Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-25
INDIAN BATTLE TABLET.
Erected in Detroit Manufacturing
Company's Plant.

SoIIikdiyS Tidll.
Of the many tablets placed on his
toric spots about Detroit, there is
none more beautiful than the one
furnished through the generosity -
the Michigan Stove Company
Within the Enclosure occupied by
their works occurred one Of the
most historic and bitterly contested
battles of the colonial wars Pa
rents Creek, since known as Bloody
Run, flowed through the grounds
and entered the Detroit river where
their building now stands. The
bridge on which most of the British
troops met the first onslaught Oh
the Indians under Pontiac, was per
haps half way between the river
and the wall on which the tablet Is
to be placed.
Immediately behind the tabler
stood the old cottonwood tree. IA
miliarly known as tie Pontiac tree,
which, in all probability, was a ST.
lent witness to the scene of carnage.
All the histories agree that the
night was intensely dark, close and
sultry when the $50 men under Cap.
tain Dalyell silently left the fort,
something like a mile and a halt
away, and proceeded in double file
in three divisions along the river
| road, under the mistaken idea that
they would surprise the Indians by
a night attack, and so cripple their
power as to secure a lasting peace.
Then, too, there was the hope of
| avenging the many massacres thai
| had taken place at the various out
| posts within the past two months.
Through the criminal carelessness
Of some of the officers the plans of
the British became known to the
French, who were equally opposed
to British rule. They in turn con
veyed .4.e news to Pontiac, who sent
out his scouts, and thus knew every
! movement of the soldiers from the
time they left the fort until they
stepped upon the fatal bridge and
! fell into the ambush prepared for
them. Aided by the darkness and
their knowledge of the surroundings
from the moment of the first flash
ing of the guns, the Indians were
masters of the situation
Terrified, confused, bewildered by
the suddenness of the attack. hem
med in apparently on every side By
an unseen enemy, there was nothing
left but to retreat and it was ONLY
through the heroism of Dalyell anG
his brave officers that any part #
the force was able to reach the fort
in safety, Dalyell himself falling
a victim to the ferocity of the red
skins.
The tablet, which is of bronze
four by five feet, is supported on
either side by a colonial column
each surmounted by a wreath OF
laurel. Above the lettering, on a
handsome shield, is represented the
bridge and tree. On each side Oh
the shield are shown the military
swords and Indian tomahawks, the
whole capped by the English crown
The wording on the tablet proper
is as follows.
This tablet marks the course o
the historic stream called Parents
Creek, after the battle of July 81
1863, which took place nearby. i
was known as Bloody Run. Tha-
battle closely follwed the Indian out
break known as the Pontiac conspir
acy and resulted in q loss 70 the Eng
lish of ffty-six killed end wounded
and the death of Captain Dalyell o
the British army.
An old monarch of the fores,
known as the Pontiac tree, stood =
this vicinity until 1886, and was saic
to have been a silent witness of tn.
combat"
Below on another shield are tn,
words:
July 31st, 1853.
July 31st, 1902"
and On the plinth at the base
Erected by the Michigan Stove Com
pany." The tablet was modelled AT
ter design by E. T. Schoonmake
and cast by the Chicago Bronze Com
pany.-Detroit Free Press. July 80.