s e r v e d
joined

the P a t r i o t

in the B r i ti s h

1808.

He t h e n

the B r i t i s h

army,

actio n

in t h e P e n i n s u l a r C am paign,

discharge

in p ro v in c ia l p o l i t i c s .
h i s p r e s s was d e s t r o y e d
out

in December 1 8 3 7.

arm y.

navy from 1803 to

i n Canada d u r in g

in 1816,

B orn in

i n w h i c h h e saw

o f 1812 and a g a i n s t N ap o leo n a t W a te r lo o .
Canada a f t e r h i s

f o r c e was

t h e War

R eturning

to

McLeod e m b r o i l e d

him self

As e d i t o r o f a R e f o r m n e w s p a p e r ,
b y a T o r y mob w he n f i g h t i n g
He t h e n

fled

t o N a vy I s l a n d

broke
w here he

w a s c o m m i s s i o n e d . 27
On 29 J a n u a r y
P atrio ts

and p l a n n e d

W h ile one body
O hio,

a t C onneaut,

O hio,

a tw o-pronged

McLeod m e t w i t h o t h e r

in v a s i o n o f Upper Canada.

invaded P e le e I s l a n d ,

n o rth of Sandusky,

a n o t h e r u n d e r McLeod w o u l d c r o s s

cap tu re

F o r t M alden.

s o u t h o f D e t r o i t and

T h e tw o f o r c e s w o u l d t h e n

jo in

and

m a r c h e a s t w a r d . 28
McLeod a r r i v e d
D uring

the

p ath izers

in Sandusky,

O hio,

by 14 F e b r u a r y .

n e x t week h e c o r r e s p o n d e d w i t h P a t r i o t
i n b o t h M i c h i g a n and O h io and u r g e d

m o n e y , men a n d m a t e r i a l

to

support h is

sym­

them t o

send

i n v a s i o n p l a n s . 29

27piarc La T e r r e u r , e d . , D i c t i o n a r y o f C a n a d i a n
B i o g r a p h y , V o l . X, 1 8 7 1 - 1 8 8 0 ( T o r o n t o : U n i v e r s i t y o f T o r o n t o
P re s s , 1972), p. 483.
2 8 j . p. M a r t y n , " T h e P a t r i o t I n v a s i o n o f P e l e e
O n t a r i o H i s t o r y 56 ( S e p t e m b e r 1 9 6 4 ) , p . 1 5 3 .

Isla n d ,"

29V ar ious letters to and from McLeod are in "The Woes of
a Patriot Leader," Frank Severance, ed., Publications of
the Buffalo Historical S o c i e t y , 8 ( 1 9 0 5 ) , pp. 1 3 4 - 4 1 .

92
H is e f f o r t s

w ere f r u i t f u l .

P a t r i o t s were r e p o r t e d

in

Monroe G a z e t t e a f f i r m e d
hundred P a t r i o t s were
O ther r e p o r ts
P atrio ts
bers

co n flicted ,

it

stren g th

the D e t r o i t R iv er a re a .

o n 13 F e b r u a r y t h a t

"stro llin g

in d icated

had g a t h e r e d

By m i d - F e b r u a r y h u n d r e d s o f

fiv e

The
to six

a b o u t o u r s t r e e t s . "30

t h a t a s many a s o n e t h o u s a n d

a t G i b r a l t a r . 31

appeared

certain

th at

num­

the P a t r i o t s

grow ing

in

R iver.

A D e t r o i t c o r r e s p o n d e n t w r o t e o n 13 F e b r u a r y

had j u s t d i s c o v e r e d

and p r e p a r i n g

A lthough e x a c t

to c ro s s

w ere

the D e tr o it
t h a t he

th at

t h r e e wagons o f P a t r i o t

" v o l u n t e e r s " had re a c h e d

th e M ichigan c a p i t o l . 3 2

P o n tiac C ourier d e cla re d

t h a t o n 15 F e b r u a r y a n " e x p r e s s "

fro m Van R e n s s e l a e r h a d a r r i v e d

o rd erin g

prepare

later

for actio n .

v o lu n teers"

reached P o n tia c ,

hundred P a t r i o t
headed
the

v o lu n teers

f o r D e t r o i t . 33

t o be p a t r i o t s ,

the P a t r i o t s

tw enty

arriv ed .

two

The f o l l o w i n g

and num erous

day th e y

i t was r e p o r t e d

"was c o m p l e t e l y

lin ed

loaded

to

"n o rth ern

w h i l e o n 20 F e b r u a r y

o n 23 F e b r u a r y

road s o u th o f D e t r o i t

supposed
to

A fe w d a y s

The

th at

w i t h men

team s,

believ ed

c o n ta in m u n itio n s of w ar."34

30Monroe G a z e t t e , 13 February 1 8 3 8 .
3^-State Journal

(A n n Arbor), 15 February 1 8 3 8 .

32unidentified Detroit correspondent, 13 February 1 8 3 8 ,
National I n t e l l ige nc er, 27 February 18 3 8 .
33ppntiac C o u r i e r , 23 February 1 8 3 8 .
34petroit D a i l y

Ad v e r t i s e r , 23 February 1 8 3 8 .

in

93
B esides

rep o rts

of

t r o o p m ovem ents,

w ere a ls o

activ e.

Duncombe,

as w e ll as M ackenzie,

ad d itio n ,

S u th erlan d ,

Judge W ilkins
p o rt.

I t was ru m o re d

were i n o r n e a r D e t r o i t .

continued

I n Ann A r b o r h e a p p e a r e d
listen ed

le ad ers

t h a t V an R e n s s e l a e r a n d

who h a d n o t r e t u r n e d

had o r d e r e d ,

courthouse g a th e rin g

P atrio t

"in

t o New Y o r k a s

to r a l l y
fu ll

In

P a t r i o t sup­

u n ifo rm " w here a

t o h im " w i t h r e s p e c t

and

a t t e n t i o n . " 35
On 23 F e b r u a r y M c L e o d ,
m u n i q u e f r o m D.
T h eatre,

& c.,

D. M c K i n n e y ,

in d icatin g

to P ontiac,

now a t M o n r o e ,

th at

lik ew ise

p r o p r e ito r of

he had j u s t

t o Mt .

C lem ens,

fo r th e purpose of m ustering

named c o m p a n i e s w h ic h
follow

receiv ed

the D e tr o it C ity

"d isp atch ed
Ann A r b o r ,

in to

a com­

serv ice

an e x p r e s s
Y p silan ti,

the above-

f o r m t h e b e s t o f my B a t t a l i o n . "

Prepared

to

McLeod " ' t o

C ause,"

McKinney p r o m i s e d

th e death*

in

t h a t he w ould j o i n

th e G lo rio u s
the P a t r i o t s

sh o rtly .
The P a t r i o t s
D e t r o i t e r J a m e s L.

w ere c o n f i d e n t o f

th eir

im m inent s u c c e s s .

S c h o o l c r a f t b o a s t e d o n 22 F e b r u a r y

th at

•*5 S t a t e J o u r n a l (A n n A r b o r ) , 15 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; P o n t i a c
C o u r i e r , 23 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; u n i d e n t i f i e d D e t r o i t c o r r e s p o n ­
d e n t , 13 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , i n N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 27
F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; E. K e n d a l l t o A b n e r M o r t o n s w o r e i n a n a f f i ­
d a v i t t h a t D un c om be w a s i n M o n r o e i n l a t e F e b r u a r y ( D e t r o i t
M o r n i n g P o s t , 4 J u n e 1 8 3 8 ) ; C h a r l e s D un c om be t o M o n r o e
G a z e t t e , 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , U . S . A r c h i v e s S - 7 9 7 , BC; H i s t o r y
o f S t . C l a i r C o u n ty , (A .T . A ndreas & C o ., 1 8 8 3 ), pp. 7 5 -7 6 ;
S u t h e r l a n d was a l s o r e p o r t e d h a v i n g a t t e n d e d a m e e t i n g i n
P o n t i a c ( P o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 26 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ) .
3 6 d . D. M c K i n n e y t o M c L e o d , 23 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 i n
S e v e r a n c e , "Woes o f a L e a d e r , " p p . 1 4 0 - 4 1 .

94
w h ile

th e queen o f England m ig h t send te n

p r e v e n t th e C anadian

in d e p e n d e n c e m ovem ent,

c a n be c u t and s l i c e d
[s i c ] , C o rn w a llis

ju st

as were th e

and P a c k in g h am

fought fo r lib e r ty ,

As t h e P a t r i o t s

le tte r,

were n o t i d l e .

he r e q u e s t e d

p o ssib le

g a t h e r i n g . 38
ordered

be w hiped

w h i p p e d .

U .S.

"37

and s t a t e

As s o o n a s B r a d y r e c e i v e d H o m a n ' s

t h a t G o v e r n o r M as on m o b i l i z e
The g o v e r n o r c o m p l i e d

th e app ro x im ately
d ispatch"

the P a t r i o t s

"we c a n ' t

we w o n ' t s t a y

to

of B urgoin

S ince

moved t o w a r d D e t r o i t ,

p a n i e s o f m i l i t i a . 38
ordered

[sic ]."

troops

" t h e s e 10,000

forces

S ch o o lcraft asserted

[ s i c ] , o r when t h e y w h ip u s ,

o fficia ls

thousand

45 0 t r o o p s

a t G ib raltar,

From W a s h i n g t o n ,

six

com­

im m e d ia te ly and

to rendezvous

"w ith a l l

where th e P a t r i o t s w ere

S ecretary of S ta te

b o t h D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y Goodwin and U .S .

F orsyth

M a r s h a l l Ten

Eyck t o k e e p a n e y e on t h e P a t r i o t s moving to w a r d D e t r o i t ,
and

"so f a r as your e f f o r t s

t i o n o f U.S n e u t r a l i t y
and p r o s e c u t e d .
sh o u ld prove
m ilitary

law s.

F o r s y th added

in su fficien t,

force

may a v a i l "

statio n ed

p r e v e n t any i n f r a c ­

O ff e n d e r s were to
th at

"if

be a r r e s t e d

the c i v i l

you w i l l h ave t h e a i d

power
of

the

i n t h e v i c i n i t y . "40

37james L. Schoolcraft to George Johnston,
1 8 3 8 , George Johnston Papers, BC.

22 February

3 8 B r a d y t o M a s o n , 10 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ; B r a d y t o R. J o n e s , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 .
380 r d e r from J .
1 2 February 1 8 3 8 .

E.

Schw arz

in D e t r o i t D aily

Free P r e s s ,

40pO rsyth to Ten E y c k , 17 February 1 8 3 8 , National
Archives and Records Service, Domestic Letters of the
Department of State, 17 8 9 - 1 9 0 6 , Record Group 59 (hereafter

95
Unbeknownst to F o r s y th ,

M ichigan a u t h o r i t i e s

situ atio n

t h a t prom ised havoc,

effo rts.

O n l y a fe w d a y s a f t e r m o b i l i z i n g

m ilitia,

Brady d is b a n d e d

fu rn ish in g

the

cause

to

to

th e M ichigan
" t h a t by
. . .

I

s u p p r e s s . "41

by s e v e r a l e v e n t s ,

conduct of m ilit ia

a

th eir

th e B a tta lio n

I was d e s i r o u s

a c t i o n was m o t i v a t e d

l e a s t o f w hich was t h e

n o t doom,

them b e c a u s e he f e a r e d

arm s and a m m u n itio n t o

should s u s ta in
B ra d y 's

if

faced

L t.

not

the

C olonel

C harles Jackson.
Sent to D e a rb o r n s v ille
o f arms t o D e t r o i t ,
ferred

by B r a d y ,

reached D e tro it.
th is

frien d ly

to

C ap tain s,"

th e weapons

As a r e s u l t ,
or

som e o f

betw een h i s

"fifteen

men fro m Navy I s l a n d , "

NARS, DOS D o m e s t i c ,
^^B rady to S c o t t ,
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

a guard p ro -

240 m u s k e t s w e r e s t o l e n .

selected

to

a c t,"

B rady added

m ilitia

"had o p e n ly avowed,

w ere
the

in

the

company and t h e P a t r i o t s ,

"man y m o r e o f

the

RG 5 9 ) .
15 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,

event
to give

Brady d i s c o v e r e d

[ s i c ] o f Van R e n s a l l a e r ' s

as w e ll as

To

those a g a in s t

"At l e a s t one o f

Even more d i s t r e s s i n g ,

or eig h tteen

stands

u n a t t e n d e d when t h e y

the c o n sc rip te d

B rady d e c l a r e d ,

them h i s a r m s ."

fo u r hundred

“c o n n i v a n c e w i t h

the P a t r i o t cause.

a c o llisio n

th at

le ft

was e s p e c i a l l y

in fo rm atio n th a t

tran sfer

Jac k so n not only d e c lin e d

a c t of n egligence

whom [ J a c k s o n ]

of

but

to

NARS,

E astern

[s i c ]
s am e

96
class"

from Monroe, were among the militia conscripts.42

Even though the Patriots seized one hundred barrels of
Canadian flour from a vessel in Monroe on 13 February,

Brady

remained convinced that he had no recourse but to demobilize
the militi a.43

The general must have been distressed

in

that he had only 1 5 0 regular army troops to oppose a Patriot
force, which by his own admission was well over twice that
size.

Fortunately,

Brady Guards,

he was able to augment this force by the

"composed of some of

table young men,"

[Detroit's]

most respec­

and sixty additional recruits that Colonel

Wo r t h had dispatched from Buffalo.

Brady also ordered

eighteen recruits from Chicago to proceed

to Detroit. 44

As the Patriots gathered along the Detroit River, one
Detroit correspondent concluded that since the river was
frozen,

"if the invaders act with promptitude and energy,

it

is possible they may gain a temporary foothold in
C a n a d a . "45
The observation proved prophetic.

Informed by Governor

Mason that the Patriots were about to cross the St. Clair
River over twenty-five miles north of Detroit,

Brady

42 ib id .
43unidentified Detroit correspondent, 13 February 1 8 3 8 ,
in National I nte l l i g e n c e r , 27 February 1 8 3 8 ; Sandwich
W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 17 February 1 8 3 8 .
44worth to Brady, 9 February 1 8 3 8 , NARS, Eastern
Division, RG 3 9 3 ; Brady to Scott, 15 February 1 8 3 8 , ibid.
45[jnidentified Detroit correspondent, 1 0 February 1 8 3 8 ,
in National Intelligencer, 24 February 1 8 3 8 .

97
gath ered
left

the a v a il a b le

im m ediately.

Eyck,

B ra d y 's

At t h i s

ju n ctu re,

r e a c h e d M t.

seein g

Clem ens

th e n ext m orning.

B rady— e v e r m in d fu l o f

rum ors t h a t a P a t r i o t

H aving r e a c h e d

and t h e B ra d y G u a rd s and

A c c o m p a n i e d by M a s o n a n d M a r s h a l l T e n

force

D e tro it— ordered

reg u lars

the p e r s i s t e n t

in v a s io n m ight o r i g i n a t e

th e Brady G uards back to

t h e m outh o f

th e S t.

south of

the c a p i t a l .

C la ir R iver w ith o u t

" a n y b o d y o f men a r m e d o r u n a r m e d , " B r a d y r e t u r n e d

D e t r o i t on th e

to

t w e n t y - third. 46

T h e n e x t m o r n i n g a communique fro m D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y
G o o d w i n , who w a s a t G i b r a l t a r ,
" 'a b o u t fiv e
cross

hundred

th a t n ig h t.

fo rth w ith "
and a l l

second-in-com m and,
G arland reach ed

reg u lars,

h is

to an

tro o p s

to

in ten d ed

to

force

W ith th e Brady G uards

M ajor Jo h n G a r la n d ,

n ine m iles

over

the P a t r i o t s

th at a "su ffic ie n t

headed dow nriver v ia

had c r o s s e d

th at

c o lle c tin g '"

th e ir p lan s.

E corse,

G arland p o s itio n e d

& still

Goodwin b e l i e v e d

m ight sty m ie

a v ailab le

P a tr io t's

stro n g

in d icated

sleig h .

from D e t r o i t ,

islan d

B ra d y 's
By t h e

tim e

the

in C anadian w a te r s .

i n t e r c e p t any P a t r i o t

r e t r e a t . 47
On t h e o t h e r
e a rly January
m ined.

had

sid e

of

le ft

th e C a n a d ia n s dism ayed y e t d e t e r ­

On t h e d a y a f t e r

4*>Brady t o S c o t t ,
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

the D e tr o it R iv er,

t h e Ann f i a s c o ,

26 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,

the ev en ts of

th e D e tr o it D aily

NARS,

E astern

4 7 jb id .
A c c o rd in g t o a l e t t e r to t h e D e t r o i t M orning
P o s t o n 20 J u l y 1 8 3 8 , McLeod a s k e d h i s men i f t h e y w a n t e d
head f o r F i g h t i n g I s l a n d to a v o id U .S. t r o o p s s e n t to

to

98
A d v ertiser re p o rte d ,
n atio n ,
refuge

"The C a n a d ia n s

and a few f a m i l i e s
in t h i s

co n fid en tly

c i t y . "48

responded

are

in g re a t

co n ster­

in Sandw ich have a c t u a l l y

B ut t h e Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a ld

in m id-January,

Away . . .
ye A m erican s y m p a t h i z e r s
r i d i c u l o u s n o t i o n o f im p o sin g upon
lo y a l p e o p le , th e d e t e s t a b l e bonds
ism!
We w a n t n o n e o f y o u r b o a s t e d
C o n s t i t u t i o n . We w a n t n o n e o f y o u r
S o v e r e i g n Mob l a w b r e a k e r s . 49

w ith the
a f r e e and
of R epublican­
self-eu lo g ized
la w s, and

The p e o p le o f Sandw ich met on 6 F e b r u a r y and p le d g e d
lo y alty

to

w ould u rg e

t h e q u e e n and d e v o t i o n
them " t o

undim inished

i n v a d e d by " a f o r e i g n
A fter
lars,

ducted

th e a r r i v a l

to

the B r i t is h

effo rts"

and a s t u t e

foe.

if

rested

d e fe n se d u ring

D ecem ber and e a r l y J a n u a r y ,

was

the

th e y w ere a g a in

more s e c u r e l y .

regu­

On 30

w hich had con­

trying

disbanded.

i n U pper Canada was so w i d e s p r e a d
G overnor S i r F ran ces

Em pire

"50

th e Board o f W estern M a g i s t r a t e s ,
the a r e a 's

th at

of s e v e r a l com panies of B r i t i s h

E ssex County r e s i d e n t s

January

taken

days of

51

late

T ran q u ility

t h a t on t h e same d a y ,

Bond H e ad a n n o u n c e d

t h a t he p la n n e d

L t.
to

d i s p e r s e them . They s a i d " Y e s ."
McLeod w a s c h e e r e d w he n h e
s a i d t h e P a t r i o t s m o t t o w o u l d b e "God a n d t h e R i g h t s o f
M an."
The R e p u b l i c o f U p p er C anada was t h e n c h e e r e d t h r e e
tim es.
4 8 p e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 16 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
4 9 s a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
50I b i d . ,

17 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

SlLeach, "A Politico-Military Study," pp. 187-88.

99
" e f fe c t a co n sid erab le

reduction"

u n d e r arm s.

th at

in to

C onvinced

actio n

"nothing

have c ea sed

but fear

.

.

"the

of

c a u s e s w hich

to e x i s t , "

. keeps

the m i l i t i a

called

Head a s s e r t e d

up F o r c e s

forces
th e m

th at

i n t h e C a n a d i a n and

A m erican F r o n t i e r . "52
But th e

ten u o u s p eace along

the D e tr o it R iv er did

mean t h a t w e s t e r n C a n a d i a n s w ere w i t h o u t p r o b l e m s .
tio n

to

fears

of

im m inent P a t r i o t

tag e of p ro v is io n s .

m ak e m a t t e r s w o r s e ,
on a l e r t p la c e d

to

By t h e

S t.

th at

a shor­

from M ic h i g a n ,

th e need

to

the

to keep s e v e r a l hundred

some s o u r c e s

and

upon t h o s e s u p p l i e r s .

strain

upon t h e

the

declared

To

tro o p s

alread y

situ atio n

had w orsened

t h a t w e s t e r n Canada

f a m i n e . 53

t i m e McLeod r e a c h e d M i c h i g a n ,

co n sisted

of ap p ro x im ately

th e C anadian

tw o h u n d r e d m i l i t i a

C l a i r R i v e r a n d a p p r o x i m a t e l y 120 r e g u l a r s

m ilitiam en
included

a relian ce

By m i d - F e b r u a r y

was on t h e v e r g e o f

the

esp ecially

an a d d i t i o n a l

su p p lies.

the p o in t

defense

faced

a n d a b u s e o f D e t r o i t m e r c h a n t s who s o l d

C a n a d i a n s now p r e v e n t e d

lim ited

they

In ad d i­

W e s t e r n C a n a d i a n s w e re d e p e n d e n t upon

im p o r te d A m erican f o o d s t u f f s ,
rid icu le

attack ,

not

b e tw ee n Sandw ich and A m h e rs tb u rg .

a tw o-gun s e c t i o n

along

a n d 40 0

These fo rc e s

of Royal a r t i l l e r y ,

the S t.

5 2H e a d t o L o r d G l e n e l g , 30 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , P u b l i c A r c h i v e s
o f C a n a d a , L e t t e r s a n d D e s p a t c h e s f r o m S i r F r a n c i s Bond Head
t o L o r d G l e n e l g , l e t t e r n o . 1 2 , RG 7 , G 1 2 , v o l . 2 8 .
5 3 s t a t e J o u r n a l (Ann A r b o r ) , 15 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ; C.
F o ster
t o D e p u t y A s s i s t a n t C o m m i s s a r y G e n e r a l M i l l e r , 11 F e b r u a r y
1 8 3 8 , P u b l i c A r c h i v e s o f C a n a d a , M i l i t a r y S t a f f L e t t e r Book

100
Thomas v o l u n t e e r c a v a l r y

and v a r i o u s

Indian a l l i e s

av ailab le

u p o n c a l l . 54
But th e
w hich

in sp ired

P atrio ts
sions

co n fid en ce p rovided

to

th e W estern H e r a ld 's

" co m e i f

created

they d a r e ,"

ed ito r

did

whom h e m i s t o o k

p raised

s h o t and k i l l e d

f o r a n i n v a d e r . 55

t o be a r r e s t e d

th e U .S.

R e l e a s e d on b a i l

and

and c r i t i c i z e d
after

he had been c o n f in e d

the

in

a p atien t

cap tiv ity ,

th e a c tio n

"be t o l e r a t e d

T en sio n s along

w ith

in

b e c a u s e he h a d
governm ent.
W hite c la im e d

and s u b s i s t e d
in fu riated

who w a r n e d C a n a d i a n a u t h o r i t i e s

a c t i o n s w ould n o t

On 12

A week l a t e r

the B r itis h

"a c o ld c e l l "

ten ­

a m ilitia

in carcerated

two d a y s o f

a n d w a t e r . 5 ? As e x p e c t e d ,
M ichiganians,

ta u n t the

not elim in ate

D e t r o i t p h y s i c i a n J a m e s C. W h i t e a t t e n d e d
W indsor o n ly

to

presence,

by a l m o s t tw o m o n t h s o f h o s t i l i t i e s . 55

F eb ru a ry a C anadian s e n t i n e l
o fficer,

by t h e m i l i t a r y

on b re a d

some

t h a t such

i m p u n i t y . " 58

t h e D e t r o i t R i v e r c l i m a x e d o n 25

1 , 1 8 3 8 ( h e r e a f t e r PAC, M i l i t a r y L e t t e r B o o k ) , RG 8 SG C
v o l . 6 4 2 , p p . 6 5 - 6 6 ; S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 10 F e b r u a r y
1838.
5 4 C. F o s t e r t o G e n e r a l M i l l e r , 11 F e b r u a r y , PAC, M i l i t a r y
L e t t e r B o o k ; L e a c h , "A P o l i t i c o - M i l i t a r y S t u d y , " p . 2 3 6 .
5 5 S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 17 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
55I b i d .
57p e t r o i t D a i l y
58Ibid.

F r e e P r e s s , 27 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

101
February

as g u n fire

M ichigan/C anadian
th e

ice

lo n g .

to

b u ilt

Then,

fires,

and,

th at

"'G o d s a v e

th e people

of

tw o F r e n c h - C a n a d i a n

to one p a r t i c i p a n t ,

McLeod a d d r e s s e d

th e

lib e rty ."

The i n v a d e r s

and t h e a i r

s am e w a g e s ,

raised

and

A proclam ation

th ree

hundred,

Canada w ith s i x

jo in

independence,

ratio n s

Though th e P a t r i o t s ,
one to

to

a tri­

"'G o d s a v e
from t h e
issued

the P a t r i o t

cause.

t h e I n d i a n s w o u l d be

a n d b o u n t y a s w h i t e m e n . 59

who w e r e r e p o r t e d

had am ple p r o v i s i o n s ,

rifles,

and o f

resounded w ith c r i e s

th e C an a d a s'"

and e q u a l r i g h t s . " 1

u rg in g Upper C anadian In d ia n s

the

"in defence

to our s u f f e r i n g

P r o v i s i o n a l G o v e r n m e n t o f U p p e r C a n a d a w as a l s o

p aid

invaders

to one C anadian P a t r i o t ,

and t o e x t e n d

of

lib era­

b e tw ee n A m erican and C a n a d ia n

th e R epublic of

B esid es a g u a ra n tee

the

th e ir m ilitary

e x p e d i t i o n was u n d e r t a k e n

two s t a r s

crossed

seven m iles

th e enjoym ent of e q u a l r i g h t s ,

and r e l i g i o u s
flag

isle t

so n g s and r e c o u n t e d

according

r i g h t s o f man,

co lo red
of

sang

th eir

C anadian b r e th r e n
c iv il

is la n d 's

the d if f e r e n c e s

in stitu tio n s
concluded

a swampy t h i n

according

on Navy I s l a n d .

co n trastin g

the

the

the

T h a t day t h e P a t r i o t s

Islan d ,

They i m p r i s o n e d

ex p lo its

of

boundary.

F ig h tin g

in h ab itan ts.
to rs

once a g a in echoed a c r o s s

to

number from

th e y had

o n e m u s k e t and a c a r r i a g e

pound c ann on m ounted on a d r y - g o o d s

invaded

le ss

six -

b o x . The s t o l e n r i f l e s

^ R o b e r t M c F a r l a n , " T h e P a t r i o t W ar : T h e B a t t l e o f
F i g h t i n g I s l a n d , " M i c h i g a n P i o n e e r and H i s t o r i c a l
C o l l e c t i o n s , 7 ( 1 8 8 4 ) , p . 9 1 ; C h a r l e s Du ncombe t o M o n r o e

102

e n t r u s t e d t o Major J a c k s o n had been d i s c o v e r e d by t h e
au th orities,

and e f f o r t s

to p r o c u r e a d d i t i o n a l arms from

p u b l i c a r s e n a l s had f a i l e d .

During t h e n i g h t , how ever,

t h i r t y - f i v e s e r v i c e a b l e m uskets were added t o t h e i r
a r s e n a l . 60
N o tified

of

tw en ty -fo u rth ,
3 :0 0 a.m .
reg u lars
arriv ed
jo in ed

the P a t r i o t s '

th e C anadians m o b iliz e d

on th e

tw e n ty -fifth ,

and one a r t i l l e r y
opp o site

F ig h tin g

by C o l o n e l H.

R egim ent,

fo u r hundred m i l i t i a

P a t r i o t on F i g h t i n g
lars
did

"w ith

th eir

not in sp ire

p iece,
Islan d

le ft

from Sandw ich

nearly

j o i n e d Townshend and t h e

th e a r r i v a l of

in

They

th e 24th

At 7 :0 0 a .m .

b r i g h t m uskets f la s h in g
con fid en ce

At

and w ere

commander o f

to R o b e rt M cFarlan,

Islan d ,

forces.

F o r t M alden.

a t 6 :3 0 a.m .

Thomas C a v a l r y .

A ccording

th eir

the

two c o m p a n i e s o f B r i t i s h

D. T o w n s h e n d ,

and t h e S t .

r e g u l a r s . 61

a r r i v a l on t h e e v e n in g o f

a M ichigan
the B r itis h

regu­

in th e m orning

th e m inds o f

sun"

t h e P a t r i o t s . 62

G a z e t t e , 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , i n U . S . S - 7 9 7 , BC; F e b r u a r y
p r o c l a m a t i o n i n N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 13 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .
6 0 r .W. A s h l e y t o D r . B o n d , 1 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , S e v e r a n c e , " T h e
Woes o f a L e a d e r , " p p . 1 4 1 - 4 2 ; B r a d y t o S c o t t , 15 F e b r u a r y
1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ; D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e
P r e s s , 26 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
6 1 h . D. T o w n s h e n d t o J o h n M a i t l a n d , 25 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
P u b l i c A r c h iv e s o f C an ad a, L t. G o v e rn o r o f U pper Canada
I n t e r n a l L e t t e r B o o k , 1 8 3 7 - 1 8 3 8 ( h e r e a f t e r PAC, I n t e r n a l
L e t t e r B o o k ) , RG 7 SG 16A v o l . 4 .
6 2M c F a r l a n ,

"The P a t r i o t W ar," p .

91.

103
O rdered to q u ic k ly
stren g th en ed
a rtille ry
co lo n el,

th e ir p o sitio n ,

fire

on t h e

the P a t r i o t s

became

and r a p i d i t y

assau lt.

W ith th e

flan k s,

its

by t h e

One f i r i n g

M ichigan.
tran sp o rted
D uring

th e

to

the B r i ti s h

fired

fled

an

sev eral v o lley s,

few P a t r i o t s

rend erin g

by t h e

and he o r d e r e d

it

on

w hich

who p o s s e s s e d

cannon d is lo d g e d
u seless.

back a c r o s s

th e y w ere d is a rm e d ,

sk irm ish ,

V arious

w ere wounded.

m uskets,

th ey

it

from

O utnum bered
the

arrested

ice

in to

and

t o D e t r o i t . 63

casu alties.

cannon,

before

c e n t e r and th e m i l i t i a

th e P a t r i o t

the P a t r i o t s

There

fire ,"

relativ ely

m akeshift c a r ria g e ,

and o u tg u n n e d ,

A ccording

in th e

force

of

in tru d ers

"muc h d i s c o m p o s e d

the

reg u lars

the B r i t i s h

were r e tu r n e d
weapons.

of

the

Townshend o p ened a s t e a d y

islan d .

p recisio n

th e

d islo d g e

v ario u s

rep o rts

The s p o i l s

w hich,

in d icated

suffered
th at

of war in c lu d e d

s m a ll arm s,

and " p r o v i s i o n s

smoked h e r r i n g ,

the B r i t i s h

in clu d in g

no

fiv e

the

P atrio ts

carriag e le ss

some new U . S .

of every k in d ,"

in clu d in g

Townshend o b s e r v e d ,

were

Army
boxes of

"co n trib u ted

6 3 j b i d . , p p . 9 1 - 9 2 ; T o w n s h e n d t o M a i t l a n d , 25 F e b r u a r y
1 8 3 8 , PAC, I n t e r n a l L e t t e r B o o k ; R. W. A s h l e y t o D r . B o n d , 1
M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , S e v e r a n c e , " T h e Woes o f a L e a d e r , " p p . 1 4 1 - 4 2 .
A c o n tro v e rs y developed a f t e r th e B a t t l e of F ig h tin g I s la n d
when B r i t i s h C o l o n e l J o h n M a i t l a n d c l a i m e d t h a t o n c e b ack on
M ichigan s o i l th e f l e e i n g P a t r i o t s f i r e d back a t th e B r i t i s h
t r o o p s , b u t w i t h no e f f e c t .
A c c o r d i n g t o A m e r i c a n army
o f f i c e r s p r e s e n t , t h e f i r i n g r e s u l t e d from d i s c h a r g i n g th e
s e i z e d P a t r i o t s w eapons and n o t b e c a u s e U .S . a u t h o r i t i e s
a l l o w e d t h e P a t r i o t s t o com m it s u c h an a g g r e s s i o n .
A d d i t i o n a l f i r i n g c a m e f r o m t h e B r a d y G u a r d s , who a l s o
u n loaded t h e i r weapons b e fo re h eading back to D e t r o i t .
( J o h n G a r l a n d t o B r a d y , 24 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ;

104
by a s y m p a t h i z i n g p u b l i c
The B r i t i s h
m ilitia

reg u lars

t o Sandw ich

N ev erth eless,
M alden,

stay .

had r e t u r n e d

by n o o n o f

a lert

On t h e

orders

Islan d

the

in carcerated

secu ted

for v io latin g

Much o f

so u g h t to

or o th er

assau lt

65
in D e tr o it fo r a

G eneral John V reeland,
in

Th e

D e t r o i t . 6 6

and u n d e r

t h e i r weapons w ere r e t u r n e d .

S c o tt also

P atrio ts

w rit of rep lev in

o f a rumored

w ere soon r e l e a s e d ,

never to use

law s.

commandant a t F o r t

was a r r e s t e d

from G e n e r a l S c o t t ,

n a tio n 's

t o M alden and t h e

tw en ty -fifth .

P a t r i o t s .

same d a y ,

P atrio ts

th e y had to a g re e

C o m m i s s a r i a t . " 6 4

G eneral S c o tt a rriv e d

P a t r i o t ordnance o f f i c e r ,
F ig h tin g

the

in a n t ic i p a t i o n

two t h o u s a n d

On 26 F e b r u a r y ,
w e e k 's

t h a n by a

C olonel John M aitlan d ,

rem ained

by a f o r c e o f

rath er

them a g a i n
ordered

in v io la tio n of

th at

if

any o f

the

r e c o v e r t h e i r w e a p o n s by

l e g a l means,

th e y w ere to

t h e 1818 n e u t r a l i t y

th e M ichigan p r e s s

But

l a w s .

view ed F i g h t i n g

be p r o ­

67
Islan d

as

e x t r a c t s f r o m J o h n M a i t l a n d ' s r e p o r t on t h e b a t t l e , 25
F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . ; S. J . J a m i s o n t o J o h n G a r l a n d , 12
M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . ; I s a a c R o w l a n d t o J o h n G a r l a n d , 16 M a r c h
1 8 3 8 , i b i d . ; A l e x J o h n s t o n t o J o h n G a r l a n d , 14 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 ,
i b i d . ; B r a d y t o S c o t t , 27 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . )
64p e troit Daily Free P r e s s , 26 February 1 8 3 8 ; Townshend
to Maitland, 25 February 1 8 3 8 , PAC, Internal Letter B o o k .
65Maitland to C.
Letter B o o k .

Foster,

25 February 1 8 3 8 ,

6 6 s t a t e J o u r n a l ( A nn A r b o r ) , 1 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 ;
F r e e P r e s s , 2 6 , 27 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
6 7 e . d . K e y e s t o B r a d y , 28 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 1 M arch 1 8 3 8 .

PAC,

Internal

D e tr o it D aily
in D e tr o it

105
the P a t r i o t 's

d eath

B rady c o n c u r r e d .
p ro v isio n s

of

C itin g

and w eap o n s,

be c o n v in c e d ,

if

Ever o p tim is tic ,

k n e l l . 6 8

d iso rg an izatio n
B rady c o n c lu d e d

they a re

such an u n d e r ta k in g

not alread y ,

and
th at

of

and w i l l d i s p e r s e

the

G eneral

th eir

lack of

"th e y m ust soon
u tter

fu tility

and r e t u r n

to

th eir

h o m e s . "69
But n o t a l l of
cap tu red .

the

G e n e r a l M cL eo d ,

sev eral oth ers

escaped.

Sandusky,

in

in v asio n

F ig h tin g

ju st
f a i l .

tim e

Islan d P a tr io ts

h is a id e,

C.

to w atch th e

P atrio ts
its

force

islan d

in

from D e t r o i t .

th eir

On 1 M a r c h ,

C olonel M aitlan d

th irty -fiv e

command o f

m iles

le ft

On 26 F e b r u a r y

the

or captured
the

F o r t M alden w i t h a l a r g e

reg u lars.
over th e

M a itla n d 's

force

f r o z e n e x p a n s e o f Lake

D e tr o it D aily

26 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,

7 ° r . W. A s h l e y t o D r . B o n d ,
Woes o f a L e a d e r , " p p . 1 4 1 - 4 2 .

a

i n t e n t upon d i s l o d g i n g

6 8 p o r i t i a c C o u r i e r , 2 March 1 8 3 8 ;
P r e s s , 27 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 .
69j3rady t o S c o t t ,
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

from F i g h t i n g

th e m iddle of w e ste rn

l a n d e d on P e l e e and e i t h e r d i s p e r s e d

c o n s is tin g m ostly of

sleig h ed

w ere r o u te d

l e f t Sandusky fo r P e le e ,

C anadian

s ix ty m iles

in h ab itan ts.

in v ad ers,

second prong of

f o u r h u n d r e d men u n d e r t h e

Sew ard had

rectan g u lar-sh ap ed
Lake E r i e

and

70

a force of

C o l o n e l H.

R. W. A s h l e y ,

By 1 M a r c h t h e y h a d r e a c h e d

On t h e s a m e d a y t h e P a t r i o t s
Islan d ,

had b een

NARS,

1 March 1 8 3 8 ,

Free

E astern
Severance,

"The

106
E r i e and eng ag ed t h e P a t r i o t s
The e n s u i n g
a n d 28 w o u n d e d

b attle

left

captured
ano th er

the B r i t i s h

(2 m o r t a l l y ) ,

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 11 k i l l e d ,
(o f w hich
invasion,

fiv e

on 2 M a r c h . 71

w hile

the P a t r i o t

45 w o u n d e d

A m herstburg an i n c r e d i b l e

reg u lars

th irty

lo sses

(1 m o r t a l l y )

w ere w ounded).

the B r itis h

fo rce w ith 5 k i l l e d
w ere

a n d 11

H aving s to p p e d
retu rn ed

hours a f t e r

to

t h e y had

d e p a r t e d .72
Though r e s p o n s i b l e
O hio,

for

as w e ll as M ichigan,

ap p aren tly

too l i t t l e

in v asio n .

As a r e s u l t ,

the d efen se of n o rth w e stern
B ra d y had

forew arning
h is

t o o few t r o o p s

to respond

f o r c e s w ere n o t

to

and

the P e le e

involved

in

the

cam paign.
An a n t i c l i m a c t i c

e v e n t o f M cL eod's tw o - p r o n g e d

o c c u r r e d on 4 M arch when G e n e r a l S u t h e r l a n d and h i s
C aptain Spencer,

bound f o r P e l e e

S andw ich M a g i s t r a t e J o h n P r i n c e .
ex isted

as to w hether S u th e rlan d

A m erican o r C an a d ia n s o i l ,
Q u e b e c w h e r e we w a s
E vents

th e days a f t e r

7J-Martyn,

F ig h tin g

by

on

he was t r a n s p o r t e d

to

bore a resem blance

to

73

On c e a g a i n M i c h i g a n

" T h e Patriot Invasion," p p .

72ibid., p p .

w ere a r r e s t e d

had b e en c a p t u r e d

Islan d

t h e Ann i n c i d e n t .

aide

T h o u g h some q u e s t i o n

ev en tu ally

i n c a r c e r a t e d .

fo llo w in g

Islan d ,

invasion

154-60.

159-62.

73jno. Farmer to Daniel Goodwin, 18 June 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS
Misc, RG 5 9 ; Detroit Daily Free P r e s s , 6 March 1 8 3 8 ; commit­
tee report of~12 March 1 8 3 8 in Detroit Daily Free P r e s s , 14

107
p u b lic o f f ic ia ls ,

p riv ate

concern about events
concern

in clu d ed

c itizen s

along

the

a g reater

and j o u r n a l i s t s

border.

But t h i s

expressed
tim e

th eir

f e a r of war w ith G re a t B r i t a i n ,

as w ell as a corresponding

need

to s tre n g th e n

th e

s ta te 's

defenses.
J o h n Bond,
em ploym ent,

a D e tro iter

w rote,

"E n g lan d and

i Know G o i n g t o w a r i t
in e a rly

s a w . " 7 4

b ro th er

t h a t many

M arch,
in

th is

d esire

th at

city

f o r War i s

M a n i f e s t . "75

th e

"if

th is

b u t added,

beyond o u r c o n t r o l ,
b lo o d and t r e a s u r e

fro n tier
is

an ticip ated

n a t i o n b e a t s t a k e . " 76

[s i c ] i s

w ere h o r r i f i e d

t h a t among many o t h e r s

"a

The Monroe G a z e t t e

t r o u b l e s m ight r e s u l t

in w ar,

t o b e b r o u g h t u p o n u s by c a u s e s

we c a n y i e l d
it

states

war w ith B r i t a i n .

in c lu d in g A nderson,

he a d m i t t e d ,

th at

u n ited

J o h n A n d e r s o n o f Monroe w r o t e h i s

p ro sp ect,

reg retted

[the]

in search of

w i l l b e t h e D r e a d f u l e s t t h i n g we e v e r

A l t h o u g h some c i t i z e n s ,
at

in A m herstburg

w ill

co st.

At th e

a w illin g

sacrifice

Let the honor of

s am e t i m e ,

the

the

some o f D e t r o i t ' s

M arch 18 3 8 .
7 4 j o h n Bo nd t o R i c h a r d B o n d , 25 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , J o h n Bond
P a p e r s , B e n tle y H i s t o r i c a l L i b r a r y , M ichigan H i s t o r i c a l
C o l l e c t i o n s , Ann A r b o r , M i c h i g a n ( h e r e a f t e r B e n t l e y ) .
7 ^ J o h n A n d e r s o n t o A l e x a n d e r D. A n d e r s o n , 7 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 ,
J o h n A n d e r s o n P a p e r s , B e n t l e y . S e e a l s o E. B. Ward t o E.
W a r d , 18 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , W ard F a m i l y P a p e r s , BC a n d J a m e s L.
S c h o o l c r a f t t o G e o r g e J o h n s t o n , 25 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , G e o r g e
J o h n s t o n P a p e r s , BC.
7 6 M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 13 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .
F r e e P r e s s , 7 March 1 8 3 8 .

