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 L^ettds. Xndtaits. History, 
 fur Cradc. Cbc Old fdrt» 
 ^ar of 1 81 2* Mtdslone* 
 early Bodat lift attd Other 
 Matters of Interest. 
 
 
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 Early Mackinac: 
 
 "THE FAIRY ISLAND." 
 
 A SKEZTOH. 
 
 BY 
 
 Meade C. Williams. 
 
 Name. -Tndlvn Legends. —Indian Character.— Frenoei 
 En(Jlisii and American Flags.— Old Fort.— Mili- 
 tary- History, and War ov 1812.— Fur Trade. 
 —Early Village Life.— Christian Mis- 
 sions and Ciii:rciies.— Natural At- 
 tractions.— Antiquities. 
 
 ■ 
 
 BtrsCHART UK US., PRINT.- 
 ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1897, 
 BY MEADP: C. WILLIAMS 
 
TO ALL THOSE 
 WHO HAVING ONCE KNOWN 
 
 THF: ISLAND OF THE STRAITS 
 
 STILL KEMEMBER ITS CHARM, 
 
 AND REMAIN LNDER THE POWER OF ITS SPELL, 
 
 THIS KOOK IS DEDICATED. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 rREFACE. 
 
 PHce. 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 The IsluncVs iiiime — Its etyniolo^'y - Its saerednertS in thf Indian's 
 mind -Indian leK«'nfl'^—l^'>f^t'<' vein iu Indian nomenelatnre-Tlie 
 
 passing,' of the Indian 7 
 
 CHAl'TER II. 
 
 Early setlliuK under the Freueh tla^:— Pioneer military post on 
 northern mainland— La Hontan's \isit— Removal to Detroit and 
 return Post established on southern mainland— Ens-'lish sway- 
 Discontent of Ihe Indians— Ball game and massacre— Alexander 
 
 Henry— Wawatam— Skull Cave 15 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Removal to the island proposed—Transfer effected— Major Sinclair 
 
 —Captain Robertstm (Robinson)- Rum—Building the fort 25 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 American Independence achieved— England's delay in surrendering 
 Mackinac- A second treaty required to secure American oc- 
 cupation—Greenville treaty with the Indians— F\ir trade- 
 Washington Irving's description of Mackinac— Another picture. 33 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 War of 1812 opens— ••British Landing"— Fort Mackinac captured by 
 the British— Of great importance to British interests— Oftlcial 
 
 reports— Building of Fort Holmes (Fort George) 42 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 American expedition to recover Mackinac— Effects entrance at 
 '•British Landing"- The battle— Major Holmes killed— Ameri- 
 can forces withdraw- Destroy British supplies in Georgian Bay- 
 Blockade elTected - Blocade raised— Mackinac again ceded lo 
 United States in ISI5— Old cannon— Early officers at the fort- 
 Fort given over to State of Michigan 00 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Early citizens of the island- Ramsey Crooks as connected with the 
 f\ir trade— Robert Stuart, resident partner in the Astor Fur Co, 
 —Henry R Schoolcraft, government agent, scientist and ex- 
 plorer— His literary works and character, ...,,, , 01 
 
PHce. 
 .. I) 
 
 's 
 e 
 
 ,. 7 
 
 15 
 25 
 
 CONTENTS. 5 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Jesuit mi.s.sions-Marquette-Churc.h of St. Ann at Old Mackinac, 
 and on the island-Trinity Church-Mission School and Old 
 
 Mission Church-Story of Chuska-Old Church restored 73 
 
 CHAPT]<1R IX. 
 
 Excee(-ug beauty of the island-Woods-Ve^etation-U-ater 
 views-Curiosities in stoue-Arch liock-SugarLoaf-Robmsons 
 Folly and its legends 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 The island's celebrity as a place of resort-Early duv visitors- 
 Books of deseription-Countess Ossoli (Margaret Fuller)- \ Xew 
 ^ork d.,ctor^. visit in 1H:{5-Cap.ain Marryatt-Mrs. Jameson- 
 Miss Harriet Martineau 
 
 -O- 
 
 42 
 
 LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Birds eye vie w of Mackinac Island y 
 
 La Honian's Sketch. KiKS 
 
 Fort Mackinac • 
 
 Mackinac Beach 
 
 Henry R. Schooh-raft. 
 
 Old Mission Church 
 
 Sugar Loaf 
 
 Arch R(jck 
 
 Tauglewood 
 
 One of the Drives 
 
 rontLspiece . 
 1(3 
 
 . 41 
 . m 
 
 . SI 
 
 . yi 
 
 .103 
 .106 
 
 00 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I have had thirteen summers at Mackinac. Fellow visi- 
 tors there have often sugges^.tod that I should furnish, in 
 written form, some studies of the island. 
 
 While it is believed this skcitch may have interest for the 
 general reader, it at the same time carries a local coloring 
 which m iy more particularly appeal to those who know the 
 place. As the charm of the locality is due, in no small 
 degree, to that halo of antiijuity which hangs ov(ir it, I have 
 felt warranted in restricting myself to <v//7// Mackinac, with 
 but slight allusion to anything short of sixtj' years aj*o. 
 
 This sketch embodies the result of considerable research 
 among books and documents. Some fifty different works 
 have b(H!n consulted. Generally, though not always, these 
 are indicated in the narrative. As the reader will preceive, I 
 am greatly indebted to the various writings of Henry K. 
 Schoolcraft. I would also express my special sense of 
 obligation to the valuable series of "Collections and Research- 
 es," a work carried on by the Michigan l*ioneer and Historical 
 Society. These Crilb ctions, at present, number twenty-six 
 volumes. The use they make of the important "Haldimand 
 Papers" of Canada, brings to hand much of the early military 
 history of the Straits and of the Island fort. Instead of a 
 foot-note reference in every case, I make here a general 
 acknowledgement. 
 
 During tlu^ i)rogress of my wo»k I hove hud great satis- 
 faction in a correspondence with Col.Wm. Montague Ferry, of 
 Park City, Utah, a son of the Rev. Wm. M. Ferry, of the 
 Island Mission work of long ago, and who well remembers 
 Mackinac as the home of his childhood days. 
 >S^^ Louin, Mo., {In<jle7ieuk, 
 
 June, 1SU7. Mackinac Island) 
 
 I 
 
EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Michilimackinac was the old-lime name, not 
 for our beautiful island alone, but for all the 
 countiy round about us, north to Lake Superior and 
 west to the head of Green Bay. It was the ishmd 
 only that was first thus called. The word ^rew 
 out of it, and, small bit of land though it is, it 
 threw its name over a vast territory 
 
 The name has been variously si)elled. In old 
 histories, reports, and other documents, T have 
 found Mishlimakina, Missilimakinac, Mishilmaki, 
 Michilimachina, Missilimakina, Michiliakimawk; 
 while in one standard history, when tliis re_o-ion is 
 spoken of, it invariably ap])ears as Michilimaki- 
 naw.* In its abbreviated foi-ni it has been writ- 
 ten Mackinack, Macina, Maquina, Mackinac, Mack- 
 inaw. In all the earlier periods following the set- 
 tlement of the island by the whites, in books of 
 travel and of history, the two ways of writing it 
 were used interchangeably, though the formMack- 
 himv was most commonly adoi)ted. Also in many 
 of the early maps and atlases it is so given. Steam- 
 boat companies running boats to the island, gener- 
 ally adv<>rtised them as of the "Macldna\v Liuis" 
 and likewise business firms here so wrote the word 
 
 *Henry Adams' 'History of the United States." 
 
i 
 i 
 
 y i«:akly mackinac. 
 
 —at least as froquontly as the otlierform. So this 
 was quite f^^eiieral dui'ing all that time, except that 
 the official naim? of tlie military post held to the 
 tenniiiation "ac." But since the railroad compan- 
 ies built thcnr modern terminal town across the 
 straits and called it Mackinaw City, for the sake of 
 convenience in distinguishing, the name of the island 
 is now uniformly written Mackinac. In pronuncia- 
 tion, however, without attempting to settle the 
 question by the laws of orthoepy, it may be re- 
 marked that it is consid(M'ed very incori-ect; and to 
 the ears of residents, and old hdhituef^ and lovers of 
 the island, it is almost distressful to hear it pro- 
 nounced anything else than Mackina?;?. A com- 
 promise may perhaps be allowed by taking the 
 name as if it bore the termination "ah, " and giving 
 it a sound b(^t\ve('n the ilat and the very broad. 
 The (• must never be sounded. 
 
 The origin of the word is in some obscurity. 
 All agree that the first part of it, "Michi," means 
 great. It is preserved in the name of the State, 
 Michigan, and in thc^ name of th" Lake, Lake 
 Michigan — meaning great waters The French 
 took it up, s})elling it Missi; hence t .e name of the 
 river Mississippi — great I'iver, the father of waters. 
 Conc(n'ning the remainder of the name which fol- 
 lows the Michi, we ai'e not so sure. The common 
 view is tliat the foi'm of the island, high-backed in 
 the center, as it rises above the waters, and hand- 
 somely crowning the whole, suggesteo to the 
 Indian fancy the figure of a large turtle. Hence 
 that it became known as the land of the Great 
 Turtle. 
 
 I 
 
ORICIN OF THE WORD. 
 
 9 
 
 ^o this 
 3t that 
 to the 
 )mpan- 
 ss the 
 ^ake of 
 ; island 
 luncia- 
 tle the 
 be re- 
 and to 
 vers of 
 it pro- 
 ^ coni- 
 ng the 
 giving 
 broad. 
 
 ;curity. 
 
 means 
 
 State, 
 
 , Lake 
 
 D^rench 
 
 ; of the 
 
 ^vaters. 
 
 ch fol- 
 
 ommoii 
 
 ;ked in 
 
 I hand- 
 
 to the 
 
 Hence 
 
 Great 
 
 Schookn-afi, wlio is tlie best autlioi-ity on all 
 questions pertaining to the Indian language, as well 
 as to the customs and characteristics of that race, 
 says that the oi-iginal name of the island was 
 Mishi-miii-auk-in-ong, and that it means the i)laco 
 of the great dancing spii'its— these spirits being of 
 the more inferior and diminutive order, instead of 
 belonging to the Indian collection of gods; a Kind 
 of pukwees, or fairies, or sprites, j-ather than 
 Man i tons. 
 
 Heriot, an English traveler in North America, 
 and who published his "Ti-avels through the 
 Canadas, " in 1807. touched at Mackinac and reports 
 as the origin of the nanie that the island had been 
 given, as tlieir S])ecial abode, loan order of spirits 
 called Imakinakos, and that "trom these aerial 
 possessors it had received the api)ellatk)not'Michi- 
 limackinac." 
 
 Perhaps tiies«» different views can in a manner 
 be combined. The turtle was held in great re\er- 
 ence by the Indians. In their mythology it was 
 regarded as a symbol of tlu^ earth and addressed as 
 motlier. * The fancied physical I'esemblance of the 
 island could easily worlv in with their m\thical 
 
 *Auar.Mv Laii- ill his ■Myths. Kit uiil iiml Relit,aous.-- (Vol 1 p IS-') 
 meutioiis oertai.i of the Imliuu tnl.,-s its holih'u- tho nuu-y that (lie 
 earth Krew out of the tortoise. One form tliat the h'^end tonic was 
 that Ataheustie. u vvouian of the upper world, hart been banished froin 
 the slvv. and fuliintr. dropjied on the bael< ..f a, turtle in tli(> midst of the 
 waters. The turtle eonsulted with the oth.-r a.iuatie animals and one 
 of them, peuerally .said to have be.-n tlie musl<-rat. IIsIh d up s.m^e soil 
 and fashionrd the .-arth. Uer.' the woman -ave birth lo i wins and thus 
 betrau the i)eoplin- of the ^lobe Thus in the crude fancy of the 
 Western Indians do w.- lind a reHeethm or fratrment ..f the ancient 
 myth which once i)revailed in the oriental mind that the world re.sted 
 on the back uf a turtle. 
 
10 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 idea of the turtle, apart from its having any ety- 
 mological connection. And thus whatever way the 
 name is studied it becomes associated with some 
 Indian conception of spirit. All singular or strik- 
 ing foi'mations in the work of nature — objects that 
 were of an unusual kind or very large and impos- 
 ing, as lofty rocks, overhanging cliffs, mountains, 
 lakes and such like — these jjoor untutored cliildren 
 looked upon as the habitations of spirits. Our 
 island therefore, physically so different from the 
 other islands and the mainland about it, with its 
 glens and crags, and its many remarkable and 
 strange looking stone formations, would easily be 
 peopled for them with spectres and spirits. They 
 regarded it as their sacred island, and a favorite 
 haunt of their gods, and cherished for it feelings 
 akin to awe; and from the surrounding regions 
 would bring their dead for burial in its soil. The 
 island seems to have been ratlier their place of 
 j'esort and temporary sojourn than of permanent 
 abode. 
 
 Thei'e is something vei-y fascinating in the 
 fragments of early Indian fanciers and triiditions 
 and legends which are associated with our island. 
 It is interesting, too, to note liow the legends and 
 the mythology of the Indians and their dim 
 religious ideas so often took a poetic form. For 
 instance, in their pagan and untutored minds they 
 thought of the island as the favorite visiting place 
 of Michibou, the great one of the waters, their 
 Manitou of these lakes. That, coming over the 
 waters from the sunrise in the east, he would touch 
 the beach at the foot of Arch Rock; that the large 
 
i 
 
 LEGLNDAKY. 
 
 11 
 
 -y ety- 
 'ay the 
 i some 
 ■ strik- 
 ts that 
 impos- 
 n tains, 
 liildren 
 Our 
 om the 
 k'ith its 
 lie and 
 sily be 
 They 
 avorite 
 eeliiigs 
 regions 
 [. The 
 hice of 
 manent 
 
 in the 
 ?.ditions 
 
 island, 
 ids and 
 'ir dim 
 n. For 
 Is they 
 g place 
 s, tlieir 
 ver tlie 
 Ld touch 
 le large 
 
 mass of stone which liad falh'n from the face of the 
 clilf in the long ago, causing thn arch above, was 
 "Manitou's Landing Place;'' that tlie arch was his 
 gateway through which, ascending tlie hill, he 
 would proceed in stately stop to "Sugar Loaf," 
 wliich in fancy they made to be his wigwam, or 
 lodge — the cave on the west side, known to all to- 
 day, being his doorway. Then again, the Sugar 
 Loaf stone and others of that conical, pyramidal 
 shai)e — such as the one which stands in St. Ignace 
 and in d liferent parts of the noi'thern peninsula, and 
 yet others which formerly stood on the island — 
 that these strange, uncanny looking rock forma- 
 tions, by a modification of fancy, they w^ould 
 X:>ersonify with great giants or monsters who tower- 
 ed o^-er them as sentinels to note whether they 
 made due offerings and sacrifices to Manitou, their 
 success in the hunting and trapping being condi- 
 tioned on this kind of religious tidelitJ^'''■ 
 
 The Indians, so spontaneously recognizing the 
 world of si3irits,were fruitful in ideas and sentiments 
 of reverence. We are told there wore no profane^ 
 words in their vocabulary. Think of a people who 
 did not know liow to swear because they liad no 
 
 *Schoolcraft noted a curious fact aiuouK the Chlppe was— that they 
 fancied the woods and shores and i^h.nds were iiiliuliited l).vinuunier!il)le 
 spirits wlio during the summer season were wakeful aud quick to hear 
 everything that was spoken, but durinit? the winter existed only in a 
 torpid state, The Indian story lellei's aud le;.'end mongers were there- 
 fore very free in amusinjjr their listenei's with fanciful aud mysterious 
 tales durin^c 'he winter, as the spirits were then iu a slate of inactivity 
 and could not hear. Kut their story telliuf,' was susi)eiide(l the iiionu'nt 
 the pipiuj? of the frog announced that spriuK had opened. That he had 
 endeavored, h>it in vain, to yet any of them to relate this sort of 
 imatirinary lore at any other time than in the winter. They would always 
 evade his attempts by some easy or indifferent remark. 
 
12 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 words for it ! It is said tluit tho lu^arest they ap- 
 ])roached to cursing a man \vas to call liim "a bad 
 do.£i-." So too in tiie nomenclature of wild or un- 
 conlh looking objects of nature — while our white 
 pioneers and prosixicting miners and avani couriers 
 of civilization in the west liave so often attached to 
 such objects the name of the devil, as "Devil's 
 Lake," "Devil's Slide," "D(>virs Half-acre," 
 "Devil's Scuttle-hole,"' and such like, the Indians 
 g'en(U"illy gave them someex])ressiveandha aioni- 
 ous poetic name. On the island we have the 
 "Devil's Kitchen,"' but we nuiy feel sure that was 
 not of the Indian's naming. The writer of this 
 sketch was told by an old resident who had passed 
 the whole of an extremely long life on the Island,* 
 that once, long ago, t' shoemaker took up his abode 
 ill that cavern and did his cobbling and his cooking 
 there. Possibl3^ that gave rise to the name. 
 
 In this habit of nomenclature which linked 
 their kleas with the phejiomena of physical nature, 
 we see a beautiful though often rude and childish 
 vein of poetry. Their name for the great cataract 
 of Niagara was "Thunder of the Waters,"' as that 
 for tlie gentle falls now within the limits of the 
 City of Minneapolis was Minnehaha, or "Laughing 
 Waters," The familiar white fish of these regions 
 was the "Deer of the waters." To the horizon 
 limit when they looked out on the lake to where 
 the thread-like line of blue water loses itself in the 
 clouds and sky, they gave a name which signified 
 the "Par off sight of water." Their name for 
 General Wayne, who did so much to overthi'ow 
 
 *Ignuce Pelotte, died Feb. 1897. 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 POETIC VEIN 
 
 1 ^ 
 
 they ap- 
 1 "i\ bad 
 [d or un- 
 ,\ir white 
 ,t couriers 
 ,t ached to 
 
 "Devil's 
 alf-acre," 
 e Indians 
 ha xnoni- 
 have the 
 
 that was 
 ?r of this 
 ad passed 
 e island,* 
 his abode 
 is cooking 
 me. 
 
 h linked 
 l^al nature, 
 cliildish 
 ,t cataract 
 as that 
 
 its of the 
 iLaughing 
 ke regions 
 |e horizon 
 
 to wiiere 
 
 jelf in the 
 signified 
 
 Iname for 
 
 (verthrow 
 
 their power in the west, was "Strong Wind;"' Avhile 
 the American soldiers from tlieir ns(^ of \]\v sabre 
 and sword in battle, were knov^n as llie '"Long 
 Knives." Their concej^tion of a ft)rt witli its 
 mounted cannon was "Tlie liigh-fenced h()u^e of 
 thunder, "while the discharge was "The arrow lliat 
 Hies out of tlie big gun." A little son of Mr. 
 Schoolcraft, when he was Government agent at the 
 Sault, was admiringly called by the Chi[)p(nvas, 
 Penaci, or "The Bird;" and the English authoress, 
 Mrs. Jameson, when visiting there, after "shooting 
 tiie rapids" with the Indian guides, was re-nanied 
 ' "The wcmian of iho. Bright P'oam. " As t heir whole 
 life and range of observation was const.mtly asso- 
 ciated witii tempests, forests, waters and skies, and 
 all the various ])henomena of pliysical nature, this 
 gave shape to their conceptions and their qu(>stion- 
 ings. It has always seemed very significant that 
 when John Eliot, the pioneer missionary to the 
 Indians in New' England, two hundred and fifty 
 years ago, began his instructions among them, lie 
 Avas met at once by their eager and long pent-up 
 questions of wonder: "What makes the smi ebb 
 and How?" "What makes the wind blow^V" "Whiit 
 makes the thunder?" 
 
 Parkman rei)resents the Jesuit missionaries 
 in Canada, two centuries since, as testifying that 
 the Indians had a more acute intellect than the 
 peasantry in France. At his best, however, the 
 red man was but the "Child of the forest," and in 
 the presence of the pale faces waF not destined to 
 endure. They are a doomed and a passing race. 
 Many reasons, or causes, might be assigned for 
 
14 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 this. One roason is that which was ^iv^en by a 
 very thoujilitfiil ludiiin in a speech on a certain 
 occasion lonf? u^o, befoi-e a company of frovernment 
 n<4'ents here on our island beach. Said he, very 
 r( llectively: "The white man no sooner came than 
 he tiiou<;iit of ]ir(*parin<^ the way for his posterity; 
 ihe red man never thou<?ht of that." In this pro- 
 found observation is embodied one of the latest de- 
 ductifms in social pliilo.sophy. 
 
 Of course, in tlius speakinjj^ of the Indians, 
 reference is had to manifestations of their mental 
 character as seen in earlier days, and not to Indian 
 life of the i)resent. as seen in the western reserva- 
 tions.* 
 
 *CiitUn, who ranks ncvt to Schoolcnift in his study of the Indians, in 
 an extensive ^'lassitication of qualities, contrasts their original character 
 in their "primiiive and disabused state" with their secondary character 
 after "being beaten into a sort of civilization." From being handsome 
 he says they had become ugly; from free, enslaved; from affable, re- 
 served; from bold, timid: from warlike, peaceable; from proud, humble; 
 from independent, dependent; from healthy, sickly; from sober, 
 drunken; from increasing, decreasing; from landholders, beggars. 
 
 i 
 
;i\^en by a 
 a certain 
 Dvernment 
 I he, very 
 came than 
 , posterity; 
 1 this pro- 
 e latest de- 
 
 le Indians, 
 leir mental 
 3t to Indian 
 rn reserva- 
 
 yi the Indians, In 
 dginal character 
 mdary character 
 being handsome 
 from affable, re- 
 1 provid, humble; 
 ,y; from sober, 
 i, beggars. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The annals of our island since its discovery 
 and occupation by the whites carry us back to an 
 early day. Exi)lorers from France and settlers 
 from Canada were here two hundred and lifty 
 years ago. Traces of Prem^h and Indian mixture 
 are everywhere seen. Indian wars and massacres 
 have reddened these shores. Stories of English 
 power victorious over French, in far back colonial 
 times, have a part in the history of this region. 
 In a later day the island had its stirring incidents 
 in our own war with Great Britain, in 1812. Here 
 was the headquarters of the Mackinaw Fur Company 
 and the Southwest Fur Company, and afterwards 
 of the powerful American Fur Company, of which 
 John Jacob Astor was the chief proprietor, and 
 which made our island for the time the largest seat 
 of commerce in the western country.* Christianity, 
 too, has had here its early enterprises, at the 
 hands first of the French Jesuit missionaries of the 
 17th Century, and afterwards of Protestantism. 
 
 In regard to early military annals, history 
 points to the fact that with the exception of the 
 brief abandonm^mt by the French forces from about 
 1701 to 1714, this region of the straits had been a 
 seat of continuous military occupation from the 
 
 *Detroit. Vincennes, St. Louis, Lake Winnipej?. Lake of the Woods, 
 and other fur distant points were but dependencies of Michilimackinac, 
 as the metropolis of the Indian trade, 
 
 15 
 
16 
 
 EAliLY MACKINAC 
 
 last quju'lfM" of )li(^ 17tli(MMitiir-y down 1()l<*^or), wlion 
 to tin; surpriso Jind i'(vu:r«'t oL' till who k'licw tlio 
 isluiid's lilstoi'v, the United Slati'S ( Joverninont 
 tibolisliod Iho post. T1ii"(h» diffci'cnt lla.n's iiave 
 floated over a, tort in these St fails of AlacK'inaw 
 durin*^ this loriif ])eriod past. Thes(» havi; been in 
 the ord(!r of Frencli, Eii«j:lish Jiiid American. Tlio 
 Fi'encli wei'e the pionoei's. They estal)lished Fort 
 MicliirmiacK'inac, over when^ now tlio town of St. 
 Ignacc stands, four miles across on the northern 
 l)eninsu]a. This was about two hundred and 
 twenty -tive years a<2:o. 
 
 Baron La Htjntan, who liad come from France 
 to Canada at an early ii<i;i} and afterwai'ds V)ecame 
 Lord Lieutenant of a Fi*ench Colony in Newfound- 
 land, visited our Mackinac neif^liborhood in 1088. 
 In a publicjition of his travels in North America he 
 gives thi'ee letters fr' n tlio Michilimakinac settle- 
 ment of that day.* - s accompanying his picture 
 on the adjoining page he thus wi-ites: '"You can 
 scarce bcdieve what vast sholes of white iish are 
 catched about the middle of the channel, between 
 the continent and the isle of Missilir^akinac. The 
 Out(wuas\ and the Hurons could never subsist 
 here, without that fishery; for they are obliged to 
 travel about twenty leagues in the woods befoi-e 
 they can kill any harts or elks, and it would be an 
 infinite fatigue to cai'ry theii* carcasses so far over 
 land. This sort of white fish, in my opinion, is the 
 only one in all these lakes that can be (tailed good; 
 
 *The book was first published in French, 1705. Afterwards an ea- 
 larged edition appeared iu English form, 1735. 
 
 tOttawas. 
 
)7), when 
 new tho 
 ri'iiinont 
 o;s havo 
 [{icU'imiw 
 bodi in 
 .in. Tho 
 hcd Fort 
 m of St. 
 northern 
 lr(Hl and 
 
 n France 
 s became 
 [ewfonnd- 
 L in 1688. 
 merica he 
 lac settle- 
 is picture 
 "You can 
 o iish are 
 , between 
 nac. The 
 r subsist 
 obliged to 
 )ds before 
 )uld be an 
 ;o far over 
 lion, is the 
 lUed good; 
 
 erwards an en- 
 
 "3 
 C 
 3 
 O 
 
 1> 
 u 
 O 
 
 "J 
 
 ;j 
 
 c 
 no 
 
 ifi 
 
 o 
 
 X 
 
 rjo 
 
 U 
 
 3 -^ 
 
 ■^ C 
 
 0. (9 
 
 X 
 'J 
 
 u 
 (/) 
 
 a Q. 
 'J c 
 
 < 
 
 5f 
 
 '/) 3 
 
 ■- O 
 
 n 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 ro 
 
 !5 
 
 ij 
 in 
 
 71 
 
 c 
 ro 
 
 'ji 
 
 
 'i 
 
•* 
 
LA HOXTAN S LETTER. 
 
 17 
 
 and indeed it goes oeyoiid all other sorts of river 
 tisli. Above all, it lias one singular property-, 
 namely, that all sorts of sauces spoil it, so that it 
 is always eat either boiled or broiled, without any 
 manner of seasoning. 
 
 ••In the channel I now speak of. tlie current.i 
 are so stj-ong that they sometimes suck in the nets, 
 tiiough they are two or three leagues off. In some 
 seasons it so falls out that the currents run three 
 days eastward, two days to the west, one to the 
 south, and four northward; sometimes more and 
 sonu'tinu's l(>ss. The cause of this divei-sity of 
 currents could never be fathomed, for in a calm 
 they will run, in the space of one day, to all tiie 
 points of tlie compass, i. c, sometimes in one way, 
 sometimes anotlier, without any limitation of time; 
 so tliat the decision of the matter must be left to 
 the disci[)le of Copernicus. 
 
 •Here the savage catch trouts as big as one's 
 thigh; with a sort of tishing-hook made in the 
 form of an awl, and made fast to a piece of brass 
 wire, which is joined to the line that reaches to the 
 bottom of the lake. This sort of tishery is carried 
 on uot only with hooks, but with nets, and that in 
 winter as well as in summer. 
 
 '•Thci Outaomif! and the Ifurnus ha\e very 
 pleasant tields, in which they sow Indian corn, 
 pease and beans, besides a sort of citruls and 
 melons. Sometimes thei^.e savages sell their corn 
 very dear, es])ecially when the beaver hunting 
 happens not to take well; upon which occasion 
 they make sutKcient reprisals upon us for the ex- 
 travagant prico of our commodities. " 
 
18 
 
 EARLY MACKIxXAC. 
 
 For a shoi't interval the French Government, 
 mider tlie instii^^ation of the post Coninumder, 
 CadiHac, Avitlulrew the «i'arrison (as ah-eady men- 
 tioned) and abandoned tills region as a military 
 seat in favor of the new settlement at Detroit. 
 That was about the opening of last century. But 
 tills vacating was soon seen to be bad policy, and 
 in 1714 the fort was re-established. When, how- 
 ever, the restored fort b(>comes known apiin m 
 history it is found located on the Southern Penin- 
 sula, across the Straits, where now stands the 
 railroad town, Mackinaw Citv. Whether on the 
 return from Detroit the military at once located ihc 
 fort there, oi* first resumed the old site at St. 
 Iirnace, and I'emoved to the other Peninsula ut some 
 later period, is not definitely known. At any rate 
 it Avas tlie same military occu})ation, and the same 
 Fort Michilimackinac, irrespective of the time of 
 change in the site. It stood about half a mile from 
 the present Light House, and soutliwesterly from 
 the railroad station; and was so close to the water's 
 edge that when the wi)id was in the west the waves 
 would often break into the stoclcade. Its site is 
 plainly visible 'to-day, and visitors still find relics 
 in tho sand. 
 
