Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Illinois Before And After The War


Camp Dubois - Pre-War

" After the War of 1812, in which British interference was finally stopped, emigration poured a tide from the east and south into the territory, and the people, no longer dreading the hostile Indians, treked into the wilderness to find new homes and larger farms." [Source]

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Letter To The Illinois Governor


Map Of Native American Tribes


Extract of a letter from Colonel Anthony Butler, commanding Michigan territory and its dependencies and the western district of upper Canada, dated 12th Feb., 1814 to [Illinois] Governor Edwards. [Source]

"They [Native Americans] have committed several murders lately--A letter from the Illinois territory, says, 'Much do I fear that we shall find that the armistice has had the effect of pampering the...[Native Americans] in the winter, for war in the summer.'"


 Anthony Butler's bio from ArchiveGrid:

Colonel Butler was commandant at Detroit in 1815. A resident of Russellville, Kentucky, who in March 1813 was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 28th U.S. Infantry; in 1814 colonel 2nd Rifle Regiment, serving on Northwestern frontier. In December 1813, in command of Detroit; January 1815, ordered to Detroit to assume military command of all forces in Michigan Territory, and civil and military control of western Ontario. Took over Mackinac from British, summer of 1815; honorably discharged, June 15. Returned to Russellville; cotton planter in Monticello, Mississippi, 1824. While visiting Russellville in 1846, he was killed in a steamboat disaster on the Ohio River.


Monday, February 6, 2017

A Price On His Head



Because of this occurrence Captain Rhea, who was authorized to receive and distribute the mail, is sometimes referred to as Fort Wayne's first postmaster and the big elm has been called the first post office. Rhea was fully cognizant of the impending trouble with the...[Native Americans], but he failed utterly to grasp the opportunity to make a name which should be written alongside those of the nation's heroes of the time in the west.

Source

The Indian agent, Colonel Johnston, however, was alert*. On the 6th of February, 1811, he wrote Governor Harrison as follows omitting the name of his informant has been at this place. The information derived from him is the same I have been in possession of for several years, to wit, the intrigues of the British agents and partisans in creating an influence hostile to our people and government within our territory.  [Source]


*Apparently Colonel John Johnston needed to be alert because the British had "put a price on his head." [Source]


Thursday, February 2, 2017

Hurt At The King's Works


War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848, RG 19 E5A (t-1126):

2 February 1815
Fort Norfolk




"...belonging to Nathan Burnham, inhabitant, was so hurt as to cause his death while employed on the King's Works at this post...".