1*' 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 \^^*v 
 
 
 
 \^s&1 
 
 
 Sp * 
 
 
 •* ,o- 
 
 
 »• >* 
 
 * 5 A 
 
 . . s \ > 
 
 * 5 !nl/< 
 
 'V 
 
 - 0* 
 
 <> 'o . * * ,G V 
 
 .* 
 
 
 ^V 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^vt 
 
 y>. 
 
 TrV .o 
 
 
 S S V 
 
 A •£ 
 
 
 <, 
 
 

tftntt 
 
 AUHKDlE 
 
 THE ATTACK 
 
 GEN. WILLIAM HULL 
 
 BY H. A. S. DEARBORN. 
 
 BOSTON C& 
 
 PRINTED BY EDGAR W. DAV1E.S. 
 
 1824. 
 

 w 
 
SHBSNBRGHB 
 
 OP 
 
 $&$U$tM 
 
 General "William Hull, late of the army, 
 having made an appeal " to the People of 
 the United States," in which he has attempt- 
 ed to exonerate himself from blame, by at- 
 tributing his unfortunate surrender of the ar- 
 my at Detroit to my father, it becomes my 
 duty, in his absence, to present a statement 
 of (acts, which will show, that the causes of 
 the disasters of the North Western Army 
 were those, which induced a court martial 
 to sentence the commander "to be shot to 
 death,' 1 '' and that there is not the shadow of 
 a reason to warrant him in attributing his 
 unconditional SURRENDER of an entire 
 army and territory, to the conduct of Gene- 
 ral Dearborn. 
 
 He first accuses General Dearborn of a dis- 
 obedience of orders, in not co-operating with 
 him, on the Niagara, which he alleges, was 
 one great cause of his misfortunes ; and that 
 the temporary suspension of arms, entered 
 into with Sir George Prevost, the Governor 
 General of Canada, enabled the enemy to 
 send reinforcements to Fort Maiden, at the 
 time he was investing it, which completed 
 his disasters. 
 
 A plan of the anticipated campaign against 
 the Canadas was submitted to the Secretary 
 of War, hy General Dearborn, previously to 
 his departure from Washington, in 1G12; in 
 which he recommended, that the main army 
 should advance upon Montreal, by the way 
 of lake Champlain, while three corps, com- 
 posed chiefly of militia, should enter upon 
 Canada, from Detroit, Niagara, and Saeket's 
 Harbour. In accordance with this system of 
 operations, he was directed to proceed to 
 Albany, and make the necessary arrange- 
 
 ments for concentrating an army on the 
 Hudson and lake Champlain, which was to 
 invade Lower Canada ; then proceed to 
 Boston — nd, after putting the sea coast of 
 New England in as perfect a state of defence 
 as possible, return to Albany. — This was 
 done, and he reached the encampment at 
 Green Bush, on the 2Gth of July, 1812, 
 where his chief efforts were to be directed 
 to the organization of the troops, and the es- 
 tablishment of depots of provisions and mu- 
 nitions of war, for the descent upon Mon- 
 treal and Quebec ; to which operations alone 
 he considered his command to extend, as ha 
 had distinctly expressed in the plan of the 
 campaign above named ; and had no idea 
 that Niagara, or the posts on the lakes, west 
 of it, were included therein, than that it 
 embraced the whole of the United States. 
 
 The army under General Hull, and the 
 forces assembled on the Niagara, were under 
 the immediate orders of the Government ; 
 and General Dearborn neither gave orders 
 to, or received reports from, the command- 
 ing officers of either position, until after he 
 arrived at Albany, on the 26th of July ; and 
 General Hull had no right to anticipate any 
 co-operation on the Niagara, or other u posts 
 below'''' him, when he invaded Upper Cana- 
 da, as will appear by the instructions from 
 the Secretary of War, under which he acted, 
 dated June 24, 1812, which he has publish- 
 ed in his twelfth number, except the last and 
 very important paragraph, which is here in- 
 serted, in conjunction with the one directing 
 ' him to take Fort Maiden. 
 