 After the conquest of Canada by the English, 
 in the deciding l)attle of Quebec on the heights of 
 Abraham in 1759, all this country around came un- 
 der the English flag. The Indians, however, liked 
 better the French dominion and their pc^rsonal re- 
 lations with the French peoi)le than tliey did the 
 English sway and English associations, and they 
 did not take khidly to the transfer. One reason 
 
PONTIAC S CONSPIRACY. 
 
 19 
 
 vornment, 
 luuiuiiuler, 
 
 a military 
 tt Detroit, 
 lury. But 
 policy, cind 
 lieu, liow- 
 1 ai^^aiu in 
 ,ern Peuin- 
 staiicls the 
 ;ber on the 
 s located the 
 site tit St. 
 ^ulantsome 
 ^t any rate 
 id the same 
 the time of 
 
 a mile from 
 sterly from 
 I) the water's 
 
 t the waves 
 
 Its site is 
 
 ill find relics 
 
 he English, 
 b heii-Thts of 
 ind came un- 
 wever, liked 
 |p(*rsonal re- 
 Ihey did the 
 lis, ami they 
 One reation 
 
 for this prefcu'ence is said to have been that the 
 B'rencli were accustomed to pay respect to all the 
 ludiaijs' religious or superstitious observances, 
 wliereas an Englishman or an American was apt, 
 eitlier to take no [)aius to conceal liis coutempt for 
 their suixu'stitions or U) speak out bluntly against 
 them. To this can be add<Ml the well known fact of 
 the greatcu' n^adiness of the French to intermarry 
 and domesticate with the Indian.* 
 
 This stroug feeling of discontent under the 
 change of empire, on the part of the Indians, was 
 fanned and skillfully directed by that gri^at leader 
 and (liplomate, Pontiac;f and "The Conspiracy of 
 Pontiac" is the well-known title of one of Park- 
 man's series of Noi'th American liistory. This 
 conspiracy was no less than a deep and compre- 
 hensive scheme, maturcKl by this most crafty 
 savage chief, for a general Indian rising, in which 
 all English forts, from the south to the upper 
 lakes, Avere to be; attacked simultaneously, and the 
 English rule forever destroyed. Th(.' Indians would 
 vauntingly say, "You have conquered the French, 
 but you have not conquc'red us." Out of twelve 
 forts, nine were takcm, but not louir held. 
 
 *''When the Freuoli iiirivt-d :U tin's pliiL't',' said a Chli^ewa Chief at 
 a council once held iit, the Siiull. 'th-'y c;nne and i<issedus. They called 
 us I'hildreii and \vc found (liem I'lithers, We lived like hrolhers in ^he 
 same lodf,'e.' Sckoolcraft , in (in (uldrc.^s hrfore the Miclii(jiin HiMorical 
 Society i)i ls;!0, 
 
 "In foi'iM^ of cliaracter, s\il)llety, elotineiice and darinir, l'ont!ao 
 was poriiaps the most brilliant man the Indians of N.nMh America have 
 produced."— ••.! Ilintonj <>/ Cdnadn," by Chas. (!. D. h'oberts. Schoolcraft 
 rated liim in the saini' way. I)i-al<e. in his •■Itulidii^ of thr Northwest.'* 
 says of liim: 'His fame in liis time was not couliuud to his ovvu coniiueati 
 but the (,'azetLes of Europe spread it also,"' 
 
20 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 Wliilo til is sclioii](> Avas, of course, a failure in 
 its larger feat ui-os, the plot as,^ai list the old post of 
 Miclulimackiiiao across the water succeeded only 
 too well. The strategy and liorrors of that capture 
 read like a tale of lictioii. The story is olch but to 
 r(>peat it in tliis sketch will not be amiss. Jt may 
 be introduced under the title of 
 
 AN iriSTORlC BAr.L GAME. 
 
 In ITOo a band of Ihirty-tive English soldiers 
 and their ofticcrs formed its garrison. Encamped 
 in the woods not far off was a large number of In- 
 dians. One morning in the month of Juius with 
 groat show of friendliness, the Indians invited the 
 soldiers to witness their match game ot ball, just 
 outside tlie stock'ade. The Chippewas were to play 
 the Sacs,* TIkui, as now, ball playing had great 
 fascination. And as tliis was the birthday oC the 
 King of England, and the; men wer(3 in the celebra- 
 ting mood, some indulgence was shown, discipline 
 for a time rtdaxed, gates wcrii left ajar and the 
 soldiers and ofKceis carelessly saunter( d and look- 
 ed on, enjoying tlu^ sport. In tlu^ cour.<e of play, 
 and as a part of the pi-e-ccmcerted stratagem, the 
 ball was so struck that it fell within the stockade 
 line of the fort. As if pursuing it, the players 
 came rushing to the gate. The soldiers, intent in 
 watching the play, suspected nothing. The Indians 
 now had an open Avay within, and instantly turned 
 from ball-plavers into warrioi's, and a terrifvinc 
 "whoop" was given. The squaws, as sharing in 
 the plot, were standing near with tomahawks con- 
 cealed under tluMr blankets. These were seiz(>d. 
 
 *J3ugguiiwuy wufn iljeir Kiutl uf bull game, 
 
ALEXANDEFl HENRY. 
 
 21 
 
 I fLiilure ill 
 3lcl post of 
 ;eodecl only 
 liiit captur<.) 
 , old, bub to 
 ss. It may 
 
 iisli soldiers 
 Kiicampi'd 
 luboL' of lu- 
 [ Jmio, Avilli 
 ; iiivilod the 
 of ball, just 
 i wen^ U) play 
 ig had i;reat 
 Ihday of the 
 L tlio colebva- 
 n. discipline! 
 |ajar and the 
 ( d and look- 
 irse of play, 
 ■atagoni, the 
 Ithe stockade 
 the players 
 rs, inu-nt in 
 The Indians 
 antly turned 
 a terrifying 
 ,s sharing in 
 ahawks con- 
 Avere seized. 
 
 and then followed a most shocking massacre. Tlie 
 surprise of the fort and the success of tlie red men 
 were complete. 
 
 The details of this dreadful event are vivid- 
 ly and luirrowingiy given by the English trader, 
 Alexander Henry, sojourning at tlie time, with his 
 goods, within the stockade, and wlio was a partici- 
 pant in the dreadful scenes and experiences. Tlie 
 humble ILmry may Avell Ijo called the Father of 
 History, like another Herodotus, as far as tliis 
 e[)isode is ccmcei'ned. Excepting the very meagre 
 re]v^rt of th(^ humiliating capture made by Captain 
 Elherington, the officer in command, there seems 
 to be nothing but the narrative of this Enii-lish 
 trader. His description of the fort, the purpose it 
 had been serving, the movements of the Indians 
 pi'eceding the affair, as widl as the minute descj-ip- 
 ticmof the stratagem and its success, and the terri- 
 ble scenes enacted, is the chief source of informa- 
 tion; and one can take up no history of this jieriod 
 and this locality without seeing liow all writers are 
 indebt(Hl to his plain and simple narrative. 
 
 When the foi't was captin*(Hl by the savages, 
 he himself was hidden for the fii'st niglit out of 
 their miirderou>< reach, but was discovered the 
 n(>xt day. Then follow(Ml a series of experiences 
 and ]ia;i--breadth escapes and turns of f(M'tuno very 
 remaikable, while all tlie tiuK^ the most bai'barous 
 fate S(M^med imi)ending, the suspiMise in which made 
 his sensations, if possible, only the moi-e distress- 
 ful and torturing. It was not enough that liis 
 goods wei'o confiscated and his very clothes stri})- 
 ped off his body, but his savage captors thirsted 
 
■nil. I 
 
 Of) 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 for his blood. They siiici of him and their other 
 prisoners, that they were bein<^ reserved to "make 
 English broth.'' After fonr dtiys of such horrors 
 there came a turn Avhich Henry says gave "a new- 
 color to my lot. " During his residence at the posi 
 b<»foro the massacre, a certain Cliii)pewa Indian 
 named Wawatam, who used to come frequently to 
 his house, had become very friendly and told him 
 that the Great Spirit pointed him out as one to 
 adopt as a brother, and to regard as one of his own 
 family. Suddenly, on the fourth day of his cap- 
 tivity, Wawatam appeaiM>don the scene. Before a 
 council of the chiefs lie asked the release of his 
 brother, the trader, at the same time laying down 
 presents to buy otf whatever claims any may liave 
 thought they had on the prisoner. Wawatam 's 
 request, or demand was granted, and taking Mr. 
 Henry by the hand he led him to his own lodge 
 wdiere he jeceived the utmost kindness. 
 
 A day or two afterwards, fearing an attack of 
 retaliation by the English, the whole body ol 
 Indians moved from the fort over to our island as 
 a place of greater safely. They landed, three hun- 
 dred and fifty fighting men. Wawatam wr.s among 
 them, with Henry in safe keeping. Scn-eral days 
 had passed, w^iien two large canoc^s from Montreal. 
 with English goods aboard, wei'e seized by th<' 
 Indians. The invoice of goods contained amonjj 
 other things, a large stock of licpior, and soon maci 
 drunkenness prevailed. The watchful and faithful 
 Wawatam told Henry he feared he could not pro 
 tect him when tlie Indians w<M'e in licpior, and 
 besides, as he frankly confessed, ''lie could not 
 
\ 
 
 ALEXANDER HENRY. 
 
 2S 
 
 L their other 
 ed to ' 'make 
 ;uch horrors 
 rave "a new 
 e at the post 
 pewa Indian 
 "requenlly to 
 and told him 
 ut as one to 
 ine of his own 
 Y of his cap- 
 le. Before a 
 -elease of his 
 layini? down 
 ny may liave 
 Wawatam's 
 d taking Mr. 
 is own lodge 
 ss. 
 
 an attack of 
 lole body ot 
 ovir island as 
 lhI, three hun- 
 ni wT.s among 
 Silver al days 
 om Monti-eal. 
 ,(viz(Hl. by th(^ 
 ained ainonjj 
 land soon mati 
 I and faithful 
 )iild not pro- 
 licinor, and 
 he could not 
 
 himself resist the temptation of joining his com- 
 rades in the debauch." He therefore took liiiii up 
 the hill and back in the woods, and hid him in a 
 cave, wiiere he was to remain hidden "until the 
 liquor shon.J' be drank." After an uncomfortable 
 and nnrestful night, Henry discovered next morn- 
 ing, to his horror, that he had been lying on a iieap 
 of human bones and skulls. This charnel-hou.se 
 retreat is now the ^vell-known "Skull Cave" of the 
 Island, one of the regular stopping places of the 
 tourists' carriages. 
 
 But we cannot follow trader Henry's fortunes 
 farther. In a relation between gue.st andi)ri.soner, 
 and generally treated with i-espect, moving with 
 the band from one place to anotJKU', folhnving the 
 occupation of a hunter, and taking up wilh Indian 
 life and almost fascinated by it. he at lengtii tinds 
 him.self at the Sault, Avhere soon an opportunity 
 open(>d for his deliverance and his return home. 
 Subsequently he made another trip to the country 
 of the upper lakes and remained fov a longer time. 
 Of his good friend Wawatam, it is a sad tradition 
 that he afterwards became blind and was accidental- 
 lyburned in his lodge on the island at the Point. 
 formerly known as Ottawa Point, in the village, 
 then as Biddle's, and more recently as Anthony's 
 Point. 
 
 It may be that some have felt incredulous in 
 respect to Henry's thrilling tale. But there is 
 reason to think it entirely trustworthy. It is con- 
 tained in a book which he wrote, entitled "Travels 
 and Adv(mtures in Canada and the Indian Teri-i- 
 tories. between 1760 and 1700." It was first pub- 
 
24 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 lished in 1808, and is dedicatod to Sir Joseph 
 Banks, ''Baronot of his Majesty's Privy Council 
 and President ot the Ro^^al Society/' Some copiers 
 contain the author's portrait. It has loni^ been 
 out of print, and copies of it to-day are very rare 
 and command a hi,ij;li price. Mr. Henry's residence 
 in his latter years was at Montreal, and he was 
 still living as late as IHll, an old man past eighty 
 years of age, hale and clu^erful looking. He bore 
 a good name and an nnquestioned reputation for 
 veracity among those wlio knew him. I have 
 already named him tlie Herodotus of this particular 
 period of history. By another person, an enthu- 
 siastic English visitor at Mackinac, over sixty 
 years ago, he was called also the Ulysses of these 
 parts; and of his bool<: it was said it bore tlie rela- 
 tion to the Michilimackinac shores and waters 
 which tlie Odyssey does to tlie shores of Sicily.* 
 
 *The ehronolo^iciil order ia which early travelers iind visitors, who 
 have left any annals of their journeys, cianie to tliis re^Lrioii, may l)e 
 stated as follows: Nieeollet, in lfi31; Manniette, KVri: LM,Salle and 
 Hennepin. Id?.*: T.aPIontau. 108.S; (Jharlevoix. ];21: Alexandcn- lleury. irn-.': 
 Capt. John Carver, 176(5. 
 
% 
 
 sir Joseph 
 ivy C()iin(;il 
 301110 coi)u^s 
 ^ loii^ boon 
 vojy riiro 
 ''s rosidonco 
 and ho AViis 
 past oighty 
 ^. He boro 
 imtation for 
 in. I hiivo 
 lis part iouhir 
 n, an onthu- 
 ovor sixty 
 ,ses of Ihoso 
 jre Uie re bl- 
 and waters 
 of Sicily.-^ 
 
 iiiid visitors, who 
 s rcj^'ioii. may l>t' 
 CM: L;i,Siille iuid 
 iind(n- llcury. 17()-'; 
 
 CHAPTER m. 
 
 The victory of \]\o Indians over at the old fort 
 on the Sonlluu'ii niainhnid was nothing- beyond a 
 sliocK-inir and alrocions ni-^ssacro. It was ntt(^rly 
 l);u'r<Mi as regards any p(Mm!inont results, and the 
 stains of snpreniacy was not chanf^-f'!!. T1h» stoclc- 
 a;lo had not boon destroyed, and lb-it isli troops 
 soon came and I'osnraod poss(^ssion. SiiV)soqn(Mi11y, 
 liowover. th(; rinostion of transferrin"; th(» militaiy 
 s<nit of the Miohiliniaokinao reii'ion across tho 
 Straits to our island canK^ np. and was duly con- 
 sidei'od. Major Sinolair niad(^ a cai'ofnl prelimi- 
 nary examination. In a letter written in OctoV)er, 
 1779, lie savs: "I omploved threo davs from sun to 
 sun in oxamininii' the Ishmd of Maclcinac, onwiiich 
 I found i^Teat quantities of excellent oak, elm. 
 beoch and nuqije, with a vein of tli(^ lar.ii"<'st 
 
 and finest cedar ti"(H>s I cvc'r saw 
 
 Tl 
 
 le 
 
 soil is exceedin.<;-lv fine, with abundance of lim(^ 
 
 ston( 
 
 •:■;• •;> rp|^^, situation is r(\s))('ctable, and con 
 veniont foi' a fort." He also mentions that he 
 found on the island "a run of water, sufticient for 
 a saw mill."' 
 
 Ho submitted drawings and cuts of the island, 
 and plans for fortiiicati(m. to (ion. Ibildimand, the 
 officer in Cfunmand of tho department, and whoso 
 h(\idf(uarters were at Quebec. Th<^ superiority of 
 the island, as a stronii: position aii'aiiist Indian 
 attacks, and Indian throats and insults, was pointed 
 
 25 
 
—Igg 
 
 26 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 out; also its advanta^jfos in liavinj:: one of tho best 
 harbors in tbo upp<M' country, and as rospocls tlic 
 tisliinj? intorosts likewise. It is tboii^i'lit, too. 
 tiiat 1 lie transfer was somewbat connected, in the 
 Britisb mind, with the American war oL" liie Revo- 
 lution, which was then in pro<jrress. Sinchiir spoke 
 of the "lialnlity of bein<4' attacked by the Rebels," 
 at the old fort, and that tlie phice mi.ii-ht "justly be 
 look(Kl upon as the object of a sc^parato exjx'di- 
 tiou. " As a precautionary nu^asure, he made every 
 ti-ader take oath of alle.e:iance to the kiuf?, and to 
 hold in "detestation and al)horrence the present 
 unnatural and horrid rebellion." At any rate, the 
 f^ariison did not feel safe in a mere stockade of 
 timbci's on the mainland. Gen. Haldimand ac- 
 cord! nirly o-avo orders for the removal. The fol- 
 lo\vin<:^ letter on the subject was wn-itten by him, 
 April 10, 1780, to Major DePeyster, formerly in 
 command of the old Mackinac fort, but w^ho hud 
 been transferred, the year before, to the command 
 at Deti-oit.* 
 
 "Sir — Havinglon^ thou^^ht it w^ould be expedi- 
 ent to remove the fort, etc., from its present 
 situation to the Island of Michilimaclcinac, and 
 bein.o: encouraged in this undertakin.i? by advauta- 
 jjos enum(U"ated by Lt. Gov. Sincliiir, that must 
 result from it, and the eai'nest desire of the traders. 
 
 ■■'■Miijor DoPeystor was of Ameru^an birth, and hart served in tho 
 BriUsli army in various parts of this country, besides connnandin^f at 
 Maekinac, and afterwards at Detroit. He held a commission for 7." 
 years, and Uved to the a:-'e of Oi!. He spent his hitter years in Dumfries 
 Seothmd. the early home of his wife. Durinj,' his residenee there, he 
 and the poet Burns were ^reat friends. Burns addressed one of his 
 fugitive poems to DePeyster, 
 
RIOMOVAL TO THE ISLAND. 
 
 27 
 
 of tlio host 
 rospoels tlic 
 loiiji'lit, too. 
 ;cUh1, in tlio 
 of iho Revo- 
 iiichiir spoko 
 the Rebels," 
 ht "justly hv 
 irate exixitli- 
 .e made even- 
 king, and to 
 
 tlie pr(^sent 
 any rate, the 
 s stockade of 
 iklimand ac- 
 ■al. The fol- 
 tten by him, 
 formerly in 
 but who htul 
 
 ;he command 
 
 aid be expedi- 
 its present 
 
 acldnac, and 
 by advanta- 
 r, that must 
 f the traders. 
 
 Iv.Kl served in the 
 •s eomnumdinjf at 
 coiuniissiou for 7r" 
 yeiirs in Dmu fries 
 esideuoe there, he 
 Idresse'J one of his 
 
 I have f]fiven directions that necessary preparations, 
 by collectinc^ materials, (»tc., b<> mud<^ with as much 
 exj)edilion as ])ossible, as the strength of that post 
 will admit of. I am sure it is uniHU'essaiy to 
 recommcMid to you to furnish him (>vei'y assistance 
 ho may re([uire. and tliat Dctj'oit can affoi-d, in foi'- 
 warding this work, farther than by giving you my 
 sanction for the same, which I do in the fullest 
 manner. " 
 
 A government house and a few other buildings 
 were at once erected on the site of the present 
 village; the old block houses were built, and His 
 Majesty's troops took possessicm on the llJtii of 
 July, 1780, Major Sinclair commanding, though 
 the entire removal was only gradually etfticted. 
 
 The Indians, as proprietors of the land, had 
 been first consulted about this occupancy, and 
 agreeuKmt and treaty tiu'ins were obtained. The 
 consideration was £5.000. Two deeds were 
 signed, with their mark, by four chiefs, in behalf 
 of themselv(^s and all the Chippewas. On(^ was to 
 be lodged with the Governor of Caiuida. and one to 
 remain at the island t)ost; while the chiefs engaged 
 to preserve in their villages a belt of wampum 
 seven feet long, to be a memorial of the ti'ans- 
 action. But it seems that aft(U' the woi'k was 
 under way and the ])ost established, the Indians 
 showed discontent, and threatened the ti'oops; and 
 so serious was the hostility manifested, that 
 Sinclair sent in great haste to Detroit for cannon. 
 The vessel was back in eight da3^s, bringing the 
 guns, and as soon as she touched on the harbor she 
 fired a salute, and that "speaking out" by the 
 
 'n 
 
 ,a, 
 
 2 
 
 :■$■ 
 
u-f^^^p^S^^^^X. f. M 
 
 28 
 
 EARrA' MACKINAC. 
 
 cannon's month at onco sottlod Iho (luostiou, and 
 the poor Indians had no more to say. 
 
 The old site bein^" abandoiiod (sinco wlion it is 
 often referred to as "Old Maclcinaw." ) and tlie 
 ^ari'ison remov(Hl, the families of the little settle- 
 ment, could not do otherwise than follow the fort. 
 Many of the houses were taken down and trans- 
 ported piecemeal across the sti'aits, and set np 
 a.ii'ain as new homes on the island. And hai'dly 
 wei-e the settlers thus re-established before they 
 address(Hl a iielition to the c^overninent, asking for 
 remmie ration to compensate for the loss and ex- 
 pense incurred, on the ^ronnd that their removal 
 was in the interest of the State and th»^ public wel- 
 fare. What response was made to this petition I 
 have found no record which tells. 
 
 The first commandant of the island, Major 
 Sinclair, was also known as Lieutenant Governor. 
 It appears that he had been appointed inspector 
 and superintendent of the Eng"lish forts, and boro 
 some g-eneral civic position as repi'esent alive of 
 the government, besid(\s his militai-y rank; also as 
 having chai-ge of Indian affaii-s. Hence he is fre- 
 quently spoken of in the records as Gov. Sinclair, as 
 well as Major. It seems to have been on this ac- 
 count, as an officer with a more embracing scope, 
 ratlun* than as of higher military rank, that h(^ 
 superseded Major DePeyster, in command at old 
 Maclicinac. in 1779. After the trans! er he remain- 
 e<l two years in charge of tlie new post. Sinclair 
 appears, from the style of his letters and reports, n 
 more cultured and better educated nnxn than som(> 
 of his cotemporaries among the officers of thai 
 
CAPTAIN KOHi:UTSON. 
 
 29 
 
 luoslion. aiul 
 
 CO vvlK^n it is 
 i',"' ) and tlic 
 
 little settle- 
 low the fort, 
 ni Jind tvaiis- 
 , and set up 
 
 And hardly 
 . before they 
 at. ask in. 2: for 
 
 loss and ex- 
 ;h«^ir removal 
 lie public wel- 
 his petition 1 
 
 island, Major 
 nt Governor, 
 ted inspector 
 |rts, and boro 
 •esent alive of 
 rank; also as 
 ce he is fre- 
 v. Sinclair, as 
 on this ac- 
 'acing scope, 
 ank, that h(^ 
 mand at old 
 r he remain- 
 )st. Sinclair 
 |ind reports, a 
 n than some 
 cers of thai 
 
 period. But liis sei'vicos as a post commandant 
 and gcniM'al maiuinci" of affairs, seem to jiav(» b»'on 
 unsai isfactorv. b<'cause of his la\ish cxiMMuliturcvs 
 and becausi' of "abuses and noglocts in diffci'ciit 
 slia[»c>. " as it \vas said. He Avas continually being 
 cautioned from licadcpiartors in regard to hi^■. 
 financial tfansactions. For lialf a centui'y and 
 m()i'(>. after h«» left the ]>ns1, t!u^ inlialjitants con- 
 1inu('(l i() talk al)()ul liis (wti'avagaiice; and one of 
 till! st()i'i(\s long current on tht^ island, was that he 
 had i)aid at the rati.* f)f one dollar ])er stump for 
 clearing a eedar swamp in tlie government tields 
 at the w<^st (Mid of tlie village. It subsequently 
 a"pp(\n's that, on his return to England, this reclv- 
 lessni^ss in (expenditure while on the ishmd led I0 
 his imprisonment for debt. He sp(e*iks himself, in 
 one of his letters, of being "liberated upon paying 
 the Michilimakinac bills protested." 
 
 Major, or Governoi*, Sinclair was succeeded by 
 Captain Daniel Rob<>rtson, who seems tohav(3 been 
 in command from 17b'2 to IT^^T. This Robc^rtson is 
 also called Robinson, and is tlie one whose name 
 will probal)ly be always associated with the island, 
 and a figure mark in the guide books and the 
 traditiomiry stories — for when will "Robinson's 
 Folly" cease to be visited and talked about? 
 
 The ofticial annals of that time shov/ a great 
 many of Captain Robinson's letters, written while 
 he was commandant of the post, He seems to have 
 been a rough-and-ready, energetic officer; not very 
 elegant in his style of composition or his 6rthogra- 
 phy. prosaic and practical, and perhaps not quite 
 fulfilling the sentimental and romantic ideal which 
 
ss 
 
 30 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 somp of the leii-onds and storios, connoclhiir lii-. 
 namo \\\\]i tin- •"Kolly."' would su.n-ii<^st. In ono oi' 
 his reports oi' lliis rinn\ a vrry ivood ])lat is ii-i\(Mi, 
 ^li()\vin,ii" llio contour of liio isiand I'.iui llu^ location 
 oi" tli(^ I'oi't. and tlic ]iai-l)or hcai'iuj:^ lln* name. 
 "1 laldiinaud's I'.ay."" nauuHl. pfivsiiinahly. in lionor 
 of llic ^Lnii•li^il coiuukuuUm' of tlic province."' In ;'. 
 lott(M' of Api'ii, IT^;'), tlu» C*ap'ain commends the 
 clinuite of rvhu'k'iiuic as --prid'tM-ahlo to any in 
 Ciinada. and very liealt liy :'* hut he says *-it is an 
 e\pensi\(' ])lact\" llt> tells in 17>1 of tin* whai'l' 
 b(>in,i;" ItfoK'iMi 'o piiH-es hy tin. ice. so that no K'ind 
 i4' cral'l could he loaded or nnloaxUnh but that he 
 sot men to work and liot it in r«'paii-. He acUls: 
 "It^ was a veiT troublesome Jol)." He wants to 
 k'lnnv. lie says, in one of his IcMlers, wluM her or not 
 he is to "iKiveany rnui:"aiul aii'ain lie says, ht^ is 
 at a loss to know how lie is to [ici at this ])()st 
 without that rKpior, and he is sorry lu^ is ••obliiz-od 
 to criime and borrow rum I'vom traders on account 
 of ( JovernnuMit. " Al anotliei" time he wi'ites. "I 
 have had no rum this season, and you Know it. is 
 th(^ Indian's (lod. " Ami yet aiiain \\o ])oui's forth 
 his complaint: "Kuni is v<M'y much want«Hl hor*^ 
 for \arious ])ur]n)ses. ])articularly for Indians, and 
 i ha\e had only seven barr»>ls this IweK*^ Uionth."' 
 However, it is but dui^ to tli(» Captain to say 
 thai. unft)rtiinat«dy. he was not alotie in this 
 o})inion of the iudisp(Misal)leness of riuii in tlu' re- 
 lations of the wiiiles and the inilitarv with the 
 
 *'rii(> iKUiu' w as fvidiMillv t-'ivi'ii >i|r t'ti'f ilu- Uiiusd chiuiircd iisllat: 
 In Ihf cai'ly »la,vs, s\iiiNciun.'ut. il \v:'.> luimliarlv tlesi^'Mutod hy tlio island 
 pL'Dplu us "The Humu. ' 
 
1? 
 
 
 THK FOKT (;RATn\\LLY Bril.T. 
 
