USA > Michigan > History of Michigan, civil and topographical, in a compendious form; with a view of the surrounding lakes > Part 18
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the same time spread out to their view the advantages of becom- ing incorporated with a republicangovernment, instead of being a servile appendage to the British monarchy. "Had I any doubt of ultimate success," says this proclamation, " I should ask your assistance ; but I come prepared for every contingency. I have a force which will break down all opposition, and that force is but the van-guard of a much greater." This bold and eloquent document was from the pen of Governor Cass. Under this invitation, many of the Canadians came over to the American side. Some of the officers of his army were disposed to proceed immediately to the storming of Malden ; but Gen. Hull, countenanced by a council of war, consider- ed it expedient to wait for his heavy artillery, which, it was alleged, was preparing at Detroit. The American army, there- fore, remained at Sandwich, while occasional foraging parties were sent out in order to procure provisions. Col. Cass, with a force of about two hundred and eighty men, soon after the army crossed, left the camp to reconnoitre the ground towards Malden, and he drove in a picket of the British which was stationed on a bridge crossing the river Canard. That bridge was only about four miles from Malden. After killing ten of the enemy, he took possession of the bridge. It was deemed important as a post by Col. Cass, and he proposed to Gen. Hull to maintain it as a prominent point for a future at- tack. That suggestion, however, was not regarded. Gen. Hull considered, or pretended to consider, that such a move- ment would probably bring on a general action, which it was desirous at that time to avoid, as it had been determined to vrait for artillery, and Col. M'Arthur had already drawn off a considerable force from the main strength of the army.
During this delay at Sandwich, an expedition was instigat ed and actually sent ont against Mackinaw. The first inti- mation which the commandant, Lieutenant Hanks, received of the declaration of war, was the summons from the British force to surrender under the very walls of the fort. It seems that the Indians were instructed to enter upon an indiscrimi- nate massacre in case any resistance should be made ; and as his force was incompetent to withstand the combined attack
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of the British and Indians, Lieutenant Hanks surrendered on the 17th of July. Lieutenant Hanks had at his command only about fifty-seven men, and the combined strength of the British and Indians amounted to one thousand and twenty- four, composed of the Whites, Siouxs, Winnebagoes, Talles- wain, Chippewas, and Ottawas.
Gov. Meigs of Ohio, had, in answer to the request of Gen. Hull, despatched Captain Brush to his aid with provisions. He was soon informed, however, that a party, constituted of British and Indians, had been sent out from Malden to Brownstown, in order to intercept him. Accordingly, on the 4th, Gen. Hull himself despatched a party, comprised of about two hundred men, under the command of Major Van Horn, to escort Captain Brush to the camp. The American party reached Brownstown on the Sth, but were surprised by the Indians, and the savages fired upon them from an ambuscade. The American party returned the fire, but they were soon over- powered by numbers, and fled from the field, where they left eighteen dead, and returned to Detroit.
From these facts, the enmity of the north-western savages was manifest, and it was anticipated that they would soon pour out from the wilderness, like the Goths and Vandals, upon the American forces. In fact, it had been the policy of Great Britain, as the war thickened, to excite a general confederacy of the Indian tribes against the Americans, un- der British protection. For this object councils were held, presents were forwarded, and the war-belt was circulated through the tribes. That volcano, which was pressed down by Gen. Harrison at the Prophet's Town in the battle with the Prophet, only slumbered to break out elsewhere with tenfold fury, and to pour its storms of fire upon the earth. Formal councils were held at Brownstown and Malden, in order to consider the propriety of their taking up arms against the Americans ; and we have seen that they were instigated by Elliot, the Indian Agent, to sharpen their tomahawks for the conflict. The policy of Great Britain was to bring over to their cause the powerful influence of Tecumseh, aided by that of his brother the Prophet. It must be admitted that
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the grievances of this warrior had a strong basis. Governor Harrison, as early as 1809, in his annual message to the In- diana legislature, declared, that owing to defects in the law of the United States, " every person has been allowed to trade with the Indians that pleases, which proves a source of num- berless abuses, of mischievous effect both to them and our- selves." In his message, two years after, is the following statement :- that " the utmost efforts to induce them to take up arms would be unavailing if only one of the many per- sons who have committed murders on the people could be brought to punishment." It is clear, therefore, that although the country, in its corporate capacity, was not instrumental in committing wrongs upon the Indians, still it cannot be de- nied that base wrongs were actually committed by many Americans, as individuals, upon the Indians. The grand ar- gument used by Tecumseh to induce the Indians to take up arms against the United States, was the fact that the white men were encroaching upon them, and taking away their lands, which the Great Spirit had ordained should be the common property of the Indians.
