lake on Ohio's soil; and, besides, Ohio was already quite an old State, and would be able to develop the territory much quicker,—that in fact the territorial interest was all centred at Detroit, and Toledo, if it remained to Michigan, would only be a dependency paying tribute.

With these sentiments prevailing, the Governor of Ohio was induced to put in force the laws of the State. Proclamation was issued giving boundaries to towns and counties, and for the election of civil officers. The elections were held, officers were chosen, and they assumed their duties. The militia was organized and commenced drilling. In short, we had two active and efficient governments, each striving to excel, and, as may be naturally inferred, the relations between them were not of a very friendly character,—the one acting as informers to Gov. Mason, the other mostly engaged in procuring bail to be relieved from arrests, preferring to have their transgressions settled by the courts of the country to an open and violent conflict ot arms.

The Governor's quick, impulsive nature would brook this double-entendre no longer. The General Government did not respond to his call. Ohio would not stop at his bidding. The subjects were disloyal and refractory in their every act. Therefore, it become him as Governor to put a quietus on the whole difficulty. Accordingly, he called out the militia of the Territory, to the number of about 1,500 strong, early in the month of September, 1835, to prevent any further inroads upon the territory in dispute, and particularly to prevent the holding of circuit court in Lucas County, which had just been organized, with Toledo as the county seat, where the first session of the court was appointed to be held.

This call was responded to readily in many parts of the Territory, a very few perhaps from this county. They rendezvoused in Monroe County, and thence marched to Tremainsville, on the afternoon before the court was to convene, where they bivouacked for the night. They were here three miles out from the objective point, and much hard work was to be done in a very short time to meet the emergencies of the morrow, for an army was to be organized out of the material presented. Upon inspection it was found that some had muskets, others had clubs, but most had trusty rifles. These were assigned to companies and battalions, and in the morning marshaled for inspection by the commander-in-chief. They were by him pronounced "au fait" and ordered to march to the scene of the conflict.

In entering the city they actually marched by the door where the court "of which they were in search" was in full operation, without knowing it. They had expected to find it guarded by an army that would be worthy of their steel. But where? oh, where could they be? They certainly could not be in Toledo, for the great army of our noble commander-in-chief covered the whole city and some of its

suburbs. There could be but one conclusion. They had of course hied themselves to the spot whence they came, and must be now on their way through the defiles of the black swamp. A council of war was held; the surroundings looked dark; they had come for blood and without it there could be no remission, the enemy having ignobly fled the field. The usages of war would therefore make their way clear, and reprisals would be in order. If they would not let the issue

be decided by force of arms, they could expect nothing less, and must abide by these rules which had been recognized by all nations from time immemorial. In this strait, it did not take our brave commander long to decide. His forces were soon marshaled, formed in two battalions, the one ordered to make reprisals on the cellars and larders of the inhabitants, the others to move upon the magazines and commissary of the enemy, that a wag had informed them were stored in a barn. owned by Platt Card, known as one of the moving spirits in the rebellion, and who was then under bonds to answer for what he had heretofore done in inciting it.

This last work was not to be trusted to raw recruits, or committed to an inferior officer; it was virtually the conquering of an army, and then who knew how strongly it was guarded within, or what might be the dangers of an approach. That the work might be quick and effectual it was decided that our brave commander should lead the fray.

In reconnoitering the premises, all was still; yet there were certain holes in the walls, reminding them of the port-holes in ancient forts, and in which they fancied they saw grim messengers of death staring them boldly in the face. This could be endured no longer; the order was quickly given and a broad-side was poured into the pine siding of the barn,—a thud, a groan, followed by a few thumps, and all was still as death. Approaches were made stealthily and cautiously until they reached the door, which obeyed the mandate of the hand and readily swung on its hinges. To the surprise of our noble commander and his comrades in arms, they found they had captured a very fine horse, as the warm blood flowing from many bullet-holes attested. They had come for blood as a sacrifice to sprinkle the altar of their loyalty and devotion to their country, and who at this late day will deny that they found it?

Returning to headquarters it was found that the other battalion had made a very successful raid, especially in the line of Major Stickney's wine-cellar, and from some others, that gave a more exhilarating beverage, sufficient was obtained with which to soften and wash down the hard army biscuit, of which it may be inferred their knapsacks contained an ample supply. Night approaching, each drew his cloak around him and gave himself to pleasant dreams over the experiences and escapes of the last twelve hours.

On the following morning an order was issued from the Governor disbanding the forces, allowing each to find his way home as best he could. Thus ended the great Toledo war, and all strife on the disputed tract.

Looking at this question at a later day, when all had become calm and serene, we can discover little occasion for either party to get up and shake themselves like young lions. It was a matter that belonged entirely to Congress. If they had been so imprudent as to let Ohio in her boundaries embrace territory to which she had no claim, it was her duty, and justice required her to correct the error. That it was an error on the part of the National Legislature to allow Ohio to assume the functions and duties of a State, merely from her enabling act, without submitting her constitution for inspection and approval, none will doubt. That the Territorial officers were hasty and inconsiderate in their action, assuming responsibilities that did not belong to them, few question. That the final adjustment of the whole question between the parties has resulted to the benefit of each, and especially to Michigan, ail cheerfully admit.

In this war many of the old settlers of Macomb participated. Fortunately, the old soldiers of the young State lost little or no blood, and all were permitted to return to their homes in peace.

THE PATRIOT WAR.

It will be remembered by the pioneers of Michigan, and not only by them, but by all others, of that time along the frontier line between the United States and Canada, that during the Winter of 1837-38, occurred what was known as the "Patriotic War." The object of this war was understood to be a revolution that should separate the British possessions of Canada from the mother country that they might erect themselves into sovereign and independent States.

