New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-01
MACKINAW.

western Lakes. II 10 one Of Natures beauty spsts
nine miles in circumference, elevated three hundred
feet above the Lake and is connected With Of the
most thrilling and interesting historical incidents ~
well a. natural monuments in the West Rising with
singular boldness out Of the wstsry realm IL strikes
the eye like gigantic throne where the native Of
the forest might well come as they we're WON'T TO offer
up annual sacrifices to HH who made these bsUndless
inland seas and all that therein is I,s settlement WAS
commenced by the English in 1864, Immediately after the
massacre at Old Acklimackinac in 1864 Fort was con
sructed upon a rocky elf, one hundred and ffy FEET
above the Of the Strait commanding the .emicrcu
lar barber and the village below During the last war and
while the British in possession Of the leland they
erected Battery s above and the Fort and
called Fort George il in ruins aud know Fort
Holmes. The English held possession from 1864 until Au-
gust 1885, when evacuated and thereafter gar
rsoned by detachment from Gen. Wsyne's army; and
during tins period Of thirty years and during the American
Revolution Maoknar the rslyng point OF the Indians
hss to the In ted States and the general rendezvous Of
the the traders rsppers voysgeurs &c, connected with
the Fur Trade
Although the Hudsons Bay Company chartered |.
early 1896 it not till 1866 and subsequently that
this extended s trade and exercised il. despo;c
dominion over the wilderness the North West that pre-
viou,y had been occupied by the French In 1883 the
merchants who had been engaged in the fur trade organ
zed the North. West Company" and these two Comps
MES came into hostile rvalshp and desperate collision II
was during this period and late slO that the
island of Nacknaw was old Nchimsckinac had been
for than century before the central mart of an iu
m.nse trade ard traffic the head quarters of Thousands OF
Indian warriors and the fyone resor and adjournment
for unrestrsned revey wild excitement and savage gee
AT certain Of the year the transparent waters
src und this lovely sand-slsr Of the Great Spriwere
studded with the bark of the Indians and traders
the merry voyageurs with their muscular frames the In
dian warriors bedecked nth ornaments tbs North West
ers armed with drks who had grsppled with tbs grizzly
bear the priests ready to receive tribute aud gran, ndu
gepces the stockholders made cheerful by rich returns
merchants clerks and dependents-al-a uniting in
universal and prolonged joIlfcatiOn.
Civilization and its attendant comforts and refnements
have made but small advances in this immediate locality
during the last century and half For agricultural pur
po.es the raising Of potatoes the soil and climate
unfvorsbe and to this cause in fact is to be attributed
its mastery inactivity But a more active cause is
found in the character OF its first settlers The New Eng
land States and New York settled by the English and
Dutch while this Northwest region was Almost eIclu.
sively French. The Puritsns and Dutch adhered with
rigid ten.oity the enents and forms Of their own church.
while the region Of the Lakes the strong hold Of tina,
gorgeous fabric the Church Of Rome and for more than
century il was the ranging ground Of that polished and
leaned order OF the church. the JEsUITs The history Of
this portion ofthe New Worlds strikingly Romantic from
s settlement by the French in lC TO It's transfer to the
English in 100 From l7GO to 1873 its history is military
being record Of struggles OF the British In
dams and Americans to obtain dominion and during both
periods the eIraic life exciting Incidents and on period
ca indulgences in excessive merrimen and unresrsned
revery gave enduring impression upon the character
and an abiding direction TO the habits ami tastes of the
people The enjoyment Of liberty was preferred
TO the home comforts and social joys which the restraints
of civilization alone can give.
The Americans held possession Of Macknaw from
August 1925 until July sl5, when it surrendered to
the British
One mile from the village upon elevated ground, is
mall farm of sixty acres with neat and comfortable
dwelling thereon from which is extended view Of the
Straits and the beautiful Islands therenths the home
Of Mr. r. Davenport and his wife at tie time Of our
visitation The frosts Of fty Mackinsw winters had
svered over their locks and the exciting and bloody
scenes they had anticipated and participated in had fur
rowed up their still they hale and he llthy
surveying the enchanting scenery before them with Joyous
hearts and narrated the thrilling incidents Herewith
associated with youthful and enthusiastic yvidness Mr.
Davenport was born n Richmond Virginia a school
fellow of Gen Harrison, commissioned Officer under
Gen. Wayne and came TO Mackinsw in 1896 From this
venerable and patriotic and his WIFE received the
following personal and historical narration
When war was declared against Great Britain in June
1872 Fort hchimsckinac garrsoned with only t1rfy
fire men, under Lieutenant Hawks and the frt ntimston
Of war was the arrival Of the British at Drumnonds
Island ready TO attack few days previous was OBJ.
served that the Indians did come usual for stores At
Macknaw and the English merchants unusually &C
five Mr. Michael Dousman was sent by the citizens
DrunmOnd Island to ascertain the Of the singular
movements On lis arrival he made prisoner by
the British who were about moving attack MackinaS
Dousman learning that the Indians directed TO mas
acre Unfortunately IN of resistance asked AMI OBJ
tain ed permission to return and withdraw the women an
children TO a place Of safety. They were accordingly
taken 10 the "Old Still House" where they were 10 be
protected from the Indians Nj DOusmAn ihen returned
TO the British as promised.
The British made landing on the North side of the
Island now called British Lsndng) and proceeded A,
once to attack the Fort On their way they fell in with
Davenport John Dousman and Judge Abbott lately de-
going the Still House and made them prison srs
Seeing the ugth Of the British snd knowing the weak
Of the garrison they proposed TO advise Lieut. Hawks
10 sure nder g Of truce sent the advice accepted
and the Fort surrendered 10 the British, July H. 1872
few DAYS after this all American citizens were ordered
TO appear before the British Commander Davenport
Isley Abbot and John Davenport appeared while others
claimed 10 be British subjects The British officer with
much parade informed them that by sckno sled ng them
St Ives 10 be British subjects they would be protected aai
well cared for otherwise they woEd be of with tae
garrison as prisoners Their decision demanded Da
vepport as was agreed boldly answered"I born in
America ard determined, a: all hazards to live and
Sc die an American citizen" Abbot and John Duosnaa
made the response but Lash-y protered British ale.
glance The three noble Americans were shy dismissed
and ten days after sent of Detroit prisoners Of VAT
sackinsw remained in the undisturbed possession Of the
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