See a l s o

D e tr o it D aily

108
lead in g

citizen s

th e m i l i t i a

"stro n g ly

"to p r o te c t

u rg ed " G e n e r a l Brady to m o b iliz e

th is

O th e rs w ere co n v in ce d
called

for.

B ritish

d id

ch ild ish

t h a t war was n e i t h e r

n o t w ant war w ith

the B r itis h ,
em pire

from i n v a s i o n . "77
im m inent nor

The D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s a r g u e d

w ould su ch a c o n f l i c t

its

fro n tier

but

resu lt

in th e

eastern

on P a t r i o t

b o r d e r and r i d i c u l i n g

th eir

Not o n ly

involvem ent a g a in s t

to g r a t i f y

th e

e x p e n s iv e and p u lin g

O th e r n e w sp a p ers dow nplayed

w a r by r e p o r t i n g

the

governm ent w i l l n ev er h azard

hem isphere

v a n i t y o f h e r weak,

i n A m e r i c a ."78

th e U nited S t a t e s .
in French

"the B r itis h

th at

fiasco s

the

co lo n ies

th e chances of

e lse w h e re along

the

farcical

effo rts

to

invade

the p o s s i b i l i t i e s

o f w ar,

M ichiganians

Can ada .79

R eg ard less of
w ere c o n ce rn e d
to

fo rtify

them .

co n stru ctin g
le g islatu re

about th e ir

defenses

A m idst rum ors

rocket b a tte rie s
rev ised

the

and u n d e rto o k m easu res

th at

t h e C a n a d ia n s w ere

opp o site D e tro it,

state m ilitia

system .

the

state

A lthough

it

is

7 7 e r a d y t o S c o t t , 14 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n ,
RG 3 9 3 .
T h e r e w e re a l s o r e p o r t s fro m D e t r o i t and M onroe t o
t h e M ic h ig a n House o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s r e q u e s t i n g p e r m i s s i o n
t o i n c o r p o r a t e m i l i t i a c o m p an ies in t h o s e c i t i e s (House
J o u r n a l , 1 8 3 8 , p p . 2 0 4 , 1 5 9 ) . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e J . M. H o w ar d
i n t r o d u c e d l e g i s l a t i o n on 6 March t o e q u i p a company o f
m i l i t i a a r t i l l e r y . ( H o u s e J o u r n a l , p . 2 4 8 ) . On 7 M a r c h 1 8 3 8
t h e D e t r o i t D a i ly F r e e P r e s s hoped t h e l e g i s l a t u r e w ould n o t
a d j o u r n b e f o r e r e v i s i n g th e m i l i t i a law s t h a t i t c o n s i d e r e d
" l i t t l e b e t t e r than n o th in g ."
7 8 p e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 7 M arch 1 8 3 8 .
7 9 i b i d . , 1 2 , 16 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 ; P o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 23 M a r c h
1 8 3 8 ; M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 20 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .

109
q u e s tio n a b le w hether
P r e s s 's

w ords,

led

the

to Upper C a n a d a 's

s h o u ld war b re a k o u t ,
thousand e l i g i b l e
S atu rd ay s

le g islatu re
straig h ten
clo ser

to

urged

the

in

in th e Free
tw o w e e k s

in th e s t a t e ' s

a n d May f o r

the D e tr o it R iv er,
"In

cap tu re

being o rd e re d

federal

fo rty

t o g a t h e r on

" m a r t i a l e x e r c i s e . " 80

the m i l i t i a ,

the

state

g o v e rn m e n t to d e e p e n and
sp ecifically

the channel

t h e e v e n t o f any d i s t u r b a n c e

betw een

of

t h e U.S and G r e a t B r i t a i n ,

f e a r e d G r e a t L a k e s s h i p p i n g w o u l d be " i n

m o st im m inent d a n g e r o f
n av ig ate

resu lt

reorg an izin g

t h a t p e a c e and a m ity "

to

did

A p ril

to M ichigan.

leg islatu re

it

m ilitiam en

in M arch,

In a d d itio n

new s y s t e m w o u l d h a v e ,

in ju ry

and of d e s t r u c t i o n "

th e m ain c h a n n e l t h a t

the

the

by h a v i n g

r a n b e tw e e n B o i s B l a n c and

F o r t M alden.8*
A ppalled

by r u m o r s o f B r i t i s h

rocket b a tte rie s

m istreatm en t of P a tr i o t p ris o n e rs ,

D etro iters

March and a p p o i n t e d

cross

in v estig ate
w hich

th ese

i n c l u d e d C.

can d id ate,

a n d A.

a com m ittee

to

C. T r o w b r i d g e ,
D.

F razier,

gathered

the r i v e r

and o t h e r a l l e g a t i o n s .

and
on 7

and

The c o m m i t t e e ,

18 37 Whig g u b e r n a t o r i a l

D etro it city

recorder,

spent

8 0 G e n e r a l O r d e r s f r o m J . E. S c h w a r z i n D e t r o i t D a i l y
F r e e P r e s s , 9 M arch 1 838; q u o t e d i n i b i d . ; e l i g i b l e m i l i t i a
s t r e n g t h i n D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 7 March 1 8 3 8 . T h e r e
a r e r e p e a t e d r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e m i l i t i a d e b a t e i n t h e House
a n d S e n a t e J o u r n a l s f o r 1 8 3 8 . The r e v i s e d m i l i t i a s y s t e m was
i m p l e m e n t e d i n G e n e r a l O r d e r s N o. 1 , 2 , 3 , 31 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , i n
M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 23 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 .
E s t a t e s e n a t e r e s o l u t i o n s a d o p t e d 14 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 ,
M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 20 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .

in

110
tw o d a y s t r a v e l l i n g
March i t

rep o rted

P ress to

be one o f

In a d d itio n
ties,
tary

the

from W in d so r t o F o r t M alden.

to

the

to

estim ated

to

continue

th e

rep o rted

selv es p e rfe c tly

side

of

taken a t P elee
satisfied "

"frien d ly

the

riv er,

Islan d

w ith

no o f f e n s i v e m i l i ­

th e C anadians

lo ngstanding

b etw een th e p e o p le on each
P a trio t p riso n ers

th at

th eir

in ju ries

t o C a n a d i a n s who v i s i t e d
support

effo rts.

the

F in ally ,

t a k e n by b o t h p u b l i c
Two d a y s b e f o r e
a fte r

law .

assem blage

and m i l i t a r y

p rin cip ally

b u ilt

approved

the

had

fin ally

fo r w arlike

could

purposes

o f arm s and m u n i t i o n s .

83Ib id .

The

in su lts

and

M i c h i g a n and
n eu trality

th e m easures

th e U .S.

C ongress,

a d o p t e d a new

more c o m p r e h e n s i v e .
d e ta in only
and c a r r y i n g

vessels
a cargo

The 1838 law empowered

au th o rities

82P e t r o i t D aily

them ­

th e p r e v e n t i v e pow ers o f

ex ercise

au th o rities

th at

a u t h o r i t i e s . 88

th e D e tr o it m eeting,

t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d m a de t h e i r

m an ifestly

dep recatin g

The law e n l a r g e d

U n d e r t h e 1818 la w ,

but also

f o r th e g o v e rn m e n t's

two m o n th s o f d e b a t e ,

n eu trality

feelin g s"

treatm en t.

reso lu tio n s

once a g ain pledged

not only

had " e x p r e s s e d

assem blage adopted
com m itted

i n D e t r o i t . 82

by C a n a d i a n a u t h o r i ­

five-m em ber com m ittee w itn e ss e d
It

by t h e F r e e

l a r g e s t e v e r convened

being w e l l - t r e a t e d

p rep aratio n s.

d esired

an assem b lag e

On 12

F r e e P r e s s , 14 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .

Ill
t o s e i z e and d e t a i n any v e s s e l o r any arm s o r
m u n i t i o n s o f w a r w h i c h may b e p r o v i d e d o r
p r e p a r e d f o r any m i l i t a r y e x p e d i t i o n o r
e n t e r p r i s e a g a i n s t th e t e r r i t o r y o r dom inions
o f any f o r e i g n p r i n c e o r s t a t e , o r of any
c o lo n y , d i s t r i c t , o r p eo p le conterm inous
w i t h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d w i t h whom t h e y
a r e a t p e a c e [and to] r e t a i n p o s s e s s i o n o f
t h e s am e u n t i l t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e P r e s i d e n t
b e h a d t h e r e o n . 84
A nother s e c tio n p ro v id e d
arm s and m u n i t i o n s
S tates"

could

m ilitary

t h a t any v e s s e l o r v e h i c l e

"about to pass

the

be s e i z e d when " p r o b a b l e

e x p e d i t i o n was b e in g

On 14 M a r c h ,

carried

G e n e ra l Brady
pervaded

tran q u ility "

iso lated

i n c i d e n t a few d a y s e a r l i e r ,

weapons a t W in d so r,

spreading

rum ors t h a t

in d icated

a

o u t . 85

th e M ichigan f r o n t i e r .
se v e ra l persons

a n d a fe w P a t r i o t s

according

up a m o n g s t o u r c i t i z e n s . "

cause"

th e U nited

inform ed G e n e ra l S c o t t t h a t

"perfect

fired

fr o n tie r of

and a l l

I n an
ha d

in D e t r o i t were

to Brady " k e p t an e x c it e m e n t

But th e P a t r i o t

M a r c h w e r e no l o n g e r c o n g r e g a t i n g

along

forces

by l a t e

th e D e tro it

R i v e r . 86
H aving e x p e r i e n c e d
in tern atio n al
situ atio n .

border,

d efeats

and d i s a s t e r s

the P a t r i o t s

reassessed

The p r e s e n c e o f w e l l - l e d m i l i t a r y

c o u p le d w ith a grow ing

re alizatio n

a ll

along

the

th eir
forces,

among t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c

84charles G. Fenwick, The Neutrality Laws of the United
States (Washington: Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace, 1 9 1 3 ) , p p . 4 3 - 4 4 , 1 7 9 - 8 1 .
85ibid.

8 6 s r a d y t o S c o t t , 14 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n ,
RG 3 9 3 ; D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 1 2 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .

112
th a t

th e y w ere a i d i n g

a cause

t h a t was u n w a n t e d by m o s t

C an ad ian s— a cau se t h a t m ight e a s i l y
B rita in — resu lted

in a m in im al amount of

t h e M ichigan f r o n t i e r
In stead

the P a t r i o t s

system d e d ic a te d

lead

to

during

the

spring

to war w i th G r e a t
filib u sterin g

along

a n d su mme r o f 1 8 3 8 .

estab lish ed

an e x t e n s i v e

underground

t h e i r goal of

lib eratin g

the C anadians.

CHAPTER FIVE :

C onvinced

th at

THE RISE OF THE HUNTERS LODGES

th eir

because of a lack of

secrecy,

underground s o c i e t i e s
lib eratio n .
m ized

th eir

d efeats

in m id-1838

filib u ste rin g
not prevent

to

d u ring
th eir

had v i o l a t e d
A lthough

th eir

th eir

th is

p erio d ,

creatin g

a new p r o v i s i o n a l

the sp rin g

the 1830s.

t h o s e who

of 1838,

p o litic a l

and econom ic

tu rb u len ce p re v a le n t

in

the

tim e

t h e W higs o u s t e d

fo r c o n tro l of D e tr o it's

city

governm ent.

s e a so n opened w ith

im m i g r a t i o n and com m erce,

the

n a tio n 's

to a f f e c t M ichigan.

t h a t w h i l e c a s h was i n

in debt,

the

first

Though t h e n a v i g a t i o n

th eir

of

on b o t h s i d e s o f

th e M ichigan/C anadian

For the

for

another s e r ie s

pervaded

state

beginning

earlier

and p r o s e c u t e d

the

th e D em ocrats

th eir

defenses

developm ents p e r p e tu a te d
during

t h e i r war o f

law s.

tra n q u ility

f r o n t i e r d uring

serai-

in M ich ig an and O hio m in i­

In th e m eantim e a u t h o r i t i e s

border stren g th en ed

organized

continue

g o v e rn m e n t f o r U pper Canada and p l a n n i n g
in v asio n s.

the w in te r occu rred

the P a t r i o t s

A lthough P a t r i o t s

s e tb a c k s did

during

b ills
and th e

to

in sta b ility

b u stle

w orsening

of

e c o n o m y w as

The P o n t i a c C o u r i e r

s h o rt supply,

be p a i d .

th e

bemoaned

e v e r y o n e was c a l l i n g

Everyw here fa rm e rs w ere h e a v i l y
of M ic h ig a n 's

113

b a n k s — many n o t

114
even a y ear o ld — o n ly

increased

o v e r e x te n s io n of M ic h ig a n 's
scheme seemed
new s t a t e ' s

to g u a ra n te e

concern.

g ran d io se

in te rn a l

a d is m a l econom ic

summer t h e

d itio n s

dom inated

the

in v ited

to a tte n d

a m eeting

news.

for

the

"for

the p urpose of

and of d e v is in g

su itab le

means

to

state

resto re

u n ifo rm and p e rm a n e n t c o n d i t i o n . "

Lenawee C ounty r e s i d e n t s
to d e al w ith

econom ic con­

In m id-June D e t r o i t e r s

p r e s e n t em barrassed

req u ested

dism ay a t

and unhappy s i t u a t i o n

of

were

con su ltin g

th e

the

currency,

s am e t o

L ater

a sp ecial

econom ic p ro b le m s ,

M onroe C o u n ty W higs e x p r e s s e d
depressed

im provem ent

fu tu re

d eterio ratin g

t o g e t h e r on t h e

sessio n

the

b u d g e t.1

Throughout th e

sound,

F in ally ,

th at

a
su m m e r

leg islativ e

and on 5 A u g u st
"the p re s e n t

of our once

flo u rish in g

S ta te ."2
A cross
to

put

tia l

the

law

th e D e t r o i t R iv e r w e s t e r n C a n a d ia n s w ere a n x io u s
te rrib le

w in ter

behind

Two m o n t h s o f m a r ­

i n U p p e r C a n a d a e n d e d o n 27 A p r i l ,

Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a l d e x p r e s s e d
and

tran q u ility

o n c e more r e i g n s

the

sh o rtag e

su p p lies

d eclared

them .

th at

of

i t was tim e

and th e

optim ism b ecau se
in our b o r d e r s ."

th a t w in ter,

"peace
R ecallin g

th e W estern H erald

t h a t w e ste rn C anadians

become

J-D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 4 A p r i l 18 3 8 ; P o n t i a c
C o u r i e r , 8 J u n e 1 8 3 8 ; S t a t e J o u r n a l (Ann A r b o r ) , 31 May
1 8 3 8 ; H e m a n s , M a s o n , p p . 3 7 8 - 7 9 ; D u n b a r a n d May, M i c h i g a n ,
pp. 261-76.
2petroit D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 18 June,
Monroe G a z e t t e , 21 August 1 8 3 8 .

13 A u g u s t 1 8 3 8 ;

115
self-su fficien t.
w harf

be b u i l t

As a b e g i n n i n g

so t h a t

sh ip s

th e new spaper urged

could d is c h a rg e

th eir

th at a

cargoes

a t S andw ich.3
But concern w ith
D e t r o i t R iv er did
P atrio ts'
th e

sp rin g

lity ,

the

not prevent

filib u ste rin g

exodus of C anadians

k e p t the P a t r i o t
V isitin g

E n g la n d 's

cause a c tiv e
i n May,

best-know n

n o v elists

in 183 7 -3 8 .

a t o a s t honoring

C aro lin e.

flarin g .

by t h e

D uring

in c id e n ts of h o s ti­

by t h e i r C a n a d i a n c a p t o r s ,
in M ichigan.
C a p t a i n F r e d e r i c k M a r r y a t t w as

in

sym pathizers.

the 1830s,
in T o ro n to

One o f

M arry att toured
in A p ril

th e C anadian r a i d e r s

1838 he

who s a n k t h e

When h e r e a c h e d D e t r o i t M a r r y a t t w a s g r e e t e d

a u t h o r had b e t r a y e d
U nited S t a t e s .

a ll

"fo rfeited
S tay in g

the

A ssertin g

o u g h t t o be f o r g o t t e n , "
a ll

at

th e a n t i - B r i t i s h

p.

created

d eclaratio n

favors

th at

the

th at

to a st

upon t h e

t h e home o f E.
sen tim en t

A.

B rush,

in th e

"can n ev er be,

reading

by

the B r i t i s h

he had r e c e i v e d

th e A d v e r tis e r added

claim s

the

from U p p e r C anada and t h e

W hile

th e D e t r o i t D aily A d v e r t i s e r 's

had

iso lated

by a n a n g r y mob o f P a t r i o t

N o rth A m erica
offered

p riso n ers

D etro it

the a n im o s itie s

from o c c a s i o n a l l y

and summer m o n t h s ,

treatm en t of P a tr io t

co n fro n ted

e co n o m ic p r o b le m s on b o t h s i d e s o f

nor

t h a t M a'rry a tt

p u b l i c . "4

M a rry a tt w rote

th at

i n D e t r o i t w as " t h e v e r y w o r s t o f

^ s a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 24 A p r i l 1 8 3 8 ;
68.

C orey,

C risis,

^A rno L. B a d e r , " C a p t a i n M a r r y a t t i n M i c h i g a n , "
M i c h i g a n H i s t o r y 20 ( S p r i n g - S u m m e r 1 9 3 6 ) , p p . 1 6 3 - 7 2 ;
D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 17 May 1 8 3 8 ; D e t r o i t W e e k l y P o s t ,

116
all"

A m erican c i t i e s

g ath ered o u tsid e
in

effig y .

he had v i s i t e d .

B ru s h 's

A ccording

to

On 14 May a mob

house and b urned

the B r i t i s h

t h e D e t r o i t W eekly P o s t ,

au th o r

t h e mob

c h e e r e d Edward T h e l l e r and a l l P a t r i o t s ,

but

jeered

"th e

m urderers"

the

e ffig y

had b een

consum ed,

who s a n k t h e C a r o l i n e .
hundreds o f M a r r y a tt's

t h o u s a n d p e o p l e who w a t c h e d
follow ed
ducting

fire

engines

them selves,

to

in

d e c o r u m . " A few d a y s

A fter

books were a l s o

the c o n f la g r a tio n ,

the

site,

th e P o s t 's

later

it

d isp ersed
w ords,

Th e

ma n y who h a d

after

w ith

was r e p o r t e d

burned.

"th e

th at

con­
utm ost

both

P r e s i d e n t Van B u r e n a n d G o v e r n o r M a s o n w e r e b u r n e d

in e f f ig y

a t W indsor in r e t a l i a t i o n . 5
A fe w d a y s a f t e r
o ffice rs,
only

fu ll

dress

t o be g r e e t e d

cry of
th e

in

"Tory!

ferry

th e M arry att
uniform ,

w ith sto n e s

T o ry !,"

crossed

and e g g s .

th e B r i t i s h

sco u n d rels"

used

e v id e n tly w ith
U sing

" t h e mob o f

"d isg u stin g ,

"the

g reatest

A ssau lted

by t h e

w ere a w a itin g

A ccording

to

the

tw enty o r t h i r t y

in su ltin g

th e view o f p ro v o k in g

th ree B ritis h

over to D e tr o it

o fficers

when t h e y w e re s u r r o u n d e d .

Sandw ich W e ste rn H e r a l d ,

sw o rd s."

in cid en t,

and b r u t a l

them t o

language,

draw t h e i r

f o r e b e a r a n c e ," the o f f i c e r s

23 May 1 8 3 8 .
^ F l o r e n c e M a r r y a t t , L i f e and L e t t e r s o f C a p t a i n
M a r r y a t t , 2 v o l s . (London: n . p . , 1 8 7 2 ), 2 :3 6 - 3 8 ; D e t r o i t
D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 16 May 18 3 8 ; D e t r o i t W e e k l y P o s t , 23 May
1838.
In F r e d e r ic k M a r r y a t t 's D ia r y , th e r e i s a fo o tn o te
( # 2 4 , p . 3 0 7 ) , a b o u t a h a n d b i l l o r g a n i z i n g a book b u r n i n g i n
L e w isto n , M ichigan.
T h a t e v e n t o c c u r r e d i n L e w i s t o n , New
Y ork. (B a d er, " M a r r y a tt in M ic h ig a n ," p. 1 7 1 ). A bout th e

117
boarded

the

ferry

L ab ellin g
"free

am id st a shower of sto n e s

the

in cid en t

and e n l i g h t e n e d

ty p ic a l of

citizen s

of

and e g g s . 6

the conduct of

the

the G r e a te s t R epublic

in

t h e w o r l d , " W e s te rn H e r a l d e d i t o r H enry G ra n t c h id e d
A m erican r e a d e r s

to

"confess

in stitu tio n s,

and y o u r

'H is M ajesty

th e m o b l'"?

reb u tted

a fe w d a y s

the

in a b ility

ro tte n n e ss of your re p u b lic
to c o n tr o l

Th e p r o - P a t r i o t D e t r o i t P o s t

later

th at

the a tta c k e rs

A m ericans,

b u t C anadian r e f u g e e s provoked

oppressive

B ritish

about B ritis h
concluded,
com plain of

p o licies.

actio n s,

"W hile

the d espotism of

C itin g

in clu d in g

the B ritis h

to

various

w ere n o t
such a c ti o n s
com plaints

the C a r o lin e ,

com plain of

foul d e ed s."8

i n D e t r o i t when he a d d r e s s e d

Sandw ich.

Shocked t h a t

governm ent planned
Islan d

as p ris o n e r s

d isb elief.

the P o st

f o u l w o r d s , we

On 23 May, S a n d w i c h m a g i s t r a t e J o h n P r i n c e
stir

by

to

the d i s t r i c t

created
court

a

in

th e U pper C anadian p r o v i s i o n a l

treat

of w ar,

the P a t r i o t s

captured

not m urderers,

D ram atically p o in tin g

P rin ce

to M ichigan,

a t P elee
expressed

he c h a r g e d

same ti m e M a r r y a t t was b u r n e d i n e f f i g y , t h e e d i t o r o f t h e
W e s t e r n H e r a l d c l a i m s t h a t he was t h r e a t e n e d w i t h t a r and
f e a t h e r s w h i l e v i s i t i n g D e t r o i t . ( W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 22 May
18 38.)
^ S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 2 2 May 18 3 8 .
?Ib id .
8 P e t r o i t D a i l y P o s t , 25 May 18 3 8 .

118
th at

the

R iver.

"m ost u n f r i e n d l y

race"

Several D e tro ite rs

re m a rk s and c h a rg e d

liv ed

across

to o k e x c e p tio n w ith P r i n c e ' s

t h a t P r i n c e was t r y i n g

betw een th e U n ited S t a t e s

the D e tr o it

t o p ro v o k e a war

and G r e a t B r i t a i n . 9

The P o s t and W e s te r n H e r a l d c o n t i n u e d e x c h a n g in g
salv o s.

On 19 J u n e

th e H erald defended

g allan t"

m ag istrate

by d e c l a r i n g

mind c o n s c i o u s o f r e c t i t u d e ,
the

'P o s t'

w hich n e i t h e r

of

scrib b lers

c a n n o t d e p r i v e him o f . "

K ingsbury as a " ly in g
cap tu re,

h eld
and

k n a v e . "10

S uth erlan d

In e a r ly J u ly ,

ju st

by U p p e r C a n a d i a n s ,

H eld f o r n in e d a y s ,
who h a d b e e n i n
m ig ratin g

as

M ic h ig a n ia n s w ere

im p riso n ed a f t e r

w hole

d escrib in g

K ingsbury r e b u t t e d

he had c a p t u r e d

rep o rted

or h is

the

"a

lying

troops of

'P a trio t'

P rin ce attach ed

a note

to

P o s t e d i t o r B enjam in
R eferrin g

th a t P rin ce

had

to S u th e r la n d 's
lied

a b o u t w here

in hopes of being k n i g h t e d . H
the N a tio n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r
" in danger"

from t h e bad f e e l i n g s

a n i n n o c e n t D e t r o i t e r was s e i z e d

cro ssin g

the r i v e r

Samuel F l a n i g a n ,

th e U nited S ta te s

from I r e l a n d ,

" b r a v e and

th a t P rince possessed

'a p o s ta te '

t h e Sandw ich e d i t o r i a l

the

to

co llect

a n atu ralized

a d ebt.
A m erican

fo r fo u rteen years

after

w as r e l e a s e d w he n no c h a r g e s w e r e

^ S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 29 May 18 3 8 .
l O i b i d . , 19 J u n e 1 8 3 8 .
A d d itio n al
17 A p r i l , 3 , 25 J u l y , 1 8 3 8 .
U p e t r o i t D aily P o s t , 2 June 1838.

c riticism

is

found

in

119
filed

also

a g ain st

h i m . 12

D uring

the

su m m e r t h e e m i g r a t i o n o f U p p e r C a n a d i a n s

fueled

M ic h ig a n 's

G e n e ra l Brady o b s e rv e d

sym pathy

fo r the P a t r i o t s .

t h a t C anadian re fu g e e s w ere a r r i v i n g

in M ichigan " in g r e a t n u m b e r s ." ! 3
a steady
1830s,
a fter

the

tro u b led

co n d itio n s

reb ellio n

"im m ense."

R eporting

had c r o s s e d

th e day b e f o r e ,

th at

b e e n a common o c c u r r e n c e
B esides

rep o rts

t h e r e w ere

in

accelerated

D e tr o it Free P re s s d e sc rib e d

border,

A lthough

flow of C an ad ian e m ig ra n ts

the

U nited S t a te s ,
sent ra te ,"
L ater

and
the

c o v e r e d wagons
th is

had

t h e p a s t s e v e r a l w e e k s . 14

in d icatio n s

e lse w h e re along

the

from w i t h i n Canada t h a t t h e

a boat

as

two

in T o r o n to bound f o r

the

th e T oronto M irro r fe a re d

In A ugust,

th at

h a l f o f C a n a d a w o u l d s o o n be i n

"asto n ish in g "

the

from U p p er Canada as

th e F ree P r e s s claim ed

th a t year the p ro v in c ia l

over th e

On 7 J u n e

tw elve w e l l - f i l l e d

for

had been

M ichigan d u rin g

flow .

exodus

of m igrations

boarded

th ere

the p ro v in ce d u rin g

the

the

in to

e x o d u s was becom ing a s e r i o u s p r o b l e m .
hundred e m ig ra n ts

On 8 J u n e

"at

th at

the p re ­
country.

governor expressed

concern

n u m b e r o f p e r s o n s who w e r e

leav in g

1 2 N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 7 J u l y 18 3 8 ; D e t r o i t D a i l y
P o s t , 13 J u l y 1 8 3 8 .
S e e a l s o L u c i u s V. B i e r c e ' s 13 J u l y
1838 l e t t e r t o P r e s i d e n t M a r t i n Van B u re n a b o u t a b o a t from
D e t r o i t t o C l e v e l a n d t h a t had b e en f i r e d upon t h r e e t i m e s a s
i t p a s s e d F o r t M a l d e n a fe w d a y s e a r l i e r .
One s h o t a l l e g ­
e d l y s t r u c k t h e v e s s e l . (NARS, DOS, M i s c . L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 . )
i 3 Brady to J o n e s ,
l ^ D e tr o it D aily

8 June 1838,

NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 .

F ree P r e s s , 7 June 1838.

120
the p r o v in c e .I 5
R e g a r d l e s s o f why C a n a d i a n s
A m erican s view ed
In la te
caused

June

th eir

the D e tr o it P o st su g g ested

D ram atizing

its

"m iserab le

p o in t,

topers

im m ig ran ts,

T oronto E m ig ratio n S o c ie ty
away fro m t h e
P atrio ts.

th e P o st recounted

lik e

the

b o r d e r and d i d

the p io n e e rs

not a lly

B ut a s B rady o b s e rv e d

the

of

the

in Iow a,

settled

them selves w ith

i n m id-sum m er,

the

th e re fu g e es

ta sk of m ain tain in g peace

b o r d e r e v e n m o r e d i f f i c u l t . 1?

M ichigan r e s i d e n t s
a u th o rities
taken

the

upon r e a c h i n g

t h a t hom esteaded

i n s o u t h w e s t e r n M i c h i g a n made t h e
along

and h e a r t l e s s

I AM, AT LAST, ON FREE S O I L . " 1 6

"THANK GOD,

Many C a n a d i a n

from o p p r e s s i o n .

t h a t t h e e x o d u s was

r e c e n t a r r i v a l o f o n e f a r m e r who e x c l a i m e d
M ichigan s h o re ,

country,

th e m i g r a t i o n a s an e s c a p e

by C a n a d i a n s e s c a p i n g

ty ra n ts."

le ft

fo r the

from t h e

also

tria l

ill-fa te d

and

rem ained

c ritical

treatm en t of

Ann, e s p e c i a l l y

o f C anadian

the p ris o n e rs

its

commander

l ^ i b i d . , 7 , 11 J u n e 1 8 3 8 ; L a n d o n , W e s t e r n O n t a r i o , p .
199; T o ro n to M i r r o r , in Landon, W estern O n t a r i o , p. 198;
A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 8 D e c e m b e r 18 3 8 , T h e A r t h u r P a p e r s , e d .
b y C h a r l e s R.
S anderson, 3 v o ls . (T oronto: U n iv e rs ity of
T o r o n t o P r e s s , 1 9 5 7 ) , 1 : 4 2 9 - 3 0 ; R. S . L o n g l e y , " E m i g r a t i o n
and t h e C r i s i s o f 1837 i n U pper C a n a d a ," C a n a d ia n
H i s t o r i c a l R e v i e w 17 ( M a r c h 1 9 3 6 ) , p p .
2 9 - 4 0 . See a l s o
" L o n d o n a n d V i c i n i t y , 1 8 3 7 - 3 8 , " by F r e d L a n d o n , O n t a r i o
H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y P a p e r s a n d R e c o r d s , 24 ( 1 9 2 7 ) , p p .
419-20 and H am ilto n E x p re s s i n D e t r o i t D a ily F ree P r e s s , 9
J u l y 1838.
l 6D e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t , 29 J u n e 1 8 3 8 .
l ^ B r a d y t o J o n e s , 8 J u n e , 27 J u n e 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ;
L o n g le y , " E m i g r a t i o n , " p p . 35-4 0.

121
Edward T h e l l e r .
Born in I r e l a n d ,
A m erican

in 1826.

im p assio n ed p l e a s

T h e l l e r had become a n a t u r a l i z e d

A fter

h is

fo r help

i m p r i s o n m e n t he s e n t

t o P r e s i d e n t V an B u r e n a n d

K entucky S e n a to r H enry C la y .
g ath ered

at

the C ity

money f o r T h e l l e r ' s

At th e

T heatre
w ife

in e a rly

and f i v e

P a t r i o t b r i g a d i e r was c o n v i c t e d
tenced

t o be h a n g ed

denounced

the

the B ritis h
as

far

effo rts

in A p ril,

c o u rt's

to

s e c u r e U .S.

F o r s y th s e n t an a g e n t
A m erican p r i s o n e r s ,
tio n

U .S.

to Canada to

but T h e lle r's

resu lted

When t h e

and r e l a t i v e s

him a s a c i t i z e n

th e U nited

in terv en tio n .

raise

t r e a s o n and s e n ­

frien d s
try

to

U .S.

S tates.
D .C .,

there

the

subsequent stay

from B r i t i s h

Fr om
w ere

S ecretary of S ta te

in v estig ate

sentence

of

to

life

len ien cy

fate

of

of execu­
im p riso n ­

rath er

th an

in terv en tio n .
As l a t e

as Septem ber,

S te p h e n B rohpy o f M onroe,
Ann, T h e l l e r ' s
for

ch ild ren .

and W a s h in g to n ,

and th e co m m u tatio n o f h i s

ment p ro b a b ly

to

than of

away a s P h i l a d e l p h i a

February

of high

h is

d ecisio n

Em pire r a t h e r

same t i m e D e t r o i t e r s

w ife

the p r e s id e n t

to

not

long

after

one o f T h e l l e r ' s

sent a p e titio n

c o m ra d e s on t h e

t o Van B u re n p l e a d i n g

s e c u re h e r h u s b a n d 's

by s u c h M i c h i g a n n o t a b l e s

the escape of

release.

a s G o v e r n o r Mason,

J o h n N o r v e l l an d L u c i u s Lyon and U .S .

U .S.

Signed
S enators

D i s t r i c t J u d g e Ross

18p e t r o i t D a ily F ree P r e s s , 9 F e b ru a ry 1838; N a tio n a l
I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 2 F e b r u a r y 18 3 8 ; T h e l l e r t o V an B u r e n ,
r e c e i v e d o n 5 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , DOS, M i s c . L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 ; J o h n

122
W ilk in s,

the p e t i t i o n

"an a r b i t r a r y
th e

rig h ts

effo rts
receiv ed
h is

d escrib ed T h e lle r 's

ex ercise

o f power on t h e p a r t o f E n g la n d ,

o f an A m erican c i t i z e n . " 1 9

follow ed

in

a ctiv ity

from a p r e s i d e n t d e s p e r a t e

the

to

early

along

summer.

the b order a lso

On t h e

New Y o r k .

D isg u ised

as

Indians

v essel.

The c re w ,

passengers

affected

and t h e i r

the

Islan d ,

and c r y i n g

"Remember t h e C a r o l i n e , " a s m a l l band o f P a t r i o t s
th e

and

co n tro l

n i g h t o f 29 May,

C anadian stea m e r S i r R obert P eel lan d ed a t W e ll's
n e ar C lay to n ,

over

and a v o id war w ith G r e a t B r i t a i n .

E vents a t o th e r p o in ts
D etro it

as

B u t Ann T h e l l e r ' s

a su m m e r o f r e n e w e d P a t r i o t

no r e s p o n s e

citizen s

in c arce ra tio n

captured

lu g g a g e w ere

N o r v e l l t o F o r s y t h , 24 A p r i l 1 8 3 8 , U . S . A r c h i v e s S - 7 9 7 , BC;
J o h n O a k f o r d e t a l . t o F o r s y t h , 2 2 A p r i l 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . ; S.
B u r c h t o F o r s y t h , 24 A p r i l 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . ; A le x Diamond t o
S e n a t o r J o h n N o r v e l l , 23 A p r i l 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . ; A r t h u r t o
C olborne, 5 A p ril 1838, Sanderson, A rth u r, 1 :7 0 -7 1 ; D e tr o it
D a i l y P o s t , 5 May 1 8 3 8 ; P e t i t i o n o f Ann T h e l l e r , NARS, DOS,
M i s c . L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 . S e c a l s o P a t r i c k G a l l a h e r ' s a f f i d a v i t ,
d a t e d 19 A p r i l 1 8 3 8 , s w e a r i n g t h a t T h e l l e r w a s a n A m e r i c a n
and "an a c t i v e p a r t i s a n " i n t h e 1838 e l e c t i o n s .
(S anderson,
Ar t h u r , 1 : 8 3 - 8 4 . ) M i c h i g a n i a n s a l s o e x p r e s s e d a c o n c e r n f o r
t w o o t h e r Ann p r i s o n e r s , S t e p h e n B r o p h y a n d W. W. D o d g e .
S e e Wm. H. W i n d e r t o F o r s y t h , 22 May 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS, M i s c .
L e t t e r s , RG 59 a n d A. E. Wing t o F o r s y t h , 15 S e p t e m b e r
1 8 3 8 , BC, U . S . A r c h i v e s , S - 7 9 7 .
The p e o p l e o f Monroe
g a t h e r e d o n 24 May 1 8 3 8 a n d s e n t a m e m o r i a l t o V a n B u r e n
a s k i n g h i s i n t e r v e n t i o n i n t h e r e l e a s e o f B r o p h y , Do d ge a n d
two o t h e r l o c a l c i t i z e n s c a p t u r e d on t h e A nn. The m e e t i n g
a l s o c r i t i c i z e d " t h e a r b i t r a r y d o c t r i n e c o n t e n d e d f o r by
G r e a t B r i t a i n ' o n c e a s u b j e c t a l w a y s a s u b j e c t . ' " (M onroe
G a z e t t e , 29 May 1 8 3 8 . )
S e e a l s o a l e t t e r f r o m W. W. Do dg e
t o C. H. V a n C l e v e o f M o n r o e a s k i n g A m e r i c a n s t o make a
g r e a t e r e f f o r t t o s e c u r e t h e i r r e l e a s e . ( M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 15
May 1 8 3 8 . )
^ p e t i t i o n o f Ann T h e l l e r ,
T h e l l e r , Canada in 18 3 7 -1 8 3 8 ,

DOS, M i s c .
2:9 5 -9 7 .

L etters,

RG 5 9 ;

123

placed

ashore before

created

su ch an o u t c r y

nant governor,
U nited S t a t e s
su b ject,

is

S overeign
an in ju re d
C anadians
to

p laced

G eorge A r t h u r ,

fe lt

by

w hich

t h a t w hile

"th at

A rthur

trav elin g

the

the

and

new l i e u t e ­
from t h e

offered

to oneB r i t i s h

m utual t i e s

lo y a l people

g iv e the s tr e n g th

e x tra p recau tio n s

of

ofduty

and t h e i r

th e w hole Em pire to

c o n c l u d e d by r e m i n d i n g U p p e r
t h e G r e a t L ak es th e y would
sin ce

th e power o f a la w le s s

them selves w ith in

th at

in ju ry

band a f r e e

in d iv id u a l."

The s i n k i n g

demanded r e d r e s s

a l l , and t h a t

to g eth er,

take
in

i n U pper Canada

and w arned

and a f f e c t i o n

have

t h e P e e l w a s b u r n e d . 20

the p ro te c tio n

t h e y "may be s o m e t i m e s

b an d itti,

w he n t h e y

and a u t h o r i t y

im agine

of a frien d ly

G overnm ent." 2^
The d e s t r u c t i o n

of

the P eel c re a te d

t h e D e t r o i t R iv e r w here G e n e ra l Brady
in d icated

th a t a larg e

n e c tio n w ith

certain

"m aking e x e r t i o n s
of

to

in D e tr o it,

in h is

8 June re p o rt

number o f C a n a d ia n r e f u g e e s ,

d esp arate
fan

t h e P a t r i o t c a u s e . 22

C o llecto r

e x c ite m e n t along

in to

"in

and u n e asy " A m e ric a n s ,
a flam e

con­

w ere

the

ex p irin g

em bers"

A t t h e s am e t i m e

t h e U .S.

C ustom s

J o h n M cDonald,

reported

rum ors

th at

2 0 Edward 0 . T i f f a n y , "The R e l a t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s
t o th e C anadian R e b e l li o n ," P u b l i c a t i o n s of th e B u ffa lo
H i s t o r i c a l S o c ie ty , 8 (1905), pp. 54-55.
^ A r th u r 's D eclaratio n ,
H e r a l d , 12 J u n e 1 8 3 8 .
22B rad y

to J o n e s ,

31 May 1 8 3 8 ,

8 June 1838,

in Sandw ich W e s te rn

NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 .

124
C anadian re f u g e e s
good.

i n s o u t h e a s t e r n M i c h i g a n w e r e up t o

B u t M cDonald e x p r e s s e d

C anadian a u t h o r i t i e s
h o stilitie s

across

even g r e a t e r

The c o l l e c t o r

E rie,

to p a tr o l

[ s i c ] t h a t may p o s s i b l y

th e o th e r

"23

The b u r n i n g o f
P atrio t

invasions

t h e P e e l was

in

the N iagara R iv er.

There,

p opulace d id not r a l l y
th e U nited S t a t e s ,

im prisoned

i n J u n e by tw o

a s m ^ l l band o f P a t r i o t s

a p arty

to

th eir

leaving

tw e n ty -fiv e m ile s w est

of

lan cers.

stan d ard ,

th irty

of

the

th eir

fired

When t h e

lo cal

invaders

fled

number

by t h e C a n a d i a n s . 24

In M ichigan,

late

sp rin g tim e

p e a r a n c e o f P a t r i o t G e n e ra l Handy,

had w i t n e s s e d

Upper C anadians

in to

rev o lu tio n ary

had num erous s p i e s

the reap­

who o r g a n i z e d

o r g a n i z a t i o n dubbed th e Sons o f L i b e r t y .

L iberty

from

t h e N i a g a r a r e g i o n o f New Y o r k S t a t e .

on a t a v e r n and c a p t u r e d

to

the

"to p re v e n t

be a t t e m p t e d

follow ed

T he m o s t a m b i t i o u s was a t S h o r t H i l l s ,
of

commandant o f

th e D e t r o i t R iver

any a g g r e a s s i o n
s h o r e .

to provoke

and G r e a t B r i t a i n .

u r g e d C a p t a i n D. D o b b i n s ,

revenue c u tte r

concern th a t

th e r i v e r w ere t r y i n g

betw een th e U n ite d S t a t e s

no

Seeking

so cieties,

and c o u r i e r s

a secret
to

rally

th e Sons of

th r o u g h o u t Upper

2 3 j o h n M c D o n a l d t o D. D o b b i n s , 1 1 J u n e 1 8 3 8 , i n
" I l l u s t r a t i v e D ocum ents B e a r in g on t h e C a n a d ia n R e b e l l i o n , "
Prank S everance, e d ., P u b lic a tio n s of th e B u ffa lo
H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , 8 (1 905), p. 127.
24Tiffany,

"Relations," pp. 55-56.