On the Sth of August, Gen. Hull called a council of war, in order to adjudge the question of expediency in proceeding upon the attack of Malden without the artillery from Detroit, and it was agreed to wait two days for the ordnance ; and in case it did not then arrive, to attack the fort. Between the fifth and the eighth day, the period which had been concluded upon as the time of attack, information was received by Gen. Porter, who then commanded the Niagara frontier, that the enemy were fast advancing to meet him ; that he need expect no diversion from the Niagara ; and that some of the British forces had already arrived at the garrison of Malden. These circumstances operating upon the somewhat timid mind of Gen. Hull, induced him to re-cross the river without any at- tempt at subjugating Canada. This he did on the 9th of August. His alleged ground for this proceeding, was the fact that Gen. Brock would soon arrive with succor to the British troops ; that the Indians were disengaged from Macki- naw, and would pour down in hordes upon him ; besides that
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his supply of provisions would be cut off from his want of communication with Ohio.
This unfortunate exigency was brought about by the ad- mirable policy of Sir George Prevost, the then Governor-ge- neral of Canada. As General Dearborn had been instructed to invade Canada from Niagara, and to co-operate with Hull at Detroit, it became the policy of the British to divide the two forces, in order that the English might prosecute their own ends. For that object Col. Baynes was sent from Mon- treal with a flag of truce, carrying to the American forces dispatches from his government containing a repeal of the British orders in council ; and upon the probable ground that these might produce a peace, he demanded an armistice. His design was to cause a delay, by which Gen. Dearborn might be separated from Gen. Hull, and that the British force might through this means be able to concentrate its strength upon the single army of the last-mentioned general. It was stipulated by General Dearborn, that should the President of the United States disapprove of the armistice, hostilities should re-commence between the forces after four days' notice of that fact. But the delay occasioned by the communication from Washington would afford ample time for the Governor- general to effectuate his design. The armistice was disap- proved by the President, but the Governor-general had gained his point before the news arrived to that effect.
On the day in which Gen. Hull re-crossed the Detroit River, Col. Miller was despatched with the fourth regiment and a body of militia, consisting of about 600 men, to es- cort the provisions which were expected from Ohio ; and his advance guard, under the command of Captain Snelling, met the enemy near Monguagon. The guard maintained its position until it was backed by the main body. The enemy consisted mainly of British and Indians, who were defended by a rough breastwork. After a brief but sharp contest, they were dislodged, and driven in boats across the river, leaving the Americans masters of the field. As provisions were expected, Col. Miller remained for some time on the battle- ground. but he soon received orders from Gen. Hull to re-
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turn to Detroit. Gen. Hull, in a letter to the Secretary of War, as matter of discouragement to the campaign, alleged that no advantage was gained by the American arms farther than the points of their bayonets extended. The battle of Monguagon was contended on the part of the British, by the English Canadians and Indians, who, having embarked from Malden, were drawn up in regular order of battle on the western banks of the river, and about fifteen miles below Detroit. In their defeat by Col. Miller, they retreated, under the cover of their armed vessels, toward which they were pursued for about two miles. Communications having been sent by Col. Miller to Detroit, Col. M'Arthur was detached with provisions for the American camp ; but a storm of rain coming on, the detachment was ordered by General Hull to return to the fort. In this action Tecumseh, the Shawanese warrior, leading on the savage hordes, maintained his bril- liant reputation ; and, although wounded, maintained his ground while the British regulars gave way, leaving about forty Indians dead upon the field. Arrangements were now made convey the expected provisions by a more circuitous and less exposed route ; and Colonels M'Arthur and Cass, having selected three hundred and fifty of the best troops from the army of General Hull, left Detroit on the 13th of August, for this expedition.
