Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-09-25
INDIAN BATTLE TABLET.
Erected in a Detroit Manufacturing
Company's Plant.

Company's Plant.
Oh 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 d,
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 the 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 Can.
tam Dalyell silently left the fort,
something like a mile and a half
away, and proceeded in double file
in three divisions along the river
road, under the mistaken idea that
they would surprise the Indians by
night attack, and so cripple their
power as to secure a lasting peace.
Then, too, there was the hone of
avenging the many massacres tina,
mad taken place at the various ont
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 ,~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
feil into the ambush prepared for
them. Aided by the darkness and
their knowledge of the surroundings
from the moment of the first fash
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 onn
through the heroism of DalyelI ana
his brave officers that any part Of
| the force was able to reach the fort
In safety, Dalyell himself falling
victim to the ferocity of the red.
skins
The tablet, which is of bronze,
four by five feet, is supported on
elther side by a colonial column.
each surmounted by a wreath of
laurel. Above the lettering, on
handsome shield, is represented the
bridge and tree. On each side of
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 NJ
Sti CALL called PARENTS
Greek, after the battle of July 81
1863, which took place nearby. II
was known as Bloody Run. That
battle closely follwed the Indian orr.
break known as the Pontiac consnir.
acy and resulted in loss to the Eng.
fish of fifty-six killed and wounded
and the death of Captain Dalyell Of
the British army
"An old monarch of the fores,
known as the Pontiac tree. stood IN
this vicinity until 1886. and was said
10 have been a silent witness of the
combat"
Below on another shield are the
words:
July 31st, 1863.
July 31st, 1902"
ana on the plinth at the base.
erected by the Michigan Stove Com.
pany.' The tablet was modelled Of.
ter design by e. r. Schoonmaker
and cast by the Chicago Bronze Com.
pany'--Detroit Free Press. July go