125
Canada g r a n t i n g
m ation.
ready

o ffice rs'

W ith an a l l e g e d

com m issions
stren g th

Handy p l a n n e d

Once t h e P a t r i o t

U pper C a n a d ia n s w ould m o b i l i z e

in fo r­

o f t w e n t y - t h o u s a n d men

t o move o n a m o m e n t ' s n o t i c e ,

W in d so r on 4 J u l y .

and g a t h e r i n g

flag

to

capture

was r a i s e d ,

and a g e n e r a l

the

u p r i s i n g would

r e s u l t . 25
A lthough

th e m agnitude of

th is

t i o n a r y m ovem ent was u n d o u b t e d l y
so me t y p e o f P a t r i o t

state

o f C anadian r e f u g e e s

th e

"ready

movement " o f

th eir

along

th is

le ft

th at,

"A

b o rd er."

the

larg e

numbers

b e tw e e n D e t r o i t and F o r t G r a t i o t

" g r e a t s e c r e c y w i t h w hich

B u t he was c o n f i d e n t

th at

in e a r ly J u ly

had been c o m m itte d ,

f o r som e d e s p a r a t e

B rady had been u n a b le

rum ors

On 27 J u n e h e o b s e r v e d

of ex citem en t e x is ts

A l t h o u g h no o v e r t a c t s

appeared

exaggerated,

a c t i o n w ould o c c u r

G e n e ra l Brady a p p r e h e n s i v e .
fev erish

Upper C anadian r e v o lu ­

they c o n c e r t

to d isc o v e r
th at

e n te rp rise ."

th eir

th e ir p la n s,"

exact

in ten tio n s.

th e M ichigan P a t r i o t s

frien d s

in C anada,"

Owing t o

aw aited

the

w h i c h was t o

take

in d irectly .

On 28

p l a c e o n o r a b o u t 4 J u l y . 26
B rady

th w a r te d H a n d y 's p la n s

June approxim ately
crossed

the

S t.

t w e n t y - f i v e men c l a i m i n g

C l a i r R i v e r and p l u n d e r e d

M oore T o w n s h ip o p p o s i t e

25Lindsey,

26srady

only

to

be P a t r i o t s

a general

t h e M ic h ig a n community o f N e w p o rt.

M ackenzie, 2 :1 9 2 -9 4 .

to Jo n es,

sto re

27 J u n e 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 .

in

126
T h e M oo re m i l i t i a

w ere a l e r t e d

who l a n d e d b a c k i n M i c h i g a n ,
However,
Indian s

con fid en t th a t

b o a r d e d c a n o e s and f o l l o w e d
in tercessio n

t h e p e a c e who l i v e d

of C aptain John C lark,

surrender

th eir

charge

the P a t r i o t s '

of

pu rsu in g

arm s,

C anadians

A ccording
ch eers,"

fo r refuge,

w hich th e y d id

th at

abandoned

Fearful

th at

C la ir raid

"to

C a n a d a .

acts

me n t o make a r e c o n n a i s s a n c e o f

ch artered

and s e n t word t o
feared
vent

the B r itis h

J.

"gave

The M ic h ig a n g e n e r a l

armed s t e a m e r t o p a t r o l

the

th ree

the S t.

th e S t.

C lair

to

be

the S t.

Jam isonw ith

tw enty

R i v e r and

and s e i z u r e s .

Brady

to p a t r o l th e S t. C la ir R iver
tro o p s

a t S a n d w ic h t h a t he

an i n v a s i o n o f Canada and d o u b te d

it.

Taking

27

i n m aking a r r e s t s

and armed a v e s s e l

the

C lark a ssu re d

The day a f t e r

h e d i s p a t c h e d C a p t a i n L.

the m arshal

fleein g .

of v io le n c e g r e a tly

B ra d y moved s w i f t l y .

th e

them t o

e x c i t e m e n t on b o t h s i d e s o f

R iv e r m ight le a d

d e p re ca te d ,"

D enying

of

g o o d s w o u l d be r e t u r n e d .

the m ilitia m e n

back to

the

before

slo o p ,

the s to le n

to one w i t n e s s ,
and p a d d le d

C lark o rd e re d

a ju stice

reentered

a f i g h t on M i c h i g a n s o i l was a v e r t e d .
request

a ssist

th e y were s a f e .

them t o M i c h i g a n .

n e a r where th e m a ra u d ers

P atrio ts'

C lair

the m arauders,

a C a n a d ia n f o r c e o f s e v e n t e e n m i l i t i a m e n and s e v e n

Through th e

state,

and p u r s u e d

added

t h a t he c o u ld p r e ­

t h a t he had o r d e r e d

th e D e tr o it R iv er th ro u g h o u t the

2 7 s a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 10 J u l y 1 8 3 8 ; D o r o t h y M.
M i t t s , T h a t N o b le C o u n t r y ; The Romance o f t h e S t . C l a i r
R iv e r R egion ( P h i l a d e l p h i a : D o rran ce and C o ., 1 9 6 8 ), pp.

an

127
n ig h t of 4 July

to p r e v e n t any P a t r i o t

R esponding
armed

the

th e S t.

to

the S t.

C lair

s c h o o n e r Thames w i t h

C lair

R iv er.

s o r t i e s . 2**

sk irm ish ,

fifty

rangers

The v e s s e l a l s o

At th e

m a g is tra te s proclaim ed

a state

M ich ig an and p r o h i b i t e d
th e

two s i d e s

of

By m i d - J u l y

th e

a ll

been a v e r te d ,
Jones
lar

th a t h is

n o n in te rc o u rs e w ith

calm had b een r e s t o r e d

to

h is
six

to

cross

S t.

to U .S.

f o r c e was to o m e a g e r t o

r a i d s w ould n o t be a t t e m p t e d .
recru its

the S t.

schooner p a tr o l.

betw een

to p a t r o l

C lair
C aptain

C lair P a trio ts ,

by J u d g e R o s s W i l k i n s .

Brady c o n f e s s e d

and a b o u t n i n e t y

supply of

r i v e r . 2^

t r o o p s had a r r e s t e d

a l l were r e l e a s e d

up

t h e Sandw ich

but steam ships

R iv e r and B rady d i s c o n t i n u e d
J a m is o n 's

it

th e C anadians

"a l i b e r a l

same t i m e
of

and s e n t

provided

i n M o o re T o w n s h i p a n d P o r t S a r n i a w i t h
arm s and a m m u n itio n ."

th e C anadians

but

A lth o u g h w ar had

A d j u t a n t G e n e r a l R.
guarantee

W ith o n ly

th a t sim i­

four o f f ic e r s

a f r o n t i e r o f o v e r one

1 4 0 - 4 2 . The W e s t e r n H e r a l d ' s c o r r e s p o n d e n t a l s o r e p o r t e d
t h a t a U . S . M a r s h a l l na med C o r n w a l l c r o s s e d f r o m P a l m e r ,
M i c h i g a n (now S t . C l a i r ) , n e a r w h e r e t h e P a t r i o t s h a d
la n d e d , to S u t h e r l a n d 's L a n d in g , where th e C an ad ian m i l i t i a
w ere h e a d q u a r te r e d .
A ccording to t h i s c o rre s p o n d e n t,
C o r n w a l l w a s s e n t by s t a t e a u t h o r i t i e s t o a s s u r e t h e
C a n a d i a n s t h a t t h e p e a c e w o u l d be p r e s e r v e d . T h e m a r s h a l l
p lanned to p u rsu e th e th ie v e s once th e schooner G eneral
G r a t i o t a r r i v e d f r o m D e t r o i t . ( S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 10
J u ly 1838).
2 ®B rad y t o J o n e s , 29 J u n e 1 8 3 8 , NA RS ,, AGO, RG 9 4 ;
t o C o l b o r n e , 30 J u n e 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 1 : 2 1 5 ;
S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 10 J u l y 1 8 3 8 .
2 ^ S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 10 J u l y
P r i n c e , p p . x x v i , '25.

1838;

D ouglas,

A rthur

John

128
hundred m ile s ,
d u ties

to

B r a d y sa w a v a s t d i s p r o p o r t i o n

be p e r f o r m e d a n d

"betw een th e

th e means a v a i l a b l e

for

th at

p u r p o s e . "30
Unbeknownst to B rady,
m atter.
firin g

He h a d p r e v e n t e d
a sh o t.

had depended

arsen al.

The p l a n

S t.

of c e rta in

H a n d y 's 4 J u l y

upon o b t a i n i n g

to

secure

sen tin els

seek aid

from P a t r i o t s

d isap p eared

to

lo cated

the

was f o l l o w e d

feelin g s
late

in
of

h is

from t h e
the

state
coopera­

v ig ilan ce.

to C lev elan d ,

th ere.

O hio,

to

T h is e x p e d itio n proved

t h e Sons o f L i b e r t y

Sons o f L i b e r t y

by a p e r i o d o f

early Ju ly

the m ilita r y

by t h e

30Brady to
M orning P o s t ,
J u ly 1838, in
3lLindsey,

state

and t h e i r

tran q u ility

The B ra d y G u a rd s

in an " in te r c h a n g e
of

summer B r a d y r e t u r n e d

honored

by t h e S o n s o f

f r o m t h e P a t r i o t W a r . 31

M ich ig an / C anadian b o rd e r.
B u ffalo

weapons

in crease

and b o t h Handy and

The d em ise o f
effo rts

not

in v asio n w ith o u t

th o s e weapons w ith

Handy s e n t a d e l e g a t i o n

u n su ccessfu l,

tro o p s did

was t h w a r t e d when e v e n t s on t h e

C l a i r R iv e r le d Brady

D esp erate,

of

The W in d s o r c am p aig n p l a n n e d

L iberty

tio n

the p a u c ity

the

of

two s i s t e r

to h is

leg islatu re.

invasion
along

trav e lled

the
to

frien d ly
c i t i e s . "32

n a tiv e P ennsylvania

jn
to

be

Even C a p t a i n M a r r y a t t ' s

J o n e s , 29 J u n e 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ; D e t r o i t
3 J u l y 1 8 3 8 ; u n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 12
A l b i o n , 21 J u l y 1 8 3 8 .
M ackenzie, 2 :1 9 4 -9 5 .

3 2P e t r o i t D a i l y

F r e e P r e s s , 12 J u l y ,

30 J u n e 1 8 3 8 .

129
b o o k s o n c e a g a i n became a v a i l a b l e
The a b s e n c e o f P a t r i o t
A m erican a u t h o r i t i e s ,
preparing

for

fu tu re

who h a d a l r e a d y
Aware o f
sen ce along

the

filib u sterin g

P atrio t

ex cu rsio n s

ex istin g

fro n tier,

com m issioned o f f i c e r s

the m ilita r y

n e u trality
m easures
jects

along

law s

th ere.

the

each

a ll

P o w e r . "

Ju ly

com panies

tro o p s

A rtillery

Upo n r e a c h i n g
to B rady,

after

two

to

coor­

in stru cted

co p ies of

au th o rized

acts

M ajor

ag ain st

to a d o p t
the

sub­

34

to p a t r o l Lakes E rie

t h e 2nd U .S .

Tennessee.

Macomb f i r s t

h o stile

pre­

a t S a c k e tt's

tw o u n a r m e d s t e a m e r s

governm ent s e n t a d d i t i o n a l

Ju ly ,

fro n tier

b o rd e r to d i s t r i b u t e

fo r rep ressin g

B esides o rd e rin g

on t h e

they a re

th o se

law s.

A t t h e s am e t i m e ,

New Y o r k ,

from

t h e a r m y by 4 , 6 5 0 n o n ­

H eadquartered

" u n d e r w hich

of a frien d ly

so ld iers

n o t keep

or p rosecuting

in e a r ly

increased

a n d me n.

n e a r W atertow n,

the o f f i c e r s

did

n eu trality

C ongress

G e n e r a l A l e x a n d e r Macomb a r r i v e d

H arbor,

33

im p o rtan c e of an a d e q u a te m i l i t a r y

m onths o f r a n c o r o u s d e b a t e ,

d in ate

D e t r o i t .

i n b o th W a s h in g to n and M ic h ig a n ,

v io lated

the

in

and O n t a r i o ,
to

the

was o r d e r e d

C leveland

who k e p t o n e

carry in g

t h e U .S.

border.
north

fifty

In

late

from

th e regim ent s e n t

th ree

i n D e t r o i t and s e n t t h e

33jones to Brady, NARS, Records of the Adjutant General,
Letters Sent, 1 6 0 0 - 1 8 9 0 , 3 August 1 8 3 8 ; Detroit Daily Free
P r e s s , 1 October 1 8 3 8 ; Detroit Morning P o s t , 31 August 1 8 3 8 .
34corey, C r i s i s , pp. 5 7 - 6 1 ; Detroit Daily Free P r e s s , 26
June 1 8 3 8 ; Macomb's O r d e r No. 1 , 23 June 1 8 3 8 in National
Int ell ig enc er, 7 July 1 8 3 8 .

130
o t h e r tw o t o
tro o p s,

B ra d y 's

discovered
Oswego,

Fort G ra tio t.

A lthough p le a s e d w ith a d d i t i o n a l

e u p h o r i a was p r o b a b l y

h is m ilita ry

d istric t

t e m p e r e d w he n h e

had b e en e x p a n d e d t o

New Y o r k — o v e r o n e h u n d r e d m i l e s

e a s t of

the N iag ara

R i v e r . 35
The g o v e r n m e n t o r d e r e d U.S c u s to m s a g e n t s
lance

to o b ta i n w itn e s s e s

anyone v io la tin g

the

n eu trality

s lo o p T ex as was s e i z e d
w ith

and e v id e n c e
law s.

p a ir of p is to ls

th ree

and n o t d e c l a r e d

to

cannon in c r a te s

the
out

h o stilitie s

The a rm a m e n ts — s i x t e e n

D e t r o i t custom s o f f i c e r s

dissem bled

in p r o s e c u tin g

i t was f i t t e d

com m itting

and a sw ord— w ere s e i z e d

had been im ported
On 13 A u g u s t ,

co u n try ."

use v i g i ­

In e a r ly J u ly

in D e tr o it because

arm am ents " f o r t h e p u rp o s e of

a g a in s t a foreign

to a id

to

because

rifles,

th ey a ls o

t h e p o r t c o l l e c t o r . 3 *>
disco v ered

aboard

and s e i z e d

th e v e s s e l Bunker

H i l l . 37
The c o u r t s
a r e s u l t of
h is

care,

in M ichigan w ere a l s o

the m id-F ebruary

activ e.

In M arch,

as

t h e f t of ordnance e n tr u s te d

to

M a jo r C h a r l e s J a c k s o n was c o u r t m a r t i a l e d

for

3 3 J . R. P o i n s e t t t o F o r s y t h , 11 J u n e 1 8 3 8 , DOS, M i s c .
L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 ; S c o t t ' s S p e c i a l O r d e r No. 6 8 , 21 J u l y 1 8 3 8 ,
NARS, E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ; M a c o m b ' s G e n e r a l O r d e r s , No.
2 , 11 A u g u s t 1 8 3 8 i n D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 17 A u g u s t
1 8 3 8 ; M a c o m b ' s G e n e r a l O r d e r s No. 9 , 20 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i n
N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 29 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .
3 6p o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 4 May 1 8 3 8 ;
14 J u l y 1 8 3 8 .
37P e t r o i t D a ily F re e P r e s s ,
W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 21 A u g u s t 1 8 3 8 .

D e tr o it D aily Free P r e s s ,

14 A u g u s t 1 8 3 8 ;

Sandw ich

a

131
neg lig en ce

and c o n d u c t unbecom ing

a n o f f i c e r . 38

su m m e r P a t r i o t o r d n a n c e o f f i c e r J o h n S .
in D e tro it

in

late

U.S n e u t r a l i t y
m ilitary
fin ed

$1 , 0 0 0 and s e n t e n c e d

to

tak e

th reaten ed

o ffice

te rro r,"

strengthened

in T oronto

in

as Upper C a n a d a 's new est
a w eakly f o r t i f i e d

by i n v a s i o n a n d t o r n

the p r o v in c ia l

in a

i m p r i s o n m e n t . 39

th e C anadians

he d i s c o v e r e d

C onducting w hat c a l l e d

of v io la tin g

V r e e l a n d w as

When G e o r g e A r t h u r a r r i v e d

March 1838 t o

arrested

and p a r t i c i p a t i n g

a y e a r 's

t h e summer a nd f a l l

lie u te n a n t governor,

sio n .

was f o u n d g u i l t y

la w s by p r e p a r i n g

th e ir defenses.

vince

V reeland,

e x p e d i t i o n a g a i n s t Upper Canada.

D uring

la te

F ebruary,

i n m id­

by i n t e r n a l

by some a s

conserv ativ es

"a r e i g n

pro­

dissen ­
of

had a r r e s t e d

and

i m p r i s o n e d many f o r m e r R e f o r m e r s o n m e r e s u s p i c i o n o f b e i n g
a rebel or a P a trio t
stan d still,

sym pathizer.

P u b l i c w orks w ere a t a

enorm ous d e b t s w ere p i l i n g

not thousands,

up,

and h u n d r e d s ,

of Upper C an ad ian s w ere e m ig ra tin g

to

if

the

U n ite d S t a t e s .40
A v e te ra n of c o lo n ia l
p rev io u s

tw elve y e a r s

as

serv ice,

lie u te n a n t governor of

c o l o n y a t V an P i e m a n ' s L a n d

^ Detroit D a i l y

39I b i d . ,
1838.

14 J u l y

A r t h u r had s e r v e d

(now T a z m a n i a ) . 4 1

the

the c o n v ict
w orking

F r e e P r e s s , 14 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .
1838;

D e t r o i t M orning P o s t ,

40Landon, W estern O n t a r i o , pp.
C anada, pp. 252-53.
41craig, Upper Canada, p. 254.

172-78;

C raig,

16-19 J u ly
Upper

132
c l o s e l y w ith S i r Jo h n C olborne,
B ritish

forces

in Canada,

strengthened p ro v in c ia l
By s p r i n g
in

the

com m ander-in-chief of

A rthur

t h e end o f 1837,

had b o l s t e r e d

from a p a l t r y

to o v e r nine

and b a r r i c a d e s

the

along

C anadian a u t h o r i t i e s
t h e U .S.

en g in eers
the

h ired

A m ericans,

the B r i t i s h

p atro llin g

th e G re at Lakes.

to

a ctiv itie s.
the

th e ir

A lthough

U nlike

neg o tiate
v essels

the m a tte r.

on Lake E r i e
fleet

to

D espite

th ese

effo rts

from i d e a l .

the m i l i t i a 's

Like

in

the

w hich

they

lim ited

each

d u ring

t h e U .S.

th is

as

a

perio d of

governm ent t h a t
did

autum n A r t h u r

not ask

to

had f o u r

and was m aking p r o v i s i o n s

to

f i v e . 42

in crease h is

was f a r

to o p e ra te

th e A m ericans,

the B r i t i s h

By e a r l y
alone

of p o sts

on th e Upper G r e a t L ak es,

inform ing

a c t i o n s w ere d e f e n s i v e ,

th ree

numbers o f s h i p s

p e a c e t i m e m e a s u r e t h a t was i n o p e r a t i v e
border ra id s .

a lin e

s e c r e t agents

in creased

two a r m e d v e s s e l s

at

from M o n t r e a l t o S a n d w ic h .

view ed th e R u sh -B ag o t T r e a t y o f 1817,
country

By e a r l y J u n e

to e s t a b l i s h

and r e p o r t on P a t r i o t

forces

a c r o s s Upper Canada.

fro n tier

also

th eir

two t h o u s a n d r e g u l a r s ,

thousand.

th o u san d r e g u l a r s were dep lo y ed
C olborne o rd e re d

o r d e r and

defenses.

1838 t h e B r i t i s h

two p r o v i n c e s

resto red

Upper C a n a d a 's d e f e n s iv e p o s t u r e

A r t h u r w r o t e C o l b u r n e o n 17 J u n e

weapons were

"very b ad ."

In a d d itio n

4 2Corey, Crisis, pp. 66-69, 105, 110.

to

th at

133
tw enty-thousand

s ta n d s - o f - a r m s , A rthur b e lie v e d

needed v a rio u s m ilit a r y
am ple t r o o p s
A rth u r 's
e ith er

"to

crush re b e llio n

g reatest

from b e in g

u n til

D e t r o i t R iver
predicam ent:

duty.

is

fe lt,"

in v asio n s

was r e a d i l y

became im m ersed

To k e e p c o s t s

do w n ,

clo se

to

rep ellin g

t h e r e s u l t was c l e a r .

In s p i t e

of

the B r i t i s h

and t h e i r u n w a v erin g

th e p ro v in c ia l

governm ent t r e a t e d

off

activ e

statio n in g

To w e s t e r n C a n a d i a n s

th eir

r e c e n t m onths,

the

in a d isco m fo rtin g

C o lb o rn e and

border.

the

as d e fe n se of

they d isc o u ra g e d

the

c a n n o t be

a p p a r e n t among

s o u g h t ways t o k e e p t h e m i l i t i a

reg u lars

"sin g u lar

to p re v e n t

"confidence

disappeared

To p r e v e n t d e s e r t i o n ,

B ritish

in ab ility

The e u p h o r i a o f

fro n tier

C olo n ial O ffice

o r to re p e l In v a s io n ,"

co n clu sio n th a t

secu rity

e arlier

t h a t he had

a t t e m p t e d . 43

w e s t e r n C a n a d i a n s . 44
P a trio ts'

C onvinced

c o n c e r n was h i s

The g o v e r n o r 's
resto red

su p p lies.

the pro v in ce

ex ertio n s

lo y alty

to

the

d uring

the

crow n,

t h e i r concerns w ith

i n d i f f e r e n c e . " 45

At a 9 June m eeting
m ent was c r i t i c i z e d
C a n a d a . 4(>

43A r t h u r
202.

in Sandw ich,

fo r neg lectin g

A few d a y s

later

to C olborne,

the p r o v in c ia l

govern­

th e d efen se of w estern

Sandw ich and A m h e rs tb u rg

17 J u n e 1 8 3 8 ,

Sanderson, A rth u r,

44I b i d . ,
45C o re y ,
June 1838.

C r i s i s , pp.

66-67;

45Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a l d ,

S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 12
12 J u n e 1 8 3 8 .

1:

134
m ag istrates
an x iety ,
B ritish

p etitio n ed

alarm

aim ed

th eir

from t h e

governor

F in ally

w hile

over th e w ithdraw al of a l l

three

tim es

a t A m herstburg,

the m a g istra te s

t h e r e g u l a r s w ould d e s t r o y
d en ts,

"raisin g

"the d eep est

D e tro it R iver.

th at

in v asio n s

P ro v in ce."

expressing

and a s t o n i s h m e n t "

reg u lars

rem inded th e

A rthur

the

th a t of

The p e t i t i o n e r s

the P a t r i o t s
" t h e key to

w arned

t h a t he was n o t

th eir

relax

needs and s o u g h t to

the p erio d

of activ e

serv ice

of

th eir

com plaints

by a r e a

the m i l i t i a

th at

by o n e m o n t h . 48

A m herstburg
the w estern

C olborne,

a N a p o l e o n i c War v e t e r a n who h a d r e c e i v e d

responded

actio n s

at

by o r d e r i n g

the B a ttle
fiv e

rem ain a t A m herstburg.

soon prom oted

w ith G overnor A rth u r
statio n ed

of W aterloo,

com panies of B r i t i s h

fro n tier

acco la­

listen ed

to

th at

along

to

w as

a t W indsor.

lie u te n a n t g en eral,
tw o m i l i t i a

and

reg u lars

A sm all detachm ent of r e g u la r s

a t various p o in ts

4 7 p etitio n

and

o f d e f e n c e . "49

s e n t t o S a n d w ic h and a g u n b o a t was s t a t i o n e d
C olborne,

to

by e x p a n d i n g

be p u t

fo r h is

a proper s ta te

re si­

A rthur

needed to

des

"in to

resid en ts

lo cal

in d ifferen t

an x ieties

On 30 J u l y G e n e r a l C o l b o r n e v i s i t e d
heard

the

b r i g a n d s . "47

a s s u re d w e ste rn C anadians

th e Upper

t h a t w ithdraw ing

confidence of
the

had

also

agreed

com panies s h o u ld

t h e D e t r o i t and S t .

i n S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 31 J u l y

be
C lair

1838.

48J o h n M acaulay t o J o h n P r i n c e e t a l . ,
S a n d w ic h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 31 J u l y 1 8 3 8 .

19 J u n e 1 8 3 8 ,

in

49john P r in c e e t a l . to John C o lb o rn e,
S a n d w ic h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 14 A u g u s t 1 8 3 8 .

30 J u l y

in

1838,

135
riv ers.

F in ally ,

the

M alden be r e p a i r e d
tia

in tim es of

com m ander-in-chief

and armed

e m e r g e n c y .

fo r the

b ilized .

A dm itting

pru d en tly

be l e f t w i t h o u t a t

d u ty ,"

th a t Fort

recep tio n of

the m ili­

50

By a u t u m n t h e d e f e n s e o f
th at

d irected

the w estern

the w estern

b o u n d a ry had s t a ­

to w n sh ip s

least m ilitia

C o lb o rn e had d i r e c t e d

"can never

on p e r m a n e n t

the s t a t i o n i n g

of a m i l i t i a

company a t A m h e r t s b u r g

and a n o t h e r b e t w e e n S a n d w ic h and

W indsor.

A lthough

b o r d e r d e f e n s e w ould r e l y

reg u lars,

the m i l i t i a

the

w ould be u sed

upon th e

f o r v a r i o u s odd j o b s ,

i n c l u d i n g w h a rf d u t y and o c c u p y in g F o r t M alden s h o u l d
reg u lars

be f o r c e d

to

march.

Aware t h a t w i t h d r a w i n g
w ould p ro d u c e

th at

the

M alden.

The g e n e r a l o n l y

m inim ize

the d e s e r tio n

t h a t A rthur keep h is
A m herstburg

51
the re g u la rs

"a g r e a t want of

mended t o A r t h u r

u n til

B esides p re p a rin g

from t h e

co n fid e n ce ,"

hoped th e m i l i t i a ' s

dilem m a.

riv ers

C olborne a ls o

froze

fro n tier

C o lb o rn e recom ­

3 4 t h R e g i m e n t be k e p t a t

gunboats s a i l i n g

th e

the

Fort

p r e s e n c e w ould
suggested

betw een S a r n ia

and

in m id - J a n u a r y .5 2

the p r o v in c e 's

defense,

A r t h u r had

5Qp i c t i o n a r y o f C a n a d i a n B i o g r a p h y , 1 1 v o l s . , ( T o r o n t o :
U n iv e r s ity of T o ro n to P r e s s , 1 9 6 6 ), 9 :1 3 7 -4 3 ; C olborne to
A r t h u r , 16 A u g u s t 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 1 : 2 5 6 - 5 7 . S e e
a l s o A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 17 J u n e 1 8 3 8 , I b i d . , 1 : 2 0 1 .
5 1 c o l b o r n e t o A r t h u r , 28 S e p t e m b e r ,
S anderson, A rth u r, 1 :2 8 6 -8 8 , 292-94.

52ibid.

1 O ctober 1838,

to

136
d e c i d e w h a t t o do w i t h
p riso n ers.
of

th e s e v e r a l hundred P a t r i o t

Though he d i d

not prevent

Sam uel L o u n t and P e t e r M athews,

tu red

w hile

th eir

in volvem ent

realized

try in g

th at

to escape
in

to

A rthur

l e n i e n c y w o u ld be a more p r o f i t a b l e

po licy

from P a t r i o t

t h e P a t r i o t s . 53

p articu larly
agg ressio n s,

BUt
th at

o fte n g reeted

th is

w ith contem pt.

the cap tu red

in m ilita ry

co u rts

P atrio ts

as p ris o n e rs

sparked o u tra g e .

d ecisio n

o f war to

In l a t e

to

be t r i e d

May t h e

Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a l d d e s c r i b e d A r t h u r ' s

d e c is io n as

"im poverished

th a t h is

and v a c i l l a t i n g "

and c la im e d

"p s e u d o -m a g n a n im ity and u n p a r a l l e l e d ,
an i n j u s t i c e

to

At a grand
Islan d

in

in th o s e a r e a s

In w e s t e r n Upper Canada th e g o v e r n o r 's
treat

after

t h e D ecem ber 1837 r e b e l l i o n ,

C anadian p u b l i c o p in io n ,

p o licy

hangings

two U p p e r C a n a d i a n s c a p ­

th e U nited S ta t e s

c o u n t e r i n g A m erican sym pathy f o r

had s u f f e r e d

t h e 12 A p r i l

m isapplied

len ity "

did

l a w - a b i d i n g C a n a d i a n s . 54
jury

p riso n ers,

called

o n 23 May t o

try

nine P e le e

Sandw ich M a g i s t r a t e J o h n P r i n c e

tried

to

5 3 s t o r y , The O x fo rd Com panion, p p . 470, 520; A r th u r to
C olb o rn e, 5 A p ril 1838, S anderson, A r th u r , 1 :7 0 -7 1 ; C raig
U p p e r C a n a d a , p p . 2 5 5 - 5 6 . C u r i o u s l y , L o u n t ' s widow,
E l i z a b e t h , a d d r e s s e d a l e t t e r t o W i l l i a m M a c k e n z i e on 8
D ecem ber 1838 fro m U t i c a , M ic h ig a n . M rs. L o u n t e m p h a s iz e d
h e r h u s b a n d 's d e v o t i o n t o U pper C a n a d ia n l i b e r t y and h i s
r e s p e c t f o r M ackenzie.
I t is u n c le a r i f E liz a b e th Lount
moved t o M i c h i g a n f o l l o w i n g h e r h u s b a n d ' s d e a t h .
{L indsey,
M ackenzie, 2 :1 9 0 - 9 1 .)
54sandwich Western H e r a l d , 29 May 1 8 3 8 .

137
e n t e r an i n d i c t m e n t f o r m u rd e r and g iv e
mony.

A lthough Q u e e n 's C o u n se l,

rejected

the

in d ictm e n t,

from a d d r e s s i n g

he d id

those

d ecisio n ,

but

n othing

m ilitia

fates

of

co lo n el,

the

i t was t o

t h r o u g h me .

ju stice

should

P rin ce

Law," p r i s o n e r s

g o v e rn o r's

.

denied

of w ar.

Follow ing h is
of applause"

th at

" t h e w hole c o u n tr y

firm ly
th at

denied

and e v e n h a n d e d

and p r o m p tly

th e P a t r i o t s w ere,

the

leg ality

if
of

"d elicacy

they ag reed

and d e f e r e n c e "
"in

sp irit

and

of vario u s

"a b u r s t

The f o l l o w i n g
en tirely

prevented

day
w ith

th eir

i n s u b s t a n c e . "55

th e courtroom e p is o d e ,

a t th e u rging

i n Sandw ich

th at

in su b ­

the

received

courtroom a u d ie n c e .

"by any

not

P rince

assured P rin ce

the

recounted

im passioned o r a t i o n ,

Two w e e k s a f t e r

55Ibid.

by w i t n e s s e s ,

trad itio n .

m aking a s i m i l a r s t a t e m e n t

gathered

and la w l e s s b a n d i t t i , "

law o r

him and t h a t o n l y

C anadians,

should d e t e r ­

under E nglish

from t h e

t h e Grand J u r y

sufferers"

V e rg in g on d i s r e s p e c t ,

th e m a g is tra te
d irectiv e

to a c c e p t th e
Demanding t h a t

th at re trib u tiv e

be f e a r l e s s l y ,

a d m in istered ,"

o rd in atio n ,

"ru ffian s

D eclaring
.

th e governm ent.

no a v a i l .

who w a s a c c o m p a n i e d

the ev en ts a t P e le e.
claim s

to p re v e n t P rin c e

urged P r in c e

"who h a v e b e e n t h e p r i n c i p a l

m ine th e

te sti­

S i r A l l a n N. MacNab

t h e c o u r t and d e n o u n c in g

MacNab a n d J u d g e J o n a s J o n e s
g o v e rn o r's

supporting

w estern

lo c al p u b lic o f f ic ia ls ,

to ad o p t r e s o lu tio n s

critic iz in g

the

138
p ro v in cial

g o v e rn m e n t's

R ecounting

in d e t a i l

P atrio t

in v asio n s,

in d ifferen ce

a ll

the

C h a rta 's
denied

.

assem blage
w hich

. and e x t r e m e l y

guarantee

nor delayed

d eclared
ners

.

th e delay

any,"

it

lab eled

upon

and j u s t i c e

course"

th e m eeting

" in a m ost im p ressiv e

was th a n k e d

for

"th e

fo r the P elee p ris o n e rs ,
th e y w ere f i n a l l y

to

tried

A lthough P r in c e

the P e le e p r i s o ­

"to

and

fo rcib le

w ith th e grand

failed

57I b id .
162.

He

independent

jury.5?

As

where

Some w e r e r e l e a s e d ,

to re v e rse A r th u r 's

according

13 J u n e 1 8 3 8 .

p.

m anner."

t o Van D i e m a n 's L a n d . 5®

t h e Sandw ich m a g i s t r a t e

"P e le e,"

the

m anly and

in m id-1839.

Chairm an P r i n c e ,

5 ®M artyn,

the

commit f r e s h

and a d d r e s s e d

did

to

com m itm ent

n o t adm it d e f e a t .

At th e G eneral Q u a rte r S e ssio n of M a g is tra te s

5® Ib id .,

be

C anadians

th e y were s e n t to T o r o n to ,

w h ile o t h e r s w ere t r a n s p o r t e d

10 J u l y ,

.

t h e Magna

in th e eyes of

straig h tfo rw ard ,

he had p u r s u e d e a r l i e r

len ien cy ,

.

sh a ll n eith er

th e d i s s a t i s f i e d

" ig n o r a n t" A m ericans

.

u s . " 5 ®

P rin ce atten d ed
assem blage

"unw ise

C itin g

in m eting o u t j u s t i c e

bu t convinced

o u trag es

to

denounced A r t h u r 's

no t only degraded G re a t B r i t a i n

w orld,

needs.

made i n r e p u l s i n g

u n ju st."

"th at rig h t
to

th eir

the s a c r i f i c e s

p riso n er-o f-w ar d ecisio n ,
im p o litic

to

i n S a n d w ic h on

th e W estern H erald ,

139
dw elt

"at co n sid erab le

reb ellio n

and

length"

invasions

cise

every p o s s ib le

tiv e

neighborhood,

circu m stan ces of

and c h a r g e d t h e g ra n d

v ig ilan ce
to d e te c t

persons w ithout re fe re n c e
them b e f o r e

upon th e

to

the M a g is tra te s

and a c t i v i t y

in

according

to

A m erican c i t i z e n s "

unw ary,

to

and t o

fo r ex am in atio n ."

w ere a g a in

th eir

But P r in c e 's

.

.

to e n tra p

im passioned

th e

the

arriv ed

by A m e r i c a n s

in p reserv in g
L ike A rth u r ,

th e

th eir

a rts

to

and

and

seduce

lo y alty

could

to leran ce

in

la te

the

and

not a l t e r

May.

a ll

along

conduct

Durham,

cu ltiv ated

known

g o o d w ill be­

H is f a v o r a b le

t h e b o r d e r was i n s t r u m e n t a l

ten u o u s p e ac e betw een th e

in

w ere ap p lau d e d

5 9 S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 17 J u l y

two c o u n t r i e s .

len ien cy .

ma ny L o w e r C a n a d i a n s who h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d
H is a c t i o n s

C a n a d a 's

Sent to

and G r e a t B r i t a i n .

th e

and l e n i e n c y .

of C anadian a f f a i r s ,

D urh a m sa w t h e v a l u e o f

1837 r e b e l l i o n .

th at

"traito rs

when L o r d Durham,

" p e o p le 's p e e r,"

tw een th e U n ite d S t a t e s
recep tio n

th at

ig n o ran t,

o u tb u rsts

w ere r e i n f o r c e d

in v estig atio n

in England as

C onvinced

in h is to r y ,

from t h e i r

com m itm ent t o

new g o v e r n o r g e n e r a l ,
a thorough

. using

take

s o v e r e i g n . " 59

c e n t r a l g o v e rn m e n t's
Those p o l i c i e s

respec­

rank o r p r o p e r ty ,

a n d t o ma ke t h e m s w e r v e

attach m en t

th eir

exer­

suspected

the H e rald , d e c la re d

d e v ilis h m achinations

"to

and a p p r e h e n d a l l

t h e p r e v io u s n in e m onths w ere u n p a r a l l e l e d
P rin ce,

jury

the

1838.

He p a r d o n e d

the p r o v in c e 's
by A m e r i c a n s .

140
On 17 J u l y

t h e Monroe G a z e t t e p r o c l a i m e d

l e n i e n c y w ould e l i m i n a t e

th e P a t r i o t 's

The M onroe G a z e t t e w as w ro n g .
P a t r i o t s o rganized
cause

P atrio ts

to

m ost p o w erfu l arg u ­

i n U p p e r C a n a d a ' s a f f a i r s . 60

ment f o r m eddling

th eir

th eir

v icto ry .

D uring

m ost a g g r e s s iv e
To c o o r d i n a t e

i n M ic h ig a n and O hio r e p l a c e d

b e c a u s e armed P a t r i o t s

evaded

t h e y w ere g o in g on "a g r e a t h u n t in
new o r g a n i z a t i o n

a u t u m n o f 18 38 t h e

effort

th is

to push

u n d ertak in g ,

th e d is b a n d e d Sons of

L ib e rty w ith a s tr o n g e r o rg a n iz a tio n .
Lodges,

t h a t D urham 's

Known a s H u n t e r s
in q u isito rs

by s a y i n g

th e n o r t h w oods,"

b e g a n i n Lower Canada and r a p i d l y

th is

spread

w e s t w a r d . 61
The c e n t r a l
D etro it,
were

C leveland

form ed

fu n ctio n of

and B u f f a l o ,

Lodges w ere

w hile

sm aller

lo cated
lo cal

in

lo d g es

i n many b o r d e r c o m m u n i t i e s a n d e v e n i n m o r e

d istan t c itie s

funds.

o r grand H unters

lik e

C h i c a g o a n d C i n c i n n a t i . 62

th e grand

The g r a n d

purchase p re s e n ts

l o d g e s was to c o l l e c t

lo d g e s used
for P a trio ts

the

funds

prim ary

and d i s b u r s e

to pay e x p e n s e s ,

in C anadian p r is o n s

60C r a ig , Upper C anada, pp. 2 5 4 -5 9 .;
9 3 - 9 5 ; M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 17 J u l y 1 8 3 8 .

Corey,

and to

C r i s i s , pp.

6 1 o s c a r A. K i n c h e n , T h e R i s e a n d F a l l o f t h e P a t r i o t
H u n t e r s (New Y o r k : Bo okma n A s s o c i a t e s , 1 9 5 6 ) , p . 3 1 .
Th e
te rm s H u n te r and P a t r i o t a r e used i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y , w hich i s
c o n s i s t e n t w ith contem porary u se .
A ll P a t r i o t s did not
b e l o n g t o t h e H u n t e r s , b u t H u n t e r s w e r e kn ow n a s P a t r i o t s .
(C orey, C r i s i s , p. 8 1 .)
6 2C h i c a g o D e m o c r a t i n D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 19
December 1838; C o rey , C r i s i s , p. 77;
C h a rle s L atim er to
Hugh O ' B e i r n e i n L a n d o n , W e s t e r n O n t a r i o , p . 1 9 0 ; H. S . Fox

141
rew ard P a t r i o t s

fo r d estro y in g

l o y a l i s t p ro p erty

in

C a n a d a . 63

In a d d itio n
lo c al

lodges

co llected
occurred

to

f o r w a r d i n g mone y t o

in itia te d

arms and c l o t h i n g .
in seclu d ed

prom inent lo c a tio n s

recalled

dance of
"w alls

food

rang

addresses,

.

were a l s o

v o lu n teers

.with

h is

p lace.

b u t more
H e a th 's

One D e t r o i t e r

ta b le s w ith

th e P a t r i o t s

th e

an abun­

and n i g h t l y

in fla m m a to ry h a r r a n g u e s and w ith

lo d g es,

and m em bership d e g r e e s .
secrets,

and

the

w ith in

rankings.

The l o w e s t ,

63R inchen,

come t o

cause of

f a m i l y . 65

3

each

th e H unters

A can d id ate

to

w h e n e v e r h e c o u l d do so

t o A aron V a i l ,

the

the

e r a o f s e v e n t y - s i x . "64

M asonic

any P a t r i o t

a nd

u sually

In D e tr o it,

gath erin g

lodge,

some o f w h i c h w o u l d h a v e d o n e c r e d i t t o

Im itatin g

"aid

used.

P atrio t

to e n te r ta i n

p a lm ie st days of

to

Lodge m e e t i n g s

t h a t H eath sp re ad

.

recru ited

houses o r vacant b u ild in g s,

T a v e r n was a f a v o r i t e
la te r

new m e m b e r s ,

th e grand

"w ithout
lodge

H u n te rs , p.

of a b r o th e r H unter

eq u ality ,
in ju ry "

and f r a t e r n i t y "

to h im s e lf

t h e r e w ere a s e r i e s

Snowshoe,

November

swore n o t to d iv u lg e

th e aid

lib e rty ,

used s e c r e t o a th s

1838,

was f o l l o w e d

or h is

of

by B e a v e r ,

Sanderson, A r th u r ,

1:342-44.

50-51.

6 4 i b i d . , pp. 5 2 - 5 5 ; Levi B ishop, " R e c o lle c ti o n s of th e
' P a t r i o t W ar' o f 1 8 3 8 - 3 9 on t h i s F r o n t i e r , " M ich ig an
P i o n e e r and H i s t o r i c a l C o l l e c t i o n s , 1 2 ( 1 8 8 7 ) , p . 4 1 5 .
6 5 c h a r l e s Duncombe t o Thomas
i n "The H u n t e r s L odges o f
(Jan u ary 1 9 3 8 ) , pp. 6 4-69.

1838,

D.

M o rriso n , 27 O cto b er
New Y o r k H i s t o r y ,

18 38,"

19

142
G rand H u n te r and P a t r i o t H u n t e r .

Mem be rs o f

not reveal

t o members o f

degrees.

th eir

d e g re e 's

secrets

S ig n s o f r e c o g n i t i o n w ere a l s o

e a c h vowed

the hands

th e body,

then

fa ll

to

the

the

le ft

sid es.

you a H unter?"

on F r i d a y , "

p e c u l i a r was u sed

upw ard,

t r e e .

sp ies,

e asily

among t h e

issu ed

th re a ts

noto rio u s

curled

if

in clu d e

law breakers.