Gen. Brock, one of the most energetic and able of the Bri- tish commanders in Canada, arrived at Malden on the 14th of August, just five days after the armistice before-mentioned was to have taken effect ; and moving up to Sandwich on the 15th day of August, he summoned General Hull to surren- der. It appears that the British General had inquired re- garding the weak points of the character of his opponent, and had taken measures accordingly. As matter of in- ducement, he had sent a message to Gen. Hull to the fol- lowing effect :- " It is far from my intention to join in a war of extermination, but you must be aware that the nu- merous body of Indians who have attached themselves to my troops, will be beyond my control the moment the contest com- mences." To this communication Gen. Hull answered : " I
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have no other reply to make, than that I am prepared to meet any force which may be at your disposal." A know- ledge of the character of Gen. Hull convinced Gen. Brock that he had only to assume a boldness and appearance of de- termination to accomplish his own designs. His procrasti- nating and indecisive spirit while in Canada, was in itself a demonstration of the character of Gen. Hull ; and it is alleged that the vessel which had been captured at Malden contained a correspondence exhibiting a want of energy and firmness. On the return of the answer of Gen. Hull, Gen. Brock com- menced an immediate cannonade upon the American fort, which was returned with some effect on the American side from batteries which had before been muzzled. As it was probable, from the appearance of an armed vessel near the British side, that Gen. Brock intended to cross the river at Springwell, which is about - miles below Detroit, either at night or in the morning, Captain Snelling was sent to that point in order to prevent his passage. It was proposed that a heavy piece of ordnance should be placed on that bank, to compel the removal of the armed vessel, and also to prevent the crossing of the British force. Gen. Hull, however, dis- regarded this advice. Such a piece of ordnance would have done effective service, and, if abandoned, it might have been spiked. The detachment under Col. Snelling sent out for that object, was ordered to return by break of day to the fort. The Indian confederates of the English on the frontier of Michigan in 1812, were led by Tecumseh, This warrior was remarkable, not only for his courage, but for moral traits of character which made him prominent among the savages. There is evidence that during the whole course of the war he was opposed to the savage barbarities which were com- mitted by the Indians on their prisoners, and that he disdamned those little personal adornments which form a striking feature of Indian taste. His form and countenance were of a noble cast. About five feet ten inches higli, he was muscular and agile ; and had a dignified expression of countenance, with an eye like that of the eagle. Like Pontiac, he exhibited more of inquisitiveness regarding the customs of the whites than is
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usual with his race. In the battles of Brownstown, and at the surrender of Detroit, he was conspicuous. As an evi- dence of his aptness in war, Gen. Brock, before he crossed the river to Detroit, consulted Tecumseh as to the character of the country which he would be obliged to cross in case he advanced farther. Tecumseh, stretching a roll of elm bark upon the ground, with stones placed on each corner, etched with his scalping-knife a correct map of the woods, swamps, and streams of this portion of Michigan. Gratified with this display of aptitude, as well as for his boldness in inducing the Indians, not of his own party, to cross the De- troit River, Brock took off his sash, and publicly presented it to that warrior as an evidence of his approbation ; but Te- cumseh presented it to the Wyandot Chief, Round-Head, be- cause, as he said, the Wyandot Chief was an older and better warrior than himself. Although Tecumseh had been invest- ed with the rank of a Brigadier-general in the British army, he took no satisfaction in the military tinsel of civilized war- fare, and he adhered with undeviating perseverance to the Indian garb. During the whole course of the war his dress Ivas a deer-skin coat and leggins, and in that dress he was found when killed at the battle of the Thames. An excellent judge of position, his counsel was at all times valuable to the British commanders. When Detroit was surrendered by Gen. Hull, Tecumseh was at the head of the confederated Indians ; and being requested by Gen. Brock, after the capitu- lation, not to allow his Indians to massacre the prisoners, " No," said he, " I despise them too much to meddle with them." He was naturally of a silent and contemplative cast of mind, better fitted for the stormy duties of the field than the discussions of the council ; but, when roused, he could pour forth volumes of indignant and burning eloquence. Though he levied large subsidies to carry on his operations, it can be truly said to his credit that he preserved but little to himself. He fought not for profit or glory, but for the forests and the wigwams which gave him birth, for the rights of his fallen race. The American interest in his quarter, at that period, was environed with a powerful antagonizing in-
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fluence. Besides the open and avowed enemies of the British, there were large bodies of traders connected with the British fur companies, which would have leagued themselves with the British if their aid was granted in the war. It was for the interest of these traders to exclude the Americans from the possession of the country, as they would, in the event of the conquest of the soil, secure a wider scope for the exer- cise of their trading operations. At all events, the embodying of these traders was a subject of great dread to Gen. Hull before his capitulation. The numerous tribes of savages on the lakes, led on by the British, contributed in no small de- gree to increase the terror of the then Governor of Michigan ; commanded, as they were, by Tecumseh, Marpot, Logan, Walk-in-the-Water, Round-Head, and Split-Log, cach able and determined chiefs of malignant bands, who, under the conviction of real or imaginary wrongs, hated the Americans with the utmost intenseness, and had determined, by the aid of the British, to drive them, if possible, from the land.