 " Should the force under your command 
 i be equal to the enterprise, consistent with 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 the safety of your own posts, you will take 
 possession of Maiden, and extend your con- 
 quests as circumstances may justify. 
 
 " It is also proper to inform you that an a- 
 dequale forte cannot soon be relied on, for 
 the reduction of the enemy's posts below yoiC 
 
 In support of the assertion, that General 
 Dearborn did not consider any part of Low- 
 er Canada under his command, until after he 
 reached Albany, on the 26th July, 1812, and 
 that the moment he received orders to make 
 a diversion at Niagara, in favor of General 
 Hull, he promptly took measures to execute 
 them, the following official letters, and ex- 
 tracts therefrom, are introduced. 
 
 Extract of a letter from General Dear- 
 born to the Secretary of War, dated 
 
 Head Quarters, Gieenbush, July 28, 1312. 
 " Who is to have the command of the ope- 
 rations in Upper Canada? I take it for grant- 
 ed, that my command dots not extend to that 
 distant quarter.'*'' 
 
 On the 26th of July, the Secretary wrote 
 General Hull as follows : " A force is collect- 
 ing at Niagara. General Dearborn's head- 
 quarters are at Albany. He will be apprised 
 of your situation, and directed to keep up a 
 correspondence with you, and the immedi- 
 ate command at Niagara ; and to take mea- 
 sures to afford the necessary support. 1 ' 
 
 In the above letter, the Secretary says, 
 General Dearborn "u'i7Z be, apprised of your 
 situation," and on the first of August, he 
 wrote General Hull, that "On the~26th of 
 July, your letters of the 7th and 10th were 
 enclosed to General Dearborn, with a copy 
 of mine to you of the 26/A." which renders 
 it evident, that General Dearborn had not 
 been before ordered to co-operate on the 
 Niagara. The following is an extract of the 
 letter of the 26th of July to General Dear- 
 born. 
 
 " War Department, July 26, 1812. 
 " Sir-- Your letter of the 17th inst. is re- 
 ceived. A letter from Brigadier General 
 Hull, of the 7th, announces his arrival at 
 Detroit, on the 5th inst. with a force of 
 more than 2000, consisting of the 4th Infan- 
 try, recruits of the 1st infantry, and volun- 
 teers from Ohio. His troops are in flue health 
 and good spirits, and he was providing the 
 means to cross the river. Arrangements 
 should be immediately made by you to co- 
 operate with him at Niagara." 
 
 It is now fully proved, that the above were 
 the first instructions which were sent to Ge- 
 neral Dearborn to make a diversion on the 
 Niagara, and which were not received at 
 Albany until the 31st of July, only sixteen 
 days before the surrender of Detroit. Put in 
 the=e instructions the Secretary had antici- 
 pated the request of Gen. Hull ; for his first 
 intimation that a co-operation was expected, 
 
 or would be necessary to aid him at Detroit, 
 was in a letter to the Secretary, as late as 
 the \9lh of July, which did not reach Wash- 
 ington until the first of August, and was 
 not received by General Dearborn until the 
 6lh of Aug. — but 10 days before Gen. HulPs 
 capture. 
 
 By the following letters and orders, it will 
 not only be seen, that Gen. Dtarborn had 
 not considered any -part of the borders of Up- 
 per Canada as within the command intended 
 for him, until the 3i*/ of July ; and that, so 
 far from neg'ecting to obey the orders of the 
 Secretary of War, when apprised thereof, 
 he made every possible effort to concentrate a 
 force on the Niagara. 
 
 Letter to the Secretary of War. 
 "Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 7, 1812. 
 
 "Sir — I have been honoured with your 
 letters of the 26th, 27th, and 29th ult. and 
 of the 1st and 5th inst. I have been making 
 arrangements with Governor Tompkins, for 
 having reinforcements sent to Niagara, Og- 
 denburg, and Flattsburg. I trust they will 
 move soon, but too late, I fear, to make the 
 diversion in favour of General Hull, which 
 is so desirable. 
 