 31 
 
 t. In oiH^ oi' 
 ilal is ii-'iV(Mi, 
 \\\o location 
 [V lln» n:iiiK\ 
 l)ly. in lionor 
 viiKT.'"' Jn a 
 i)iiinu'U(ls tlu^ 
 o to any in 
 ays '-il is an 
 of tlio wliai'L" 
 tlnit no Isind 
 . bnl tlial he 
 ir. 1I(> adds: 
 Ho wan is 1(^ 
 kvluM luM' OI" not 
 \o says, lii^ is 
 at this post 
 i^ is •"ohiiizod 
 s on account 
 li(^ writes, "l 
 »n Iviiow it is 
 ^ poui's f'oiMli 
 ^\•anttHl liore 
 Indians, and 
 t'l\ c niont li." 
 iptain to say 
 one in tliis 
 111 in tlie re- 
 rv with tlic- 
 
 Indians, 'Wc' find Major Sinclair, his predecessor, 
 lis commandant of tln^ foiM. Avi'itin.ir to general 
 Haldimaiid in 17S1. as follows: *"Tho Indians can- 
 not \)o dc)»riv«Hl of neai'ly their usual fpiantity of 
 rum. liow(n(»r Icstrnctivc^ it is. witliout creatin,2: 
 much discontent." TIum'c^ is ii sad vein ruiniing 
 tlironuli all this (\irly liistory. made by rum; first 
 as one of the ii'ovei-nment suppli«'s to the Indians, 
 and next as an ai'ticle of traffic. Th»* p«H)r rec' 
 ni<Mi facetiously calUn^ it "'The EuL-'lisli Milk;*' bi j 
 tlieii- moi'e st'i'ious name for it \vas llie truer on(.', 
 '"Fii'e water."* 
 
 Robertson. (Robinson^ was in conimand from 
 17'^- to 17S7. Tiiere ai'(> intimations of bis havinir 
 been di.sapiu'oved at (ieii, Haldimand's head- 
 quai'tei's. Cai)tain SccMt succee(hMl liim — "sent in 
 tlie I'oom of Robertson," as tlii^ I'ecoi'd reads. It is 
 repoi'ied of Scot t. tlia.t '"lie ii*a.ine<l infinite civtlit 
 at Mackinac but. poor f(dlow, his po( 'a't had paid 
 foiit." He was folio W(^d by Captain Doyle, who 
 Seems to havt^ remained in commaiul of tlie i»ost 
 nntil its deliv«M-y to the United States. 
 
 The f(n't was not built com]>let(^ at onc<'. but 
 g'raxhially took on its dimensions and its streiiirlh. 
 In 17^*.t, aftei' an inspection by the Kn?.'ineei-'s 
 BepaiM mem. t he I'ortiticatiims. as oi-i,<rinally desii^-n- 
 ed. were reported as beini:- only in ]>art executed, 
 and tliat the woru had b(>en discontinued foi* some 
 
 clKiniriMi iis Hilt: 
 |;i;cil I'v llu- islauU 
 
 *n. M. Hol'iiisoii in liis iiiMMfiiiii!,' hook. -Thi* Crin-al Kur I..n«l." 
 descriptivf of tlif ri'trioiis of tlit> Uiulson s Hay ( 'oiupaiiv. -vavs of thtr 
 Jmlian's liijuoi'. ■It. iiiiisi Itc siron^r <'iioii;-'h lo lti> iuHaiuiual. e for he 
 fclwavN icsis ii by iioiiriii;-' a Icsv tlrops in t lie tin- " 
 
 ••'rill- fiTi'.'is of artltni Njiiiiis in Uu" lo^l^M^ arc t'ljuai lo the appear- 
 anor of a trrizzly boar anioufsl Ihvm. -Schoolcm ft. 
 
■*•— r-"~7 Uflt 
 
 rvmiu'TiiimiifinfTr 
 
 ssss 
 
 32 
 
 EAKI.Y MACKINAC. 
 
 years, and lliat in tlu' iiiraii lime a sIioug- pickol- 
 \]]iX had l)i'<Mi creeled afouiid the iiiilini:>lied \v:n"l\:-. 
 And 'ciii-ain, as liO.o as ]7'Ji'. the phiiis wiM'e i-eporinl 
 ii8 not .yet finished; the ol'tieers" sloiie ([uarlers were 
 only about half e.>in])lei(>d; tlie \\alls Avei'i^ up th* 
 full h(Mii']d and th<' window tVanit's in. hut 1 he root 
 and Jloors wantin.ii". (Shafp erilieisni was niad<>. 
 too, hy ihe oftieer then inspect inu'. on tiie wliol< 
 desi.iz'ii ol' tlie t'oiM.) And yet, aizain, in ITHo, th-' 
 commandant. C'a[>lain Doyle, writes eone<'rniii,L;- 1 h- 
 "rninons stale of t Ik,' i'ort. " but says he purposed 
 "sondiiii.;' to the saw mill h»r phitd\s. and wouM 
 give the I)aiTael\S a llioronL:h repaii', having;' re- 
 coi\ed or(h'rs from His Kxeoilency. Maj. Oen. 
 Clarke, to thai ])iir[)e>,'>-" .'so ask-ini;- i'or ••an 
 enii'ineer and -ome artitic( ■ > i > render Ili«' misera- 
 ble fort re. -s in some de.ii'rec^ tenal)le "' 
 
 It is not a fort of to-day's eonsti'uction. It is 
 a militai'y strnetui'iM)!' a eenlury ag^o, a meiiKMito 
 of the past, and J'eplele in hi.sioi'ie remini.secniee. 
 As a fort iticat ion. it is ii curious mixture of Ameri- 
 can from ier post and old-world castle. Its thick 
 walls and sally-ports, and bastions and ditch. 
 alon.i;' with its old block-houses of lo;-;s. loo[»-holed 
 for niusK'etry; its slopin.n' path dow»' ''• the villajiO 
 str(M>t, buttrtv^sed aloni;' tlu^ hill ■ h' v, i!h In^avy 
 niasonrv. al)o\c which li'i'ow ii'ras,^ , ::.'' ciMlars nn 
 to the foot oL" the overlookinu^ old **)• 'ce-"s cpiar- 
 \oi's' — all this mak'<'S il astriicinii' and plclures;iuc 
 object, a sort of mounlaln I'orlress, and cerlaiiily 
 SQUiethin.ij^ uni(pH> in this country. 
 
iIsImhI \v:n'k;^. 
 
 were rt'])Ol'ti'd 
 (|n;irU'rs wrw^. 
 
 ; AVtM-O li[) tin 
 
 I. liiit llu' roof 
 >iii Nvas uiadc 
 oil tin' wliol*' 
 1, ill 17*.>:'., tli'« 
 concern iiigMlir 
 s lu' purposoil 
 vS. iiiul wouM 
 111'. liiiN'ini;' re- 
 ic'v. Maj. r.cn. 
 skin.ii: J'oi' ••an 
 liT tluj luisora- 
 
 riK'lion. 11 '> 
 (), ;i nionionld 
 
 [ r(Mnini.sc(MU'<\ 
 lure of Aniori- 
 lie. Its Ih'K'k 
 
 |)ns and ditcli. 
 
 us, l()0[>-holo'l 
 
 ■, I.' the villaii'O 
 
 r V ini lu^avy 
 
 ■ ' (MMlai-s lit) 
 
 ,:■ \-o '"s fpiar- 
 
 jUl pirtlllVStllK' 
 
 iiiul coi'Uiinly 
 
 
 <0 ,' 
 
 
 c 
 
?^a"i ii im ' i,."^'"r»i»u i i » i i' 
 
 ' I ' lu rii l ij^i ii^i 
 
 ■ i ii ' i i.ii ^i •• . i ■ 'h i gi^iY, iT .i'fet>a^^SS 
 
I CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Althoug-li the war of the Revolution had been 
 fougljt, unci American independence acknowledged; 
 and the Treaty of Paris in 1783 had secured all this 
 upper lake country on the same boundary lines as 
 Ave have them to-day, yet it was thirteen years 
 afterwards before the American Hag floated over 
 the island fort. It was the same also in respect to 
 four or live other posts which were situated on the 
 American side of the lakes. Washington, then 
 President, sent Baron Steuben to Gen. Haldimand, 
 commissioned to receive tliem; but Haldimand re- 
 plied he had no instructions from his government 
 to make the delivery, and that he could not even 
 discuss the subject. The Government, too, by 
 John Adams, our minister to England, had insisted 
 on the same, but witliout effect. England urged 
 in explanation of her course, tliat it was due to an 
 imperfect fulfil Iment on our side of some of the 
 treaty stipulations. It required another treaty 
 (this matter, however, being only one of many 
 points embraced in it) before the tardy transfer of 
 these stations on the conlines was eff<*cted. It was 
 then agreed that on June 1st, 3700, they should 
 be evacuated by the English. Owing to delays on 
 the part of Congress, our occupation of the posts 
 was d«>ferred beyond that date. As Washington 
 said in his address to Congress, December, 1796: 
 
34 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 "Tlio jiLM'iod (iiu'iiig Iho lute session, at wliieli llio 
 appropriation was passed for carrying into elLct 
 tlie treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, In^. 
 tween the United States and His Britannic Majesty, 
 necessarily procrastinated the recei)tion of tin; 
 posts stipulated to be delivered, beyond the dale 
 assigned for that event." He adds: "As soon. 
 however, as the Governor General of Canada 
 could be addressed with propriety on the subject, 
 arrangements were cordially and prouiptly con- 
 cluded for tlieir evacuation, and the United Stal("> 
 took possession of them, comprehending Oswoiid, 
 Niagara, Detroit, Michilimackinac and Ft. Miami."'' 
 In the case of Fort Mackinac, it was not until 
 October 2nd, of that year, that the actual transi'i'i 
 was made. 
 
 But, besid(^s negotiating with the Euglisli ii 
 the recovery of Mackinac, the American govriii 
 numt had to deal with another class of proprietor^ 
 — the original possessors of the soil. Accordingly, 
 while the delivery of tlie island and post was stiL 
 ixmding, Chrn. Waynes ti-eaty with the Indians 
 (Treaty of Greenville) was made in August, 171'.'^ 
 by which "a tract of land was ceded on the main 
 to the north of the island on w^hich the post o 
 Micliilimackinac stands, to measure six miles v 
 Lakes Huron and Micliigan, and to extend tln-( 
 miles back from the w^aters of the lake on t! 
 strait." t Boi.s Blanc, or White Wood Island, w: 
 also ceded as the voluntary gift of the Ghippe^\ ;i 
 The Indians were to receive ^1^8,000 annually, besidt 
 J?2().000 then distributed. 
 
 ♦Amerloau Statu Piipers. 1Holmei^' Amcrlcuu Annuls, Vol 2. v ^ 
 
REPAIRS ORDERED. 
 
 35 
 
 vt which Iho 
 icr into etTccl 
 vi gat ion, hiv 
 LuucMiijesty. 
 ption of 11 10 
 'ond the clai»' 
 s: "As soon. 
 a of Ciuiiula 
 1 the subj'H't, 
 )roiiiplly con- 
 United Stuu^ 
 idiuJ^' Os\V(>iic>. 
 (iFt. Miami." ■■• 
 was not uiiii 
 victual transfer 
 
 tlio English ii 
 icrican govoni 
 of proprietor^ 
 Accordinii'ly, 
 
 post was stil 
 Lh the Indians 
 1 August, I'*-''' 
 d on the nraiu 
 ich the post o. 
 re six miles o; 
 to extend thrr 
 lie lake on t' 
 'ood Island, av; 
 
 the GhippcAwi^ 
 .vnnLially,besi<K 
 
 lu Auaals, Vol. 2. V 
 
 Perhaps the iinlinislied state of the ])ost, as 
 reported in 1792, and 11 le complaint made of its 
 condition in 1793, and its sore need of repairs, 
 (referred to above), may be explained on the 
 ground that the English authorities, well knowing 
 it was within American lines, and apprehending 
 that it must soon pass out of their control, deemed 
 it unwise to incur any large expenditure on it. 
 In fact, we tind Captain Robertson saying in a 
 letter, as early as 1784, that in compliance with 
 ord(}rs he had receiv(xl, no more labor was given 
 to a post which by treaty had been ceded c<> the 
 Americans, than was necessary to '■command some 
 resi)ect for the safety of the garrison and traders, 
 surrounded as I am by a great number of Indians 
 not in the best humor. '' It is probablo, therefore, 
 that wluni at length it came into our liands it was in 
 need of considerable attention, for we tind Washing- 
 ton, in the same address to Congress just quoted 
 from, saying of these x^osts that "such repairs and 
 additions had been ordered as appeai'cd indis]-)en- 
 sable."* It is also probable that the American 
 foi'ce sent to occupy the post at tlu^ dispart ure of 
 the British soldiers was quite imposing, as we have 
 Timothy Pickering, Washington's Secretary of 
 War, in his report of February, 179(3, saying: "To 
 appear respectable in the eyes of our Ih-itish 
 neiglibors, the force with which we tak(» possession 
 of th(^se posts should not be mah^rially less than 
 that with Avliich they now occ'upy tlieni. This 
 measure," he adds, "is also important in relation 
 to the Indians, on wliom first impn.'ssions may 
 have very beneticial (Mfects. " * Accoi'dingly, the 
 
 "•AnieiiiMu Sill', e i'upers, 
 
 ';:*y 
 
86 
 
 KAKLY MACKINAC. 
 
 first detachment to occupy Mcickinac, as an Ameri- 
 can garrison, consisted of four officers, one com- 
 pany of Artillery and Engineers, and one company 
 of Infantry, Major Henry Burback being in com- 
 mand of the wliole force. The British retired to 
 the ishmd of St. Joseph, on the Canada side a little 
 Tobove Detour, and established a fort there. 
 
 Following the change of flag and sovereignty, 
 nothing very stiri-ing seems to have developed in 
 the island history during the years immediately 
 succeeding. It soon became, however, a great 
 commercial seat and emporium in the wilderness, 
 The chief commodity was furs. Prom an early 
 day this had been a business carried on by the 
 individual tradei'S who went among the Indians. 
 Later many of those engaged in it combined, and 
 about 1787 formed the famous "Northwest Com- 
 pany. "' which became a most powerful organization, 
 and which "held a lordly swa}^ over the wintiy 
 lakes and boundless forests of the Canadas, almost 
 equal to that of the East India Company over the 
 realms of the Orient." Its headquarters w^as Fori 
 William, on Lake Superior, and the fields of 
 operation lay principally in far northern latitudes. 
 The success of this company led to similar enter- 
 jiriscs in the territory lying south and west, with 
 our island as the head-center. There w^as a 
 "Mackinaw Company," and a "Southwestern 
 Company," which, uniting under John Jacob Astor, 
 became the "American Fur Company." This, 
 together wnth other lines of traffic which it stimu- 
 lated, made the island for many yeai-s a great com- 
 mercial seat. It is reported, for instance, for the 
 
WASHINGTON IKVTNG'S SKKTCII. 
 
 37 
 
 ;, as an Amori- 
 ;ers, one coni- 
 1 one company 
 being in com- 
 lish retired to 
 ida side a littlf 
 ; there. 
 
 d sovereignty, 
 3 developed in 
 •s immediately 
 7ever. a great 
 he -wilderness. 
 H'rom an early 
 ied on by the 
 ig the Indians, 
 combined, and 
 orthwest Com- 
 1 organization, 
 er the wintiy 
 [anadas, almost 
 pany over the 
 Irters was Foil 
 the fields of 
 tiern latitudes, 
 similar enter- 
 ,nd west, with 
 There was u 
 Southwestern 
 m Jacob Astor, 
 pany." This, 
 hich it stimiv 
 a great com- 
 tance, for the 
 
 year 1804, that the goods entered at the Mackinac 
 Custom House yielded a revenue to the United 
 States of about ^5^00,000. 
 
 Wliile at this time our island ^vas United States 
 territory, and the fort with its ever floating Hag 
 was a vi.sible token of its Americanism; the village^ 
 as a whole, with its Indian and French i)opulation 
 and its style of construction — much of its archi- 
 tecture being a kind of cross betvvetm the white 
 settler's hut and the Indian's birch bark lodge — 
 perhaps did not appear so characteristically 
 American. Let us look at its jiicture as drawn by 
 Wa.shington Irving in his "Astoria. " Itis Mackinac 
 as seen in 1810. He is de.scribing an expedition 
 under way for the far northwest and the head 
 waters of the Missouri, in tlie interest of Mr. 
 Aster's enterprises. The party had fitted out in 
 Montreal, under Wilson P. Hunt, of New Jersey; 
 and in one of the large canoes, tliirty or forty feet 
 long, universally used in those days in the schemes 
 of commerce, had slowly made their way up the 
 Ottawa river, and by the old route of the fur traders 
 along a succession of small lak'os and rivers, to our 
 island. Here the party remained about three 
 weeks, having stopped for the purpose of taking 
 on more goods and to engage more recruits. 
 Irving tlius describes the place: 
 
 "It was not until the 22nd of July that they 
 arrived at Mackinaw, situated on the island of the 
 same name, at the confluence of Lakes Huron and 
 Michigan. This famous old French trading post 
 continued to be a rallying point for a multifarious 
 and motley population. The inhabitants were 
 
88 
 
 EAKI.Y MACKINAC. 
 
 amphibious in thoir luibils, most of them bein<? or 
 having boon voydgriirs or (•ano(vmon. It was thf 
 g:reat i)lac!e ot arriviil and tloparture of the soutli 
 wost fur tra(l(!. H(M-e tlie Mackinaw Company had 
 ostablisliod its prinoijial ]V)st, from \vh(^iice it com- 
 mmiicatod witli Iho intoiior aisd witli Montroal. 
 Honce its various ti'adors and trapp<>rs sot out for 
 their rospoctivo dosti nations about Lake Superioi- 
 and its tributary wjitors, or for the Mississippi, 
 the Arkansas, tiio Missouii. and the other ro.s^ions 
 of the wost. Hero, aft(>r tlie absence of a year oi- 
 more, thoy retui'nod with thoir i)eltries, and settled 
 their accounts; the fui's rendered in by them beini;' 
 transmitted, in canoes, fi'om iience to Montreal. 
 Mackinaw was, therefore, for a great j^art of tlie 
 year, very scantily peopled; but at certain seasons, 
 the tradiM's ari'ivod from all ]KMn1s, with their 
 crcnvs of voyage ar.^, and tlio place swarmed like a 
 hive. 
 
 "Mackinaw, at that time, was a mere villago. 
 stretching along a small bay, with a fine broad 
 b(^acli in front of its principal row of: houses, and 
 dominated by the old fort, which crowned an 
 impending height. The beach was a kind of pul)- 
 lic promenade, whore wore disphiyod all tlio 
 vagaries of a seaport on the arrival of a Hoot- from 
 a long cruise. Here roiidgevrs fi'olickod away 
 their w^ages, fiddling and dancing in the booths 
 and cabins, buying all kinds of knick-knacks, 
 dressing thomsidvos out finely, and parading up 
 and down, like arrant braggarts and coxcombs, 
 Sometimes thoy nu^t with rival coxcombs in tlio 
 young Indians from the opposite shore, who would 
 
WASHINGTON IRVING S SKETCH. 
 
 39 
 
 iiem hoAwfJ!: or 
 , It was tli«' 
 of the south 
 Company luul 
 rlunice it com- 
 ith Montreal, 
 rs set out foi" 
 Liiike Superior 
 o, Mississippi. 
 other re.iJ^ious 
 e of a year of 
 ies, aud settkul 
 by them beiiiii' 
 e to Montreal, 
 sat part of tlic 
 ;ertaiii seasons. 
 ^1s, ^vith their 
 warmed like a 
 
 mere villajxe. 
 a fine broad 
 )C 1 louses, and 
 1 crownod an 
 I kind of pul)- 
 layed all tin' 
 )f a lleet from 
 'o licked a^vay 
 n the bootlis 
 knick-knacks, 
 parading np 
 id coxcomi)s. 
 combs in the 
 •t\ wlio would 
 
 appear on tlie l)each, paintf^d and decorated in 
 fantastic st y]<', and would saunter up aiul down, to 
 be gazed at and admired, perfectly satisfied that 
 they ecli2)sed their pale-faced competitor's. 
 
 "Now and tluMi a chance party of 'North, 
 westers' appc^ared at Maclcinaw from the r<'ndez- 
 vous at Fort William. These held themselves up 
 as the chivahy of the fur trade. They WMn-e men 
 of iron, proof against cold weather, hard fare, and 
 perils of all kinds. Some would wear the north- 
 west button, and a formidable dirk, and assume 
 something of a military air. They generally wore 
 feathcn'S in their hats, and affected the 'brave.' 
 *Jo suis VII homiiie dii tiord!" — 'I am a man of the 
 north. ' one of these swelling f(^llows would exclaim, 
 sticking his arms akimbo and laiffling by the South- 
 westers, whom he regarded wilh great contempt. 
 as men softcmed by mild climates and the luxurious 
 fare of brcnid and bacon, and whom he stigmatized 
 "WitVi the vain-glorious name of 'pork eaters.' * * 
 The little cabarets and sutlers' shops along the 
 bay resounded with the scraping of fiddles, with 
 snatches of old French songs, with Indian whooj)s 
 and v<41s." 
 
 But the reader must not tliink th(ue was no 
 Other side to the social life of the eai'ly IVFackinac 
 of that jwriod. Irving's i)icture is only that of the 
 wharves, and the floating population, such as th<' 
 manager of a water expedition, stopping over but 
 a little while, would be the m<'-t likely to see. 
 Although the Resident population vvas very small, 
 there were, at the same time, the families of 
 settled homes, and with the social interests and 
 
40 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 sympathies and plotisuros common to -,moricaii 
 village lifo — subj(H:;t of coin-so to many iiiconvon 
 icucos and privations incident io tlieli* rcmotonos.s 
 ilia wild(»nicss world. I find a ])l('asi!i.i^ dcscrip 
 lion -written by a lady, who was taken to tlKMsland 
 when a child, in tho year 1S12, just l)of(n"o tlic 
 war oi)Gnedand who spent tho yoarsof lu^r girlhood 
 there* 
 
 The houses of the village at that time, she 
 says, were few. quaint and old. Every house liad 
 its garden enclosed with cedar pick(^ts. These wero 
 kept whitewashed, as also the dwellings and tlic 
 fort. There were but two sti'oets in the village. 
 One ran from point to point of the crescent harbor, 
 and as near the water's edge as the beach would 
 permit — tho iiebbles forming a border between the 
 water and the road. (It will be remembei-ed thiit 
 the water's edge in earlier years was considerably 
 more inland than now.) A foot 2">ath in the middlt^ 
 was all that was needed, as th' wei-e no vehicles 
 of any di^scription, except d(,^ ^ains or sleds in 
 the winter. There wei-e no schools, no physician. 
 and no resident minister oC religion. Occasionally 
 a priest would come on visitation to the Catholic 
 flock. In winter the isolation was complete. 
 Navigation closed usually by the middle of Octobei'. 
 and about eight months were passed in seclusion 
 from the outer world. The mail came once a month 
 "when it did not miss." There were no amuse- 
 ments other than parties. The children, however, 
 
 ♦Mrs. n. S. Tliiird, who published her Rerainisconoes iu u On'on Iliiv 
 Newspaper, 1882, and found iu the ' Wisconsin Historical Collections. ' 
 Vol. 0. 
 
~^ 
 
 
 to -imorlcan 
 uy inconv<»n 
 r roiiioloncss 
 Lsiii.i^ dcsci'ip- 
 L to tlKM'sland 
 t bef<jro till' 
 f lior f^^ii'lliood 
 
 Kit timo, she 
 
 •y honso liad 
 
 Those woi'o 
 
 in^s and tlic 
 
 tlio villai2:(>. 
 scont harboi'. 
 beach would 
 • between tlip 
 ^nibe]-ed that 
 considerably 
 in the middle^ 
 3 no veliicles 
 5 or sleds in 
 lo physician. 
 Occasionally 
 the Catholic 
 IS complete, 
 e of Octobei-. 
 
 in seclusion 
 once a month 
 '6 no amnse- 
 en, however, 
 
 >s in a Orcon Dnv 
 ;ical CoUectious. ' 
 
 
"'*^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 = 
 
 i^. 
 
 ^ 
 
 cl 
 
 7 
 
 
 r- 
 
ANOTHER 7:ARLY DESCRIPTION. 
 
 41 
 
 ■wi 
 
 
 
 7. 
 
 s 
 
 E 
 
 
 
 
 mado liousos in tlie snow drifts, and (^oiisted do^m 
 liill. Spring always came late, and as it was tlif* 
 ( u>toni to ol)soi*vf3 May diay ihoy ofton jtlanN'd the 
 May })ol(»on thnicrv Once slio n»o>]'ds, for Ihc'-'lh 
 < r May, "Ico in tlio Basin li-ood."" Siio relates t'.iat 
 ill the autumn of lSf!3, the ice formed verv erirly, 
 hut owiMiif to ]\'\ixh "winds and a sti"on<^ c ■ it 
 
 would 1)rcak n[) over and over, and betos>-tM. loand 
 fro, unlil il was piled to a great height in clear, 
 towering blue masses; and all tliat met the eve 
 acioss to the opposite island ^vere beautiful 
 nioimtains of ic(\ The soldiei-s and tishevmcn cut 
 a load tln-(niirh. This made a Avint(M''shiu:h wav for 
 the dog sl<»ds, tJM^. ]»assage \vinding between high 
 walls oL ic(\ Avith nothing 1o be s«'en but the sky 
 above. Again, in oilier seasons, the ice Avould be 
 perfectly smooth. The (wci ling times on the Island, 
 she says, were when Le Caneau (hi Nordvxwn^. As 
 tlio canoes neai-ed the town there 'wonld come 
 fionting on the air the fai'-fanied Camidian boat 
 -Song. The voi/fnitnrx landing, the Indians would 
 Soon follow and the lit tie island s<MMned to overllow 
 ^nih lit; man life. These exciting times would last 
 -for six or eight weelcs. "Then would follow the 
 fini<M. uneventful, and to some, di-(;ary days, yet to 
 niosl, days that passed happily.'' 
 
 % 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 Tho year l^ltl bi-ought our socond war with 
 tho mollier country. In it our little ishind playtnl 
 apart, and indeed it may bo said to have "opened 
 tlio ball." Tlie veiy first scene of tiie war was 
 enact(>d here. The two governnuMits had been 
 niKHM* sti'ained relations for some time befoi-e, and 
 on the ji'ili of June, of that year, the state of war 
 was (l"c!are(l ])y President Madison. It was a 
 nivsterv at tlie 1iin<>. and sonielliinc^ wiiicli excited 
 chunor and, in tlie frenzy of the liour, e\'en insinu- 
 ations of treac-liery airainst hi^di otticials at Wasii- 
 iu'^ton, tliiit tlie Enii"lisii commanders iu Canada, 
 knew tlie fact so much in advance of our own. 
 One ex[danation is tliat our wvy delibcrjiio 8eci*(^- 
 lary of War trusted to tlie oi-dinary postal niediuni 
 in connnnnicalin.ii: witli tln^ frontier troo[»s, wliile 
 the ai»'ents of the En.y'rish <^overnnient sent the 
 ncnvs l)y sjiecial messenufcn's. Genei-al Hull, com- 
 mander of the depai'tment of MichiLfan, said li(» diil 
 not i'e<civ(( information of the fact until fourteen 
 days after wai- was declared; whih^ General Jiroitk, 
 the British cominan(h*r o])posit<\ lunl oilicial 
 k'no\vled«.je of it four or five days sooner. And 
 lik'ewise Li(Hitenant llank.s, of our island post, was 
 in ]>lissfiil ii^-norance (d' the fact, until In? saw the 
 Hritish cannon planted in his rear, just foui' week-> 
 alter war liad beeu determinc.'d upon. 
 
 42 
 
TllK VUIVV srUPUISED 
 
 4;^ 
 
 war with 
 lul play«'(l 
 ^ "opened 
 ) w;ir was 
 Lad l)t'<Mi 
 'fore, aiul 
 ito (jf var 
 
 ll was a 
 eh ox('ite«l 
 r«'u iiisiiiu- 
 
 at Wiisli- 
 
 lii CaiKida 
 
 ' oiir own. 
 
 al iiK'diuni 
 
 Dps, A\llili' 
 
 \) sent, llic 
 
 IIlllI, COlll- 
 
 saivl ho. dill 
 il l'(»iirt<M'ii 
 M-Jil l»r(H-k, 
 ad otticial 
 )i)(M'. And 
 1 posi, wa> 
 
 lO KHW IIk' 
 
 four weeks 
 
 * 
 ■'5 
 
 Tho P]n^-li.s]i officer, Captain Robei-is, com- 
 mandin.i^ at the Island of St. Joseph, on the neni--hy 
 Canada horde !•. had received orders iniinediatel^" to 
 undertake tlie capture of the strateiiic point of 
 Mack'ina(;. Ho *^at]i(M-ed a force, consislin.i^ of 
 Canadian militia (the En<]:lis]i Piif Co's voiinnnirA 
 and other eni[>k)yees), and a lai'.n'e nuiuhcr of In- 
 dians. b('sid«'s havin.iT the rei,ndar snldiei'S of 
 tlio ^'ari'ison. Tlie expedition was admirably 
 niana.ired. An ojx'n attack in front would have 
 been iinpossil)le of succ(»ss. So. secr(Mly sailini:: 
 fi-oni St. Jos<>])li, they landed, nnperceivod, on tiic 
 iior1h\V(»st side of th(5 island, at )) o'clock in the 
 iiiorniiiLi', on the spot k'nown ever since as "Hritisli 
 Landing'. *' The troops had an unobstructed march 
 across the island and were soon in ])osition witli 
 tlicir cannon on the hin'iier irround coinm;'.ndin<:' 
 \\u\ fo!'t ill tlie I'ear, the Indian allies estjiblishing 
 themselves in tli<» woods on either jl.iidc. 
 
