beyond the jurisdiction of the United States. The governor then acknowledged the defeat of his purpose and returned empty-handed to Detroit.

CAPTURE OF THE “ANN"

Sutherland now asked Theller to join in an assault on the Canadian mainland. Theller attempted to do so, but in maneuvering the "Ann" she was brought within range of the British guns on the shore and was fired upon, her rigging being so badly damaged that she drifted on shore and was captured. Doctor Theller was carried a prisoner to Quebec and Sutherland retired to Gibraltar to await the arrival of reinforcements from Detroit. To aid him in carrying out his plans, the Patriots of Detroit decided to make a bold move. On January 9, 1838, they seized the steamer "Erie" to carry volunteers and supplies to Gibraltar, but the next day the vessel was returned.

About this time Governor Mason and Mayor Howard joined in calling a public meeting at the city hall in Detroit for January 13, 1838, to consider what course was best to pursue under the circumstances. At the meeting addresses were delivered by George C. Bates, Theodore Romeyn, Kintzing Pritchette, Daniel Goodwin and others, and a resolution to sustain the Federal Government in preserving a strict neutrality was adopted.

UNITED STATES TROOPS ARRIVE

By this time the situation had become so intense that the United States Government decided to take a hand. On January 27, 1838, Colonel Worth and three companies of regulars arrived in Detroit, having come from Buffalo on the steamer "Robert Fulton." Governor Mason showed a willingness to cooperate with the Federal administration and on February 12th ordered six companies of militia to Gibraltar to aid in enforcing the neutrality laws. Owing to the severe cold weather there was considerable grumbling among the militia at being sent on an expedition at such a time. Two men who tried to desert broke through the ice while crossing the river and were drowned. Upon the arrival of the militia at Gibraltar, Governor Mason prevailed on the Patriots to disband and the troops returned to Detroit.

The disbanding of the Patriots at Gibraltar proved to be only a lull in the storm. Notwithstanding the loss of their leader (Sutherland), who had been taken prisoner by Colonel Prince, of the Canadian forces, they rallied and were soon as active as ever. The very day that Governor Mason and his six companies marched to Gibraltar, twelve boxes of rifles were taken from the arsenal to Detroit. That night the Patriots gathered secretly and stole the arms, but two days later they were found in a garret over a bowling alley and returned to the arsenal. On February 13th, a company of Patriots boarded the steamer "General Brady," lying in the river near the city, and appropriated about one hundred barrels of flour.

The day following the theft of the flour, a company of regulars, commanded by Captain Johnson, arrived from Buffalo. The arrival of these and other United States troops, with the measures taken by the commanding officers to secure a strict enforcement of the neutrality laws, drove many of the Patriots from the city. They went up the river and established a rendezvous near St. Clair. Rumors reached Detroit that they were contemplating an attack on Port Sarnia, on the Canadian side, and on February 22, 1838, the Brady

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Guards went to St. Clair to prevent the movement. The Patriots then transferred their active operations to points below the city. On the night of February 23d about two hundred of them met at a tavern kept by a man named Thomas, five miles below Gibraltar. From there they moved up the river to Ecorse, where they were met by others provided with sleighs for transporting arms, ammunition and supplies across the ice to Fighting Island. Every movement was closely watched by the Canadians and a strong military force was soon mobilized opposite the island.

On Sunday, February 25, 1838, the Canadian artillery opened fire upon Fighting Island. Thirteen Patriots were killed and forty wounded during the cannonade and the remainder of the force, finding the island untenable, retired to the American side of the river. Here they were met by a company of regulars and the Brady Guards, who had been sent down the river to intercept them. The Patriots were disarmed and two of their leaders were placed under arrest, charged with violating the neutrality laws. They were afterward liberated.

DETROIT THREATENED

In the Canadian Parliament open charges were made that the people of Detroit sympathized with and gave aid to the Patriots. This was true of only a small minority, but the belligerent spirit in Canada was such that preparations. to attack the city were commenced. In view of these warlike indications, a public meeting was held at the city hall on March 7, 1838, to decide what steps should be taken for the city's defense, and also to protest against the treatment of Americans who had been taken prisoners by the Canadians. David E. Harbaugh, Edward Brooks, Peter Desnoyers, Charles C. Trowbridge and Alexander D. Fraser were appointed a committee to investigate the matter and report to another meeting to be held on the 12th.