 "I have ordered Lieut. Col. Fenwick, 
 with two companies of Simonds' regiment, 
 two eighteen, and two twelve pounders, to 
 move up the Mohawk, to Utica, where the 
 roads part, which lead to Niagara and Sack- 
 ett's Harbour. 
 
 " I shall order a detachment of light artil- 
 lery, and the infantry, with the heavy piec- 
 es, a quantity of ammunition, intrenching 
 tools, and other articles, to proceed to Nia- 
 gara. The whole, except the light artillery, 
 will go by water, from Fort Schuyler. I 
 wrote to the commanding officers at Niagara 
 and Sacket's Harbour, confidentially, to let 
 it be known, that they had received intelli- 
 gence, that large reinforcements of regulars 
 and militia were on their march to join them; 
 I enclosed a letter to each of them to that 
 effect. It is said, that a detachment has 
 been sent from Niagara, by land to Detroit ; 
 if so, I should presume, before they can 
 march 250 miles, General Hull will receive 
 notice of their approach, and in season to 
 cut them off, before they reach Fort Mai- 
 den. 
 
 " It is reported that no ordnance orammu* 
 nition have reached Niagara this season, and 
 that there is a great deficiency of those arti- 
 cles. Not having considered any part of the 
 borders of Upper Canada as within the com- 
 mand intended for me, I have received no re- 
 ports or returns from that quarter ; and did 
 not, until since my last arrival at this place, 
 give any ordtrs to the commanding officers of 
 the respective posts on that frontier. 
 
 " I have considered it necessary to rein- 
 force the troops at Plattsburg and its viciiii- 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 6 
 
 ty, from the presumption, that if we send 
 any considerable additional force towards 
 Upper Canada, the British forces near Mon- 
 treal, would attack our posts in their imme- 
 diate neighbourhood, and might take the 
 magazines at Plattsburg. Governor Tomp- 
 kins, coinciding with me in this opinion, has 
 agreed to order out eight hundred of the de- 
 tached militia, to reinforce that place. Ma- 
 jor General Moore, an intelligent revolution- 
 ary officer, commands at Plattsburg. 
 
 kt We should be prepared to act offensive- 
 ly at Niagara, but no orders have been giv- 
 en to that effect. 1 presume it was not in- 
 tended at present. General Van Rensselaer 
 should receive orders to cross Niagara river 
 as soon as the reinforcements arrive, which 
 will give him a total force of 2400 men, es- 
 pecially if the enemy has made any conside- 
 rable detachments for Detroit ; we might 
 take a strong position and maintain it ; ob- 
 tain possession of the minor posts, and hold 
 the main garrison in check, until we receive 
 further aid. 
 
 " Governor Tompkins has agreed to order 
 out, in addition to those now in the service 
 of the United States, and those intended for 
 Plattsburg, eighteen hundred men ; one 
 thousand of which are to be marched to Ni- 
 agara, and eight hundred to Sacketfs Har- 
 bour and Ogdensburg. 
 
 " Will the militia consent to go into Cana- 
 da i This is a serious question. 1 have no 
 other means of ascertaining their feelings, 
 than the information derived from Governor 
 Tompkins, who is of opinion that they would 
 cheerfully consent to cross the line. 
 
 11 The number of the detachments, march- 
 ed from Niagara, cannot exceed two hun- 
 dred ; as the whole force of the enemy in 
 that quarter has amounted to only about 450 
 regulars, from three to five hundred militia, 
 and about three hundred Indians. 
 
 " I hope the vessels on lake Champlain 
 will be purchased on account of the United 
 States, and part of them armed. 
 
 I am, sir, your ob't servant, 
 
 H. DEARBORN." 
 
 Orders to Gen. Van Rensselaer. 
 
