USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 15
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His faithful blade he shivered there- Remonstrance would not hear; He would not strike his country's flag- The brave old volunteer!
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the cannon were embarked on board the floating batteries, and every requisite article was prepared. The spirit and zeal, the ardor and the animation displayed by officers and men on learning the near accom- plishment of their wishes was a sure and sacred pledge that in the hour of trial they would not be wanting in their duty to their country and themselves. By a change of measures, in opposition to the wishes and opinions of all the officers, was adopted by the General. The plan of attacking Malden was abandoned, and instead of acting offensively, we broke up our camp, evacuated Canada, and re-crossed the river in the night, without even the shadow of an enemy to injure us. We left to the tender mercy of the enemy, the miserable Canadians who had joined us, so that the protection we had afforded them was but a passport to vengeance. This fatal and unaccountable step dispirited the troops, and destroyed the little confidence which a series of timid, irresolute and undecisive measures had left in the commanding officer.
"About the tenth of August, the enemy received a re-inforcement of four hundred men. On the 12th the commanding officers of three of the regiments, the fourth was absent, was informed through a medium which admitted of no doubt, that the general had stated that a capitu- lation would be necessary. They on, the same day addressed Governor Meigs of Ohio a letter of which the following is an extract. 'Believe all the bearer will tell you. Believe it, however much it will astonish you, as much as if told you by one of us. Even a e- is talked of by the The bearer will fill the blank lines.' The risk of send- ing this letter to Governor Meigs and the doubt if its reaching its des- tination, and possibly falling into improper hands made it necessary to use the utmost circumspection in giving details, and therefore the blanks were left. The word 'capitulation' will fill the first, and 'com- manding general' the other. As the enemy was not near us, and as the superiority of our forces was manifest we could see no necessity for capitulating, nor any propriety in alluding to it. We therefor deter- mined in the last resort to incur the responsibility of divesting the gen- eral of his command. This plan was eventually prevented by two of the commanding officers of regiments being ordered upon detachments.
"On the 13th, the British took a position opposite Detroit, and be- gan to throw up works. During that and the two following days, they pursued their object without interruption, and established a battery for two 18 pounders and an 8 inch howitzer. About sunset on the even- ing of the 14th, a detachment of 350 men from the regiments com- manded by Col. M'Arthur and myself, was ordered to march to the River Raisin, to escort the provisions, which had some time remained there protected by a party under the command of Capt. Brush.
"On Saturday, the 15th, about one o'clock, a flag of truce arrived from Sandwich, bearing a summons from Gen. Broek, for the surren- der of the town and fort of Detroit, stating, he could no longer restrain the fury of the savages. To this an immediate and spirited refusal was returned. About four o'clock their batteries began to play upon the town. The fire was returned and continued without interruption and with little effect till dark. Their shells were thrown till eleven o'clock. "At day light the firing on both sides re-commenced-about the same time the enemy began to land troops, at the Springwells, three miles below Detroit, protected by two of their armed vessels. Be- tween 6 and 7 o'clock they had effected their landing, and immediately took up their line of march. They moved in a close column of platoons, twelve in front upon the bank of the river.
"The fourth regiment was stationed in the fort-the Ohio volun- teers and a part of the Michigan militia, behind some pickets, in a
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situation in which the whole flank of the enemy would have been ex- posed. The residue of the Michigan militia were in the upper part of the town to resist the incursions of the savages. Two 24-pounders loaded with grape-shot were posted upon a commanding eminence, ready to sweep the advancing column. In this situation, the supe- riority of our position was apparent, and our troops in the eager expec- tation of victory, awaited the approach of the enemy. Not a sigh of discontent broke upon the ear, nor a look of cowardice met the eye. Every man expected a proud day for his country, and each was anxious that his individual exertion should contribute to the general result. "When the head of their column arrived within about five hun- dred yards of our line, orders were received from General Hull for the whole to retreat to the Fort, and the twenty-four pounders not to open upon the enemy. One universal burst of indignation was apparent upon the receipt of this order. Those whose conviction was the delib- erate result of a dispassionate examination of passing events, saw the folly and impropriety of crowding 1100 men into a little work which 300 could fully man, and into which the shot and shells of the enemy were falling. The fort was in this manner filled : the men were directed to stack their arms, and scarcely was an opportunity afforded of mov- ing. Shortly after a white flag was hung out upon the walls. A Brit- ish officer rode up to enquire the cause. A communication passed between the commanding generals, which ended in the capitulation submitted to you. In entering into this capitulation the general took counsel from his own feelings only. Not an officer was consulted. Not one anticipated a surrender, till he saw the white flag displayed; even the women were indignant at so shameful a degradation of the Ameri- can character; and all felt as they should have felt, but he who held in his hands the reins of authority.
