Marie Louise Robert

Sandwich Octr: 1813

Claims a Remuneration for the Depredations committed by the Enemy in 1813. On the Return of Genl. Harrison from the River Thames.

Amounting to nine pounds seventeen Shillings and Six pence Halifax Currency.

Pages from a Diary written in the hand of Charles Askin.

Monday Dec.7, 1813. Rode

k's in Glandford & return'd again, that night

to Hamels some rain fell & the roads very bad. Tuesday 8th Joined the Commissariat left Mr. Hamels and rode to Stoney Creek where I staid all night. Wednesday 9. Went to the 40 Mile Creek where to our Army had advanced. Snowed and was very Stormy.

Thursday 10. Part of the forces under Col. Murray moved down to Ball's Mills. the sleighing began to be tolerably good. Capt Hamilton Merrit with some Dragoons was down this night to the 12 Mile Creek and brought off some flour from there. Went in the Evening up to Jno. Petits. Friday 11th Rode down in company with Mr. Coffin and A. Hamilton to Runchy's where the 100th Regt. and some Indians under Col Elliott had advanced, sleighing good, met sleigh taking flags to the Party Allans. Went in evening to the 15 Mile Creek. Staid over night at Mr. Clark's. Saturday 12. Rode up to Lyon's Mills in Mr. Clark's sleigh. passed a number of Teams to take flour from Balls to the forty, engaged some hay & oats also cattle for Govt. retur'd to Mr. Clark's & from that to Ball's Mill's where I learned the troops had moved toward Fort George I mounted & Followed them to the Bassy's ten Mile Creek where I staid till daybreak. Was told by several people that a great light was seen last night and was supposed to be Town of Niagara on Fire and that it was consumed and the Enemy had left Fort George.

Sunday 12th Left Bassy's before day. staid at Reeds a short time, then rode to

*Vol. 17, p 30

† Duplicate. Vol. 17, p. 35.

Queenston where I found Col. Elliott who had come up from Fort George which the Enemy had evacuated. Col. Murray with the 100th Regt. some Militia, Indians & Dragoons, marched in at midnight last night. Breakfasted at Mr. Dickson's where I saw poor Commodore Berkly of the Royal Navy-after Breakfast went to Fort George which has undergone such an alteration that I hardly knew any part; it's now very strong; but there are no barracks in it-a large quantity of shot was left in it. dined at Mr. Dicksons in company with Col. Murray & Commodore Berkly rode up to Emmits after Dinner-Monday 13th Went to 12 Mile Creek for a flag to hoist in Fort George then to Beaver Dams where I did not get until night as I stopped at a number of places to buy cattle & forage-Tuesday 14th Staid last night at Mr. Hill's Went and took an Inventory of Asa Baker's Cattle, who fled to the Enemy. from that returned to Queenston where they were preparing to Cross the River, but were disappointed in geting troops and much against Col. Munsey's wish had to be given up-heard that seven pieces of Cannon had been found buried near Fort George & some few prisoners were taken on Sunday morning at Niagara & Fort Erie-Wednesday 15th Rode to Ball's Mills to send down flour from there where I staid all night. Thursday 16th Went up 20 Mile Creek pressed a number of sleighs to take flour & some whiskey down from Ball's Mills to St. Davids. Rode down to Queenston on Saturday the 18th about 10 o'clock at night our troops began to cross the River from near Count De Puysay's to the five mile Meadow, the 100th Crossed first then part 41st Regt. after which the Royals and the remainder of the 41st and last the Indians & militia some few Militia went over in the first boats. among whom was Capt. Kerby who was the first person who landed on the other side. the Grenadiers of the 100th Regt. pushed on toward Fort Niagara. surprised the Enemy's picket at Youngstown where they killed several men. Capt. Fawcette advanced with the Grenadiers to the Gate of the Fort and fortunately got there just while the guard were relieving the Sentinels by which they got in at the Wicket as they had got the Countersign from two Sentinels whom they had taken. Mr. Dawson of the 100th Regt. led the forlorn hope, but Capt. Kerby of the Incorporated Militia was in the fort before any other officer, while the Grenadiers got in, in front the Light Company, of the 100th under Capt. Martin scaled the Works in the rear and got in nearly at the same time with the others. Capt. Elliott Qr. Ms. General was with Capt. Martin. Fortunately most of the Garrison were sleeping and were so completely surprised that we lost but six men killed in taking it. Among whom was Dr. Nowlan of the 100th Regt. the Enemy made as good a defence as could be expected considering the situation they were caught in and lost sixty five men most of whom were bayoneted. Col. Murray who commanded the storming party was unfortunately wounded. Capt. Leonard the Commanding official of the Fort with his Family, he came very early to the Garrison in the Morning but was much surprised to be challenged by a British Sentinel who made a prisoner of him, upward of three hundred men were made prisoners, a number of whom were of the 24th Regt. just as the first boat load of Indians had reached the other shore, the news of the Fort being taken reached them, they immediately pushed off for Lewiston and General Reall with the Royals and the 41st marched to the same place, there were but about sixty, artillery at that place who take to their heels as soon as they heard the yells of the Indians. about 12 or 13 of the Enemy were killed, at Lewiston, several of them Inhabitants of the place unfortunately there was liquor in most of the houses & not withstanding the exertions of the Officers of the Indian Dept. the Indians soon got intoxicated and were outrageous several men of the Regular troops got drunk also, the Indians plundered the houses, then set fire to them, the poor Inhabitants men women and children we were obliged to keep a strong guard over to prevent them from being killed by the Indians, one of whom killed a young boy. Indeed the Indians got so