 "Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 3, 1812, 
 " Sir — You will please to take measures 
 for keeping up a correspondence with Geu. 
 Hull, and ascertain his movements by ex- 
 presses, or otherwise; and as he has crossed 
 over into Upper Canada, and taken posses- 
 sion of Maiden, it will be expedient to make 
 every exertion in your power to co-operate 
 with him ; and if your force will not admit 
 of any strong offensive operations, it may be 
 well to make such diversions in his favour as 
 circumstances will permit, so as to prevent 
 the enemy from detaching any force from the 
 vicinity of Niagara, to oppose the movements 
 
 of General Hull. I trust yoa will soon be 
 able to act in a more decisive manner. 
 I am, &c. 
 
 H. DEARBORN. 
 
 " Head Quarters. Green Bush, Aug. 6, 1812. 
 " To His Excellency Gov. Tompkins. 
 " Sir — Agreeable to the result of our con- 
 ference this morning, I take the liberty of 
 requesting your Excellency to order into the 
 service of the United States two thousand 
 six hundred of the detached militia of the 
 state, duly officered ; one thousand of them 
 to join the troops at Niagara, eight hundred 
 to join those at Sackett's Harbour, and on 
 the upper St. Lawrence, and eight hundred 
 to join the troops at Plattsburg. The Quar- 
 ter Master General will be ordered to fur- 
 nish t j nts, and the means of transportation 
 for the necessary baggage. I am, &c. 
 
 H. DEARBORN." 
 Orders to Major Mulcany. 
 
 " Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 8, 1812. 
 "Sir, — You will proceed without delay, 
 with the recruits, under your command to 
 Niagara, and report yourself to the com- 
 manding General at that place, and receive 
 his orders. You will apply to the contract- 
 or's agent for furnishing the necessary rations 
 on your march. I am, &c. 
 
 H. DEARBORN'. 
 
 Orders to Col. Fenwick. 
 
 " Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 8, 1812. 
 " Sir — AtUtica you will detach an intel- 
 ligent subaltern, with 34 noncommissioned 
 officers, and privates, and two pieces of ar- 
 tillery with ammunition, and with the two 
 companies of infantry under your command, 
 proceed to Niagara, you will take under your 
 charge the 18, and 12 pounders, and the 
 ammunition and other military stores destin- 
 ed for Niagara. The heavy pieces, with the 
 military stores, will probably be most conve- 
 niently conveyed by water to Niagara, or 
 within about twelve miles of the Old Fort, 
 and there be landed. The infantry should 
 accompany the cannon and stores by water, 
 to the head of the Mohawk river and I will 
 suggest the expediency of your taking that 
 route yourself. On your arrival at Niagara 
 you will report yourself to the commanding 
 general, and you will take command of the 
 artillery generally, including Capt. Leonard's 
 company, and also of the infantry of the 6th 
 regiment, — and of the new raised troops of 
 this State at Niagara. You will suggest to 
 the commanding general the expediency of 
 removing the troop* from the Old Fort, and 
 concentrating his main force, at some place 
 with a view of crossing the river into Cana- 
 da, or for the better defence of the river. If 
 ] it should he considered expedient to wilb- 
 jdraw the troops from the Old Fort it may be 
 J necessary to have it occupied by some niili- 
 
6 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 tin, and perhaps as a Hospital. You will 
 please to give me such information by mail, 
 as may be worth communicating. 1 should 
 presume that as soon as the reinforcements 
 now ordered out bv the Governor arrives, 
 that there will be no risk, in acting offen- 
 sively. The whole of the artillery should 
 be under your command and direction, but 
 to be under the orders of the commanditig 
 General. I am, &c. 
 
 H. DEARBORN. 
 Orders to Colonel Tvlacombe. 
 
 "Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 6, 1812. 
 " Sir, — You will please to have two me- 
 dium eighteen pounders, and two twelve 
 pounders, with one hundred rounds of pow- 
 der and ball for each piece, and the necessa- 
 ry apparatus complete, prepared, for being 
 sent to Niagara, without delay ; — they should 
 accompany Lieut. Col. Fenwick 1 s detach- 
 ment on Saturday morning next. You will 
 apply to the Quarter Master Gen. or his De- 
 puty for the Horses necessary for the con- 
 veyance of the pieces, and ammunition. 
 Yours &c. H. DEARBORN. 
 
