not appear that he made any disposition of his troops to meet the emergency. On the twenty-second, early in the morning, his camp was attacked by the British and Indians. Portions of the line defended themselves with obstinacy and success, particularly the left, under Major Madison. General Winchester himself had taken lodgings on the opposite side of the river, at some distance from the scene of action; and it is said that he was captured before he joined his troops. Being without any general direction, the line, with the exception before mentioned, soon fell into confusion and gave way, retreating across the river; but the savages, who anticipated such a movement, were in readiness there to meet the fugitives, and few escaped the slaughter. Major Madison continued to defend himself, until informed by General Winchester-then a prisoner that his party had been surren

dered.

The bloody scene which followed this disastrous morning has given celebrity to the spot, far beyond the importance of this event. The massacre at the River Raisin will ever remain a sanguinary blot on the military fame of Great Britain. Most of the wounded were collected in one or two houses near the battleground. General Winchester, whose situation enabled him to observe the conduct and disposition of the savages, felt an apprehension for the fate of those unfortunate sufferers, and frequently reminded General Proctor of his solemn engagements to protect them. Whether his comparatively small number of regular troops could not control the cannibal ferocity of his allies; or, whether he looked on their bloody orgies without opposition or remonstrance, may be left undetermined by the charity of history, as long as the proofs are at all questionable. There appears to be a dark shadow, suited to the blackness of the transaction, resting over it, and nothing, perhaps, is distinctly known, except

blooded horses, and which are the pride of Mr. Campau, are situated in the yard, and are a marvel of unrivaled convenience and comfort. The front part contains the carriage house, harness room, wash house and the coachman's room, and in the rear are the stables. His noted trotting horses are White Bird, Ida, Mary, Ned and Prince, each one being kept in a box stall.

ing the horrible result. Butchery and conflagration were at work through the night, and these unhappy victims, who trusted to the mercy or honor of the British character, were mostly, if not all, buried under a heap of smoldering ruins.

This series of events, so unfortunate for the Americans, and so triumphant for the British, filled the inhabitants of Michigan with despondency. General Harrison's operations on the frontier of Ohio threw an occasional gleam on their dark fortunes. The signal triumph of Croghan, at Sandusky, and some of the events at Fort Meigs, showed that victory might still revisit the AmeriThese operations, however, had no immediate influence on the condition of the Territory, until Perry's victory, on the tenth of September, 1813, opened a passage over the lake for the American forces. This brilliant and important naval action, which was so instrumental in restoring Michigan to the Union, deserves particular notice, as an essential part of her history.

can arms.

Commodore Perry's fleet had been built, under great disadvantages, at Erie, Pennsylvania. The bar at the mouth of the harbor would not permit the vessels to pass out with their armament on board. For some time after the fleet was ready to sail, the British commodore continued to hover off the harbor, well knowing it must either remain there inactive, or venture out with almost a certainty of defeat. During this blockade, Commodore Perry had no alternative but to ride at anchor at Erie. Fortunately, early in September, the enemy relaxed his vigilance, and withdrew to the upper end of the lake. Commodore Perry seized the opportune moment to pass the bar, and fit his vessels for action. This triumph over the vigilance of the British was a presage of the still greater triumph that followed.

On the tenth of September, at sunrise, while at anchor at Put-in-Bay, Commodore Perry discovered the enemy towards the head of the lake. He immediately got under weigh, and, with a favoring wind, brought him to action a few minutes before noon. His flag vessel, the Lawrence, was engaged with the whole force of the enemy for nearly two hours before the wind permitted her consorts to join in close combat. She gallantly maintained the unequal fight, until all her rigging was cut to pieces, every gun

rendered useless, and the greater part of her crew either killed or wounded. In this perilous condition, Commodore Perry adopted one of those bold, decisive resolutions which often enable a great commander to convert an apparent defeat into a certain victory. He caused his boat to be lowered, and launched himself and his fortunes upon the bosom of the lake, amid the showers of death that fell around him. Reaching the Niagara in safety, which was just coming into close action, with a swelling breeze, he at once determined to break through the enemy's fleet, already somewhat crippled by the contest with the Lawrence. The Niagara had every rope and spar, every gun and man untouched. She broke into the enemy's line, and, ranging by the vessels in succession, poured in her broadsides, compelling them, one by one, to lower their flags in token of submission, until they all were "ours." In achieving this decisive victory, the Niagara was assisted by the smaller vessels, which were brought into coöperation by Captain Elliott, who had volunteered in this service when Commodore Perry assumed command of his vessel. Not long after Commodore Perry boarded the Niagara, the Lawrence struck her colors. She was, however, but a fleeting trophy; for, before she could be taken possession of, every British flag had followed her humiliating example.

