The following was taken from an article that I got from the Canadian Archives.

I would appreciate any comments. It amazes me as I delve into the history of the Caldwells, what a large part they played in the birth of the United States and Canada -and Caldwells were on both sides. . .they were Loyalists and other Caldwells fighting for the colonies.

"Outbreak of War - On the outbreak of the War of 1812, Captain Caldwell became actively engaged in bringing in the Michigan Wyandottes on the side of the British. Captain Billie Caldwell, his Indian son, was then a chief among the Pottawatomies at Chicago, and he succeeded in bringing that tribe into the British interest, and they were in many of the frontier engagements. Caldwell's sons by his second wife were volunteers and served along with the father in the capture of Detroit, the battle at Fort Meigs, and at Fort Sandusky and other engagements of the Right Division.

Captain Billie Caldwell also known by the Indian name of Sagonash, was the accidental cause of the massacre of the Raisin at the battle of Frenchtown. At a time when the Americans were hopelessly outnumbered he went in advance of the lines with a plea to suspend the fight to prevent further bloodshed, but in his excitement he called out in the Indian tongue. Whereupon, misunderstanding his motives one of the Americans sprang upon him and drove a knife through his neck. This action infuriated the Indians and many of the Americans, some of them helplessly wounded, were slain by the Indians in their fury. Captain Billie survived his desperate wound and lived for many years.

After the war he was briefly in trade in Essex County where he was in expectation of an appointment in the Indian Department but not receiving the office he had solicited, he returned to Chicago where he was a trader. The site of his trading station is now in the heart of Chicago. As neighbors there he had John Kinzie and Kinzie's wife, the former Eleanor Little McKillop, both earlier Essex County residents.

When in later years the American government removed many of the Indians across the Mississippi, Capt. Billie Caldwell moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and it was near there he died.

Upon the defeat of Barclay by Commodore Perry in the battle of Lake Erie, the American army crossed Lake Erie in small boats landing near Bar Point, and advanced on the town. The British and the Indian rear guard had left several days before the American advance. However, a small engagement took place on the Caldwell farm between some of Caldwell's servants and a small party of Americans, two were killed and Caldwell's house burned. It is said that this burning was in retaliation for Caldwell's conduct in Kentucky half a generation before."

Jerry Gagnon