 Extract of a letter from General Dear- 
 born, to the Governor of Pennsylva- 
 nia, dated 
 
 " Green Bush, Aug. 13, 1812. 
 " I am authorized by the President of the 
 LJnited States, to call to your Excellency, 
 for such numbers of the militia of Pennsyl- 
 vania, as the service on the frontiers may 
 require ; I therefore take the liberty of re- 
 questing your Excellency, to have two thou- 
 sand of the militia of the north-westerly 
 frontier of Pennsylvania ordered out, and 
 inarched to Niagara, *-. ith as little delay as 
 possible, with a suitable number of officers 
 of the different grades, and commanded by 
 a Brigadier General. On their arrival at 
 Niagara, the commanding officer will report 
 himself to the commanding General of the 
 troops at that post." 
 
 Letter from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. 
 Van Rensselear. 
 " Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 20, 1312. 
 
 " Sir— Your letter of the 12th inst. has 
 been duly received. As it is believed that a 
 detachment has been made from the British 
 force at Niagara, to reinforce the garrison at 
 Maiden, it will be necessary to be as well 
 prepared as possible to take advantage of 
 the reduced force in your front, as soon as 
 there shall be orders to act offensively. Con- 
 siderable reinforcements from the detached 
 militia and volunteers, are ordered to Niaga- 
 ra, Sackett's Harbour, Ogdenburg and 
 PhUtsburg; — and with the detachment of re- 
 gular troops, under Lieut. Colonel Fenwick, 
 there is some heavy ordnance, ammunition 
 and intrenching tools, which will immediate- 
 ly be followed with additional orduauce, and 
 
 military stores for Niagara, Sackett's Har- 
 bour and Ogdenburg. — I have also ordered a 
 considerable number of Batteaux from Sche- 
 nactady, to Niagara and Sackett's Harbour, 
 and the construction of suitable scows at 
 the respective places, including Ogdenburg, 
 for the transportation of ordnance, &c. 1 
 hope Col. Porter will proceed in the con- 
 struction of boats, and scows with all possi- 
 ble industry." 
 
 " It will be highly gratifying to me to re- 
 ceive intelligence from you by every mail, 
 anil in case of emergency, by express. 1 ' 
 
 Yours, &c. H. DEARBORN. 
 
 Ample testimony having been exhibited to 
 prove that Gen. Hull made a rash and un- 
 founded declaration, when he asserted that 
 Gen. Dearborn " neglected to obey the po- 
 sitive orders of his government to co-operate 
 with the forces under his command. 1 ' I shall 
 now show that, no troop or military supplies 
 icere sent to the relief of Fort Maiden from 
 any '•'•post belowf during the temporary arm- 
 istices, and that Gen. Brock did not even 
 knoiv that one had been agreed upon, until 
 he returned to Fort Erie, on the Niagara, af- 
 ter the capture of Gen. Hull and his army, 
 and that so far from neglecting the situation 
 of Gen. Hull, every precaution was taken by 
 Gen Dearborn, to render the arrangement, 
 not only, not injurious, but advantageous to 
 him. 
 
 Letter from Gen. Dearborn to the Se- 
 cretary of War, informing him of 
 the temporary armistice. 
 
 "Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 9. 1812. 
 
 " Sir. — Col. Baynes, Adjutant General of 
 the British Army in Canada, has this day ar- 
 rived at this place, in the character of a flag 
 of truce, with dispatches from the British 
 Government, through Mr. Foster*, which I 
 have enclosed to the Secretary of State. 
 Col. Baynes was likewise the bearer of dis- 
 patches from Sir George Prevost, which is 
 herewith enclosed. Although I do not con- 
 sider myself authorized, to agree to a cessa- 
 tion of arms, I concluded that 1 might with 
 perfect safety agree that our troop should act 
 merely on the defensive, until I could re- 
 ceive directions from my government ; but 
 as I could not undertake to include General 
 Hull in such an arrangement, he having re- 
 ceived his orders directly from the department 
 of War, 1 agreed to write to him, and state 
 the proposition made to me, and have pro- 
 posed, his confining himself to defensive 
 measures, if his orders, and the circumstan- 
 ces of affairs with him, would justify it. Col, 
 Baynes has written similar orders to the Bri- 
 tish officers, in Upper Canada, and I have 
 forwarded them, to our commanders of posts, 
 
 *Late Minister of G. B. then at Halifax. 
 
