subject among the nearest to your heart, I need not

say.

“I am, my dear madam,

"With great regard, your friend,

Letter from Colonel Trumbull to Mrs. Julia K. Wheeler, a daughter of General Hull.

"NEW HAVEN, June 3d, 1841. "MADAM,-I received in due time the letter of the 15th May, which you was pleased to address to me, accompanying the Memoir, written by your father, General Hull, which explains the events of the campaign of 1812. I am very much obliged to you for giving me this opportunity to know and understand the true history of that period, better than I did before.

"The declaration and conduct of that war, I have always regarded as one of the least honourable passages of the American history, but I now view it with increased disgust, as a most disgraceful period of the grossest ignorance and misconduct; and what is worse, a vile endeavour to divert public indignation from its authors and conductors, by a sacrifice of the reputation, and even life, of one of the bravest officers of the Revolution.

"I had not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with your honoured father during the Revolution, as we were employed in quarters distant from each other, but I always regarded him as one of the ornaments of the service.

"With sincere respect, I have the honour to be, madam, your faithful servant,

(Signed)

JNO. TRUMBULL.”

"Mrs. JULIA K. WHEELER."

NOTE 15.

Robert Wallace's Account of the Surrender of Detroit.

The following letter was published May 28th, 1842, in the Licking Valley Register, at Covington, Kentucky, and was written by Robert Wallace, a gentleman who was one of the Aid-de-Camps of General Hull. This testimony to the character of General Hull is valuable, because it was given voluntarily, without solicitation, and without communication with General Hull's friends, who did not even know that Mr. Wallace was still living. It is a graphic and evidently correct account of the principal incidents of the campaign and surrender.

The letter is here reprinted without alteration, except the omission of a single phrase, concerning Captain Hull, which might be misunderstood. All the remarks of Mr. Wallace upon General Hull's conduct, whether favourable or otherwise, are given without alteration or comment.

"Mr. R. C. LANGDON:

"HULL'S SURRENDER.

SIR,-In compliance with your request, and the solicitations of several other friends, I have written out, from recollection, a brief detail of circumstances connected with the surrender of Detroit in 1812. My situation as Aid-de-Camp, afforded every opportunity for information, and I am satisfied that nothing

of any importance transpired in Hull's campaign without my knowledge of the motive.

"The prudence and despatch of our march through a wilderness, making our road through woods and swamps; fortifying our camps, and guarding against a surprise from the Indians, inspired us with confidence in our old but experienced commander. His letters from the War Department urged him on, but our heavy wagons and constant rains retarded our progress. On reaching the rapids of the Miami river, we found an American schooner bound for Detroit. Anxious to comply with his instructions, General Hull directed our surplus baggage to be shipped, and set an example to his officers, by sending his own trunks on board. His son, Captain Hull, (who was also an Aid,) in executing this order, unfortunately shipped a small trunk, containing the papers and reports of the army, for which he was afterwards severely reprimanded by his father. This circumstance was since considered an evidence of treachery, but without the least foundation whatever. On the following night, in camp, we received the declaration of war. A council was immediately called, and an officer despatched with some men to intercept the schooner, at the river Raisin; but the wind had been fair, and she had passed that river before our messenger reached its mouth. The British had received the news of war by the Lake, before it reached us, and the schooner was captured at Malden. She had on board the most of our baggage, our hospital stores, our intrenching tools, an officer and three ladies, belonging

to the 4th regiment, and a number of invalid soldiers. On the 4th of July we delayed at the river Huron to build a bridge for our wagons. We remained under arms all day, and in order of battle, being surrounded by Indians, and in sight of a British frigate full of troops. During that day it was remarked to me by several officers, that General Hull appeared to have no sense of personal danger, and that he would certainly be killed, if a contest commenced. This was said, to prepare me for taking orders from the next in rank; and I mention it to show their opinion of him at the time.

"We encamped that night on an open prairie, without timber to fortify, or tools to intrench. Our rear was protected by the river, our front and flank by fires at some distance from the lines. Picketguards were posted, scouts kept in motion, and half the troops alternately under arms all night. All lights were extinguished in the camp but one that was for the use of the Surgeon, for we expected an attack before day. I give this as a specimen of vigilance, which could never have been taken by surprise; our camp and line of march were always in order of battle.

"The extent of General Hull's instructions were, 'to protect Detroit.' On our arrival there, most of our officers and men were eager to cross the line, which the General was not authorized to do, but on receiving permission, he moved over at the head of two regiments, and sent back his boats for the remainder. We looked for a warm reception, but a

feint towards Malden on the previous evening had induced the enemy to retire to that post in the night. Our camp was fortified immediately opposite Detroit, where a council was held on the propriety of attacking Malden without a battering train of artillery, which was not then in readiness. Some of our officers were willing to try the experiment, but a majority was opposed to the risk of assaulting a regular fort with raw troops, and without artillery to make a breach. Consequently it was determined that we should wait for the mounting of some heavy guns which lay at Detroit, and two floating batteries were prepared for their transportation by water.

"This determination occasioned a delay of nearly three weeks, which proved most fatal to the results of the campaign. Had we been prepared for an immediate attack upon Malden, our campaign would have been as glorious as it was otherwise disastrous, and the name of General Hull would have been exalted to the skies.

"During this unfortunate interval, we subsisted in a great measure upon supplies obtained in Canada. Our own stock would not have sustained us, and all communication with our country was cut off. The romantic policy of our Government, in refusing the aid of our own Indians, turned them against us, cut off our supplies by land, and increased the strength of the enemy.

"A company of volunteers from Ohio, under Captain Brush, arrived at the river Raisin with some cattle and flour. Four hundred riflemen, commanded