The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-07-11
I WHOLE NO. 1888.
KAIIDA PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO TUEsDAY, July il isas 73 .

the battle Of the Thames, as "a volunteer
aid Of The commandihg gei e-al. saw.bim
in The midst Of the battle in the deep woods
upon tie banks of tho Thames, during the
uproar ard clang Of fre-arrnss and savage
yelis or ihe enemy Then Twas green
youth Of seventeen, and a volunteer from
Kentucky. ~ Afp II
General Harrison, in his report Of the bat
lie Of the Thames, dated October 9, 1918,
says: bsls
"a have already stated that Gen. Cass and
ICofampdore Ferry, assisted me in forming
The troops for the action. The former is an
officer Of the highest promise, and the APP
pearance Of the brave Commodore cheered
and animated every breast"
3. The battle Of the Thames terminated the
NORTHWESTERN campaign, and put an end ID
the war in that quarter, but not TO the diff
culies or importance Of the command. The
United States being once more ID the possess
sion Of the Territory Of Michigan, in 4 Of
The PROVINCE Of Upper Canada, General Cass
was assigned TEMPORARILY the command of
the district, and Gen. Harrison witfdtcNp
with his army. On the 9th Of October,
1913, he was appointed by President Madf-
son, governor of Michigan, at that time one
of the most important civil offices wiihin the
gift Of the Executive. He was the civil as
well as military governor Of a large territory,
having many hundred miles Of exposed from
tier, filled and almost surrounded with iiu.
merous r.bss Of hostile Indians. III the pay
Of the British government, ard constantly
excited 10 acts Of hostility by British agents.
As proof of the defenceless state Of tho
country, it may be mentioned, that incursions
were made by the Indians, and some persons
made prisoners, and others killed within sight
of the town Of Detroit and three expeditions
of mounted militia hastily collected, wer6
led by Governor Cass in pursuit Of the In
dians, and some of them were killed within
hearing Of the town. .st ~
E 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 III his rear, had q personal rem,
con,re with an Indian, who started from be-
hind tree, and having discharged bis rife,
attacked him with the butt-end, and was
killedsafer a short conflict. y eq'& s8
But peace came to put an end 10 this
state Of things. The executive power of the
Territory was almost unlimited, and the leg
islative power was in the, hands Of the gov
ernor and judges until 1919. That Gov.
Cass performed well his highly important and
delicate duties, the whole body of the peo.
pie of Michigan will bear us witness; and
the fact Of his having been seven times nom,
ipated by four successive, Presidents, and
seven tines confirmed by the Senate, Without
a single vote against him in that body, or a
single representation against him from the
people over whom he presided--a state of
things unexampled in the history Of our ter
ritorial governmenis-isa sufficient proof Of
the wisdo9 of his administration. ,q
In The discharge of bis duties as Sdperin.i
tendant of Indian affairs, Governor Cass vas
called upon to enter into many negotiations
with the Indian tribes, and often under cir
cnms,ances of great peril and responsibility.
He formed twenty-one treaties with them,
and extingushed the title to nearly one hum,
dred millions of acres of and.-a vast domain
acquired for the United States, hni upon,
terms SO Just and satisfactory 10 the Indians
that no complaint was ever made by tlemup-
on the subject. evas
There are Two incidents connected with
the formation of these treaties, which strong
ly illustrate Gen. Csss's judgment and decis-
ion Of character. In the exped ton OF 1920,
il became his duty TO inform the Indians at
the Sault de Ste. Marie of the intention Of
out government 10 establish "a military posi-
there, and TO fix upon the site for the same
The chief of the tribe was openly opposed
10 the United States, and in the pay Of the
British government. In consequence Of this,
they heard the intention of Governor Cass
with apparent ill.wil, and broke up the coun1
ellis with the most hostile feeling. On return.
ing to their encampment, they removed their
women and children into Canada; and hav-
ng prepared themselves for battle, raised the,
British flag, as token Of defiance. Cover
nor Cass had but small detachment of SOL
Iiers with him, while the Indians numbered
eight hundred warriors Unaccompanied,
except by his interpreter, he advanced direct
" into their midst, and with bis own hands
pulled down the flag, trampled it under his
feei, and afterwards burned il, ordering the
10 inform the Indians that ssihey
we're within the jurisdiction Of The United
States and that no other flag than theirs could
De permitted TO wave over IL" The moral
influence Of this bold act had the desired eff.
ect: the Indians xetnrned the next day to
he council, and the treaty was concluded
Without any further threats or insults. On
Irriving at Green Bay, in 1927, for the pur-s
,ooa IF ffsrs,,iro N freafv (snverfnf Gaaa
ound that the Winnebago Indiansshsd not,
Jet come in, and as the object,of the treaty
Vas to settle difficulties among some Of the.