"Are

th e p ro p e r answer
t h e q u e s t i o n was
One o f

t h e more

"Do y o u

beneath

w ith
th e

the n a il

chin

to

im itate

l o y a l i s t C anadians,
inform ation,

members v i o l a t e d

mo ve d

th e H unters

th e ir oaths.

of rev ealin g

It

P atrio t

in to

the H u n ters,

some o f

an O hio new spa­

th e c o m m u n ity 's m ost

B ut he a l s o w i t n e s s e d

city

coun-

6 6 j b i d . ; W i l l i a m J o n e s K e n t ' s d e p o s i t i o n o f 22 O c t o b e r
1838, in K inchen, H u n te r s , pp. 128-29.
67R inchen,

a

t h e D e t r o i t R i v e r . 67

in itia te d
to

th e hands

a n i m a l ? " w ould r e s p o n d

te eth ,

t h a t one H u n te r a c c u s e d

it

fro n t of

who w he n a s k e d ,

p articu larly

in

the

66

of d e ath

A f te r being

in

lettin g

own s i g n s .

lodges o b ta in in g

s e c r e t s was drow ned

perm an found

its

be an i n d u s t r i o u s

fin g ers

b e a v e r gnaw ing a

was r e p o r t e d

had

thumb b e t w e e n t h e

and t h e

A lthough

th e day a f t e r

by t h e B e a v e r s ,

kn ow t h e B e a v e r t o
th e

rig h t,

t h e day was T h u r s d a y ,

Each d e g r e e a l s o

by p l a c i n g

the

One o f

A n o t h e r w a s made by t h e q u e s t i o n :

If

w ould be "Y es,
asked.

above

low er

used.

p r i n c i p a l o n e s w a s m a de by c r o s s i n g

to

Hunters, pp. 58-59.

143
cilm en,
in

as w ell as

t h e H u n t e r s L o d g e s , 68

en tran ce
to

law yers,

see

lodges

p a i d . "69

m iddle

resp ectab ility

and t h e

larg e

G e i r g e H.
New Y o r k ,

classes,

in d u stry ,

p articip atin g

^ C a n a d i a n s p y who g a i n e d

t o s e v e r a l w e s t e r n New Y o r k l o d g e s

the

Oswego,

j u d g e s and d o c t o r s

of

"was s u r p r i s e d

t h e p e o p l e who a t t e n d e d

th ese

a m o u n t s o f money t h e y s u b s c r i b e d
M cW horter,

observed

U .S.

th at

and

C o l l e c t o r o f C ustom s a t

"no s m a l l number o f

the

c o m p r e h e n d i n g many p e r s o n s o f e n t e r p r i s e ,

and p r o p e r t y

a re engaged h e a r t

and hand

in

the

c a u s e . "70
Through

the

t h e i r m uscles.
of

fo rty

In stead ,

lodge

In m id-Septem ber,

t h o u s a n d o r more H u n t e r s
he b e l i e v e d

t r u t h . "71

a lodge

W in field S c o t t 's

th at

tw enty

in A m herst,

nephew,

New Y o r k ' s J e f f e r s o n
its

the P a t r i o t s

H unters Lodge.

once a g ain began fle x in g

M cW horter r e j e c t e d
along

the border.

t h o u s a n d was " w i t h i n

O hio,

O rrin S c o tt,

C ounty a l l e g e d l y

organized

the

by G e n e r a l

had 135 m em bers,

w hile

had 1 , 5 0 0 members

One o f G o v e r n o r A r t h u r ' s

" g r e a t numbers o f a d h e r e n t s "

rep o rts

sp ies

in

reported

o n t h e M i c h i g a n f r o n t i e r . 72

68c a r l W i t t k e , " O h io a n s and th e C a n a d ia n -A m e ric a n C r i s i s
o f 1 8 3 7 -1 8 3 8 ," The O hio S t a t e A r c h a e o l o g i c a l and H i s t o r i c a l
S o c i e t y Q u a r t e r l y , 58 ( 1 9 4 9 ) , p . 2 2 .
69Rent d e p o s it io n

in K inchen, H u n te r s , p.

132.

7 0 G e i r g e H. M c W h o r t e r to S e c r e t a r y of T r e a s u r y ,
S e p t e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , in K i n c h e n , H u n t e r s , p. 1 2 6 .
71lbid.,

p.

14

125.

72K e n t d e p o s i t i o n , i n K in c h e n H u n t e r s , p . 127; A nthony
H o o d ' s d e p o s i t i o n o f 21 N o v e m b e r I 8 3 8 , I n K i n c h e n , H u n t e r s ,
p . 132.

144
In m id-Septem ber,
M ichigan,

O hio,

in C leveland.

A fter

a p ro v isio n al

Canada,

o rg anized

bank to f in a n c e

a P atrio t

of

Johnson,

cause.

the p eace,

A.

and e s t a b l i s h e d

D. S m i t h ,

was e l e c t e d

the r e p u b l i c 's

an O hio m i l i t i a

commander o f

secretary

a

a

o fficer,

o f w ar;

and O hioan

t h e w e s t e r n army.

Th e

t h e C a r o l i n e , a n d on L a k e O n t a r i o

who h a d s u n k

The P a t r i o t

in London,

the

S ir R obert

banking p la n ,

D u n c o m b e , who h a d l e d

Upper C anada,

each.

cause of

th e

u p risin g

t h e R e p u b l i c a n Bank o f C a n a d a ,

t o make i t s
d ep o sited

first

loans

to

the

in t h e bank and n o t e s

p u b lic p ro p erty
in v asio n s.

as

o f Dr.

C harles

i n December 1837

G rant,

a form er

for a cap ital

150,000 s h a r e s
lib erty ,

by B i l l

73

b rain ch ild

I t provided

in to

to

P e e l .

w a s h e a d e d by J .

o f $ 7 ,500,000 d iv id e d
P ledged

the

an i l l - f a t e d

New Y o r k c u s t o m s c o l l e c t o r .

31;

the P a t r i o t s

n a v y o n L a k e E r i e w a s com mand ed by G i l m a n A p p l e b y ,

form er m a ster of

later

sessions,

army and n a v y ,

D o n a l d M cL eo d ,

L u c i u s V. B i e r c e ,

n ity ,

in

r e p u b lic a n governm ent f o r Upper

N athan W illia m s ,

v ice-p resid en t;

P atrio t

seven days of

the P a t r i o t

ju stice

p resid en t;

from l o d g e s

w e s t e r n New Y o r k a n d U p p e r C a n a d a g a t h e r e d

created

C leveland

162 d e l e g a t e s

of f i f t y

eq u ality
it

r e p u b lic 's

d o llars

and f r a t e r ­

w as k n o w n ,
p resid en t.

w as
Funds

be s e c u r e d

by

i n U p p e r C a n a d a t h a t w o u l d be c o n f i s c a t e d

in

A lthough

i s s u e d were to

stock

the C leveland

7 3L i n d s e y , M a c k e n z i e , 2 : 1 9 9 - 2 0 0 ;
K inchen, H u n te rs , p. 39.

c o n v e n tio n pledged

W ittke,

"O h io an s,"

p.

145
to

raise

$10/000 f o r

the

bank w i t h i n

November a C l e v e l a n d P a t r i o t
hundred d o l l a r s
A lthough
the P a trio ts
effo rts

in sto ck

th eir

rep orted

by e a r l y

t h a t only

th ree

h a d b e e n s u b s c r i b e d . 74

fu n d raisin g

may h a v e b e e n u n s u c c e s s f u l ,

w ere n o t d i s c o u r a g e d .

w ith P a t r i o t s

two w e e k s ,

Hoping

to

coord in ate

i n Lower Canada and a lo n g

the

th e Upper C anadian p r o v i s i o n a l governm ent p la n n ed

its

border,

to

launch

i n v a s i o n s o f b o th p r o v i n c e s on 1 N o v em b er.7 ^
The C l e v e l a n d
rum ors r e g a rd in g

conference,

the

P atrio ts'

renew ed th e a p p r e h e n s io n s
au th o rities.
S ecretary

use

in creased

in d e t e c t i n g

t h a t m ight " d i s t u r b
S tates

in

stren g th s

in ten tio n s,

b o th A m erican and C an a d ia n
A c tin g U .S.

urged D i s t r i c t A tto rn e y

v ig ilan ce

.

and p r e v e n t i n g "

the

and

the P a t r i o t g a th e rin g ,

o f S t a t e A aron V a i l

Goodwin " t o
ex ertio n s

F ollow ing

of

c o u p led w ith an ab undance of

.

.

and to

spare

no

any P a t r i o t a c t i o n s

n e u tra l p o sitio n of

th e c o n t e s t betw een G re a t B r i t a i n

th e U nited
and h e r C a n a d ia n

p o s s e s s i o n s . " 76
On t h e o t h e r
tin u ed

to

fo rtify

P a trio t a ssau lts.

sid e

of

th eir

the

border,

fro n tier

On 4 O c t o b e r ,

C anadian le a d e r s

in a n tic ip a ti o n
B ritish

con­

o f renew ed

am bassador to

the

7 4 L i n d s e y , M a c k e n z i e , 2 : 2 0 1 - 0 3 ; "An A d d r e s s t o t h e
D i f f e r e n t L o d g e s o n t h e S u b j e c t o f a J o i n t S t o c k Company
B ank," in K inchen, H u n te r s , pp. 3 9 -4 0 , 133-35.
7 ^ D un c om be t o M o r r i s o n ,
L odges," pp. 6 4-65.
76V a i l t o G oodw in,
L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 .

27 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 ,

27 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,

in

NARS,

"The H u n te r s
DOS,

D om estic

146
U nited S t a t e s

H enry S.

grow th of th e H u n ters

Fo x w r o t e G o v e r n o r A r t h u r

supported

doubted t h a t

l o c a l A m erican a u t h o r i t i e s

a tte m p t to

the P a t r i o t s .

sto p

fu tu re

The c o n c e r n e x p r e s s e d
ju stifie d .

As w i n t e r

m ost s e r io u s v i o l a t i o n

the

L o d g e s c o n v i n c e d him t h a t a m a j o r i t y

o f A m ericans

serio u s

th at

F urtherm ore,

he

w o u l d make a n y

i n v a s i o n s . 77

by b o t h g o v e r n m e n t s w a s

approached,

the P a t r i o t s

of C anadian s o v e r e ig n ty

undertook
since

the

t h e War

o f 1812.

7 7 C o l b o r n e t o A r t h u r , 1 0 , 21 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n ,
A rth u r , 1 :2 9 8 -9 9 , 3 1 0 -1 2 ; C olborne to C a p ta in W illiam s
S a n d o m , 15 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , I b i d . , 1 : 3 0 6 ; Fo x t o A r t h u r , 4
O ctober 1838, I b i d . , 1 :2 9 4 -9 5 .

CHAPTER SIX: WINDSOR: THE FINAL CAMPAIGN

In the

fa ll

o f 18 38 t h e P a t r i o t s

b o l d e s t moves y e t .
am ong b o t h
ders.
of of

B order in v a sio n s

the P a t r i o t

invaders

undertook, t h e i r
le ft

dozens of c a s u a l t i e s

and th e C a n a d ia n d e f e n ­

T h e new a g g r e s s i o n k e p t t h e g o v e r n m e n t s o n b o t h s i d e s
the

border stre n g th en in g

U nited S ta te s
In

late

p re s id e n t of
d istrib u ted

th e ir defenses

and G r e a t B r i t a i n
O ctober,

clo ser

a n d m ove d t h e

to war.

C o lo n e l N athan W illia m s ,

v ice-

th e p r o v i s i o n a l governm ent f o r Upper Canada,
circu lars

Com m ander-in C h i e f , "

e n titled

"G eneral O rders

w hich d e c l a r e d

from t h e

th a t p rep aratio n s

un derw ay f o r a 1 November i n v a s i o n o f U pper C an a d a .
same t i m e

rep o rts

a t a m ain P a t r i o t
the P a tr io ts

in d icated

t h a t arms w ere b e in g

a rs e n a l w est of C le v e la n d .1

continued

to

stren g th en

Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a l d r e p o r t e d
o n 26 O c t o b e r ,

were
At th e

co llected

In M ichigan

th e ir p o sitio n .

Th e

t h a t D e t r o i t P a t r i o t s met

and a week l a t e r C a n a d i a n r e f u g e e L e w is

F a r n s w o r th in fo rm e d W illia m Lyon M ackenzie t h a t D e t r o i t ' s
H unters

l o d g e h a d many m e m b e r s

and was " d o i n g w e l l . " 2

^ H u n t e r s , p . 6 4 ; G e i r g e H. M c W h o r t e r t o S e c r e t a r y
T r e a s u r y , 14 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i n i b i d . , p . 1 2 6 .
2 S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 30 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 ;
147

Lewis

of

148
A lthough
to

b o th U .S.

v ity

the P a t r i o t s '

e x act plans

and C an a d ia n a u t h o r i t i e s ,

jeo p ard ized

the

frag ile

D uring

avoided

the P a t r i o t s '

and b ecau se
to le ra te d
P a trio ts.

over the

in

late

1838,

in ep titu d e,

tie s

to

from
.

.

th at

take

in fo rm atio n ,

the
of

w ere i n d ig n a n t

the c o m p lic ity ,
the P a t r i o t s .

the

failu re

of

th e A m erican

As w i n t e r

. . . "

A rthur

of

t h a t Upper C anadians
co n tin u al

th e g o v e rn o r urged

to

alarm

the

receiv e

con­

" t h a t so f a r

suppressed,

extending

itse lf

[it]
and

and even f o r m id a b l e ."
had s u f f e r e d

i n w hich

g reatly

"from

th ey have been p la c e d ,

t h e A m erican g e n e r a l

F a r n s w o r t h t o Wm. M a c k e n z i e ,
W h e l a n P a p e r s , BC.

ag ain st

contin u ed ,

'H u n t e r s ’ being

h a s now b e c o m e s e r i o u s ,

of

action"

but rap id ly

G overnor

o f A m erican a u t h o r i ­

th e m o r t if ic a ti o n

. has been s e c r e t l y ,

state

stop

an o th er s e r ie s

o fficials

" im m e d ia te and d i v i d e d

the s e c r e t s o c i e t y

it

to

t o G e n e r a l B r a d y o n 26 O c t o b e r ,

" I have had

E m phasizing
th e

w ith

e x p r e s s e d dism ay a t

P a trio ts.
tin u a l

th reaten ed

not

failed

t h e p r o s p e c t o f w ar was b r o a c h e d .

In a l e t t e r
A rthur

and

g o v e r n m e n t s ha d

in ab ility

B ritish

if

governm ent in d e a lin g
approached

i n v a s i o n had q u i c k l y

g o v e rn m e n t's

As t h e P a t r i o t s

invasions

renewed a c t i ­

t h e p r e v i o u s w i n t e r w ar had been

t h e C a n a d ia n and B r i t i s h

t h e U .S.

th eir

a m ystery

p e a c e b e tw e e n t h e U .S.

G reat B rita in .
because

rem ained

to

"th in k

1 November 1 8 3 8 ,

no p a i n s

J a m e s H.

149
to o onerous"
w in te r's

to p re v e n t a reo ccu ran ce of

"very

reiteratin g
o fficia ls,

p ain fu l

he was p r e p a r e d

H e n r y Fox i n f o r m e d
the

on t h e

"im m ediate

avert

te rrib le

th at

a state

of

h o stile

c itizen s

an ticip ated
sequences

success"

th at

if

in terferen ce

in v asio n s

.

.

S tates

Aaron V a il

a p o i n t where

. can alo n e

to G re a t B r i t a i n

He a d d e d

occurred,

invasions

had b e en i n

th at

d isastro u s

if

"the
the

con­

am bassador concluded

enjoyed even " t r a n s i e n t "

would n e c e s s a r i l y
for

Fox

them selves a g a in s t

S ta te ."

The B r i t i s h

th e U nited S t a t e s

answ erable

of S ta te

th e C anadian p ro v in c e s

alarm " d e fe n d in g

th ese

th e U nited

and a f f l i c t i n g c o n s e q u e n c e s ."

"w ould e n s u e . "

by w a r n i n g

t h e w o r s t . "3

S ecretary

of a frie n d ly

P atrio t

by

U .S. m i l i t a r y

b o r d e r had r e a c h e d

for a year

"w arlike

in

Ambassador to

U .S.

the p r e s id e n t's
the most

"for

B ritish
actin g

"m ischief"

ex plained

A rth u r concluded

t h a t w h i l e he had f a i t h

On 3 N o v e m b e r ,

th at

ev en ts."

the p re v io u s

b e co m e

" t h e w hole amount o f

the

d a m a g e s u s t a i n e d . "4
W estern C anadians

showed

less

restrain t

than

the

am bassador.

On 13 N o v e m b e r t h e S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d

charged

the

th at

"m ob-directed,

irresp o n sib le

G overnm ent" o f

^ A r t h u r t o B r a d y , 26 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , PAC, C . O . 4 2 (Q
S e r i e s ) , v o l . 4 0 9 - 1 , p p . 23 5 -4 5. See a l s o A r t h u r t o Lord
F i t z r o y S o m e r s e t , 30 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r ,
1:334-36.
^Fox t o V a i l ,
1:342-44.

3 November 1 8 3 8 ,

Sanderson, A rth u r,

150
th e U nited S t a t e s
re stra in

its

ju stic e

"Our o n l y d e p e n d e n c e , "

" m u s t be p l a c e d

of our cause

s t a l w a r t arm s
t h e U .S.

no l o n g e r be d e p e n d e d u p o n t o

citizen s.

H erald reaso n ed ,
the

could

to w ield

g o v e rn m e n t's

the

"perfect

by e v e r y a t t a i n a b l e
arsen als

the a g g re ss o rs

th e non-governed

to

of r e a l e s t a t e ,

even to

the

them i n

the very h e a r t

from whence th e y s a l l i e d . "

the

consequences

the p r e v a ilin g

and th e u t t e r

th e

The

i f war fo llo w e d
c o n d itio n of
the d ep re­

sta g n a tio n of b u sin ess

and e n t e r p r i s e , — t h e W e s te rn H e ra ld a s s e r t e d
was a l r e a d y e x p e r i e n c i n g

th at

ex ercise

w e s te r n Canada— " th e d e p o p u la t io n o f o ur c o u n tr y ,
ciatio n

and

o n t h e i r own t e r r i t o r y , a n d

country

R ecounting

rig h t

means,

and p u n i s h i n g

W estern H erald d is m is s e d
such a co u rse.

p isto ls

to p r e v e n t A m erican f i l i ­

. . .

th eir

guns,

failu re

re stra in t

of

the]

The W e s t e r n H e r a l d a d d ed

gave C anadians

pursuing

u p o n t h e God o f b a t t l e s ,

them ."

bu sterin g

securing of

[and

th e W estern

th at

the a re a

" in c o n v e n ie n c e s of open

w a r f a r e . "5
A nglo-A m erican t e n s i o n
in sp ire d

reb ellio n

A lthough

th e envisaged

F rench-C anadians
suppressed

in

i n Lower Canada
larg e-scale

su p p o rted

less

increased

w ith th e H unter-

in e a r l y November.
u p risin g

of

by A m e r i c a n P a t r i o t s w as

t h a n a week,

5Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a l d ,

a tte n tio n q u ick ly

13 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .

focused

on

151
n o r t h e r n New Y o r k w h e r e o n e o f

th e w a r's

b lo o d iest b a ttle s

occurred. ®
On 11 N o v e m b e r f o u r
J o h n W. B i r g e
S ack etts

a n d N i l s Vo n S c h o u l t z ,

H arbor,

R iver fo r

hundred P a t r i o t s ,

New Y o r k ,

to c a p tu re

Upper Canada.

the

to O gdensburg,

th e rem aining

tro o p s

Army o f f i c e r ,

took p o s s e s s i o n o f

J.

A m erican s i d e .
m ilitia

New Y o r k ,

the P a t r i o t 's

p ath izers.

thousand m i l i t i a
on both s id e s .

The 157 P a t r i o t s

K ingston to a w a it t r i a l .
S ch o u ltz,

were h an g ed .

stone b u ild in g s

of

the

and C anada

C a n a d i a n sym­

attack ed .
nearly

The B a t t l e
tw o

dozens of c a s u a l t i e s

ta k e n p r i s o n e r w ere s e n t
in cluding

Some m o r e f o r t u n a t e

^Kinchen, Hunters, pp. 64-69.

the

u n d e r C o l o n e l W.

reg u lars

involved

The l e a d e r s ,

and

was s o o n r e i n f o r c e d

from p o t e n t i a l

and l e f t

force

a form er P o lis h

com m unications w ith

se v e ra l days,

and r e g u l a r s ,

invasion

forces

On 13 N o v e m b e r t h e B r i t i s h

of P resc o tt la sted

eastern

but th e a r r i v a l

In t h e m eantim e B r i t i s h

s e p a r a t e d V on S c h o u l t z

The in v a d ­

o p p o site P re s c o tt,

Von S c h o u l t z
tro o p s,

invade

the

several

s te a m e r E x p e rim e n t and U .S.

W orth s e v e r e d

then

u n d e r Van S c h o u l t z ,

by o n e h u n d r e d a d d i t i o n a l

Law rence

of P r e s c o tt.

and h a l f

soon d e s e rte d

B ritish

had em barked a t

com m unity

A lthough B irg e

a w i n d m i l l below P r e s c o t t .

by G e n e r a l s

a n d h e a d e d down t h e S t .

th e Upper C anadian v i l l a g e

e r s planned

led

Von

cap tiv es

w ere

to

152
im prisoned,

w hile o th e r s

w ere r e l e a s e d . 7

The d e f e a t a t P r e s c o t t ended
New Y o r k f r o n t i e r ,
upon U .S.

filib u sterin g

b u t th e se e v en ts placed

and B r i t i s h

relatio n s.
th at

"sc o u ra g e " A m ericans w ith

"hot sh o t,

b o m b -s h e lls ."

A m erican n e ig h b o r s ,

ad d itio n al

the

the

nations

blazin g

In a savage a tta c k

ro ck ets

lite ra lly

c r u s h e d ; and

l a t e r G overnor A rth u r
stan d s

o f arm s

D etro it.

to

Recent ev en ts

on Lakes E r i e

of

its

to

?Ib id .,

for

to

pp.

suspect

w ith

than

th at
the

safety

m u s t be
Four days

better."**

t r a n s f e r of 10,000

a rs e n a l w est of

the P a t r i o t s ,

the p ro b a b ility

th e U .S.

te rrito ry

for

th e C anadian e x e c u tiv e ,

and O n t a r i o

th at

the

th e re p o rte d

to c o n tin u in g

o b lig atio n s

suggested

sooner

noted

led A rth u r

In a d d itio n

treaty

to

in tended

m ent had "an eye

th e

territo ry ,

the D e a rb o rn sv ille

A ccording

w eapons were

on t h i s

and

upon t h e i r

th e W estern H erald co n clu d ed ,

b ordering

strain

t i m e h a d come t o

d e m o crac y was a " h y d r a - h e a d e d m o n s te r w h ic h ,
of

the

On 20 N o v e m b e r t h e

W estern H erald p ro c la im e d

bu rstin g

along

of

eith er

o r t h e U .S.

the
govern­

im m ediate w a r."

the

la tte r.9

t o o p e r a t e more arm ed v e s s e l s
th e y w ere a llo w e d

th e U nited S ta te s ,

under

the B r itis h

g o vernm ent s a n c t i o n any in v a s i o n s

by B r i t i s h

o r C anadian tr o o p s

in p u r s u it of

69-78.

^ S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 20 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .
9A r t h u r t o L o r d F i t z r o y S o m e r s e t ,
Sanderson, A rth u r, 1 :3 9 7 -9 9 .

24 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,

153
P atrio t

f i l i b u s t e r s . 10

F orsyth re je c te d

inform ed

the B r i t i s h

expected

t h a t u n d e r "no p r e t e x t "

forces

v i o l a t e U .S.

occurrence
on th e

"could

frien d ly

and m ig h t

.

.

am bassador th a t

territo ry .

not

fail

relatio n s

.

lead

Fox u n d e r s t o o d

to

th at

to
.

the p ro p o sa l

t h e U .S.

governm ent

w h a t e v e r w ould B r i t i s h
F o r s y th added

t h a t s u c h an

have a m ost i n j u r i o u s

.

and

effect

. b e t w e e n t h e Two C o u n t r i e s ;

th eir

en tire

d isru p tio n . "H

i t was p o l i t i c a l

su icid e

P r e s i d e n t V an B u r e n t o

n eg o tiate

to ry ,

receiv ed

ad d itio n al

i m p e t u s when

F o re ig n Lord P a lm e r s to n

in stru cted

h is

but the p ro p o sa l

B ritish

inform F o rs y th

a v io latio n

for

t h e U .S.

governm ent shou ld

cum stances of

t h e moment a s u f f i c i e n t

irreg u larity "

of r e ta lia tio n .

ab ate

w ould n o t be f o r

a d a n g e r t h a t U .S.

co n tro l.

t h e tw o c o u n t r i e s

veered

for

P a lm e rs to n added
"the

sake of

a u th o rities

Though P a l m e r s t o n ' s

"see

excuse

te rri­

am bassador to

t h a t s i n c e A m ericans w ere c o m m ittin g

w ar upon C anada,

retaliatio n

o f U .S.

in

acts

of

the

cir­

the
th at

such

v engeance,"

had b een u n a b le

b u t to
to

m e ssa g e was n e v e r d e l i v e r e d ,

clo ser

N ovem ber Fox i n f o r m e d P a l m e r s t o n

to h o s t i l i t i e s .
th at B ritish

On 19

reta lia tio n

of

l O p o x t o A r t h u r , 10 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r ,
1 : 3 6 1 - 6 2 ; F o x t o P a l m e r s t o n , 19 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , PAC, C . O . 4 2 ,
(Q S e r i e s ) , v o l . 2 5 0 , p p . 2 5 7 - 7 0 ; P a l m e r s t o n t o F o x , 15
D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , PAC, C . O . 4 2 (Q S e r i e s ) , v o l . 2 5 0 , p p .
3 1 1 - 1 6 ; Fo x t o F o r s y t h , 25 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, D e p a r t m e n t
o f S t a t e , N o t e s From t h e B r i t i s h L e g a t i o n , 17 9 1 - 1 9 0 6 , RG 5 9 .
^F o rsy th
1:370-71.

to

Fox,

15 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,

Sanderson, A rth u r,

154
P atrio t
resu lt

filib u sterin g

in a flam e b e in g

w ould be a b l e
D uring
cials

was " i n e v i t a b l e "

co n tin u ed

d ip lo m atic
to

t h a t n e i t h e r governm ent

exchange Upper C an ad ian o f f i ­

stren g th en

Not o n ly w ere s u p p l i e s

effo rts.

t h e i r p ro v in c e 's

and w eapons

response of

in

the m i l i t i a

forw ard w ith

November c o n d i t i o n s

plagued

m obilized

thousands of

e i g h t e e n m onths.
su p p lies

m ilitiam en ,

item s

suggested

w ent so s lo w ly

t h a t each m ilitia m a n

serv ices.

th a t

it

w ould be b e t t e r

"to give

th an

to

let

purchasing

th e T r a ito r s
su p p lies

have

co m p licated

A rth u r 's
by t h e

the m i l i t i a
By e a r l y

for

up t o

necessary
w ere e x p e n s iv e .

th a t A rthur
acres

a s an

The g o v e r n o r r e a s o n e d
up a m i l l i o n

th em ."

acres

.

.

.

B esides c la n d e s tin e ly

from A m erican r e t a i l e r s ,

a b o u n t y t o m i l i t i a m e n who s u p p l i e d
b lan k ets.

a ll

be g i v e n f i f t y

inducem ent to o f f e r h i s

th eir

some t o s e r v e

t h a t were a v a i l a b l e

The r e c r u i t m e n t o f m i l i t i a

b u t the

On 5 N o v e m b e r A r t h u r

T h e r e was a s h o r t a g e o f

and t h o s e

th at

"great h e sita tio n ."

had w o rs e n e d .

defenses.

s h o rt supply,

On 24 O c t o b e r A r t h u r d e s p a i r e d

w e re coming

easily

t o e x t i n g u i s h . 12

th is

u n en th u siastic

lig h ted

and co u ld

A rthur o ffe re d

t h e i r own m u s k e t s

and

d e f e n s e p r e p a r a t i o n s were f u r t h e r
co n tin u ed

d e s e rtio n of B r itis h

reg u lars

1 2 p a im e r s t o n
t o F o x , 1 5 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , PAC, C . O . 4 2 , ( Q
S e r i e s ) , v o l . 250, pp. 3 1 1 - 3 1 6 ; C orey, C r i s i s , pp. 1 0 7 - 0 8 ;
F o x t o P a l m e r s t o n , 1 9 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , PAC, C . O . 4 2 , (Q
S e rie s ), v o l.
250,
pp. 257-70.

155
statio n ed

on t h e

f r o n t i e r . 13

In a d d itio n
hensive

to d e fe n se problem s,

as re p o rts

w e s t e r n Lake E r i e

of

inform ation

declared

th at

P a trio ts."

co n tin u ed P a t r i o t a c t i v i t y

reached T oronto.

received

th eir

A rth u r rem ained

Furtherm ore,

state

com panies

w hile p u b lic

u n g u a rd e d ."14
November,

A rthur b e lie v e d

was e x p e c t e d a n y tim e .
rep o rts

the

in d icatin g

assistin g

"were p u r p o s e ly

t h a t an a t t a c k

The g o v e r n o r ' s

the

left

invasion a t P re s c o tt

in

late

upon w e s t e r n Canada

f e a r s w e re b a s e d on

t h a t a s many a s a t h o u s a n d P a t r i o t s w e r e

b iv o u a c k e d o p p o s i t e Sandw ich and A m h e rs tb u rg .
le arn ed

the

governm ent o f f i c i a l s ,

arsen als

F ollow ing

"have

the d is p o s a l of

i n c l u d i n g G o v e rn o r Mason, w ere a l l e g e d l y
P atrio ts,

along

I n l a t e O c t o b e r he

t h a t O hio m i l i t i a
arm s w ere a t

appre­

th at P a trio ts

were

train in g

A rthur

f u r th e r n orth

also

near Fort

G ratio t.
By 2 D e c e m b e r r e p o r t s
w ere

"muc h d i s c o u r a g e d , "

conclude

th at

the

th at

th e M ichigan-based P a t r i o t s

led A rth u r

lib erato rs

had

to

relax

slig h tly

"no s t a b i l i t y

in

and

th eir

l ^ A r t h u r t o G l e n e l g , 24 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r ,
1 : 3 1 8 ; C o l b o r n e t o A r t h u r , 29 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . , 1 : 3 3 2 - 3 3 ;
A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 24 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . , 1 : 3 1 8 - 1 9 ; A r t h u r
t o C o lb o r n e , 8 November 1 8 3 8 , I b i d . , 1 :3 5 4 - 5 5 ; A r t h u r to
R i c h a r d A i r e y , i b i d . , 21 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . , 1 : 3 8 4 ; C o r e y ,
C r i s i s , pp. 104-05.
t o B r a d y , 26 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 ,
v o l. 409-1, pp. 35-45.

•^ A r th u r

S eries),

PAC,

C.O.

42,

(Q

1 5 C o r e y , C r i s i s , p p . 1 0 4 - 0 7; A r t h u r t o C h a r l e s
C h i c h e s t e r , 18 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 1 : 3 7 6 - 7 8 ;
A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 20 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . , 1 : 3 8 1 ; A r t h u r

156
P l a n s . " 18

A n x i e t y - r i d d en w e s t e r n C a n a d ia n s w ould n o t have

b e e n c o m f o r t e d by t h e g o v e r n o r ' s
f a l l w e s t e r n C a n a d ia n s had
P atrio t

invasion.

receiv ed

on F o r t M alden.

Five

from B u f f a l o and C le v e la n d
The r e p o r t p ro v ed
m u s t e r e d . I n
p atro lled
later

false,

early

lake

vive every

fears

a d etailed

of an o th er

and f o r t .

th e m i l i t i a

November t h e m i l i t i a
shores

f e r r y men

the v illa g e

but not before

com­

d e sc rip tio n of

s te a m e rs were to

to d e s tro y

and r i v e r

t h a t month t h e

resid en ts

By t h e

the

liv e d w ith

S ince e a r ly

In m id-O ctober C olonel R ich ard A ire y ,

m andant a t F o r t M alden,
an a tta c k

o b serv atio n s.

w as

cav alry

n e ar A m herstburg,

Sandw ich W e s te rn H e ra ld r e p o r t e d

and
th at

from W in d s o r t o A m h e rs tb u rg w ere " k e p t on t h e q u i
n ig h t of

l a s t week"

in a n t i c i p a t i o n of

f i r s t o f December t h e s i t u a t i o n

o l d and th e young,

th e

rich

had w o rse n e d

and t h e p o o r , "

"m a rch in g and c o u n te r m a r c h i n g ,

in v asio n .

p atro llin g

as

"the

w ere k e p t
and k e e p i n g

s e n t r y . " 18

t o C o l b o r n e , 30 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . ,
C o l b o r n e , 11 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , PAC, C . O .
pp. 223-26.

1 :4 0 4 -0 5 ; G le n elg to
4 2 , (Q S e r i e s ) , 2 5 6 - B ,

18A r t h u r t o S i r A l l a n Mac N ab, 2 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n ,
A r t h u r , 1 : 4 1 0 - 1 1 ; A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 30 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,
i b i d . , 1:404-05.
^ S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 30 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 ; R. A l a n
D o u g l a s , " T h e B a t t l e o f W i n d s o r , " O n t a r i o H i s t o r y , 61
(S ep te m b e r 1 9 6 9 ), p. 139; D ouglas e d . , Jo h n P r i n c e D i a r y ,
p p . x x v i , 2 5 ; A r t h u r t o B r a d y , 26 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , PAC, C . O .
4 2 , (Q S e r i e s ) , v o l . 4 0 9 - 1 , p . 3 5 - 4 5 .
l 8Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a l d ,
1838.

6 , 27 N o v e m b e r ,

4 December

157
T hroughout th e

f a l l A m erican o f f i c i a l s

in both

W a s h in g to n and M ic h ig a n s o u g h t t o p r e v e n t a r e p e a t o f
p rev io u s w in te r 's
York on b u s i n e s s

filib u sterin g .

ro le

than d u rin g

tio n s.

L ate

ap p o in ted

the p re v io u s w in te r

least

tw enty

a d d itio n al

along

sp ies

the P a t r i o t s '

tra c e

the b o rd e r.

On 5 N o v e m b e r a c t i n g
border s ta te

governors

se c u rity of arsen als
A d j u t a n t G e n e r a l R.
m uch s e c u r i t y
in h is
L ater

w ith in
Jones

be a r r e s t e d

Ten Eyck a l s o

em ployed

19
urged

a tten tio n

states.

to

the

the

A w e ek l a t e r U . S .

to p r e v e n t th e weapons

from f a l l i n g

in to

in a rs e n a ls

the P a t r i o t s '

o f War J o e l R.

to

found

in

hands.

P o in sett

any arm ed body t a k i n g

Any A m e r i c a n s

and d e l i v e r e d

at

o r d e r e d B r a d y t o d e t e r m i n e how

Brady to d is a rm

th e U nited S t a t e s .

deputy m a r s h a lls

m o v e m e n t s .

th eir

prepara­

t h a t he had

S e c re ta ry of S ta te V ail

t h a t m onth S e c r e t a r y

in stru cte d

the s t a t e ' s

to pay p a r t i c u l a r

was n e e d e d

ju risd ictio n

in

Ten Eyck r e p o r t e d

v ario u s p laces
to

m id-D ecem ber,

M a r s h a l l T en Eyck p l a y e d a g r e a t e r

in O ctober,

at

W i t h G o v e r n o r M a s o n i n New

from m id -S e p te m b e r u n t i l

G e n e r a l B rady and U .S .

th e

refuge

in

t h a t body w ere

to

the n e a re s t c i v ilia n

a u t h o r i t y ,20

l - ^ H e m a n s , M a s o n , p p . 4 5 2 - 5 3 ; V a i l t o D a n i e l G o o d w i n , 27
S e p t e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS, D o m e s t i c L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 ; F o r s y t h
t o T e n E y c k , 10 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i b i d ; T e n E y c k t o V a i l , 29
O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS, M i s c . L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 ; B r a d y t o
J o n e s , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 .
2 0 v a i l t o M a s o n , 5 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS, D o m e s t i c
L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 ; J o n e s t o B r a d y , 12 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO,
L e t t e r s S e n t , 1 8 0 0 - 1 8 9 0 , RG 9 4 ; P o i n s e t t t o B r a d y , 14

158
As t h e

federal

v ig ilan t,

it

relatio n s

w ith G reat B r i ta i n .

S tate

also

governm ent i n s t r u c t e d

F orsyth

b eliev e

rep o rts

of P a t r i o t

m isc h ief."

"th e

th at

w ill continue
A sserting

t h a t the P a t r i o t s '

jeo p ard ize

the p re s su re

frien d ly

to

of

as

th e m ost w a tc h fu l p ru ­
be t a k e n ,

to

avert

t h a t Van B u r e n d i d

a ctiv itie s

relatio n s"

urged

a ctiv ity

the

not

could s e r i o u s l y

b e tw e e n t h e U .S.

F orsyth

were n e c e s s a ry

from o f f i c e r s

on b o t h s i d e s o f

the

c o u n t e r a c t w hat he p e r c e i v e d

as an a t t e m p t to

in v o lv e

th at d iscretio n

and

and v i g i l a n c e
border

to

the

in a w a r . 2^

A week a f t e r
again c a lle d

be

on i t s

G reat B rita in ,

tw o n a t i o n s

to

On 15 N o v e m b e r S e c r e t a r y

"every p re c a u tio n

dence can s u g g e s t,
th reaten ed

reliev e

o fficers

i n f o r m e d A m b a s s a d o r Fo x t h a t w h i l e P r e s i d e n t

V an B u r e n r e g a r d e d
exaggerated,

sought to

its

F o rs y th 's

le tte r

to

Fox, Van B u re n o n c e

on A m ericans

n e i t h e r to g i v e c o u n te n a n c e n o r e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f any
k i n d t o t h o s e who h a v e t h u s f o r f e i t e d t h e i r c l a i m t o
th e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e i r c o u n try ; upon th o s e m isg u id e d
o r d e l u d e d p e r s o n s who a r e e n g a g e d i n t h e m , t o a b a n ­
d o n p r o j e c t s d a n g e r o u s t o t h e i r own c o u n t r y , f a t a l t o
t h o s e whom t h e y p r o f e s s a d e s i r e t o r e l i e v e , i m p r a c ­
t i c a b l e o f e x e c u t i o n w i t h o u t f o r e i g n a i d , w hich th e y
c a n n o t r a t i o n a l l y e x p e c t to o b t a i n , and g iv in g r i s e
t o i m p u t a t i o n s (h o w ev er u n fo u n d e d ) upon t h e h o n o r and
g o o d f a i t h o f t h e i r own G o v e r n m e n t . 22

N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS, M i s c .
2lF o rsy th
1:370-71.

to Fox,

L etters,

15 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,

RG 5 9 .

Sanderson,

2 2 Van B u r e n P r o c l a m a t i o n , 21 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,
I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 24 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .

A rth u r,

in N a tio n a l

159
The p r e s i d e n t a l s o
o fficia ls
F in ally ,
to

in stru cted

G e n e r a l S c o t t was o r d e r e d

These

th e U .S.

m ilitary

in stru ctio n s

im pression of a c tio n ,

presence.

but

p r e s e n c e .

they

lacked

B rady r e q u e s te d
b o lster

the

h is

t r o o p s had

w ill see

the g r e a t

F ro n tier.

. . .

F o rt to g a rris o n
cover,

w ith

the

elem ent

h is

been s e n t

su p erio rs

filib u ste rin g .

w hich w ere

a m onth l a t e r ,

of

too

to

On 24 O c t o b e r ,
to D e t r o i t

Brady
" I ho p e you
to

guard,

and a f r o n t i e r o f one hundred m ile s

25B rady

C r is is , p.
to S c o tt,

a

a b o u t e i g h t e e n men f o r

103.

24 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 ,

thxs

to

2 3 i b i d . ; S c o t t t o B r a d y , 30 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS,
E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , L e t t e r s S e n t , RG 3 9 3 .
24corey,

to

"very d e f i c i e n t

& M agazine to

fo u r com panies a v e ra g in g

th at

th in

sen d x n g more t r o o p s

I have an A rs e n a l

m ili­

th o u san d -m ile

to A d ju ta n t G eneral Jo n es.
n ecessity

the

by a u t u m n t h e r e w e r e

guarding

inform ed

com panies,
m e n . " 25

p lea

gave

necessary

t h a t o n e h u n d r e d men be s e n t

t h e i r num bers o f

fro n tier

23

command w e r e s p r e a d

P atrio t

the e x is tin g

reiterated

so ld iers

under h is

prevent e ffe c tiv e ly

no rth ern

law s.

th e P a t r i o t s — a l a r g e U .S.

B rady r e p e a t e d l y

fe w t r o o p s

n eu trality

the

Even th o u g h a d d i t i o n a l

tw o t h o u s a n d U . S .

f r o n t i e r . 24

in

to

the n o rth e rn b o rd e r th ro u g h o u t 1838,

only

th e

U .S.

and m i l i t a r i l y

and demands f o r v i g i l a n c e

t h a t m ight have c o n t r o l l e d

to

c iv ilia n

to a r r e s t anyone v io la tin g

so lid ify

ta ry

a ll

NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 .

