OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Gen. Simon Perkins [8] *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 June 17, 1999 *********************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio The Kelley Family Collections Newspaper article, Plains Dealer compiled by S.J. Kelley-- 1925 And Then They Went West by Darlene E. Kelley 1998 *********************************************************************** eighth in Series-- On the night of July 2-- two weeks after the declarartion of war by Congress-- Shaler arrived at Hull's Detroit camp, where he found the sentinels asleep on their posts. By this time, according to a journel of Miami Rapids settler Lewis Bond, the news had been made known to the British by an express sent by John J. Aster of New York wih private letters giving this information. In addition to mishandling the notification of Hull, Washington had done nothing about building a road to Detroit that Simon Perkins had arrainged for when he established the express mail service, the Indians had made no land cession to the United States from the western line of Ohio to the boundry established by Hull's 1807 Treaty of Detroit, except for a twelve mile square piece of land at the former British Fort at the Miami [Maumee] Rapids and a two mile square tract of land at the lower rapids of the Sandusky River. In crossing this part of the proposed route to Detroit, Simon conversed with several distinguished Indians upon the subject of opening and constructing a road to connect the twelve miles grant or reservation with that of two miles and connect the latter with the Connecticut Western Reserve. The Indians were amenable to ceding the land needed for Simon's proposed road, and in 1808 Hull negotiated the Treaty of Brownstown on the basis of Simon's prior conversations with the Indians. It was not until Aug. 27, 1812-- nearly four years after the Treaty of Bownstown and more than two months after the declaration of war-- that Albert Gallatin, then Secretary of the Treasury, instructed Meigs to make contracts for building this road. Mieigs then sent Gallatin's letter to Simon, in order to make arrangements for cutting the road. But in the meatime Hull's forces had of necessity slowly hacked out a road from Dayton to Detroit. The disorganized situation became frantic on Aug. 22,1812, when word was received at Cleveland that Hull had surrendered Detroit to the British. The Clevelanders believed themselves in alarming situation. Several citizens sent Simon an express letter saying; "The British are advancing rapidly towards this place. Last evening nine boats reached the River Huron laden it is stated with 300 regulars and 600 Indians. Our situation is deplorable. Your good sence will dictate to you what we stand in need of, therefore we shall expect your aid to the extent of your power." Simon immediately sent an express letter to Wadsworth that suggested Simon march his Third Brigade to Cleveland's defense. Wadsworth had also received news of Hull's surrender and was already preparing orders to Simon to March one half of his Brigade, officered and if possible, equipped according to Law, to Cleveland. But as far as equipment was concerned, Wadsworth could only say, " I hope you will be able to arm the whole of your detachment and furnish them with ammunition if possible. I shall take on what little powder and lead we have here, with a few spare Arms." There were more confusing and contradictory letters from Cleveland on the following day, but on Aug. 26, Wadsworth was in Cleveland and taking a realistic look at the situation. He that day sent Simon orders to dismiss one half the men ordered into immediate service for the defense of Cleveland. Portions of other Brigades were also dimissed at this time, for Wadsworth had discovered that the men in camp here are so badly armed that it would be useless to march them to the frontier. Yet on August 27, Simon was given command of a hodgepodge group of men from various Brigades-- some of whom openly resented being required to serve under officers other than those whom they had elected-- and was ordered to march to Huron to defend that part of the Western frontiers, against an invasion of any hostile power. Simon had to obtain provisions for his troops over his own signature, since Wadsworth had no government money for equipping the Militia forces. As camp equipment Simon had only nine tents, 282 yards of tenting, and five camp kettles. But by Sept.5 he had established his men at the Huron River. In the meantime, General Reasin Beall had been given command of troops from the First and Second Brigades and ordered to march to Mansfield. Beall had a force of about six-hundred men, and troops from Virginia were to join him. He was to consult with Simon and arrange a line of defense between their forces by building blockhouses along the road from Mansfield to Huron. " But until the army is furnished with munitions of war", wrote Wadsworh," we shall not extend ourselves far into the enemy's country but arrange the defense of the frontier in the best manner." Simon began at once to build a blockhouse at the mouth of the Huron River and to send scouting parties along the lake shore and into the surrounding country. On Sept.9, he reported to Wadsworth his first loss of men; two men of a party sent to Sandusky peninsula had been killed by Indians. But another party had discovered a British schooner aground on Cunningham's [Kelley's] Island, he noted, and had successfully destroyed her without loss of men. On Sept.9, Wadsworth had learned, as he wrote Simon, that; " All the Indians in the N.W. territory are in motion towards our frontier. Fort Wayne is beseiged , the British and Indians are fortifying a post at Miami Rapids and we may expect a visit from them. Col Wells' head is on a post at Chicago, which place hath been taken and the garrison supposed slaughtered." On Sept.9, Wadsworth received word that President Madison had determined to "repair the disaster at Detroit and that fifteen hundred men had been requested to march to the frontier---- *********************************************** to be continued--