1763] CAPTAIN DALYELL. 4I arrived at the river Detroit on the night of the 28th, fortunately during a thick fog. As the outline of the approaching barges became imperfectly visible, the excitement of those observing them was the more intense. There was no positive knowledge that an expedition was to arrive, and it was thought possible that the approaching barges might contain more Indians to strengthen the attacking force. A gun was fired to test the character of the half-seen vessels; it was answered by a cannon shot from the barges. There could no longer be doubt that the hoped for reinforcement was present. Gladwin accordingly embarked in one of the barges at the wharf to meet the expedition. As the bateaux passed up stream they were fired upon from the villages of the Hurons and Foxes; a fusilade by which two men were mortally and thirteen slightly wounded. The troops landed on Friday, the 29th. It was determined on the following day that a sortie should be made. The proposal arose with Dalyell, and he asked as a personal favour that the command should be given to him. Gladwin considered Pontiac too much on his guard to be surprised. Dalyell replied to the objection that it was the only opportunity which would offer to "give him a stroke," for if it was not attempted Pontiac would run off. Gladwin much against his judgment acceded to the request. Pontiac's camp was about two miles and a half distance to the north, at a place then called Parent's creek. Thirty years ago the creek had not been included in the improvements of the locality; it has since been filled up and cannot be identified, although the site is well known and the memory of the night's attack is preserved, under the title then given to it, "Bloody run."* * I cannot entirely absolve Amherst from responsibility in the matter of this sortie. In his letters he constantly recommends offensive operations; while the conduct of Dalyell, his aide-de-camp, so strongly advocating them on this occasion, suggests that he felt bound to act on the opinion of his commanding officer. There is no record beyond the facts themselves to sustain this remark. They however establish that Amherst considered that a merely defensive policy would attain no satisfactory result. We thus learn from Amherst himself, although not in express words, that with the force of Dalyell well and gallantly led, there was an opportunity of giving Pontiac a coup-de-patte, from which he could not About half-past two in the morning of the 31st July, a picked detachment of two hundred and forty-seven troops left the fort and marched along the road two deep. Two boats ascended the river as the troops advanced, to aid in the attack, and in case of emergency to take off the killed and wounded. About a mile from the fort the troops were formed into platoons, and after procecding about a mile further, the advance guard was fired upon. It was very dark, and the troops by the fire were momentarily thrown into confusion. It was subsequently stated, that some of the parties inside the fort informed friends outside, who communicated the design to Pontiac. The main body returned the fire; almost simultaneously the rear, commanded by Grant, was fired upon from houses about twenty yards from the left. A company was faced in this direction and returned the fire. Dalyell ordered Grant to take possession of the house, which Grant succeeded in doing. Two men were found there, and they gave the information that the Indians had long lain in wait, having been apprized of the intended sortie. They further said that three hundred of Pontiac's force were present, and that the intention was, to cut off the column by getting between it and the fort. An hour later, Dalyell reappeared from the front with Baby and Saint Martin, who were present as volunteers and had acted as guides. He told Grant that the attack had failed, and that the detachment must retire. He ordered Grant with his force to march towards the fort, and take post in an orchard which Baby would point out. After proceeding half a mile shots were fired on Grant's flank; he had then taken post in a well fenced orchard, and while engaged in defending himself from this attack, lieurecover, so the siege could be raised. Dalyell's character was essentially one to be affected by this opinion; and his high sense of military honour would lead him to request that the post of danger should be assigned to himself. Indeed it is questionable, if an officer who had seen the service of Gladwin, would have permitted his judgment to have been overruled by an argument of less importance, than that in acceding to Dalyell's representations, he was in reality carrying out the policy of the general in command; and there would have been serious responsibility in hesitating to accept it, when to some extent it was authoritatively represented to him. 1763] RETREAT OF THE FORCE. 