This consummate victory opened the lake to General Harrison, who, soon after, crossed his army to the Canadian shore, and, in the course of a short campaign, which was brilliantly finished by the battle of the Moravian towns, drove the enemy from the northwestern frontier. On the twenty-ninth of September, 1813, Detroit was occupied by a detachment of his army. An armistice was concluded with the Indians on the eighteenth of October following, thus restoring tranquillity and security to the Territory.

General Harrison soon after moved down, with his main body, to the Niagara frontier, and left General Cass in command at Detroit. No military movements took place during the winter following, excepting an incursion into the interior of the upper province by Major Holmes, who was attacked near Stony Creek, and maintained his ground with great bravery and success.

CHAPTER XXVII.

MACKINAW - EXPEDITION UNDER COMMODORE SINCLAIR AND COLONEL CROGHAN FOR ITS REDUCTION-COLONEL TURNER CAPTURES THE PERSEVERANCE AT ST. MARY'S, AND REDUCES THAT POST-CAPTURE OF THE MINK-DESTRUCTION OF GOODS BELONGING TO THE NORTHWEST COMPANY-LANDING OF THE FORCES AT MACKINAW-FALL OF MAJOR HOLMES -- DEFEAT OF THE AMERICANS-FULL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE, ETC.

SO FAR as the Northwest was concerned, the war was now practically closed, yet there was one post of great importance which had not been wrested from the English. That was Fort Macki

naw.

Active steps were soon taken to dispossess the English of this stronghold, and drive them wholly from the American soil. Immediately after the battle of the Thames, an expedition to the upper lakes was contemplated; but, unfortunately, it was prevented by the non-arrival of two schooners, which had been sent to Cleveland and Bass Islands for provisions. These vessels had arrived off Malden, but a storm from the west drove them to the lower end of the lake, where they were stranded. Early in the following April, 1814, this expedition up Lake Huron was again proposed, the object being twofold-the capture of Fort Mackinaw, and the destruction of certain vessels, which it was said the English were building in Gloucester, or Matchadash Bay, at the southeast extremity of the lake. But this plan was also abandoned; partly from a want of men, partly from the belief that Great Britain did not, as had been supposed, intend to make an effort to regain the commerce of the upper lakes; and partly, also, from a misunderstanding between General Harrison and Colonel Croghan, who commanded at Detroit, on the one hand, and the Secretary of War on the other. No sooner had this plan been abandoned than it was revived again, in consequence of new information of the establishment at Matchadash Bay.

Accordingly, orders were issued on the second day of June, and ample preparations were soon made. A squadron was fitted out, consisting of the United States sloops-of-war Niagara and Lawrence, carrying twenty guns each, with the smaller schooners, Caledonia, Scorpion, Tigress, Detroit, and others, and a land force of seven hundred and fifty men, placed on board. Commodore Sinclair was the naval commander, and Lieutenant-Colonel Croghan, a young man who had gallantly and successfully defended Sandusky during the early part of the war, had charge of the militia.

The squadron reached Lake Huron on the twelfth of June, on its way to Matchadash Bay. Disappointment, however, awaited them. Every possible effort was made to gain the desired bay and destroy the imaginary vessels there building, but in vain. No pilot could be found for that unfrequented part of the lake. Islands and sunken rocks were numerous, and threatened destruction to the fleet. The lake was almost continually covered with a dense fog, and, from the time already consumed in the fruitless attempt, provisions were growing short, hence, that part of the work was abandoned, and the squadron proceeded to Mackinaw.

When nearing the place of destination, a council was called, to decide whether they should proceed at once to the capture of Fort Mackinaw, or first repair to St. Joseph's, and destroy the enemy's works at that place. It was urged that an immediate attack upon the fort was policy, inasmuch as the English, having had no intimation of their approach, were, probably, without Indian allies, and unprepared to defend the island; that, should they first proceed to St. Joseph's, time would thus be given the English to call in these savage auxiliaries, and so strengthen themselves, that, upon their return, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to take the place; but Sinclair thought that, by leaving a part of the squadron to cruise around the island during his absence, this could be prevented; hence, in spite of salutary advice from those who knew the Indian character far better than themselves, it was agreed between the naval and military commanders to proceed at once to St. Joseph's. This was a fatal error, as will be seen in the sequel.