At the adjourned meeting the committee made a report favoring neutrality and protesting against the statement made in the Canadian Parliament that the citizens of Detroit were encouraging the Patriots. At the same meeting John Farmer made a report of an investigation he had undertaken at the request of Governor Mason, concerning the capture of T. J. Sutherland, the Patriot leader. It had been asserted that the Canadian forces had invaded American territory and carried off Mr. Sutherland, but the investigation established the fact that he was captured within the Canadian boundary. The action of these meetings resulted in a better feeling between the Canadian officials and the people of Detroit.

CLOSING SCENES OF THE WAR

During the summer of 1838 a Patriot camp was maintained on the creek called Bloody Run. It was occupied most of the time by two hundred or more men, awaiting reinforcements and an opportune moment to attack the Canadian side of the river, but no hostile movements were made. As a measure of protection, and for the purpose of enforcing the neutrality laws, the United States sent 10,000 muskets to the arsenal at Dearborn. The knowledge that these arms were stored within easy reach had the effect of dampening the ardor of the Patriots, though they still kept up the fight.

On November 19, 1838, the steamer "Illinois" went down the river to Gibraltar and the next day captured a schooner carrying several hundred stands of arms to the Patriots. On the 21st the Patriots successfully executed a counter

movement by stealing the arms of the Brady Guards, but they were recovered two or three days later.

Gen. Hugh Brady, who was active in his efforts to enforce the neutrality laws, learning that the Patriots were gathering at Cleveland and Sandusky, chartered the steamer "Illinois" and stationed troops at various points along the Detroit to prevent an invasion of Michigan and hold the Patriots in check. Late in November about five hundred refugees assembled at Brest and from there marched up to the Forsyth farm, now well within the corporate limits of Detroit. On Sunday, December 3, 1838, they were dispersed by order of General Brady and twelve boxes of rifles were captured. Three days after this affair the Brady Guards were mustered into the United States service for three months, unless sooner discharged.

Patriot sympathizers severely criticised General Brady and the military for their activity, and for a time it looked as though all attempts to organize an attack upon Canada had been abandoned, the Patriots apparently being divided in their opinions as to a plan of campaign. But a little while after midnight on December 4, 1838, about two hundred men, led by Colonels Harvel and Cunningham, marched quietly into Detroit, seized the steamer "Champlain," which was lying at the wharf, and crossed the river, landing about three miles above Windsor. They then marched to the Canadian barracks, which they burned, together with the steamer "Thames." Reinforcements came up from Malden, the Canadians rallied and drove the Patriots off with a loss of twenty-one killed and sixty-five captured. Four of the prisoners were afterward shot by order of Colonel Prince. The survivors made their escape in canoes to Belle Isle, then known as Hog Island. As they were crossing the river in their canoes they were fired upon by the United States troops commanded by Colonel Payne. The weather was severe and several of the Patriots were frozen to death.

During the engagement great excitement prevailed in Detroit and a special night patrol of about fifty men was organized. The next day 150 citizens were sworn in as peace officers.

The burning of the barracks and defeat of the Patriots marked the end of active hostilities, though a force of British regulars and Canadian volunteers, numbering about one thousand men, was on duty at Sandwich until the beginning of the year 1839. On December 9, 1838, General Scott again visited Detroit and on the 12th he delivered an address at the National Hotel on the Patriot question and urged the people to observe the laws.

Dr. E. A. Theller, who was captured early in the year and taken to Quebec, managed to escape from his prison and on December 4, 1838, returned to Detroit. The next day he was arrested on the charge of having violated the neutrality laws. He was released on bail until in June, 1839, when he was tried and acquitted. This was the last echo of the Patriot war so far as Detroit was concerned.

CHAPTER XLII

THE WAR WITH MEXICO

EVENTS PRECEDING THE WAR-THE AUSTIN LAND GRANT-MEXICO BECOMES A REPUBLIC-TEXAS REVOLTS-ANNEXATION то THE UNITED STATES-WAR DECLARED-MICHIGAN'S RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO-THE HOME COMING-INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.

