he was ready to meet any force which might be brought against him, and abide the consequences. If he had stopped here, it would have been commendable; but, as if the British commander was in position merely to redress some supposed grievance to his own command, happening on that frontier, General Hull proceeded to beg his pardon for certain acts of his own officers, committed without his knowledge. He appeared to overlook the fact that the extreme measure contemplated by the British General, was for the purpose of advancing the cause of his gracious master on the other side of the Atlantic, and, if successful in his efforts, thus early acquiring an important advantage in the conduct of the war on that frontier. The answer, undoubtedly, strengthened General Brock in the belief that he was to meet a weak-hearted officer, and that his true course was to attack him in close contest. any rate, he did not delay action, but opened his batteries on the same day, and commenced the bombardment of the town. The fire was returned, with some effect. General Hull was greatly alarmed, and sent out an express to reach the detachment under Colonels McArthur and Cass, commanding them to return as expeditiously as possible.

At

On the morning of the sixteenth of August, at an early hour, General Brock crossed the river, and effected a landing of his troops at a place called Spring Wells, three miles below the town. of Detroit. He immediately marched towards the fort. The exact number can not be ascertained. General Brock reports his force to Sir George Provost, to have been thirteen hundred-seven hundred of whom were Indians. According to Captain Snelling, who attempted a count as they entered the fort, "there were, in advance, the troops of the 41st regiment, in platoons of fourteen files, as well as the York militia volunteers, twenty-nine platoons, two deep, in red coats; that the militia platoons consisted of no more than seven or eight files, and composed one third of the whole force-probably seven hundred and fifty whites, of which the remaining two thirds were regulars and un-uniformed militia." Cotemporary accounts represent that General Hull was perplexed what to do, and greatly agitated. Believing that resistance was futile, and would lead to the barbarities of an Indian massacre, and not insensible to the disgrace of surrendering without an effort to defend the fort, he, even at this critical moment, wavered in his operations. At first, his troops were drawn up in

order of battle without the fort, his artillery advantageously planted, and his army, full of the confidence of victory, awaiting the approach of the proud enemy. When it had progressed within five hundred yards of the American lines, as if suddenly, and, in fact, unexpectedly, to all, General Hull gave that fatal and unaccountable order, to retire within the ramparts of the fortress. To say that the officers and men, of all grades and conditions, raised an universal cry of indignation, but feebly expresses their outraged feelings. They felt that British insolence had triumphed over American prowess at the very moment when all were ready to pour out their heart's blood upon the hallowed altar of their common country, in the defense of its just rights. They had been sensible, for many days, that their commander was unfit to be the leader of patriots, and lacked the most essential of all qualifications-true moral courage. And when they were flattering themselves that they had underrated him, their high hopes were dashed to the ground, and all subordination ceased. They crowded in, and, regardless of order and without any order from their General, stacked their dishonored arms, many dashing them with violence upon the ground. Some of those stalwart men wept like children, while the spirit of the women, aroused at the indignity, was heard, above the din, declaring, in impotent wrath, that the fort should not be surrendered. The student of history fails to find a parallel in all the records of the past. Hull, perceiving that his power had gone from him, and that he no longer was in authority, evinced hot haste to put the place under the protection of the British. The white flag was run up, flapping on the walls of the dishonored fortress; and, without consultation with his officers- with no stipulation for the honors of war for an insulted army, nor any provision for the safety of his Canadian allies-he concluded a capitulation with General Brock; giving up the public property, surrendering the regular troops as prisoners of war, and permitting the militia to return to their homes, on their parole, not to serve again during the war, unless exchanged.

While this scene was being enacted, Colonels Cass and McArthur arrived with their troops, eager for battle, having been overtaken, late the previous evening, by the messenger despatched to recall them. They and their men had promptly obeyed the order, and had made all haste, keeping under march throughout most of the night.

Along their precipitate march, they occasionally heard firing, in the direction of Detroit. This only served to hasten their steps, for as Hull sent word by the messenger that General Brock was at Sandwich, and had demanded a surrender, they supposed that probably the battle had commenced. When near Detroit, they learned, from some of the citizens fleeing from danger, that Hull had surrendered. They could not credit this unwelcome news. They halted, and sent forward scouts, who soon returned with the same intelligence. As it was useless to advance, and determined not to submit themselves, unconditionally, to the mercies of a haughty foe, they fell back, and halted, for refreshment, at the river Rouge. They took position near a bridge, which afforded some advantages for defense, if necessary. Here they slaughtered an ox, roasted, and ate it, without bread or salt, this being their first warm meal since they left Detroit, on the fourteenth, except some corn and pumpkins. When the meal was deliberately finished, Captain Mansfield was sent forward, to learn from the British commander upon what terms they were surrendered, and to give notice that, if it was unconditional, they should defend themselves. Before the return of Captain Mansfield, a British officer, Captain Elliott, bearing a flag, and accompanied by some Indians, approached the detachment, and delivered to Colonel McArthur a note from General Hull, to the effect that the detachment was included in the capitulation, and ordering it to return to Detroit. The detachment was compelled to comply with this distasteful capitulation, however repugnant to their views and inclinations; because, in this case, surrounded by a savage foe, and worn down and exhausted by fatigue, it was alike impossible to retreat through the woods to Ohio, or overpower the enemy, without provisions, and a scanty supply of ammunition. They therefore marched to Detroit and surrendered up their arms. But Colonel Cass, stung with mortification, when ordered to deliver up his sword, indig nantly declined to do so, and, breaking the blade, threw it away.

