Ardent Schuyler de Peyster: (1736 - 1822)
He was the son of Pierre-Guillaume de Peyster
& Catherine Schulyler, born in New York. Ardent married Rebecca Blair
of Dumfries, Scotland and it appears they had no children.
Ardent was educated in England and entered
the army in 1755. In May of 1768 he returned to North America as a Lieutenant
in the 8th (King's) Reg't. of Foot and by November he was promoted to Captain.
In July of 1774 he arrived at Michilimackinac with 2 companies of the King's
Reg't. of Foot, relieving Capt.Vattas (and the 10th.Reg't.) as the British
Commander there. In 1777 he was promoted to Major and was commanding the
fort at Detroit until 1784. Ardent retired in 1795 to the home of his wife
at Mavis Grove, near Dumfries, Scotland where he died on 26th of November
in 1822.
The following is a letter of instructions
by Major de Peyster to Capt.Langlade & Lt.Gautier,
written at Fort Michilimackinac on 26th of October in 1778: "Sirs - In
accordance with the power that has been given to me by his Excellency General
Haldimand, Commanding-in-Chief the Armies of his Majesty the King of
Great Britain in Canada, etc., etc., etc.,: To do all in my power to assist
the Lieut.
Governor Hamilton in all his enterprises against the Rebels and as
I have learned by letter from the Lieut.-Governor that he has gone to dislodge
the Rebels of the Illinois and prays me to give him assistance: you are
ordered by these presents to go and try to arouse the Nations: Mr. Langlade,
from the Great River as far as St.Joseph where the Short Ears and the Ganteaux
ar causing them to assemble at St.Joseph without loss of time. Mr.Gautier
will go straight to St.Joseph, there addressing himself to Mr.Louison
Chevalier, to require him to assist Mr.Ainse
in assembling the Pottawattamies, while Gauthier does his utmost to acquire
intelligence of the situation of Mr.Hamilton,
making his report to Mr. L'anglade. They must do their utmost to join him
by the shortest route or to descend the river of the Illinois, if it is
possible and if such a movement is better calculated to second the operations
of Mr.Hamilton.
As no one can be responsible for the events in case that Mr.Hamilton is
released and returned to the Detroit; then, if you do not think yourself
strong enough in men to make a decisive attack on the Caskakias or the
Cahokias, you will send the savages to their winter quarters and you will
regain your different posts by the shortest routes. Mr.Langlade, at "The
Bay," and Mr.Gautier, in the Mississippi, will try to keep the nations
well disposed for the service until new orders. In this enterprise you
are recommended to exhort the Warriors to use humanity towards the prisoners
and others who may be found without arms, as there are many English merchants
retained by force among the enemy. The prisoners will be ransomed. As the
nations in general have already had many presents from his Majesty, you
are recommended to incur as little expense as the nature of the service
will permit of , in giving them nothing which is not absolutely necessary."
Here are exerts of a letter written by de
Peyster on 5 June of 1783 at Detroit (while commanding there): "...For
my part, not having any power to treat for the exchange of prisoners, I
can not with propriety let any go from hence; but on the contrary I would
strongly advise them not to attempt to pass the Indian Country till matters
are finally settled, least, notwithstanding the General Pacifick disposition,
some jealous ill designing persons amongst them might do the prisoners
an ill turn for which we would be made answerable. Most of the prisoners
brought to Detroit to the amount ot four hundred ninety-two are at their
own request gone down to Montreal in hopes of getting home by way of Lake
Champlain; amongst the few that remain here is Mrs.Polke and all her little
family to whom every mark of attention due to the unfortunate is shewn.
She writes to her husband by this opportunity. I flatter myself, Sir, that
you will seize so favorable a conveyance to assure Major Walls and the
people of Kentucke that
nothing has been wanting on our part to stop the Indians from committing
further depredations on the Frontiers. There fore should a small party
escape from the remote part of the Wabash or elsewhere unknown to us, it
would be the height of imprudence to retaliate otherwise than upon the
party who are the immediate aggressors, in which case we may hope soon
to see matters restored to tranquillity, to the satisfaction of all parties..."
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