"Our morning report had that morning made our effective men present fit for duty 1,060, without including the detachment before al- luded to, and without including 300 of the Michigan militia on duty. About dark on Saturday evening the detachment sent to escort the provisions, received orders from Gen. Hull to return with as much expedition as possible. About 10 o'clock the next day they arrived within sight of Detroit. Had a firing been heard of any resistance visible, they would have advanced and attacked the rear of the enemy. The situation, in which this detachment was placed, although the result of accident, was the best for annoying the enemy and cutting off his retreat that could have been selected. With his raw troops enclosed between two fires and no hope of succor, it is hazarding little to say, that very few would have escaped.
"I have been informed by Col. Findley, who saw the return of their quarter-master-general, the day after the surrender, that their whole force of every description, white, red and black, was 1030. They had twenty-nine platoons, twelve in a platoon, of men dressed in uniform. Many of those were evidently Canadian militia. The rest of their militia increased their white force to about seven hundred men. The number of their Indians could not be ascertained with any degree of precision ; not many were visible. And in the event of an attack upon the town and fort, it was a species of force which could have afforded no material advantage to the enemy.
"In endeavoring to appreciate the motives and to investigate the causes which led to an event so unexpected and dishonorable, it is im- possible to find any solution in the relative strength of the contend- ing parties, or in the measures of resistance in our power. That we were far superior to the enemy; that upon any ordinary principles of
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calculation we would have defeated them, the wounded and indignant feelings of every man there will testify.
"A few days before the surrender, I was informed by Gen. Hull, we had 400 rounds of 24 pound shot fixed and about 100,000 cartridges made. We surrendered with the fort 50 barrels of powder and 2500 stand of arms.
"The state of our provisions has not been generally understood. On the day of surrender we had 15 days' provisions of every kind on hand. Of meat there was plenty in the country, and arrangements had been made for purchasing and grinding the flour. It was calculated we could readily procure three months' provisions, independent of 150 barrels of flour, 1300 head of cattle which had been forwarded from the state of Ohio, and which remained at the River Raisin, under Capt. Brush, within reach of the army.
"But had we been totally destitute of provisions, our duty and our interest was undoubtedly to fight. The enemy invited us to meet him in the field.
"By defeating him the whole country would have been open to us, and the object of our expedition gloriously and successfully obtained. If we had been defeated, we had nothing to do but to retreat to the fort, and make the best defence circumstances and our situation rendered practicable. But basely to surrender without firing a gun-tamely to submit without raising a bayonet-disgracefully to pass in review be- fore an enemy as inferior in the quality as in the number of his forces, were circumstances which excited feelings of indignation more easily felt than described.
"To see the whole of our men flushed with the hope of victory, eag- erly awaiting the approaching contest ; to see them afterwards dispirited, hopeless desponding, at least five hundred of them actually shedding tears because they were not allowed to meet their country's foes, and to fight their country's battles excited sensations which no American has ever had cause to feel, and which I trust in God will never again be felt, while one man remains to defend the standard of the Union. I am expressly authorized to state that Colonels McArthur and Findley and Lieut. Colonel Miller viewed the transaction in the light that I do. They know and I feel that no circumstances in our own situation, none in that of the enemy, can excuse a capitulation so dishonorable and so unjustifiable. This too, is the universal sentiment among the troops ; and I shall be surprised to learn that there is one man who thinks it was necessary to sheath his sword or lay down his musket.