drunk that they did not know what they were about. two of their own Indians were killed by them and one of the 41st Regt. Mr. Caldwell was shot through the thigh by one of them and young McDougall had his arm broke by another who struck him with a Tomyhawk. Indians, Regulars, Militia were plundering everything they could get hold of, immense quantities of things were brought over from that place to Queenston. At Youngstown there were one or two stores from which everything was taken by the Plunderers, I have never witnessed such a scene before & hope I shall not again.

fragments of Diary in handwriting

of Charles Askin.

WAR 1812--WILLIAMS PAPERS.

Part of a Letter to Messrs. I. and T. Shieffelin-from J. R. Williams, Detroit, 22 July 1808

I have hardly any thing interesting or worth communicating to you from this quarter, The old or long reiterated Sound of War Still dins in our ears-Governor Gore of upper Canada has lately Visited Amherstburgh & Sandwich he came through by Land from York by the way of the river Thames accompanied by a considerable retinue principally of Indians, it is really astonishing to Witness the great influence which he as british Governor has on the Indians, he has scarcely arrived that at least 1000 Indians Comprising a great many Chiefs had assembled at Amherstburgh to Salute him report says that it is not denied by the British themselves that he has invited them to war against the U States, stating to them that now was the proper time to reclaim their lands making the Ohio the boundary that the U. S. were constantly infringing on their possessions & driving them still further back into the Woods, that although the British had not conquered the Americans last War it was not through inability to but from Motive of Lenity-besides that the french had aided us much in opposing them, but now that altho the Whole of the Continent of europe was united against them & had been for Some time their Strength remained yet unimpaired & their Arm so well strung that they could spare their Children Some Sinews (meaning men) to assist them in the recovery of their Lands & Territory which had been arbitrarily & wrongfully taken from them-Many other plausible arguments & pretexts were urged to persuade them to unfriendly acts toward us-The truth is you have lived long enough in this Country to know-what is an incontestable fact viz that the Indians are entirely under british influence, for my own part I am convinced that in case of a War with Great Britain we shall have our hands & hearts full in this quarter provided we are left to Survive the first onset.—which I am persuaded will be much to our disadvantage as the Government have not taken precautionary Steps to guard against Such an event-Our whole military force consists of two Companies the one of Artillery. & the other of Infantry lately arrived, perhaps 1000 Militia scattered over an extent of 100 Miles from R. Raisin to R. St. Clairjudge therefore of our State of Defence