160
d u ty

to

a

c o m p a n y .

and s p ie s ,

"26

Even w ith h i s

M a r s h a l l T e n Eyck was n o t c e r t a i n

the P a tr io ts

under c o n tro l.

the S ecretary of S ta te
m i l e s and
tain ed

A lthough

s u p p o r t e r s .

fru strated

secrecy,

the P a tr io ts .

th a t h is d i s t r i c t

and

to w n a l o n g

covered

by a s h o r t a g e

In e a r l y November,

G o v ern o r J o s e p h Vance o f r e p o r t s

t h e way c o n ­

o f men a n d t h e

acted

quickly

to

o f P a t r i o t m ovem ents and

th at

p l a n s . 28

when news r e a c h e d D e t r o i t t h a t a P a t r i o t

d iately

sailed

Brady s e iz e d
q u an tity

th ere.

a vessel

co n stan tly "

C a p t a i n D.

C u tter E rie,

n ear Sandusky,

carrying

140 s t a n d s

w h ic h he b e l i e v e d

B esides c h a r te r in g

u n til

to

m ight s t i f l e

D obbins,

26erady t o J o n e s ,

force

B r a d y imme­

commandant o f

to w e s t e r n Lake E r i e

22 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,

27Ten Eyck t o F o r s y t h ,
L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 .

but

o f arm s and a
t o be i n t e n d e d

a steam b o at to

the D e tr o it R iver fro z e ,

sail

O hio,

th eir

The r e p o r t p r o v e d e r r o n e o u s ,

o f am m unition,

the P a tr i o ts .

ordered

in terferen ce"

a t P u t-in -B ay

squelch

B rady in fo rm e d Ohio

suggested

was g a t h e r i n g

140

27

M ichigan o f f i c i a l s

"tim ely

he c o u l d k e e p

I n l a t e N ovember he re m i n d e d

F orsyth

th a t every v illa g e

P atrio t

P atrio t

a d d itio n a l d ep u ties

for

"run

Brady a l s o
th e U .S.

Revenue

from E r i e ,

ib id .

23 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS,

DOS, M i s c .

28firady to Vance, 6 November 1 8 3 8 , in "A Sidelight on the
Hunters' Lodges of 1 8 3 8 , " William D. Overman ed., Canadian
Historical Review, 19 (June 1 9 3 8 ) , p p . 1 7 0 - 7 1 .

161
P ennsylvania,
W ith th e

i n o r d e r t o k e e p a n e y e on t h e P a t r i o t s . 2^
ex cep tio n of

M ichigan p r e s s

supported

B esides p u b lish in g
the

fro n tier,

invaders,

"to

w hich

of

charged

th e C anadians

send

the

in

la te

the P a t r i o t s

November.

was " f u l l "

c o llectin g

along

w as " u n w i s e "

th eir

for

men a n d

when t h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y
in e rt or

in d ifferen t

sword n o r th e e d i t o r s '

rendezvous

to

cen ters,

of P a t r i o t s

and

pens

in s o u t h e a s t e r n M ichigan

Several D e tro it h o tels

P a trio t o rg an izatio n al
city

papers

r e v o l t . "30

N e ith e r G en eral B ra d y 's
prevented

from e a s t e r n

in c o l l e c t i n g

to Canada,
appear

su p p o rt fo r the

t h e A d r i a n Whig o f

it

engaged

them selves

th e prom otion of

th at

e l s e w h e r e on

or d iscred ited

agreed w ith

the

the P a t r i o t s .

a ctiv ity

articles

th e P a t r i o t s

be z e a l o u s l y

m u n itio n s o f war to

subdue

of e d i t o r i a l

rep rin ted

M ost n e w s p a p e r s

Lenawee C o u n ty ,

to

of P a tr i o t

w hich w ere v o id

new spapers

A m ericans

effo rts

rep o rts

th at eith er c ritic iz e d
leaders.

t h e D e t r o i t M orning P o s t ,

s o o n became

and B rady r e p o r t e d

th at

the

t h a t many m o r e w e r e r e p o r t e d

th e D e t r o i t R iv e r betw een th e M ichigan

2 ^ B r a d y t o P o i n s e t t , 23 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i n P r u c h a ,
" R e p o r t s , " p . 6 6 ; B r a d y t o J o n e s , 2 2 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS,
AGO, RG 9 4 ; B r a d y t o D o b b i n s , 23 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , S e v e r a n c e ,
" I l l u s t r a t i v e D ocum ents," pp.
128-29.
30 Ad r i a n Whig i n D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 11 D e c e m b e r
1838.
S e e a l s o , P o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 2 3 , 30 N o v e m b e r , 7
D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; 2 1 , 24 N o v e m b e r , 2 , 4 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , D e t r o i t
D a i l y F r e e P r e s s ; Ann A r b o r A r g u s i n i b i d . , 10 D e c e m b e r
1 8 3 8 ; M o n r o e T i m e s i n i b i d . , 18 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; Ann A r b o r
S t a t e J o u r n a l , 22 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r i n
Ann A r b o r S t a t e J o u r n a l , 13 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; A d r i a n Whig i n

162
cap ital

and

rep o rted

th at

Swa n C r e e k
alleg ed ly

Monroe.

in

tw o t o

o n 27 N o v e m b e r t h e M o n r o e G a z e t t e
three

h u n d r e d men w e r e b i v o u a c k e d

i n s o u t h e a s t e r n Wayne C o u n t y .
were c u t t i n g

obvious ru se
re su lt

31

wood,

and p r e d i c t e d

" d e s c e n t u p o n some p a r t o f

the G azette d ism issed

th at

"a b lo o d y tr a g e d y "

as

th at

the

th ree

t h e s e men u n d e r t o o k

th e Upper

P r o v i n c e .

th eir

"32

the

a C anadian r e f u g e e ,

fin d

"in

A d e s c e n d a n t o f A m erican

R e v o l u t i o n a r y War h e r o I s r a e l P u t n a m ,
to

the

h u n d r e d men a t Swan C r e e k w e r e

good h e a l t h and s p i r i t s . "

w o u l d be d i f f i c u l t

t h e s e men

t h e coming w i n t e r w ould

same ti m e P a t r i o t W i l l i a m P u tn a m ,
rep o rted

A lthough

near

Putnam ad d ed

"few m ore n o b le

th at

it

and s o b e r

m e n . "33
P atrio t
east.

In h i s

reinforcem ents
le tte r

co n tin u ed

a rriv in g

from t h e

o f 24 N o v e m b e r , W i l l i a m P u t n a m n o t e d

D e t r o i t F r e e P r e s s ( w e e k l y e d i t i o n ) , 19 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ;
M i c h i g a n S t a r a n d P o n t i a c J a c k s o n i a n i n i b i d . , 26 D e c e m b e r
1 8 3 8 ; D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 1 5 , 1 6 , 19 N o v e m b e r , 1 , 4
December 1838.
3 l B r a d y t o J o n e s , 22 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ;
B r a d y t o P o i n s e t t , 23 N ovember 1 8 3 8 , i n P r u c h a , " R e p o r t s , "
p . 6 6 . On 2 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 t h e D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r
r e p o r t e d 30 0 -5 0 0 P a t r i o t s in D e t r o i t in 1 December 18 3 8 .
PAC, L o n d o n D i s t r i c t :
M i l i t i a G eneral C ourts M a rtia l
P r o c e e d i n g s , RG 5 , B 3 7 , T e s t i m o n y o f M e n d o n , A t w o o d ,
A i t c h i s o n , N o t t a g e a n d C u n n i n g h a m ( h e r e a f t e r PAC, C o u r t s
M a r t i a l , w i t h p r i s o n e r ’ s n a m e ) ; J o h n C. W i l l i a m t o J u s t u s W.
W i l l i a m s , 17 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 , PAC, RG 5 , A 1 , v o l . 2 1 5 .
3 2 M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 27 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .
33pu tnam to A. D. McReynolds, 24 November 1 8 3 8 , PAC, C . O .
42 (Q Series), vol. 4 1 0 - 1 , p . 1 1 2 ; John Morgan Gray, "The
Life and Death of 'G e n e r a l ’William Putnam," Ontario

163
th at

t h e Swan C r e e k P a t r i o t s

f o r c e d . 34

on 1 D ecem ber,

castically

reported

ragged,

lo u sy ,

fifteen

m iles

M a l d e n . " 35

th at

were b ein g

O hio a t t o r n e y

"rap id ly "

E b e n e ze r Lane s a r ­

"A B an d o f a b o u t 30 w o r t h i e s ,

and p a t r i o t i c "

passed

so u th of Sandusky,

th ro u g h N orw alk,

o n t h e i r way " t o

t h e Swan C r e e k e n c a m p m e n t . 3 ®
on th e P a t r i o t s '

conquer

o utspoken m a g is tr a te ,

The m ost e x t r a v a g a n t r e p o r t

had

le ft

B uffalo.

an " u n q u e s tio n a b le

A ccording

source"

f o r c e w ould g a t h e r r e i n f o r c e m e n t s

way a n d s w e l l t o

at

who i n f o r m e d G e n e r a l B r a d y t h a t u p w a r d s

o f one th o u san d P a t r i o t s

th is

from C l e v e l a n d

w e s t w a r d m o v e m e n t came f r o m S a n d w i c h m i l i ­

C olonel P r in c e ,

him t h a t

O hio,

A t t h e same ti m e a p r e d o m i n a n t l y C a n a d i a n r e f u ­

g e e f o r c e o f o v e r o n e h u n d r e d men a r r i v e d

tia

rein ­

fiv e

thousand

by t h e

tim e

it

to

the

had a s s u r e d
along

th e

reached

Mich i g a n . 3^
The P a t r i o t
Brady to d i s p a t c h
In a d d itio n
P atrio t

to

a ctiv ity
p atro ls

sending

to

thw art P a tr i o t

(June 1954),

n e a r M onroe,

pp.

3-4,

B r a d y made

"O h io an s,"

p.

the

"every

16-17.

3 4 P u t n a m t o M c R e y n o l d s , 24 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,
S e r i e s ) , v o l . 4 1 0 -1 , p. 112.
35W i t t k e ,

invasion p lan s.

an armed s t e a m b o a t t o w a tc h

"woo d c h o p p e r s "

H i s t o r y , 46

on t h e D e t r o i t R i v e r l e d G e n e r a l

PAC,

C.O.

42

(Q

32.

36U n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t ,
W h e l a n P a p e r s , BC.

4 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , J a m e s H.

3 7 p r i n c e t o B ra d y , 1 December 1 8 3 8 , W in d so r P a p e r s , F o r t
M alden N a t i o n a l H i s t o r i c P a r k , A m h e rs tb u rg , O n t a r i o ,
( h e r e a f t e r W i n d s o r P a p e r s , F o r t M a l d e n ) . On 30 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8

164
ex ertio n "
P atrio ts

to d i s c o v e r a cac h e of weapons d e s t i n e d
and r e p o r t e d l y

inform ed of
D ecem ber,

th e weapons'

the D e tr o it a re a .

the p o r t

Four m ile s o u t of

some t h i r t y

the
When
2

im m ed iately s e t o u t w ith

a deputy m a r s h a ll,

two d o z e n s o l d i e r s .
of arm s,

in

l o c a t i o n on Sunday e v e n i n g ,

th e A m erican g e n e r a l

several o ffic e rs,

stan d s

hidden

for

c o l l e c t o r and

town t h e y

s e i z e d 162

b o a rd in g p ik e s and a q u a n t i t y

of

a m m u n i t i o n . 38
B ra d y 's

actio n s,

coupled w ith

P a t r i o t movement f r u s t r a t e d
G e n e r a l L u c i u s V.
moved c l o s e r
B ra d y 's

B ierce,

the

lib e ra to rs'

an O hio la w y e r ,

t o D e t r o i t and camped

co n fiscatio n

th e ch ao s endem ic

o f arm s n e a r

J o h n H.

to conclude

Harmon,

th at

Led by

the P a t r i o t s

th ere

caused

had

the P a t r i o t s

n o r th o f t h e M ichigan

T h e s e f r e q u e n t m o v e s a n d w e ak l e a d e r s h i p

s om e P a t r i o t s

the

in S p r i n g w e l l s Tow nship.

t o move t o y e t a n o t h e r camp tw o m i l e s
c a p i t a l . 3®

p lan s.

to

th eir

a C leveland p r i n t e r ,

led

c a u s e was h o p e l e s s .
later

recalled

th at

t h e N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r r e p o r t e d t h a t 1 5 0 - 2 00 men f r o m
B u f f a l o w ere p r e v e n t e d from s a i l i n g to D e t r o i t b e c a u s e of
inclem ent w eather.
On 4 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 t h e D e t r o i t D a i l y
A d v e rtis e r re p o rte d th a t sin c e the B a ttle of P r e s c o tt
" s t r a n g e r s h a v e c o n t i n u e d t o a r r i v e i n town fro m b e lo w , and
f o r t h e p a s t few d a y s , s t r a g g l i n g g r o u p s h a v e b e e n s e e n
w en d in g t h e i r ways from a l m o s t e v e r y p o i n t o f th e com pass to
t h e i r q u a rte rs a t th e d i f f e r e n t ta v e rn s ."
3 3 B r a d y t o J o n e s , 6 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 . T h e D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s r e p o r t e d t h a t
t h e P a t r i o t s g u a rd in g th e weapons " f l e d l i k e F l o r i d a I n d ia n s
u p o n t h e a d v a n c e o f t h e U . S . s o l d i e r s . " (4 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ) .
3® T h e l l e r , C a n a d a , 2 : 2 9 4 - 9 6 ; P r i n c e to B ra d y , 1 December
1 8 3 8 , W i n d s o r P a p e r s , F o r t M a l d e n ; PAC, C o u r t s M a r t i a l ,
G rason.

165
"q u arrels
reduced

and d i s s e n s i o n s

the

jo u rn e y e d

force of

among t h e men a n d o f f i c e r s "

four

to M ichigan to

h u n d r e d C l e v e l a n d H u n t e r s who h a d
few er th a n 1 4 0.40

A nother P a t r i o t

fo r c e of o v e r one hundred C anadian re fu g e e s
C leveland

because

co m m a n d .

A ccording

the

th e y were u n a b le

i n v a s i o n w ould

P atrio t

reported

B ra d y 's

seizu re

the d e se rtio n
fo rcefu lly

to

th at

an

of w eapons,

to

the

the

[s i c ] faux

" a g r e a t ma ny"
w hile

failu re

in o rg a n iz in g

Even in

in

face of

th e

of

R eassuring

fifty -th o u san d

h is

of P a tr io t

a t a m o m en t's n o t i c e ,
Upper C anadians
p ro v in cial
even to ld
to

in d icatin g

troops

a

th ird

d eserted

after

lead ers

to a c t

h alf

B ierce

and h i s

w ere c o n f i d e n t of v i c ­

th at

th e y w ere th e

vanguard

o f whom w e r e r e a d y

s h o w e d h i s men l e t t e r s

h o stility

g o v ern m en t and s u p p o r t
h is

"41

th at

ano th er a ttr ib u te d

setb ack s,

follo w ers

B ierce

p a s .

appeared

i n v a s i o n . 42

th ese

P a trio ts,

it

invaders

still

seco n d -in -com m and , W illia m Putnam ,
to ry .

to

to d is c o v e r a c e n t r a l

one O hio l i b e r a t o r ,

"end

retu rn ed

for

to

cross

from

the e x is tin g

its

overthrow .

t h a t only o f f ic e h o ld e r s

t h e C a n a d ia n g o v e rn m e n t and

to

th at P a trio ts

rem ained

B ierce
lo y al

in U pper Canada

40john H. H a r m o n , " B a t t l e o f W i n d s o r , " E s s e x H i s t o r i c a l
S o c i e t y P a p e r s and A d d r e s s e s , v o l . I I , ( W i n d s o r , 1 9 1 5 ) , p .
19.

4 1 u n id e n tifie d co rresp o n d en t,
W h e l a n P a p e r s , BC.

4 December 1 8 3 8 ,

J o h n H.

4 2 c h a u n c e y S h e l d o n & J a m e s M. A i t c h i s o n , " D e c e p t i o n s u s e d
by P a t r i o t o f f i c e r s i n W i n d s o r E x p e d i t i o n , " 6 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 ,
PAC, RG 5 , A 1 , v o l . 21 9 ( h e r e a f t e r S h e l d o n & A i t c h i s o n ,

166
had r e c e n t l y

d efeated

P a t r i o t s w ere a l s o
a u g m e n t e d by f i v e

B ritish

led

to

reg u lars

b eliev e

hundred P o le s

n e a r London.

th at

th eir

and e i g h t

The

f o r c e was t o

be

hundred

K e n t u c k i a n s . 43
L a te on t h e
h is

a f t e r n o o n o f 3 D ecem ber,

fo rc e of ap proxim ately

consum ption of h a lf
the

boarded

effo rts

stea lth ily

to

Some P a t r i o t s

leave

tille r

r o p e s were

Several
ropes

rep aired .

C ham plain c r o s s e d

A ccording

to

"confusion"

later

th at

lib erato rs
in v asio n ,

going

T h eller,

w harf

and

to plag u e

th eir

been th w arted

C anadian w a te r s .

by a g u a r d

c u t the
but the
the

About 4 a.m .

four

th e v e s s e l dropped a n c h o r.
t h e r e was a g r e a t d e a l

on th e C ham plain once

"D ecep tio n s");

to D e t r o i t 's

the

cold,

an i n a d e q u a t e

claim ed

irreso lu te

two p a r t i c i p a n t s ,

resisted

the g e n e ra l ordered

A fte r a th ree-h o u r delay,

in to

th e a rm y 's

Problem s c o n tin u e d

to sabotage

m ile s n o r th of W indsor,

invaders

m arched

t h e C h am p lain had

a d o z e n men.

v e s s e l's

brandy,

po ssessin g

th e ste a m e r C ham plain.

in v ad ers.

Follow ing

A bout m id n i g h t on t h i s

the P a t r i o t s ,

number o f w eapons,

of

a b a rre l of

in v a s io n o f Upper Canada.

m oonless n ig h t,

the

15 0 m e n .

B ierce addressed

ashore,

it

anchored.

but B ie rc e 's

of

Some

t h r e a t to cu t

C anada, 2:295.

^^Harm on, " B a t t l e o f W i n d s o r ," p . 19; S h e ld o n &
A i t c h i s o n , " D e c e p t i o n s ; " PAC, C o u r t s M a r t i a l , T y r e l l ,
C u n n i n g h a m , G u t r i d g e & S n i d e r ; J o h n C. W i l l i a m t o J u s t u s W.
W i l l i a m s , 17 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 , PAC, RG 5 , A 1 , v o l . 2 1 5 .

167
do wn a n y o n e who r e f u s e d

convinced

T h e i n v a d e r s m ov e d t o
w here th e y su rro u n d e d
m ilitiam en .

O rdered

the

burn

housing

the

a black

was s h o t and k i l l e d .
m ilitia

escaped

tw o d o z e n C a n a d i a n

b u ild in g ,

w e n t t o a n e a r b y h o u s e and s e i z e d
W illiam M ille s ,

d i s e m b a r k . 44

to

s m a l l com m unity o f W in d so r

a barracks
to

all

a fe w b r a n d s .

fifty -y ear-o ld

barber,

W ith t h e b a r r a c k s

through a r e a r door,

in

w hile

w ere ta k e n p r i s o n e r .

Two m i l i t i a m e n d i e d

o n e was k i l l e d

fig h tin g ,

in

the

flam es.

To t h e c r i e s

P atrio ts

also

hundred y a rd s
forces

flam es,

from th e
describ ed

south of

larg er

barracks.

rearguard

A lthough

town o f S a n d w ic h .

and

the

they

militia

B ierce

in

the s k irm ish ,
in the
the

reorganized

h is

the F ran co is

to oppose any f o r c e headed
The g e n e r a l ,

"w anting

accu rately

in c o u ra g e,"

jo ined

c a p t i v e s . 45

the P a t r i o t 's

responded

the

T h a m e s , w h ic h was d o c k e d a

th e C an a d ia n s had d ro p p e d

G e n e ra l Brady s e i z e d
earlier,

the v illa g e

and

th e rem ainder

"Remember t h e C a r o l i n e , "

by a s u b o r d i n a t e a s

h alf

the o th e r p erish ed

the stea m e r,

from t h e

Ho me owner
p ro tested

a n d s e n t o n e h u n d r e d men u n d e r P u t n a m t o

Baby o r c h a r d

the

burned

of

several P a trio ts

th eir

v i g i l a n c e when

w e a p o n s a few d a y s

i m m e d i a t e l y when word r e a c h e d

44sheldon & Aitchison, "Deceptions;" Brady to Jones, 6
December 1 8 3 8 , NARS, Eastern Division, RG 3 9 3 ; PAC, Courts
Martial, Woodman, Tyrell, Atwood, Barber; John C. Williams
to Justus W.
Williams, 17 January 18 3 9 , PAC, RG 5 A 1 , vol.
215.
45sheldon & Aitchison, "Deceptions;" Harmon, "Battle of
Windsor," pp. 2 0 - 2 2 ; Robert Marsh, Narrative of A Patriot
E x i l e , (Buffalo: Faxon & Stevens, 1 8 4 8 ) , p. 2 1 ; Harry J .

168
Sandw ich o f
Sandw ich,
n o tify

the

in v asio n .

F o r t M alden.

W indsor.

f o l l o w e d .

and a g ro u p o f

46

reg u lars,

Sim ultaneously

arriv ed

one v o lle y

H arv ell,

been ro u ted

the

rearguard.

soon

body r e s e m b lin g
a t 7 :0 0 a.m .

the o rch ard

and

in v ad ers

tw o h u n d r e d - p o u n d K e n t u c k i a n ,

had

in th e o rc h a rd

tu rn ed

his

the e n t i r e

m ilitia

had

a tten tio n

p o in t C olonel P rin c e

to c o u n t e r a rum ored P a t r i o t

h is

force

im m ediate e x e c u tio n .
Inform ed

c o n t r o l l e d W indsor,

B o s v e l d , "The B a t t l e
1981), pp. 3-6.

P rin ce

th at

th e P a t r i o t s

o f W in d so r,"

to

on

back to

t h r e a t on t h e v i l l a g e .

Th e m i l i t i a

refused

to

arriv ed

a P a t r i o t p r i s o n e r was b r o u g h t t o P r i n c e ,

S a n d w i c h by 8 : 3 0 .

for

Putnam and C o l o n e l

the P a t r i o t s

At t h i s

le ft

the P ro v in c ia l

reached

fled .

to

approxim ately

The o u tn u m b e re d

and C a p t a i n S p a rk e

At t h a t tim e,
ordered

they

By 8 : 0 0 a . m .

h astily

t h e Baby o r c h a r d

flan k s.

before

s c e n e and o r d e r e d

Sandw ich

at

a six -fo o t-tw o -in ch ,

were k i l l e d .

B ie rc e 's

me n,

train ed

the Essex m i l i t i a

moved on t h e P a t r i o t s '

so u th

"gentlem en v o lu n te e rs "

a uniform ed,

in

the P r o v in c ia l

fifty

Led by C a p t a i n S p a r k e ,

V olunteer M ilitia ,

fired

a co u rier

Two c o m p a n i e s o f
approxim ately

o fficer

T hree com panies of Essex m i l i t i a ,

men,

B ritish

ranking

C olonel P r in c e d is p a tc h e d

V olunteer M ilitia ,

six ty

As t h e

reached
still

send any t r o o p s

(U n iv ersity

who

u n til

of W indsor,

4 6 jo h n P r i n c e to C o lo n e l R ic h a rd A ir e y , 5 December 1838,
W i n d s o r P a p e r s , F o r t M a l d e n ; S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 11
D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; B o s v e l d , " T h e B a t t l e Of W i n d s o r , " p . 6 .

169
the B ritis h
Sandw ich,

reg u lars

P rince

arriv ed

ordered

from F o r t M alden.

W hile a t

tw o a d d i t i o n a l P a t r i o t p r i s o n e r s

e x e c u t e d .47
The B r i t i s h
piece

and f o r t y

11:00 a.m .

reg u lars,
or fif ty

one hundred s t r o n g ,

Indian a l l i e s ,

the

rear.

only

By n o o n B r o d e r i c k ' s

to d is c o v e r

A ccording
reached
the

th at

t h e i r m orning

f l o a t produced

th ere

P atrio ts
they

force

men,

landing

le ft.

A search

an is la n d

S e v e r a l were a r r e s t e d

p atro llin g

the

J a m e s B. A n d e r s o n .

C lair

B ro d e ric k 's
a llie s

reg u lars

scoured

B ie rc e 's

fo r anything

D uring

P atrio ts

t h a t could

th e M ichigan

escape,

the

w h ic h wounded C a p t a i n
lo s t h is

A fter continuing

any a d d i t i o n a l P a t r i o t
to Sandw ich,

th is

From

by A m e r i c a n v e s s e l s

sh ellfire,

retu rn ed

up

approxim ately

over to

t h e woods f o r P a t r i o t s

rearguard.

b ringing

to d isc o v e r th a t

The P o r t H uron P a t r i o t

to d is p e r s e

headed

upriv er.

fleein g

tran sp o rt

a m p u t a t i o n upon r e a c h i n g D e t r o i t .
Lake S t .

the

W h ile m aking t h e i r

ca m e u n d e r B r i t i s h

force

in A m erican w a t e r s .

m ainland.

P atrio ts

had f l e d

found a b o a t and c r o s s e d

riv er.

the

had r e a c h e d W in d so r

p la c e only

enough canoes to
to

Sandw ich a t

and th e m i l i t i a

the P a t r i o t s

to one of B i e r c e ' s

C ham plain had

th irty

reached

Commanded b y C a p t a i n B r o d e r i c k ,

f o r W indsor w ith C o lo n e l P r i n c e

w ith a f i e l d

tim e,

le ss

arm t o
on to

forces,

w hile h is

Indian

fo rtu n ate

than

two m o r e P a t r i o t s

4 7 jo h n P r i n c e t o C o lo n e l R ic h a r d A i r e y , 5 December 1838,
W i n d s o r P a p e r s , F o r t M a l d e n ; S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 11
D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; B o s v e l d , " T h e B a t t l e Of W i n d s o r , " p . 6 .

17 0
w ere e x e c u te d
of

under P r in c e 's

tow nspeople p re v e n te d

aftern o o n

a ll

Sandw ich.

ad d itio n al

th e re g u la rs

led B ro d erick

day B r i t i s h

tro o p s

a tte m p t to rescu e
The B a t t l e

d ied ,

(th ree

fled .
the

h is

The f o l l o w i n g

to p r e v e n t a rum ored

more w e r e e x e c u t e d

tried

in London,

Upper Canada.

i n c l u d i n g Ann A r b o r i t e
t o Van D i e m a n ' s Land

F e r r o a n d C h a u n c e y S h e l d o n w e r e among
and d e p o r t e d ,

a s h o r t confinem ent.

and th e re m a in d e r
Four C anadians

a p r o m i n e n t Sandw ich p h y s i c i a n ,

serv ices.

He w a s c a p t u r e d

army.

f o r t y - f o u r w ere ta k e n

A m ericans,

Hume, who h a d m i s t a k e n l y
and o f f e r e d

least

fiv e

e i g h t e e n w ere s e n t

after

in cluding

to

a t t a c k on

to Sandw ich

w ere

f i v e w ere p ard o n ed

w ere r e l e a s e d

P atrio t

in a c tio n ,

and a t

( M i c h i g a n i a n s J a m e s D.
th ese),

had r e t u r n e d

o f W in d so r had d e c im a te d B i e r c e ' s

The p r i s o n e r s

H i r a m B. L y n n ) ;

By m i d ­

t h e P a t r i o t p r i s o n e r s . 48

orders,

S ix w ere h a n g ed ,

in terv en tio n

ex ecu tio n s.

t o m arch t o M alden.

retu rn ed

T w nety-one w ere k i l l e d

p riso n er.

Only t h e

and m i l i t i a

Rumors o f a p o s s i b l e

A m herstburg

on P r i n c e 's

orders.

id en tified
R ealizin g

by f i v e

th e P a t r i o t s
h is

P atrio ts,

error,

John J .
as m i l i t i a
the d o c to r

who s t a b b e d h i m i n

b r e a s t w i t h a b a y o n e t a n d m a n g l e d h i s a rm w i t h a n ax

^^Harmon, " B a t t l e o f W i n d s o r ," p p . 2 3 - 2 4 ; B o s v e ld ,
" W in d s o r," p p . 1 3 -1 7 ; P r i n c e t o A i r e y , 5 December 1838,
W in d so r P a p e r s , F o r t M alden; u n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 6
D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i n N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 18 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ;
A l e x a n d e r C. R o b e r t s o n ' s d i a r y , W i n d s o r P a p e r s , F o r t M a l d e n ;
D o u g l a s , "T he B a t t l e o f W i n d s o r , " p p . 1 4 4 -4 5.

171
before

robbing

him o f

The d a y 's

activ itie s

shore.

One D e t r o i t e r

burning

b u ild in g s,

flash es

of

s h o r e . " 50
b a ttle

h is

contending

C h a r l e s W. F o r d ,

of

w rote

th e ch eers

the r i v e r

(for

c o v e r e d w i t h s p e c t a t o r s . ) " 51
rep o rted

th at

n ig h t,

in

p arties
h is

w ith

e v e r y m o v e m e n t among t h e
Two d a y s a f t e r

the

on t h e

of

and th e
o p p o site

th a t the

and h u z z a s o f

th e People

t h e d o c k s and r o o f s w ere
The D e t r o i t F r e e P r e s s

a d j a c e n t being

thousands of

flam es,

sister

"G reat ex citem en t p re v a ile d

t h e w h a rf and s t o r e h o u s e s
till

from t h e D e t r o i t

" th e m elancholy s p e c t a c l e

a s te a m b o a t w rapped

th e guns of

sid e

c a p a n d g l o v e s . 49

w ere o b s e r v e d

a w oke t o

c om m e nc e d " a m i d

on t h i s

fur

sp ectato rs,

in

the

lin ed ,

city

.

.

.

from m o rn in g

a n x io u sly w atching

c o m b a t a n t s . " 52
b attle

M ichigan m i l i t i a

G eneral

^^P A C, C o u r t s M a r t i a l , B a r b e r , B a r t l e t t , G o o d r i c h ,
M cD o u g all, Putnam ; F re d L andon, " T r i a l and P u n is h m e n t o f th e
P a t r i o t s C a p tu re d a t W in d sor in December 1 8 3 8 ," M ich ig an
H i s t o r y , 18 ( S p r i n g 1 9 3 4 ) , p p . 2 5 - 3 2 ; S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n
H e r a l d , 15 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 ; B o s v e l d , " W i n d s o r , " p . 1 0 - 1 1 , 1 8 ;
P r i n c e to A ir e y , 5 December 1 8 3 8 , W indsor P a p e r s , F o r t
M a l d e n ; J o h n D. S u l l i v a n , " T h e C a n a d i a n R e b e l l i o n o f
1 8 3 7 - 3 8 ," E ssex H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y P a p e rs and A d d r e s s e s ,
v o l . I I ( W i n d s o r , 1 9 1 5 ) , p p . 1 1 - 1 2 ; m a t e r i a l on Lynn i n ,
"R em in iscen ces o f S e v e n tee n Y ears R esid en ce in M ichigan,
1836-1853," M ichigan P io n e e r H i s t o r i c a l C o l l e c t i o n s (1 8 9 2 ),
p. 377-78.
50U n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 6 D ecem ber 1 8 3 8 ,
N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 18
December 1838.
5 1 C h a r l e s W. F o r d t o M ar y A. M a n n i n g ,
C h a r l e s W. F o r d P a p e r s , BC.
52P e t r o i t D a ily

Free P r e s s , 5

in

7 December 1 8 3 8 ,

December 1 8 3 8 .

17 2
J.

R. W i l l i a m s n o t e d

excitem ent"
"lead

to

in

Dr.

it

had p r o d u c e d

th e M ichigan c a p i t a l

serio u s

ju stifie d .

th at

c o n s e q u e n c e s . "53
H um e's b r u t a l

ex ecution of P a tr io t

and f e a r e d

resid en ts

angry d u rin g

on b o t h s i d e s o f

the days

qwew

C olonel P r i n c e 's

rum ors of

M ic h ig a n and w e s t e r n Canada and t h r e a t s
le ft

i t m ight

H is a n x i e t i e s

slay in g ,

p riso n ers,

"co nsiderable

in v asio n s of

of a s s a s s in a tio n s

t h e D e t r o i t R i v e r t e n s e and

im m ed iately

follow ing

the B a ttle of

W indsor.

53williams to Poinsett,
Papers, BC.

6 December 1 8 3 8 ,

J.

R.

Williams

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE PATRIOT WAR IN MICHIGAN FADES

The d a y s
w ere f i l l e d
both s id e s

im m ed iately

w ith
of

foreboding

the P a t r i o t s

in v asio n s

au th o rities

again

a l l o w i n g an armed

new s e r i o u s

c ritic iz ed
invasion

tone o ccu rred

B ra d y 's

th ree-v essel

v enting

reinforcem ents

P atrio ts

also

o fficials
unruly

and a u t h o r i t i e s

s t r o n g e r and b e t t e r

The p o s s i b i l i t y

horizon.

as

first

As t h e

on i t s

b attle

cru ised

raged,

sho ts a t

and a r r e s t e d

about f if te e n

invaders.

t o draw h i s

sw ord.^

retu rn in g

One D e t r o i t r e s i d e n t

^ •E lizab eth C am pbell to S o p h ia B id d le ,
173

fled

back

G eneral

troops.
the

The

fleein g

Upon

th e D e tr o it w harf,

by a n a n g r y mob, w h i c h

who m e t t h e

the

the D e tr o it R iver p r e ­

from r e a c h i n g B i e r c e ' s

at

so il.

su rv iv o rs

a fe w w a r n i n g

t h a t B rady,

and C an a d ia n

acknow ledgm ent o f

the P a t r i o t

flo tilla

were g r e e t e d

of

The p r o s p e c t o f

as B r itis h

be o r g a n i z e d

the

th e ir p riso n ers

on

A lthough

fired

d isch arg in g

o f W indsor

th e A m erican gov ern m en t f o r

to

the D e tr o it R iv e r.

force

tim e.

in creased

On t h e A m e r i c a n s i d e ,

U .S.

appeared

loom ed on t h e

an A nglo-A m erican war a l s o

across

for c itizen s

th a n a t any p r e v io u s

ad d itio n al

the B a ttle

th e M ich ig an /C an ad ian b o rd e r.

soundly d e f e a te d ,
o rganized

fo llo w in g

th e U .S.

became so

v essel,

w as f o r c e d

rep orted

a few

5 December 1 8 3 8 ,

17 4
days

later

th e ir
w ith

th at

d u ty ,"

as a r e s u l t of having

B rady and o t h e r p u b l i c

"m ost f e a r l e s s l y

o fficers

were th r e a te n e d

assassin atio n . 2
The g r e a t e s t

m ore P a t r i o t

fear

invasions

D e tro ite r observed

among M i c h i g a n o f f i c i a l s
w ould o c c u r .

th a t a larg e

and p r e d i c t e d

number of P a t r i o t s

city

"to

rein fo rce

day

the D e tr o it D aily A d v e rtis e r re p o rte d

th eir

g r e a t ma ny s t r a n g e r s
h o tels

th at

th eir

dead

o p p o s i t e . "3

th e

w ith o u t any v i s i b l e

w ere

city

on th e

W ith b o d ie s

from t h e M ic h ig a n c a p i ­

D e t r o i t P a t r i o t G e o rg e H e ro n was i n d i g n a n t o v e r t h e

U .S.

g o v e rn m e n t's

"su fficien t

to

to

th e day a f t e r
su stain

stop
the

them selves"

"a

about our p u b lic

s u p p o r t . "4

v isib le

follow ing

ta l,

H eron p r e d i c t e d

in

t h a t t h e r e were

lo iterin g

means o f

com rades s t i l l

a tte rjts

one

t h e y w ould a t t e m p t t h a t n i g h t

frien d s

in

was t h a t

L a t e on 4 D ecem ber,

th e

of

done

the P a t r i o t s '
b a ttle

m ovem ents.

th a t a force

w ould soon c r o s s

in to

S o p h ia B i d d l e P a p e r s , B e n t l e y ; B rady t o J o n e s , 6 December
1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ; u n i d e n t i f i e d
c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 6 December 1 8 3 8 , in N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r ,
18 D ecem ber 1 8 3 8 ; D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 5 D ecem ber 1 8 3 8 .
Some e s c a p i n g P a t r i o t s e l u d e d B r a d y ' s m e n.
George H u n in g to n
Brown e s c a p e d and w as h i d i n D e t r o i t u n t i l s m u g g le d o u t o f
t h e c i t y a few d a y s a f t e r t h e b a t t l e . ( R o s s , "T h e P a t r i o t
W ar," pp. 5 7 1 - 7 2 ) .
^ U n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 6 December 1 8 3 8 , in
N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 18 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; D e t r o i t D a i l y
A d v e r t i s e r , 7 December 1838.
^ U n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 4 December 1 8 3 8 ,
N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 15 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .
^D e t r o i t D a ily A d v e r t i s e r , 5 December 1 8 38 .

in

17 5
w e ste rn Canada. 5
th at at

least

four

D e tro it w aitin g

to

own o b s e r v a t i o n s
The d i s c o u r a g e d
P atrio ts

On 6 D e c e m b e r ,

w ere

B ra d y 's

hundred P a t r i o t s
renew

th e w ar.

in d icated
general

"fed,

the

w ere

P atrio t

& cheered

state .6
of

th e

support p re v a ile d

in h a b ita n ts

the v i c i n i t y

of

th a t h is

to

be d o n e w h e n t h e

o n by a l a r g e
th at

"ex ten siv ely "

A nother p ro m in en t D e t r o i t e r
s ta te 's

claim ed

num bers were n o t e x a g g e r a t e d .

o f o u r own c i t i z e n s . ” B r a d y b e l i e v e d
of

in

Brady d e s p a ir e d

a s k e d w h a t was

lo d g ed

in fo rm an ts

th is

"same s p i r i t "

th ro u g h o u t the

claim ed

w e re members o f

p o rtio n

th a t o n e-th ird

th e H unters

L o d g e s .7
The D e t r o i t M orning P o s t ,
p o rter,

fueled

allo w in g
claim ed

h is

to

the g ro an s

W indsor co u ld

be h e a r d

It

fire
of

critic iz ed
on B i e r c e ' s

in D e t r o i t .

and

sup­

G e n e ra l B rady f o r
men a n d d r a m a t i c a l l y

th e a r r i v a l

at

The n e w sp a p er a l s o
o rig in atin g

in D e t r o i t on 4 D ecem ber,

in v asio n

P atrio t

t h e P a t r i o t wounded and d y in g

a P a tr i o t p ro clam atio n ,

d istrib u ted
P atrio ts'

fire.

tro o p s

th at

pu b lish ed

th e

a lo ngstanding

of

i n C anada and

th a t rejo iced
the

o v e r the

"S tandard of

5U n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 6 December 1 8 3 8 , in
N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 18 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; G e o r g e H e r o n t o
W i l l i a m L y o n M a c k e n z i e , 5 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , J a m e s H. W h e l a n
P a p e r s , BC.
^B rady to J o n e s ,
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

6 December 18 3 8 ,

NARS, E a s t e r n

^ " E x t r a c t f r o m a l e t t e r a d d r e s s e d by a r e s p e c t a b l e i n h a ­
b i t a n t o f D e t r o i t o n 26 D e c e m b e r [ 1 8 3 8 ] t o a G e n t l e m e n o f
T o r o n t o , " PAC, MG 1 1 , ( S e r i e s Q ) , v o l . 4 1 3 , P a r t I , p p .
98-100.

176
Liberty.

The P o s t ' s

"8

w ords o f

rep o rts

on t h e

b a t t l e w ere,

t h e Sandw ich W este rn H e r a l d ,

in

a "perv ersio n "

the
of

the

tru th .9
Edward T h e l l e r ' s
a new p r o b l e m

arriv al

f o r M ichigan a u t h o r i t i e s .

from h i s Quebec j a i l e r s
dampened t h e

i n D e t r o i t on 4 December p o se d

in O c to b er.

it

fo r the P a t r i o t s .

was r e p o r t e d

a force of

his

of

tria l

to

he had d e c l a r e d

the p re v io u s w in te r.
u n til

the

cause.

i n New Y o r k ,
in sp ire

h is

aid

in te n tio n

lay w aste"

a n d sym­

the

to

raise

to w estern

5 D ecem ber T h e l l e r was a r r e s t e d

postponed

had n o t

Soon a f t e r T h e l l e r r e a c h e d D e t r o i t

two t h o u s a n d men " t o

C a n a d a . O n
itie s

th at

d ev o tio n to

audiences

P h i l a d e l p h i a and W a s h in g to n h o p in g
pathy

In carceratio n

form er P a t r i o t g e n e r a l 's

I n November he had a d d r e s s e d

T h e l l e r had e s c a p e d

for h is

activ ­

He w a s r e l e a s e d

on b a i l

and

federal d is tr ic t

c o u rt's

next

^D e t r o i t D a ily F r e e P r e s s , 5 , 7 December 1838; P o n t i a c
C o u r i e r , 7 December 1 8 3 8 .
T h e p r o c l a m a t i o n s i g n e d by
W i l l i a m L o u n t w a s d a t e d 30 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 f r o m S a n d w i c h .
It
was a l s o p u b l i s h e d in t h e F re e P r e s s a lo n g w it h an a d d r e s s
from th e "C om m ander-in C h ie f o f th e P a t r i o t s f o r c e s p r e v i o u s
t o th e b a t t l e o f S a n d w ic h ." (D e t r o i t D a ily F re e P r e s s , 5
December 1 8 3 8 ).
^ S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 18 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .
l O j b i d . , 11 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; Q u e b e c M e r c u r y a n d Q u e b e c
G a z e t t e i n N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 27 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 ; N i l e s
N a t i o n a l R e g i s t e r , 24 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; T h e l l e r , C a n a d a , 2 : 2 9 4 ;
E l i z a b e t h C am p b ell t o S o p h ia B i d d l e , 5 December 1 8 3 8 , S o p h ia
B i d d l e P a p e r s , B e n t l e y . The N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r r e p o r t e d
T h e l l e r a n d W. W.
D o d g e , who a l s o e s c a p e d , a d d r e s s e d a n
a u d i e n c e o f t h r e e t h o u s a n d i n New Y o r k C i t y . ( 1 7 N o v e m b e r
1838).