"Confident I am that had the courage and conduct of the general been equal to the spirit and zeal of the troops the event would have been as brilliant and successful as it now is disastrous and dishonorable.
"Very respectfully, Sir, "LEWIS CASS, Colonel Third Regiment Ohio Volunteers. "Hon. William Eustis, Secretary of War."
PATRIOTISM FULLY AROUSED
The surrender of Detroit, after the first moment any shock of its announcement aroused the spirit and patriotism of the entire coun- try, particularly among the people of the northwest who felt espec- ially aggrieved by the disaster. A feeling amounting to enthusiasm pervaded the whole community. The entire country was electrified, as it was when the news was published after firing upon Fort Sum- ter. The call to arms was hailed with rapture by the pioneer popu- lation of the west. Men capable of bearing arms vied with each other
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in their attempts to be first in enrolling themselves. Men of every rank and station in life filled the rolls of volunteers. By the 25th of August, nine days after the surrender, 4,000 men completely armed and equipped, voluntarily assembled at Urbana, Ohio. Kentucky, Vir- ginia, Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania poured forth their best citi- zens by thousands. The city and county of Baltimore alone proposed to raise an entire regiment. On the spur of the moment 1,800 Ken- tuckians marched from Newport. Virginia sent out 1,500 men, for whom the ladies made tents and knapsacks. Even those who had been opposed to the war were affected by the hearty patriotism manifested by deeds, and many became strong advocates.
As characteristic of the feeling which animated the west, the fol- lowing card, which appeared in the newspapers of that day, is here inserted :
"A CARD .- Col. Symmes, of the senior division of the Ohio Militia, presents his respectful compliments to Major-General Brock, command- ing his Britanic Majesty's forees, white and red, in Upper Canada. Colonel Symmes observing that by the 4th article of Capitulation of Fort Detroit, to Major-General Broek, all publie arms moving towards Detroit, are to be delivered up, but as no place of deposit is pointed out by the capitulation, forty thousand stand of arms, coming within the description, are at the service of Major-General Brock, if his Ex- cellency will condescend to come and take them."
The required number of men were soon in the field. Brigadier General William H. Harrison, of the United States Army, was com- missioned as Major-General by the Governor of Kentucky, and as- sumed command of the army, numbering about ten thousand men.
BRITISH INDIAN ALLIANCE
In the wars which have taken place on this continent, between rival nations, the Indian tribes have been engaged. The British and the French employed them in their quarrels; and in the Revolution- ary War, and in the War of 1812 the Indians fought on the side of the British. History abounds with heart-rending accounts of Indian outrage, perpetrated during the Revolution, and the recollection of the bloody massacre of the last war, is yet vivid in the remembrance of our citizens. No language ean convey an adequate idea of the horrors and barbarities of Indian warfare. The Indian, from earliest infancy, is initiated into the cruelties and tortures of exterminating hostilities. "War to the knife-the knife to the handle," is the first teaching he receives from the lips and example of his father and brothers. His ambition is to use the scalping knife and tomahawk with skill and success. The sealp is more precious than the prisoner. In the conflict, he neither asks nor gives quarter. IIe or his enemy must lie dead on the field. Exceptions there are, it is true, to this general practice, but it is a most bloody and cruel mercy that stays the death-blow. The conquered victim had better, by far, fall dead beneath the arm of his antagonist, than follow as a prisoner to the wigwam. In the latter case he is reserved for far more dreadful sufferings at the stake oftentimes to be prepared to suit the cannibal tastes of his victor.
With atrocious disregard of the dictates of humanity, the British government did not hesitate to enroll the murderous savages in close alliance with their regular soldiers. They did this with the full knowl- edge of the difficulty of restraining them, when once the fight begun, within the recognized limits of civilized warfare. In all these instances, Vol. I-7
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too, the bloody instinct of the savage was referred to by their Christian employers, to intimidate and force their enemies to surrender.
At the commencement of the war of 1812, the American government used every possible means to induce the Indians to remain neutral and quiet ; but the passion for war, and strong inducements offered to them by the British Government, were too powerful to be resisted. They were seduced by promises and costly presents, to join hands against the United States, and led by talented and influential chiefs, they ren- dered many and valuable services to their Christian allies.