 The Anieri(;an commandant and his little hand- 
 ful of nifii tJH'n learned, at th(^ sam<j monnMil, the 
 two facts, that the Unitrd States and ( J reat Hritain 
 w< !•(» at war. and 1liat the surrt'iidej' of l^'ort 
 Maikiuac was d(Mnandt»d. Resistance was im];')s- 
 siblc, and thus ai'.ain the lla-r was raised over its 
 Avails that had lirst lloateii ihero. I^othier, an 
 Jiii-ent of ihe No]*thwest Fur Com])any. who ac 
 c(»mpanied the e\])edition and C()Minninded a ])a!l 
 of tiie force, thus laconically re])orted it to Sir 
 Ceo. I'l'evort: "The Indian traders arrived at St. 
 Jos»'])h witli a numberof their men, so th;it we wcii' 
 now eiial)l«»d to form a force of about t vo liun(lr<'d 
 and thirty Canadians and threo hundred and 
 
 \\ 
 
44 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 twenty Indians, exclusivo of the *];arrison. Willi 
 that force wo loft St. Joseph on tlie l()lh, at eleven 
 o'clock A. M., landed at Michilimackinac at thrci^ 
 o'clock ih(Mu^xt morninfr, sranmonod the garrison 
 1o sui'i'cnder at nine o'cl(^(;k', and marched in at 
 eleven" — just Iwent y-four hours after set1in<? forth 
 on then* hostile ei*rand. He adds fnrther, that 
 there were bet we(Mi two and thrc^e hundred other 
 Indian warriors who had expected to join the ex- 
 pedition, but failed: that two days after the capitu- 
 lation, they cani(\ But he intimates that this baud 
 was in an undecided state of mind and pai'tly inclin- 
 ed to favor the AmiMMcans. 
 
 Captain Roberts, in his i-eport to General 
 Bro('k, dated the day of the capture (July ITtli). 
 says: 'We enibai-ked with two of the six poundeis 
 and every num I could muster, and at ten o'clock 
 we wei'o under weigh. Ari'ived at three o'clock 
 A. M. One of those unwieldy guns was brought 
 up with much dilticulty to the heights above the 
 fort and in readiness to open about ten o'clock', at 
 which time a summons was sent in and a capitula- 
 tion soon after agreed on. T took immediaM^ 
 possession of tlu^ ff)i't and displayed the Ih'itisli 
 colors." 
 
 As pr(\senting an Amei-lcan account of tlio 
 surprise and capture, the otticial report of Lieui. 
 Hanks is herewith given. It was made to (Jen. 
 Hull, his comma)idin,<:: otlic-er. and was issued from 
 Detroit, whithei- the ot"iicers and men of the ca})- 
 tured garrison had been sent on parole: 
 
LIEUT. HANKS' KEPORT. 
 
 45 
 
 ison. Willi 
 h, at elovcn 
 lac at thi'<'o 
 lie jrarrison 
 .relied in. at 
 iotlinp: forth 
 Lii'llier, thai 
 11(1 nnl oIluT 
 join the ox- 
 r tlin c'jipilii- 
 lat this bjind 
 )artly incliii- 
 
 to Gonoral 
 
 (July 17th). 
 six pounders 
 
 ton o'clock 
 iree o'clock 
 rvas broiiuiit 
 ,s above the 
 L o'clock, at 
 
 a capitula- 
 iuiniodiaic 
 
 the TJritish 
 
 ouut of thf 
 I't of Li(Mil. 
 ado to Clou. 
 issued from 
 of the cap- 
 
 "Detuott, Auixust 12th, 1>^V2. 
 
 "Sii:: — I talvo th(^ earliest opportunity to ac- 
 quaint Yonr Excellency of the surriMidor of the 
 irai'rison of Michiliinack'inac, under my command, 
 to His Britannic Majesty's forces. und<n' the com- 
 uiaihl of Captain Charh^s Roberts, on the 17th 
 ultimo, the particulars of which are as follows: 
 On the ir)th, I was informed by th(5 Indian int^n-pro- 
 lefthat he had discovered from an Indian, that the 
 several nations of Indians then at St. Jos(»ph (a 
 British garrison, distant about forty miles) intend- 
 ed to mak(? an immediate attack on Michiliniack- 
 inac. * * * 
 
 'I immediately called a ra(»eting of the Ameri- 
 can i2:ont lemon at that time on the island, in which 
 it was thoui^ht proiun* to dispatch a contidential 
 [)ei'son to St. Joseph, to watch the motions of the 
 Indians. 
 
 "Captain Micha«d Doiisman, of the militia, was 
 lhou,n"ht the most suitable for this service. He 
 embarked about sunset, and mot the British forces 
 within ten or tifto(ni miles of the island, by whom 
 he was made prisoner and put on his parole of 
 honor. He was landed on the island at daybreak, 
 with positive directions to ii:iv(» m(> no intolliiji'enco 
 whatever. Ho was also instructed to take the in- 
 habitants of the villa.L^e, indisci'iminatoly. toaplaco 
 on the W(»st side of the island, when; tlKur persons 
 and proi)erty should b*^ i)rotoct(Ml by a, British 
 j^Miard, but should thc^y ixn to the fort, Wioy would 
 b(» subject to a g(meral massaci'o by the savaires, 
 whicli would bo inevitable if the L'^arrison tired a 
 
40 
 
 EAKIA' MACKINAC. 
 
 gun. Til is information I ivcumvccI from Dr. Day. • 
 who was passin.jjf throuii-li tli(^ villa.irn wh(»n ovcrv 
 person Avas tlyinj? for rcfug-o to Uk^ on(Miiy. I 
 iniinoiliately, on Ix'ing inforuied of Ibo approiicli of 
 llioonomy. placed ninniiinilion, etc., in lh(i blmk 
 lionsos; orden'd every liMui charirod, and nindf 
 o\('!-y pi'(^p;ira1ion for cWtion. About nine o'clock 
 I could discover that tin* enemy were in possession 
 of the liei,ii:lits tha.t commiinded th(^ fort, Jifid one 
 piece of tlieirartilbny directed to the most defense^- 
 less pai't of till* j'-Jirrison. Th(» Indians at tliis tiiiio 
 ■wen^ to be S(»en in ^'reat numb(»rs in the edsre of 
 the woods. 
 
 "Al lialf 'past eleveu o'clock tlie enemy sent in 
 a ila*i: of ti'uce demandinnf a surrender of the fort 
 and islaud to ills I>ritaniiic Maieslv's forces.! 
 This. Sir, was the tirst infoi'mation I had of Ili<' 
 declaration of war. I. liowevei', had anticipatcnl it. 
 and was as well prepared to me(4 such an event 
 as I possil)ly could luive been with tiie force midcr 
 my connnand, amountiiii^ to tifty-seveii etf(»c1i\e 
 ni(m, includin.ij: olticers. Thi'ee American g(ml leg- 
 men, who wej-e prisoners, W(»re pin'mitted to ac 
 company the lla,Lr. Prom them I ascertaintMl the 
 strenn'th of tin* enemy U) Ix; from nim3 Imndred tn 
 
 *'riu' Post, siir(-'i'iiii. 
 
 + .\.s to tin* (lilTt'reui't! in xlw hour wliirli iippoiirs in Hk'so tlun 
 ofllciiil stiiiciiifiils. it, is i)ri)l»iil)le Ciifli writer hud in iniiul sifur 
 (hlTiTfnt sliD^'t' ul' th<^ t'vi-nt. Tiif qufsiion of tin- suin'iult-r of i:!' 
 isluiitl liiul its prcliiiiiaiiry siuu'i" ill ;in riirliiT hour in the iMoniiii;,' ill. i li'' 
 old dlsiiilcry ill llio wi-sicin riid of Ihc vilhi^rc, hci ween so if df 
 Hrili>h ollii-crs imd I't-iUiin of liic cKi/ciis. while Uie forniiil deniiiiid ■■' 
 the post w.is nni luiidt! until juit r in tiio d.iy. .\nd. ii^'iiin. Cu|)i.i:: 
 Roheris niii • liiiv e noted llu> Utnc of \viiti;i,' his (l,-ii;inil lit Uia U'^l 
 headquarlcra tvud Lieut. Hauks the time It rciiohcil ,' ..i xiiinds. 
 
LIEUT. HANKS REPORT. 
 
 )m Dr. Dha', ■ 
 wh(»n ovcfv 
 
 0. OlKMIiy. i 
 
 > tipproiw'li of 
 ill Ihc! bl(Hl{ 
 
 1, and iiiihlc 
 iiiiK^ o'clocl: 
 
 ill possess lor, 
 ort, iitid ()ii(> 
 nost (It'fonsc 
 s at til is timo 
 the edge of 
 
 noniy sent in 
 
 r of tlie foil 
 
 ly's forces, i 
 
 [ had of llic 
 
 nticipated it, 
 
 K'h ail (nciii 
 
 force iiiultT 
 
 eii etf(H' live 
 
 icaii f2:<nitlo- 
 
 litlod to ;i(' 
 
 M'taiiiod lilt' 
 
 liuiidriMl In 
 
 iti tlH'se tliicf 
 ill nii:i(l siiiiii' 
 
 ^llll^'[l(ll■|• of I " 
 
 inoi'iiiu;^ ill. Ill'' 
 
 •I'll so • 1(1 of I 
 
 I'liKil lU'iiiaiid <>'. 
 
 ii/;iiii, ('upl.ii!! 
 
 ;iii(l ill hU v^\L 
 
 one thousand strong, consisting of rc^guiar troops, 
 Canadians and savages; that they had two pieci^s 
 of artillery, and "svere j^rovided with ladcU^'s and 
 topivs for the purpose of scaling the work's, if 
 necessary.* After I had obtained this information 
 I consulted my oliticers, and also the American 
 g(MitIemen pres(»nt, who were very intelligent men; 
 the i-esult of which was. that it was impossible for 
 llie garrison to hold out against such a superior 
 force. In this opinion I fully concurred, from the 
 conviction that it was the only measun* that could 
 |)n>v(nit a general massacre. The fort and garri- 
 son were accordingly surrendered. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 "In consequence of this unfortunate attair. I 
 beg leave. Sir, to demand that a Court of Inquiry 
 may be ordered to investigate all the facts con- 
 iHH'ted with it; and I do further rt^piest, that tlie 
 Court may be spiH'ially directed to express tluur 
 opinion on the merits of the case. 
 
 "Porter Hanks. 
 ''T icutcnant of Artillcn/. " 
 •*His Excelhuicy Gen. Hull 
 
 "'Comnuniding the N. W. Army." 
 
 It is not necessary to discuss the question 
 whether the surrender at Fort Mackinac, without 
 a show of resistance, was justitiable. Tlie garrison 
 was but a handful of men. By no fault of his, the 
 
 *.\ (lis«M(Miaii',v in llio t'stiniiitr of troops tisiiiiult" liy oiMJosiiitr sidts. 
 es|H't'i;ii;,\ ill reports from tlu' hat I le ticid, is very ooiiiniou. A rei'eiii 
 Uistory of ('aii.ulii, liowt-vi-r, (piililislu'd in IM'tT). is im'xcusably out of 
 lilt; Wily, whfti it niak«'s (^aptiiin Uohcrts ultacl<iiig foroe less ihauiwu 
 luuidiH'd." us far us tY)(/(u/rHr.s uud rok'ulars were cont'i-rned. uud mukes 
 uu Uit'uiiou whiiiever of the large uumbcr uf iudiau allies. 
 
48 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 Lieutonjint in comiiuiiul liad bo(Mi tiiU'iMi onliivly 
 unawares. The enemy werr in overwhelininii' 
 nnnilxM's and ()('eu[)^'iiii^ a position with tl^'ii' 
 cannon wliicii coniniandcil tlic Tori. Tlicii- Indiin 
 allies w«'rc waitiii«JC hi sava.iiHi eapM-iu^ss lor \\\v 
 attaclv. and had tiie tiiililiiiii" onco l)(>,iiMiii it. would 
 have been beyond t lie power of the ollicers to iv 
 sti-ain tlieni.* 
 
 Tlie eaptni'e of Mackinac, tlu> tirst stro1c(> of 
 the war, was of tlie iii^'liest importanee to liir 
 Britisii interests. Vahiablc stores of liKM-rliaiidis.'. 
 as well as eonsid(n*ablL' sli!})p"iig" which stood in the 
 iiarbor. were secured. It .nave tiieni the k'cy totln> 
 fui" trade of a vast rci^non, and the entire* connnaud 
 of the ni)per lakes. It exposed Dcti'oit and all 
 lower Michi.n'an. It ii'i'eatly tcrritied CJ(4ieral Hull. 
 who commanded the department of ]Mi{dii.L!,*an. It 
 arrested h's operations in Canada. He said: "The 
 whole northern hordes of Indians will be let down 
 npon us." His surrender, just on(> month later, 
 was in i)art due to tlie panic it caused — one histor- 
 ian of that day, saying: "Hull was conc^uered al 
 Mackinac."' 
 
 On the island, the Briti.sh proceeded at once to 
 strenj^Mhen their pt)sition. In order to guard a<j^ainst 
 any apj)roach in the real', like the succt^ssful one 
 they themselves had nuule.tlu^y built a vei-y stron;'; 
 earth -work on the hiuh hill, a half mile, oi* little 
 more, back of the post, which they called Fort 
 Geor<i:e. in honor of the Kin<^ o! En«!:land. This 
 fortification still remains, now known to all visitors 
 
 *Johu AsUin. of the Mtitish storeUt t'piriw clfpiirtHu-nt , iiurt preseui 
 with the besit*t,'iuk' foroe, siiid.. that hiid lh«.> suldicrs «»f the fort lir«d u 
 gun. \ni llrnily believed uot a s<v.;l rf i!u'in would havt; bocn saved. 
 
 tll*| 
 hr 
 
 sill 
 
CONSTRUCTING FORT HOLMES. 
 
 49 
 
 as Fort Holiues. In itscoiisl ruction tlic citizens of 
 1li(> vilhii^^c were impressed, every iibU; bodied nuin 
 Ix'liii:- r(»(iuii'ed to ij^ive tlirce (tiiys in the pick imd 
 
 ,sli()\«'l work. 
 
 A coiiitiioii (>rroi- prevails thiit this cUicient 
 t'aitli-work was actually constructed the very niii'ht 
 I he Itrilisli arrived, and tluit it nuule i)art of 
 the forniidable investment of Fort Mackinac which 
 led lo ils speedy surrt^ndcu". A monuMit's I'cdlection 
 will sliow this could not have been the case. The 
 in\adin,ii" force only landed at three o'clock that 
 iii<)iiiin<i: and then, wilhall their 1i'a[)pin,i;'s, liad to 
 iiiaivh two miles to ^vt into position, and yet were 
 ready by ten o'cdock to open tire. It is probable 
 this hill was the "hiMiihts abov(^ the fort.'* to 
 which, as (^a[)tain Roberts says in his rei)ort, "one 
 of those miwieldy .n'uus was bi-ouuiit up with much 
 difticidtv;" and that far the Fort Hohnes' site 
 fin" : red in the demonsti'ation a<^'ainst Lieut. Hanks' 
 coiiiinand. The fortitication itself, however, bcung 
 tlu> scientitic work of militaiy en,i4"in(^ers, and in- 
 volvinir a protracted pei'iod of luu'd labor, was con- 
 structed afterwards at the British comnumdant's 
 lt>isure. Th(^ other on(^ of Captain KolxM'ts "two 
 six-pouiukM's, '' toi>'(dher with tlu^ <j:reat bulk of his 
 men. incdudiuic his Indians, we may suppoS(\ oc- 
 cupi(>d the rid«4"e of ii'round, part open and part 
 wooded, betwecMi tlu* hill and th(i post, just beyond 
 lh(» old ])arade i^round, whicli lies outside the 
 piesiMd fort fence. 
 
 Cai)tain l\,oi)erts was r(dieved,Se[)temljer 1H13, 
 and Ca[)tain Bulloidc a[>pointed in liis place. Col. 
 McD(jnall assumed charii'e in the sprin.i^ of 1814, 
 This utticer's name often a|)pears as McDouall. 
 
 I 
 
CIIAPTEK Vr. 
 
 P>y Coiuniodoro T^orry's vlctorv on Luke Ktic 
 mul (J(Mi('ral llaiTisoirs vicloi'ious baltic of lli" 
 'I'liaiiH'S. 1 lic> aiit iiiiiii (tf l^^i;! IouihI the Al!n•t•■;(■;ltl^ 
 ill ]);)ss(>ssi<)!i of I^ala' Huron, and iifariy ail of 
 Micliiiiun. The r»* capluro of Mackinac was (l<irr- 
 niiiicd on. In llic cai'iy s[)i-in,n' of 1^14, an cxpctli- 
 ti»n i'of this piirpOM' was planned, \vliicli. Iiowcn 'T. 
 (lid not u'cl nndci' sail until .Inly ^Ird. (Mnl)ai-lviii,Li' 
 fi'oni J)(Mf()il tliat day. It was a joint iiaxal antl 
 militaiT i'oi'co. TiitM'e were s<'\'cn war vessels un- 
 der C'oniniodorc Sinclair, and :i land i'oi'ce of T-'ni 
 men. undei* command of Col. C'i-oi:"han. Theobjec!. 
 besides the I'elalxini!: of Mac]<inac. was also lu 
 destroy the Kn.iiTish post at St. Jo.-epli, and to in 
 llict whatevei' danuii:(^ it could on the niil'taiy 
 stoi'(»s and shi])|)in,i:' of '.ne eiieniy on the iiei«^hber- 
 in*_r boi'der of Caiiudai. Tiiese war l)i'ii;"s and otli'i' 
 vessels of the squaih'on wej-e the hii'u'est e\'erseen, 
 u[) to that tim(\ on the waters of St. Clair and 
 Huron. The commanders, instead of sailinii* a! 
 once to Maclclntic. concluded to tirst dispiitcli tlu'ir 
 other eri"inds. Tliey found St. Josei)h ali-eady 
 abandoned by the British, but they captured soiu" 
 Enii'li>h scliooners and sup})lies. They then tni-nc'l 
 back for Mackinac Island, wliei'o they arrived on 
 the i\")th of July. But no success awaited them 
 there. 
 
 The Eniiiish fully ai)i)reciated the great value, 
 
 5ii 
 
 St 
 
 \\| 
 111 
 l)t| 
 (■( 
 
 .:5 
 
KHINFOUCINC TUK I'UST. 
 
 51 
 
 M\kv Erio. 
 
 tic of li|M 
 
 Alll<'C;<;iti.s 
 
 iriy ail of 
 
 WHS (Icli'r. 
 
 Ill cxiu'di- 
 
 ll()\V('\ t'l'. 
 
 iiiharK-iiin- 
 iia\al and 
 • 'sscis IIU- 
 
 ('<' of r.'ii 
 
 llO ol.'Jcci. 
 
 "> al.so lu 
 11(1 to in 
 iiiil'tar.y 
 H^if,'-}ib()i'- 
 nd ollirr 
 
 N'i'rseeii. 
 'lair and 
 liliii.i;- at 
 U'li their 
 
 uli'ciidy 
 0(1 sonj<> 
 ntni'iK^d 
 'ivcd on 
 3d I hem 
 
 t value, 
 
 stratc.irically and c*oiiim(>irlally, of Mackinac and 
 \\(Mv doti'i-iiiinod to bold it. Tiicy took stron<; 
 iiK'ii.sui'cs I'oi" its defense. Col. MeDonall, who had 
 Ih'imi st'iit thert! in May of that yviiv as the new 
 M coiiiiiiandant. was a very onej-«;elic and skillful 
 M)ldiri'. lie brou.uriit with hini fi'esh trooi)s from 
 Caiiiitla. aiinnunition and provisions, and other 
 thiims necMlful. J{«'si(l('s this fact, thi^ garrison 
 \\t'n> l)y no iiicaiis iniioi'ant of the expedition in 
 iluMf iioi thern waters, and of its object; and there 
 was lit) possibility of a surprise attack. Oiu* of tlie 
 oltici'i's belon.ii'in*,^ to the reinforcement which had 
 Ix'cn sent to tlic post thus wrote: "AftiH* our ar- 
 rival at the island all liands were employed 
 strenuthenitii;- the defenci^s of the fort. For up- 
 wards ol" two months lialf tb(^ i^'arrison watched at 
 niiilii aL':ainst attack.*' The Indians from the sur- 
 rounding,'' coniitry, and Canadians In^re and there, 
 wei-e called in for aid. Besides the additional fort 
 which they had built. Port Geoi'i!;-(\ (now Fort 
 llolnifs, and already referred to) batt(M-ies were 
 placed at various points outsi(h3 the walls which 
 coinnianded the a})proaches to the Ixnich. One 
 was on the hei<z:ht overloolvin<^' the <4"round in front 
 of the i)resent Grand Hotel, another on the hi<;'h 
 Knoll just W(»st of tlie fort, while others lined the 
 <ast bluff betwc^en the i)resent fort grounds and 
 iiobinson's Folly. 
 
 Our American ofticers at tii'st tliouiiht of erect- 
 iiiiia battery on Round Jsland and sludliiit]: tlie fort 
 t'l'oin tlu>re. A yawl was sent with a S(|ua(l of men 
 lo reconnoiti-e, and a spot fixed upon. This was 
 seen by the Englishconimander and he immediately 
 
 P 
 
 
 li 
 
:.L» 
 
 EARf-V MACKINAC. 
 
 stMit o\«'»' :i lar^c (It'tacliiin'iil oi Indians, wlio 
 I(»i'c«mI lli(» litlh' ])arly In M«"-. One of iho iiicii. 
 Iiowt'vci". waited loo l<)»i<::, tciiiptt'd h.v iIm' hcrrics 
 wliioh p:r<'\v a1 his tVot, and missed llic hoal uiid 
 was capl iired. M'lic Indians i'ow«m1 in with their 
 ])i-isoii('i'. chantinii' the death dii'«i:e and expeetiiiLT 
 to dispose of hini on the shoce in tiieir nsiKil 
 i)ai'bai'i<', inannei*; and in tlieii* wild frenzy ot" delii-fht. 
 some of llie scpiaws. Ix'l'oi'e tlie canoe had touclied 
 liie beach. i'usIhmI into the AV-it(M', waist deep, with 
 wliettod icnlves j-aised aloft, to heuin at once tiic 
 woi-l\ of savaii'e tort iii'ini:-. IViit tlie ottici-r of Ilic 
 for'l. di\inini!: their object, liad sent ;i s([uad )t 
 sohliers to pi'otect the iiapii^ss ]H'isoner. 
 
 '^riie extended level ii'roimd just west of tin' 
 viihi«4"e strtM'ts, was also considered as a. p()iiii 
 wh(M'e a hmdin.n* could be made*, and th<' talvinir "I 
 (he foiM be att(Mni)ted. nnder cover of the guns ef 
 the vessels. Hut Captain Sinclaii". who descrih d 
 the fort hill as a ''pei'fect (Gibraltar." found tlr ' 
 his vessels would only be exposed to a rakinn* tire 
 from the heights above without his bcMn*^' able to 
 elevate tin* i^uns sutticiently for return shots. 
 
 After hoverhi.£>r about the island lor a w<^ek it 
 was concluded tliei-e was no othtn* way than to 
 imitate the ])lan of the successful enemy, two years 
 before*. So they .sailed around to "British Land- 
 ing" and disembarked. Auii'ust 4th. and marched ;is 
 far as the Dousmau farm (now Early's farm). But 
 the conditions were entirely different from those ef 
 two years ago, and the nioveuKMit was ill-starred. 
 and a melancholy failure. According, howev(M\ to 
 the reports made by tiie joint connnanders of tli^ 
 
 
FAILIUL: Ol'^ TUK ATTACK 
 
 5:5 
 
 IIS. wild 
 
 Im' IIK'll. 
 
 (' l)(M*fi('S 
 
 l)n:il uikI 
 itii llicir 
 x|)f<Miii:: 
 
 ir llSllnl 
 
 'dcli.li'lit. 
 
 tOlU'lMMi 
 
 '<'|), "Willi 
 
 OIICC tile 
 
 Cf of tllf 
 
 S(HUl(.l )[ 
 
 'st ot" the 
 > ill ])oi!l! 
 
 talviiiir of 
 n guns (if 
 doscril' '(l 
 )iin(l tlv' 
 iilvinij: tii't' 
 IL,^ al)l(3 to 
 lots. 
 
 a w<'olv it 
 ' than to 
 two yonrs 
 isli Laiiil- 
 lurched ;i.s 
 I'm). But 
 n those of 
 ll-starred, 
 ►\vev(^i-, to 
 n*s of the 
 
 t 
 ■i 
 
 ox-pi'diiioii. it was not so iiuicli their ])hin to at- 
 iriiipt the; storniiiiij: of th(^ worlss. as to feel llie 
 cin'iiiy's str<'n.tr1h and toestahllsh a lod.mncnt from 
 wiiit'h by slow and tri-achial appi-oaches. and hy 
 sieitc tliey uii.u'lit ]n)\)o i'ov success. All such cx- 
 ppclations w«>re soor; dissipated. Facin.ij: the open 
 Held on the Dousniau farin were the thick' woods. 
 This was a iierf(^ct cover 1o the Indian sivirinisiici's, 
 wlio. conceal(Ml in their vantaire ])oints, hotly at- 
 laclced our soldiers; to say iiothiiiii; of an Eii«^lish 
 Icittcry of foiii' ])ioces, tirinijf shot and sliells. 
 TIit'r(> coidd be neither advance nor encami)iii,ir. 
 Tlie oidy wis(Mhin,y was to rotn^at to the vess(ds 
 This was done and tlu^ expedition h^ft the island, 
 haviiiiiC lost 1ifte(Mi k'illed and about lifty wounded. 
 Major Andrew Hunter HoIuk^s, next in command 
 to Colonel Croiihan, was onci of the slain in this 
 most unfortunate and fruitless action. lie fell 
 while* h»adin*i: hisi)attalion ii: a ihink movement on 
 the i-i<r]it. One stoiw is that the <iun wliic]i})i(M'ced 
 his breast witli two balls was finnl by a little Indian 
 boy. Another tradition is that the Major had 
 been warncMl that moi'nin.ij:. by a civilian aboard the 
 vess(d. not to wear his unifoi'm which would mak-e 
 him a target, but that lie decdined the frimidly ad- 
 vice saying, that if it was his day to tall he was 
 ready.* 
 
 Majoi' Holmes was a Vii'ii'inian, an intelligent 
 and ])i'oniising young ofticor who enjoyed the 
 Iriendshi)) of Tliomas Jefferson. H(» had already 
 distinguished liims(df in a battle* neai* Detroit, and 
 had performed well a spec'al service assigned him 
 
 '■OuxrlfH 3. Juiit'\si)n\n- Sketch of thr Second Wnr." Vol. 2. 
 
IF 
 
 54 
 
 EART.V MACK" rr AC. 
 
 in this sanio cxpoditioa. when at the Sjuih St. 
 Mario. In the olYicial re{)<>rts of tlie Marlcjtiac 
 i)atl le lie was )'(>ren'(Ml to as tliat *'«rallant ojtii it. 
 Maji »!• Hohnes. uh()s«> char'actei" is so w^'ll k'nowti 
 to the war depai-t inent ;" atnl a«rai;n as "the vaJuaiilc 
 and ever-io-ht' lamented otticei*. " His iw»dy ikuI 
 been eaiM'ied otT the tic Id and .secrPtod by a t'aitlit'ul 
 neirrt* sei'vant. and tiie next ilay was respecU'u'ly 
 delivered to the Aniei'icans by Colonel McDoiiill 
 and taken to Deti'oit tor burial. A very tittiiiir 
 tribute to jiis memory was it. that when in tin' 
 followinir year the ishuid a^ain came i:nder our 
 fla<;. the name of the new fort on the suunini 
 lieiirhls. whicli had lu'en i)uilt by the Kn.irlish. wa> 
 cluinired troni Fort (ieorire to Fort Hohnes. 
 
