FIVE DAYS AT TOLEDO. 261 



tract of land eight miles wide at the western end, 

 and five at the eastern, which both claimed. The 

 people living in this tract were therefore between two 

 fires, some preferring to be governed by the laws of 

 the territory, and the others giving their allegiance to 

 Ohio. The respective governors were the principals 

 in the quarrel, and showed a strong disposition to 

 fight, while the chief executive at Washington, being 

 unable to interfere, was obliged to assume the role of 

 a spectator, advising, however, that the interested 

 parties defer action until the convening of Con- 

 gress. 



The advantages were pretty evenly divided, except 

 that Michigan, as a territory, in attempting to prevent 

 the State from enforcing her supposed right, aroused a 

 strong State pride among the " Buckeyes.'' The mi- 

 litia was called out on both sides and Michigan 

 threatened with arrest those who should attempt to 

 re-mark the boundary line — the compliment being 

 generously returned by Ohio. 



In the midst of these hostilities the Legislature of 

 Ohio created a new county, calling it Lucas, after the 

 Governor, which included a portion of the contested 

 territory, and had for its seat the town of Toledo. To 

 hold court at this county-seat without the intervention 

 of the authorities of Michigan would virtually decide 

 the case in Ohio's favor, but how this bold coup cVetaz 

 was to be accomplished, and on the date appointed — • 

 the seventh of September — was a question that puzzled 

 the Governor himself. General Brown, in charge of 

 the Michigan militia, was reported to be in Toledo at 

 the time, with a force twelve hundred strong ; while 

 Colonel Vanfleet, the Ohio warrior, was to rely upoD 