177
session

the

On t h e
play ed

follo w in g

same d a y T h e l l e r was a r r e s t e d

a prom inent ro le

Many D e t r o i t e r s
t h e U .S.

th at

th e assem blage
lib e rtie s

co n stitu tio n al
speech,

the P a t r i o t

b lessin g

su bm ission
of

to

to
the

fo reig n

c itiz e n s."

B r a d y ' s men f o r f i r i n g

asserted

in cid en ts

g u ilty

if

at

states'

the

in

th e

civ il

rig h ts

R ecitin g

and

the

freedom of

" th a t peace

the p r ic e

The g a t h e r i n g

in

support

or the p r o s tr a tio n of

on th e

resu lted

lib erate

is

a

h o n o r a n d by a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

fleein g

them a s a " d a n g e r o u s o u t r a g e , "
those

to

v io lated .

any p e o p le
p rid e

to

b e a r arm s and e n j o y

su p p o rters

to

the P a t r i o t s .

be u s e d o n l y

th at th e ir

when m a i n t a i n e d w i t h

but a curse

and n o t

he

they denounced

the e f f o r t s

w ere b e in g

guaran tees

where

t h e army s h o u l d

argued

and r e l e a s e d

su p p o rtin g

the m eeting,

treason or re b e llio n ,

in d iv id u al

rig h ts

atten d ed

D eclarin g

cases of
pow ers,

at a rally

g overnm ent and p r a i s e d

Canadas.

means;

y e a r.H

also

lo ss

in v ad ers.

of

n atio n al

th e c i v i l

denounced

th e body r e s o l v e d

the

of

life,

D escribing
th at

if

B r a d y w o u l d be

of m urder.^ 2

The s t o r i e s

concerning P a t r i o t

s u p p o r t and a c t i v i t i e s

w ere so b o a s t f u l

th at

D e tro ite r E lizab eth

"You w o u l d t h i n k

th at

in stead

[the P a trio ts ]

C am pbell w ro te ,

of su sta in in g

any l o s s

they

had c o n q u e r e d C a n a d a . "13

^ D e t r o i t D a ily A d v e r t i s e r , 6 December 1838.
l 2T h e l l e r , C a n a d a , 2 : 3 0 8 - 1 0 ; G e o r g e H e r o n t o W i l l i a m
M a c k e n z i e , 5 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , J a m e s H. W h e l a n P a p e r s , BC.
•^E lizab eth

C am pbell to S o p h ia B id d le ,

5 December 1 8 3 8 ,

17 8
A nother co ncern
the B a ttle

fo r M ichiganians

im m ediately fo llo w in g

o f W in d s o r was t h e p r o s p e c t o f B r i t i s h

iatio n .

On 6 D e c e m b e r M i c h i g a n m i l i t i a

W illiam s

in fo rm ed U .S.

re liab le

in fo rm atio n

S ecretary

in d icated

th a t th e B r itis h

to a tta c k

d istu rb an ces

down.

had q u i e t e d

heard B r itis h

o fficers

d e f e n s e s and e x p r e s s
th e ir

troops

u s."

Rem inding

the

w ith o u t a sin g le

sid erab le

secretary

th at

could

to

m ilitia

the

to

the P a t r i o t s , "

if

was

S ophia B id d le P a p e rs ,

to

send a r e g i ­

le tte r,

G eneral

He s o o n e c h o e d
d is tru s t of

the m ili­

th e M ichigan

give

th eir

arms

t h a t more t r o o p s w ere n e ed e d

B entley.

r . w illia m s to P o in s e tt,
W i l l i a m s P a p e r s , BC.

con­

him from a r m in g

t h e y w ould a l m o s t c e r t a i n l y
S c o t t claim ed

th a t the

sm all f o r c e .1-

sent h is

E x pressing

surm ised

the B r itis h

noted

secretary

in D e tr o it.

concerns.

"because

W illiam s

augment B ra d y 's

W in field S c o tt a rriv e d
g e n e r a l's

in

ag ain st

m ilitia

the g e n e ra l

in D e t r o i t d is c o u ra g e d

A fe w d a y s a f t e r W i l l i a m s

tia

of M ic h ig a n 's

the s t a t e ' s

be b u r n e d

t o do s o . "

and p le a d e d w ith

ment of a r t i l l e r y

had a l s o

a n d w i t h o u t Arms o r A m m u n i t i o n a n d

ex citem ent

the m ilit ia

the P a t r i o t

t h e y may u n d e r t a k e

p ie c e of O rd n an ce,"

be d i s p o s e d

a t Fort

source

"contem ptuously"

anything

th e M ichigan c a p i t a l

"should

th at

M ichigan once

W illiam s'

R.

"a d e g r e e o f p re s u m p tu o u s c o n f i d e n c e

to e f f e c t

"w ith o u t d is c ip lin e

th at

speak

G eneral J .

o f War P o i n s e t t

M alden w ere u n d e r o r d e r s

re ta l­

6 December 1 8 3 8 , J .

R.

17 9
to defend
g en eral,
over,

th e M ichigan/C anadian
fearin g

to guard

Fort G ra tio t."

the

P o in sett

fro n tier

S c o t t was a l s o

t h a t he w a n te d

from

.

filib u sterin g

to

D e t r o i t . 15

by b u r n i n g

A m idst th e s e
resto re

order.

M ichiganians

A m ericans

and ru m o r s ,

The F r e e P r e s s a rg u e d

cessful

r e v o l u t i o n was i m p o s s i b l e

engages

in a war w i t h

f o r t y men,
n ig h t.
•

of

the

th e U nited

a

to

the p o p u lar b e l i e f

w ould l e a d

the B r i t i s h

some a t t e m p t e d

to

not less

than

ten of

^

#

by

sin ce a suc­

On t h e d a y o f

ap p o in ted

them t o

a w atch o f

be o n d u t y e a c h

d a y 150 " p r o m i n e n t c i t i z e n s "
,

i

1 7

an a d d i t i o n a l p a t r o l . - *
th e

the p re s e n t

t h a t bloodshed

S ta te s."!^

au th o rities

fo u rth

least

" u n til G reat B rita in

city

as

at

esp ecially

D etro it

The f o l l o w i n g

appointed

"at

. Sandusky C ity

keep c o o l and p r u d e n t d u rin g

f o r C an ad a was i n v a i n ,

th e b a t t le ,

froze

M ost D e t r o i t n e w s p a p e r s p l e a d e d w i t h

"to

e x citem e n t."

fears

.

alarm ed

t h a t any f u t u r e P a t r i o t
re ta lia te

The commanding

w h a t w o u ld h a p p e n when t h e r i v e r s

inform ed S e c r e ta r y

reg im en t

fro n tier.

Illin o is,

i

Throughout

w ere
i

»

t

the n ig h t

E r i e a n d Macomb r e m a i n e d m a nn ed

l ^ s c o t t t o P o i n s e t t , 16 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , J o e l R. P o i n s e t t
P apers, H is to r ic a l S o c ie ty of P ennsylvania, P h ila d e lp h ia ,
P e n n s y l v a n i a ; N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 22 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .
■^D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 5 , 6 December 1 8 3 8 .
See a l s o
i b i d . , 7 , 8 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ; U t i c a Macomb E n t e r p r i s e i n i b i d . ,
2 J a n u a r y 1 839; D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 6 , 8 December
1838.
The F r e e P r e s s c a r r i e d r e p o r t s o f n e u t r a l i t y m e e tin g s
i n O sw e go a n d W a t e r t o w n , New Y o r k . ( 5 , 7 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 ) .
^ F a r m e r ,

H isto ry

of D e tro it,

p.

203.

180
and re a d y

fo r actio n .!®

M cD onell s e i z e d
C h a m p l a i n . 19
in to

On 5 D e c e m b e r p o r t c o l l e c t o r

th e P a t r i o t s '

invasion v e sse l,

The n e x t day B rady o r d e r e d

fed eral serv ice

the

th e Brady Guards

f o r t h r e e m o n t h s . 20

&t l e a s t

seven

W indsor P a t r i o t s w ere b ro u g h t b e f o r e Judge W ilk in s ,
bound them o v e r t o
F in ally

w hile

citizen ry
attem p ts

to

redress

sym pathy

c itizen s

U .S.

"for

n eu trality .

for

versary

the P a t r i o t

of

the

in

by i t s

c a u s e w ould o n ly

the eyes of

th e w orld

in a b ility

tre a ty

As e a r l y

its

the B a ttle

of

a s 8 December B rady
he fe a r e d

no v i o l a t i o n s

ended th e

in D e t r o i t m arking
of

by

o b l i g a t i o n s . 22

But the P a t r i o t s

sin k in g

fu rth er

to c o n tro l

in D e t r o i t fo llo w in g

the p re se n t"

o f 1838 w i t h a r a l l y

the

S c o tt added t h a t

W indsor soon s u b s id e d .
th at

G eneral S c o tt addressed

the C aro lin e sin k in g .

The e x c i t e m e n t

rep o rted

t e r m . 21

th e g o v e rn m e n t's

th e g o v e rn m e n t's

o r abide

next

them t o q u i t h i n d e r i n g

the U nited S t a t e s

d em onstrating

the c o u r t 's

he was i n D e t r o i t ,

and u rg e d

continued
damage

appear a t

who

the C a ro lin e .

of

tu rb u len t year

t h e o n e —y e a r a n n i ­
A ccording

to

the

IB p e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 5 December 1838.
19Ibid.,
20ibid.,

8 December 1838.

21ibid. O n l y one of the seven was from Michigan.
Two
were from Ohio, two from Canada and two from New York. (6
December 1 8 3 8 ) .
22ibid., 18 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ;
December 1838.

D e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t , 17

181
D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , a g r e a t body o f
g athered
P rin ce
tia

and burned

a n d C o l o n e l A l l a n McNab,

o fficer.

cannon,

the e f f i g i e s

w hich

"prevented

w ere e q u a l l y

a prom inent p r o v in c ia l m i l i ­
by t h e

led

au th o rities

to

the a r r i v a l

t u m u l t .

of c i t y

on th e

Rumors o f a n o t h e r P a t r i o t

follow ing

the B a ttle

C anadian s id e

A l e x a n d e r C. R o b e r t s o n ,

R egim ent s t a t i o n e d

at

no p e a c e from them

[th e P a tr io ts ]

E v ery m an,"
tia

E v ery body i s

R o b e rtso n doubted
the

near fu tu re,

the

s am e s a u c e ;

w in ter

so

F o r t M alden,

the B r i t i s h p r iv a te

reg im en ts,

th at

of a

who

the b order.

o n 12

a member o f

n eith er

added,

if

"is

drawn i n t o m i l i ­
rich

and p o o r . "

invade a g a in

they d id ,

They h ave g o t a h o r r i b l e

"We h a v e

day n o r n i g h t .

under o rd ers,

th at

th e 34th

w rote h is w ife ,

th e P a t r i o t s w ould

b u t added

of

of W indsor

i n v a s i o n made t h e a l r e a d y

w eary w e s te r n C a n a d ia n s a p p r e h e n s i v e .24
D ecem ber,

firin g

"23

im m ed iately
h ectic

people

o f b o th Sandw ich C o lo n e l

The b u r n i n g s w e re f o l l o w e d

any

The d ay s

d iso rd erly

t h e y w ould

thrashing

in
"get

th is

f a r . " 2 5

2 5 B r a d y t o S c o t t , 18
D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 9 , NARS, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 . T h e D e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t r e p o r t e d e i g h t
h u n d r e d i n a t t e n d a n c e . (31 December 1 8 3 8 ) ; D e t r o i t D a i l y
A d v e r t i s e r i n S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 8 J a n u a r y 18 3 9 .
2 ^a P a t r i o t s u p p l y d e p o t was r e p o r t e d a t P u t - i n - B a y , n e a r
San d u sk y , O hio, a f t e r th e B a t t l e o f W indsor. (A r th u r to C o l.
F . A.
M. F r a s e r , 14 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r ,
1:446).
2 5 A l e x a n d e r C. R o b e r t s o n d i a r y , W i n d s o r P a p e r s , F o r t
M alden.
A r t h u r r e p o r t e d t h a t he e x p e c t e d a l a r g e f o r c e o f
P a t r i o t s "b ein g c o l l e c t e d in th e S t a t e of K entucky— f o r th e

182
O ccasio n ally
in v asio n s.
responded
o

fears

of an o th er

invasion

led

E a r l y on 6 December t h e r e g u l a r s
to a m i l i t i a

oeen s i g h t e d .
ut re tire d

p a tr o l's

The m i l i t i a

when t h e i r

"enemy" p ro v e d

to

foes

attem pted

t h e r i g h t w he n t h e m i l i t i a m e n
to

A m h erstb u rg ' s alarm gun,

horses

im agined

a t F o r t M alden

t h a t an enemy f o r c e

had f i r e d

be a p a c k o f

th e C anadians resp o n d ed

report

to

upon th e

to

flan k

in tru d ers,

them .

The

t h a t had g a l l o p e d

f i r e d . 26

j n another

a p erceived

to

in stan ce

i n v a s i o n by f i r i n g

a 24-pounder loaded w ith g ra p e s h o t,

w hich a lm o s t p e r m a n e n tly ended a n earb y

s e n tr y 's

guard

d u t y . 27
The t h r e a t o f a s s a s s i n a t i o n o f
w o rried w e ste rn C anadians.
W indsor th e

to D e tr o it.

t o M ichigan d e a d ,
H erald a ls o
m arked

A week a f t e r

lead ers

If

to

th a t D etro it

th e Sandw ich m a g i s t r a t e
to $ 1 ,5 0 0 .

were b ro u g h t
The W e s t e r n

t h a t o t h e r p r o m in e n t C an a d ia n s w ere
th e Yankee a s s a s s i n ' s

W estern H e rald w arned

its

m ag istrates

cau tio u s

the

bearers

in exam ining

of

a n y o n e who b r o u g h t C o l o n e l

t h e prem ium f e l l

observed

"as v ic tim s

$2,000 t o

also

th e B a ttle

Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a l d r e p o r t e d

m e r c h a n t s had o f f e r e d
P rin ce

th eir

to

k n ife ."

The

"be p a r t i c u l a r l y

of p a ssp o rts

from t h e

purpose of jo in in g in th e in v a sio n of th is P ro v in ce ."
( A r t h u r t o Fox, 5 December 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 1 : 4 1 5 . )

26 ibid.
27ib id .

183
Mayor o f D e t r o i t . "
factu re

and s a l e

b u sin ess,"

of p a ssp o rts

esp ecially

not required
anyone,

The Sandw ich w eekly added

and

sin ce

In T oronto,

a p o ten tial

Canada.

29

name o f

could

than

the B a ttle

a n A n g lo - A m e r ic a n w ar was
th a t ev en tu ality ,
so lic it

the

t h e p u r c h a s e r was

fili­

troops

the P a t r i o t s

to w e ste rn

w o u l d make

w h i c h w o u l d be

of P re s c o tt.

He a l s o

im m inent.

In hopes of

"more

feared

th at

reducing

h e p r o p o s e d w o r k i n g w i t h A m b a s s a d o r Fo x t o

support of

c o n g re s s m e n from t h e s o u t h e r n

t o o ppose any h o s t i l i t i e s

on t h e

lead ers

A rthur d e sp a ire d

prove

t h a t W i n d s o r w as

be a lo n g w i n t e r o f

th at

to

28

believed

a n o t h e r d e s c e n t on w e s t e r n C a n a d a ,
serio u s"

"a l u c r a t i v e

He i m m e d i a t e l y s e n t a d d i t i o n a l
A rthur exp ected

t h e ma nu ­

be t r a n s f e r r e d

a s s a s s i n .

G overnor A rth u r

o n l y a p a r t o f w h at was t o
b u sterin g .

the

th e p a s s p o rt

in clu d in g

h a d be co m e

th at

unm oveable,

fro n tier.

states

Should th e s e
th at

"War m u s t be

i n e v i t a b l e . "3°
At th e

s am e t i m e . A r t h u r p r o p o s e d

contending w ith
o fficer,

plan,

he was

th e b a ck la sh a g a in s t h is o v erz ea lo u s m i l i t i a

C olonel P r in c e .

the B a ttle

th is

of W indsor,

U pon r e c e i v i n g P r i n c e ' s

w hich

re p o rt of

t h e c o l o n e l had p u b l i s h e d

28sandw ich W estern H e r a ld , 11,

in

18 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .

2 9 i b i d . , 1 , 8 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 ; A r t h u r t o C o l . F . A. M.
F r a s e r , 14 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 1 : 4 4 5 - 4 6 ;
A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 18 D e c e m b e r , i b i d . , 1 : 4 6 2 - 6 3 ; A r t h u r t o
L o r d F i t z r o y S o m e r s e t , 20 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i b i d . , 1 : 4 7 5 - 7 7 .
^ A r t h u r t o L o r d F i t z r o y S o m e r s e t , 20 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,
S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 1 : 4 7 6 ; A r t h u r t o W. H. H a m i l t o n , 2
J a n u a r y 1839^ I b i d . , 2 : 4 .

184
th e

S andw ich W e s t e r n H e r a l d by t h e

g o v e rn o r's
tio n

of

law

in to

"im p o litic"

grounds

h is

A ppalled

own h a n d s ,

executions

m ight

lead

t h e i r G overnm ent i n t o

reached

th e

over the execu­

th a t P rince

had

the g overnor feared

a c t i o n w o u ld be u s e d

concern to

it

outrage

f o r m aking more p r o s e l y t e s

Of e v e n g r e a t e r
the

A rthur expressed

the P a t r i o t p r is o n e r s .

tak en the
th is

hands,

tim e

to

by A m e r i c a n s
the P a t r i o t

th at

"as
c a u s e . "31

t h e C a n a d i a n g o v e r n o r was t h a t
th e A m erican p e o p le

a w ar."

"to

On 10 D e c e m b e r ,

force

A rthur w rote

C o l o n e l R ic h a r d A i r e y a t F o r t M alden u r g i n g

him t o e n s u r e

t h a t G e n e ra l B rady u n d e rs to o d

th a t P rin c e 's

actio n s

"d ictated

by a s u d d e n

in

resid en ts

also

b attlefield

im pulse

expressed

condu ct.

th eir

In ten t
arriv ed

d issatisfactio n

The c o n t r o v e r s y

p o i n t where P r i n c e q u a r r e l l e d
d u eled w ith

th e F i e l d . "32

w ith ,

s e v e ra l prom inent are a
upon r e v ie w in g

the

w ere

some l o c a l
w ith P r i n c e 's

soon e s c a l a t e d

horsew hipped,

to

a

and e v e n

r e s i d e n t s . 33

situ atio n

him self,

a t A m h e r s t b u r g o n 11 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 .

A rthur

The f o l l o w i n g

day he i n d i r e c t l y

reprim anded P rin c e

in a Sandw ich a d d r e s s .

D eclarin g

A m ericans

the

country

th at

if

and t h e i r own,

equal v io la tio n

t h e wrong

on y o u r p a r t , "

31-Arthur to C o l b o r n e ,
32Arthur

"v io late

to Airey,

is

not

A rthur

law s o f y o u r
to

be re m e d ie d

argued

11 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,

10 December 1 8 3 8 ,

th at

ib id .,

ibid.,

by a n

such

1:43 7 -3 8 .

1:431-32.

33Douglas, " T h e B a t t l e of Windsor," p p . 1 4 6 - 4 8 ;
ed., John Prince D i a r y , p p . 2 7 - 2 8 , 3 1 - 3 2 , 3 8 .

Douglas

185
actions embarrassed himself and deprived

"Her Majesty's

government of the strongest arguments which
enforcing the justice of your cause."

it can use in

Arthur concluded by

urging western Canadians to "Stand on the defensive,
use every effort in preventing your justly excited

and to

indigna­

tion from betraying you into violations of British or
American

l a w .

"34

Following

the governor's Sandwich address,

H e r a l d , one of Prince's most ardent supporters,
that the magistrate was western Canada's

the Western
declared

"best friend" and

guilty of nothing except defending himself and his home from
the '"GREAT VILLANS'
peaceful

[s i c ] who have lately invaded our

s o i l . " 3 5

Several months later in mid-March,

an official court of

inquiry at Amherstburg exonerated Prince.
tal Arthur,

while still condemning

After the acquit­

the colonel's actions,

privately admitted that the intense public support for
Prince all across the province prevented any additional cen­
sure of the Sandwich magistrate
excitement." As for Prince,
Sandwich critics reached a

"without leading

to great

a few months later he and his
r e c o n c i l i a t i o n .

3 4 sandwich W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 6

36

February 18 3 9 .

35 sandwich Wes ter n H e r a l d , 15 January 18 3 9 .
S e e also, 29
January, 1 4 , 28 February, 21 March, 4 , 18 April, 20 June, 10
July 1 8 3 9 , for additional Prince defense.
36jbid., 25 September 1 8 3 9 ; Arthur to Colborne, 30 March
1 8 3 9 , Sanderson, A r t h u r , 2 : 1 0 3 ; Arthur to Airey, 21 March
1 8 3 9 , ibid., 2 : 9 5 - 9 6 ; Douglas, "The Battle of Windsor," pp.

18 6
I n M ic h ig a n t h e P a t r i o t movement la y d o rm a n t d u r i n g
e a r l y m onths o f 1 8 3 9 .
estab lish
scale

a fo o th o ld

up risin g

forcem ents,
rep o rted
cooled

The t a c t i c

of C anadians,

had f a i l e d

follow ed

1 ^serably.

th a t ex citem en t follow ing

were " s t i l l

e x p e c t any d i f f i c u l t i e s . 3^
F eb ru ary p u b lic m eeting

they receiv ed

lead

to

to

a larg e-

by A m e r i c a n r e i n ­

In m id -Jan u ary ,
the B a ttle

a t work"

Brady

o f W i n d s o r had
th at

in D e t r o i t ,

th ere

he d id

not

W i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f a 14

i n M onroe,

w here c i t i z e n s

pledged

t o go t o w a r w i t h G r e a t B r i t a i n

a satisfacto ry

F e b r u a r y was a l s o

re so lu tio n of

a q u i e t m o n t h . 38

one D e t r o i t P a t r i o t glum ly o b s e rv e d ,
g o n e h e r e . "39

vanguards

A lth o u g h B rady a d m itte d

a fe w a g i t a t o r s

th e ir w illin g n ess

using

i n Canada t h a t would

"co n sid e ra b ly ."

a ffa ir,

of

the

u n less

the C aro lin e
j n m id-F ebruary

"P atrio t

news

On 22 F e b r u a r y B r a d y r e i t e r a t e d

is

alm ost

t h a t a l l was

q u i e t . 40
T e n s i o n s had a l s o
m i d —J a n u a r y ,

relax ed

in Upper C anada.

G overnor A rth u r w ro te ,

" I do n o t

As e a r l y

th ink

th ere

as
is

148-52.
3?Brady to P o i n s e t t , 5 J a n u a ry 1839,
B r a d y t o H. J . F r e n c h , 18 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 ,
2 : 20- 2 1 .

NARS, AGO, RG 9 4 ;
Sanderson, A rth u r,

3 8 M o n r o e G a z e t t e , 19 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 .
39G eorge H eron t o W illia m M a c k e n z ie ,
J a m e s H. W h e l a n P a p e r s , BC.
^B rady

t o R.

Jones,

10 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 ,

22 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 ,

NARS,

AGO, RG 9 4 .

187
a t p r e s e n t any

th ing

o f B rigands

& for

m onth l a t e r

A rthur

in v ited

Sandw ich t o

expressed

B ritish

atten d ed ,

and t h a t a t

o n e o f Her M a j e s t y 's
D uring

th is

war d e c re a se d .
P atrio t

o fficers
b all

h is

a t P r e s c o t t and

ex ecu tio n s

W i n d s o r .

43

statio n ed

at

in

the

Brady

F o r t M alden and

late

February.

he took

in

a d rink

w ith

42
ten sio n

continued
in

the

h is

release

a year e a r lie r ,
A rthur

th e p ro s p e c ts of

also

len ien cy
of

tow ard

seven

as w e ll as

ordered

of P a trio t p riso n ers

only a
captured

Upper C a n a d a 's S o l i c i t o r

G e n e r a l , W i l l i a m H.

D raper,

d efin itely

P a t r i o t m ovem ents and p r e d i c t e d

affected

A

now

t h a t Edw ard T h e l l e r was

m ost n o tab ly

a t W indsor.

m in im a l number o f

th at

lessen ed

t h e Ann f i a s c o

"We a r e

tran q u il

own r e q u e s t ,

o f f i c e r s .

every w here."

e v e n t was e n jo y e d w i t h o u t

G overnor A rth u r

captured

th at

in D e tr o it

and t h e

p erio d of

p riso n ers,

tak en during
several

re lie f

I t was e v e n r e p o r t e d

attendance

beyond s m a ll p a r t i e s

t h o s e we a r e w e l l p r e p a r e d

a m ilitary

The r e d c o a t s
in cid en t.

be a p p r e h e n d e d

The b o r d e r became so

q u i e t . "41

G uards

to

observed

th at

the e x e c u tio n s

had

th at

4 i A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 18 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r ,
2 : 2 0 ; A r t h u r t o S i r H e n r y H a r d i n g e , 27 F e b r u a r y 18 3 9 , i b i d . ,
2:66.
42sandwich W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 7 March 1 8 3 9 .

4 3 A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 5 F e b r u a r y 18 3 9 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r ,
2 : 3 8 - 3 9 ; A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 14 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 , B r i t i s h
P a rlia m e n ta ry P ap ers: C orrespondence R e la tiv e to th e
A f f a i r s o f U p p e r a n d L o w e r C a n a d a , 2 1 v o l s ( 1 8 4 (J; r e p r i n t
e d . , Shannon: I r i s h U n iv e rs ity P r e s s , 1969), v o l.
13, p a r t
2 , p p . 1 0 1 ; A r t h u r t o M a r q u i s o f N o r m a n b y , 20 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 ,
i b i d . , pp. 109-10.

188
t h e y w ould p r o v i d e
E qually
m eant in
areas.

a g ain st fu tu re

a g g r e s s i o n . 44

i m p o r t a n t was t h e r e a l i z a t i o n

o f w h a t a war

lo ss

of

S hortly

C h a r l e s W.

secu rity

liv es
a fter

not

failu re
cause,

the

of

"I

and

th ing

F in ally ,

its

fo r the P a t r i o t

expressed
th a t

the

In

th at

cause.

th e U nited S ta te s

b e . "45

Th e

the P a t r i o t

also

dampened

As B r i t a i n ' s

governm ent,

was t r y i n g

of

. for

the

esp ecially

to c o n s t r a i n

looked b r i g h t ,

citizen s,
are

became

the

1 8 3 9 F o x , who f r e q u e n t l y

fo r peace

than b e fo re ,
.

to

c o n v i n c e me t h a t

g r e a t c o n tem p t f o r A m erican o f f i c i a l s ,

.

w itn ess

and C a n a d i a n a u t h o r i t i e s

la te January

"a s u p e r io r c la s s

th em selv es

'e y e '

i n v a d e r s was " i n c a l c u l a b l e ." 4 6

th e p ro s p e c ts

in flu en ce

be a n

i m p o r t a n c e o f no C a n a d i a n a i d

m ilitary , re p re s e n ta tiv e s ,

P a trio ts.

to

t o show a n y s u p p o r t f o r

the B r itis h

more c o n v in c e d

happened

D etro iter

h a s b e e n c r a c k e d up t o

A m b a s s a d o r Fox o b s e r v e d ,
given th e

of W indsor/

a t P r e s c o t t and W i n d s o r ,

A m erican e n th u s ia s m

being

to A m erican b o rd e r

have seen enough to

it

C anadians

esp ecially

in d e s t r u c t i o n

the B a t t l e

Ford w r o te ,

t h e w hole o p e r a t i o n
war i s

and

at

observed

esp ecially

since

a n d men o f m o r e c h a r a c t e r a n d
le n g th beginning

su p p ressio n of

to e x e r t

the p i r a t i c a l

44praper to Arthur, 21 January 1 8 3 9 , British
Parliamentary P a p e r s , vol. 1 3 , part 2 , pp. 5 5 - 5 6 .
45charles W. F o r d t o
Charles W. F o r d Papers,

4®f o x t o A r t h u r ,
2:31.

Mary A. M a n n i n g , 7 December 1 8 3 9 ,
BC.

31 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 ,

Sanderson,

A rth u r,

18 9
w a r . "47
A lthough

it

appeared

th at

w e s t e r n f r o n t i e r was o v e r ,
fears

continued

to p lague

M i c h i g a n i a n s on t h e S t .
sh o u ts

and Y e l l s

was r e p o r t e d

m arching

at

in l a t e

P a t r i o t who h a d s t r u c k

he w ould s o o n c o l l e c t
head.
to

m ag istrate
had v i s i t e d

border

alleg ed
the

in cid en ts

Sandw ich,

m onths

d eclared
Sandw ich

th at

in

C lark

fired

& w e ek l a t e r
reg u lars

involved
in D e t r o i t .

in Sandw ich.

H a s t i n g s was a
the

the B a ttle

of

t h a t H a s t i n g s had b o a s te d
rew ard

H a s t i n g s was fo u n d g u i l t y

six

tro o p s

u p o n f r o m M i c h i g a n . 49

December w h ile

rum ored

ja il

and

"A m idst th e

and im p r is o n e d W ilcox d u r i n g

th at

f o r C olonel
of

by M a g i s t r a t e

assau lt

and

P rin ce.

Th e

t h e r e w a s no d o u b t t h a t H a s t i n g s

" f o r some h o s t i l e

4 7 i b i d . See a l s o A r th u r
1839, i b i d . , 2 :4 .
48ceorge
2:21.

B ritish

t o D e t r o i t a few d a y s a f t e r

W ilcox a l s o

sentenced

th at

a form er Upper C anadian l i v i n g

to Samuel W ilcox of

W indsor.

fired

ten sio n

On 11 J a n u a r y ,

C l a i r R iv e r claim ed

th e m ost s e r io u s

v isit

border.

t h e M i c h i g a n m a i n l a n d . 48

H a s t i n g s was a r r e s t e d
A ccording

in cid en ts,

t h a t a detachm ent of B r i t i s h

Howland H a s t i n g s ,

P rin c e 's

the

th ro u g h W indsor w ere

One o f

la tte r 's

occasio n al

o f Men a n d I n d i a n s , "

two c a n n o n r o u n d s
it

t h e P a t r i o t War o n t h e

t o W. H.

t o J o h n M cD onell,

purpose a g a in s t our

H am ilton,

2 January

12 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 ,

ib id .,

4 9 A i r e y t o B r a d y , 19 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . , 2 : 2 2 ; H. J .
F r e n c h t o C o l . R i c h a r d A i r e y , 18 J a n u a r y , i b i d . , 2 : 2 1 - 2 2 .

19 0
people o r m y self."

Upon h e a r i n g

Mason i n f o r m e d G o v e r n o r A r t h u r
"to ta lly

a t v a ria n c e w ith

and urged
led

in terv en tio n .

h im t o

law ,"

adm it t h a t

how ever,

P rin c e 's

life,

"secu rity
b e h av io r."
M cD onell,

th at

the m a tte r,

th at

th is

every p rin c ip le
A rth u r 's

issu e

th a t H astings
since

f o r keeping

who w a s " w e l l - a c q u a i n t e d "

S andw ich and W in d s o r ,
M cD onell s u c c e e d e d

to se c u re

in o b ta in in g

t h e p r o c e s s was d e n o u n c e d
v u lg a r ab u se."

In

a ll

port

w ith

the

the r e le a s e
b ail

on

he gave

f u t u r e good
c o lle c to r John
in h ab itan ts

of

of H astin g s.

fo r H astin g s,

sp en t six

by

A rthur

h a d made t h r e a t s

by C o l o n e l P r i n c e

H astings

in v estig atio n

in custody u n t i l

by s e n d i n g

law"

w as " u n s u p p o r t e d

th e p e a c e and f o r h i s

Mason c o u n t e r e d

was

of E nglish

be r e l e a s e d .

the accused

he w o u ld be k e p t

G overnor

proceeding

subsequent

th e Sandw ich

and he d i r e c t e d

added,

of

"in

but

in

a strain

of

weeks und er

a r r e s t . 50
B oth g o v e rn m e n ts
1839.
arriv al

stren g th en ed

On t h e A m e r i c a n s i d e ,
o f a d d i t i o n a l U .S.

th e ir defenses

secu rity

reg u lars.

w as e n h a n c e d

in e a r l y
by t h e

Money w a s a l s o

made

S O A r t h u r t o M a s o n , 14 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . , 2 : 8 4 ; M a s o n
t o A r t h u r , 1 1 J a n u a r y , 20 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 , NARS, DOS, M i s c .
L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 ; A r t h u r t o M a s o n , 19 J a n u a r y , 20 F e b r u a r y
1 8 3 9 , i b i d . ; M a s o n t o M c D o n e l l , 19 F e b r u a r y , i b i d . ; M c D o n e l l
t o M a s o n , 21 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . ; D e p o s i t i o n o f R e g i n a v .
H owland H a s t i n g s , M i n u t e s o f t h e T r i a l , C o u r t o f Q u a r t e r
S e s s i o n s , W e s te rn D i s t r i c t , J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 , Sandw ich, i b i d . ;
P r i n c e t o A r t h u r , 1 2 J a n u a r y 18 3 9 , B r i t i s h P a r l i a m e n t a r y
P a p e r s , v o l . 1 3 , p a r t 2 . p p . 8 0 - 8 1 ; C h a s . A.
Hagerman t o
J o h n M a c C a u l a y , 22 J a n u a r y I S 3 9 , i b i d . , p p . 8 1 - 8 2 ; J .
M a c C a u l a y t o P r i n c e , 24 J a n u a r y 18 3 9 , i b i d . ; p . 83> C. J .
M a c C a u l a y t o R. L a c h l a n , 12 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . , p . 8 4 .

191
a v ailab le

to pay

an a tte m p t to
d irected
g ib le

i n f o r m a n t s . 51

elim in ate

confusion

tow nship a s s e s s o r s

men f o r m i l i t i a

duty

le g islatu re

also

a u th o rizin g

the governor

v o lu n te e r corps

hoped

from

p an ies

of

the 8 5 th ,

d e fe n s e along
the

P o st of
view

suggested

th reaten a t th e ir

as

of

b o lster

h alf

p lu s

the

system ,

number o f e l i ­
C u rio u sly ,

the s t a t e 's

defenses

lo cal m ilitia ,
53

fo rtificatio n s

E m p ire,"

by

com­

com prised

i n ad d itio n

the

to p la n n in g

on B o is B la n c I s l a n d ,
be

"a s t r o n g O ut

so t h a t A m e ric an s w ould n o t

"a w eakly dependency w h[ich]

t h e y may

The g o v e r n o r c o n c lu d e d

A m m unition!,] C lo th in g ,

ago,

the

b r e e d s and I n d i a n s . "52

R i v e r .

th e C ountry,

a p p r o v e d som e y e a r s

the

in

to o r g a n iz e an " in d e p e n d e n t

p le asu re ."

o u g h t t o h a v e Arms,
the M ilitia

to d eterm in e

t h a t U pper Canada s h o u ld

the B r i t i s h

the p ro v in ce

the m i l i t i a

t h e 3 4 t h R eg im en t and s e v e r a l

the D e tr o it

co n stru ctio n of

A rthur

to

in

leg islatu re,

by 1 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 .

the

In w e s te rn Canada

The s t a t e

w ith
and

the

"We

& B lan k ets

F o rtificatio n s

t h e n we s h [ o u l ] d

hold

for

..

.

up o u r

S l B r a d y t o S c o t t , 24 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , NARS, E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n ,
RG 3 9 3 ; S p e c i a l O r d e r s No. 89 ( r e e d . ) , 13 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , by
M a j o r G e n e r a l Macomb, i b i d . P r e p a r a t i o n a l s o i n c l u d e d t h e
M ichigan m i l i t i a .
S e c r e t a r y o f War P o i n s e t t d e c l a r e d t h a t ,
i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h B r a d y ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , w e a p o n s w o u l d be
is s u e d to th e M ichigan m i l i t i a i f c o n d itio n s w a rra n te d such
a c t i o n . ( J o n e s t o B r a d y , 29 M a r c h 1 8 3 9 , NARS, AGO, L e t t e r s
S e n t , RG 9 4 ) .
5 2 Q e n e r a l O r d e r s , N o. 1 3 , 1 4 , 1 5 , b y J . E. S c h w a r z , 20
M arch 1 8 3 9 , i n D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 22 March 1 8 3 9 .
53sandw ich W e ste rn H e r a l d ,

15 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 .

19 2
h e a d ."54
I n F e b r u a r y 18 39 t h e A r o o s t o o k War b r o k e o u t o v e r t h e
M aine-New B ru n s w ic k
called

out

h oping

th at

favorable

border.

th eir m ilitia ,
the

to

c risis

the

As b o t h M a i n e a n d New B r u n s w i c k

the P a t r i o t s

w atched,

w ould p r e c i p i t a t e

lib eratio n

of

eag erly

co n d itio n s

th e Canadas.

I n March t h e

b l o o d l e s s w a r e n d e d when G e n e r a l S c o t t n e g o t i a t e d
sending

the d is p u te

l u t i o n . 55

if

com m ission f o r

reso­

The M aine b o r d e r c o n t r o v e r s y p ro m p te d S c o t t

a l e r t G e n e ra l B rady
m e n t . 56

to an i n t e r n a t i o n a l

a tru ce,

to w atch

In M ichigan

f o r any p o s s i b l e

th e ev en ts

war broke o u t n e ig h b o r in g
ashes

B ritish

th e M ichigan l e g i s l a t u r e

stren g th en in g

th e

led

s ta te 's

t h o u s a n d m i l i t i a m e n . 56

in one n i g h t . " 5 ?

the r i v e r ,

w orried

th at

"reduce

Fear of a
to

co n sid er

d e f e n s e s by m o b i l i z i n g

A cross

commandant a t F o r t M alden,

fears

t r o o p s w ould

D e t r o i t to a heap o f
invasion

P a t r i o t move­

i n M aine e v o k ed

B ritish

to

fiv e

C olonel A ire y ,

a b o u t rum ors

th at D etro it

5 ^ A r t h u r t o C o l . F . A. M. F r a s e r , 14 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 ,
S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 1 :4 4 6 ; A rth u r t o S i r Henry H a r d in g e ,
F ebruary 1839, i b i d . , 2 :6 6 .
55c o r e y ,

C r i s i s , pp.

114-15;

K inchen, H u n te r s ,

56S c o t t t o B r a d y , 2 March 1 8 3 9 ,
L e t t e r s S e n t , RG 3 9 3 .
5 ? C . W. P e n n y
P e n n y P a p e r s , BC.

t o J a m e s K.

5®Airey t o A r t h u r ,
P a p e rs , v o l. 13, p a r t

NARS,

Penney,

27 M a r c h 1 8 3 9 ,
2, p. 107.

p.

27

92.

E astern D iv isio n ,

24 M a r c h 18 3 9 ,
B ritish

C. W.

P arliam en tary

19 3
was " v e r y

fu ll

Fears
rep o rts

s t r a n g e r s ."59

resu ltin g

su b jects

In a d d i t i o n

to

a ctiv ity
receiv in g

along

continued

to

jo in

from C o lo n e l A ir e y

be in p r o g r e s s

harrassed

from B r i t i s h
" v a s t numbers of

cause,

th a t p rep aratio n s

A rthur

w ere th o u g h t to

in M ich ig an f o r a d e s c e n t upon Upper Canada.

A rth u r concluded
" h a v e no p e a c e

th at

the P a t r i o t

by

th e M ichigan

lette rs

in M ic h ig a n and O hio w a rn in g

C itizen s"

from t h e s e

in

rep o rts

th a t Q u arter

[s i c ] & k e p t

Such r e p o r t s
sheer

f r o m t h e A r o o s t o o k War w e r e f o l l o w e d

o f renew ed P a t r i o t

fro n tier.

learn ed

of

& t h a t o u r P e o p l e ' w i l l be

in a c o n s ta n t s t a t e

w ere,

fab ricatio n s.

t h a t U pper C anada would

how ever,

D uring

o ften

o f a n x i e t y . "60

ex ag g eratio n s,

if

not

t h e w i n t e r o f 1839 P a t r i o t

G e n e r a l H e n ry Handy r e a p p e a r e d

on t h e M ic h i g a n /C a n a d ia n

b o r d e r w h e r e h e a p p a r e n t l y o r d e r e d G e n e r a l D o n a l d M cL eo d ,
who h a d p l a n n e d
to proceed
was t o

be a r m e d

was t o c a s t
sp rin g
men,

"to

t h e W est"
in p a r t

tw enty

to

1,500

in D e t r o i t ,

and o r g a n i z e

T his

force

from a fo u n d ry n e a r D e t r o i t ,

w hich

fo rty

McLeod r e p o r t e d

in cluding

arriv ed

t h e F e b r u a r y 1838 i n v a s i o n s o f U p p e r C a n a d a ,
an army.

sm a ll c a l i b e r cannon.

t h a t he had g a t h e r e d

In d ian s,

a t C hicago,

th ree

arrested

fo r h is

thousand

Illin o is.

i n m i d - A p r i l 1839 w i t h o u t h i s

T h e r e he was p r o m p t l y

In e a rly

e arlier

McLeod

army.

actio n s.