Early on the morning of the 16th, the British crossed the river under cover of the armed vessel, and arrived without opposition at Springwell. Gen. Broek moved with his army in solid column along the bank of the river toward Detroit. At that period the Indians might be seen creeping along the edge of the forests back of Detroit, armed and painted for battle, like tigers crouching for their prey. When about a mile below the city, the British halted and took breakfast, when suddenly an order was given by Gen. Hull for the force which had been posted without the fort, to annoy the enemy, to retire within its walls. This order was received with the utmost indignation by the army, as the men retired within the fort, stacked their muskets, some of them dashing them with violence upon the ground. Soon after a white flag streamed out from the fort, an emblem of peace, but also of disgrace to the vanquished. Negotiations were immediately commenced, the regular troops were surrendered as prisoners of war. The public property was given up. No stipulation was made in favor of the Canadian allies, and the militia were ordered to return to their homes, not to serve again during
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the war unless they were exchanged. Thus ungloriously terminated the campaign of Gen. Hull upon the north-western frontier. For this surrender he was tried before a court- martial for treason and cowardice. The court gave a ver- dict of acquittal on the first count, but condemned him on the second, for cowardice and unofficer-like conduct; and sentenced him to death, at the same time recommending him to the mercy of the President of the United States. He was pardoned by the Executive, but at the same time exiled from all military command. The British force is stated by Gen. Brock to have been thirteen hundred, seven hundred of whom were Indians ; while Gen. Hull, in his official report, states the number of his own men to have been only eight hundred. Many of the Canadian militia were dressed in red coats, in or- der to appear like British regulars. It seems, in fact, that before Gen. Brock had reached Springwell, he received information from an Indian of the arrival of M'Arthur's detachment in the rear, and he hastened forward to prevent the defeat of his plans before the American forces should be combined. Col. M'Ar- thur surrendered on his arrival at the fort, although the party temporarily under the command of Captain Rowland, and which had been dispatched under Captain Brush, being then near the River Raisin, rejected the terms and retreated to Ohio. The force under Col. Cass was also embraced in the capitulation.