It is not within the scope of this work to enumerate the frequent and barbarous butcheries of innocent and defenceless women and chil- dren, or the merciless and disgraceful slaughters which were permitted by the British officers, when the fortunes of war were in their favor.
RIVER RAISIN MASSACRE
In January, 1813, the American army met with a sad reverse at the River Raisin. This conflict is marked with incidents of horror and barbarity, which stamp it as one entire scene of bloody butchery on the part of the enemy, which finds no parallel in the history of war, where either of the contending parties made any claims to civilization. This battle is known in American history as the "Massacre at the River Raisin" and is described in detail in this work, confirmed by official reports, and by eye witnesses, in another chapter.
FROM A PRIVATE VIEWPOINT
The spirit of impatience, derision and indignation in which the dis- graceful conduct of Gen. Hull was viewed by the people everywhere, is faintly shown in a letter written on the Canadian side by a member of a family to another, in the village of Frenchtown. "I was about to tell you, uncle, of Hull's cowardly surrender of Detroit. On visit- ing Detroit some days ago, with Macy and Walbridge, with the inten- tion of locating some lands on the Huron and Raisin Rivers, we learned with surprise, that hostilities had actually commenced between the United States and Great Britain; and that Hull had just returned from Can- ada with his army, where he had deliberately thrown away excellent opportunities of conquest, for the enemy's army here was in good shape to be attacked and cleaned out; as he had not acted promptly and destroyed Malden, we expected that Brock would soon attack De- troit, which he did. You know, uncle, that I have always had some pretty strong military predelictions, and the moment I heard that there was likely to be a fight within a short time in which I could par- ticipate I resolved to attach myself as a volunteer, to the company of Captain Wilson, with whom I had some acquantaince. Well, to be brief, the enemy soon appeared in force, erected batteries, and demanded the surrender of the fort, being refused, they began a bombardment, which they continued nearly all one night, with little effect. The next day through the sheer carelessness (or worse) of Hull, they effected a landing and were marching up to attack us, while we (all the troops) in glorious state of anticipation of victory, were only waiting the orders to begin the work of thorough chastisement-when, to our utter amaze- ment and chagrin, we were ordered to 'stack arms' and prepare to surrender ourselves prisoners of war. And that without firing a gun! Without one solitary discharge, of rifle or musket ! We did not of course dare say much, but 'scoundrel.' 'traitor,' 'coward' were heard often and emphatically among the soldiers. 'Traitor or coward?' was asked.
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'Both,' was the general reply. Just think, Uncle, of the feelings of the brave American soldiers that never were known to show the 'white feather,' being thus basely deprived of their arms by their own general and surrendered to a foe which they could have taken, by simply going after them! Well, the British General gave the volunteers liberty to return home, but took Hull and his regulars to Montreal. As soon as I could get permission to leave, I made a search for my horse, which I found in possession of an orderly, who returned him to me for a small compensation. I bought back my rifle, mounted my horse and here I am to give you warning of danger, for there is danger here as Gen. Harrison with his Ohio and Kentucky riflemen and other forces will certainly lose no time in wiping out this awful stain on the U. S. army."
A safe prediction gallantly verified.
CANADIAN COMMENTS ON HULL'S SURRENDER
The crisis in Canadian affairs at the time of Hull's surrender, and the extent of the injury inflicted on the American cause by the course of that coward or traitor is shown in comments found in Canadian papers and in historical records. We make the following extracts il- lustrating this fact: from "Montreal, Past and Present." "On the 12th of July, 1812, the first hostile demonstration was made, when Gen- eral Hull crossed the frontier at Detroit, and raised the American flag on Canadian soil, at the same time issuing a proclamation inviting the inhabitants of Canada to join his standard. This appeal to the people failed in its object, and he soon learned that in General Brock he was to find one suited in every way to punish him for his temerity in thus venturing across the boundary line. He finally was compelled to sur- render Detroit. Fortunate, indeed was it for Canada that a general like Brock had been intrusted with the defense of the Province, and not less so that he encountered so weak and impotent an enemy in Hull. Had this been otherwise, Canada must have passed into the hands of the United States. The effect produced on the Lower Province was great and the arrival at Montreal of General Hull and the American regular troops shortly after, did not fail to have a beneficial result."
