Compendium of history and biography of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan, Part 12

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago H. Taylor & Co.
Number of Pages: 858

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As soon as Hull was notified of the battle of Monguagon he dispatched Colonel Mc- Arthur with one hundred men to carry provisions to Colonel Miller and to assist in bring- ing back the wounded and dead. McArthur returned on the 13th and was sent on the fol- lowing day with Colonel Cass and a detachment of three hundred men to assist Captain

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

Brush. This detachment set out without provisions, on the assurance from Hull that food would be sent them at once. The party marched twenty-four miles before they halted, on August 14th, but having no provisions and seeing no traces of Indians, it was decided, upon consultation, to return to Detroit. In the meantime affairs had been quite active on the other side of the river.

General Isaac Brock arrived at Amherstburg with three hundred soldiers on August 13th, and immediately assumed command of the entire British forces. His presence instilled an enthusiasm into the militia that they had not before possessed. All the troops, regulars, militia and Indians, began preparation for an aggressive movement against the Americans at Detroit. All British troops were concentrated on the Canadian side of the river. The Americans at Sandwich retreated to the American side and the enemy, taking possession of the position so vacated, began the erection of batteries, unmolested. Their work continued for two days before they were in a position to commence the bombardment of Detroit.

On Saturday, August 15th, shortly after midday, a flag of truce was sent by Brock to Hull, demanding the immediate surrender of the latter. This flag was carried by Lieu- tenant Colonel McDonald and Captain Glegg of Brock's army. The two officers were blindfolded and taken to a house near the fort, where they were met by Hull, who refused to surrender. The British then began cannonading the city. There were three batteries on the American side within the village enclosure, one of them being placed in what was then called Judge Woodward's garden, near the corner of Jefferson avenue and Wayne street, on an elevation; and the others near the river bank, one being near the garden above mentioned and the other near the foot of Woodward avenue. These batteries returned shot for shot until late in the night, one of the enemy's batteries being silenced.

During the night six hundred Indians, under Colonel Mathew Elliott, crossed the river and encamped along the line of the river road in Springwells not far from the present Fort Wayne. Hull was informed that Brock's forces had moved away from Sandwich prepar- atory to crossing the river. Captain Snelling was sent down the river with a detachment and a small gun to attack the enemy's ship, "Queen Charlotte," which lay in the stream. No shots were fired by this detachment, which returned to the fort in the morning. Before daylight of the 16th, Hull aroused Major Thomas S. Jessup of the regulars and directed him to send a messenger recalling McArthur and Cass. The artillery fire was again begun on both sides of the river and the British soldiers who were already below the town began to cross to the American side under cover of two of their gunboats. No effort was made by Hull to check this advance. Major Jessup was directed to order Colonel Findlay's regi- ment and what remained of the commands of McArthur and Cass, in line of battle about a quarter of a mile below the fort, where there was a line of high pickets. The enemy were soon seen marching along the river road toward the fort. Jessup hastened back to give Hull information of the approach of the British and to obtain orders to open fire. These orders were not given, although the detachment occupied a most advantageous posi- tion. A gun was also mounted which could have raked the advancing columns, which were in close formation. Jessup's announcement was the first information Hull had that the enemy had crossed the river. At Hull's trial every particle of evidence that could be obtained against him was produced and printed, but there were two of his letters that were not then known to be in existence. Indeed, they were considered of so little value by their possessor that it was not until recently that they were published. Evidence that the letters were sent appears in several places in the trial record, but their contents are not given.

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

As soon as it was light on the morning of the 16th, and as early as five o'clock, Hull sent his son, Captain Abraham F. Hull, across the river with a flag of truce and with a letter reading as follows :

Detroit, 16th August, 1812.

General Brock :

I propose a cessation of hostilities for one hour to open negociations for the surrender of Detroit. Yours &c.

William Hull,

B. Gen'l. Com'g.

Captain Hull did not deliver this letter in person to Brock, as the latter had passed down the river some time before the messenger's arrival, and was either on the point of passing to the American side or had already done so. Young Hull did not deliver the letter to anyone at the time, but remained with it on the Canadian side until the surrender of Detroit.

