The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-29
For the Democratic Advocate.
DALZELL'S DEFEAT.
A Bloody Chapter from the Famous
Siege of Detroit, One Hundred
and Thirty Years Ago.
BY CHARLES L. snIPLEY.

One hundred and thirty years ago TINS
summer the people Of the American colo
MES witnessed one of the greatest Indian
uprisings that has ever occurred gu TINS
continent. 1t originated in the sciemlng
brain of one of the most renowned chief
tains who had ever crossed arms With his
pale-face foe, and before i WAS finally
crushed out il had caused the committal of
such devilish deeds of cruelty and blood
that causes the heart Of the reader to nearly
stand still at their recital, although cen
fury and a quarter has elapsed since they
were enacted.
We refer 10 the great conspiracy OF
Pontiac, the chief of the Ottawa tribe, and
which commenced in the year 1863, just
after treaty Of pence had been signed
between England and France, and which
was remarkable for siege ofiilteen months
duration at Detroit, now one Of our most
important cities-then only Il trading post
of some four hundred souls.
Connected with this remarkable con.
spiracy and seige, there occurred a series
of thrilling conflicts, massacres, disastrous
defeats and successful victories, which will
ever prove Of interest To the student and
reader of American history.
Being in the heart of the seat Of the
great conspiracy, Pontiac undertook the
capture of the post in person, and to accom-
plish this purpose he subjected the place
TO regular siege by surrounding it upon
all sides with strong force Of warriors OF
his confederated tribes. For months the
little garrison under the command of the
brave Major Gladwyn bravely defended
themselves and repulsed every attack OF
their savage and dusky foe. Several at
tempts had been made to relieve the be-
Ieagnred garrison, but nearly all of these
had been frustrated through the vigilance
of the lyDx-eyed chieftain, and Gladwyn
felt that the raising of the siege was only
a question of time and perhaps of eternity.
While uncertainty and dismay continued
TO prevail at the beleagured post, a large
reinforcement, unknown to Major Gladwyn,
had commenced their onward movement TO
his relief The renowned Capt. Dalzell,
one of the most distinguished officers OF
the old French War, aud companion of
Israel Putnam ip many OF his most thrill
ing adventures. commanded the relief ex-
pedition, which consisted of $50 men,
several pieces of small cannon, large sup
plies of provisions and ammunition. The
expedition embarked at Niagara in twenty
two barges. Making his way along the
southern shore of lake Erie, he halted and
viewed the ruins of the blockhouse at Fort
Presqu Isle, now Erie, which had been so
ably defended by Ensign Christi and his
gallant little command in the earlier part
of the conflict Embracing again, he
reached Fort Sandusky during the latter
part of July, from whence he marched to
the Wyandot village, burning it and de-
stroying all the cornfelds within reach
On July 10Th the convoy reached De
troit. When nearly opposite the fort the
Wyandots and Pottawatamies opened fire
upon the troops, killing and wounding
abont twenty before the contest was over.
This act was black piece of treachery on
the part of the Indians, as those two tribes
had only few days before concluded a
treaty of peace with Gladwyn. The arrival
of this detachment. as might be imagined,
was the occasion of much rejoicing in the
fort. Among them was body OF twenty
five regular bush-rangers, under the com
mand of Major Rogers.
Major Gladwyn and Captain Dalzell i'm
mediately held council Of war, where
Dalzell stated that in his opinion the time
had arrived to strike a crushing aud if
possible a death how to the ambition of
Pontiac, and he crayed the permission to
march out the following night and attack
the Indians in their camp. Gladwyn, who
was thoroughly acquainted with the strength
and resources of the willy chieltain, at tlrst
firmly opposed this move of his brother
officer. but the lion-hearted Dalzell would
brook no refusal and urged the matter so
keenly that the commandment at length
reluctantly yielded.
On the 30th of July. a date ever mem
orable in the history of Detroit, orders
were issued and preparations made for the
intended attack. With that want of DIS
erection which should have doomed the
offenders to courtmartial several OF the
officers allowed some of the Canadian resi-
dents of the village to find out all the de
tails of the attack. and one of them promptly
betrayed it to Pontiac, with the result that
he Immediately prepared death trap for
his assailants.
At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 3lst
$50 brave soldiers, two deep, passed silently
through the gates OF the fort and marched
silently up the left river bank. Two large
batteaux, each containing swivel, kept
abreast of them in the river. The adj
vanced guard of % was led by Lieutenant
Brown, the center by Capt Gray, and the
rear by Capt Grant. The night was still,
close and sultry, and the men marched IN
light nndress. On their right was the
dark, cleaning surface of the river, with
margin of sand intervening; on their left
a succession of Canadian houses, with
barns, orchards, and corn6elds. from whence
the clamorous barking of watch-dogs sa
luted them as they passed The inhabi
tants, reused from sleep, looked from the
windows in astonishment and alarm. Al
old Canadian informed Francis Parkman
the historian, that how, when boy OF
that memorable night, he had climbed OF
the roof of his fathers house, to look dow
on the glimmering bayonets, and how, Ions
after the troops had passed, their heav,
and measured tread sounded from afa
through the still night. Thus the Euglisl
moved forward to the attack, little dream
ing that behind houses and inelosnre
Indian scouts watched every foot of thei
progress little suspecting that the vii,
Ottawa, appraised By the Canadians of thei
plans, had broken up his camp and wa
moving down upon them with his ful
force Of savage and bloodthirsty warriors
Referring to a map of this section of tn
country the reader will notice smal
stream which puts in from the norther
shore. short distance above Detroit. A
the point where the bridge was situate
the stream descended through deep an
wild looking hollow, while upon the oppc
site side the river bank rose in severa