CAPTURED AMERICAN PRISONERS PASS THROUGH MONTREAL EN ROUTE TO QUEBEC
The following account of the entry into the city of the captured garrison is from the Montreal Herald of Tuesday, September 12, 1812. "Last Sunday evening the inhabitants of the city were gratified with an exhibition equally novel and interesting. That General Hull should have entered our city so soon at the head of his troops rather exceeded our expectations. We were. however, happy to see him, with all the honors due to his rank and importance as a public character. The fol- lowing in regard to his journey and reception at Montreal may be of interest. General Hull and suite accompanied by about twenty-five officers and three hundred and fifty soldiers, left Kingston under an escort of one hundred and thirty men commanded by Major Heathcote of the Newfoundland regiment, at Cornwall, the escort was met by Capt. Gray, of the quarter-master-general's department who took charge of the prisoners of war, and from thence proceeded with them to Lachine, where they arrived about 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. At Lachine Captain Richardson and Ojiloie with their companies of Montreal militia and a company of the King's, commanded by Capt. Blackmore, formed the escort, till they were met by Col. Auldjo, with the remainder of the
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flank companies of militia upon which Capt. Blackmore's company fell out and presented arms, as the general and line passed, and then returned to Lachine, leaving the prisoners of war to be guarded by the militia alone. The line of march then proceeded to the town, in fol- lowing order :
"1. Band of the King's Regiment.
"2. The first division of escort.
"3. General Hull in a carriage with Captain Gray. Captain Hull and Major Shackleton followed in a second carriage and some wounded soldiers in four others.
"4. The American officers.
"5. The non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
"6. The second division of escort.
"It unfortunately proved rather late in the evening for the vast con- course of spectators assembled to experience the gratification they so anxiously looked for. This inconvenience was, however, in a great meas- ure remedied by the illumination of the streets, through which the line of march passed. When they arrived at the governor's house, the general was conducted in and presented to His Excellency, Sir George Prevost. He was received with the greatest politeness and invited to take up his residence during his stay in Montreal. The officers were quartered at Holmes' hotel, and the soldiers were marched to the Quebec barracks. The general appears to be about sixty years of age, and bears his mis- fortunes with a degree of resignation that but few men in similar cir- cumstances are gifted with. On the morning after the 8th of September the prisoners started for Quebec under a guard of militia commanded by Major Shackleton. General Hull was exchanged at Montreal for thirty British prisoners.'
HULL COURT MARTIALED
A court martial was ordered in January, 1813, to meet on February 25, 1813, to try General Hull. This court was dissolved without meeting, but a second court convened at Albany on the 3d of January, 1814, con- sisting of Major General Henry Dearborn, president; Brigadier General Joseph Bloomfield, Colonels Peter Little, William N. Irvine, J. R. Fen- wick and Robert Bogardus; and Lieutenant Colonels James House, Wil- liam Scott, William Stewart, Samuel S. Connor, J. B. Davis and John W. Livingston; Martin Van Buren acting as special judge advocate, Philip S. Parker being army judge advocate. The trial was had on the charges of (1) treason, (2) cowardice, and (3) neglect of duty. He was acquitted on the charge of treason, and convicted upon the other two charges, and the sentence of the court was that he be shot. This sen- tence was commuted by the president on the grounds of Hull's services in the army during the revolution. It is said that Hull never evinced the slightest feeling of chagrin at any time in regard to the whole affair of the surrender, carrying himself with complacency and bravado, even, showing an utter lack of appreciation of the enormity of his crime and the disastrous results of it.
THE BRITISH CHANGE OF BASE
There is one circumstance connected with the final acts of consumma- tion of the treaty, by which the British surrendered and evacuated the posts on United States territory which plainly shows the reluctance of 'our friends the enemy" to yield up important points which they had come to regard as permanent possessions, and the exasperatingly leis- urely manner in which they moved in acquiescence, taking their own time
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