 T"ie tort bri'iir rouuil im])i-< 'ij-nable l)y assault, 
 no furtliei- attempts at capture wer-c made, and tli. 
 <»X])edition returned down the lak«' to Detroit. Hk- 
 most ot the soldi»Ms b«'iiiir sent to join (Jeneral 
 Brown's foi-ces on t li(' Niairai'a. 
 
 Hut the ami) lien to I'ejj-ain tlu^ island was not 
 yet ail)andone<i It wasthoiiirht to sta»'\e out the 
 srarri.MMi and thus foice a surrender. IOn,i:'li>li 
 sn])pli!**s could now come on iv from Canada t hr;)ULj 
 the ( ieoi'Li'ia.n liay. Near the mouth of the Ni> 
 tax isiiira river at t he ^<>ut hcnst corner of I hat bav. 
 ne: a protectinir blocic hons«\ was the .s«'hooner 
 "N.iiK v'" loaded with six months' supplies of 7)r<»- 
 vision- intended tor the Maclcinac h)iM. A d«' 
 taciiUM'tit of the Am«'rican t loops landiniT tbi'r 
 blew up the hloclc iiouse and destroyed tli« 
 S('hooii&>r and her supplies. Tliei-c i-euiained now 
 notliiiu^ more to d(» than to so guard the watei-s 
 
 ih 
 
S<::ar('ITV nv TMi(»VTST()Ns. 
 
 .)j 
 
 ihai tlu! (It'stiuition of 1 he islniid could noi i)o ro- 
 piiii-t'd. Two of ilic vessels, till' "Tiirn -ss"" and the 
 ••Scoi-jiion.'" \v<'rt' Icfl lo iiiaiiil;iiii :i sti'ici l)l(M-ka«lo. 
 Till", was ]H'oviiii,'- very cITcrt i\('. and iM-ovi>ioiis ran 
 •,<« low ill Mackinac, lliat a loaJ' o!' l»i<'ad would soil 
 Inr a dollar on Hie sti-ccls. and llic nH:?n of the 
 LMi'i'ison wero killin*^ liorsts i'or meat. 
 
 The foliowinii' cxti'aci I'l-oin a Idler writton hy 
 one of the En.ijlisii ot'licei-s depicis ilio situation 
 uitliin tlio L»)\'i at this time: 'Aftei- ilio fuilui-(» of 
 tlie attack', the Aniericansestahlisiieda l»lo<kadc l>y 
 which tlii^v intei*cept(Ml our sii|)])rK's. Wc Imd hut 
 ;i '-iMiall stoi-e of provi-^ions. The C(niiniandei- irrew 
 Vfcy anxious. The L:-arri>oii was ]>in on short al- 
 iowanccs. Some hoi-ses llial ha|>|ien«'d to he on 
 llii' inland were k'illcd and sailed down, and we oc- 
 casionally wei-e Nucccssful in pri icui'inL:" ti>h from 
 the lak'e. To (M'onomi/e our mean-. iIm- L'"rea1»'r 
 part of the Indians Wfie inducid to di'|iart to iheir 
 liomes. At, leuii'th we saw ourscKes on the vcrire 
 of starvation with no hoiit' of relief fi-oni anv 
 i|uarler. " 
 
 Unrin.G" all the suminei' we find Colonel Afc- 
 Doiiall in hi^^ let ters to t he drpart ment hcL'irinir and 
 
 elit reat illLl" for SU|i|tlie.s. 
 
 Tliert} were yet otiii'r emharrassnM'n's. Al- 
 thousfh thoiii.'-hout the whole pt'i'ind the In«iians of 
 'he MacL'inac re^'ion were allies of the l»riti».ji. the 
 illiance was not without it > diftieult ies. Many of 
 !hem showed an indecision when success was 
 'ioni>tful. as one of the iMiii'ish airents wi-ote. and 
 a predilection in faxor of llie Ann'ricans seemed 
 to intlnence tliem." Ahout the island 'Mlu'V l>c- 
 
5C> 
 
 KAU1.V MAlKlNAC^ 
 
 c;vMH> vc^ry (Inuioroiis, " aiiollior oHicof said. AikI 
 C«>1. M<'I)«Mial spolv.' of tlit'iii as "an im<'fi-l:ii!i 
 (luantiiy" — th;ii iIh'V "wci-r tit-l';!*' as lli(» wiiui aim 
 it wjis a. ilirtic i ■ lasic lo lo'oj) ihciii with lis." ||r 
 wi»rs (-'naf)an':i-~'»l. ii»<>, l)y tli«'ii' Hocking' to ilic 
 isJiiiid «iji(l r(?(|uirini:" to !)«' r<'<l. 
 
 liii: ••olicl'. a,nd tliat l>y lln'ii*o\vn saii'acily ami 
 dariiii:". ^ais at hand IniMlK' bol(»a,iiMM'i'«'d nari'i.^Mn 
 Wh«'!i ;in' "Nancy" and ihf t>|(>(*k lionsc; on llic 
 Noiiaw a wt'T" (lest i'ovcmI. tin' ot'Hccrs in chai'Lre 
 
 of that -• |)|)iy of >t<.rt's. fjicut. Wofslcy, wilh 
 s»"«'ni« lilors (if t ho Ivoyai Na\'y. h«.d nianaiiTd 
 
 to •■'•a id «'ff»M't a ))assa.i:'<' in tin open l)oal lo 
 
 th»* fort ;.« Mackinac ai.d had reported tiic loss nf 
 tli**^ sto?'os. l'\>i'ccd l>y 1 ho necessity of the silii- 
 atioii. aln.d and de,siie:-ate pi'ojcct was undertaki'n 
 — that. \\a>. liie capture of the two hJoclcadiiiL'' 
 v«''r4H«^ls. lialti-aiiv were titl<'<i ont and e((uippcd a' 
 Mackinac, niainu'd unih-r Lieut . Worsiey witli hi-> 
 seann'n ai <i Ny \"ohnitcei's fi'oni the <jrarris()n ami 
 Indians, niai^iim' in all ai>out s<'\-enly men. The>r 
 SPtl"«MMhon liie l)old eirainl 'I'he Scorj)i()n and 
 Tijjcrcss Were then t-iMiisiiiL:' in the neiirhlxirhood e' 
 Detom*. ( )n a dai-K' niijht. rowinu: ra[)i*lly and in 
 silence, the\ appr(»aclied tir^t the 'l^iiri'ess, which 
 lay at aindiiM' off St. .(oseph. and taUinLi" it eiitirelv 
 hy urpri.se. Iea|>ed ahoaid and afler a. hand 1e 
 hane >t rnirulc >oon had possession lis ci-ew were 
 sent :..4'Xt (hiy. as prisoners lo Mackinac. The 
 Tiirn*>^"^ si«j*nals wei-e in the hantis of lh«» captors, 
 an't M'' American pennant was kept llyiniT at tlic 
 m.;- iie;id. ( >n 1 he .second d;iv afler, I he Scor'pioii 
 was ■M^'fr^u beat in^r \»p towartis Iht companion ship 
 
 ll 
 
 r. 
 
 c 
 ( 
 
 J0 
 
IJlUTISn APPKI'X'IATIOX i)V MACKINAC. 
 
 I)/ 
 
 ■^i^i'l. And 
 
 "■ wiiiil and 
 1 us."' II,, 
 h.l;- to III,. 
 
 racity and 
 .li'arrisMn, 
 
 ise (.11 Ihr 
 
 1 ill cliarii't' 
 
 il«\\', will) 
 I inanai;f(| 
 'II lM)al !() 
 n' loss (d' 
 lix' siin- 
 iidci'laki'ii 
 oclx'adiii-- 
 
 lil»jM'(| ;it 
 
 wilh liiv 
 isoii and 
 
 Tlh'sr 
 
 Moil an, I 
 
 'In K )(| ( i; 
 
 \' and in 
 , wliicli 
 <'til ii-«>l\ 
 liaiid lo 
 
 <'\V \V«'|T 
 
 r. 'V\u' 
 •a|)lors, 
 C at 111,' 
 <"or|)i()ji 
 oil slii]) 
 
 unauai'o of its chan.irc* of forliiiie. Ni.i:]i1 coming 
 on -lie aiicliorod soiiio two inilrs ofT. Ahoiit day- 
 linlil llio Ti«,n'oss s(»t all sail. sw(»))t down on licr, 
 ()))i'IhmI tiro and l)oai'dt>d and ('ai)tui-cd her. Sad 
 tall', indeed, fo!' Iliese two war vessels, wliicli only 
 a year hefore had lionorahly lli^nrod in Coinniodoi'o 
 l*('i-!'v's vicloi'v on TjaKe Krie. I itrefer nol to 
 (luidl on 1 1n* inortifyinir l)it of history, excepi to 
 •>ay lliat candor and jiislice compel our liiniiest 
 admiration for lliis Enu'lish feat of d;irin<jr and 
 pi'owess. 
 
 This ended all attempts to dislodszi^ the Knsf- 
 lish from oni- island. It i'«Mnaine(l nndei- their tlair 
 iinlil terms of peace and seltleineiit were secured 
 hy the treaty of (iheiit. Febi'uai'y Isl.'. Mack'inac 
 Was e\ ei- a fa\'<»i'it<' ]>oiiit in the «\ves of the l>rilish, 
 and all alon*^ an ohji'ct of t heir stroiiii' desiie; and 
 they were loath to li'Inc it up. Col. McDonall. 
 the able and successful commandant, spoK'e with 
 stroiiu- feeling" of the "inifoid iinate cession <»f tin* 
 fort and the island of Michilimackinac to the 
 1 iiited States." It had heeii ;i matter of (»l1icial 
 • oiiiplaint and criticism in the pro\ii;ce of Upper 
 ( anada, that after tln^ first war ii had heeii '•in 
 judiciously ceded" hy tin' lMi<.rli~h i!-o\eriimei!t. 
 ■ lohn.Tay, our .Amerit-an i'epresentati\'e in the cou- 
 lereiice of the treaty and the houndary lines. 
 found that tli(» commissioners of the ('r()\vn wer(» 
 more intei'«»sted in an "ext^Mided commerce tiian in 
 the possession of a \ast tra<'t of wilderness." The 
 fill' trade at that time was the main thin.ir and 
 MacK'inac was t he «j:at«'way to all the \'\\v traflic of 
 thowesl and soiithwesl lields. And again, it ap" 
 
Uf 
 
 EARLY MA('KINA(1. 
 
 |)(>ars ill n<'«,a)l "uitin^ tlic 1 i-caiy <'l" 1^1 '» tliat llio c )iii- 
 iiiissloiKM's of llic ci'owii. ♦•vt'ii wlicu ftM^lini; ohllLnii 
 1o f(>r(\ii'() a. lar.ij:(» ])art of llu-ii- dcniaiKls, still hthl 
 oul for IIk' islanti of Maclcinac (and Foi'1 NiaiiMnn 
 as loiiiz: as i)().ssibl(«.* Tliirly-two yoai's had now 
 passed siiico tlK» Anicrican I'iiiiil to Ili«» island hiii 
 l)('(Mi acl\M<)\vl('d<r('(l by tlicli'caty of ITsil. Ol'llicx 
 \('ii I's Old V three had Ihmmi vears of wai*. Ihit lu! 
 oiK'-liaif of tliat wiioh* ])eri()d tlie Hriti-h thiii' li;iii 
 h< (Ml nyini^ over Fort Mack'iiiiic. In the coiuplri,. 
 stMis(», tlier(*tor«\ \ho. destiny of th(^ northwest \\:is 
 not, assured nnlil the treaty of (Jlient.f Witli lli;ii 
 treaty tiie (niestion was finally- and conclusiv fly 
 
 settled. 
 
 'J'he |)osts of tlie iOn<jrlish whic.ii had ixMMica))! mi- 
 ed hy us, ai'd ours ]i(»re and thnr«\ wliich they luiil 
 tal'.'eii. wer(» to b(^ I'estoi'ed by (^acli «jfov<M'ninent to 
 t he ot her, [n conneclion witli lliis mut ual deli\ (■r\ 
 is an interesting fact. niontion(Ml in a j)ri\;iit 
 letter whicli Coloiud McDonall wrote to l»is frinni 
 and fellow oftlcor of the Enirlish army, ('a[)t;riii 
 Hul<rer. lie says thai in the e(inipiiient of .1''mi' 
 Maelvinac, at the time he was male in^" tli(> transl.i 
 were cannon be;irin,i^ the inscriptions: '•'I'aKeii ;i' 
 Saralo«^''a;" '""I^dcen from F^ord Cornwalli^," an 
 other sucli, and lie sp<'al\s of his cha<i!'in in beiiiL' 
 ()bli«^(»d to include, in his j-estoration of tln^ foil. 
 •runs which told of Kn<;'lisli defeat and humiliati«'ii 
 in the lievolntionary war; and thai as an Knulisii 
 man ho felt "a stron*; temptation to a breach •' 
 
 
 *HtMir.v Adiims' • llistttry nf Ihr Unitrd Staten" s»l. V. p. :M. 
 +IIlns<Uile's Old yorlhmnl.' !• 18.V 
 
 t 
 
 
 'A 
 
 J 
 
 tf 
 
niST(^liI(' CAXNC^X. 
 
 r.9 
 
 hi 
 
 r 
 
 t 11h' c'liii. 
 
 still lu-ld 
 
 ^ Nin«iMrai 
 
 liad now 
 
 -;lcin(l lind 
 
 Ol'lllCv, 
 
 tlii<i' li;i"i 
 
 (•()ni[)lti(' 
 
 iwcst \v;i> 
 
 With lliiil 
 
 iclusi\ fly 
 
 ciica])! Ill' 
 thoy li;nl 
 •niiKMit 111 
 lI d('li\'('f\ 
 I ])i'i\;ib' 
 
 lis i'l-irlid 
 
 , Caplalii 
 \ of F<>i" 
 
 t I'aiisl'.T 
 •Taken ,r 
 Mis," ai;i, 
 
 ill Im'Iiii; 
 
 11h» fo! :. 
 iiiiiiliati'>ii 
 
 Kiiii'lisli 
 hi'racli o' 
 
 :m. 
 
 ihai <,''()o(l I'liith wliicli ill all |)ul)li<' treaties il i.-^ iii- 
 t'aiiiy to violate.'' 
 
 Surely it, adds to our aiiti(|iiarian and patriotic 
 iiiitrest in the old fort to know that ltiiiis. capt iired 
 fnMii Hui'.iroyiK* and from CoriiwaUis in the battles 
 (if the Ivevolution. once lield [)osition on these laiii- 
 ]iails. 
 
 \V«' do not know how these honor;. hie trophies 
 of the Ivevolution ever found their way to our i"e- 
 mole jiioneer out-])ost. Wedok'iiow. iiowever. that 
 (tiir loss of tlje fort. t!ir<'e years before, explains 
 liow they <i"ot hack', temporarily, lo their I'oriner 
 I'aiLtlish owiHM'shi]). And now in their alteiaiat ions 
 of estate, after takin<jc ])art in kee])iiin-oiT American 
 iioopsfrom the island, and thus, as it wei-r, i(^- 
 (jt'emini:' themselves in Fin<j:lisli eves I'roiii tlie had 
 fortune ineurred in our war for indept'iidence. they 
 aLiain fell to our liands. And w<' can appreciate 
 Col. M<-[)onal!'s sense of reii'rel at haxiiii;' to i^ive 
 lliem u]>. It was the same sent imeiit which ('apt. 
 Mc.Nfee. in his narrat i\-e of that war in which h(» 
 liiinself had a ])ar1, tells us wa-> exiiihited hy .-omo 
 of the liritish ol'ticcu's when hy liuirs sui're:;i|ei' 
 se\('i'a,l brass cannon fell to their hands which our 
 fnrc.'s had capt .1 red in i li<' war of t he !i'c\-oliit ion — 
 they "saluted IIhmii with tears.""* 
 
 It is vain to surmise the lilstory of those in- 
 terestinir .ifuns subseipietit to l"^!'!. ll<>w loiiii'they 
 rnniaiiied at the island ]*ost, and whetliei- in tiiiit> 
 they wei-e sent to the smelter's furnace, or arestill 
 ill lionorabh) ])reservati()n somewlier*^ wltli other 
 w;ir relics, wc cannot say.. In this conned ion i! 
 
 •■ i/<«torj/ «i/ (he Late War in the Wifltni Cumiliy." 
 
m 
 
 KAULV MACKINAC 
 
 iTKiy 1)0 well 1() rcinai'lv cr;)iic(M"irm.i:: llial old fiisliK.ii- 
 od cannon wliicli liasbcpii lyiiii^' in ])o.'.ilion on ih,. 
 villan'o Ixnich in fronl of \\\c. '-Jort prardcn."' a 
 famiruir ohjfcl I'or <i-(MM 'rations past. Tlio storv !> 
 that the .iiun liirnrod in Coin. I'orry's hat Ho oh 
 LaU'c Fjv'u\ tiion.ij:li wlirthcr oik* of liis own a'uiis ii 
 the action or a liritish liiin \viii( ii li > captui'id is 
 uncertain; that it was left h(M-c Ioiil;- as^o l)y oik' t,: 
 the iz'ovcnmicnt revenue vessels. That it was |>iii 
 in char.ir*' of the Maclcinac Cuslcnn House, and iini' 
 it ns«'d to sei've on 4tli of .luly and other natioiia! 
 occasio'is \vhi<'h called for celebration "al iln 
 cannon's mouth." 
 
 I'pou their withdi'awal from MacK'inac, liir 
 Enirlisli irari'ison estahlisluMl tiieinselves on Dnim 
 mond's Islanil in the northern end of Lake liiiiMii, 
 and maintained a stronjif ])ost tlier<\ It Avas al'i'-i- 
 wai'ds decided, liowever, hy the joint coiinnishiMii 
 ers in settlin.n' the ])oundary lines between 'Im' 
 United Slates and Canada, that that i)art of tin' 
 lak*' in which Druminond's Island lay belon<re(l ii. 
 the United States sid(^ of th* lin<'. Accoi'diii^'ly ii: 
 Isi's the iii'itisli ufari'ison i'«'inoved, and tho i.slaiul 
 was turned over to our <»"()vernim>nt. 
 
 Col. Anthony Uiitlor was tho AnuM'ican oflictM 
 to Avhom tin' fort was delix'ei'ed .luiy. 1"^!.'), l)Ul li' 
 ]-eniain<'d oidy nntil the arran*jfenn'nts i'or e\a<ii 
 iition were coniph'ted, when he withdrew t^ 
 Detroit, and Captain VVillou«.,diby Mor.njin l)ecaiiir 
 tiie tii'st commandant nndi i* tho restored AmeriiMi! 
 rejjfim(\ From tliat time on there* was a loiiii 
 succession of i'Oi!ular army soldiei-s and olticer^ 
 inliabiting tho old cpiailers and baiTacks. Many 
 
[1 flisllioil- 
 
 )ii on Ilif 
 iirdoii. ■" ;l 
 t' s1(»r\' i> 
 lull He (11 
 
 'M ^ii'llh-^ II. 
 
 ipturtMl is 
 )y oiu' oi 
 1 was pill 
 . and tli:i! 
 • iialii)ii;il 
 "al llir 
 
 :iiKi(', liic 
 
 on Dniiu- 
 :(' lliirnii, 
 
 V!IS liri"'!'- 
 
 iiinissi"ii 
 
 \V(M'1I tlio 
 
 irt: of Ihr 
 l()n<r»'(l i(. 
 
 I'diiifrlv ii: 
 .lie i.shiiid 
 
 ■ail olliciT 
 ."). hut li" 
 'or (»\acn 
 
 KJI'OW tn 
 
 ,11 l)('<'aiiii' 
 Aiin'rifiii! 
 IS a loni:' 
 I otticci- 
 
 :8. Man\ 
 
 SOME OF THK FORT S EAUT.Y OFFICEUS. 
 
 01 
 
 of ilic otticers wlio afterwards acquinMl hi^-U rank 
 ;iii>l (lisliiR'tioii diir'm.i,^ our civil war. l.^lU-lsC).', 
 ciiIkm' in llu' Union Army or Southern, liad hccn in 
 srr\ i('«' JM'ri' as youn«j: Captains or Li(Mit<Miants. 
 Ai.ion^- tjicni w«'r(^ (Jen. SuniiK'r, Cleii. lhMnt/i<d- 
 i;i;ni. <l«'n. Kirhy Sniilli, (Jen. Silas Cast'v, and 
 ii.'ii. I'^rcd Steele, for whom a fort in the west has 
 hcen named. (Jencral I'emhcrtoii was once a 
 iiH'iiihef of th(» irarrison, and in a ])i*ivate letter 
 written l)y one of the citizens in 1^40. when the 
 l;ltl<' inland was ice-hound and there was a deartii 
 of news, it is incidentially inentioiKnl that "Ijieut. 
 ri'nihecton in the f(>rt is en.ira.ured in ,i:"ettin.n' up a 
 |)i'i\at»» tlieat i-e. in an en(h'avor to ward olT winter 
 and solitude," — th-- youn<^ olticer litt le dreamintr of 
 lliat more serious drama in wliich lie was to act, 
 I w'ntyllii'ee years later, as commander of A'icks- 
 hiirn". with (J rant's hesieiriiiir army aroiuid him. 
 
 During" the civil Avar, all troo])S h(>iniz" needed 
 at the front, the soldiers "weri* withdrawn fi'om our 
 fort. ^I'his was but temixmiry. however, and did 
 not mean its ahandonment.* Its flau' and a solitary 
 serieniit were left to show tliat it was still a milirai'v 
 ])()st of the United States. This faithful soldier 
 remained at the fort for many years after the wai', 
 and was known to th(» visitors as t lie "Old Serjeant. "' 
 i"'<>r a period during t'ae war it was made tiie place 
 <>l cohtinement of som(M)f theUoiife(h'rat(» })risoners, 
 |>i inripally notable otlicers wiio luid been captured, 
 at wliich t ime Miclii«j:an volunt(»er tro(>ps liehl it. 
 
 At the close of th(! war tlie fort r(>smned its old 
 
 *Oc('iisi(in;ill.v ;it oiluT I iiucs, ii1m>. lli<> '-'iirriMiii would b" Ifriipor* 
 iuily boai cisuwhurc, bul Uii>> utv'cr mcuuL lUc giviag u[} of ihc post. 
 
02 
 
 KARI.V MAPKIXAC. 
 
 liiiio sprvi(M» as a «j:ai'ris()ii ])()st. tronorally aln.ii* 
 lil'ty oi" sixty iiKMi of tlie rc.irulai' army, willi Hi. Mr 
 olticcrs. ('()iH|)()siii^ 1li(» force. Adi'lacliiiHMit Wdiild 
 sci'vc a few y«'ars, IIkmi be transfcrnMl and anollicr 
 would tal\t> ils pla(M'. to oiijoy in its tiii-n the I('(M||i 
 (•rat ivccruiiatr of the sumnuM*, and to cndiirr ihc 
 ri<i"oi's and tlio isolation of tlie Avinlers. So the oM 
 fort coMtiiiiKMl in iiscwitli its inoi'ninn* and cv ciiiiiL'' 
 i:'un. its stii'i'in.u: hii.izic nottvs, its daily ".i^naid 
 mount. ■■ its paciiiiT s(Mit ry, its di'ill. its ••ins])('('il(»n 
 (lavs. ■■ until l"^!*.'). Tlicii tlio sliarp and d«'ci>ivr 
 voiceof autjjority callcMl "iialt** totlir lon«j: niurcli 
 of military liistory in \\\o sti-aits of Mackiii;i\v. 
 T\\v United States n'ove rumen t. hy foj'iual act ol 
 Couiri-ess abandoned tlu^ J'ort, and <::ave it o\' r. 
 t(\iit'tinM- with the National Park of eleven liundicil 
 acres, to the State of Michiiritn. The fort was dis- 
 uianllcd. lln' old cannon were removed from the 
 walls, and cveiy soldi*'!' withdi-awu. We do in»l 
 question tin* fact, liiat as a fort constructed in 
 l>rimitive times it was unsuited to the days ol 
 uiodoi'u warfai-(»; nor the fact that witii th(^ nmnrr- 
 ous other wi'll e<|uii»ped ])osts, th(* depai'tment i> 
 nKiintaininLT for ils ti'oops, tliis old-fashioned one 
 was not an ahsohite necessity. Noi* do w<^ (\\U'> 
 lion for a moment the pi'opriety of makini;- \\v 
 State of MiclTman tiie leiratee and successor to thi> 
 pi-opeiMy. if the general iroveiMiment wasdetei'uiin- 
 ed to dispossess itself of it. It could notiia\'e hcii 
 moi'e suitably i)estowed. if it had to pass into ollni 
 hands. The commissionei's. to wliosr chai'jj^e it i-> 
 now c()mmitted. a[)pi'eciate and will (du'rish that 
 historic and patriotic interest vvhicii aituclies to the 
 
ITS MILITARY IIIS"TORY CEASES. 
 
 68 
 
 ..l(i fort, and will ktu'p tlic grounds intact and care- 
 liilly guard tlio buildings. Tiiey will aim lilvcwisn 
 !,) proscrvii tho trees an I tiio di'ives oC the piiik in 
 lluit natural beauty wliicli has so long given tlicMu 
 siuh charm. But while thus assui-ed, it is at the 
 >:iuu5 time a matter of deep regret thattlunuilional. 
 vornmont should have I'or.salven the island. For 
 iliinental reasons alone, oveu had thei'o been no 
 wtlicr, th(M)ld foi't should have l)een retained as a 
 rniied States i)()st. A military seat whii'h has two 
 ImndrcHl years or mor(» of histoiy behind it, is not 
 often to be found in the west(^rn \v(jrld. Indeed, 
 w 
 
 '■( ) 
 
 ^I'l 
 
 ()i( 
 
 til 
 
 iih tli(3 possible exception of Fort Marion, the 
 I Si)aiiish fori itieat ion at St. Augustine, Fla., it 
 doubtful if there be anotiier on this whole conti- 
 ■nt, which could boast of so long a i)ei'i().l of con- 
 tinuous occupation as old Fort Michilimackiiuic, 
 wliich Avas established first at St. Ignace in tin? 
 17tii century, then renioviMl to old Maclcinaw, and 
 since 17H0 has horn located on our island. 
 
C'llAPTKK VIT. 
 
 K;i!'ly MaclviiKic had aiiioiii:' its cili/.tMis. sjyar.st.' 
 thou.uli its jM)|)ulat idii was, :i inimlx'i' ol' iiicii of 
 str()iii4" cliaracltT iiinl izrcat l)ii>iM('ss <Mi1<'rpri>('. 
 Anioiii;" lluMii, not to spoalc ol' all. wcm Micliad 
 Do'.iMiiaii. Joliii Dousiiiiiu. Jvlward ITiddU*. (J union 
 8. J I ii!»l)afd, Saimitd Abhot and Ainl)i"oso Davt'ii- 
 [K)rt. ,)(»liii Doiisinaii. Ai)l)otl and Da\(Mi|)ort wrw 
 tlio deputation ot" tlicro p'lil Icmcii rrfcri'od to !)y 
 Li(Mit. llauivs. ill lii.> rc'porl of tlic sui'i'ciidor of the 
 fort, as liavinu' accnnipanicd tlio tlaic <>t truco in tin; 
 iiciTotiations luMwccn ('a[>taiii Kobrrts and hiniscli'. 
 After t!i(» Enii'lisli came into ])ossession, t he citizen.-. 
 were r(>(juii-»'d. to ia!<(» tiio oath of all(\i,'iance to tlif 
 \i\uix. v)f lliose thi'u livin<i: on thc^ ishind, live aiv 
 repoi'tcd a.s I'l^fusintr to do tiiis — Mi'ssi'.s. Daxdi- 
 poet . Ji.)st wick. Stone, and tlie two Dousnian^. 
 With the exception of Michiicl Dousnian, wlio wa> 
 l)ernrnt('(L to remain neutral, tliey wei'O obliiifi'd to 
 l(>ave tiieii' lionit»s and theii* prop(»rty until th'' 
 c'los(M)l' the war. Besides these, th(»re were after- 
 wai'ds thi'eo men in parliculai* who tl«j:ur«Hl in hii',L!'<' 
 spli(M'(»s, and wei'f in re[)utatiou iu otlu^r parts of 
 the land as well as in this remote wilderness ])!)iii! 
 IMiese wei-(» Ramsey Crooks, Robert Stuart ami 
 Henrv It. Schoolci-aft. 
 
 Mr. Crooks came to Anieri(;a from Scotland. 
 
 ;is 
 
 a voiini!!' man. 
 
 His careei' was an active 
 
 aiiii 
 
 *13iiWlc aaa lluijUuiil \vci\, uul thcu rchUlcut.'s uf tUo blaud. 
 
