landed, and told him that there were American troops on the other side of him. He replied, He did not believe a word he said; to which the chief answered, These old eyes saw the glistening of their big knives, (bayonets,) which are fastened to their guns. This information was soon corroborated by the statements of other persons, and General Brock became satisfied that he was in a critical position, for, though the result of accident, yet the detachment could not have been placed in a better place to annoy the British. Nothing remained for General Brock, but to make a bold stroke upon the fort, or to re-cross the river. The latter movement would have demoralized his force, and destroyed all confidence in his operations, and the Indians would have left him. He chose the bolder, but the wiser course, and moved up the river to the attack, still placing his main hope in the character of his antagonist. He was anxious to finish his work before the absent detachment should return. The reliance he placed upon the character of General Hull, proved correct, though he under-estimated his means of resistance. Unfortunately for the credit of our country, resistance there was none. An army, a fort, and a territory, were surrendered without firing a gun, or spilling a drop of blood. It is the only instance of such an unredeemed disgrace in our military annals. There is little danger that there will be another.

The tidings of this untoward disaster traveled all over the Un ion with great celerity. The opponents of the war took courage, and were lavish with their censure, while its advocates and supporters were dumb with amazement. The facts were distorted, and a reliable account of the transaction difficult to be obtained. General Hull stood high in the confidence of his government, and was reputed to be a man of valor and experience. It was known that the army entrusted to his command consisted mostly of volunteers from Ohio, and to this circumstance, more than any other, did the public mind, in the first utterance of its uncontrollable indignation, attribute the calamity. The brave officers, who had left their homes and families for the fatigues and privations of the soldier, came in for an inordinate share of derision, and upon their heads was profusely showered the wrath and scorn of all parties.

But in due time, as we shall presently see, truth rose above these clouds of obloquy and censure, and wrung from the most prejudiced foe, an expression of his conviction that it was the

General, and not his subordinates, who had cowered in disgrace before the growl of the British lion.

General Hull was ordered to Montreal, and it was a long time before his official report reached the Secretary of War. But it finally reached the department, bearing unqualified testimony to the gallant spirit which pervaded his officers and men. "A large portion of the brave and gallant officers and men I commanded," says he, "would cheerfully have contested until the last cartridge had been expended and their bayonets worn to the sockets. It is a duty I owe my associates in command, Colonels McArthur, Findlay, Cass, and Lieutenant Colonel Miller, to express my obligations to them for the prompt and judicious manner they have performed their respective duties. If aught has taken place during the campaign which is honorable to the army, these officers are entitled to a large share of it. If the last act should be disapproved, no part of the censure belongs to them."

The Ohio volunteers repaired to their homes, on their parole not to serve again during the war, unless exchanged, way-worn and dejected. To a man, they felt that the result of the unfortunate expedition, under Hull, would fill a sad page in the history of their country. Conscious of having performed their whole duty with a hearty will, they lingered on the way, almost ashamed to meet the faces of their friends and fellow-citizens. Censure, unmerited though it was, did not escape their ears. Sensitive of their wounded honor, they were anxious that their government and the whole country should be fully apprised of the facts as they had occurred. With this view, and in compliance with their earnest request, as soon as they reached Cleveland, in their own State, Colonel McArthur, their senior officer, ordered Colonel Cass to proceed to Washington, to render an account of the catastrophe.

Colonel Cass, with sorrow, exchanged salutations with his companions in arms, and immediately set out for the seat of government. He traveled on, without delay, as rapidly as his conveyance and his health would admit of, until he reached McConnelstown, in the State of Pennsylvania. Here, worn down by anxiety, exposure, and fatigue, and his system filled with the noxious miasma of swamps and marshes, he was attacked with a severe fever, which raged at its hight for several days. In the meantime, Colonel McArthur had informed the War Department, by

post, that Colonel Cass was on his way, and would make a full and reliable report, as soon as he reached the capital. As no despatch was received from Hull, and none, with much confidence, expected, for some time to come at least, the government awaited Colonel Cass' arrival with great solicitude. Learning of his illness, and impatient for his communication, a messenger, with a carriage, was sent on to McConnelstown, and measures taken for his safe conveyance to Washington. Upon his arrival there, he forthwith submitted the following report to the government:

WASHINGTON, September 12th, 1812.

