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Within the palisade of a small fort in Detroit, on what is now the corner of Woodbridge and Griswold streets, there stood in the war of 1812, a magnificent pear tree some two feet in diameter and the pride and delight of the citizens. During one of the cannonadings from the opposite shore, it was perceived that this tree served as a mark to guide the aim of the enemy's shots, and that it continued greatly to annoy and weaken the defence. The citizens, all unwilling tho' they were, resolved to remove this means of annoyance. A soldier of the name of Miller, and now residing, we believe, somewhere in this city, was directed to cut it down. He proceeded cheerfully to his task, plied the axe with vigor, but yet made no rapid progress upon the tough old tree, when a shot from the British battery struck it precisely where he was cutting, and dashed off two thirds of the trunk. Miller paused for a moment, looked up and exclaiming, "Fire away, John Bull, you cut a great deal faster than I can," then quietly proceeded to complete his work,--Detroit Advertiser. [Source]
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