Drew to trade and purchase furs of the Lake Superior Indians. He heard they had returned to Sault Ste. Marie, and judged from the actions of the Mackinac Indians, there was cause for their non-appearance at the island. When Mr. Dousman returned to the island he called at the house of Mr. Ambrose Davenport and notified him, next on Dr. Day, and in turn, the citizens. Dr. Day went immediately to the fort. The people all gathered at the "Distillery," for refuge, where the British, after landing, placed a guard. The "Distillery” was near the Indian cemetery, under the bluff to the west of the village. The three gentlemen, prisoners, referred to by Lieut. Hanks, and who accompanied the flag of truce, were John Dousman, Samuel Abbott and Ambrose R. Davenport.

At that time the village was small and compact. The houses were one-story log structures roofed with bark, except the two-storied (Dr. Mitchell) residence with mansard roof, now standing, on Market street. There were, in the harbor, nine small vessels, each with an average crew of five or six men. Two other vessels arrived after the surrender, loaded with furs. All the building lots, gardens and government inclosure were fenced, for protection, by high cedar pickets, firmly set in the ground, that gave the town a weird and foreign aspect. Many stumps of pickets can be traced, on dividing lines, to this day, and some shortened ones are still standing.

After the surrender the citizens were assembled at the government house to have the oath of allegiance to the British Crown administered, which most of them willingly took. Messrs. Samuel Abbott, Stone, Bostwick, Davenport and Dousman brothers, refusing to subscribe to the oath, were sent away with the soldiers. Michael Dousman was allowed to rémain neutral.

BRITISH OCCUPATION

OF THE CAPTURED FORT MICHILIMACKINAC AND ISLAND.

The British troops held the fort and island until the summer of 1815, after the close of the war. They constructed, armed, and equipped the strong earthwork and out-works on the "Heights above Michilimackinac," which they named "Fort George," in compliment to their king. The citizens of the island were compelled to assist in building that redoubt. In the center of the oblong, within, a pit was excavated, over which was erected a square block-house and magazine made of cedar logs hewed. There were two bomb-proof lookouts in advance, right and left of the gateway, connected with the fort by covered, underground ways. In advance of

these, on the edge of the hill, each facing southward and westward, gun platforms, mounted with iron cannon, that

covered the lower fort, and raked all the approaches. The face of the earthwork within the moat was set with three rows, interlaced, of sharpened, pointed cedar stakes, inclined in as many angles, so arranged as to render it about impossible for an enemy to get to the top of the parapet alive. There were iron guns mounted within the fort; the slope without the ditch was cleared of all obstructions, and the trees on the plateau below felled. The plateau in rear of the earthwork was also cleared and used as a drill and parade ground.

1814. A FLEET SAILS TO MICHILIMACKINAC.

Although the British had captured the island key of the straits, without bloodshed, they were in constant fear of attack from the land and naval forces of the United States.

After the memorable naval battle near the head of Lake Erie between Perry and Barclay, Sept. 10th, 1813, where the entire British fleet of six vessels was captured, or destroyed, the tide had turned and the chances of invasion were imminent.

April, 1814, an expedition was proposed to capture Michilimackinac and destroy certain vessels; the enemy were said to be constructing, at Gloucester, on Matchadash Bay, southeastern extremity of Lake Huron. In accordance with orders issued June 2d, following, a fleet of vessels was fitted out consisting of U. S. sloops of war, "Niagara" and "Lawrence," each twenty guns, and the smaller schooners, "Tigress," "Detroit," "Caledonia," "Scorpion," and others, Capt. Sinclair (commodore), on board, with a land

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force of seven hundred and fifty officers and men. Col. Croghan, commanding. Ambrose R. Davenport, of Mackinac Island, was quartermaster and guide.

They sailed July 3d, and entered Lake Huron the 12th instant, and made for the entrance of Matchadash Bay. It was the largest and strongest fleet that had ever ridden the waters of the lake. Continuous fogs delayed them, and, not having a pilot, the many shoals and reefs at the inlet of the bay threatened sore destruction. It takes an expert sailor, with the best modern charts, to enter Georgian Bay in good, clear weather.

Deeming the entrance unsafe the squadron sailed for the head of the lake. Then it was decided to leave part of the fleet to cruise about the island, and with the rest of them to go to St. Joseph's, and destroy that fort before going to Michilimackinac. If they had assailed the island first, it is thought, it might have been taken (as it occurred in 1812), without firing a shot, as the enemy had only one small company in the fort. The delay allowed the British time to fortify and secure Canadian and Indian allies, which led to the subsequent defeat of the United States invading forces. Col. Croghan arrived, with the detached expedition, at St. Joseph's Island, July 20th, and burned the fort but left the town and N. W. Fur Co.'s warehouses intact. Whilst there, wind bound, he captured that company's schooner, "Mink," bound up from Mackinac Island to Sault Ste. Marie loaded with flour. From parties on the "Mink" he learned the flour was to be transported to Fort Williams, by the schooner Perseverence then waiting above the falls.

Lieut. Turner, with a naval party, was dispatched to capture the schooner, and, if possible, to get her below the falls. Maj. Holmes, with regulars, was in command, intending to get possession of the fort of Sault Ste. Marie and destroy it.

Lieutenant Turner's report to Commodore Sinclair relates what was accomplished:

"U. S. Schooner "Scorpion," off Michilimackinac,

July 28th, 1814.

"Sir: I have the honor to inform you, that agreeable to your orders of the 22nd instant, I proceeded on the expedition to Lake Superior with the launches. I rowed night and day; but having a distance of sixty miles, against a strong current, information had reached the enemy at St. Mary's of our approach about two hours before I arrived at that place, carried by Indians in their light canoes; several of whom I chased, and by firing on them, killed some and prevented their purposes; some I captured and kept prisoners until my arrival, others escaped. The force under Major Holmes prevented anything like resistance at the fort, the enemy, with their Indians, carrying with them all the light valuable articles, peltry, clothes, etc. I proceeded across the strait of Lake Superior without a moment's delay; and on my appearance, the enemy, finding they could not get off with the vessel I was in quest of, set fire to her in several places, scuttled, and left her. I succeeded in boarding her, and by considerable exertions extinguished the flames, and secured her from sinking. I then stripped her and prepared for getting her down the falls. Adverse winds prevented my attempting the falls until the 26th, when every possible effort was used, but I am sorry to say without success, to get her over in safety. The fall in threequarters of a mile is forty-five feet, and the channel very rocky; the current runs from twenty to thirty knots, and in one place there is a perpendicular leap of ten feet between three rocks; here she bilged, but was brought down so rapidly that we succeeded in running her on shore below the rapids before she filled, and burned her. She was a fine new schooner, upward of one hundred tons, called the "Perseverance," and will be a severe loss to the North-west Company. Had I succeeded in getting her safe, I could have loaded her to advantage from the enemy's storehouses. I have, however, brought down four captured boats loaded with Indian goods to a considerable amount; the balance, contained in four large and two small storehouses, were destroyed, amounting in value from fifty to one hundred thousand dollars. All private property was, according to