Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-06-14

commanded by Harrison and Shelby. He
was conspicuous at the landing of the
troops upon the Canada shore, below Mall
den, on the q 7th of September, and eonspic-
uous at the battle of the Thames, as the
volunteer aid of the commanding general. I
saw him in the midst of the battle, in the
deep woods upon the banks Of the Thames,
during the roar and clang Of firearms, and
savage yells of the enemy. Then | was a
green youth of seventeen, and a volunteer
from Kentucky.
General Harrison, in his report of the bat
tie of the Thames, dated October 8, 1913,
says: -
Sc hare already stated, that General Gass
and Commodore Perry assisted me in form
ing the troops for the action. The former
is an officer Of the highest promise, and the
appearance Of the brave Commodore cheered
and animated every breast"
The battle of the Thames terminated the
Northwestern campaign, and put an end to
the war in that quarter, but not to the diff
|culties or Importance Of the. command
The United States being once more in the
possession of the Territory of Michigan, and
of the province or Upper Canada, General
Cass was assigned temporarily, the COM
mand of the district, and General Harrison
withdrew with his army. On the 9th of
October 1913, he was appointed by Presi-
dent Madison governor of Michigan, at that
time one of the most important civil offices
within the gift of the Executive. He was
the civil as well as the military governor of
a large territory, having many hundred
miles of exposed frontier, filled and almost
surrounded with numerous tribes of hostile
Indians, in the pay of the British govern
ment, and constantly excited to acts of hos
tility by British agents.
At proof of the defenceless state of the
country, it may be mentioned, that incur
sions were made by the Indians, and some
persons made prisoners, and others killed
within sight Of the town of Detroit, and
three expeditions mounted militia hastily col
lected, were led by Governor Cass in pur-
suit of the Indians, and some of them were
killed within hearing of the town.
A single incident will show the nature of
these excursions in the forests in pursuit of
the Indians. Gen. Cass's servant, who
rode Immediately in his rear, had personal
reneontre with an Iudian, who started from
LlOC, duo 0lSCudISGu LIS II.
f1e, attacked him with the but-end, and was
killed after a short conflict.
But peace came to put an end to this state
of things. The executive power of the Ter
ritory was almost unlimited, and the legis-
lative power was in the hands of the gov
ernor and judge until 1919. That Govern
or Cass performed well his highly import
ant and delicate duties, the whole body of
the people of Michigan will bear us witness !;
and the fact of his having been seven times
nominated by four successive Presidents,
and seven times confirmed by the Senate,
without single vote against him in that
body, or single representation against him
from the people over whom he PRESIDED
state of things unexampled in the history of
our territorial governments a sufficient
proof of the wisdom of his administration.
In the discharge of his duties as Superin-
tendent of Indian Affairs, Governor Cass
was called upon to enter into many nego-
tiations with the Indian tribes, and often
under circumstances of great peril and re-
sponsibility. He formed twenty-one treaties
with them, and extinguished the title to
nearly one hundred millions of acres Of land
"a vast domain acquired for the United
States, but upon terms so just and satisfac-
tory to the Indians, that no complaint was
ever made by them upon the subject
There are two incidents connected with
the formation of these treaties, which strong
ly illustrate Gov. Cass's judgment and de
cision of character. In the expiration of
1890, it became his duty to inform the In
dians at the Saulte Ste. Marie of the inten-
| ton of our government to establish a mill
tary post there, and to fix upon the, site for
the same. The chief of the tribe was open
| ly opposed to the United States, and in the
| pay of the British Government. In conse-
| quence of this, they heard the intention ot
Governor Cass with apparent ill-will, and
broke up the councils with the most hostile
feeling. On returning to their encampment,
they removed their women and children into
Canada; and having prepared themselves
for battle, raised the British flag, as token
of defiance. Governor Cass had but a
small detachment of soldiers with him,
while the Indians numbered eight hundred
warriors. Unaccompanied, except by his
interpreter, he advanced directly into their
midst, and with his own hands pulled down
the flag, trampled it under his feet, and af
forwards burned it, ordering the interpreter.
to inform the Indians that "they were within
the jurisdiction of the United States, and
that no other flag than theirs could be per
mitted to wave over it. " The moral infa-
ence of this bold act had the desired effect:
the Indians returned the next day to the
council, and the treaty was concluded with
out any further threats or insults. On ar
irving at Green Bay, in 1897, for the pur-
pose of forming treaty, Governor Cass
found that the Winnebago Indians had moi
vet come in; and as the object Of the treaty
was to settle difficulties among some of the
tribes, the non-appearance Of the Winneba.
goes was an evidence of their desire fol
war rather than peace. He Immediately
re-embarked on board his birch canoe, for
their camping ground, to prevent any hos.
tilities, and to bring them to the treaty
ground. He rapidly pursued his voyage
up the Fox river, across the portage, and
! down the Wisconsin to the place OF en-
campment. Taking with him only his In.
i, terpreter, he went up to the encampment
! where he found them in warlike mood and
/ determined not to treat. Threats and en-