t

Dear Sir

Detroit, 28th April 1812

A considerable degree of alarm has been excited in this place Since my last to you by the occurence of a shocking circumstance which took place at Fort Defiance'in the State of Ohio about one Hundred miles from here Three Men named Fortier St Bernard & Griffard trading for Mr. Conrad Teneyck who you very well know were found murdered in their beds the perpetrators of this horrid deed are unknown. Suspicion I believe well founded attributes this deed to some of the followers of the Prophet as it is stated a strange Indian was at St Bernard's the day preceding this occurrence and asked for Some goods on trust which St Bernard refused them stating as his reason he was a stranger and that he did not choose to trust him-the indian then replied that he was a man and that he would remember him and then disappeared. Mr. Fortier had just returned from the Rapids to his own house when at bed time finding his own bedding Wet he went to his friends, * Papers from the Williams Collection in the Burton Library, Detroit, Vol. 19, p. 160. Vol. 19, p. 111.

Mr. St. Bernards to sleep and the whole three had made a camp bed before the fire it seems on which they fell asleep to wake no more they were all killed with an ax or tomohawk Some by one and two Strokes near the butt of the ear, and in the morning were found by a neighbor laying in the same position it was supposed they went to sleep-from what I have seen in this place of the few Indians that have been here since my arrival I have noticed a very hostile disposition & threatening temper toward us we have I sincerly believe something serious to apprehend especially in the event of War with England every disposition is making to insure the capture of this place by the United forces of the English & savages it is said the British Government have sent a Special Messenger named Rehaume as far as Chicago-who is there, by appointment to meet one from Mackinac and who are to visit all the different tribes in their way the compensation which Rehaume is to receive is stated to be twenty Shillings pr Day during his absence & his family found and in the event of his returning safe he is to be put on the list of interpreters at a Dollar a day & Rations for life-A King's Vessel sailed past here on the 20th inst. laden it is said with Military stores for St. Joseph above, considering the backwardness of the season it is not only considered extremely early to undertake to navigate lake Huron but even dangerous on account of the ice so it is inferred that something uncommonly urgent has directed this undertaking-I think our Government has been extremely remiss if they have ever seriously contemplated a War with Great Britain in not fortifying these posts Detroit Mackinaw, Chicago &c. or kept strong Garrisons at them, We ought to remember what this country has cost us both in blood and treasure, Harmer, St. Clare & several other detachments alike shared the fate of defeat & destruction a last effort conducted by the immortal Wayne retrieved the honor of the American Arms & wiped away the inglorious stain which successive defeats had imprinted on our Fame but Sir can it be that our rulers are not acquainted with the state of things on these frontiers-The English in our front, the indians on our rear extending in fact entirely around us we are separated from the State of Ohio by an immense uninhabited wilderness & the english having the absolute command of these waters from whence are we to expect succours unless they are sent soon should a War begin it would be vain to expect they could reach this without being attacked & inevitably defeated every nerve will be strained by the British & indians they both consider this as their last opportunity of contending against us in these parts it is said they boast that they will take this place immediately on the declaration of hostilities & that it will not be in our power to regain it easily afterwards which I admit and know to be true-It is to be regretted, that the Agents of our Government, the Governors Harrison & Hull have given but too just cause of dissatisfaction to the Indians it is a notorious fact in this country that the indians have been greatly imposed on & in a manner compelled by stratagem to consent to the Treaty of Detroit. The policy which was adopted by Governor Harrison was imitated by Governor Hull that is of creating new chiefs from among the most worthless of the tribes on condition of their acquiescing to & signing the Treaty-which some of the principal chiefs refused to sanction besides which a complete system of Speculation in the indian department has been followed by Governor Hull which was proved to the Satisfaction of the Grand Jury at the last September term-The presentments were to have been forwarded one copy to the President of the U. S. another to the senate. and another to your House they contain many very heavy & criminal charges against the Governor. & Judges though the Jury chiefly consisted of the Governor's friends & men in office I was not unfortunately one of them in regard to the charge of Speculation or rather peculation in the indian department it was proved as I before stated to the satisfaction of every impartial Juror but when the vote was taken on that particular clause of the presentiment it was lost by a small majority though no man doubted the truth of the charge. Letter in J. R. Williams handwriting.