59Ib id .
^ A r t h u r t o C o l b o r n e , 3 0 M a r c h , 2 A p r i l 18 3 9 , S a n d e r s o n ,
A r t h u r , 2 : 1 0 3 , 1 0 9 ; A r t h u r t o L o r d F i t z r o y J . H.
Som erset,
27 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . , 2 : 6 8 ; A i r e y t o A r t h u r , 27 M a r c h

194
N othing

f u r t h e r was h e a r d o f

released
D etro it

on b a i l ,
in J u ly

appeared

the

Illin o is

army.

in F e d e ra l D i s t r i c t

and was a c q u i t t e d

McLeod was
C ourt a t

o f any n e u t r a l i t y

la w

v i o l a t i o n s . 61
In

late

M a r c h 18 3 9 ,

firm ed

the

little

enthusiasm

Instead

th eir

cause,

can d id ates

S tates

fo r the

d i d a t e s w ere to

House t o

m eetings a t
m id -A p ril,

P atrio ts

the p r i n c i p l e s

of

the p o l i t i c a l

a com m ittee

.

.

.

nom inate
can­

fa v o ra b ly disp o sed

republicanism

of

to

gathered

Preferred

and p a r t i c u l a r l y

tim e D e t r o i t h e ld

but the P a t r i o t s '

183S, B r i t i s h

invasion.

by e n t e r i n g

electio n .

T h e re w ere r e p o r t s

the

b u t they d em o n strated

select

upcom ing c i t y

th ro u g h o u t th e w orld,

c o n t i n e n t . "62

and r e a f ­

T h e l l e r and o t h e r D e t r o i t e r s

be " t r u e

and a n x io u s t h a t

g athered

f o r a n o th e r Upper C anadian

On 23 M a r c h ,

th e U nited

spread

of

they sought r e s p e c t a b i l i t y

process.
at

san ctity

D etro it P a trio ts

should

be

on t h i s

secret P atrio t

its

electo ral

electio n s
effo rts

P arliam entary P ap ers, v o l.

in
f a i l e d .

13, p a r t 2,

63

p.

107.

^ N i l e s N a t i o n a l R e g i s t e r , 27 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 ; K i n c h e n ,
H u n te rs , p. 94; L in d se y , M ackenzie, 2 :2 3 5 -3 8 , D e t r o i t D a ily
A d v e r t i s e r , 10 J u l y 18 3 9 .
L in d s e y a l s o r e p o r t e d t h a t "a
g e n tle m e n i n D e t r o i t had n e a r l y b r o u g h t to p e r f e c t i o n a c a n ­
non t h a t w ould be a b l e to f i r e f i f t y to s i x t y tim e s a
m inute" (p. 2 3 7 ).
6 2o n e p a g e a f f i d a v i t e n t i t l e d " P a t r i o t M e e t i n g , " w h i c h
o r i g i n a l l y a p p e a r e d i n t h e D e t r o i t M orning P o s t and
C r a f t s m a n , 26 M a r c h 1 8 3 9 , i n W i l l i a m W o o d b r i d g e P a p e r s , BC;
S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 4 A p r i l 18 3 9 .
6 3 ^ c o o n e l l t o L e v i W oodbury,
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

25 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 ,

NARS,

E astern

19 5
On 25 A p r i l
seized

tw elve

t h e U .S.

kegs o f pow der,

su n d ry arm am ents
D etro it.

d iscover

t h e m . 54

im prisoned
As i n

in

D uring

of P atrio t a c tiv ity ,

the

f o r having

h is

A ccording
voked
had

to

"robbed"

case,

arrest,

to

and r e p o r t s

in cid en ts p e rs iste d .

in

Sandw ich and

th e W indsor i n v a s i o n .

G o v e r n o r M as on i n t e r v e n e d .

and o n ly

after

h is a c c u s e r's

Rumsey w a s r e l e a s e d . 55

t h e R umsey c o n t r o v e r s y ,

a B ritish

Dr.

him o f

taken p ris o n e r

army s u r g e o n

R o b e r t T.

Edward

in D e tro it.

fo r declarin g

in J a n u a ry

h is

R eynolds b ecau se

the d o c to r

a w a tc h and $ 8 3 .0 0 when T h e l l e r was

an o th er v is itin g

54I b i d .,

t h e r e w ere

t h e D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , T h e l l e r was p r o ­

to a tta c k

in cid en t,

th at

rum ors

v isitin g

p articip ated

tim e of

T h e lle r assau lted

border

w hile

t e s t i m o n y was d i s c r e d i t e d ,
th e

so u th of

a r e s i d e n t o f Monguagon T o w n s h ip ,

t h e Howland H a s t i n g s '

D uring

m iles

b u t he w as u n a b l e

p erio d of

iso lated

was a r r e s t e d

Two m o n t h s a f t e r

o f m u s k e t s and

th irty

area,

th is

Moses Rumsey,

W ayn e C o u n t y ,

Jo h n M cD onell,

c o l l e c t o r was c o n v i n c e d

arms d e p o t s

On 13 A p r i l ,

a q u an tity

i n a wooded a r e a

The p o r t

ad d itio n al

port c o llecto r,

1838.

after

th e R eynolds

C a n a d i a n was a t t a c k e d

"u n flin ch in g

D e tr o it D aily

S h o rtly

lo y alty

to

in D e tr o it

the B r i t i s h

F r e e P r e s s , 18 A p r i l

18 3 9 .

5 5 F o r s y t h t o M a s o n , 5 May 18 3 9 , NARS, DOS, N o t e s t o
F o r e i g n L e g a t i o n s , G r e a t B r i t a i n , RG 5 9 ; R. A. T u c k e r t o
M a s o n , NARS, DOS, M i s c . L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 ; A f f i d a v i t s f r o m
G e o r g e W a l k e r , 13 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , W i l l i a m G. M o r r i s o n , 13 A p r i l
1 8 3 9 , H a r r i e t L. R u m s e y , 16 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , L e v i E d w a r d s , 16
A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , S a r a h Ann P h e l p s , 16 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , D a n i e l S t o u t ,
15 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , M e r r i c k R i c e , 1 5 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , W i l l i a m R o s e , 16

19 6
g o v e r n m e n t ."66
Though B rady r e p o r t e d
early

May,

hand.

farm ers

"in ten d

to

p arties

e x c i t e m e n t .

the S t.

On 30 May t h e
"ex ten siv e

t h a t he had

and

to

"67

&t

C lair

in to

evid en ce,

in clu d in g

be

the
to

and

thus

rep orted

the P a t r i o t s '

su m m e r

R i v e r . 6 8

w ere b e in g

C an ad a on 4 J u l y .
th e re c e n t

tw o D e t r o i t b u i l d i n g s

is

the

b u rnings,

Sandw ich W e ste rn H e r a l d r e p o r t e d

p rep aratio n s"

in cu rsio n

retaliatio n ,

and s i m u l t a n e o u s

was to

th at

and d e s t r o y

s a me t i m e A i r e y

t h e

w ere a t

tim e

th e ir plan

burn h o u ses,

in

learned

about th e

th at

in hopes of producing

and m a i l - r o b b i n g "

p la n along

of

corn,

" t h a t a system of p e t t y

plu n d er,

d isru p tio n s

c o m m e nc e o p e r a t i o n s

s m a ll m arauding

k e e p up t h e

b o r d e r was q u i e t

fresh P a trio t

co mm e nc e p l a n t i n g

o th e r p ro p erty ,

fears

th at

the

He i n f o r m e d C o l o n e l A i r e y

P atrio ts

send

he f e a r e d

th at

th at

u n dertaken fo r an o th er

C itin g

burning

a w ide

range of

("ev id en tly "

o w n e d by C a n a d i a n s ,

arson)

th e W estern

A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , D a n i e l R u m s e y , 16 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , A n n a R i c e , 16
A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , G e o r g e R. Upham, 16 A p r i l 18 3 9 , H e n r y P h e l p s ,
A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , J o h n M. A l f o r d e t a l . , 16 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . ;
M a s o n t o A i r e y , 22 A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . ; A i r e y t o M a s o n , 23
A p r i l 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . ; p e t i t i o n from r e s i d e n t s o f Monguagon,
M ichigan, ib id .
6 6 s a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 9 May 18 3 9 ;
A d v e r t i s e r , 29' A p r i l 18 3 9 .

D e t r o i t D aily

6 7 a r a d y t o R. A n d e r s o n , 3 May 18 3 9 , NARS, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ; B r a d y t o A i r e y , 4 May 18 3 9 , B r i t i s h
P a r lia m e n ta r y P a p e r s , v o l . 13, p a r t 2, p. 125.
6 8 A i r e y t o C a p t . H a l k e t t , 6 May 1 8 3 9 , B r i t i s h
P a r l i a m e n t a r y P a p e r s , v o l . 13, p a r t 2 , pp. 1 2 4-2 5.

16

197
H erald w arned t h a t
a g ain defending

s o o n w e s t e r n C a n a d i a n s w o uld be o n c e

th eir

homes and

f a m i l i e s .

W estern H erald urg ed C anadian m i l i t a r y
alert

f o r any p o s s i b l e

rum ored

in v asio n

arm s on 4 J u l y ,
gath ered
raised

P atrio t

to astin g

m ost harrow ing

port

th eir

the P a t r i o t

who h a d o f f e r e d

th eir

ty ra n n y ,"

the P a t r i o t s

who h a d

They a l s o
by T h e l l e r ,

supported
the

condem ning

th eir

serv ices

spent

the rem ainder of

been c o n v ic te d

fo r th e r e le a s e
and

S p i r i t of

th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld ."

to opposing

and e x p o s i n g

6 ®S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d ,
7® lb id ., 3 Ju ly

of W illiam
i n New

' 7 6 a n d T h e l l e r 1s D a i l y

c iv il

L ib erty

sup­

a new D e t r o i t n e w s p a p e r .

to

and P o l i t i c a l

to

im prisoned

R e p u b lic a n A dvocate p le d g e d

tio n

cause

i n D e t r o i t and

i n D e t r o i t o n 19 J u l y

Lyon M a c k e n z ie ,

E dited

of ra is in g

and r e c o u n tin g

p etitio n s

72

rem ain

e s c a p a d e s . 71

fo reig n ers"

"B ritish

heroes

t h e su m m e r d i s t r i b u t i n g

Y o r k .

of

to

th e

But th e

In stead

and s u p p o r t e r s

E xcept f o r a m eeting
"certain

au th o rities

a t B en W o o d w o r t h ' s S t e a m b o a t H o t e l

g lasses

on 3 J u ly

a g g r e s s i o n . 7®

never m a te ria lize d .
v eteran s

69

support

"the e x te n sio n of

" t h e w ic k e d n e s s and

In

addi­

in ju stice

30 May 18 3 9 .

1839.

7 1 D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 10 J u l y 18 3 9 . T h e S a n d w i c h
W estern H e ra ld r e p o r t e d t h a t o f f i c e r s o f th e 3 4 th Regim ent
a t t e n d e d t h e P a t r i o t s ' 4 J u l y g a t h e r i n g . B u f f a l o ' s (New
Y o r k ) C i t y G u a r d s , who a r r i v e d i n D e t r o i t o n 3 J u l y f o r a n
I n d e p e n d e n c e Day c e l e b r a t i o n , may h a v e a l s o d e t e r r e d a n y
P a t r i o t in v a s io n . ( D e t r o i t D aily F ree P r e s s , 4 J u ly 1839).
7 2 p e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 17 J u l y 18 3 9 ; S a n d w i c h
W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 24 J u l y 18 3 9 .
The P a t r i o t s c o l l e c t e d 1 ,5 0 0
s i g n a t u r e s i n D e t r o i t , 2 2 0 i n Ann A r b o r a n d o v e r 1 0 0 i n

198
of

t h e Laws o f

fo reig n

governm ents,

th e S p i r i t of

*76 p r o m ­

ised
t o i n s i s t upon o u r g o v e r n m e n t 's demanding in i t s
fo re ig n t r e a t i e s , the re c o g n itio n of our c itiz e n s h ip
and e l e v a t i n g t o th e know ledge o f a l l c i v i l i z e d
n a t i o n s , t h e p r o u d , and p r o t e c t i n g t i t l e o f A m erican
c itiz e n s h ip , as a sure s h ie ld a g a in s t o p p ressio n ,
w h e r e v e r o r by w h a t e v e r p o w e r a t t e m p t e d . ' 3
The Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a l d f e a r e d
w ould f a n

"th e

sm ouldering

s h a ll ev en tu ally
w hole of

th is

spread

b eau tifu l

embers o f d i s c o r d

d eso latio n

a ffa ir

F ree d o m 's
recen tly

fig h t"

hoped

late

of
to

th ereafter

eig h teen -d eleg ate
gath ered

rep eated ly
in

any U .S.

New Y o r k .

law s,

a l i v e .

concern

th at

75
the

i n v a s i o n .

inform ed G overnor A rth u r

com m ittee o f P a t r i o t s

"m eet in

T h eller,

n e u trality

a n o th e r C anadian

the

and

m ercenaries,

t h e P a t r i o t movement

u n d ertak e

a spy

in L o ck p o rt,

Ypsilanti.

v io latin g
keep

th ro u g h o u t the

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w ould

the B r i t i s h

paper

. th at

t h a t C anadians

s um m e r 1 8 3 9 B r a d y e x p r e s s e d

P a t r i o t s m ight s t i l l
S h o rtly

in

to o u s t

acq u itted

undoubtedly
In

liv in g

g y

.

"unm anly c o u r s e "

a n d by p r e d i c t i n g

C anadian re fu g e e s

.

and m is e ry

c o n t i n e n t . " 7 4

d e n o u n c i n g P r e s i d e n t Van B u r e n ' s
C aro lin e

th a t T h e lle r's

76

t h a t an

had r e c e n t l y

The c o m m itte e had r e p o r t e d l y

(Detroit Daily Free P r e s s , 7 August 1 8 3 9 ) .

73spirit of

' 7 6 , 15 August 1 8 3 9 .

74sandwich Western H e r a l d , 21 A u g u s t 1 8 3 9 .
75spirit o f

76ftrthur
2 :220.

*76, 16,

to C olborne,

30 A u g u s t 1 8 3 9 .
26 A u g u s t 1 8 3 9 ,

Sanderson, A rth u r,

19 9
co llected

s e v e n h u n d re d arms a t B u f f a l o ,

no n and "a q u a n t i t y
m ittee

also

agreed

o f arms"

la id

up.

th ree

The p l a n n e d

thousand

w ould ta k e
tro o p s

pred icted

up a r m s ,

lib erato rs.

f o r a few d a y s ,

d istract

o fficer

vowed t o n e i t h e r

P r i s o n e r s w ere n o t
E a r ly

to

in O c to b e r,

B elieving
larg e

w o u l d come t o

fo r the a tta c k ,

aid,

a t P e n n sy lv an ia."

a c c e p t nor give
be

t a k e n .

U .S.

The com m itteem en

any q u a r t e r .

77

sp ies

attended

rep o rted

t h a t a t a m eeting

i n v a s i o n o f W i n d s o r w as p o s t p o n e d

U pper C a n a d ia n s had s u c c e e d e d
such an u p r i s i n g ,
of

by h i s

w h i c h w a s t o be

th e proposed

p arts

th eir

t o be on t h e i r way t o

New Y o r k ,

most d is a f f e c te d

if

numbers o f

in L ew iston,

hasten

th at

who h a d b e e n r e l e a s e d

D e t r o i t t o make a r r a n g e m e n t s

also

were

B o t h McLeod a n d f o r m e r G e n e r a l

w ere r e p o r t e d

by a " B r i t i s h

i n v a s i o n of Upper

t h e g o v e rn m e n t and p r e v e n t

Th om as J e f f e r s o n S u t h e r l a n d ,

led

com­

t h a t d i s a f f e c t e d Upper C anadians

from b e i n g s e n t w e s t .

C anadian j a i l e r s ,

The P a t r i o t

"as soon as th e c a n a l- b o a ts "

from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

the P a trio ts

can­

i n v a s i o n w o u l d be u n d e r t a k e n w i t h

reliab le

W i n d s o r c o u l d be h e l d
volunteers

near D e tro it.

th a t a successful

C a n a d a s h o u l d be e f f e c t e d

as w e ll as s ix

by McLeod a n d S u t h e r l a n d ,
u n til

in a m ajo r u p r i s i n g .

a r m s w e r e t o be s m u g g l e d t o
the

p r o v i n c e .

the
To
the

78

77fir. " H a r t ' s " a f f i d a v i t , u n d a t e d , in A r th u r to M arq u is
o f N o r m a n b y , 15 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 9 , B r i t i s h P a r l i a m e n t a r y P a p e r s ,
v o l . 13, p a r t 2, pp.
210-14.
7 8 R i n c h e n , Hunters, p. 100.

200
Even th o u g h T h e l l e r
sm ouldering
only

embers w i l l

rum ors o f

satio n al

fu tu re

sto ries

o fficer

m u sterin g

In h ab itan ts

in e a rly

of one

on t h i s

re p o rts of caches
th at

a g g r e s s i o n . 79

had w arned

a force

d is c o v e r th e s e weapons,

the

late

early

n eu trality

could

the

Indians

79s p i r i t

to

R esponding

be d e v i s e d "

Brady o b s e r v e d

"m assacre

the

to c o n tin u o u s
Brady r e p o r t e d

had b e e n u s e d

concluded

first

th at

on t h a t

to

th at

in

In e a rly

t h e r e w as n o t

f r o n t i e r .

the

82

convinced

in

fu tu re,

would o c c u r o n l y

and d e t e r m i n e d

C a n a d i a n G o v e r n o r A r t h u r was e q u a l l y
P a t r i o t War h a d e n d e d ,

C lair

th e C an a d ia n s w ere

by t h e P a t r i o t s

"struck

t h e more s e n ­

b u t w i t h o u t s u c c e s s . 81

general

v io latio n s

th e C anadians

them t h a t

among t h e P a t r i o t s

December t h e

t h e r e w ere

November t h a t a v i s i t i n g

thousand

O ctober 1839,

"least s tir"

"the

of S t.

h id d e n P a t r i o t weapons,

" e v e ry m ethod t h a t

In

one of

resid en ts

F r o n t i e r . "80

of

th at

s o o n a g a i n be l i g h t e d , "

cam e f r o m t h e

C o u n t y , who a l l e g e d
B ritish

b oldly p re d ic te d

if

blow ."® 3
th at

the

autum n he c o n c lu d e d

th at

'7 6 , 7 O ctober 1839.

8 0 A f f i d a v i t o f J o h n B ea c h , 5 November 1 8 3 9 , S a n d e r s o n ,
A r t h u r , 2 : 2 9 9 - 3 0 0 ; B rad y t o A i r e y , 8 November 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . ,
2:299.
®3B r a d y t o S c o t t , 23 O c t o b e r ,
E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .
®^Brady t o S c o t t ,
83erady

4 November 1 8 3 9 ,

23 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 9 ,

to R o b ert A nderson,

NARS,

ib id .

4 December 1 8 3 9 ,

ib id .

201
a ll

the r e p o r ts

augm enting
of
the

of

te rro r

th e P a t r i o t s
.

the d i s a f f e c te d
fro n tier,

a t t e m p t .

"84

.
in

rath er

. are

"gathering

founded upon w hat i s

the p ro v in ce

and

the d e s ir e

and t h e i r p a r t i s a n s

j n m id-N ovem ber he c o n f i d e n t l y o b s e r v e d ,

P a t r i o t c a u s e had

on

th a n upon w hat th e y w i l l a c t u a l l y

s h a l l h a v e a q u i e t w i n t e r on t h e

ex pected,

stren g th

F ro n tie r."

A lthough th e

" g o n e down m o r e s u d d e n l y "

th e e x ecu tiv e

was " q u i t e

"We

t h a n he

satisfied "

th at

the

P a t r i o t c a u s e was "n o l o n g e r P o p u l a r . "85
N e i t h e r M ichigan n o r C an ad ian a u t h o r i t i e s
an o th er w in ter of

h o stilities,

continued

vig ilan ce.

A rtillery

arriv ed

Several

in D e t r o i t

tim e Brady r e a s s u r e d
showed t h e m s e l v e s ,

but preserving
com panies o f

he r a p id l y

anyw here betw een F o r t G r a t i o t
November,
D etro it,

th at

cau tio n ary

m e a s u r e .

87

S t.

At t h e

same

the P a t r i o t s

c o u l d move a n a r m e d s t e a m e r
a n d S a n d u s k y , O h i o . 86

M a r s h a l l Ten Eyck a p p o in t e d
Monroe and o n t h e

if

peace req u ired

t h e 4 t h U .S.

in m id -O cto b er.

G eneral S c o tt

expected

ad d itio n al

in

d ep u ties

C la ir R iver as a p re -

j n u p p er Canada,

G overnor A rth u r did

84&rthur to Marquis of Normanby, 17 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 3 9 ,
British Parliamentary P a p e r s , vol. 1 3 , part 2 , p. 1 8 5 .

8 ^ A r t h u r t o A i r e y , 5 N o v e m b e r 18 3 9 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r ,
2 : 2 9 9 ; A r t h u r t o R. D. J a c k s o n , 14 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . ,
2:314.
8 &Brady t o S c o t t , 23 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 9 , NARS, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 ; S p i r i t o f ' 7 6 , 14 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 9 .
8 7 i e n Eyck t o F o r s y t h ,
D o m e s t i c L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 .

at

3 D e c e m b e r 18 3 9 ,

NARS,

DOS,

202
not

th in k

it

prudent

to

send

the m i l i t i a

he e x p re sse d

co nfidence

th at

even th e most v u ln e r a b le

stretch es

the p r o v in c e 's

of

home, e v e n th o u g h

b o r d e r w ere a d e q u a t e l y

d e f e n d e d . 88
I n D ecem ber 1839 B r i t i s h
U nited S ta te s
p erceiv ed
w orried

t h a t renew ed P a t r i o t

by t h e B r i t i s h

t h a t F o x 's

th e P a t r i o t s

rem arks m ight

w e a p o n s n o r t h e money t o

country

had

lo st

its

[w hile]
in
lar

oth ers

the e f f e c t

are

B rady

of d riv in g

t h e g e n e r a l was w ro n g .
the P a t r i o t s

continue

cre d ib ility .

th eir

asham ed o f

cam paign

to

M ost A m e ric an s

the p a r t

have no d i s p o s i t i o n

th e P a t r i o t s

in

to

ad d itio n

As

had n e i t h e r

n o t s u p p o r t an o v e r t h r o w

a bad s p e c u l a t i o n . "82
su p p o rt,

"have

As G o v e r n o r A r t h u r h a d o b s e r v e d

"Many A m e r i c a n s

w o u l d be

in

the

realized
of

th eir

la te Ju ly ,

th e y have

tak en ;

t h r o w aw ay m o r e mone y
to

the

l o s s of popu­

w ere f a c e d w i t h a more e f f i c i e n t

®8A r t h u r t o J . F . L o v e , 23 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 9 , S a n d e r s o n ,
A r t h u r , 2 : 3 6 2 ; A r t h u r t o S i r R. D. J a c k s o n , 14 N o v e m b e r ,
1839, i b i d . , p. 2 :3 1 4 .
88j3rady t o S c o t t ,
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

25 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 9 ,

NARS,

E astern

80ibid.

^^B rady t o C o l.

the

lib erate

movement in M ic h ig a n and a c r o s s

t h a t m ost C anadians d id
governm ent.

eut

a week e a r l i e r ,

The P a t r i o t

filib u sterin g

the

as a d e c la ra tio n of w ar.8®

to a c t i o n . "80

he had o b s e r v e d

C a n a d a . 81

A m b a s s a d o r Fox w a r n e d

James Bankhead,

19 D e c e m b e r ,

ib id .

9 2 A r t h u r t o M a r q u i s o f N o r m a n b y , 27 J u l y 18 3 9 , B r i t i s h
P a r lia m e n ta r y P a p e r s , v o l . 13, p a r t 2, p. 153.

203
m ilitary

presence

along

tiv e

m e a s u r e s was t h e

U .S.

and B r i t i s h

the

creatio n

m ilitary

a ctiv ity .

s e v e ra l o ccasions
A rthur

in h is

days of poorly-arm ed

on 4 D ecem ber t o

t h e i r m ost s a t i s f y i n g

the

a n . '"9 4
had e n d e d .

years

v icto ry

'o u r

'B a ttle

fo lk s'

behind

over th e

G overnor

v irtu es

of

1840.

But th e

the

lib eratio n

them when t h e y
first

anniversary

"B rig an d s."

tru st

forget

th a t an y thing

th at

The

t h a t a con­

e v e r happened

realized

of

to p u t

so h a p p i l y e x i s t i n g

o f W indsor*

Even Edward T h e l l e r
S till

the

late

"We h e a r t i l y

the peace a t p re s e n t

dreadful

as

advocating

commemorate t h e

W estern H erald c o n c lu d e d ,

w i l l make

M ald e n on

W este rn C an ad ian s w ere re a d y

gathered

our borders

F t.

any

for several

h o r d e s o f men s e e k i n g

tw o a n x i e t y - f i l l e d

of

to

p ersisted

new spaper u n t i l

th e p a s t

tin u atio n

th e M ichigan

w ith v i s i t i n g

in cid en ts

t h e C anadas had e n d e d .

of

Along

betw een

in A ugust 1839.^3

and T h e l l e r c o n t i n u e d

rep u b lican ism

clo ser re la tio n s

trav elled

and c o n f e r r e d

in A m herstburg

t h e more e f f e c ­

inform ed C o lo n el A irey of

The g e n e r a l

In freq u en t border
years,

of

One o f

au th o rities.

f r o n t i e r B rady r e p e a t e d l y
P atrio t

border.

'a t

along
so
a ll

at

t h e P a t r i o t War

contem ptuous of Upper C anadians

for fa ilin g

9 ^ A i r e y t o H a l k e t t , 6 May 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . , p p . 1 2 4 - 2 5 ; C o r e y ,
C r i s i s , pp. 8 5 -9 0 , 1 1 6 -17; K inchen, H u n te r s , pp.
101-02;
A r t h u r t o L o r d F i t z r o y J . H. S o m e r s e t , 27 F e b r u a r y , 1 4 May
1839, S anderson, A r t h u r , 2 :6 8 , 149-50; A rth u r to C olb orne,
1 5 A p r i l , 26 A u g u s t 1 8 3 9 , i b i d . , 2 : 1 1 8 , 2 1 9 - 2 0 .
^^Sandw ich W e s te rn H e r a ld ,

12 D ecem ber 1 8 3 9 .

204
to

aid

th a t

in

th e

th e ir

own l i b e r a t i o n ,

P atrio ts

u n d erstan d in g .
co n clu sio n
[C anadians]

^ S p irit

not
say

of

and C a n a d ia n s

A ccording
to

go u n t i l

when t h e y

'7 6 ,

th e

form er g e n e ra l

had

reached

to T h e l l e r ,
we a r e
w a n t jus,

and

they w i l l

1 5 D e c e m b e r 18 3 9 .

an

"we h a v e

w anted;

claim ed

co me

to

they
se n d ."95

the

CHAPTER EIGHT:

CONCLUSION: AMERICA IN THE 1830s

An e x a m i n a t i o n o f M i c h i g a n i a n s

during

rev eals

much a b o u t t h e A m e r i c a n p e r s o n a l i t y

1830s.

A m ericans d u rin g

co n fid en t,
g re a t p rid e
b eliev ed

am b itio u s,
in

th at

be e x p e r ie n c e d

th eir
the

those years

b o astfu l

by p e o p l e s

in th e

they

around

late

w ere n a t i o n a l i s t i c ,

and a n g lo p h o b ic .

d em ocratic

lib e rtie s

t h e P a t r i o t War

They to o k

form o f g o v e r n m e n t and
enjoyed

should e v e n tu a lly

the w orld.

As P r e s i d e n t

Andrew J a c k s o n r e m i n d e d h i s

fellow

farew ell address,

t h e h i g h e s t o f human t r u s t s

m itted

"You h a v e

to your c a re .

favored

com­

P r o v i d e n c e h a s s h o w e r e d on t h i s

land b le s s in g s

th e g u ard ian s of

countrym en in h is

w i t h o u t number,

freedom ,

to p re serv e

and h a s c h o se n you as
it

f o r th e b e n e f i t of

t h e huma n r a c e . " 1
A m erican a u t h o r i t i e s
faced

th r e e problem s

o f m is s io n A m ericans
corresponding
seded

law ;

the

charged w ith m a in ta in in g

in r e s t r a i n i n g
felt

in sp re a d in g

dom inant b e l i e f
p o litic iz a tio n

A m erican s o c i e t y ;

and

the

th e P a t r i o t s :

th at

lib erty

the

lin es

sense

and th e

in d iv iu d u al rig h ts

p rev alen t

ex istin g

order

super­

i n many f a c e t s

of

of a u th o rity

b et-

1 J a m e s D. R i c h a r d s o n , e d . , A C o m p i l a t i o n o f t h e M e s s a g e s
a n d P a p e r s o f t h e P r e s i d e n t s , 10 v o l s . ( N . p . , 1 8 9 9 ) , 3 : 3 0 8 .
205

206
ween s t a t e

and f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n ts .

A m erican p o l i t i c a l
A m erican R e v o l u tio n .
by an a r c h a i c ,
o f A m erican
A lthough

A m ericans

o p p ressiv e

in stitu tio n s

the y e a rs

re s o lu tio n of

follo w in g

o p in io n .

A lexis

conceive of a h atred
A m ericans

felt

for

f o r A m ericans

w o u ld welcome a n end

th is
in

his

v isit

noted
than

still
to

and

per­

the

t h a t which

not

the

c o n f i d e n t t h a t A m erican dem ocracy

th e w orld
later

to

follow .

Support fo r

th e G reek R e v o lu tio n s e t

to assum e b l i n d l y
to B r i t i s h

ru le.

defian ce of

the w ishes

of B r itis h

not b elieve

th at reb ellio n

the

M oreover,

a llo w ed A m ericans

and s u p p o r te r s

the

t h a t Upper C an ad ian s

co lo n ial

n o tio n of r e b e llio n

1830s,

the

t h a t he co u ld

to e a s i l y

a s a means o f o b t a i n i n g

I n C a n a d a many R e f o r m e r s who s u p p o r t e d

the e a r ly

an tith esis

enemy.

the B r i t i s h

Follow ing

R e v o l u t i o n a r y War h e r i t a g e

end.

be r u l e d

betw een th e U n ited S t a t e s

more p o i s o n o u s

F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n and

more a c c e p t th e

to

England.2

was a m odel f o r a l l

th eir

by t h e

t h e War o f 1 8 1 2 w i t n e s s e d

de T o c q u e v i l l e

A m erican s w ere a l s o

stag e

England

and A m e r i c a ' s n a t u r a l

A m erican d i s t r u s t o f

pu b lic

U nited S t a te s ,

believ ed

dom inated

g o v e r n m e n t t h a t w as t h e

v ario u s d isp u te s

G reat B rita in ,
v ad ed U .S.

id e a s w ere s t i l l

who e l e c t e d
co lo n ial

M ackenzie

him i n

au th o rities,

was a p r o p e r means

did

to a ch iev e

change.

^ B e rn a rd B a i l y n e t a l . , The G r e a t R e p u b l i c : A H i s t o r y o f
t h e A m e r i c a n P e o p l e , 2 v o l s . ( L e x i n g t o n , MA: D. C. H e t h &
C o . , 1 9 7 7 ) , 1 : 5 9 4 ; T h o m a s A. B a i l e y , A D i p l o m a t i c H i s t o r y o f

207
The u n i v e r s a l i t y
B ritish

co rru p tio n

was e v i d e n t

p o litic a l

m ost,

in clu d in g

quest

for

and s o c i a l

in

th eir

lib erty .

"In d iv id u als

le ad e rs,

Even th e

have a r i g h t

money and s e r v i c e s

th e

to

th eir

s e a t of w ar,

W riting

to

in S t.

observe

d ecep tio u s
G overnm ent,

lib e ra tio n

[s i c ]

to conceal
are

a duty

th eir

in Jan u a ry

t h e A m erican P e o p le
1958), pp. 204-05.

conceded

[s i c ] ,

the

1838,
th at

b u t added

from you t h e

en listed

sym pathies,

to v o lu n te e r

t h e m — God s p e e d

as c i t i z e n s

i s now g o i n g o n i n

th e C anadian

of an o p p r e s s e d p e o p l e .

n e u tra lity ,"

. . .

or o ffic ia l

of Canada,

sym pathized w ith

b reth eren

C l a i r C ounty,

a stric t

and s y m p a th ie s
w hich

an a c t i v e

of

th is

fact

and e x c i t e d

.

.

in

and m arch

a fter

to

the

resid en ts
th e y w ere
that

of
"bound

" i t would

be

R epublican

th a t our
in

.

the r i g h t I " 3

t o P a t r i o t G e n e r a l Thomas S u t h e r l a n d

d is m a l B ois B lan c cam paign
Palm er,

W hile o n ly a

c o n trib u te of

aid

to

lin es.

i n D ecem ber 1837 t h a t

stru g g lin g
we s a y

of dem ocracy,

c o n s e r v a t i v e Whig D e t r o i t

to

the

the

a n y o f o u r y o u n g men d e em i t

defence of

rev o lu tio n ,

fo r the P a t r i o t s ,

favored

su p p o rtin g

D a ily A d v e r tis e r em phasized

If

support

o f M ichigan r e s i d e n t s

A m erican p r e s e n c e

in

and th e m oral s u p e r i o r i t y

in the w idespread

w hich c r o s s e d
m inority

of A m erican b e l i e f

the

feelin g s

rev o lu tio n

t w o C a n a d i a n Provinces.

(New Y o r k :

A p pleton-C entury-C roft,

3P e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 14 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 7 .
. B e e b y e t a l . t o S u t h e r l a n d , 13 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 ,
S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 23 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

in

In c .,

208
P rev ailin g

p o l i t i c a l philo so p h ies

A m erican R e v o l u tio n p r e s e n t e d
attem p tin g

to c o n tro l

the

th at

as

b elief
long

as

m ajo rity .

it

served

p u b lic
w here

it

E ffo rts

D etro iter

law

is

becomes,

th a t op in io n does

but

and was v a l i d

tria l

em bodied s p i r i t

in a g r e a t d e g re e,

w ere a lm o s t a lw ay s

in J a n u a ry 1838,
in v a in

P a trio t general

the m i l i t a r y

fo r prep arin g

su stain ed

and a f e d e r a l

confirm ed S u th e r la n d 's

Ju ly

the

and Decem ber 1838 a t

follo w in g

filib u ste rs

the

fu tile.

In

D istrict
the

ex p ed itio n

Goodwin f a c e d

th at
both

j u d g e who r e p e a t e d l y

to ev id en ce

t h a t m ig h t have

a c tiv itie s.5

Ju d g e Ross W i l k i n s 's
o f e v i d e n c e was o n l y

U .S.

in to

to p ro s e c u te

invaded Upper C anada.

defense o b je c tio n s

of

it." 5

A t t o r n e y D a n i e l Goodwin t r i e d

u n cooperative w itn e sse s

only

in o p e ra tiv e ,

t h o s e P a t r i o t s who f e l l

h a n d s o f A m erican a u t h o r i t i e s

l e f t M ic h ig a n and

for a u th o ritie s

observed, "under a

the

not s u s ta in

to p ro s e c u te

Thomas S u t h e r l a n d ' s

the

n e e d s o f a n d w as u p h e l d by t h e

As o n e a s t u t e

o p inion,

out of

P r i m e among t h e s e was

from th e p e o p le

the

Governm ent where th e

g rave problem s

the P a t r i o t s .

l a w came

grow ing

d is m is sa l of S utherland
first
least

of

several

sim ilar

seven P a t r i o t s ,

in to Upper Canada,

for

lack

cases.

In

arrested

were r e l e a s e d

5 U n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 13 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 ,
N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 27 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

by

in

5T h o m a s S u t h e r l a n d c a s e r e c o r d s i n N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s a n d
R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e , C h ic a g o , U .S. C i r c u i t C o u r t, E a s t e r n
D i v i s i o n , M i c h i g a n , R e c o r d G r o u p 21 ( h e r e a f t e r NARS, C i r c u i t
C o u r t , RG 2 1 ) ; D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 19 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ;

209
Judge W ilkins

for

lack of

In m id-1839,

A t t o r n e y Goodwin t r i e d

acknow ledged P a t r i o t s
A ccording
atto rn ey

to

was " m et a t

of both

accused,

and

step ,

w ith

t h e C o u r t and J u r y ,

T hw arted

in h is

gave

The p roblem o f

itse lf

every

The A d v e r t i s e r added

Goodwin a p p a r e n t l y

co u rts.

E dw ard T h e l l e r and D o n a ld McLeod.

however im p e ra tiv e

m ight b e."

th e

a b le only

law ,

up t r y i n g

P a trio ts

to reprim and

him $50 f o r
stealin g

The o n ly

L t.

P a trio t

facts

to e n fo rc e

the

law s,

tran scen d ed

m ilitia

o fficers

resu lted

in

the

found

in J u ly 1838.

from

the

to J a c k s o n 's

su ccessfu l pro secu tio n of a P a trio t

in clu d in g

c iv il

C olonel C h a rle s Ja c k so n

240 m u s k e t s e n t r u s t e d

alleg ian ce,

the

th e

th at

c o n v i c t i o n may h a v e r e s u l t e d

a n d sym­

and c l e a r

a p ro secu tio n

n egligence

bias

to p r o s e c u te P a t r i o t s . 8

M ic h i g a n was t h a t o f J o h n V r e e l a n d
h is

"the

o p p o sitio n

was in f a v o r o f

effo rts

securing

the d i s t r i c t

unexpected

th at

In 1838 a t r i b u n a l o f s t a t e

fin e

to p r o s e c u te

the D e tr o it D aily A d v e r tis e r ,

and c e n s u re ."
pathy

e v id en ce.?

facto rs

alleg atio n

in
However,

o th er
th at

care.^

than

his

he was a

c o u n terfe iter.

D e t r o i t D aily A d v e r tis e r ,
Ju ly

18 J a n u a r y

1838.

^ U n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 12 J u l y 1 8 3 8 , i n A l b i o n ,
1 8 3 8 ; D e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t , 15 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 .
^D e tr o it D aily A d v e r tis e r , 3 J u ly
^D e tr o it D aily

21

1839.

F r e e P r e s s , 14 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .

l O i b i d . , 14 J u l y 1 8 3 8 ; D e t r o i t M o r n i n g P o s t , 1 6 - 1 9 J u l y
1 8 3 8 ; J o h n V r e e l a n d c a s e r e c o r d s i n NARS, C i r c u i t C o u r t , RG
2 1 ; u n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t , 13 J u l y 1 8 3 8 , i n A l b i o n , 21

210
The b i g g e s t d i f f i c u l t y
P atrio ts

was t h e

a p p aren tly
in

fe lt

in a b lity

as w rong.

if

facts

or of

d iffic u lt

observed

i n f o r m a t i o n . "12

of

of

th e m s e l v e s view

"few a r e w i l l i n g
dependable

ju ry

th at

w h e th e r A m erican n e u t r a l i t y
ch arg ed w ith having

A year

n eu trality
to g iv e

ju ries

j o b e v e n more d i f f i c u l t .

a D e t r o i t grand

these

a c o r r e c t know ledge

th a t enfo rcin g

F inding

engaged

1838 Goodwin a d m i t t e d

th e P a t r i o t s . H

th e

C itizen s

in c rim in a te people

not

in a c q u irin g

b eca u se so

p ro s e c u to r 's

th e y did

th e doings"

Judge W ilkins

to

On 9 J a n u a r y

extrem e d i f f i c u l t y "

p ro secu tin g

to g a th e r ev id en ce.

no o b l i g a t i o n

ille g a l actio n s

actio n s

in s u c c e s s f u l l y

"the
"of

later,

la w s was

the

req u isite

made t h e

I n m id -1 8 3 8 members

had b e en c o n v e n e d

to d e te rm in e

law s had b e e n v i o l a t e d

t h e m s e l v e s g i v e n m on e y a n d a i d

were
to

the

P a t r i o t s . 13
The u n w i l l i n g n e s s

to p ro s e c u te o r c o o p e ra te

in

the

J u l y 1 8 3 8 ; R. W. A s h l e y , M c L e o d ' s a i d e , d e s c r i b e d V r e e l a n d
a s a t r a i t o r , who " d r e s s e d h i m s e l f i n a s t o l e n m i l i t a r y
d r e s s , p a r a d e d h i m s e l f b e f o r e t h e U .S . M a r s h a l l s , and f o r c e d
t h e m t o n o t i c e h i s c o n d u c t . " (R. W. A s h l e y t o Lyman
S h e r w o o d , 1 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 , i n S e v e r a n c e , " T h e Woes o f a
L ead er,"
pp. 1 41 -4 2 .)
U G o o d w i n t o F o r s y t h , 9 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS, M i s c . ,
RG 5 9 .
On 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 t h e D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s
o b s e r v e d t h a t "a th o u s a n d and one ru m o rs a r e in c i r c u l a t i o n "
a n d t h e o n l y t h i n g c e r t a i n was t h a t t h e r e was " l i t t l e
r e l i a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n t o be r e l i e d o n ."
l ^ w i i k i n s t o Van B u r e n ,
D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

7 Jan u ary 1839,

l 3U n i d e n t i f i e d c o r r e s p o n d e n t ,
I n t e l l i g e n c e r , 12 J u l y 1 8 3 8 .

NARS,

30 J u n e 1 8 3 8 ,

E astern

in N a tio n a l

211
p ro secu tio n
S teele

of P a trio ts

is

Co m ra an ge r h a s d e s c r i b e d

A m e ric a n 's

"cav alier

Commanger,

th e A m e ric a n 's

au th o rity
of

h is

and h i s

in stitu tio n s

d isresp ect"

t i m e n t s when t h e y

and c o n t r o l

len ien t

law .

the

A ccording

attitu d e
in

the

to

tow ard

su p erio rity

and w e l l - b e i n g

to w a rd d i s s e n t and
expressed

observed d uring

"it

is

u tterly

feelin g s

o u tb reak in g s

of
of

th ese

im possible

some o f o u r
th eir

sen­

the e a r ly

m onths

to
citizen s#

rejo ices"

enforcem ent of q u e stio n a b le

a secondary p o s itio n

As t h e P a t r i o t s
the B a ttle

gath ered

of W indsor,

a b o u t how d i f f i c u l t
m inded and p e a c e

it

loving

many i n d i v i d u a l s ,

th at

th e

for

the

cause.

