Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-11-11

Though most residents of this state
know that there once waved over their
soil the French and British flags. few
OF thesl know that the Spanish flag
was hoisted at st. Joseph, near Niles
after the post had been captured by a
force OF Spaniards who came overland
from ST. Louis in 1871. The expedi-
ton OF the Spanish Is one of the most
romantic incidents in the history of
this state and it is known only 10
specialists in history.
At that time the English and Span
ish and several other countries were
at war. Captain Sinclair, who had
built Fort Mackinac on the island
decided to organize an expedition to
operate against the Spanish settle
ments along the Mississippi river, as
English expeditions were to sail
against New Orleans. The Spanish
obtained the province OF Louisiana in
1852. Under the easy-going Spanish
governors, the old French town of st.
Louis fiourished. In May. 1880. a
band of $50 traders and Indians, jour
neyed down the Mississippi TO attack
the Spanish settlements and Illinois
posts Assembling at Prairie du
Chen, in Wisconsin. they captured
many river-craft. From the lead
mines they brought away II Spanish
and American prisoners. Twenty of
the Canadian volunteers from Mach
mac attacked the defenseless town OF
ST. Louis, but early in the fight, SO
soon as the Spaniards began to defend
themselves. the Sacs and Foxes fell
back, thereby making the Indians sus-
picious OF treachery. The attack fail
ed, but not until seven white men had
been killed and Is prisoners taken and
sent north 10 work upon Sinclair s
new island fort. Sinclair said, how
ever. that IS whites were killed. The
Indians lost three or four Winnebagos
and a chief.
The attack on st. Louis and Caho-
kia, across the river. would not de-
serve mention were ii not for return
attack on st. Joseph, which was in
itself even less important than the
ST. Louis expedition, but which was
OF great Importance in the courts OF
Europe when peace was made. a
mile or so west of the city of Niles,
Mich, on the south bank of St
Joseph river, the drowsy post of St
Joseph was resting at the time of the
Revolution. The name originated with
LaSalle, who passed at the mouth
OF the river in 1879, and while wait
ing for Tonty employed his men In
building n fort. From its situation
on the line of travel TO the Mississippi
st. Joseph was too important TO be
abandoned altogether, while at the
same time ii was not of enough
moment for extensive fortifications
Consequently when one set Of pickets
fell into decay another stockade was
built at a different site on the river
and the spot near which the present
city OF Niles stands was selected. At
ter the peace of 1853, the post was
garrisoned by a small company OF
British soldiers. When the Pontiac
war swept away the fort and garrison
the post was not re-established but
IL remained a trading- among the
Pottawatomies. the reading trader
Louis Chevallier. being the represent
alive of the British government in the
district.
The British had strong garrisons al
Detroit and Mackinac. and small
garrison at st. Joseph in order to
preserve their interests in the southern
extremine OF Lake Michigan. st
Joseph was regarded with more favor
than was Chicago on account OF the
superiority of the river as harbor
The French in the town of Vincennes
and the Illinois country were in bliss
full ignorance Of the ruling policy OF
the country. They were cultivating
their fields In common and sharing
the summers toll with the harmony
OF bees. BY the year 1777, one year
after the Declaration was signed, an
erratic emigrant from PENNSYLVANIA
named Tom Brady, who had settled
at Cahokia, planned an expedition
against the British post Of St Joseph
The place was garrisoned by Fl sold
iers, but Brady's party. relying upon
the prestige of surprise, felt confid-
ence in their ability to take 1t, al