The greater part of what is now the State of Texas was originally included in the Province of Louisiana. In 1819 Spain ceded Florida to the United States and received in return all that part of the Louisiana Purchase included within the limits of Texas, which then extended northward to the forty-second parallel. Prior to this time no attempt had been made to found settlements in Texas, the territory being left unpeopled to act as a barrier between the United States and the Spanish settlements in Mexico. When Mexico achieved her independence in 1821, the new government adopted the policy of developing the district so long neglected. To inaugurate this policy a large tract of land was granted to Moses Austin, of Connecticut, on condition that he would establish a colony of 300 American families thereon. This grant was later confirmed to his son, Stephen Austin, who was given the privilege of increasing the number of families to 500. Under this arrangement the nucleus of American settlement was planted in Texas during the next two years.

On October 4, 1824, the people of Mexico adopted a constitution, under which the Mexican Republic was formed, composed of separate states. Texas and Coahuila were united as one of those states and adopted a constitution after the manner of the states of the American Union. During the next ten years the number of American settlers in Texas greatly increased. In 1835 a military revolution broke out in the City of Mexico, which was powerful enough to subvert the federal and state constitutions of the republic and establish Gen. Miguel Barragan as military dictator. Upon his order the Mexican Congress issued a decree converting the states into mere departments of a central government. Such a policy did not meet with the approval of the American settlers and the Austin colony soon became a "thorn in the side" of the military dictator. Under the leadership of Gen. Samuel Houston, of Tennessee, these Americans instituted an armed revolt in 1835 and on March 2, 1836, issued a declaration of independence, to the effect that "all political connection with Mexico is forever ended and the people of Texas do now constitute a free, sovereign and independent republic."

General Santa Anna, who had succeeded Barragan as dictator, was then marching with an armed force against the Texans and four days after the adoption of the declaration of independence occurred the historic massacre of the Alamo. This dastardly deed was avenged on April 21, 1836, in the battle of San Jacinto, where the Mexicans were ingloriously defeated by the Texans under General Houston and General Santa Anna was captured. The following

month, while still a prisoner in the hands of the Texans, he entered into a treaty acknowledging the independence of the Texas Republic, with the Rio Grande as the western boundary. The Constitution of Texas was ratified by the people in September, 1836, and General Houston was elected president.

ANNEXATION TO THE UNITED STATES

Previous to the recognition of the Republic of Texas by the Mexican authorities, the United States had made repeated offers to purchase the territory, but they had all been rejected. After the establishment of the republic it was not long until President Houston and other Americans sought the annexation of Texas, as more than one hundred thousand emigrants from the States had already settled in Texas. In the political campaign of 1844 the democratic party nominated James K. Polk for President and declared in favor of annexation, while the whigs, led by Henry Clay as their candidate, opposed it.

Polk was elected, and the people having thus expressed themselves in favor of annexation, Congress on March 1, 1845, passed the annexation bill, which was signed by President Tyler, three days before Polk was inaugurated. The bill provided that certain conditions should be complied with by the Texans before annexation. These conditions were accepted by vote of the people of Texas, which then became a part of the United States. It was admitted into the Union as a state on December 29, 1845.

WAR DECLARED

The annexation and admission of Texas were displeasing to the Mexican Government, which for ten years had entertained hopes of regaining possession of the territory. At the time the state was admitted the military forces of the United States in the Southwest were commanded by Gen. Zachary Taylor, who was ordered to take possession of the country and hold it against Mexican aggression until the boundary dispute could be adjusted. Early in 1846 General Arista began the mobilizing of a large force of Mexicans directly south of the Rio Grande, to which stream Taylor was ordered to advance. After establishing a depot of supplies at Point Isabel, on the Gulf coast, he moved over to the Rio Grande and built Fort Brown (now Brownsville) opposite the Mexican Town of Matamoras, where General Arista had his headquarters. The Mexican forces were soon afterward defeated in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma and the news of these engagements aroused the war spirit throughout the United States. The whigs forgot the old political differences of opinion regarding annexation and men of all parties offered their services to put a stop to Mexican aggression. On May 11, 1846, two days after the battle of Resaca de la Palma, Congress declared that "War already exists by act of the Mexican Government," placed the sum of $10,000,000 at the disposal of the administration, and authorized the President to accept the services of 50,000 volunteers. President Polk approved the act on May 13, 1846, and called upon the various states and territories for eighty-six and one-half regiments-the half regiment to be furnished by the District of Columbia.

MICHIGAN'S RESPONSE

Of the troops called for by President Polk, ten regiments were to be recruited for the regular army and Michigan was not slow in furnishing her share. Detroit was then the capital of the state and was naturally the center of military activity.