In consequence of the financial crash and hard times then prevailing there were many adventurous, reckless and idle persons in the States who took part with the Patriots. The anxiety that grew out of our Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, toward the British, may have slumbered, but was not forgotten, and it took but little to awaken that old feeling. It was revived along the whole length of the frontier, and was not confined to our side only; it was fully reciprocated by our loyal neighbors. At that time, as it may be now, there were many half-pay English military officers who would have hailed a war between the United States and England as a God-send to them; for in that event they would be restored to active service on full pay and stand their chances for promotion. The hostile feeling had reached such a degree of intensity that General Scott was ordered to the frontier with troops. The steamer Carolina, that was supposed to be in the service of the Patriots, was captured in the Niagara River by the British forces, and sent over the falls and it was supposed with part of the crew on board. The Patriots had at that

time a considerable force on Navy Island. A rocket brigade was stationed at Windsor. Occasional musket shots were fired from Windsor into Detroit, and a correspondence was opened between the authorities on each side with a view to stop this recklessness. The late Adjutant-General John E. Schwartz conducted the correspondence on the part of Michigan. He read it to the writer of this paper. About this time, I visited Detroit, stopping at the National Hotel, as the Russell House was then called, and before I had time to warm myself I met Col. Smith, then a member of the Legislature, from Monroe County, who invited me into the back parlor, where I met Gov. Mason, who ordered me back to Ann Arbor to raise a company of militia and report to Col. Smith who was then under orders from the Governor to march down the Detroit river and break up the encampment of Patriots in the neighborhood of Gibraltar, a small village near the mouth of the river, and drive them away. I had also an order, addressed to the late Col. Slingerland, to muster his (the 5th) regiment from which to recruit my company by volunteers, if possible, or by draft. The Colonel issued his orders and did his duty, but so strong was the sympathy in favor of the Patriots and against the English, that not over thirty men out of about 600 composing the regiment obeyed the Colonel's order. Of course I was obliged to report my inability to report the company ordered. My recollection is that Colonel Smith made a similar report and the encampment remained undisturbed. Gen. Ed. Clark states, that "the leaders of the Patriots had organized a secret society known as Hunters, with lodges in every village along the frontier. They had their secret signs, grips and pass-words, and were sworn to secrecy. A large proportion of the able-bodied men were Hunters, that is, members of hunters' lodges. I mention these facts to show the state of public feeling with regard to the Patriot war and the reason that Gov. Mason could not furnish the necessary force to march on the Patriot encampment and disperse the force there encamped. Before the close of navigation an expedition was organized by Brigadier General Theller, of the Patriot service, for the purpose of capturing Fort Maiden. He embarked in the sloop Ann, and when she arrived off the fort was fired into and her rigging so cut up that she became unmanageable and drifted ashore. The General and Colonel Dodge and the crew were taken prisoners. That Winter a landing of a Patriot force was made on the Canada shore above Windsor, and a battle fought which proved disastrous to the invaders. Another battle was fought at Point au Pelee, where the Patriots were victors. From these facts it can be seen that the magazine was ready and needed. but a spark to explode it—that is, to involve the country in war.

When these events were taking place, but before the fight at Point au Pelee, General Sutherland, of the Patriot army, made his appearance at Ann Arbor in full uniform and posted hand-bills notifying the public that he would address them at

the court-house on the subject of the Patriot war. The court-room was filled and the General was listened to with respect and attention. Before the meeting dispersed a committee was appointed to wait on the General at his quarters, to confer with him. The writer was one of that committee. The committee called on the General that evening at his room, and spent an hour or two with him. From Ann Arbor he went to Manchester to address the good people of that village. His object was to get men and means to carry on the war. A short time afterward I received a package of papers from the General. Among them were enlistment rolls and a long letter. He wished me to join the Patriot army and raise a battalion of men for the Patriot service, but ostensibly as volunteer militia, hold elections for commissioned officers as directed by the militia laws of Michigan, and apply to Gov. Mason for commissions. He said that as I was a personal and political friend of the Governor there would be no difficulty in getting the commissions. This accomplished, I was to put myself and battalion under the orders of the General, and as soon as the Detroit River was frozen over so as to make a passage safe, he would give me an order for arms, ammunitions, blankets, etc., and he would direct when and where the invasion should take place. I confess to a complete surprise—more, I was astonished. We were almost entire strangers to each other; we had never met except at Ann Arbor, and then only for an hour or two, and knew nothing of each other's antecedents. During the visit of the committee at the General's room I endeavored to draw him into a conversation upon military subjects, tactics, history, etc., but he evaded it, and I formed a small opinion of his military capacity or knowledge. And when he divulged to me, an almost entire stranger, his plan of operations, I lost confidence in him as a military leader. I remembered of reading an anecdote of Washington who was asked by an intimate friend and true Whig what his plan of campaign was. Washington asked, "Can you keep a secret?" "Yes, General." "So can I," was the response. When the legislative committee visited General Jackson and demanded of him his plan for the defense of New Orleans, he raised a lock of hair from his head and said, "Gentleman, if I supposed this lock of hair knew what was passing in my brain on that subject, I would cut it off and burn it."

I have described the feeling along the dividing line between the States and Canada. I remember that Sutherland said that one of his principal objects was to involve the two countries in war with each other. Doing this he would attain the height of his ambition. I believe there would have been but little difficulty in raising the number of men to fill the four companies required, and it seemed plain to me, that after receiving our commissions, and before the ink of the Governor's signature was fairly dry on them, Sutherland would have ordered a forward movement at a place where we would have been met by an overwhelming force and been compelled