The heavy gun fire of the English from the Canadian batteries continued to be exceedingly wild even after it was broad daylight. Though some damage was done the houses of the town, few of the inhabitants were injured. A court martial was in progress at this time in the fort, investigating the action of Lieutenant Hanks in surrendering Mackinac. While his trial was being held, a shell from the enemy's camp crashed through the building and killed Lieutenant Hanks, two officers, two privates and a surgeon. A second surgeon was wounded. The trial record shows that at this time the main body of the troops "were so crowded inside the fort as to render it impossible for them to act offensively-that is, just before the articles of capitulation were agreed upon ;- the orders (to place the regulars inside the fort) were given to Colonel Findlay immediately after fire, when the flag was sent by Captain Hull." Many of the townspeople were also within the enclosure at this time.

Major Anderson was in command of the battery in Woodward's garden. A British officer with a flag of truce rode up and asked why the flag of truce had been sent across the river. He was told that General Hull had sent a letter to Brock. Lieutenant Henry Jackson Hunt was sent to notify Hull of the errand of the British officer, Lieutenant Duer, and to ascertain what reply should be made to him. Hunt returned with a sealed paper addressed to General Brock and with directions to Major Snelling to return with Lieutenant Duer and to deliver the letter to Brock. Brock was a little in advance of his troops, the latter having marched as far as the Henry farm, a point where the Michigan Central railroad crosses River street. .

The letter borne by Snelling to Brock reads as follows :

Sir :

Detroit, 16th. August, 1812.

The object of the Flag which passed the river, was to propose a cessation of hostilities for one hour for the purpose of entering into a negociation for the surrender of Detroit. Yours &c. William Hull. B- Gen'1.

Gen. Brock.

Comg.

It does not appear that any person in the American army, save General Hull himself, knew of the contents of these letters at the time they were sent, nor did he have the assist- ance' or advice of any of his officers in their preparation. Major Snelling knew of the general nature of the letter he bore, for he was asked by Brock if he was authorized to settle the terms of the surrender. Upon Snelling's negative reply Colonel McDonald and Captain Glegg were directed to return to the fort with him. They were immediately

humain 16th aug 1012

1 propose a efectos. hostilities for one hour 1 to open amigaciation for

FACSIMILE OF HULL'S LETTER

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

taken to a marquee which had but recently been erected in front of the fort, on the south- east corner near the present location of Congress street. Here the British officers con- ferred with General Hull, Captain Elijah Brush and with Lieutenant Colonel Miller.

As mentioned above, Colonel Findlay, with some of his own troops and a portion of the regiments of McArthur and Cass, had been stationed at a distance west of the fort to resist the advance of the enemy. After he had asked for orders to open fire, Findlay was commanded to retire, without firing a shot. As he fell back, he saw the white flag on the staff on the fort and was told of the surrender. Aghast at the news, the brave colonel rushed up to Hull and demanded : "What in h- am I ordered here for?" Hull attempted to tell him that he could obtain better terms from Brock then than if he delayed. "Terms! Damnation! We can beat them on the plain. I did not come here to capitulate; I came here to fight," was Findlay's retort.

In the meantime, and before the return of Colonel Findlay, the white flag had been hoisted over the fort by Captain Burton, under orders from General Hull, and was seen by the troops on their return. The firing from the fort had ceased some time before and the fire from the Sandwich battery stopped soon after the cessation on the American side. Though Colonel Findlay's men protested hotly on being ordered to retire they obeyed the order and stacked arms, loudly condemning Hull's temerity.

Hull, Brush, Colonel Miller and Captain Charles Fuller, representing the American side, Colonel McDonald and Major Glegg, representing the British, then agreed upon the following terms of capitulation, transferring the control of the entire northwest. The articles of surrender follow :

Camp Detroit, August 16th, 1812.

Capitulation of surrendering Fort Detroit, entered into between Maj. Gen. Brock, commanding his Britannic Majesty's forces of the one part, and Brig. General Hull, com- manding the Northwest army of the United States of the other part.

Article First. Fort Detroit, with all the troops, regulars as well as militia, will be immediately surrendered to the British forces under the command of Maj. Gen. Brock, and will be considered prisoners of war, with the exception of such of the militia of the Michigan Territory, as have not joined the army.

