HISTORY

Underground Railroad 1812

Although the slave trade was outlawed in England in 1807, slavery is not official abolished until the British Slavery Abolition Act in 1834. Yet in the old Northwest, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin slavery was never legal. This setup a reverse Underground Railroad out of Upper Canada where slaves actually escaped south to the US. During the Chesapeake-Leopard affair of 1807 Gov. Hull of Michigan (Yes, the same one that surrendered Detroit with out firing a shot in 1812) formed a company of Black militia. Although disbanded after the crisis abated, many of the members joined US units in the area during the War of 1812.

British Col. Grant reported to his superiors that the Americans had a company of 36 'Renegade Negros' that were actually standing guard at Ft. Detroit.