A feeling of deep apprehension seemed to pervade the breast of Gen. Hull on his first arrival at Detroit from the Canada side. He had sent to Captain Heald at Chicago, to evacuate that place and to conduct his force to Detroit. This was attempted, and the fort was destroyed. Before the de- tachments under Col. Cass and M'Arthur, he suggested to his officers the propriety of removing his whole force to the Rapids of the Maumee, on the ground that the whole British power from Niagara east along the upper lakes was collect- ing at Malden ; that Lake Erie was shut up by an opposing force ; and that all his stores would be cut off, as the entire road from Ohio to Detroit was infested by hostile Indians. This resolution, however, was not countenanced by his offi- cers, and he was told that the Ohio militia would desert in a
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body if the matter was attempted. In fact, before the sur- render of Detroit, Gen. Hull communicated his design to send a flag of truce ; but he was advised to call a council of war, in order to consider the subject ; but he was answered, that there was no time for consultation. Gen. Hull subse- quently made a defence of his conduct, and a public testimo- nial was given in his favor in the city of Boston. Some of the older citizens of Detroit allege that he had an interview with the British commandant on the evening previous to the capitulation, and that boxes of gold were carried to his house as the price of his treason. Of that charge he stands acquitted by the verdict of his country. Party feeling at that time ran high; and it was alleged that his soldiers would not obey him. It is proved that the guards in the fort were allowed to sleep at midnight when the enemy were impending. Notwithstanding the want of forecast in the war department of the United States, in not furnishing a knowledge of the declaration of war, and providing the means of defence for the north-western frontier, Gen. Hull, if not adjudged guilty of downright treason, ought to be convicted at the bar of public opinion of a want of ordinary general- ship and firmness. He allowed Col. Proctor, who had suc- ceeded Col. St. George in the command at Malden, to erect batteries under the very guns of the American fort, upon the British bank of the river, without an attempt at prevention. He ordered Col. Miller to return to Monguagon, when he should have permitted him to proceed to the River Raisin. He neglected the nocturnal attack upon General Brock's forces, which had been recommended by Gen. Jesup. He allowed Gen. Brock to cross at Springwell without molesta- tion. He was guilty of procrastination in prosecuting the siege of Malden, and gave up the foothold which he had already gained in Canada ; and, last of all, when the British were advancing against a fort, fortified with defences and fitted in every way for a siege, with the ramparts strong, the ditches broad and deep, upon a ground filled with the means of annoyance, and mounted with cannon loaded with grape shot, which would have mowed down harvests of death, with
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an orchard on one side affording advantageous posts for rifle- men, and on the other side a wide river, he hoisted the ban- ner of peace, and gave up all to British conquest. Gen. Hull had bad advisers, but he ought to have relied on his own judgment. It is the province of History to rake out truth, even from the ashes of the dead, although no voice of defence can issue from the silence of the tomb, and the grave bars the door to human passions. Time had given decrepitude to his mind and body, and age had bleached his silver locks. The stone which covers his grave may be inscribed with the brightest records of his early fame, and Pity sheds a tear upon the blot which blackens the monumental marble .*
As it was made an important object to open a communication with the River Raisin, six hundred men were detached under the command of Lieutenant Col. Miller, to carry out that design and protect the provisions under the escort of Captain Brush. The force was comprised of the fourth United States Regi- ment, and two small detachments under the command of Lieut. Stansbury, and a portion of volunteers from Ohio and Michigan. When the detachment had proceeded so far down the Detroit River as Monguagon, about fourteen miles from Detroit, they were fired upon by a long line of British troops and Indians from Malden, which was formed behind a breast- work of logs, and stretching along the dense woods on the left. The Indian portion of the British force was under the command of Tecumseh. Lieutenant Miller ordered his whole line to advance, and with only a single fire, to proceed imme- diately to a charge with the bayonet. At this charge, which was executed in a most gallant manner, the British and In- dians commenced a retreat, and continued moving on ; while the Indians at the left, under the command of Tecumseh, fought with the utmost desperation. So great, indeed, was the obstinacy of the savages, that a single Indian, whose leg
* It is stated by a negro, who was in the employment of Gen. Hull, that the American commander passed across the Detroit River in a boat on the night preceding the surrender ! that he there met a number of British officers, and re- ceived several boxes of gold as the price of his treason. It is due to justice to say that no credit should be given to such a statement.
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was broken by a musket ball, and, when disabled and writh- ing upon the ground from the agony occasioned by the wound, deliberately loaded his rifle and shot a horseman be- longing to the cavalry, who had straggled in that direction. This savage continued loading and firing until he was despatched by the breach of a musket. Many of the Indians were at that time seen lodged in the trees, where, with their arrows and rifles, they effected the most dreadful havoc. At this time the cavalry did not charge upon the enemy as they retreated ; had they done so, the victory would have been complete and brilliant. On the British side, the regulars and volunteers consisted of about four hundred, together with a large number of Indians, commanded by Major Muir of the forty-first regiment. Major Muir and Tecumseh were wound- ed, while forty Indians were found dead upon the field. The Americans lost ten non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and forty-five wounded ; and of the Ohio and Michigan volunteers, eight were killed and twelve wounded.
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