UAMSKY CIK^OKS. 
 
 )J 
 
 ll 
 
 i. s]):irso 
 
 IIUMl of 
 
 Mk'liarl 
 
 Gui'doii 
 
 Diivcii- 
 
 or! wi'i'o 
 
 >cl to liy 
 
 i* of the 
 
 CO ill iiie 
 
 liinist'lf, 
 
 »citizrii> 
 
 e to \\\r 
 
 tivo a IV 
 
 Da \ I'll- 
 
 ISIlKlll^, 
 
 vlio ua> 
 ► liirod ic 
 mtil ill'' 
 
 in lai'L!*' 
 parts of 
 
 ,uii't ami 
 
 thiiid, .i^ 
 ivo anti 
 
 luud. ^1 
 
 stirring ono. Ho was known in connoction with 
 llic fur trade, it is said, from tho Atlantic to the 
 Pacitic. His hnsinoss invoi\'od niiicli of [)oi-ilous 
 Niiinicying and staiM lini,^ udvrntufo in th«' north 
 and in th(ifar west. Ho was witii Hunt'soxpoditiou 
 arrnss tl»o Kocdcy Mountains iind to tlio Pacitic 
 >()a>l, as far back as isi 1, and a<j:ain tlio next year 
 In- i lado the sani«^ overland joui-ncy l)ack to the 
 Ka>t. Ho was an oducat(Ml, intolliL'-cnt man, woll 
 (WlM'i'ioncod in human natur(\ and hin-jdy rated for 
 his jud.n'mcnt. his ontori)i'iso and liis into<rrity. 
 He was ono of Mr. Astor's •i<irlit iiand men in the 
 I xtciisivo l)usin(»ss of tiie fur company. In tho 
 Am 'I'ican ox[)odition a<i:ainst tho island in h'^l-t, in 
 ill" att(Mn[»t to dishnl^i^o tlio Enii-lish, lio, toiifoUier 
 Willi Dav(Miport and J(jhn Dousman, had ac- 
 coiiipanii'd tlni scpiadron— the latter two as oxpatri- 
 ai(Ml citiz(Mis, well acfjuainted with tho waters, to 
 iiclp as jjfuidos; and Cro<jks to watch, as lar as lie 
 (ould. tlio interests of Mr. Astor.* Ho did not 
 Hiulvo Mackinac liis pormam it residonco dui'inu: the 
 whole time of his conn(»ction with the business, 
 l)Ut Mas moi'o or loss on the island. and eni^aii-ed in 
 lis ottico work. Now York, aft<M'wards, was his 
 lioiiH^: and on Astor's s(dlin<x out, ho Ijocamo chief 
 lii()[u*iotor and thc^ president of tho com])any. It is 
 said of him tliat ho concentrated, in liis r<Mni- 
 nl>cencos, the history of tho fur trade in Amei'ica 
 t"i' forty years. He died in New York in 1H59. 
 
 ^S<.•hl»l)l^•^;lfL speiikiii!-' of Duvi'iiporl, (\vlu>, lu* says. \v;i.«. ;i, Vir^iuiiin), 
 roifis to his thus ' siiiliUK' iiboiit tlu; l.■^luIul uiul lu sivrlit of his own 
 tiMiii' ■' lie remarks, too. thill tor liis sulIiriuKs unci hissos. he "Ught 
 1) h;ivc b.'L";! icmuiK'ratrd liy tho (Jovorurncut 
 
66 
 
 KAKLY MACKINAC. 
 
 KobiTt Stuart was also a iialiv«? of Scotlatui. 
 boi'ii ill 17^4. Ho came to America at the a^'-p of 
 Iwoiity-two y(»ars,an(l illustrat«»(l the saiuo spirit f.f 
 (M»tori)ris(3 and adv(Mitiir(». llo lirst lived in Mon. 
 tnnil, and sorvod with tlu» NortiiwcsKM-n Fui' ('.. 
 Ill 1^10 lin coniMM'ted liiinsclf, to^otlicr wiili h 
 uncN'. ]);ivid Stuart, with Mr. Astoi-'s hiisin.-.. 
 and AVMs «)ne of tiio party that sailed Ironi ^tw 
 York l»y tlio sliip "Tonquin"' to Ibund tlio fur liadr 
 city ol" Astoria, on tiio Pacitic Coast. In l^ii', ii 
 boin«r oxceiHliiiLrly important thi.t certain pa|M'i> 
 and dispatclios be taken fi-oui Astoria to N« w 
 York, and the ship in llio meantiinc b«Mn«^ (icstioy 
 od, and there bein^ no way of niakinijf the trip I*, 
 soa, Stuart was put at thc^ In^ad of a i)arty to uii>iiM 
 take the journey overland. Kamsey Ci'ooKs w.is 
 one of tlie band. This trip across the inoiiiitaiii-> 
 an<l tlirouijrh tlie country of wild Indians, and c.i i 
 arid plains, involved s(»vero iiardships and j>ti , 
 and illustrated the nerve, and vi.yor, and I'esoiirn > 
 of the young h»ader. Tlie party was nearly a \ » ;u 
 ou the way. In 1811) lit? came to Mackinac and 1m' 
 canni a resident partnc^r of the American I'm 
 Com]iany, and su[)erintendent of its entire busiiii» 
 in the west. He wa. remarkably om^rgctic in 
 business, a leader among men, and a conspi(ii<;ii> 
 and forceful character wh(M'ever he niiulii In' 
 placed. l!i the lack of hotel accc;nimodalions h^ 
 homo was constantly giving hospitable welcome 
 and entertainment to visit ing stranger.s. H<' d w'li 
 on the island for fifteen years, and wIkmi 'Ik 
 company sold out in 1H34, removed to Deti'oit. II'' 
 was afterward appointed by the Governmem a> 
 
UODi:UT STIAUT. 07 
 
 luilijiii ( oimnissioiKM' foi* all tlio iribosot ili(» luti," 
 w<'>l, and ,*ruai*(l<Ml tlioir iutiTcsts with |);ii(Mii;il 
 cai'c. Tli(^ Imliaiis iisrd to spcalc of him as tlicii 
 h»'st friend, llo also >t'i-\«'d as Slate lic:isurcr, 
 and tit the? (Wpii'iitioii of his term of olli.n; whs 
 lni>tt'(! and st?crctarv oi' I ho Illinois a!»d iMirhiu-aii 
 Canal Hoard. Active' in frJ*<'at coninuM-cial and 
 public intiM'osts, Ik* was also. siil)st'(|ii(Mit to liis 
 (MMvorsioii oil Iho island in 1>^1'*^, zealous and pr )ni- 
 iiciil ill church woi'k and always bore a ninh 
 Christian cliaraclfi-. lie died verv suddenly at 
 Cliica.iifo, in 1848. His body was taken by a vessel 
 ()\er liic lalc(»s to Detroit for burial. In [)assing 
 .Nhiclcinac tlie boat laid awhile ;it the dock, and all 
 the |)eo[)lo of the villa,ii:<' ]»aid their resjjocts to the 
 (lead body of one who had Ixmmi in lornn^r ye;i rs a 
 resident of the island, so well known and so i^reatly 
 
 leenuH 
 
 In connection with tluCFur C()ni]>Mny work of 
 llie island, which thes(» two men did so much to 
 lironi()t<\ it may be well to ([uote from Mis. .lolm 
 k'inzie, the wife of a Chieaii'o pioneer, who with 
 her husband was her(Mn is;](). hi her interestinif 
 lioolc "Wau-Hun, the 'Eai'ly Day' in the Nortli- 
 wi'sl."' she thus wi'ites. speaK'inir of that period: 
 "These were the palmy days of Mackinac, it was 
 no unusual thinu: to see a hundr<Ml or mo''(* canocvs 
 f Indians at once approachiui,' th<^ island, ladiMi 
 ilh th(Mr ai'tich^s of traftic; and if to th(vs(» was 
 
 I ) 
 
 w 
 
 add«'d the h([uadi'on of lai".ij^«? Mackinaw boats con- 
 stantly an-ivini; from the out])osts with the fin's, 
 p -hl-ies an<l bulfalo robes C(»llccte(| by the distant 
 Irad'M's, some ideamav b(» formal of the extensive 
 
 
 
 t 
 
EAKLV MACKINAC. 
 
 <)|t»M'nt i"ii- ;u'(l lilt' iiii]M»rt;iii1 position of llx 
 ViMtWK .111 l''iii* ( 'oiiiyuniv. a.s well as of ihr \ ;im 
 (•icl<'(r ii!iiii;in iM'iiiii's j'itlxM" iimiH'diatcIv oi* n- 
 11)1 ticlv ciMtiH'cii'd with i1. " 
 
 h' • V 11. Srliooicrafl r!\('(l oil tin' islaii I 
 
 I'uiii 
 
 1.^;!l{ to I - 1 1. lir \v.i> ;i iKil i\ f of tin' Slatr ( f Xc , 
 Yorlc. ' l<' was a St H'.lciit . an iiiNcsliirator* in'o \\\,' 
 fuels aiH' pli<Mioiiitiia of naiuff. a> rciiiai'Uaihf 
 liiiLTiiiM. a iri't'at tia\«'l('r ami t'\pl<)i-ci-. ami a 
 prolitic "n-ni«'i-. lie was irncn to anliafolcrMh-jil 
 roscarcliw-s; hv rxploiM'd iln» valley ol tlit< 
 Mi.'+HissHp^i; Iro iiiivsl iiralHU lli«' niiiM'fal i-c^mirci's 
 «)f iiiucli oi t li" Wot. part ic'.ilafly of Miss«H;i-i: anil 
 ln' ili>i-( ^\«'"f(l t lit' s< Mii('«» of liio Mis.-^i.>sippi i:i.('!'. 
 Uis ;^Ti'ait vvoi'ls. ami liy wliji-li ||(> is !-ii»st Iciinwii. 
 was t hat iii connect n >n \\ il li ' ln' I ndiaii rare, lia\ ii:ir 
 siMvit Ibirtr v<'ais«»f iiis Iif»- in cotitac, willi tln'i;;. 
 TM',sid<'s hi-* travels aiiioii«i iJie ti-ilM'-^ t linMiid.oi;! 
 
 ■>• . ' <•' Iiis pufMiil-. li'ii 
 
 the west :; ad iioft liw ••>: . 
 liini, lie \va> ll.e ( lo\fniiii.<'iil ;i:.;eiit in Indian alTiiiis 
 lir t aiV S I Sio. Marie f< .|- cievfn \eais. and ilnii 
 .»-l\iiiuc fi>i' <'iirlii v« ars. lie mentions that 
 
 I! M 
 
 ill oiu' t lint* • • t'f fonr te<,nssLii(i IndiaiiS \\ei t 
 
 faaij)«*d aioii;/ ibt» .siio-pn-s of tlh^* i-iaiid loranmiiti 
 
 :in i t li.ii 1 he a.i...U!! les 
 t« «i*7U,(»!'0 in inniiey ; 
 bi I he iieL""! ■ ' >\\ of 
 
 wilij 1 he t I'l i -'>. 
 
 ■ paid lliaK year am ua!«'U 
 
 [ ^^m>n\ia. Ho uhso >• I'Vcii 
 
 I'l--. f'tr the ( iovennneii; 
 
 in? at tlio Sauit. li"' 
 
 •H a II. 
 
 d ' I a -ij-i. L! -r father. M 
 ;. Jf -li 'ri leiuuil of L'oitil 
 
 .id'VnejH^ coMii'rv 
 
 John .join 
 
 stjuidiii*]^. who d^- 'diiiLT in I Ih» 
 
 of T^alce Snp«Tioi . iiadf<»i!nd . , in the danu'liU't' 
 
 of ail Jndian (hiet. Thi 
 
 ^»< 
 
 Miss .J oh r-'ell 
 
IIKNIvV K. S( Hot i|,< liAI'T 
 
 t'.'.l 
 
 had boon s<'iil to Fiin'opr wliih' m y<Mini5 prirl to ho 
 , i .,'ii1«'(l iiiidt'i" ill*' cai'c of licr fallicr's j-olativcs. 
 ;iini slu' Ix'ciuiio a refined and <Mdti\al«'d ('liii>!ian 
 ladv. 
 
 Mr. S(;!iO()l('i*iift in liis oij^ht yoars' rosiilcnco 
 on tlio isliind, li\('d in the lionsc known to all 
 
 V 
 V 
 
 HENRY R SCHOOLCRAFT, LL D. 
 
 ivad«>rs of Miss Woolson's "Aunt'" as tin* "Old 
 Auiiicy." lie wiitt'S on his aifival: "Wo I'oinul 
 oiiisch t's ;it oas(^ in llio rm-al and ].ict nrt'^qno 
 LTnunds and domicii*' of ihcUnitod States Aironoy, 
 <»\ ti liun*::. as it is, ])y iinpoiidinir <*lilTs and r.»tn- 
 muiidini^ono ol tiio ni<>.st ploa.sinK and i-aplivating 
 
70 
 
 KAIiLV M.UKINAC. 
 
 f 
 
 It'll' 
 
 views of l;i]x<» sccnorw'"* Kv<M'v siibji'ct of ■.(icii- 
 t.ilic! iiiltM'(\st, all llic physical iilicnom'Mi.'i o! ih,. 
 isluiid, a.!nl iis fini'Kjiiit it-s aixl his|(ii'i<' [cahu'cs, and 
 Jill quest i()ii> |M'riaiiiiii:4' to the Indians and llu'i 
 met' ciiai-acicriNt ics. lln'ir lialiiisand custoui.s. i 
 hin.irua.^'o, llicii- traditions and !*'L:'t'nds, {||,.i) 
 rdi^'io'*. and csprcially ali that niiniit N-ad to fhcir 
 moral and social iii.|iro\t'nii'nt — these \ver<« niaticrs 
 .•)r liis ('(Jtistant sluvly. At \\\>' same time he Kcjit 
 ahi'cast of t h«? «jreinTa) litcfat are of the dav. ii'iid 
 
 illjJT I'Ik' bnok's of iioti' as llicy appcafcij and hi 
 uiakiiii:" eont r-ilmliuns to !ii<>iMt iiic hv lil 
 
 n 1 'M i ! 
 
 S (tWll 
 
 Ullii 1; 
 
 ImioU's and review articles ai»d trcaiisc.*- 
 wew ]»ul>lis)HMi in the Mast and in i'ai.iidand. In !iis 
 remote island h<»!nr. ice honnd h)r half tjic \(;ir 
 and larjifely shnl onl fr(»ni the woi-ld, ]\o was yt 
 Welllsnown h\' hi,-. Wfitiiru's in 1 ho hiLihestcirt Irsnf 
 
 1 
 
 ea^rninLT 
 
 Visit 
 
 oj's of note. frr)ni Knropeasu 
 
 ■•'i! as 
 
 WCI'i 
 
 fi'om Ihc Kastern Stales, com. cr lo thei.sland 
 fre<picntl\ ('aliin.Lrat his hoiiscwith let icrsof iniri 
 
 ihu'i 
 
 ion. 
 
 11 
 
 e \\ as \oi"d a eomplinieidary m 
 
 em I II' 
 
 ship in nnmei'ons scienl itic, historical and an! iijua- 
 rian >ociet ie;;. l)oili in thisconntry and in t!ie ei.i 
 world. II" hail cori'cspiindents amonj,' seln>i;iis 
 and sa\"anls o!' t he hi^'hest rank'. Ili> opiidon.s ;mhi 
 views on sniijects of which he had nnule a study 
 W(»r»* ^really |tri/<Ml. 'The eminent Sii- ll;nnplnv\ 
 
 •e, CWpressed ill' 
 
 Davy, of Kn,i;'land. for in>!an( 
 
 liiLrhesI appieciat ioii oi' certain contrilmtioii 
 
 scieiititii" iatei'ol whah Mr. Schoolcraft had pi'i 
 
 s (I, 
 
 •[|| tin* iiiIihIm i»f miiiif iMiw llvllii.' nii ; In* Kliiul li>' liii^ Itcin c.iniiisiil 
 
 with lll-i lilMLhi'l . .I.Wtli-s Si'll'MiliTllft . Wlh) tll->.l lUiil ill till- \ill;i:.'<' llill 
 
 wiis muiilfUMl !•>. a .lii!m 'r miiri'. ih I^Kl. 
 
in;Mn' u. sciiooLciiAFT. 71 
 
 jcn'-d iii his isljiiid honi*'; und Cluii'los Diirwiii, in 
 hi> \vo|-l\, "TIk' l)<'S(;«Mit of iM?lii. " quotes willi up- 
 |)io\-;il some opijiion ]\r liad rxpj'esst'cl, and calls 
 iiiin ••:i most: capabki judiic " l*r()i', Silliman, also 
 I'X IVesidt'iits .iolin Adams, Tlios. .It'tTcrson and 
 .liiiiM's Madison, ^v^olo liim k^tlcrs of mai-kod ap 
 proliation respect injjf a contiMbulion he had writicn 
 In)' tlic American CJeoloirical Society, naiicroft 
 >Miil'err(ul with liim hefoi-e ^vl•itill^'' tliose ])aits of 
 ill-"' "I listory of tiie United Stat<s. " wlncli jMM'lain 
 ii. ill" Intliaiis. and was in frecpient correspondence 
 uilh him; and Tjonj-''fello\v. in liis lliawidlia Indian 
 iii»|c«<. expresses his Sense <,\' oi)li«,'a,t ion to liim. 
 
 S' >ine o 
 
 I' SchoolcralTs h-ctin't^s wei-e translated into 
 
 I" iich.and a piize was awarded liim hv tli«' Nat 'onal 
 li.sl il nle o!' i<"'raiice. Amonu'" liis fre«|ii'Mit corres- 
 |. hdents. as lie was an active ('liri>tiaii and in 
 .s\inpathy with all church inieicsts. wei-e the 
 s.'cretarJHS ()!' dilTeretit missionary soci<'ties in lli«' 
 M.ist, se»'kin<4 Ills opinion and his coun>el in i-efcr- 
 cnce to t he location of stations and the meihods (»f 
 
 \\n 
 
 •1; anion*? the Indian ti-ihes. 
 
 r\\ 
 
 ri 
 
 le amount of 
 
 liierary work lie accomplished was rehiarUahle. 
 ("•|iecially iu view of his pulilic sei-\ic(>s, wlii< h 
 niton I'ecniiied extensive journeys in distant wildei-- 
 iit'ss reirions, and much of camp life, lie uas of 
 iviiiurUahle physical via-o!- and industry, however, 
 and it is said of him. that he had been known to 
 \\ill.' from sun to sun almost (»very day for many 
 yeai's. 
 
 Mr. Schoolcraft i-'iiioved /rom the island t*. 
 N.w NorK- in IKII. and after an extensive travel 
 llu'ou,ii-h Europe, ae\uted hiujself principally t'> 
 
 >^ 
 
72 
 
 KAlil.^' MAC KIN AU 
 
 literary worlc. fl*' ])ul>lislH'(l i\h()u\ tliii'ty dilTiMvin 
 books. TlicBc ljn'<r<'ly ])t'i'l;rn!tMl lo his exploi-ni iitii>, 
 tUid to sciciilitic. siil)j»'cls. 'J'Iip ('liicf jji-oducls ol 
 iiis])«Mj ill i'('S[)('ct lo tin* Tiidiaus wci'O liis '"Ak-ic 
 Ivost'iu'clios, "* and lah'i'liis very (»xtt'nsivo "b'.iliiKi 
 lojU'ical Kcscarclics aiiioii*^' tlu^ K»'d Men." wliidi 
 Nvas ])i'»'i)ar(Ml imdcr the dirtMiioii and ])alr(>nai:<' (i| 
 Coii<'ro.ss. It i>; in six larirc* voIuiih's wiili over 
 
 '.urn c( 
 
 olDprd (Miii'i'aviims. 
 
 and was issiiod in llir hot 
 
 stylcM)!' llic jtrintt'f's art It is a thesaurus of in 
 formation, and furnishes tli«' most complete mikI 
 authenlic ti'eatmenltii(» sul).ieet lias ever i-eceived. 
 
 Fnr ne.'irjy twenty years Mr. Schooici-aft li\i'i|;it 
 Washiii.ii'tnn. and died th(3re in Dec.MMuher. I'^ill. 
 Tlie IJev. Dr. Sunderland, for over l(U*ty \e;tr-> a 
 I^reshyterian pastor in that city, lias said of liiiii: 
 "lie Avas a nohle Christ ian man, and his last y>';[v> 
 wcii'c spent ill the society of his friends and ainoii: 
 his hooks '••■ * a liKxIest, retli-iiijET, Uliosteiitiil i< ii:> 
 
 :m. but of de(>)), sincere pietyaiid i^really intercNi- 
 
 m 
 
 vd \n the welfare (»{' maidvind. 
 
K 
 
 CTTAPTKU VI IT. 
 
 Willi the cx'plonM*, llio triul.T juhI llio soldier, 
 ill tli(^ early tliiys ol" 1h(» i^'rciicli occiipalion. Wu'vo 
 (■;mi«) iilso the ]iiis.si()tKiry. Mor(» t,li:iii two 
 centuries a.n'o ])i()!H'('r .l(!suil ])i-i«'sis planted tlie 
 (TOSS in thoso wilds ot' tlip upper lak"s; lirst; at 
 Saidt St(». Mari(\ as oarly as two Imiidred :iiid IjftN 
 years siiieo. and tli.'u in it'iTl in our Michiliinaclcinac 
 (■t\£ri<>n of St. T.L,'iia< •»','■ on the uoiMlii-ni luainlaiid. 
 iour miles ac-i'oss from liie island. The hnier worl; 
 is associated part iculai'l\' with Mar<|iiei !e. whi. 
 lounded it, and w ht) was one of t ln' most h» i'( (ic and 
 :|i'\nte(l of the early missionaries w ho cimie to i Iii> 
 I MMlinent, from Fr;nic<». Ht» was a ^,eli<»lai' and a 
 man of science, nee. irdiiijif to t he ;it 1aimii"nls<d" I !ia. 
 day. It is said he was ac«piainied wil h .si x dilTerenI 
 hin«4iiaLrcs. lie was held in re\ecent CSleem, l.nlh 
 hy the saA'ajifes of the woods and hy t he i i-idei-s and 
 
 ('iVlcerS of the set ! leiiieiils. 'J'o li is CM 1 1 U I'e, llis Ce- 
 
 lini'ineid. and his spirituality were ailded the en 
 thusiasm and dnrin.i,' «d' the explnrcr. Me ", .'ut oid 
 to tiiul new (•(Hint ries as al><> to pre;icli in t iie pic mi 
 
 wild; 
 
 In H'lTIi. aeeoiiip;in 
 
 eil IK 
 
 1 1 ' 1 . he Si ' ! 
 
 forlli from SI. jirmice with a small eoinpaiiy in Iwi 
 hark canoes, on ii lonu: vnyap' <»'' discovery. He 
 Iruek out into T^alvt^ Michiiran. thence into the 
 ri VIM'S of Wisconsin. and thence int<^ the Mississippi, 
 and tloat'Ml down that, yreat ri\<'- as fai' as to ;, 
 
 •rulUl IrO<lUOlS, UH ll WliS IllNl UlKlWIl. 
 
 n 
 
 m 
 
I 
 
 KAIiLY MAClKLNAt' 
 
 Itoiiii soiiM' tliirly miles Ix'low Ili<» moiitli of ih.' 
 Arkansas riv<'i\ iilinoNt to II. o Louisiana liur, 
 'i'lifi't' 1 lir . soul hern Joui'!K\y was (Muled aiul lli.' iv 
 Iiirti 1ii|) Avas Im'i^'iiii — a set n id in, '4" llio Missis.>,iii|il. 
 (Milfi-in.L;* tlic Illinois and thus rcacliinn" LaK'c 
 Mirlii.i^an a^^'-ain. I'»iil for Mar([ueit(' llic ti*i|) \v.l^ 
 never linislicd. He died ;it a. point, on the easlfin 
 slion» of tliat lake, about midway l>etW(MMi ils u]i)h r 
 and lowi'i* ends, and was l)urie(l tlier(» by liis e\i'r 
 lailhlul and devoted Indian (•om[)anions. '1',, ^ 
 years al'liTwards liis body was (\\lnnned ;ii'd 
 rt'\ rreiii ly tak'en baric for internuMit at llie St. 
 Iii'nace Mission, wlii«di be had lon.iriJiiily de>iii'(i 
 aii'ain to I'eacli. but bad die<l without, the siL-ht, 
 
 The discovery of his «;i"ave in the ])i-esent lown d! 
 Si. I«j:naee, in tlx' your 1.S77, lias «4:iven new inlei'-^i 
 to tliat locality. 
 
 ^^>llowin<,' tb(» tem])orary abandonment of tin 
 l''reii(h post of Micbillmackinac in I7t>l, iindthei-' 
 iiio\al of the seltleinenL to Detr;»it, as air 
 
 wiv 
 
 III'. 
 
 \<' 
 
 rt'fi'i'retl to, the St. Ijjfnace Mission \\as ,iri\t'n 
 and the church burned by the piiesls theuisel 
 in ft-ar 'est it siiould be sa<*i'ile«i'iously destroyed l'\ 
 the s;i\a,L;'es. Sul>.se([Uenl ly. on tlie reeslahli >li 
 iiit-nt (»f t he fort on ih(.' soutlu'rii penin>ula oppo>l!. 
 t l',e ( 'at Iiolic mission was i'e\i\'ed and the Cliui ■!' 
 of St. Ann was oi'^-ani/eil — the chui"<h and 
 L'ld i re set thMiient of fiimili«\s,as well as t he «jrai'ris 
 beiuy within the palisaib* enclosure. VVh< n \u 
 17^0 llu' fori was r<Muoved to the island — :M»d ;!> 
 set I lers followln*r — the church was al.so remo\ii. 
 itslo^sand tind»ers beinjj^ takeu tlowu separai' '\ 
 and then rejointed and seL up a^rain. ll stood •• 
 
MADAM LA I'liAMIlOISK 
 
 75 
 
 tlio old Imryiii.i;- 1<»1 souili of llio pi-rscut Astor 
 lloiiso. Sul)s«'(|ii(Mi1ly it was rcinovcil to another 
 silc All iuUlilioii was iiiado OA'leiidiiiii: Its Nmi.l'IIi, 
 :iii(l llu'old cliurcli coiiliiiucd to stand until it ^';i\t' 
 
 \ \y 1o 11m! |>i"osont. Iar«^'<' cdiiict', hniit (»n tli*' same 
 ^Mot, ill 1^74. As an ori^'ani/ation. lin\\('\',r. ili.> 
 . iiiir(di dales Tar Imck to llic cai-ly days (>\it id 
 
 Id Mii('l\iiia\v. 'J"*!!!^ ji: round on wliicli tlie i)uiidin",r 
 iiow stands \vas a biwiucst to the jtaiisii by a Madam 
 L:i l*'i'aud)ois(', wiio li\'< tl iifarhy, witii tliostij)ula 
 ti. lu tliJit at. death Ikm' 1)o.Iv slioidd he l»nrii'(| undei- 
 
 I III' t 
 
 dial', ill ca^e the cliureh slioidd l)e rcino\t'd 
 
 o 
 
 llie places iiurKjated. Tiiis beii.i^- (h)ne, the coiidi- 
 liniis of tlio ^viIl \vei'(> fultilled. M'liis Madam \\a> 
 .'I Iiuli;>.u blood, mid the widow of a. I''!t'ii<h I'ur 
 1 1 ader. She Is reported to lia\'e been a woman o I' re- 
 ii;ail\"al>le eneci:\- and elite ri)rise. ;ind on the(h>al h oj' 
 li T liusband ably imma^y'ed tlio business be had l"!"!. 
 She iieqiiiiuHl the rudiments of edueat ion after her 
 i.iarria<jf(\ b(>in,i!: taiiirht by Ium- liusl):nui, and in 
 later 3'ears ii.ad*' it a eustoin to i-eeeive youn.i; 
 jiiipilsal lierhmiseto |ea<'h tliem to read and write. 
 :ind also to inst ruc'li them in the ])i-inri]i!es (d' lier 
 .•Ti«^ioii. Iler <lau<^'hter bei'auie tlie wiTecd' Tjit ul. 
 ■ lohn S. Pierce, abr-otherof President l'iei'e(\ who 
 Vvasaii olticer at tin- i^arrison in the early days, 
 
 i-ir. IsiU 
 
 111 tlie early limes, the island Ix'in.L!: so remote 
 
 . |»ioiie*'r |>t)iiit, aiul its ])o[uilation iiiea,iir(>, this 
 
 •ish (lid ?H»l always lia\e a resident, priest, and 
 
 lueli of the timo could only b(? visited by one 
 
 ureo-idar and often tlistant intervals. In IT'^L', 
 
 ])etitioii siufiied by the iin>rehants and other in 
 
T) 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 liabitJiiits of tho villajj:*', was aildrc^ssml to (UmkihI 
 liaUlimaud, ilit^ Eiij^lisli CiovtTiior (Jend'al of Hie 
 Province, asking that tho Govciiiinciit talcc sicps 
 to iiid ill socuriniiT a cure, or nrmistci" of rcliiiidti. 
 for tlic stated inaiiitfMiaiu'c of scrviccvs. Thcic ;t|i 
 pears iiotliin«i^ to show that this wasiri'Jintcd. 'I'Im' 
 fill" trad(^ broujifljt an citMiioiit of nopukilioii of a 
 vciy mixed chai-actei". Tli«'j'(! wen* tlie ediicuhtl 
 oHicrrs and clerks of Iht^ company, and iln' 
 ri>i/(i(j('irr}i and ti'a})i)(M's, who spent most of IIm ir 
 time in ihc woods and on the watei-. with ^Ia(•l^ill;k(■ 
 as theii- place of i-estin**" and wau'ejiayment. ;iiiil 
 Ihe [dare of the I'ccU'less wastini^ of liieic hard, 
 cinit'd money. Oiu^ who Icnew well thc> early 
 chai-actei' of the ishimh said of it. that few ])l;ii(,s 
 on 1 he cont ineni liad l)e('n so celrbi-alcd a. I(»c.alitv 
 for wild enjoyment; that tlie earnin.LTs of a. y»'a!' 
 werc^ oflen speid. in tlu^ cai'onsals of a week" oi a 
 day; tinit \]\o h)rdiy HiijfhlaiKh'i'. the hnp<>lii(»iis 
 son of Krin. and tliH ])rond and indepcMidint 
 lOn^lishman. did not (h> mneli Ix'tler on the scoiv 
 of moral responsiliilit ies than the luniilile 
 V(nj(f<icitrs and conrirr dcf^ hoi-^: tlial t h(\v hrolce ti'cMnr 
 ally, iiiin' onl of tlie ten commandmenis withoiil a 
 winee. hul kept tiie otliei* \ery scrnpidonsly, ami 
 would llasli up tunl call thnir companions to a diifl 
 wlio <loul)ted th(Mn on tluit point! 
 
