Detroit to Fort Sackville, 7778-7779 Hamilton's Surrender at Ft. Sackuille, by Frederick C. Yohn DETROIT TO FORT SACKVILLE, 1778-1779 irhe Journal of Normand MacLeod edited with an introduction by William A. Evans with the assistance of Elizabeth S. Sklar foreword by Alice C. Dalligan from the Burton Historical Collection published by the Wayne State University Press for the Friends of the Detroit Public Library Detroit, 1978 Copyright © 1978 by the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library All material in this work, except as identified below, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/. All material not licensed under a Creative Commons license is all rights reserved. Permission must be obtained from the copyright owner to use this material. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data MacLeod, Normand, ca. 1731–1796. Detroit to Fort Sackville, 1778—1779. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. MacLeod, Normand, 1731—1796. 2. Clark’s Expedition to the Illinois, 1778–1779—Sources. 3. Northwest, Old—History—Revolution—1775–1783— Personal narratives. 4. Soldiers—Great Britain— Biography. I. Title. E234.M28 1977 917.7’01’0924 77-13078 ISBN 978-0-8143-4338-8 (ebook) Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Friends of the Detroit Public Library for financial assistance which makes possible the publication of this volume. The publication of this volume in a freely accessible digital format has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Mellon Foundation through their Humanities Open Book Program. Wayne State University Press thanks The Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library and The Indiana Historical Bureau for their generous permission to reprint material in this book. http://wsupress.wayne.edu/ Contents Foreword by Alice Dalligan vii Historical Introduction ix Editorial Note on the Text xxxviivii The Journal of Nonnand MacLeod I Bibliography 135 Index I37 Map inszde back cover Foreword Not since the days when Milo M. until 1774, but there is evidence that his Quaife was official editor for the Burton business affairs brought him here as early as Historical Collection has there been an op- 1768, so he was well acquainted with the town portunity to publish a major item from the before assuming the position of town major. collection. A bicentennial is a great catalyst, While not in the forefront of the action, the and it provided the impetus for the Friends fort at Detroit had an important role during of the Detroit Public Library to sponsor this the American Revolution. Its strategic loca- work. The manuscript was purchased at an tion as a British outpost made it a point of auction in Montreal, Canada, in 1971 with interest to military leaders of both sides. money from the Burton Endowment Fund. It MacLeod's journal describes just one of the is a small vellum bound notebook in fairly episodes planned within its walls. good condition, although evidence of part of Our gratitude for this chance to see one a torn leaf indicates that some of the journal of our manuscripts come to life goes to the may be missing. The writing is fairly clear Friends of the Detroit Public Library and and the remaining pages intact. After one Paul Scupholm, Executive Director. Dr. R. D. reads the journal, however, it seems remark- Miles, Department of History, Wayne State able that it is so well preserved. We can only University, and the staff of the Burton imagine the hazards faced by the luggage in Historical Collection, particularly Joseph which it traveled. Oldenburg and Noel Van Gorden, who also Although Normand MacLeod was a Brit- prepared the index, had a hand in this ish officer, Detroit may fairly claim him as its production. The editor, William A. Evans, own. He did not arrive in an official capacity was a graduate student at Wayne State Uni- VVIIIIII Foreword versity when he began this work, and is now This first publication of Normand Mac- archivist of the Health and Hospitals Govern- Leod's journal is a worthy keepsake from ing Commission of Cook County, Chicago, Detroit's history in its two hundred and Illinois. seventy-fifth year. Alice C. Dalligan Chief, Burton Historical Collection Detroit Public Library yVII. Historical Introduction In 1783 the peace treaty that ended the pressure of Indian attacks on the frontier the American War for Independence was settlements. The Americans correctly felt that signed in Paris. But the colonies had gained the overall direction for these attacks came more than their independence; they had also from the British authorities at Detroit. acquired a great amount of territory extend- Clark recruited a small army of about ing to the Mississippi River and north into the 175 frontiersmen from what is today Ken- Great Lakes. Since 