Article 2nd. All public stores, arms and public documents including everything also of public nature, will be immediately given up.

Article 3d. Private property and private persons of every description will be respected.

Article 4th. His excellency, Brig. Gen. Hull, having expressed a desire that a detach- ment from the state of Ohio on its way to join his army, as well as one sent from Fort Detroit, under the command of Col. McArthur, should be included in the above capitula- tion, it is accordingly agreed to.

It is, however, to be understood, that such parts of the Ohio militia as have not joined the army, will be permitted to return home on condition that they will not serve during the war; their arms, however, will be delivered up if belonging to the public.

Article 5th. The garrison will march out at the hour of 12 o'clock this day and the British forces take immediate possession of the fort.

J. McDonald, Lieut. Col. Militia, P. A. D. C. J. B. Glegg, Major, A. D. C. James Miller, Lieut. Col. 5th U. S. Inft. E. Brush, Col. Ist. Reg. Mich. Militia. Approved, Isaac Brock, Maj. Gen.

Approved,

Com. Hull, Brig. Gen. Comm'g. N. W. Army. A true Copy :

Robt. Nichol, Lieut. Col. & Qr. M. Gen. Militia.

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

The articles of capitulation were read to the men by Major Jessup. At 12 o'clock noon, August 16th, the troops stacked their arms before the fort and became prisoners of war. Brock made a detailed report, giving the number of his troops, as follows: Thirty artillery, 250 Forty-first Regiment, 50 Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 400 militia, and 600 Indians, making a total of 1,330. Thirty-five pieces of ordnance and a large store of ammunition were surrendered, with the brig "Adams." Hull reported 976 serviceable men under his command, not including the men under Cass, McArthur and Brush.

The detachment that had been sent down the river under Colonel McArthur and Colonel Cass had proceeded some twenty-five miles when lack of supplies necessitated a return. The party met a messenger from Hull ordering a retreat. Nearing the fort on the morning of the 16th, Cass and McArthur were told of the surrender. Instead of pro- ceeding further toward Detroit, they fell back to the river Rouge and took a position of defense. They were soon informed by deserters from the army that they were included in the capitulation and shortly afterward, on an order from Hull, the soldiers marched to the fort and surrendered their arms.

Captain Henry Brush was still at the river Raisin. There he received news of the surrender but was not willing to credit the story. Captain Thomas Rowland, who was present, exclaimed with an oath: "It is treason!" A council was at once called, which concluded that Brush was not bound by the articles of capitulation. Captain Elliott, son of Mathew Elliott, the British Indian agent, was sent to the Raisin by the English to take 'over Brush's command. He was at once made prisoner and forced to retreat with the command until it was well into Ohio.

The captured officers at Detroit were hurriedly put on board the vessels belonging to the English government and were sent down the river and lake to Montreal. Hull, who was accompanied by his daughter, was put on board the "Queen Charlotte" and left Detroit August 17th. Captain Dyson, with his company of regulars, was left at Amherstburg and the other regulars proceeded to Montreal. The Ohio volunteers were taken to Buffalo and there permitted to return to their homes. On the wall of a building at the northwest corner of McGill and Notre Dame streets in Montreal, is a tablet bearing this inscription : "General Hull, United States army, 25 officers, 350 men, entered prisoners of war 10th September, 1812."

General Brock, although a relentless enemy, inspired the respect of the Americans by his bravery and honorable conduct. A few weeks after leaving Detroit he was killed, at Queenston Heights, while gallantly attempting to rally his men.

The object of the Hogy, where.

haped the moving, was to propose

a sportion of hostilities for one

hour, for the purpose of

Intering ente, a negociation

for the Jamverder of Debreit -

larry -

FACSIMILE OF HULL'S LETTER

CHAPTER X.

(CONTRIBUTED BY C. M. BURTON.)

Hull's Trial by Court Martial-Members of the Court-Hull Sentenced to be Shot-Execu- tion of Sentence Remitted-Efforts to Exonerate Hull in Later Years-The Lewis Cass Account of Surrender of Detroit-Extracts from Hull's Arguments at Time of Trial.