 ]*i-olestant Missions in tlie west f^radually took 
 shape as the seltlenn'ut of tlui country advanced 
 fi'om tho sead)oai-(l. The Ivev. David Hacon, of tli»' 
 C'Onnecticmt Missioiuii-y Society, the father of th*' 
 kite Dr'. Tjeonard liacon, preached on the island fni- 
 a .short time as far back as 1x0:1; not, howcvci", e- 
 
^ 
 
 i < 
 
 lOtl. 
 
 KIMSCOPAL cmiall OKCAM/Kl^. 
 
 I:il)lishii)*? 51 mission or oriiiitiiziiiir ;i cliurcli. 'I' 
 ill l^l'O. the lit'V. .Icdidiali Morse. 1). I).. :i ('(>!i<ri-,.. 
 iiatioiial iniiii.Nlrr, llir r.itli(«i- of llic invciitor nf the 
 h'le,iri':ii>li system, visiled tlie island, and ni;ide a 
 short stay. Tlie same Dr. Morse was the aiii hor ol 
 •Morse's Geoiii-apliy," one*' e.\teiisi\»'ly n>ed in 
 eiir st'iiools, and still well reiiiemi)ered. In earlier 
 ye;ii"s the fori was a eliaplainey ])ost. and the 
 •ler,u:ymaii in eharir<'. the Ivev. Mr. O'llrien. from 
 l^l"-' nnlil the (»|ienini.,'' of tho cixil war in I'^Cd, 
 conducted staled ser\ ices ol" t he l^|»isco|)al form of 
 v.orsliin, which accommodatetl the people of ihe 
 \illa.iro as well as tlie soldiers. Oiil of this Moric 
 L'rew t he 'J^'inilv Episcopal Church, oriranized in 
 1^7.">. under the minisl ration of the Jv'ew Wm. (!. 
 Sioiiex. who coininiied for some years tho resident 
 iler^yman. l^'ora time ihe parish held its Sunday 
 services in the fort chapel; then the old Court 
 lloustO)uildin,Lr was used, and in l"^"*!' the present 
 Trinity Cliurcli l)uildiii«j: was erected, under the 
 leidei'sliip of the lt«>v. .M. C. Sliinley. 'I'his re 
 mains still the only ()r,L:ani/,ed l*rote>taiil church 
 on the island. it has. <i'iMierally. a j-osid. lit cieriiy- 
 iii.'in in cliar;.;-e. 'Plie Ivt. Rev. Thomas J'\ l)a\ies. 
 h.I)., bishop (d" the dioce.se of Michi<i'an. heinii" a 
 slimmer coita^'cr on the island, ri'e(iuoiitiy oiliciatcs 
 tlurin^i' the visitors" season. 
 
 To H'o back' airain tctour earlier period. At the 
 lime of Dr. Morsi's \i.^it lo the island, he was 
 I mder commission !>>■ the P. S. •j:o\ erninei:t on a two 
 \ ears' tour of observation and inspection amoni;- 
 the va.i-ious Indian tribes with a, \ iew "to devist' 
 the most suitable plan to ad\anc«' their civilization 
 
m 
 
 KAKI.V MAfK'IXAC. 
 
 and liiii)|>iii»'ss. " * I !«• ai'fivcd ill lln' islinid. .Im,.- 
 l()lli. ill llic ('\»Miiii«i', jiiid wi-ih«s of llu' vn'\v ihiii 
 
 :i'(M 
 
 ■l.'d 1 
 
 lis (»y(' ill 1 lie iiionrmiT- 
 
 'tlu' fori look 
 
 iii'JCdowii fi'oiii the hiiili hlulT. ;iiid a \U'v\ of Indian 
 caiioos drawn up on t li«» hracii, alon«^ wliicii \\<i.' 
 pilclM'd lilt}' or oin» Inindi'od lod«,'-os — coiic-sliiiiMd 
 l)ariv lonis — tilled with liircc or four Iniinlivd 
 Indians, ukmi, women and ehildren. coine to reci i\ 
 llieir annuities fi'oin llie I'uiled Stales ( J()\erniii«'ii 
 
 He remained a, lit t le o\er t wo we( ks 
 
 and to trad(*. 
 and ])i'<»aclied in tlie Court House to hiriLfv and :ii 
 tentive audiences. A week' day school and a 
 Sahhathx'linol were formed for tiie cliildn'n, and 
 Mri'aiiJifcments effected foi' liihie Society and Tiai ' 
 Society wiu'k. On his r(>tui'n to tlio East, tlif 
 Tiiited l<\)reiii*n Missionary Society. Iearnin<if of liic 
 situation, toolc steps toplant a mission at Mackinac. 
 Tiie island was considered a strateiric. jioint for 
 snc]i operations, even as previously it had hoeii a 
 siraleuic situation from a mililai'v point of view. 
 It was a central irat hei'in.ir place for the Indians lor 
 liundre<ls of miles away as widl as from near :il 
 liand. M'Ih' mission was estahlislnMJ in 1>'1'.'!. 'i'hc 
 Uev. Win. l<\'rrv. a Presl)vtorian minist(M' fi'oiii tlic 
 
 East, was ajipointed supei intendent. 
 
 The Mission was dosi;L^ned ciru»fly as a school 
 for 1 he 1 rainin.LT of Indian youth. It opened wiili 
 twelv*' pupils. 
 
 Tl 
 
 m 
 
 ^eco 
 
 nd 
 
 veai" It uuiiiImmv 
 
 seventN. 'I'wo y<'ars after the openinir <'f 'li'' 
 enterprise I he lariic school Imildinir and hoardii l: 
 liouse, now tlie hot«d at tin.' oast end of the islaii'l, 
 
 ♦Kruiii IrtiiT of iiistrucli(Mi> \\ littt-n him by .loliii C (.'ulhoiiii, H«ii<' 
 taiv ..f Wur. I'V-h. IH'JO. 
 
G()OD AvoKK or Till-: sciioor.. 
 
 70 
 
 111 
 
 Mild boiiriiiL: lln' oi'i^^'iiial iiaiiic "Missidu Hnusc 
 v\ as built. In 1 -iM) tlio Society which h;i<l Im'lh 
 iho work ami inaiiitaincd it hn* three \r;;rs, \\;is 
 iiici'Ljeil will) t he Aiiici'icaii I >oai'(l or('oMiini,s>i«»ii('r.s 
 |,ii* J'\)reii4ii ^Missions. I h'licefoi-i h. until it ch^ed. 
 l!ie MacK'inac Mission was the woiiv of tli;il I'oard 
 \'. itli liead([tiarters in lloslon. For sexcral y«'ar.s 
 !lii» iiltenchince at ihe >chi>«il averaged alioni one 
 hun<lr<Ml and liltv a yeai*. Majoi* Andei-son. <»!' Ihe 
 ( lo'. enuiient ser\i<-e, wriliii.u: in l>i'^, says Ihal 
 V, lien this inis>ion biiildinir was elected it was 
 Uioimht lo lie hir^»» elloULi'h to accoilllllo(hlte all 
 
 w ho iniLiht de>ire its ))ri\ile<j-es, l)iit such wa.s the 
 ihirsl !'or Knowle(lL;e. that the house was then full; 
 ;iiid that at least lifty Umrc Ii;id sou.iihl a(liui>Ni(»ii 
 ilial seas( n who could not In- i-ect-jxcd U>v l;icl\ of 
 room. 
 
 Besides the ludiiiients of Kii-li^'l' •'du'^at ion. 
 the hoys wei'e laii.L'ht tlie more useful .sort of iiandi- 
 'laft and ti-ules, and the uirls were taiiii-ht sewinj.,^ 
 :iiid housework. They wei-e at all limes undt-r 
 • hristian inlluence, and were sysiemaiically in- 
 >lnicted in the truths of the (hopel. In the 
 I hou'i'apiiy <»f Mr>. .lei-einiah l*(Ut«'r. who heforc* 
 iier inajM'iaji'*' was Miss ('happelh'. and wlio siteiii 
 !\\oyt>ai"s (l.s;in '.)'2) on tlie ishind. is uiNeii an rx- 
 iract from her diary, in w h 'cli slie speaK's of vi>il- 
 ii!^' the Mission llous»' and heariuu: tlie youim" 
 Indian .n'irls, at their eveiiin^^ lesson, repeat 
 loo-rther llio -''>d l*salm and the :.."lh chapter of 
 Isaiah, and of hearinir a iiymn sun.i; "'hy sixteen 
 swe(»t Indian Noices which was particularly toii<-li 
 Thomas L. McKei.nev. of the huliai' Depart- 
 
 L 
 
 injr, 
 
 •' r 
 

 « 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-S) 
 
 
 A 
 
 // 
 
 4^; 
 
 
 
 :/ 
 
 
 ! 
 
 1.0 Ifl^ WM 
 
 I.I 
 
 11.25 
 
 
 1.4 
 
 |2£ 
 
 1.6 
 
 '^-^ ^ 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 W<T' T MAIN STR6FT 
 
 WEFSTER.N.V. 14580 
 
 r/16) 872-4S03 
 

 '^s 
 
 \ 
 
80 
 
 EARLY iMACKINAC. 
 
 mcMit, c:ivos another iiit(M-estin<,^ ^liinpse oi ilio 
 school in his book, "Skolclios of a. Tour to tlic 
 Lakes," published in 1H27. He had been ^^eiit out, 
 tlio year before, from Washin<?ton a.3 joint com- 
 iiiissioner with General Cass in negotiating a Ircaiy 
 with the Indians of the North. Having touched ;il 
 Maclvinac he describes his calling, in company Avilli 
 Mr. Robert Stuart, at "the Missionary establisli- 
 ment in charge of Mr. P^erry." Tlie school family 
 were at supper, and he writes, "we joined tliem in 
 their prayers, which are olfered after this meal." 
 On another day he again visited the school, and iv- 
 ported of it: "Tlie buildings are admirably ada])t- 
 ed for the object for which they were built. Tliey 
 are composed of a center and two wings— the center 
 is occupied chiefly as the eating depai-tment and 
 the offices connected therewith. Tlie western Aviiiji: 
 accommodated the family. In the eastern wiii.u" 
 are the school rooms, and below, in the ground 
 story, are apartments for shoemakers and other 
 manufactures. In the girls' school were seventy- 
 three, from four to seventc^en years old. In 
 personal cleanliness and mnitness, in behavior, in 
 attainments in vai'ious branches, no children, white 
 or I'ed, excel them. TJie boys' school has about 
 eighty, from four to eighteen. One is from Fond 
 du Lac, upwards of seven hundi'ed miles. Another 
 from the Lakii of the Woods. How far they have 
 come to get liglit !'' Referring to the Superin- 
 tendent, Mr. Fei'ry, he speak's of him in terms of 
 unqiuilitied a})[)r()bation. ''Pew men possess liis 
 skill, his qualification, his industry and devotion 
 to the work. Such a pattern of practical industry 
 
VffBW 
 
 '^ 
 
THE MISSION CHURCH. 
 
 81 
 
 is without price in such iin establishment. Indeed, 
 the entire mission family appeared to mo to have 
 undertaken this most interesting chai-ge fi-om the 
 purest motives." He makes menticm of Mrs. 
 Kobert Stuart as "an excellent, accomplished and 
 intelligent lady, whose soul is in this v.'ork of 
 inoi'cy. Tliis school is in her eyes, the green spot 
 of the island. With her influence and means she 
 has held up the hands that were ready, in the 
 !)(\ginning of this establishment, to hang down. 
 She looks upon Mr. Perry and his labors as being 
 worth more to the island than all the land of which 
 it is composed; whilst he, w^ith gratitude, mentions 
 her kindness, and that of her co-operating hus- 
 band. '' 
 
 Mrs. John Kinzie, already referred to as being 
 on the island in 1830, visited the Mission, and in 
 her book makes similiar testimony concerning it, 
 saying among other things: "Through the zeal 
 mid good management of Mr. and Mrs. Ferry, and 
 lite fostering encouragement of the congregation, 
 the school was in great repute."' 
 
 A church for the island soon grew out of the 
 .school. It was Presbyterian in name and form. 
 It was a branch of Mr. Ferry's worli, and he was 
 the pastor during the wliole time he remained on 
 the island. A church building, the historic "Old 
 Mission Church," still standing in its original 
 dimensions and appearance, was built in 1829-30. 
 Mackiu'ic in those days shared with Detroit in 
 distinction, the two towns being almost the only 
 i)laces of note in tlie State of Michigan. The Fur 
 Company's business, together with the general 
 
 
82 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 tra.dini2^ ititorests which centered here, brouj^iit to 
 the island a consider;' ble po])ulation. Thus lai-ge 
 and interesting coni!:regations were furnished for 
 this church. Besides the teachers and tboii- 
 families, and the pupils of the mission school, 
 there were many families of the village, officers 
 and clerks of the company, traders, native Indian 
 converts and others, wlio were m<3mbers in r(\<4"ulai' 
 attendance. The military post, too, used to ho 
 represented — olticers and men coming down tho 
 street on Sunda}^ mornings in mai'tial step. The 
 soldiers w^ould stack their guns outside in front of 
 the cliurch; one of the men would be detailed to 
 stand guard over the arms, w^iile the others would 
 file into the pews set apart for their accommoda- 
 tion. 
 
 The whole number of members enrolled during 
 the history of the church was about eighty, exclu- 
 sive of the mission family. As a pioneer church on 
 the wilderness frontier, it was remarkable in 
 having on its membership roll, and among its otfico 
 bearers as Ruling Elders, two men of such slund- 
 ing and public name as Robert Stuart and Henry 
 R. Schoolcraft. 
 
 The jNIackinac experiment of mission work'. 
 unfortunately, was not continued long enough to 
 show the largest results. Changes took place on 
 the island which seriously affected tlie situation. 
 It ceased to be the great resort for the Indians it 
 had been at first. The Michigan lands were 
 coming in demand for settlement; and the Govei'n- 
 ment was deporting some of the tribes to reserva- 
 tions farther West. Mr. Astor retired from the 
 
STORY OF CHUSKA. 
 
 83 
 
 Fur Company, and that business lost its former 
 magnitude. This involved the loss of many 
 families and a change in social conditions. In 
 18-34, Mr. Perry removed from the island.* as did 
 Mr. Stuart, the same year. Thus, for a variety of 
 n^asons the place ccjasing to be an advantageous 
 point for the work, it was deemed best to dis- 
 continue it; and about 1H;]6 the land (some twelve 
 acres) and the buildings thereon were sold, and in 
 1837 the Mission was formally given up. During 
 the brief history of the school, however, not less 
 than five hundred children of Indian blood and hab- 
 its acquired the rudiments of education, and were 
 taught the pursuits and toils of civilized life, and 
 many became Christians. Thi^ American Board at 
 that time considered that the Mackinac Mission 
 had been very successful, especially in its out- 
 reaching influence throughout the surrounding 
 regions. 
 
 One instance of remarkable conversion in the 
 •vork of the Mission, was that of an old Indian 
 necromancer or "medicine man." His name was 
 Wazhuska, or more poi)ularly,Chuska. For 40 years 
 he had been famous on tlie island in the practice of 
 that mysterious occultism which has often been 
 found among low and barbarous races. He was 
 supposed by his people to have sui)ei'natural 
 power, and indeed the instances which have been 
 reported of his strange facility, seem remai"kahl«'. 
 A sorcerer he might have been called, or, as such 
 iiave also been designated, a "practitioner of the 
 
 *Mr. Ferry settled at wh;it beeame Grand TIa\<ui, iu Mii*hi;:an. 
 himsolf founrtiu;? the city and also its Presbyteriim Church, and con- 
 tinued to reside there until his death in ISfiT. 
 
 I*. 
 
84 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 black art.*' He embraced the Christian faith \\\\\\ 
 cleaj i)erception of its essential truths, and Miih 
 ^reat simplicity of spirit; and entirely renouncfd 
 all his "hidden works of darkness," to^-ethc^r w'wh 
 the vice of drunkenness to which he had been lam- 
 entably addicted, and after a year of testing' aiul 
 probation w^as admitted to inembership in t!n> 
 Mission Church. He died in 1837, and was l)uri(Hl 
 on Round Island. This story of Chuska and liis 
 conversion by the power of divine f^race, was con- 
 sidered of such interest that we find it related by 
 Schoolcraft in three of his books — his "Person;il 
 Memoirs,'' his "Oneota," (a collection of miscelhmy 
 which tells of Chuska under the heading "The 
 Magician of the Manitouline Islands,'") and in his 
 elaborate six volume w^ork published by act of 
 Congi-ess. In his account of the case as given in 
 the last named publication he furnishes r(^pres(>ii- 
 tations of the crude pictographic charms, iLii!l 
 totmns and symbols, which Chuska w^as accustoiutnl 
 to use in his pagan incantations, and which at tlu' 
 tim;i of his conversion he had surrendered to Mr. 
 Schoolcraft. The tale of Chuska is also told by 
 Mrs. Jameson in the naiTative of her visit to 
 Alackinac in 1835; and in Strickland's "Old Mack- 
 inaw." 
 
 The Mission given up, the school closed, the 
 teachers and their families gone, the trade and em- 
 porium character of the village falling away, the 
 church organization did not long survive. There 
 was no successor of Mr. Ferry in the pastorate. 
 Mr. Schoolcraft, as an office bearer in the church, 
 and always actively interested in its welfare, did all 
 
THE OLD CIIUUCH. 
 
 85 
 
 tliat alaymim, so fully occupied as he, could do for 
 its maintenance, often conducting a Sabbath service 
 and reading a sermon to the people from some good 
 collection. But so largely losing its families by 
 removal, and unable under existing conditions to 
 secure a pastor, the clmrch organization became 
 extinct. The church building, however, the ''Old 
 Mission Church" as it is familiarly known to this 
 day, has survived for sixty years the lapse of the 
 organization. It is probably the oldest Protestant 
 Church structure in the whole Northwest. And 
 while other ancient church buildings have been en- 
 larged and changed in the course of years; an ex- 
 tension put on, or a front or a tower added, or other 
 material alterations made; this one, from end to end, 
 and in its entire structural form, remains the same 
 as at the time of its early dedication. It has stood 
 four square to all the winds that hav^e blown, as 
 ' 'solid as the faith of those who built it, "* unchanged 
 from its original style audits bare and simple ap- 
 pearance, with its old weather-vane and its wond- 
 erfully bright tin-topped belfry — a mute memorial 
 of a most worthy history of tw^o generations ago. 
 Despite its disuse and its increasing dilapidation, it 
 has long been an object of tender interest, and has 
 been visited by hundreds every season. It is gratify- 
 ing, therefore, to know that a number of the summer 
 cottagers and other visitors, joined by some of the 
 island residents, have purchased the old church, 
 and repaired and restored it so as to present the 
 old-time appearance in which it had been known 
 
 *Miss Woolson's ■Anne" 
 
86 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 for well ni^h seventy years.* The gray weather- 
 worn exterior is pur])osely left unpainted. The 
 same old "hiijfh-up" pulpit, the plain square pews 
 with doors on them, the diminutive panes of f?lass 
 m the windows, tlie quaint old-fashioned j2^allery at 
 the entrance end — all these features appear as at 
 the first. The projierty is held in trust for the 
 purchasers by a board of seven trustees, five of 
 wliom are to be visitors who own or rent cotta^os, 
 and two to bo residents of the villa^-e. There is 
 no ecclesiastical oi-^anization in connection with 
 the building, nor any denominational color or con- 
 trol. The motive in the movement has been, first, 
 to preserve the old sanctuary as a historic relic of 
 the island and memorial of early mission work; and. 
 second, to use it as a chapel for union religious 
 services during the few weeks when summer 
 tourists crowd the island. 
 
 *Repaii'ed and restored in 1S95. 
 
^^ 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Our Island in its dimensions is three miles east 
 and west, and two miles north and south. It has a 
 crescent shaped harbor, which gives the same out- 
 line to the village nestling on the rounded beach. 
 There can be few places so small and circumscribed 
 that can furnish so many pleasing nnpressions. In 
 its antiquarian interest, in its unlikeness to tiio out- 
 side world, in its dim traditions, and in its entranc- 
 ing charms of natural scenery, there is found every 
 variety for the eye, the taste and tlie imagination. 
 While small enough to steam around it in an hour 
 on the excursion boats, it is j^et large enough to ad- 
 mit of long secluded walks through its quiet, gentle 
 woods. In the three score years or more that visi- 
 tors have been coming here, there have grown up 
 for it such tributes and terms of admiration as^ 
 Gem of the Straits, Fairy Isle, Tourists' Paradise, 
 Princess of the Islands, and such like. 
 
 Rising almost perpendiculaily out of the water, 
 one hundred and fifty feet high, with its wliite 
 stone cliffs and bluffs, and twice that height back 
 on the ci'est of the hill, and covered with the 
 densest and greenest foliage, it is an object of 
 sight for many miles in every direction. Through- 
 out we find that development and variety of beauty 
 which nature makes when left to herself. The trees 
 are the maple, and pine, and birch, and old beeches 
 with strait and far-reaching branches and with 
 
 87 
 
8B 
 
 EAUI.Y MACKINAC. 
 
 rugged trunks, on which can bo seen initials and 
 dates running back many ytnirs — tlie mementos of 
 visitors of long ago. Tlie hardy cedar abounds alx >. 
 and the evergiHMMi spi'uce, larch and laurel, and 
 lamarack. Throughout the woods running in 
 different directions, ai'o winding roads, arched and 
 shaded by the overhanging tree-tops, as if they 
 were continuous bowers, and bewitching fool- 
 paths and trails; the fragrance of the fir and the 
 balsam is every whei-e, and a buoyancy in ilit* 
 atmosphere which invites to walking — the avIioIb 
 tract being safe, always, for even children to 
 wander in. You come upon patches of the delicate 
 wild strawberry with its aromatic flavor, the wild 
 rose, the blue gentian, profuse beds of daisies, 
 said to be of tlie largest variety in America, tin' 
 curious ''Indian pipes," luxuriant ferns in daiK' 
 nooks, forever iudden from the sun, and thickest 
 coverings of moss on rocks and old tree trunks. 
 Then always, from every quarter and in every 
 direction, are to be seen tlie great waters of tiie 
 lakes, so many "seas of sweet water, " asthey woj'e 
 described by Cadillac, the early Fi'ench commander 
 in this region — Huron to the east and Michigan 
 on the west, with the Mackinac Straits between, 
 and all so deep, so pure, so beautifully colored; 
 and whether in the dead calm, when smooth as a 
 floor, or shimmering and glistening in the sunshine, 
 or in tlie silvery sheen of the moon at night, oi" 
 again tossing and billowing in the storm — always 
 exercising the power of a spell upon the behcjlder. 
 Ever in sight, too, ai-e the neighboring islands, 
 standing out in the midst as masses of living green; 
 
CUIIIOSITIES IN STONE. 
 
 89 
 
 and the li,ij:lit- Ikhisos with their faithful, friendly 
 niirht work; and tlie young ei1i(\s on the two 
 mainlands in opposite dire(5tions; and always the 
 l)ictnresque old fort. Then, scattei-ed over tlie 
 islands are «^lens, and dells, and springs, and fan- 
 tastic rock formations, ( "rock-osities" tliey were 
 s )metiines facetionsly caUed in early days.) Many 
 of the.se formations are interesting in a geological 
 point of view as well as for their mai-ked appear- 
 ance and their legendary associations; and two of 
 them, Sugar Loaf and AvvA\ Rock, have heon niucii 
 studied by scientists, and ari? pictured in certain 
 college text books to illustrate the teachings of 
 natural science. 
 
 On tliC eastern part of the island you come on 
 certnhi openings which the earlier French t(n'm- 
 ed Grande Jardins. Schoolcraft says no resident 
 pretended to know their origin; that they had 
 evidently becni cleared for tilling purposes at a 
 very eiu'lv dav, and that in his time tliei-e v»ere 
 mounds of stones, in a little valley near Arch Rock, 
 which resembled the Scotch cairns, and which he 
 suppcjses W'Cre the stones gathered out in the 
 preparation of these little fields. These openings 
 continued, at times, to be utilized for planting 
 purposes to a period within the memory of per.sons 
 now living on the island. For a long time past, 
 however, they have been left alone, and nature has 
 beautifully adorned them with a very luxuriant and 
 graceful growth of evergreen trees and parteri'es 
 of juniper in self -arranged grouping and order, 
 making each such place appear as if laid out and 
 
90 
 
 KARLY MACKINAC, 
 
 cultivated on the most artistici pkiiis of landscape 
 gardening. 
 
 For summer comfort — that is, for the escape of 
 heat and the enjoyment of sifted, clean, delicious 
 air — there can be no i)lace excelling. As an old- 
 time frecpienter once said of it: '"It nmst be air 
 that came from Eden an 1 escaped the cnrse. " 
 The hnmense bodies of Avater in the n<>ckla('e of 
 lakes thrown about the ishiud become tlie regula- 
 tor of its temperature. Tlu^ only C()m[)laint that 
 visitors ever niiike of the climate, is that it is not 
 quite warm enough, and tliat blanlcets can not b(^ 
 "put away for the summer," but are in niglitly 
 requisition, and that the "family hearthstone" 
 claims July and August as part of its Avorkini:: 
 season. Malaria and hay fever ai'e unknown. Dr. 
 Daniel Drake, of Cinciniuiti, an eminent medical 
 authority in his day, tlius wrote from the island: 
 "To one of jtided sensibilities, all around him is re- 
 freshing. A feeling of security comes over hlni, 
 and when, from the rocky battlements of Foi't 
 Mackinac, he looks down upon the surrounding 
 wastes, they seem a mount of defense against the 
 host of annoyances from which In^ h;id sought 
 refuse — the liistoric assochitions, riot less than the 
 scenery of the island, being well titled to maintaiu 
 the salutary mental excitement."" 
 
 Tlie island has its legends, and folk-lore, and 
 traditionar}' tales of romance and tragedy. There 
 is not so much of this, however, as many suppose. 
 
 * "Treiitlse oa the Principiil Disouses of North America." p. 318. 
 ''HytfL'iii, too, shaulcl phiee her temple here; for It has oue of the 
 purest, driest, cleaue.st aud most healthful atmospheres. "—Sc/jooJcra/^ 
 
SUGAR LOAF. 
 