SIR-Having been ordered on to this place by Colonel McArthur, for the purpose of communicating to the government such particulars respecting the expedition lately commanded by Brigadier General Hull, and its disastrous result, as might enable them correctly to appreciate the conduct of the officers and men, and to develope the causes which produced so foul a stain upon the national character, I have the honor to submit, for your consideration, the following statement:

When the forces landed in Canada, they landed with an ardent zeal, and stimulated with the hope of conquest. No enemy appeared in view of us, and had an immediate and vigorous attack been made upon Malden, it would doubtless have fallen an easy victory. I know General Hull afterwards declared he regretted this attack had not been made, and he had every reason to believe success would have crowned his efforts. The reason given for delaying our operation was, to mount our heavy cannon, and to afford to the Canadian militia time and opportunity to quit an obnoxious service. In the course of two weeks, the number of their militia, who were embodied, had decreased, by desertion, from six hundred to one hundred men; and, in the course of three weeks, the cannon were mounted, the ammunition fixed, and every preparation made for an immediate investment of the fort. At a council, at which were present all the field officers, and which was held before our preparations were completed, it was unanimously agreed to make an immediate attempt to accomplish the object of the expedition. If, by waiting two days, we could have the service of our heavy artillery, it was agreed to wait; if not, it was determined to go without it, and attempt the place by storm. This opinion appeared to correspond with the views of the General,

and the day was appointed for commencing our march. He declared to me that he considered himself pledged to lead the army to Malden. The ammunition was placed in the wagons; the cannons were embarked on board the floating batteries, and every requisite was prepared. The spirit and zeal, the ardor and animation displayed by the officers and men, on learning the near accomplishment of their wishes, was a sure and sacred pledge that, in the hour of trial, they would not be found wanting in duty to their country and themselves. But 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 mercies of the enemy, the miserable Canadians who had joined us, and the protection we 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 indecisive measures had left in the commanding officer. About the 10th of August, the enemy received a reinforcement of four hundred men. On the 12th, the commanding officers of three of the regiments, (the fourth was absent,) were informed, through a medium which admitted of no doubt, that the General had stated that a capitulation would be necessary. They, on the same day, addressed to Governor Meigs, of Ohio, a letter, of which the following is an extract:

'Believe all the bearer will tell you. Believe it, however it may astonish you, as much as if told by one of us. Even a c is talked of by the

vacancy.'

The bearer will fill the

The doubtful fate of this letter, rendered it necessary to use circumspection in its details, and therefore the blanks were left. The word 'capitulation' would fill the first, and commanding general' the other. As no enemy was near us, and as the superiority of our force was manifest, we could see no necessity for capitulating, nor any propriety in alluding to it. We then determined, in the last resort, to incur the responsibility of divesting the General 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 began to throw up works. During that and the two following days, they pursued their object without interruption, and established a battery for two eighteen pounders and an eight inch howitzer. About sunset on the 14th, a detachment of three hundred and fifty men, from the regiments commanded by Colonel McArthur 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 Captain Brush.

On Saturday, the 15th, about one o'clock, a flag of truce arrived from Sandwich, bearing a summons, from General Brock, for the surrender 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 bat

teries 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 daylight, the firing on both sides re-commenced; at the same time, the enemy began to land troops at the Spring Wells, three miles below Detroit, protected by two of their armed vessels. Between six and seven 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 volunteers and a part of the Michigan militia, behind some pickets, in a situation in which the whole flank of the enemy would have been exposed. The residue of the Michigan militia were in the upper part of the town, to resist the incursions of the savages. Two twenty-four pounders, loaded with grape shot, were posted on a commanding eminence, ready to sweep the advancing column. In this situation, the superiority of our position was apparent, and our troops, in the eager expectation of victory, awaited the approach of the enemy. Not a sigh of discontent broke upon the ear; not 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 hundred yards of the head of our line, orders were received from General Hull for the whole to retreat to the fort, and for the