Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Captain Blake Killed Megish


Source

From Pioneer Collections (recollections of Aura P. Stewart of St. Clair County, Michigan):


"At the breaking out of the war there resided a family of Indians on the Big Bear Creek, on the Canada side, who were known as the Sha-na-wa family; in this family there were five brothers, all warriors.  One of them...Me-gish, who followed the British army, and was at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, where he was killed.  I [Aura P. Stewart] got the particulars of his death from his mother and sister, who have often repeated the story of Me-gish's death in my hearing while a boy.  They say that he got between two armies as they were approaching, and a little before the battle commenced he was fired on and killed by the Americans.  This circumstance would not be worth relating were it not for the statement of Capt. Chesley Blake, one of the old pioneer captains of our lakes."

"In 1840 Capt. Blake came to Harsen's Island...and during his stay lodged with my brother, Capt. John H. Stewart.  My father called to see the captain one evening to have a chat, and the conversation turned on the late war with England, and the part each had taken.  Blake here stated that he was at the Battle of Lundy's Lane; that as the two armies were approaching, and a little while before the action, an Indian attempted to pass between the armies, running for dear life."

Blake was the American who killed Me-gish.






Thursday, July 20, 2017

John Johnston Of Piqua



Piqua Plaque Denoting A Revolutionary War Era Battle




"John Johnston (born in Ireland) was a farmer in the Piqua, Miami County area who played an important role in the settlement and development of the state of Ohio. He...served as a United States agent to the Miami tribe at Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1802 to 1811. When an Indian agency was established in western Ohio the family moved to the area then known as Upper Piqua in 1811."

"Johnston worked to protect neutral tribes and non-combatants during the War of 1812; attended councils held in Piqua between representatives of the tribes and the United States government; and oversaw the removal of tribes from the state of Ohio to reservations farther west."




Monday, July 17, 2017

Fencibles At Prairie du Chien Surrender



Source


"Early in June an American force took possession of the Indian post at Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi, almost 500 miles from Mackinac, and Col. M'Douall, who was now in command at the latter place, resolved to dislodge them. Accordingly, Colonel M'Kay, of the Michigan Fencibles, was sent to Prairie du Chien with a detachment consisting of his own corps and of Canadian Volunteers, 150 men in all, with a 3 pounder. He also was accompanied by about 500 Indians."

"The detachment reached its destination on the 17th July and found that the Americans had erected a small fort... ."

""...M'Kay advanced his men against the fort, upon which a white flag was immediately displayed and the place surrendered with its garrison of 65 men and its cannon and stores. Not one man of M'Kay's white troops was even wounded in this brilliant affair...". [Source]


Friday, July 14, 2017

1812 In Georgetown


Source








http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27716/27716-h/27716-h.htm#Page_135

more for 1812?

Used Key Home in 1812

Monday, July 10, 2017

Wood River Massacre



"The Indian massacre occurred on the southwest quarter of section five, in Wood River township, Madison county, Illinois, on the 10th day of July, 1814. The persons killed were Mrs. Rachael Reagan and her two children...(Betsey and Timothy)...; two children of Captain Abel Moore's (William and Joel)...; and two children of William Moore's...(John and George)... ." Source


LOC - Wood River Township, Madison , Illinois

Mentioned were a farm now owned by Mrs. William Badley and property now owned by George Cartwright (found the Cartwright property on the map).