61 officers and privates of the United States army,* surrendered, by capitulation, without a drop of blood having been spilt. The editor of the "History of the War," while he admits that "every possible preparation was made by the garrison to resist an attack," describes the force under Captain Roberts as "regular troops 46; Canadian militia 260; Indians 715." Here the regulars are correctly enumerated; but their inconsiderable number taught Dr. Smith a preferable method of stating the British force. He lumps the whole together thus:-" regular troops, Canadian militia, and Indians, amounting to 1,000 men;" and omits not to add, that they were" furnished with every implement for the complete investment and siege of the place."-Lieutenant Hanks states, that he" had anticipated" the declaration of war:‡ in fact, there is no doubt that he, in common with the other American commanders at the posts along the frontier, had been instructed to expect it. The misunderstanding that had, for several years, subsisted between Great Britain and the United States, and the recent broils between the latter and the Indians on the Wabash, had occasioned a considerable augmentation of the mili App. Nos. 1. 2. 3. + Hist. of the United States, Vol. III. p. 177, tary force of the United States. Since early in the month of May, brigadier-general Hull had been despatched with a force to the north-west; and was invested with discretionary powers to invade Canada from Detroit, immediately on receiving intelligence of the war, then resolved to be declared against Great Britain. This army, 2,500 strong, arrived at Detroit on the 5th of July, to be in readiness for the contemplated invasion. Every preparation having been made, not omitting a proclamation to the Canadians,* sent purposely from Washington, the embarkation of the troops took place on the 12th. The army landed on the opposite or Canadian side of the Detroit; and, after a short cannonade, took possession of the defenceless village of Sandwich, situate about two miles within the province. The few militia, there stationed, had previously retired, carrying with them the most valuable of the stores, to Amherstburg.† 3 Lieutenant-colonel St. George, inspecting fieldofficer of the district, commanded at this post; having under his orders a subaltern's detachment of artillery, about 100 of the 41st regiment, 300 militia, and about 150 Indians, under Tecumseh. The timely notice of the war, sent by majorgeneral Brock, enabled the lieutenant-colonel, early in July, to intercept, as she was entering * App. No. 4. + See p. 48. Detroit, river, the American Chicago packet, having on board the baggage and hospital stores, and an officer and 30 men, of general Hull's army. Instead of proceeding against Amherstburg, which would have fallen an easy prey to so powerful a force, and proved an important acquisition to the American cause, general Hull remained in the neighbourhood of Sandwich, carrying on an excursive war by detached parties, and, through them, occasionally reconnoitring the British outposts in the neighbourhood. A company of the British 41st regiment, about 60 militia, and a party of Indians, being posted near a bridge, crossing the river Aux Canards, four miles from Amherstburg, an American reconnoitring party, consisting of about 300 men,* under colonel Cass, advanced, on the 15th of July, to a plane, distant about a mile from the bridge. To induce the Americans to approach the position occupied by the British regulars and militia, 150 Indians were sent across the bridge. A company of American riflemen, concealed in a wood that skirted the plane, im, mediately fired upon the Indians, killing one, and wounding two. After scalping the dead Indian, the American force was no more seen. Not a musket was fired by the Indians, nor were the regulars or militia in any way engaged; yet * Hist of the War, p. 37. * an American editor trumps up a story of colonel Cass having driven the 41st regiment and some Indians more than half a mile, when the darkness of the night made further progress hazardous ;" and adds :-"The colonel was content to possess the bridge and some adjoining houses until morning, when, after reconnoitring the neighbourhood, and not finding the enemy, he commenced his return to the camp at Sandwich."* On the 19th a second reconnoitring party, consisting of 150 men of the Ohio volunteers, and a detachment of artillery, with two pieces of cannon, under the command of colonel M'Arthur, returned to the ground abandoned by colonel Cass; but who, with 100 men, soon afterwards joined M'Arthur's detachment. Of a small look-out party of the 41st regiment, sent across the very bridge, which colonel Cass had been "content to possess," but too much flurried to destroy, two privates, who behaved like noble fellows, were wounded and taken prisoners. Upon the bridge the British had two light field-pieces, with the fire from which they disabled one of the American guns, and drove the Americans into the plane; but were too inferior in force to pursue them. The American editor, concealing that any artillery was engaged on his side, has multiplied the British guns from * Sketches of the War, p. 22. two to six, and, in despite of distance and shoal water, brought to the spot the British ship "Queen Charlotte, of 20 guns."* After stating that "the chief, Tecumseh, celebrated for his dexterity with the tomahawk and rifle, was at the head of the Indians," Mr. Thomson gravely pronounces "the escape of M'Arthur and his companions" as "truly miraculous."* The American general, in expectation that 150 Ohio volunteers, under the command of captain Brush, were waiting at the river Raisin, 36 miles off, with a quantity of provisions for the army, despatched major Vanhorne, with 200 men,† to meet and escort the reinforcement to its destination. Fortunately, the major encountered, on his second day's march, near Brownstown, 70 Indians, under the brave Tecumseh, in ambuscade. The latter fired, and, according to the American accounts, killed twenty men, including captains M'Culloch, Bostler, Gilcrease, and Ubry; and wounded nine. Tecumseh and his 70 Indians, with the loss of only one man killed, drove these 200 Americans before them, for seven miles, and took possession of the mail they were escorting. When the American force first appeared in sight, Tecumseh sent an express to the river Aux Canards, for captain Muir and his company. But captain Muir had been de * Sketches of the War, p. 23. + Hist. of the War, p. 40. |