River Raisin Massacre-- Part 11: Was It an Orderly, Utilitarian Massacre?

As Dr. Gustavus Bower later described what transpired with the Indians:  "They did not molest any person or thing upon their first approach, but kept sauntering about until there were a large number collected (one or two hundred) at which time they began plundering the houses of the inhabitants and the massacre of the wounded prisoners."

Even then, the killings followed a method that -- however brutal -- might be described as utilitarian.  The wounded who could nottravel were the primary victims, and they were killed swiftly.  The looting, the taking of able-bodied and the burning of buildings and structures were done methodically --  Dr. John Todd, a surgeon with the Kentucky 5th Regiment Volunteer Militia later described these actions as a kind of "orderly conduct."

(By the way, seeing the name John Todd in the paragraph above and him being from Kentucky, I had to wonder if this man might be related to Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.  He was.  He was her uncle.  Small world.  For more on him in the War of 1812 click on the label below.)

(I am taking these last two paragraphs directly from the article and have a hard time accepting them.  There is no such a thing as a utilitarian or orderly conduct massacre.)

A Massacre Is a Massacre.   --Brock-Perry

Mary Todd Lincoln's Uncle, Samuel Briggs Todd

From Find A Grave.

Born:  15 May 1793, Lexington, Ky.

Died:  30 September 1876, aged 83

Buried:  Columbia Cemetery, Columbia, Missouri.

Veteran of War of 1812.    Wounded in battle.

This name was also given to one of Mary Todd Lincoln's half brothers.

--Brock-Perry

Mary Todd Lincoln's Uncle, David Todd-- Part 2: Missouri and a Whig

In 1819, President James Monroe appointed him territorial circuit judge of northern Missouri.    When Boone County, Missouri, separated from Howard County, Todd was one of the citizens who purchased land on which Columbia was laid out in 1818-1819.

When Missouri became a state in 1821, Governor Alexander McNair appointed Todd  state circuit judge, a position he held until 1837.

In the summer of 1840, Mary Todd traveled to Columbia, Missouri, and visited with her uncle, David Todd.  While there, she became good friends with the judge's daughter, Ann.  This was also the year in which Mary became engaged to Abraham Lincoln.

He was an ardent Whig, serving as a delegate to the Whig National Convention that selected William Henry Harrison, Todd's commanding officer during the War of 1812,  for president in 1840.

In 1850, he was practicing law in Boone County and owned real estate valued at $3,500.

--Brock-Perry

Mary Todd Lincoln's Uncle, Judge David Todd-- Part 1: War of 1812 Veteran and Lawyer

From Papers of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, Illinois.

DAVID TODD

Born:  29 March 1786   Fayette County, Ky.

Died:  9 June 1859  Columbia, Missouri

Buried:   Columbia Cemetery, Columbia, Mo.

David Todd was the uncle of Mary Todd Lincoln and brother of Mary's father, Robert Smith Todd.

He attended Transylvania University, served in the military in the War of 1812, read law with Mr. George M. Bibb, earned admission to the Kentucky bar and served in the Kentucky legislature.

In 1817, he and his wife, Eliza, whom he married in 1810, and with whom he had ten children, moved to the frontier town of Franklin in Missouri Territory.

--Brock-Perry

Dr. John Todd-- Part 3: From Kentucky to Springfield, Illinois

From The People Lincoln Knew site.

Mary Todd Lincoln's uncle and de facto patriarch of the Springfield, Illinois, Todds.  Robert Smith Todd, Mary's father, never moved to Springfield.

He was born in Lexington Kentucky in 1787 and received an excellent education, graduating from Transylvania College in Lexington and the Medical University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  he served in the War of 1812 as surgeon general of Kentucky troops  before returning to his Lexington, Ky., practice.

In 1813, he married Elizabeth Smith, age 20, .

In 1827, John Quincy Adams appointed him Register of the General Land Office in Springfield, Illinois.  He held that position until 1829, when he was removed for political reasons following the election of Andrew Jackson to president.  John Todd then practiced medicine in Springfield until his death at age 77 in 1865.

--Brock-Perry

Dr. John Todd-- Part 2: At The River Raisin

Brother of Robert Smith Todd (Mary Todd Lincoln's father, so he world be her uncle.)

From the River Raisin.org site.

Under Selected American Leaders page.

Dr. John Todd, born near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1787.  Was  surgeon of the 5th Kentucky Volunteer Regiment in 1812.  Stayed behind to take care of the wounded after the Battle of the River Raisin.

At the British hospital at Stony Creek  on January 23, 1813, he urged the British to return to French Town to rescue  the wounded who were being killed by the Indians, but to no avail.

After the war, Todd practiced medicine in Lexington, then moved to Illinois.  His niece, Mary Todd would become the wife of Abraham Lincoln.

--Brock-Perry

Dr. John Todd-- Part 1: Brother of Robert Smith Todd

From Find-A-Grave.

Brother of John Smith Todd, uncle of Mary Todd Lincoln.

Graduate of Transylvania University and University of Pennsylvania. 

Took part in the War of 1812.    Acted as Surgeon General of Kentucky troops.

Was at the Battle of River Raisin where he was taken prisoner and later confined to  the "Pens of Malden."  Paroled in winter of 1813.

Returned to Kentucky where he continued his medical practice.

1817 moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, and 1827 to Springfield, Illinois.  Buried Oak Wood Cemetery in Springfield.

--Brock-Perry