 91 
 
 It is smiiU in area and its scope for scenes, and 
 tales, and associations is limited. Reference lias 
 iilready been made to Arch Rock as the gateway of 
 entrance, in the Indian mind, for their Manitou of 
 the lakes, when he visited the island, and to Sugar 
 
 SUC.AR LOAF- 
 
 Loaf as his fancied wigwam, and to other rock 
 formations which towered above the ground and 
 were personltied into watching giants. The Devil's 
 Kitchen, on the soutliwest beach, has also been 
 mentioned, but as divested of all mystery and as- 
 
 
 •A 
 
92 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 ! 'i 
 
 sociation with the dim and early past. Chimnoy 
 Rock and Fairy Arch are but appropriate names 
 for interesting natural objects. The lofty, jutting 
 cliff known as Pontiac's Look-out, is undoubte<l]y 
 an admirable look-out spot, and is often so used 
 now, as it probably often was in the days of Indian 
 strifes when canoes of w^ar jiarties went to and fro 
 over the waters of the Straits. But Ave can not 
 vouch for its ever having been Pontiac's watcli- 
 tower; for although the influence of that chieftain 
 was felt in these remote parts, his home was near 
 Detroit, and while we read of his travelling to the 
 East and the South, and as having had part in the 
 battle of Brad dock's defeat near Pittsburgh, we 
 find nothing to show that he had ever been so fai* 
 north as our island, or at least had ever sojourned 
 there. Lover's Leap, rising abruptly 145 feel 
 above the lake, is too good a pinnacle, and too 
 suitable for such sadly romantic purpose, as far ns 
 precipitous height and frightful rocks beneath are 
 concerned, not to have suggested the tale of tlie 
 too faithful, heart-sore Indian maiden. The stoiv 
 of Skull Cave has already been told; and allhoii'ili 
 a pi»>ce of lilstory, as far as the name of Henry tlu> 
 trader ii'^uresin it, shoukl be justly regarded with 
 as much interest as if it belonged to myth and 
 fable. But at the same time, with all tlie moditi 
 cations which a sober realism may demand, there 
 is b(^9:otlen in the mind of every one who breathes 
 the soft and dreamy air, and surrenders himself to 
 the witchery of the little island, an impression of 
 the Wierd, and the mystical, and the poetic, however 
 little defined and embodied it may be. This ini- 
 
 pr( 
 ed 
 tutl 
 a SI 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 ARCH ROCK. 
 
 93 
 
 pression is increased in the sense of charm impart- 
 ed by the dim and shadowy past of a noi)le but ini- 
 tutored race of nature's children in connection witli 
 a spot of such rare attractiveness, and which, dis- 
 
 
 ARCH ROCK. 
 
 similar in formation and character from all the 
 other land about, seems as though it were separate 
 from the ordinary seats of life. 
 
 Arch Rock has long been celebrated. It ap- 
 
94 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 pears as if hanging in the air, a) id as a caprice of 
 nature. It is a part of the precipitous cliff-siclc, 
 and stands a hundred and forty feet above the 
 water's edge. It has been accounted for by the 
 more rapid decomposition of the lower than of the 
 upper parts of the calcareous stone bank — which 
 process, however, it used to be thought, was fast 
 extending to the whole. McKenney in his "Tour 
 of the Lakes," published in 1827, thus writes: 
 **This arch is crumbling, and a few years will 
 deprive the island of Michilimackinac of a curiosity 
 which it is worth visiting to see, even if this were 
 the only inducement." The latter remark is most 
 true but we are glad he was so mistaken in the 
 first part of his sentence. The arch has survived 
 the unfortunate prophecy for seventy years, and 
 bids fair still to hold on. It is true, however, tliat 
 soma portions may have fallen, and the surface of 
 the cross- way been redu<'ed, since the days when 
 boys played on it, and when, according to an early 
 tradition, a lady rode horse-back over the span. 
 
 Sugar Loaf is another curiosity in stone; 
 conical in shape, like the old-fashioned form in 
 which hard, w^hite sugar used to be prepared. In- 
 cluding the plateau out of which it rises, it is two 
 hundred and eighty- four feet high, erect a:id 
 rugged, in appearance somewhat between a pyra- 
 mid of Egypt and an obelisk. Like tlie Arch, 
 it is a "survival of the fittest" — the softt^r sub- 
 stance about it being worn away and carried off 
 in the process of geological changes, and leaving 
 it solitary among the trees. 
 
 Robinson's Folly is the lofty, broad and blunt 
 
ROBINSON S FOLLY. 
 
 95 
 
 ^V 
 
 precipitous cliff at the Etist end of the island, one 
 liundred and twenty -seven feet above the beach. 
 The origin of the name is uncertain, save that it is 
 associated in some way with the English Captain 
 Robinson (Robertson) who belonged to the fort 
 garrison for seven years, and, as already mentioned, 
 was its commandant from 1782 to 1787. There are 
 no less tiian five traditionary stories, or legends, in 
 explanation of the name. Tliese stories vary from 
 the prosaic and trifling, to the very romantic and 
 tragical. A C(mimon account is that he built a 
 little bower house on the very edge of the cliff 
 w^hich ho made a place of resort, and revelry may- 
 hap, in summer days; and that once, either by a 
 gale of wind or by the crumbling of the outer 
 lodge of stone, the house foil to the beach bolow. 
 One version of the legend lias Robinson himself in 
 the house at the time, and, like a devoted soa 
 captain "going down with his ship," dashed to 
 death in the fall. Another is that on one occasion 
 v.'hon a feast and carousal wore projected on the 
 < iff, and when the tilings of good cheer w^ore all in 
 r adiness, and the participants, led by their host, 
 delaying for a little their arrival, some lurking 
 Indians, watchful and very hungry, stole a march 
 on the company and devoured all that was in 
 sight. 
 
 T^e other tales are of a different hue. One is, 
 that once walking near this spot the Captain 
 t houglit he saw just before him, and gazing at him, 
 a beautiful maiden. In attempting gallantly to 
 approach her, slie kept receding, and walking 
 backwards as she moved she came dangerously 
 
 \. 
 
96 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 near the edge. Rushing forward to hor rescuo. 
 the girl proved to be b\it a phantom and dissolved 
 into thin air, while the impetuous captain Avas 
 dashed to death on the rocks below. Yet anothec 
 is of this order: That Captain Robinson had been 
 one of the garrison force at tlie old fort across tin* 
 Straits at tiie time of the massacre in 1763, and liad 
 been saved by an Indian girl who w^as exceedingly 
 attached to him. After removing to the island, 
 and bringing a white bride there, the Indian girl 
 followed him and dwelt in a lodge lie had built for 
 her on the brow of the great cliff, nursing her 
 jealous^?^ and revenge. She begged one last inter- 
 view with him before leaving the place forever. 
 On the Captain's granting this, and standing beside 
 her on the edge, she suddenly seized his arm in her 
 frenzy and leaped off, dragging him with her to 
 death. 
 
 There is one more of this harrowingly tragical 
 kind, in the attempt to explain the naming, which 
 had much currency in earlier days, and is given in 
 tourists' notes of sixty years ago: That Robinson 
 had married an amiable and attractive Indian girl. 
 Wintemoyeh, the youngest daughter of Peezhicki, 
 a great war chief of the Chippewas, and had brought 
 her to his home at th^ fort. This aroused the 
 deadly hatred of Peezhicki, who had reserved the 
 girl for one of the warriors of his tribe. Robinson 
 celebrated the marriage by giving a banquet feast 
 i'l his bower on the cliff. The bride was present, 
 and a company of guests. The father learned of 
 the feast and concealed himself in the cedar bushes 
 to shoot the man who had taken his daughter. 
 
 poig 
 
•immi 
 
 ROBINSON S FOLLY. 
 
 97 
 
 A faithful sergeant, (the story even gives his name, 
 MacWhorter,) was present and saw the Indian level 
 his gun. He sprang up to protect the Captain, 
 and himself received the shot and fell dead. 
 Robinson then grappled with the fierce chief, and 
 in the struggle the two men came dangerously 
 near the brow. The Indian, with his tomahawk 
 raised, took a step or two backward to get better 
 poise for his blow. This brouglit him to the very 
 edge. A piece of stone gave way and he fell, but 
 saved himself by catching at the projecting root of 
 a tree. The girl now seeing her husband safe and 
 only her father in danger, sprang forward to his 
 help. He was thus able to raise himself to where 
 she stood. Then seizing her around the waist, lie 
 dashed off from the clitf and both perished to- 
 gethei*. 
 
 The first two of these stories concerning the 
 famous cliff, might very naturally suggest the 
 name "Folly." But the others smack more of 
 profound tragedv, spiced with romance. Of course, 
 Robinson was not in the massacre affair of long 
 before, across the straits; he being at that time in 
 army service, under Gen. Bouquet, against the 
 Indians in Eastern Pennsylvania. That he met 
 his death on the island by falling over the cliff, or 
 even in a more normal manner, is a supposition 
 only, without any evidence. There is reason to 
 suppose he still "lived to fight another day" after 
 leaving the Island post. It may be added, too, 
 that at the period of his Mackinac command he had 
 already seen over thirty years of service in the 
 English army, and was no longer in the romance 
 
 
98 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 and lively heyday of youth. There must, however, 
 have been something about a summer bower or 
 hut, and something about feasting, and something 
 about a dreadful fall, which illustrated the "folly'" 
 of establishing a pleasure resort on the very brow 
 of a dreadful precipice. Viewed together, theso 
 stories all become interesting as throwing sonnr 
 light on the origin of myths, and as showing how 
 traditions, exceedingly variant, may yet have some 
 of the same threads running through them all. 
 But I would not philosophize. I simply rehearse 
 these stories, the trivial and the grave, and leave 
 them to the imagination and the choice of the 
 reader. 
 
1 
 
 >A 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Prom an early day tlie island's charm of 
 sylvan and water scenery and its delightful sum- 
 mer air, together with its historical associations 
 and its flavor of antiquity, gave it a wide-spread 
 fame. There are but few places anywhere in our 
 country that are older as tourist resorts. Seventy 
 and eighty years ago visitors were coming here, 
 despite the difficulty and tedium in tiiat time, of 
 reaching so remote a point. Persor.s of high 
 distinction in public life and in the walks of litera- 
 ture, and travelers from foreign countries, were 
 often among the visitors; and oui* island has figur- 
 ed in many descriptive books of travel. As some 
 of these authors wrote so appreciatingly of the 
 island, and as those particular books of long ago 
 are now out of print and not easily accessible, I 
 think the readers of this sketch will be i:)loased to 
 see a few extracts. These writers all speak of 
 having known the island by reputation in advance 
 of their coming, and of being drawn by its fame. 
 
 In 1843, the Countess Ossoli, better' known as 
 our American Margaret Fuller, of Boston, spent 
 nine days in Mackinac, as part of a protracted 
 journey she made in the northwest, and which slie 
 detailed in her book, "Summer on the Lakes." 
 She expressed in advance her pleasurable anticipa- 
 tion of "the most celebrated beauties of the island 
 of Mackinac;" and then adds her tribute to "the 
 
 99 
 
100 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 excoediHg boiiiUy of the spot and its position." 
 She arrived at a time when nearly two thousand 
 Indians (and "more coming every day") were en- 
 camixjd on the beach to receive their annual pay- 
 m(\its from the government. As tlie vessel came 
 into the harbor "the Captain had some rockets let 
 off which greatly excited the Indians, and their 
 wild cries resounded along the shores." The 
 island was "a scene of ideal loveliness, and these 
 wild forms adorned it as looking so at home in it." 
 She represents it as a "pleasing sight, after the 
 raw, crude, staring assemblage of houses every- 
 wiiere sure to be met in this country, to see the 
 (jld French town, mellow in its coloring, and with 
 the harmonious effect of a slow growth wliich 
 assimilates naturally with objects around it. " Con- 
 cerning Arch Rock, slie says: "The arch is per- 
 fect, whether you look up through it from the 
 lake, or down through it to the transparent 
 waters." She both ascended and descended "the 
 steep and crumbling path, and rested at the sum- 
 mit beneath the trees, and at the foot upon the cool 
 mossy stones beside the lapsing wave." Sugar- 
 Loaf rock struck her as having ' 'the air of a helmet, 
 as seen from an eminence at the side. The rock 
 may be ascended by the bold and agile. Half way 
 up is a niche to which thosa, who are neither, can 
 climb a ladder. " The woods she describes as 
 "very full in foliage, and in August showed the 
 tender green and pliant leaf of June elsewhere." 
 She gives us a view from the bluffs on the harbor 
 side: "I never wished to see a more fascinating 
 jiicture. It was an hour of the deepest serenity; 
 
IP 
 
 A SCENE ON THE BEACH. 
 
 101 
 
 bright bluo and gold with rich shadows. • Every 
 momnnt the sunlight fell more mellow. The 
 Indians were grouped and scattered among the 
 lodges; the women preparing food over the many 
 small fires; the children, half naked, wild as little 
 goblins, were playing both in and out of the water; 
 bark canoes upturned upon the beach, and others 
 coming, their square sails set and with almost 
 arrowy speed." And a familiar picture is this: 
 "Those evenings we were happy, looking over the 
 old-fashioned garden, over the beach, and the 
 pretty island opposite, beneath the growing 
 moon." 
 
 A two-volume book, (published anonymously 
 and giving no clue to its author, except that he 
 was a practicing physician of New York City), 
 titled "Life on the Lakes, or a Trip to the Pictur- 
 ed Rocks," describes a visit to Mackinac in 1835.* 
 "Though the first glance," he says, "at any looked 
 for object is most ahvays disappointing, it is not so 
 when you first see Mackinac." A moonlight view 
 of the island from the waters, he thus describes: 
 "The scene was enchanting; the tall white cliif, 
 the whiter fort, the winding, yet still precipitous 
 pathway, the village below buried in a deep, 
 gloomy shade, the little bay where two or three 
 small, half -rigged sloops lay asleep upon the 
 water." It reminded him of descriptions he had 
 read of Spanish scenery, "where the white walls of 
 some Moorish castle crown the brow of the lofty . 
 Sierra." In describing his stay on the island he 
 
 K 
 
 *The author is supposed to have been Dr. Chandler R. Gilman, of the 
 College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. 
 
p 
 
 102 
 
 EAUr.Y MAOK'TNAC. 
 
 makos interostlnir m(»n1ion of ;i Sunday sorviro he 
 iittendcd at tlm Old Mission Chui'ch. H<^ reports 
 Iho building as noat and commodious, thou.urli tho 
 oong-rofifation was small. TIi(M'(» was no Prolostanl. 
 cici'fryinan on ilie island, but Mr. Schoolcraft (tlie 
 ruling oldei* of tli(5 church) conducted tho service 
 and read from some book a very f^ood sevmcm. 
 Tho siniiing of the choir was excellent, and was 
 led by a ser^^'eaut of the fort. The whole appear- 
 ance of tlH3 congregation, he thought, was veiy 
 striking; officers and i)i"ivates of the gari'ison, with 
 the marks of rank of the one class, andtln^ plainer 
 nniforms of the other, were mingled together in 
 the body of the church; there were well-dressed 
 ladies and gentlemen of the village along with 
 those of simpler attire; and hei'o and thei-e were 
 Indians wearing blankets, and standing about the 
 doors weie others of that race in tlieir (ji'dinary 
 savaire dress. 
 
 He mentions in evident astonishment, and as 
 conveying a hint about the island climate, his 
 eating cherries and currants in Mi*. Schoolcraft's 
 garden in the mcmth of September. And as a 
 piece of harmhvss pleasantry, we may give yet 
 another of his observations of sixty-two yeai's ago: 
 "There are moi'e cows in Mackinac than in any 
 other place of its size in tlie known world, and 
 ever-^ cow has at least one bell." 
 
 English visitors in their tours of observation 
 through the United States were often drawn 
 thither — making the long journey to these upper 
 lakes, and stopping off to see the island of whose 
 fame they had heard. Captain Marryatt, first an 
 
 
 oi 
 
 kil 
 
 tol 
 
 iiil 
 
 i • 1 
 
 on 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 ths 
 th( 
 in\ 
 
 find 
 and 
 
 call 
 M 
 
MINk. 
 
 CAPTAIN MARRY ATT. 
 
 103 
 
 officer of celebrity in tilt » EnL,^lish navy, but more 
 known ill this country as a novelist largely given 
 to sea tales, was here in the summer of \K]7. In 
 liis "Diary of America" he writes of Maclvinac: 
 "It has the api)earance of a fairy island floating 
 on the water, which is so pure and transparent 
 
 TANGLEWOOD 
 
 that you may see down to almost any depth, and 
 the air above is as pure as the water that you feel 
 invigorated as you breathe it.* The tii'st reminis- 
 
 *Marryatt's uclmlratlon of the transparent waters sutfgests what i 
 find related of a certain lady of Ion;,' a^ro, that onoe sailing in the harbor 
 and yazinK with rapt fonduossinto the pellucid depths, she enthusiasti- 
 cally exclaimed; •Qh, I could Avish to ue drowned in these pure, beauti- 
 ful waters! " 
 
f 
 
 104 
 
 EARLV MACKINAC. 
 
 cence brought to my mind after I had landed was 
 the description b}' Walter Scott of the island and 
 residence of Magnus Troil and his daughters 
 Minna and Brenda, in the novel, 'The Pirate.'" 
 The a]ipearance of the village streets, lai-gely given 
 to sails, cordage, nets, fisli barrels and the like, 
 still further suggested tlie resemblance to his 
 mind, and he says he might have imagined himself 
 'transferred to that Shetland Tsle, had it not been 
 for the lodges of the Indians on the beach, and the 
 Indians themselves, either running about or l^^ing 
 on the porches before the whisky stores. " 
 
 Th<M'e were also two lady visitors here from 
 England, in the days of early Mackinac: Mrs. 
 Jameson and Miss Harriet Martineau. Both have 
 high rank and distinction in English literature. 
 Each of them published her impressions of Mack- 
 inac after roturning home. In their admiration 
 and enthusiasm for the island they could not be 
 surpassed by the most devoted American visitor 
 who ever touched these shores. 
 
 Mrs. Jameson is well known as the Avriter of 
 such books as, "Sacred and Legendary Art," 
 "Legends of the Madonn*'," '•Essa3^s of Art, 
 Literature and Social Morals." "Memoirs of the 
 Early Italian Painters," etc. Miss Martineau 
 was of more vigorous intellect, and her writings 
 deal more with subjects of political economy and 
 social i)hilosophy. She it was, too, who translated 
 and introduced into England the "VN'ritings of the 
 French philosophcn- Comte. As both these books 
 which touch on Mackinac, writ,ten over sixty years 
 
MRS. JAMESON. 
 
 10a 
 
 ■t, 
 
 lie 
 \>u 
 
 ;s 
 Id 
 
 le 
 Is 
 
 i 
 
 ago, were descriptive of tra/els, and not of tlie 
 same general interest which attaches to their other 
 writings, they are now out of print and have be- 
 come rare. 
 
 Mrs. Jameson's visit was in the summer of 
 1835. She came up Lake Huron from Detroit by 
 steamboat, and arrived in tlie harbor at early 
 dawn. She thus describes hor first view of the 
 island as she had it from the deck of the vessel: 
 "We were lying in a tiny bay, crescent-shapod. 
 On the east the whole sky was flushc^l with a deep 
 amber glow flecked wltli softest shadows of rose 
 color, the same sx)lendor reflected in the lake; and 
 between the glory above and the glory Ijelow stood 
 the little missionary church, its light spire and 
 belfry defined against the sky." She sjieaks of the 
 "abrupt and picturesque heights robed in richest 
 foliage," and of the "little fortress, snow-white 
 and gleaming in the morning light;" of an encamp- 
 ment of Indian wigwams, ("picturesque dormi- 
 tories," she calls them) up and down the beach on 
 the edge of the lake which, "transfused and un- 
 ruffled, reflected every form as in a mirror, * * an 
 elysian stillness and balmy serenity enwrapping 
 the whole." And, again, we hear her speaking of 
 "the exceeding beauty of this little paradise of an 
 island, the attention which has been excited by its 
 enchanting scenery, and the salubrity of its sum- 
 mer climate. " 
 
 Mrs. Jameson made quite an extended stay at 
 Mackinac, the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Schoolcraft, 
 at their home in the Old Agency — "The house em- 
 bowered in foliage, tlie ground laid out in gardens, 
 
 I 
 
 ; ] 
 ■ > 
 
106 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 the gate opening on the very edge of the lake." 
 She pictures Mrs. Schoolcraft with "features 
 decidedly Indian, accent sHghtly foreign, a soft, 
 plaintive voice, her language pure and remarkably 
 elegant, refined, womanly and unaffectedly pious." 
 
 ONE O'r THE DRIVES- 
 
 She saw the island throughout, taking tramps over 
 it and "delicious drives," and writes of it as "won- 
 derfully oeautiful — a perpetual succession of low, 
 rich groves, alleys, green dingles and bosky 
 dales." After her glowing description, she sums 
 up by saying, "It is a bijou of an island. A little 
 
i'/.'ffi-sriTiiar**, 
 
 
 , 
 
 MISS MARTINEAU. 
 
 107 
 
 bit of fairy f^round, just snch a 1hin^ as some of 
 our amateur travelers "vvonld like to pocket and 
 run away Avith (if they could) and set down in the 
 midst of Iheir fish ponds; skull-cave, wl^jfwams, 
 Indians and all." 
 
 Miss Martineau spent two years in this coun- 
 try, traveling extensively through the States and 
 writing her impr(\ssions. She published t^^o 
 boo!\S as the outcome of this journeying, ''Society 
 in America." and afterwards, Ikm* ''Retrospect of 
 Western Travelinii*. " It was in Jul v. 18.'](), that 
 she visited Mackinac, and it is in the first named of 
 these two book's that she tells of it. She came by 
 way of Lake Michigan, from Chicago, traveling in 
 a slow-going sail-vessel, and ajij^roached the island 
 in the evening towards sun-setting time. As did 
 Mrs. Jameson, so Miss Martineau first jVictures it 
 as view^ed from the vessel: "We saw a white sjieck 
 before us; it was tlie barracks of Mackinaw, 
 stretching akmg the side of its green hills, and 
 ck\arly visible before the town came into view. 
 The island looked enchanting as we approa/'hcd, 
 as I think it always must, though we had the ad- 
 vantage of seeing it lii'st steeped in the most 
 golden sunshine Ihat ever hallowed lake or 
 shore. " 
 
 The day of her arrival w^as the 4th of July, 
 and, "The colors were up on all the little vessels 
 in the harbor. The national flag sti-eanied from 
 the garrison. The soldi<^rs thronged the walk's of 
 Ihe bai-racks; half-bref^l boys w^n'e paddling al)out 
 in their caiKxvs, in the transparent waters; tlie lialf- 
 French, half- Indian population of the i)lace were 
 
108 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 all iibroad in their bust. An Indian lodge was on 
 the sliore, and a picturesque dark group stood be- 
 side it. Tlie cows were coming down the steep 
 green slope to the milking. Nothing could be 
 more bright and joyous." 
 
 Describing the appearance of the village, she 
 took note of some of the old French houses, 
 "dasky and roofed with bark. The better houses 
 stand on the first of the three terraces which are 
 distinctly marked. Behind them are swelling 
 gn^en knolls; before them gardens sloping down to 
 the narrow slip of white beach, so that the grass 
 seems to grow almost into the clear rippling 
 waves. There were two small piers with little 
 barks alongside, and piles of wood for the steam- 
 boats. Some way to the right stood the quad- 
 rangle of missionary buildings, and the white 
 missionary church. Still further to the right was 
 a shrubby precipice down to the lake; and beyond, 
 the blue waters." 
 
 She did not leave the vessel that evening, but 
 some of the party having met the commandant of 
 11) e fort, an engagement was made for an early 
 walk in the morning. So they were up and ashore 
 at five o'clock, and under the escort of the ofiicer 
 they took in the beauties of the hill and the woods. 
 And thus she tells us of it: "No words can give 
 an idea of the charms of this morning walk. We 
 wound about in a vast shrubbery, with ripe straw- 
 bei'ries under foot, wild flowers all around, and 
 scattered knolls and opening vistas tempting curi- 
 osity in every direction." Coming suddenly on 
 Arch Rock, which she calls the "Natural Bridge of 
 
. 
 
 MISS MARTINEAU. 
 
 109 
 
 Mackinaw," she is "almost struck backwards" by 
 the grandeur — "tlie horizon line of the lake falling 
 behind the bridge, and tlie blue expanse of waters 
 filling the entire arch; shrubbery tufting tiie sides 
 and dangling from the bridge, the soft, rich hues 
 in which the whole was dressed seeming boiTowed 
 from the autumn sky." 
 
 f3ut especially charming and impressive, slie 
 tliought, was the prospect from Pc^rt Hohn«\s. As 
 she looked out on the glossy lake and tlie green 
 tufted islands, she compares it to wliat Noah 
 might have seen the first bright morning aftci- the 
 deluge. "Such a cluster of little paradises rising 
 out of such a congregation of waters. Blue waters 
 in i)vei'y direction, wholly unlilve any aspect of the 
 sea, cloud sliadows and specks of w^hite vessels. 
 Bowery islands rise out of it; bowery promontories 
 stretch down into it; w^hile at one's feet lies the 
 melting beauty which one almost fears will vanish 
 in its softness before one's eyes; the beauty of the 
 shadowy dells and sunny mounds, with browsing 
 cattle and springing fruit and flowers. Thus, would 
 I fain think, did the world emerge from the flood.'' 
 
 After their early walk, Miss Martineau and her 
 party took breakfast with the courteous com man - 
 tlant at one of the old stone quarters of the fort, 
 and sat a while on the piazza overlooking the 
 village and the harbor. In response to her in- 
 quiries about the healthfulness and the climate, 
 the officer humorously replied that it was so 
 healthy people had to get olf the island to die; and 
 that as to the climate, they had nine months winter 
 and three months cool weather. 
 
110 
 
 EARLY MACKINAC. 
 
 TliG sailing vessel on whicli the party were 
 passengers w;is bound iov Detroit, and the Captain 
 had already overstayed his time. So they had to 
 leave that same day. In ref(M'ence i< her departure 
 she wi'ites: "W(» were in great delight at having 
 seen Mackinaw, at having the possession of its 
 singular imagery for life. But this delight was 
 daslied with the sorrow of leaving it. I could not 
 have believed how deeply it is possible to regret a 
 place, after so brief an acquaintance with it." 
 And then she tells how she did, just what thous- 
 ands since have done, who after visiting the island 
 have regretfully sail(*d away from it: "We watch- 
 ed the island as we rapidly receded. Its flag first 
 vanished; then its green terraces and slopes, 
 its white barracks, and dark promontories faded, 
 till the whole disappeared behind a headland an 1 
 light-house of the Michigan shore. " 
 
 We close Miss Martineau's tribute with this 
 comprehensive note of admiration: "From place 
 to jolace in my previous traveling, I had been told 
 of the charms of the lakes, and esi)ecially of the 
 Island of Mackinaw. This islaud is chiefly known 
 as a i)rincipal station of the great Northwestern 
 Pur Company. Others know it as the seat of an 
 Indian Mission. Others, again, as a frontier gar- 
 rison. It is known to me as the wildest and tend- 
 erjest piece of beauty that I have yet seen on God's 
 earth." 
 
 _jg 
 
THE END. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Captiiin Marryatt, Avho liad read this descrip- 
 tion before his visit to the island (already referred 
 to) said, wli(^n writing his own impressions, "Miss 
 Martlnean lias not been too lavish in her i)raises of 
 Mackinaw." These testimonies by pers(ms of wide 
 travel, and of cultivated taste and power of obser- 
 vation, and visitors as they were from another 
 land, come down to us very pleasantly from sixty 
 
 }' 
 
 rears ago. 
 
 T know iin isle, an emerald set in pearl, 
 
 Mounting the chain of topaz, amethyst, 
 That forms tlio circle of our summer seas — 
 
 Tlic fairest that our western sun hath kissed. 
 
 For all things lovely lend her loveliness; 
 
 The waves reach forth white fingers to caress. 
 The four winds, murmuringly meet to woo 
 
 And cloudless skies bend in blue tenderness. 
 
 The classic nymphs still haunt her grassy pools; 
 
 Her woods, in green, the Norseland elves have draped. 
 And fairies, from all lands, or far or near. 
 
 Her airy cliffs, and carving shores, have shaped. 
 
 Of old, strange suitors came in quest of hor. 
 Some in the pride of conquest, some for pelf; 
 
 Priests in their piety, red men for revenge — 
 All seek her now, alone, for her fair self. 
 
 David If, Riddle.