43 tenant McDougall, acting as adjutant-general, arrived to tell him that Dalyell was killed, and Gray had been seriously wounded, when driving the Indians from a breast-work of cord-wood. The command consequently devolved upon Grant. At the same time he was informed by an officer named Bean, that Rogers could not get off unless covered by the boats. Grant detached Paulli with twenty men to drive. off a party of the Indians who were annoying his detachment and "gauled those joining him." As Paulli executed this duty, killing several who occupied this position, Grant took possession of the enclosures, barns and fences. His retreat was now secure, and what remained of the force being assembled, he sent word to Rogers to join him. The latter preferred to wait for the boats. The boats accordingly proceeded to his aid, one of which took on board captain Gray and the wounded men. Subsequently it returned to the scene of action, but the enemy did not wait its arrival and retired, so that Grant unmolested continued his retreat, arriving at the fort about eight in the morning. The loss of the detachment of all ranks was 20 killed, 42 wounded, total, 62, of about 247 men, being every fourth man present. * Detail of action of 31st July, 1763. * Captains... Lieutenants Sergeants.. Drummer.. Rank and File 35th Regiment Queen's rangers.. Amherst, in reporting the repulse to lord Egremont, speaks feelingly of Dalyell "as a brave and good officer, who fell in trying to bring off some wounded men." [A. & W. I., 98.2, p. 354.] I do not read this passage as a personal act of Dalyell in rescuing a wounded soldier, but, that when the retreat was determined he resolutely remained to see the wounded removed, himself occupying an exposed position until the duty was effected. I can find no narrative of the circumstances of Dalyell's death given in the detail of this action. It may be inferred that he was made soon to understand that his attack had failed, and he appears to have been killed shortly after the retreat was found necessary. Although the attack had not attained its object, it was not entirely without effect; the Indians had been so severely handled that they could not interfere with the march back. The small gun-boats were always a source of terror to them, and, moreover, there was now a strong garrison at Detroit. Amherst on receiving the report was exceedingly chagrined; he wrote Gladwin that he would send him formidable reinforcements so that he could take active proceedings. He offered a reward of £100 [N.Y.] to any one who would kill Pontiac, or the chief who had perpetrated the murder of captain Campbell; and he gave instructions to lieutenant Gardiner of the 55th to take no prisoners, but to put all to death who fell into his hands. * An event had occurred a few weeks previously, to which attention must be paid, so that the harshness of these stern orders may be understood. At the end of June, lieutenant Cuyler, more fortunate than on his first expedition, arrived with fifty men. The strength of the garrison being thus increased, on the 4th of July following, lieutenant Hay with forty men was sent to fetch powder and lead from Baby's, and to destroy an intrenchment which had been thrown up and threatened to cause trouble. The Indians were advised of the sortie and attacked the party; a reinforcement was sent which repulsed the enemy. The latter retreated, leaving three dead upon the ground. It will be remembered that captain Campbell had been retained a prisoner by Pontiac, in violation of every principle of good faith, and even Indian hospitality and justice. This officer, owing to Pontiac's representations, after the attack of the 9th of May, had proceeded to the Indian camp in order to treat about some terms of accommodation. It had been hoped that his personal popularity with the tribe would lead to a satisfactory arrangement; but whether he succeeded or failed, his mission was that of an ambassador of peace, and it was regarded as a matter of course that he would be permitted to return harmless. Pontiac *Can. Arch., A. & W. I., 98.1, pp. 339, 341. + Ante, p. 19. 1763] APPROACH OF WINTER. 45 treacherously detained him, and took measures that he should be closely guarded. Always a savage, Pontiac had on occasions played the stake of Campbell's life, even placing him in prominence on an attack of boats, to stay the fire of the defenders. After the repulse on the occasion mentioned, when one of the principal chiefs had been killed, poor Campbell was butchered in revenge for his loss. He was an excellent officer, universally esteemed, and this murderous retribution was the less expected, from the fact that he had constantly shewn great consideration to the Indians. The murder was a merciless, useless act, one of the many proofs of Pontiac's true character. No active operations after this date were directed against Detroit. Gladwin's one apprehension was that he might fall short of provisions, and in this desperate situation be compelled to abandon his post. His position being well known to Amherst, he could look forward to being reinforced, to become the assailant; above all that he would receive full supplies. The garrison however, continued beleaguered during the months of August and September. The Indians hovered about constantly on the alert, watching every opportunity to harass the defenders and interrupt all communication with the east. The season in the meantime was advancing, to bring to the Indians a warning, that the time had arrived for them to provide against the cold and want of winter: demands which cannot be satisfied by promises or be made less urgent by hope, and supplies from the Illinois were now no longer furnished. Pontiac had likewise to a great extent subsisted on what he could gather in the neighbourhood; but the settlers, whatever their sympathies, unwillingly sacrificed their property. There was this difference between the garrison and Pontiac's force: in the former case payment was made in silver dollars, or if temporarily deferred, was regarded as certain. In the latter, there was only slight probability of any equivalent. being obtained for what was taken. The Ottawas had heard also of Bouquet's victory at Edge Hill, which I have here |