The North-Carolinian., 1855-10-06
NORTH CAROLINIAN.

E.4YETTETILLE, ". C..

we find the following narrative, WHICH have
never met with before, embracing stirring Incl
dents of border history, in which it will be seen
the present venerable Senator from Michigan
bore a responsible and hazardous part:
From the Clearlamd Herald.
Upon the "Planet" Lake Superior Excursion
we met Mr. C. G. Trowbridge, of Detroit, who
among many facts connected with the Indians
OF the upper country, related one which does
such honor to the courage of General Cass that
we take the liberty of relating it.
In 1920 an expedition under Gen Cass, then
Territorial Governor of Michigan, was made
along the shores of Lake Superior and the head
waters of the Mississippi, for the purpose of
cnrbns the hostility existing between the diff
ferent Indian tribes and the cultivation of amity
between the Indians and the whites. 1t was
an expedition of over four thousand miles in
extent and performed in bark canoes setting
out from Detroit. Gen Cass's suite consisted of
Capt. David Il. Douglass of the Eng gincers;
Henry c. Schooleraft, Mineraloyist; Alex
Wolcott, Physician: Lieut.. Mackay, of the Ar
tillery; r. A Forsyth, Secretary; James ID.
Doty, Journalist; A Il. Chase and C. c. Trow-
bridge, Assistants to Capt. ID.
AT the Saut Ste. Marie the party entered
into negotiations with the Indians for the rnr-
chase of piece of land upon which the garrison
now stands. The lavish expenditure of British
money with the annual presentation of gifts to
Government towards them, had inspired the
Indians with respect for the one nation aud con-
tempt for the other. The war, then lately
closed, had increased British influence to our
injury, and the presence of British garrison
on the Canadian side of the river was 4 foun-
tain of bad counsel to the red man and place
of safety in case Of need. The feeling, there
fore, of the Indians not friendly towards
this expedition. and the enterprise was one of
great danger.
Gen. Cass invited tho chiefs to his tent, in
the centre of which was a pile of tobacco, a
part of which to he smoked on the occasion
and the residue presented to the Indians at the
close of the council. The chiefs appeared en-
costume cuUofes, everything save the
'hreech CLOTH,
The leader, tall muscular fellow of thirty
years, with the devil in his ugly face, was an
exception. He wore, besides the ''breech-
CLOTH" q single eagles feather gracefully at
tached to the top of his head, red coat with
narrow skirts, and two gold epaulcttes of a Brit
ish Major General. Uncle Sam" dispensed no
such favors to his rcd children. Gov. Cass eX-
planned the object of his mission to he the culti
vation of friendship between them and their
deadly Sioux enemies and also between all the
red children and their father, the President.
10 this end our Government had planted mill
tary posts among the Sioux on the Mississippi,
and wished to do the same at that point The
Governor also explained that, although by the
treaty of Greenvile the territory at the Saut
belonged to us---it having previously been pnr-
chased of their fathers, once by the great King
Of Wamilcgoshe, or Frcnchmen and subsequent
|y by the Sagenosh, or Englishmen-yet he
was willing to pay them also for what he wish
ed, namely, parcel of land four miles square
The chiefs were sury and taciturn, and argu-
ment and coaxiny were of no avail and Gov.
Cass compelled to tell them that sure as
the sun should rise on the morrow so surely
should their great father the President estab-
iSh the proposed military post. The Governor
advised them to listen to friendly counsel and
avail themselves of the last opportunity for Oh
tanning compensation. Here the Governor
paused for reply, and ordered his interpreter,
William Riley, to light the pipe. Having
smoked thereof, it was offered to the chief who
refusedit and committed the grossest political
insult known to the savage code by kicking over
the pile Of tobacco and rushing out with his
train of chieftans.
The Indians walked rapidly up the river
about half mile to rising ground where their
lodges were erected, and Immediately hoisted
n front of their camp large British iag.
This act was reported to Gov. Cass, who, upon
the instant commanding none to accompany
him save the interpreter, walked rapidly into
The camp of these excited and now deadly sava
yed red men, seized the British flag, threw it
upon the ground, broke the staff, and, ordering
the Interpreter to roll up the flag and carry it
to the Governors camp, told the Indians that
# they dared repeat the insult he would fire
lpon them. The Indians stood amazed at the
.aring of the Governor thus alone to enter
heir camp and thus to threaten them, as the
entire force of his expedition consisted of but L
soldiers, 2 Canadian voyaguers, friendly
indians, interpreters, suite of eight, and Il
small escort to that point of 25 soldiers under
Lieut.. j Ohm Pierce, brother of the President.
In ten minutes from the time Gov. Cass with
such fearlcssness carried from the camp of these
warriors the flag, every woman and child, aud
heir tent equipage, were on the way in bark
canoes from the Indian camp towards the Brit
sh fort across the river, and George johnson
Informed the Governor that attack OIL the
coming night was planned by the furious war
'iors. Of the nine friendly Indians, all (savc
one noble fellow surrendered their arms and
'esolved to remain neutral. The suite buckied
on their belts, and, armed to the teeth, were
out with their small band of soldiers, as dark
night ever dragged its weary hours, in mo-
nentary expectation of the scalping knife and
omahawk of numerically superior force of
,ainty of crushing their moral foe at blow.
Day dawned after slepeless night, and this
oand of brave men were spared scene which
would inevitably have cost many lives
1t was subsequently ascertained that delib-
crate plan had been formed for the massacre of
every one of Gov. Cass's party upon its entrance
nto the country, and that several hnndred
warriors were within call near the Saut at the
lime of the council for that purpose. This plan
was thwarted in part by the daring bravery of