Governor Hull was tried by a court martial that convened in Albany, in January, 1814. The charges against him in connection with the surrender of Detroit were (I) treason, (2) cowardice, and (3) neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer. The mem- bers of the court were Major General Henry Dearborn, president; and Brigadier General Bloomfield, Colonel Peter Little, Colonel William N. Irvine, Colonel J. B. Fenwick, Colonel Robert Bogardus, Lieutenant Colonel James House, Lieutenant Colonel William Scott, Lieutenant Colonel William Stewart, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Dennis, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel S. Conner, Lieutenant Colonel S. B. David and Lieutenant Colonel John W. Livingstone. The special judge advocate was Martin VanBuren.

The trial began on the 3d of January and was continued until March 23d following. Hull was acquitted of the charge of treason and of some of the other specifications, but he was found guilty of cowardice, and was sentenced to be shot. The sentence was approved by President Madison, but its execution was remitted.

It is thought probable that the excited condition of the country and the bias of mili- tary officers of the state had much to do in forming the opinion of the military court. A constant and untiring effort for nearly one hundred years has been made and is still being made to exonerate Hull and to show that his actions were justified by his situation and surroundings. The first official account of the surrender of Detroit was made by Lewis Cass. His letter was written at Washington, September 10, 1812, and purports to have been made by direction of Colonel McArthur. It was in consequence of this report that the torrent of abuse was heaped upon Hull, who was then a prisoner. The report consists of a succession of charges and was followed by a series of similar attacks when Cass was called as the first witness at the subsequent trial of Hull. Whether Cass, at this time, had in mind the possibility that he might be a successor to Hull in the office of governor of Michigan Territory, is difficult now to determine, but it is certain that Hull had no more bitter or relentless enemy.

Next to the charge of treason, against which Hull successfully contended, that of cowardice most deeply affected him, and he resented it with all the powers of a man over- burdened with the disgrace of his surrender. In the course of his argument on this point he said :

"But, gentlemen, upon the charge of cowardice, I am bold to say, I have no dread. I have fought more battles than many of the young men who have impeached me of this crime have numbered years. I appeal to the history that bears record of those who were engaged in the bloody contests for our liberty; there you shall find my name,-but not as a coward! I have brought before you the testimony of the few who remained of those who were my companions in arms in times that tried men's souls. Do they say I am a

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

coward? I invoke the spirits of the departed heroes who have died at my side by the sword of the enemy, to say if I am a coward.

"I would call the shades of Gates, Wayne, Schuyler and of Washington to tell you how often they have led me into battle and to say if they found me a coward. Will you believe that the spirit which has so often prompted me to risk my life for my country should now have so far forsaken me as that I have become a traitor and a coward?

"Will you believe that the years in which I have grown gray in my country's service should so far have changed my nature as that I could have been the base and abject thing my enemies have represented? No, gentlemen; that blood which animated my youth, age has not chilled. I at this moment feel its influence, and it makes me dare to say that no man ever did or can think me a coward."

Hull asserted in his defence that he surrendered Detroit because he felt that he could not hold it against the British army, and that if he undertook to resist and failed, the place would be made to suffer the horrors of an Indian massacre. Brock threatened, in his demand for the surrender of the post, sent to Hull August 15th, that we would turn the Indians loose on the helpless citizens, and Hull feared the threat would be carried into execution.

Brock, who had personally conducted the campaign against Detroit, left the place to attend to other duties along the Niagara frontier. He gave the territory of Michigan into the civil and military charge of Henry Procter. Judge Woodward served as secretary. Such soldiers as were not necessary to take the prisoners down to Amherstburg and Mon- treal were left with Procter to maintain the British possession of Detroit, and to protect the people from the Indians. Captain Eastman, an American soldier and at this time a prisoner, remained in Detroit twenty-four days after the capitulation. He stated that on the third day following the surrender two hundred and fifty Indians came from Saginaw and that on the Ioth or IIth of September, eleven hundred or twelve hundred more came from Mackinac. It was intended to have these Indians aid the British in the attack on Detroit, but the siege ended so quickly and unexpectedly that the services of these savages were not required, and now that they had arrived, their presence was unwelcome alike to the Americans and to the British.

CHAPTER XI.