CHAPTER IV.

General Brock's surprise at his Success-His Report-Colonel Cass a Prisoner of War-On his ParoleInterview with General Brock at Malden-General Hull ordered to Montreal-His Report-Effect of the News-The Ohio Volunteers on Parole-Reach Cleveland-Colonel McArthur, Senior Officer, orders Colonel Cass to Washington-Colonel Cass departs-Sickness at McConnelstown-The War Department Despatch a Messenger-Colonel Cass reaches Washington-His Official Letter-His return to Zanesville-His Conduct-Opposition to his Report-Mr. Rush-Colonel Cass' Letter to the Editors of the National Intelligencer-Mr. Eustis-His Clerk-False Impressions.

The fort at Detroit had surrendered, and the flag of stars and stripes no longer floated above its battlements. The British had taken possession without the firing of a gun, or losing of a drop of blood. The British commander had performed a valuable service for his government, with unexpected ease and facility, and without cost of life or treasure. With the possession of the fort, passed the government of the territory. It was now no longer American, but British, and General Brock at once proclaimed it, and enjoined obedience, investing Colonel Proctor with the reins of authority.

This success to the British arms, appears to have been unexpected to General Brock, for, in announcing the fall of Detroit, in a despatch written in the hour of triumph, directed to Provost, he says, "I hasten to apprise your excellency of the capture of this very important post. Twenty-five hundred troops have this day surrendered prisoners of war, and about twenty-five pieces of ordnance have been taken, without the sacrifice of a drop of British blood. I had not more than six hundred troops, including militia, and about six hundred Indians, to accomplish this service. When I detail my good fortunes your excellency will be astonished."

A few days subsequent to the surrender, Colonel Cass, while returning to Ohio, upon parole, was detained at Malden by a heavy wind, which prevented vessels from going out of the Detroit river. While there, he met General Brock, to whom General Hull had surrendered, and who was delayed by the same cause. General Cass had much conversation with him, upon the events of the recent campaign, and found him free and frank in his communications. He said that when he left the Niagara frontier, he had not the remotest expectation of capturing Detroit. He hurried up with the few troops he could withdraw from that frontier,

because he had ascertained the exposed condition of the western part of Upper Canada, which had been invaded by the Ameri

It had been reported to him, that unless some demonstration was made, the Indians, upon whose co-operation much value was placed, would abandon the British standard, and return to their own country. That they were already discouraged by the progress of General Hull's army, and the disaffection was fast spreading among them. He could not well leave the scene of operations below, but still the circumstances seemed imperative, and he therefore hastened to the west, to take such measures as might seem necessary. He added, that on his arrival he found the American troops had abandoned Canada, and re-crossed the Detroit river. In this state of things, as he could not remain, it became necessary that he should strike some stroke which should preserve the confidence of the Indians, and to harrass the enemy, and with these views, he passed the line, intending to take a position at the Spring Wells, and intercept the communication of General Hull with his own country. One of our mails had been taken at Brownstown, by the Indians, and its contents had been delivered to General Brock. He found there the correspondence of General Hull with the governors of some of the western states, and also with the war department. In it he expressed himself in very desponding terms, as to his position and prospects, and urged the necessity of additional reinforcements of men, and supplies of provisions. In fact, the destruction of Chicago seemed to destroy any little vigor General Hull had left, and from that time his imagination was filled with hosts of Indian warriors, who were to surround his unlucky command in numbers like the locusts of Egypt. General Brock read the feelings of General Hull in his letters, and his measures became the more efficient as his adversary became lowered in his esteem. He supposed that both ammunition and provisions were much more reduced there than they were, and his intention was to establish himself at the Spring Wells, and thus reduce us to want, or to compel us to meet him in the field. When he landed at the Spring Wells, he learned that there was a large detachment of the American army in his rear, being the one sent under Colonel McArthur and Colonel Cass to the river Raisin, to escort provisions which had been deposited there, and containing about three hundred and fifty men, about equal to one half of General Brock's force. An old chief came to him immediately after he