To A m e r i c a n s ,

p ecu liar

n in eteen th -cen tu ry

"d isresp ectfu l

casu ally

and th e o c c a s s io n a l

took

for

by w h a t H e n r y

com bined w i t h p r o s p e r i t y

t h e P a t r i o t War t h a t

P atrio t

the

p alm er r e s i d e n t s

n o n c o n f o r m i t y . " ^

re strain

as

ex plained

com placent c o n fid e n c e

t o ma ke t h e A m e r i c a n

of

p artly

at

th eir

ex isted

behind p r e s e r v a t i o n of
n ear D e t r o i t during

the

clearly

"rig h ts."
days

before

th e D e t r o i t D aily A d v e r tis e r grim aced
w as t o

convince

c itizen s

the p r e s e n t

circum stances,

law s

in d icated

th at

"man y o f o u r
the

sober-

appearance of

ju n ctu re,

and

som ething

any v e ry u r g e n t n e c e s s i t y

so

under the

w rong,

or

.

.

f o r an

l ^ H e n r y S t e e l e C o m m a n g e r , T h e A m e r i c a n M i n d ; An
I n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f A m e ric a n Though and C h a r a c t e r S i n c e t h e
1 8 8 0 s (New H a v e n : Y a l e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 5 0 ) , p p . 1 9 - 2 0 .
1 5 F . B e e b y e t a l . t o S u t h e r l a n d , 13 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 ,
S a n d w i c h W e s t e r n H e r a l d , 2 3 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 .

in

.

212
efficien t

nig h t

p a t r o l .

A fe w w e e k s
tude.

D eciding

"16

l a t e r Judge W ilkins
for

th e ow ners o f

filib u sters,

released .

A dm itting

ex p lain ed

M cD o n ell's

d eclared
even

if

th at
they

the

the

W ilkins

ordered

the

federal

o f A m erican c i v i l

the

the v e s s e l

f e a r o f renewed h o s t i l i t i e s

v io latio n s

to e n f o r c e

a tti­

on 5 December to p r e v e n t

"over re a c tio n ,"

g u aran tee

in clu d ed

w eigh e f f o r t s

th at

th is

th e C h am p lain / w hich th e

P o r t C o l l e c t o r M cD onell had s e i z e d
any f u r th e r P a t r i o t

reiterated

of

lib erties,

the peace,

law s.

A ccording

judge

should o u t­
to W ilk in s

F a r d i f f e r e n t i s i t , and f a r more e a s y i s i t , i n
a d e s p o ti c governm ent to e n fo r c e th e o b serv an c e of
T reaties.
Where t h e sw ord and t h e b a y o n e t s p r i n g
i n t o a c t i o n , a t t h e b e c k o f a m i l i t a r y m o n arch , and
t h e s u p r e m e Law i s w r i t t e n i n a n d e n f o r c e d by b l o o d ,
o u r I n s t i t u t i o n s c a n n o t b u t be m i s u n d e r s t o o d .
But I
f e r v e n t l y p r a y , t h a t a s i c k l y r e g a r d f o r t h i s m isun­
d e r s t a n d i n g , and a d r e a d o f f o r e i g n d i s p l e a s u r e , w i l l
n e v e r in d u c e t h e a l t e r a t i o n o f a t i t t l e [s i c ] o f o u r
fu n d a m e n ta l law , o r le a d to t h e s l i g h t e s t d i s r e g a r d of
t h e r i g h t s o f t h e c i t i z e n . 17
M ichigan r e s i d e n t s
p erceiv ed

rig h ts

C o n stitu tio n .

and

lib erties

P atrio t

M ichigan m ilit ia m e n ,

16petroit D a i l y
l^ibid.,

rig h t

army and f r e e d o m

In m id-F ebruary 1838,

filib u sters,

claim ed o th e r

guaranteed

Among t h e m w e r e t h e

freedo m from a s t a n d i n g
governm ent.

in th e 1830s

s t o l e n U .S.

at

th e m u n d e r

and

the

to b e a r arm s,
from e x c e s s i v e

a tim e o f

im m inent

o r d n a n c e and u n t r u s t w o r t h y

i t was r e p o r t e d

th at

fo u r-fifth s

A d v e r t i s e r , 4 December 1 8 3 8 .

29 December 1 8 3 8 .

real

of

213
D e tro it's

p o p u latio n

"u n n ecessarily

rig id "

L eg islativ e

stitu tio n a l
th reaten ed
tia

in su p p re ssin g

effo rts

"m artial ex ercise
the P a t r i o t s '

th o u g h t governm ent o f f i c i a l s

act.

the P a t r i o t s .

to o rd e r m i l i t i a

a nd company d r i l l " - - a

a c t i v i t i e s — prom pted
"If

our c itiz e n s"
catio n s

response

of

th is

the P o n tiac C o u rie r argued,

The S t a t e J o u r n a l

G e n e ra l B rady f o r

d ire ct

to engage

it.

(Ann A r b o r )

"tam pering w ith

when he d i s m i s s e d

the

in

to

uncon­

in d a n g e r from

t o a man w o u l d t u r n o u t t o d e f e n d

d an g er."

u n its

c riticism

o u r c o u n tr y were

in v a sio n ,"

h a d be co m e

"th e m ili­

But t h e r e

also

is

no

c riticized

rig h ts

the m i l i t i a

and f e e l i n g s
fo llow ing

t h a t s e v e r a l members s y m p a t h i z e d w i t h

of

in d i­

the

P atrio ts.
M ore s e r i o u s c r i t i c i s m

v io latio n s

g u aran tees

occurred

raid ed

home o f E d w a r d H e a t h ,

th e

A lthough

in J u ly

of

the a u th o r itie s

18 38 w h e n U . S .

search

to p o s s e s s

firearm s,

c o n stitu tio n al

a u th o rities

a staunch P a t r i o t .

possessed

P a t r i o t weapons w ere d i s c o v e r e d .
rig h t

of

a search
C itin g

one D e t r o i t e r

w arran t,

no

the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
responded

to

the

by q u e r y i n g

S h a l l a B rady, o r a G arlan d [B ra d y 's second-in-com m and],
d r e s s e d i n a l i t t l e b r i e f a u t h o r i t y , a n d b a c k e d by
U n i t e d S t a t e s s o l d i e r s , t r a m p l e on o u r r i g h t s — s e a r c h
o u r h o u s e s — a n d by a d i s p l a y o f b a y o n e t s s t i l l t h e
e x h i b i t i o n of every ind ep en d en t em otion?2^

• ^ D e t r o i t D a i l y F ree P r e s s , 1 3 February 1 8 3 8 .
i ^ P o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 16 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 ;
A r b o r ) , 1 March 1 8 3 8 .
^U n id en tified

correspondent

S tate Journal

(Ann

i n D e t r o i t M orning P o s t , 9

214
S im ilar c ritic is m

of governm ent a c ti o n s

resu lted

D ecem ber 1838 when one M ic h ig a n r e s i d e n t d e s c r i b e d
effo rts

to a r r e s t P a t r i o t s

in v asio n ,

as

"sham eful conduct of

A g r e a t e r U .S.
ta il

fleein g

the P a t r i o t s ,

m ilitary

t r o o p s went l a r g e l y

from t h e a b o r t e d W in d so r
a free

unheeded.

In J u ly

th at

aid

to encourage

tended

th e perform ance of
B ra d y 's

reg u lar

G r a t i o t and

cur­

inform ed

th at m ilitary

th e deputy m a rsh als

in

how ever s i x m onths l a t e r

in clu d in g

the D e a rb o r n s v ille

to

f o r more

1838 B ra d y

"the c o n v ic tio n

th e ir d u tie s,"

army f o r c e ,

g o v e r n m e n t . "21

c o n sta n t urgings

A d ju ta n t G eneral Jo n es
was a t hand

th e

p r e s e n c e was e s s e n t i a l

y e t B ra d y 's

in

the g a rris o n s

arsen al,

to taled

at

Fort

ju s t over

o n e h u n d r e d m e n . 22
C ongress
b u t the

effort

e ffectiv e
tak in g

in creased
lacked

d eterren t

to

the

the

speed

the

fig h tin g

In d ian s,

the

stan d in g

arm y,

Ju ly

1838.

necessary

to

tra d itio n a l

esp ecially

an o f f i c i a l

av ersio n

B esides

in crease

in volvem ent

in

to a la rg e

was t h e

troops a v a ila b le

2 lG eo rg e Heron to W illia m M ac k e n zie ,
J a m e s H. W h e l a n P a p e r s , BC.

an

th e C ongress

th e a rm y 's

in p e a c e tim e ,

number o f r e g u l a r

t o make i t

filib u sterin g .

army t o o n l y 1 2 , 5 0 0 m en,
In a d d itio n

lim ited

t h e army i n m id -1 8 3 8 ,

the m a tte r,

o f a mere 5 , 0 0 0 .

the

of

the P a t r i o t s '

s i x m onths t o d e b a t e

increased

size

cu lp rit

for

fo r serv ice

5 December 1838,

2 2 B r a d y t o J o n e s , 17 J u l y 1 8 3 8 , NARS, AGO RG 9 4 ; B r a d y t o
S c o t t , 8 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, E a s t e r n D i v i s i o n , RG 3 9 3 .

215
on th e

n o rth ern

denounced

fro n tier.

t h e way t h e

In D ecember 1838 a D e t r o i t r a l l y

army was b e i n g

u s e d on t h e

and c i r c u l a t e d

a p etitio n

criticizin g

for

a stan d in g

a rm y " i n

statio n in g

endangered

the

liv es

o f A m ericans

"on t h e m ere p r e t e n c e
a b o u t t o be
pow er,

ro le

in frac te d ."

a tendency

p e titio n

fu rth er

D ecrying

unchanged s in c e
the

fo r a C iv il

and m i l i t a r y

P r e s i d e n t Van B u re n

tim e of p e a c e ,"
and

a law o f

criticized

"calcu lated
C iv il

th at

fro n tier

w hich

im prisoned o t h e r s ,

t h e U nion has

the

been o r

n a t u r e o f man t o

the days of C aesar,

use of

P o l i c e .

au th o rities

all

the m ilit a r y

is

seize
the

in a

"23
attem p tin g

to

co n tro l

t h e P a t r i o t s w e r e h a m p e r e d by p o p u l a r b e l i e f s

o f m i s s i o n and

th e dom inance o f

c iv ilia n

lead ers

in d iv id u al

rig h ts.

w ere a l s o p o l i t i c a l

depended upon e l e c t i o n

creatu res,

forced

tio n s

e v e r y m ovem ent.

th eir

The 1830s m arked
ment

to

co n sid er

the

b irth

in A m erican s o c i e t y .
g reater

two p a r t y

system h ig h lig h te d

p o litic a l

p arties

im p o rtan t sin ce

v o ter

dom inant m a jo r ity .

th e p o l i t i c a l

in v o lv e­

th e developm ent o f

the decade.
su p p o rters,

esp ecially

2:3 0 8 -1 0 ;

a

A lthough b oth
p u b l i c o p i n i o n was

in M ichigan,

W hile r e c e n t s t u d i e s

2 3Theller, C a n a d a ,
December 1 8 3 8 .

o ffi­

ram ifica­

o f m ass p o l i t i c a l

i n t e r e s t and

lo y al

n eith er,

As a r e s u l t ,

The e x p a n s i o n o f w h i t e m ale

suffrage,

had

whose s u c c e s s

and a p p o i n t m e n t .

c e h o l d e r s were
of

However,

in d icate

Detroit D a i l y

commanded a
th at

th ere

F r e e P r e s s , 17

216
was l i t t l e

d ifferen ce

on p o l i t i c a l
in d icatio n s
clo sely

and econom ic
D em ocrats

alig n ed

fo rced during
b a ttle
more

w ith

the

issu es

in

the 1830s,

seemed t o p e r c e i v e
the m asses.

s ta te 's

over a lie n

lib e ra l

istic

b e tw e e n M i c h i g a n W higs and D e m o c r a ts

v o tin g

fran ch ise,

w hile

w ith a p a r t i c u l a r

T heir b e lie f

was r e i n ­
convention

The D e m o c ra ts f a v o r e d

t h e W higs t e n d e d

av ersion

are

t h e m s e l v e s a s more

1835 c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
rig h ts.

there

fo r the

Irish

to

a

be n a t i v -

and

C a t h o l i c . 24
Much o f
reg ard in g

the

h is

h andling

c a l opp onents.
A d v ertiser,

d om estic
of

In e a r ly

th e W h ig 's

c riticism

the P a t r i o t s

o r tak in g

fa rc ic a l."
support

lead in g

ity ,

"The s t e e d

"and

F ollow ing

for

o fficia ls'

S u th e rla n d 's
it

is

of

t h e An n f i a s c o ,

actio n s

"a good d e a l

the

as

u s e now t o

to o

jo u rn al

e x p e d i t i o n had s e t

little

bound w ith

to p re s e rv e

rally

had been s t o l e n , "

"sp ell

attack ed

a 6 Ja n u a ry m eeting

effo rts
the

p o liti­

D e tr o it D aily

rep eated ly

being

When t h e g o v e r n o r c a l l e d

even befo re
so il,

organ,

t h a t appeared

the A d v e r tis e r d is m is se d

late.

the

actio n s

the p u b lic

came f r o m h i s

J a n u a r y 18 38 t h e

th e D em ocratic a d m i n i s t r a t i o n
ap ath y "

o f G o v e r n o r M as on

to

n eu tral­

little,

to o

subm itted

f o o t on C a n a d ia n

sh u t th e d o o r."

D e t r o i t Whigs s u b t l y

of D em ocratic o f f i c e h o l d e r s

noted

th at

w ere b e in g k e p t

24Ronald P. Formisano, The Birth of Mass Political
Parties, Michigan, 1 8 2 7 - 1 8 6 1 (Princeton: Princeton
University Press, 1 9 7 1 ) , p p . 2 1 - 2 4 , 3 1 - 4 7 , 8 1 - 9 7 .

in a

217
d iary

fo r fu tu re

u s e . 25

O th er M ichigan o f f i c e h o l d e r s
under p o l i t i c a l

attack .

also

found th e m s e lv e s

On tw o s e p a r a t e o c c a s i o n s

P o r t C o l l e c t o r M cD onell,

a D em ocratic p o l i t i c a l

was f o r c e d

actio n s

c riticism .

to defend

h is

The m o s t s e r i o u s

D etro it

ap p o in tee,

a g a i n s t t h e A d v e r t i s e r 1s

case

came a f t e r

th e B a ttle

W i n d s o r w he n M c D o n e l l w a s c h a r g e d w i t h n o t d i s c h a r g i n g
tru st

req u ired

i n him"

th e C ham plain.

and a l l o w i n g

At M cD o n e ll's

s t a t e m e n t condem ning

th ese

the P a t r i o t s

u rging,

attack s

to

of
"the

seize

G e n e ra l B rady is s u e d

a

and c o n c lu d e d

t h e a c t i v i t y , v i g i l a n c e and a n x i e t y , e x h i b i t e d
by y o u , a t a l l t i m e s , s i n c e t h e commencement o f
t h e l a t e p a t r i o t d i s t u r b a n c e s , and y o u r e v i d e n t
d e s i r e to p erfo rm your d uty to your c o u n try to
t o th e e x t e n t o f y o u r pow er, have been s u f f i c i e n t
p l e d g e s t o me, t h a t n o t h i n g b u t d e e p d e c e p t i o n
p r a c t i s e d upon y o u , c o u ld have le d to th e r e s u l t
w h i c h we a l l s o much d e p l o r e . 26
The d e p t h o f p a r t y

so lid arity

t h a t M cD onell a l s o

receiv ed

is

dem onstrated

ad d itio n al

P r e s i d e n t Van B u r e n a n d M i c h i g a n U .S .
the

th is
U .S.

D em ocrat,
P a trio ts.

support

by t h e

fact

from b o th

S e n a t o r L u c i u s Lyon a t

t i m e . 27

M a r s h a l l Conrad Ten Eyck,

a prom inent D e tr o it

also

fo r alleg ed ly

ca m e u n d e r c r i t i c i s m

F ollow ing

S c o tt rep o rted

th at

the B a ttle
"all

the

o f W indsor,

frien d s

25petroit Daily Ad v e r t i s e r , 1 0 ,

of

12,

aid in g

the

G eneral W infield

law & o r d e r t h e r e

13 January 1 8 3 8 .

2 6 M c D o n e l l t o B r a d y , 14 J a n u a r y 18 3 9 , i n A l b i o n , 9
F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 9 ; B r a d y t o M c D o n e l l , 15 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 9 , i b i d .
2 7 L u c i u s L y o n t o M c D o n e l l , 29 D e c e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , i n " L e t t e r s
o f L u c i u s L y o n , " M i c h i g a n P i o n e e r H i s t o r i c a l C o l l e c t i o n 27
(1 8 9 6 );512.

218
[D etro it],

w ithout regard

M a rs h a ll's

d ism issal.

gave

in fo rm atio n

ag ain st

them "

to

to p a r t i e s , "

favored

the

A ccording

to

the g e n e ra l,

the P a tr i o ts

of

"all

and d i d

"as

little

T e n E yc k

i n t e n d e d m ovem ents

as p o ssib le

for

law &

o r d e r . "28
S c o tt's

d e n u n c i a t i o n o f T e n E y c k came a t a t i m e when

t h e g e n e r a l was p a r t i c u l a r l y
em barrassed,

w ith

e v e n t s on t h e

P r e s c o t t a n d W i n d s o r made
1839,

as

if

it

p o ssib ly

border.

appear,

at

The b a t t l e s
least

Ten Eyck,

and c o m p la in e d

so ld iers

only p r o f e s s

t o be t h e c r e a t u r e s

l a w . " 2 9

U nsuccessful

in stopping

C ertain ly

& serv an ts

as

A ttrib u tin g

S c o tt's

W higs, W ilk in s

arose

criticism

concluded

to

"p o litic a l

the

scapegoats.

i n J a n u a r y 18 39 t h a t

from

of

S c o t t may

t h a t w as t h e o p i n i o n o f J u d g e W i l k i n s ,

a g a in s t th e m a rsh a ll

same

ignorant

the P a t r i o t s ,

ap p o in tees

i n f o r m e d P r e s i d e n t Van B u r e n

tio n s

At t h e

he d e n o u n c e d c i v i l i a n

a b o u t how "we p o o r

have used v a rio u s p o l i t i c a l

of

in J a n u a ry

t h e P a t r i o t War w a s a c c e l e r a t i n g .

tim e S c o t t c r i t i c i z e d
au th o rities

d isp leased ,

who
the o u tc ry

an im o sity ."

"p reju d ices"

t h a t he " f r e q u e n t l y

i m b u e d by a r e a
heard"

accusa­

a g a i n s t T e n E y c k w h e n e v e r G e n e r a l S c o t t w as i n

28scott to Poinsett, 16 December 1 8 3 8 , Joel R. Poinsett
Papers, Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia.
29scott to Poinsett, 1 2 January 1 8 3 9 , in C. P . Stacey,
ed., "A Private Report of General Winfield Scott on the
Border Situation in 1 8 3 9 , " Canadian Historical Review 21
(December 1 9 4 0 ) , pp. 4 0 7 - 1 4 .

219
D e t r o i t .

30

T h e Whig c r i t i c i s m

p o litical.
p lau d its

o f D e m o c r a t s w as n o t p u r e l y

D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y Goodwin,

from t h e W higs f o r h i s

a D em ocrat,

effo rts

to

received

uphold the

l a w s . 31
As t h e
order,

ch ief

G o v e rn o r Mason,

M ic h ig a n 's

career,

R esponding
h ib itin g

the

a s u p p o rte r of

th e g o v e rn o r's

lib eratio n

of h is

th e people
cap acity ,

th at

the p e o p l e 's

M aso n 's p o s i t i o n

en tire

not only

p arty .

to

to

jo in

the

s u c c e s s d e p e n d e d upon

th e U nion,
to

the

act

he c o n te n d e d

in t h e i r

form s o f

the g o v e rn o r's
w i l l .

risk ed

was in a

th e P o n tia c C o u rie r argued

rig h t

w ith o u t any r e g a r d

C o u rie r concluded
v io lated

in to

had an u n d o u b te d

during

earlier,

from v o l u n t e e r i n g

"when t h e g o v e r n o r ' s p o l i t i c a l
state

rig h ts

27 D e c e m b e r p r o n o u n c e m e n t p r o ­

of Canada,

adm ission of our

lo cal

H is a c t i o n s

but the w e ll-b e in g
to

fo r m ain tain in g

a fe w y e a r s

tenuous p o s i t i o n .

M ichigan r e s i d e n t s

P a trio ts'
th at

resp o n sib le

q u est fo r stateh o o d

p articu larly
h is

ex ecu tiv e

o rig in al

law ."

The

recent d eclaratio n

32

was f u r t h e r

com plicated

by c e r t a i n

M ichigan D em ocrats,

who w e r e a r d e n t P a t r i o t s ,

esp ecially

B enjam in K in g sb u ry ,

e d ito r of

30wilkins to V an Buren,
Division, RG 3 9 3 .

th at

t h e D e t r o i t M orning P o s t .

7 January 18 3 9 ,

NARS,

31petroit Daily A d v e r t i s e r , 18 January 1 8 3 8 .

3 2 p o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 19 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

Eastern

In

220

early

January 1838,

secretly

Mason r e f u t e d

a P ost accu satio n

hoped t h a t M ic h ig a n r e s i d e n t s w ould v i o l a t e

A m erican n e u t r a l i t y

law s.

L ater

t h a t s am e y e a r

m o c k e d P r e s i d e n t V an B u r e n ' s d e m a n d s t h a t
n eu trality
m ation.

l a w s by i s s u i n g

enjo in in g

v ersio n

had

the P o st

citizen s

obey

a p a r o d y o f h i s November p r o c l a ­

B e s id e s n o t w anting

th e P o s t's

th is

t h a t he

to offend

the P r e s id e n t

" my a r m y t o k i l l

the B r i t i s h

issu e

queen,

an o r d e r

a n d m u r d e r a l l who d i d

n o t obey

p r o c l a m a t i o n . "33
One o f

p o litic a l

the

ten ets

p o litic ia n

who l e n d s

req u ests
d id ates

h is

the w i l d - f i r e

T h e lle r rep o rted

ex ertio n s

the s t a t e

su p p o rt.

th a t philosophy

A m erican p o l i t i c s ,

p resid en tial

"p o litic a l

for

of Canada.

an n ih ilatio n
to

the

is

he had r e c e i v e d

asking

supported
S co tt,

Even as

of

Edward

h im w h i c h c a n ­

seldom e v e r y t h i n g

G eneral W infield

th at

effo rts

(The f o r m e r P a t r i o t

su b seq u en tly

n o m i n a t i o n . )35

to

fu tile

o f C a n a d i a n l i b e r t y . "34

across

th ey s h o u ld

c o n s i s t e n t enemy,

lib eratio n

i n O c t o b e r 1839 t h a t

from a l l

dem onstrating

th e

L o d g e s was s u p p o r t

a g r e e d w i t h o n e M i c h i g a n r e s i d e n t who p r e ­

in December 1 8 3 8 ,

q u ellin g

th e H unters

c a n d i d a t e s who f a v o r e d

Several observers
dicted

of

late

g en eral,
in

the P a t r i o t s '

one

f o r t h e 1 8 4 0 Whig
a s 1841 t h e r e

33petroit Daily F r e e P r e s s , 9 January, 13 December 1 8 3 8 .
S e e also a letter from Democrat T. C. Sheldon criticizing B.
Kingsbury, in Detroit Daily Adv e r t i s e r , 1 2 March 1 8 3 8 .
34unidentified correspondent in Detroit Morning P o s t , 22
December 1 8 3 8 .

^ S p ir it of

' 7 6 , 14 O c t o b e r ,

14,

27 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 9 ,

17

221

w ere

in d icatio n s

th at P a trio t

in ten d ed

to

C a n a d a 's

l i b e r a t i o n . 3®

s u p p o rt only p o l i t i c a l

B oth p o l i t i c a l
favor.
1838,

at

actio n s

gance of

th e W higs'

fav o rite

u n q u alified
The W higs,

In January

a reso lu tio n

actio n s

savored

and w ere

and u n c a p a b l e o f
to o ,

had

favored

curry

P atrio t

h a l l o n 23 M a r c h

c ritic iz in g

the

A ccording

to

the

stro n g ly

of

"the

it

th at

to hedge

supported B r itis h
"we y i e l d

to none
in

the people

s e lf - g o v e r n m e n t." 3^
th eir p o litic a l

co lo n ial

p o sitio n s.

the D em o cratic a u t h o r i t i e s

urging

extrem e

lib eratio n ,

ru le

e f f o r t s . " 3®

for

the

en tire

th at

A year
year c r i t i ­

in c o m p e te n c e and

in A m erican in v o lv e m e n t in a id in g

still

believ ed

th at

the cause of

O ctober 1840.
3 ® J o s h u a H ow ar d t o W i l l i a m W o o d b r i d g e ,
W i l l i a m W o o d b r i d g e P a p e r s , BC.
3 7p e t r o i t D a i l y

to

i n C a n a d a by

in an a r d e n t d e s i r e

th eir

cizin g

cau tio n

arro­

" in p e r f e c t keeping" w ith

t h e A d v e r t i s e r , w h ich had s p e n t

C a n a d a 's

to

and a d o p te d p r i n c i p l e — " t h a t

C a n a d i a n s may b e s u c c e s s f u l
la te r

best

th at

1838 t h e D e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r r e s p o n d e d

th at

d eclarin g

th eir

the P a t r i o t s .

a risto crac y ,"

t h e W higs'

charges

tow ard

did

in D earborn

candidates

th e D e tr o it c ity

th e D em ocrats a d o p te d

D em ocrats,

are

p arties

At a g a th e r in g

W higs'

sym pathizers

12 May 1 8 4 1 ,

F r e e P r e s s , 26 M a r c h 1 8 3 8 .

3 ®P e t r o i t D a i l y A d v e r t i s e r , 8 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 .

222

C a n a d ia n fre e d o m was " d e a r
There a re

in d icatio n s

atto rn ey ,

A th ird
lin es

w ith

a situ atio n

fo reig n

later

were a c t i v e

of a u th o rity

n atio n ,

D uring

the

for

w here

stro n g

early

G reeks.

G reek s and

tow ns b e in g

slu g g ish ly .

supported

and r a l l i e s

resid en ts
led

Faced

w ith a

the G reek s'

th e T u r k is h E m pire.

ed ito ria ls

"G reek F ever"

d ealin g

responded

1820s A m ericans

tw o t h o u s a n d

d ealt

the P a t r i o t s .

in m a tte r s

freedom a g a i n s t

and

m e a s u re s were n eed ed to

A m erican l e a d e r s

M ichigan T e r r i t o r y ,
few er than

co llecto r

P a t r i o t s . 40

in c o n tr o llin g

A m erican a g g r e s s o r s

stru g g le

ap p o in ted p o rt

dilem m a c o n f r o n t i n g A m erican a u t h o r i t i e s

w ith

restrain

t r u e A m e ric a n bosom."39

t h a t p r o m i n e n t D e t r o i t W h i g s G e o r g e C.

B a t e s and Edward B r o o k s ,
d istric t

to every

to

h ailed

funds being

In

the

among D e t r o i t ' s

the

freedom -loving

co llected

for

the

na med a f t e r G r e e k r e v o l u t i o n a r y

h e r o e s . 41

U nlike

th is

outpouring

w hich th e U n ite d S t a t e s
vate m atter

d ire c t,

to

u navoidable

the

support

fo r d i s t a n t G reece,

governm ent could p a ss o f f

not req u irin g

A m erican r e s p o n s e

of

governm ent
lib eratio n

problem s

for

th e

o f Canada p r e s e n t e d

the

39p e t r o i t D aily A d v e r t i s e r , 7

involvem ent,

as a p r i ­

federal

governm ent.

It

December 18 3 8 .

4 0 G e o r g e F . G r i s w o l d a f f i d a v i t , 2 1 May 1 8 4 1 , W i l l i a m
W o o d b r i d g e P a p e r s , BC; G e o r g e C. B a t e s t o W i l l i a m
W o o d b r i d g e , 21 May 1 8 4 1 , i b i d . ; A. W e e k s t o D. F . W e b s t e r ,
21 May 1 8 4 1 , i b i d .
41-Eva C.

H isto ry

65

Topping, " P h ilh e lle n e s
(M arch /A p ril 1 981), pp.

from M ic h i g a n ,"
38-42.

M ichigan

223
created

in tern atio n al

to w ar.

in cid en ts

The s i t u a t i o n

th at

w as f u r t h e r

the P a t r i o t s

the

law e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s .

n atio n al

n atu re of

A m ericans

to obey

th e c r i s i s
the

q u a n d a r y o n how t o
during

the

fro n tier,

law s

react.

same p e r i o d ,

cally ,

p reserv atio n

faith

adm itted

of

tre a tie s,"
aid

federal

a u th o rities

of

law s,

accom plish

th at

q u ate m ilita r y
feet

in Texas

task .
force,

requested

lim ited

ordered

sp ecifi­

the g u a ra n te e of
Mason

law s,

but

said

he

t o a c t by t h e v a r i o u s

g o v e rn m e n t and sym pathy

failin g

for

n eu trality

t h e means n e c e s s a r y

B esides
the

federal o ffic ia ls ,

enforcem ent of

to

to p ro v id e

an a d e ­

f e d e r a l governm ent dragged

law s n e c e s s a r y

A m erican n e u t r a l i t y .

a new

to Sandw ich

n ations

and

th o se

t o come a s

to p rovid e

in p ro v id in g

n eu trality

being

for

lib e rty ,

but fa ile d

u nlike

i n W a s h i n g t o n a n d M i c h i g a n . 42

c o n s c i o u s o f demands
spread of

in ter­

governm ent in a

was a f e d e r a l m a t t e r .

T h a t r e q u e s t was slow

th e

federal

fo reig n

in e n fo rc in g

c o u l d n o t do so b e f o r e

the

u n w illin g n e s s of

F urtherm ore,

in te rc o u rs e w ith

he c o u ld

However,

1 8 3 8 G o v e r n o r M as on e x p l a i n e d

th at

the

the

involvem ent of

an i d e a — d e m o c r a c y .

m ag istrates
"th e

the

led

sin ce

A m ericans were n o t c o n q u e rin g

but ex p o rtin g

On 9 J a n u a r y

the a c tiv e

and

left

have e a s i l y

com plicated

c o n tro llin g
states'

req u ired

could

its

to p re v e n t v io la tio n s

of

On 5 J a n u a r y 1 8 3 8 P r e s i d e n t V a n B u r e n

42Mason t o S a n d w ic h m a g i s t r a t e s ,
P o n t i a c C o u r i e r , 19 J a n u a r y 18 3 8 .

9 January 1838,

in

224
asked C ongress

to

rev ise

t h e 1818 n e u t r a l i t y

law s,

gave

th e governm ent power to p u n is h o f f e n d e r s

acts

had been c o m m itte d .

c i v i l pow ers o f
"in

acu tely

the e x e c u tiv e ,

recrim in ato ry

stren g th en in g
the

Concerned a b o u t

the

border p ressed

l a w .

43

w hich

only a f t e r

increasing

the

t h e C o n g r e s s became a b s o r b e d

p o litical

d eb ate,"

about

j n th e m eantim e a u t h o r i t i e s

f o r more e f f e c t i v e

law s.

In m id-F ebruary

1838 G o v e r n o r Mason r e m i n d e d Van B u re n t h a t e x i s t i n g
did

n o t allow

th at

for

the

upon " r e a s o n a b l e

seizu re

suspicion"

w ere d e s t i n e d

a g a i n s t a f o r e i g n power a t p eace w ith

S t a t e s .

44

n eu trality

law s w ere

tw o m o n t h s d e b a t e
p a s s e d .

in

in w atching

late

1838.

O rdered

the P a t r i o t s '

along

is
"to

use

shock.
ju d g e as

U .S.

C onceding

at

least

S ecretary of S ta te

increased

by a n

v ig ilan ce"

tw enty

new d e p u t i e s

Upon l e a r n i n g

of

the

F orsyth expressed

t h a t T e n E y c k ' s p r e s e n c e made h i m t h e

t o how ma ny d e p u t i e s

43c o re y ,

t h e more s t r i n g e n t

in Septem ber 1838,

th e M ichigan/C anadian b o rd e r.

appointm ents,

th e U nited

best ch aracterized

m ovem ents

M a r s h a l l Ten Eyck a p p o in te d

f o r an e x p e ­

45

The g o v e r n m e n t 's dilem m a
episode

laws

o f arms and m u n i t i o n s o f w a r,

d itio n

A fter over

on

C r i s i s , pp.

49-55.

w ere n e e d e d ,

Q u o te on p .

best

F o r s y th added

50.

4 4 M a s o n t o V a n B u r e n , 11 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , i n D e t r o i t D a i l y
F r e e P r e s s , 2 March 1 8 3 8 .
Brady a l s o p le a d e d f o r a s t r o n g e r
n e u t r a l i t y l a w i n B r a d y t o J o n e s , 11 F e b r u a r y 1 8 3 8 , NARS,
AGO, RG 9 4 .
45corey, C r i s i s , p. 5 5 .
On the matter of too few troops
to harness the Patriots, Secretary of War Poinsett revealed
the federal government's dilemma when he urged the army's

225
t h a t a t $2 p e r d a y ,
p robably

exceeded

p lu s

the

expenses,

Ten E y c k 's

ap p o in tees

number t h a t w ere needed o r c o u ld

be

a f f o r d e d . 46
T h e P a t r i o t War d i d
Its

su p p o rters,

dism issed

a ro le,

p irates

did

support

not activ ely

d en ts attem p tin g
D estiny,
freedom

the

lib eratin g

esp ecially

in th e

for

to u n d e rsta n d

recu rrin g

should
the

border s ta te s ,

in

the
the

esp ecially

t h o s e who

n o t be i g n o r e d

by s t u ­

co n cep t of M anifest

dilem m a o f o r d e r and i n d i v i d u a l

in A m erican d o m e s tic p o l i t i c s

g overnm ental a u th o r ity

However,

i d e a s and f o r e i g n p o l i c y .

the P a t r i o t s ,

p articip ate,

Canada.

are o ften

and c r i m i n a l s .

developm ent of d o m estic p o l i t i c a l
W idespread

in

b o t h C a n a d i a n and A m e r ic a n ,

as b rig a n d s ,

war p lay ed

not succeed

during

the

or

the

lin es

of

antebellum p e rio d .

i n c r e a s e in Ju n e 1838, b u t c o m p la c e n tly added t h a t "our
l i t t l e army i s a c t i v e l y and u s e f u l l y em p lo y e d e l s e w h e r e ,
[ f i g h t i n g I n d i a n s ] and c a n n o t be w i t h d r a w n from i t s p r e s e n t
s t a t i o n s , w ith o u t s e r io u s in ju r y to th e p u b lic s e r v ic e ."
( D e t r o i t D a i l y F r e e P r e s s , 16 J u n e 1 8 3 8 . )
4*>Ten E y c k t o A. V a i l , 29 O c t o b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS, M i s c . ,
RG 5 9 ; F o r s y t h t o T e n E y c k , 10 N o v e m b e r 1 8 3 8 , NARS, DOS,
D o m e s t i c L e t t e r s , RG 5 9 .

EPILOGUE

For a l l purposes
ten sio n s

t h e P a t r i o t War e n d e d

and h o s t i l i t i e s

p ersisted

for

several years.

den ts

occurred

the

early

w here

two C a n a d i a n s

shot a t

a boat

G ratio t

to S a rn ia .

18 4 0 s ,

and a B r i t i s h

load of

lad ies

The m ost s e r i o u s

in clu d in g
so ld ier,

in

th e

horizon

th e U nited
o fficials

com ing

the

pressed

the P a tr io ts

Lodges

led

of

to

trial.

headed

from F o r t

i n New Y o r k f o r a l l e g ­

im prisoned

War c l o u d s

p ro tested

again

th eir

case

ag ain st

new P r e s i d e n t J o h n T y l e r
McLeod w a s f o u n d

fo r eleven
appeared

the

on

and

a s New Y o r k

form er Upper

In S eptem ber 1841,
weapons

Charged

M cL eod's a r r e s t

governm ent s a t h e l p l e s s l y

w ere c o l l e c t i n g

to d isb an d .

in eb riated ,

the C a r o lin e .

McLeod r e m a i n e d

C anadian d ep u ty m a rs h a l.

bu sters

sinking

as G reat B rita in
S tates

all

in M ichigan

i n c i d e n t b e g a n i n N ovem ber 1840 when

w i t h m u rd e r and a r s o n ,
m onths b e f o r e

one

in ci­

in ju re d .1

C a n a d i a n A l e x a n d e r McLeod w a s a r r e s t e d
ed ly p a r tic ip a tin g

S tates

S p o rad ic b o rd er

and c h i l d r e n

No o n e w a s

but

betw een th e U n ite d

and G r e a t B r i t a i n
in

in 1839,

rep o rts

to u n d e rta k e
to o r d e r

th at

new f i l i ­

the H u nters

i n n o c e n t and r e l e a s e d

l j . L. G a r d n e r t o J . F . L o v e , 9 A p r i l 1 8 4 0 , S a n d e r s o n ,
A r t h u r , 3 : 1 6 - 1 8 ; S . H. Drum t o J . L. G a r d n e r , 8 A p r i l 1 8 4 0 ,
i b i d . , 3 : 1 8 ; B r o o k e Young t o J . F. L o v e , 25 A p r i l 1 8 4 0 ,

227
in O c to b e r 1841.2
to

recreate

w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f a b i z a r r e scheme

t h e McLeod i n c i d e n t w i t h

w hich

failed

along

the

m iserab ly ,

P atrio t

a d i f f e r e n t defen d an t,

a ctiv ity

fin ally

had en d ed

fro n tie r.3

A m erican
d issip ated

in te re st

follow ing

1839 o n c o n d i t i o n s

in

the

in

the

lib eratio n

release

o f Lord D urham 's

th e C anadian p r o v in c e s .

narrow -m inded p o l i c i e s

t h a t had

and

w ere

in
of

dev el­

both

f o r m ism anagem ent.

in clu d in g

im plem ented

s y s t e m o f more r e s p o n s i b l e

C ritical

D ur ha m a t t a c k e d

im p e r ia l governm ents

Many o f D u r h a m ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s ,
and Lower C a n a d a ,

report

im peded th e p r o v i n c e s '

opm ent and p ro d u c e d d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n ,
the p ro v in c ia l

o f Canada a l s o

a u n io n o f Upper

by t h e B r i t i s h

governm ent evolved

in

and a
the

C an ad as.^
In the 1840s
b o lstered

th eir

both

th e U nited S ta te s

defenses.

masonry f o r t r e s s ,

was c o n s t r u c t e d .

W e b s t e r —A s h b u r t o n T r e a t y
o u tstan d in g

In D e tr o it,

d isp u tes

F o r t Wayne,

a m assive

But th e s ig n in g

in 1842 r e s o l v e d

betw een th e

and G r e a t B r i t a i n

of

the

several

two c o u n t r i e s

and m arks th e

i b i d . , 3 :4 1 -4 2 ; K in ch en , H u n te r s , pp. 1 0 3 -0 4 .
A nother
M i c h i g a n i n c i d e n t o c c u r r e d w he n s e v e r a l C a n a d i a n s w e r e
a r r e s t e d n e a r P o r t H uron f o r a l l e g e d l y t r y i n g to p e r s u a d e
t w o U . S . s o l d i e r s t o d e s e r t . ( J . L. G a r d n e r t o J . F .
Love,
15 F e b r u a r y 1 8 4 0 , S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 2 : 4 2 9 - 3 0 a n d W e l l i n g t o n
D a v i s a f f i d a v i t , 14 F e b r u a r y 18 4 0 , i b i d . , 2 : 4 3 1 . )
2K in c h e n ,

H u n ters, p.

Ill;

C orey,

^L indsey,

M ackenzie, 2 :2 8 0 -8 1 .

C r i s i s , pp.

130-45.

^ C r a ig , Upper C a n a d a , pp. 2 5 4 -7 5 ; C h e s te r M a r tin , "Lord
D u rh a m 's R e p o r t and I t s C o n s e q u e n c e s ," C a n a d ia n H i s t o r i c a l
R e v i e w 20 ( J u n e 1 9 3 9 ) , p p . 1 7 8 - 9 4 ; G e o r g e W. B r o w n , " T h e

228
end o f

concern over

the P a t r i o t s '

effo rts

to

lib erate

C an ad a.5

Durham R e p o r t a n d t h e U p p e r C a n a d i a n S c e n e , " C a n a d i a n
H i s t o r i c a l R e v i e w 20 ( J u n e 1 9 3 9 ) , p p . 1 3 6 - 6 0 .
5C o r e y , C r i s i s , p p . 1 4 6 - 8 2 ; W i l l i a m P. P h e n i x , " N e v e r A
S h o t i n A n g e r , " M i c h i g a n H i s t o r y 65 ( M a y / J u n e 1 9 8 1 ) , p p .
1 8 - 2 0 ; G e o r g e A r t h u r memo o n U p p e r C a n a d i a n d e f e n s e , d a t e d 7
May 1 8 4 1 , i n S a n d e r s o n , A r t h u r , 3 : 4 1 0 - 1 8 .

0

229

Lake
Toron to

Ontari o
New

York

'Buffalo

Michigan

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Lake

o

70

miles

□

230

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HURON

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UPPER
CANADA

LAKE

MI C H I GAN

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S A NOWIC H

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38

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