Progress of War of 1812-British Occupy Detroit-Hull's Memoirs-Attempts to Re-estab- lish American Prestige-Expedition Under General Winchester-Surrender of Winchester-Massacre of Americans by Indians-Efforts of General Harrison- . Expedition Against Fort Malden-Procter Lays Siege Before Fort Meigs and Attacks Fort Stephenson.

After the capitulation of Detroit the British, evidently realizing the true weakness of their position and fearing that the American troops would disregard the terms of surren- der and reopen hostilities, were prompt to take possession of the fort. The American troops were marched out of the enclosure and formed in line for the surrender. The local militia dispersed to their homes, the Ohio volunteers were escorted to the mouth of the Cuyahoga river and allowed their freedom, but Hull and his regulars were transported to Montreal. There they were held as prisoners of war until exchanged.

Hull's memoirs, written after his pardon by President Madison, are generally consid- ered to be a weak attempt to justify his official actions. Of late years an attempt has been made to exonerate the unfortunate brigadier-general and governor, and in the spring of 1908 a field piece was even dedicated in his honor by a post of the Detroit Grand Army of the Republic. It is altogether probable, however, that so long as the memory of man shall endure; so long as the standards of courage and achievement and loyalty to duty remain what they now are, Hull's official career will always be regarded with scorn, as a disgrace to the northwest, to the army, to himself and to his government. In the rush of events incident to the regaining of what his cowardice, and possibly his greater culpability, lost to his country, a most generous fate allowed this man to sink into obscurity. While an endur- ing government was being builded on the ruins of his misdirection, this once arrogant man of parts-peculiar parts they were-was permitted to live that he might endure the severest punishment : that of seeing others accomplish in honor and under difficulties what he had in dishonor failed to achieve under the most favorable conditions.

Paralyzed as was the army, deeply chagrined as was the government, disheartened as were the prisoners, not a moment's time was lost in attempting to re-establish American prestige. Governors Harrison and Meigs began at once the recreation of the northwestern army. Again volunteers were rendezvoused in Ohio. Again Kentucky contributed a gen- erous quota of her best fighting stock. The mobilizing of this second army of the north- west occupied the fall of 1812. In January following, General Winchester, in command of the Ohio and Kentucky volunteers, started northward with the object of retrieving the American losses under Hull. Reaching the rapids of the Maumee, Winchester sent two- thirds of his army of nine hundred men to the relief of Frenchtown, which was being threatened with an Indian massacre. A force of Indians and British were defeated by this command on January 18th, and two days later the entire force of volunteers arrived. On the 22d a sortie was made from Malden, which ended disastrously for the Americans. Though scouts are said to have warned Winchester of the probability of an attack, his army was unprepared. The British and Indians advanced and opened fire with such ferocity that Winchester's army was thrown into immediate confusion. Small detachments

DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY

sought escape by retreating into the surrounding woods but almost invariably these parties were overtaken and massacred by overwhelming hordes of savages.

Winchester finally accepted the terms of surrender offered by Procter, who commanded the allied British and Indians. All available boats were placed at the disposal of even the slightly wounded British and Indians, regardless of the pitiful plight of many of the severely wounded Americans. Procter agreed, however, to transport the Americans to Malden as soon as his own injured were given attention and promised to leave a guard as protection against the infuriated savages. This he evidently had no intention of doing. With the withdrawal of his main force, but one officer and a few men were left in fulfillment of his agreement. Scarcely were the English out of sight, before the Indians held council and determined to avenge their own losses by killing every American who was unable to stand a forced march to Malden and Detroit. Two houses in which were confined most of the wounded prisoners were fired; and other prisoners not confined in these buildings were scalped and thrown into the burning ruins. Such of the volunteers as were able to crawl, showed fight, and many escaped from the flaming prisons only to be mercilessly killed out- right or burned alive. Though these atrocities were perpetrated by savages, it is quite probable that the massacre was not beyond Procter's expectations. No record has been brought forward to show that he ever sent back his boats for the American wounded, as he would have done had he expected to take them to Detroit alive. While such damnable practices cannot be entirely disassociated with the "honor" of the British arms at that time, Procter's perfidious inhumanity can only be compared to that of the beast, Hamilton.

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Compendium of history and biography of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan, Part 12

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932 Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago H. Taylor & Co. Number of Pages: 858

Author: Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago H. Taylor & Co.
Number of Pages: 858