1774 most of this trans- tucky, Tennessee, and western Pennsyl- Appalachian west had been part of the vania. The first goal of Clark's expedition was province of Quebec. In fact, its incorporation to be the seizure of the Illinois settlements into Quebec had been one of the major at Cahokia and Kaskaskia on the Mississippi reasons for colonial discontent that erupted a and at Vincennes on the Wabash River. year later into revolution. Under British These were British settlements in name administration the direct control of the area only. The inhabitants were Frenchmen, north of the Ohio River, traditionally known nearly to a man. Clark was betting that any as the Old Northwest, was exercised from allegiance these Illinois French paid to the Detroit. In 1778-1789 Virginia, who felt she British authorities was only of the most per- had the best claim to the area, acted unilater- functory sort. He was also armed with the ally and sent a military expedition into the news that the Bostonnais, as the French Northwest under the frontier leader George called all American rebels, and the mother Rogers Clark. If successful this expedition country France were now allies. After Caho- would reinforce Virginia's claim to the area kia, Kaskaskia, and Vincennes, Clark would and, it was hoped, at the same time reduce then be in position to strike at what many ix Journal of historians believe to be his ultimate objec- American war prevented their establishment. N~mandMacLeod tive, Detroit. Henry Hamilton, commissioned a justice of Detroit was the headquarters of the man the peace along with his appointment as many Americans of the frontier considered lieutenant governor, and holding the king's one of the greatest villains of the war, Henry commission as an army officer, was the real Hamilton. Hamilton was the lieutenant gov- power in the vast Northwest. Under his ernor of Detroit. He had taken up this post in direction Detroit became "the great war November 1775 after a perilous journey emporium of the We~t."~ through the American lines at the besieged Hamilton's villainy is questionable in the city of Montreal, and was the first to hold it eyes of many historians. He was vigorous and under the vast governmental reorganization authoritative, qualities generally lacking in that took place with the passage of the important British commanders during the Quebec Act in 1774. The earl of Dartmouth Revolution. He actively encouraged the Indi- had appointed two other lieutenant gov- ans within his area of control to pursue a ernors in the Northwest area: Patrick Sinclair policy of continual attack upon the frontier. at Michilimackinac, and Edward Abbott at The Indian attacks inflamed the frontier and Vincennes. But it was Hamilton who was the enraged the Americans. Although the war dominant power in the British government of the Indians carried on was neither more nor the west. Detroit was the administrative head- less vicious than it had been for the previous quarters of the Northwest, and its lieutenant fifty years, the victims needed villains, and governor was the most important western Henry Hamilton became known as the "Hair official.' Buyer" to the American frontiersmen. All of Quebec province, including the Clark gathered his forces at what is today newly added Northwest, was under military Louisville, Kentucky in May 1778, and in late rule.2 The civil government of Detroit was June started down the Ohio River. But intended to consist of the lieutenant governor instead of going all the way to the Mississippi and civil and criminal courts, although these he cut overland through southern Illinois, courts were to be inferior to those at Mon- taking the river settlements completely by x treal and Quebec. But the outbreak of the surprise. Kaskaskia fell 4 July, and Cahokia quickly afterwards. Clark's reasoning had earnest in September 1778. His subordinates Historical been correct. The French had no desire to at Fort Saint Joseph (now Niles, Michigan) Idl-odwfion fight for the British, and when informed of and Michilimackinac were informed of his the Franco-American alliance became willing plans and ordered to gather their Indians partners in Clark's expedition. Vincennes and militia and move down the Illinois River surrendered to Clark after Cahokia's priest in support of Hamilton's operations. Jean and doctor told them of the news he brought. Baptiste Ckloron, the son of the famous On 20 July Clark administered an oath of Indian leader Pierre Joseph Ckloron de allegiance to the French inhabitants, and with Blainville, was sent with war belts to rouse the it they ceased to be British subjects and Indians of the Miami and Wabash to Hamil- became citizens of Virginia. ton's standard. Clark was not as benevolent with the On 24 September 1778 Hamilton Indians.