, 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 o be by them transmitted to the British 
 commanders." 
 
 " I consider the agreement as favorable at 
 this period, for we could not act offensively, 
 except at Detroit, for some time, and there 
 it will not probably have any effect on Gen- 
 eral Hull or his movements, and we shall not 
 be prepared to act offensively in this quar- 
 ter, before you will have time to give me or- 
 ders, for continuing on the defensive or act 
 Otherwise. We shall lose no time, or advan- 
 tage, by the agreement, but rather gain time, 
 without any risk. It is mutually understood, 
 that all preparatory measures may proceed, 
 and that no obstructions are to be attempted, 
 on either side, to the passage of stores, to the 
 frontier posts ; but if General Hull, should 
 not think it advisable to confine himself to 
 mere defensive operations, the passage of 
 military stores to Detroit, will not be con- 
 sidered as embraced in the agreement last 
 noticed." 
 
 Col. Baynes informs me, that a party of 
 British troops, and Indians, had taken pos- 
 session of Michillimackinack, and that our 
 garrison were prisoners. I made no particu- 
 lar inquiry as to the circumstances, as I en- 
 tertain some doubts as to the fact. 
 
 "1 hare no expectation that the govern- 
 ment will consent to a cessation of hostili- 
 ties, on the strength of the communication 
 forwarded by Mr. Foster ; but all circum- 
 stances considered, it may be well to avail 
 ourselves of the occasion, until, we are 
 belter prepared for acting with effect ; 
 at all events, we can lose nothing by the 
 arrangement I have consented to, it being 
 explicitly understood, that my government 
 will not be under any obligation to agree to 
 it, unless the dispatches from the British Go- 
 vernment should be such, as to induce the 
 President to propose an armistice, as prepar- 
 atory for negociations for peace. 1 informed 
 Col. Baynes, that our government would 
 readily meet any such overture from Great 
 Britain, as clearly indicated a sincere dispo- 
 sition for making peace on satisfactory terms; 
 but after what had occurred, in relation to 
 the adjustment with Mr. Erskine, it could 
 
 "Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug, 9, 1812. 
 
 "Sir. — Having received from Sir George 
 Prevost, Governor General and Commander 
 of the British forces in Upper and Lower 
 Canada, dispatches from the British Govern- 
 ment, said to be of a conciliatory nature, 
 which I have forwarded to Washington, and 
 a letter from Sir George Prevost to me, by 
 his Adjutant General Col. Baynes, proposing 
 a cessation of hostilities on the frontiers : I 
 have so far agreed to his proposals, as to con- 
 sent that no offensive operations, shall he at- 
 tempted on our part, until I shall have re- 
 ceived further instructions from our govern- 
 ment ; but as you received your orders direct- 
 ly from the Department of JVar, I could not 
 agree to extend the principle to yjur com- 
 mand, but I agreed to write to you, and state 
 the general facts ; and propose to you a con- 
 currence in the measures, if your orders and 
 situation would admit of it ; of course yon 
 will act in conformity with what has been 
 agreed upon in respect to the other posts on 
 the frontiers, if not incompatible with your 
 orders, or the arrangements made under 
 them, or the circumstances under which this 
 letter reaches you. Any preparation for of- 
 fensive operations may be continued, and 
 where it is agreed to suspend any offensive 
 operations, no obstacles are to be opposed to 
 the transportation of military stores. 
 
 " In all cases where offensive operations 
 cease, by virtue of the aforementioned agree- 
 ment, four entire days are to be allowed, af- 
 ter either party shall revoke their orders, be- 
 fore any offensive operations shall commence. 
 
 "A letter from Col Baynes, to the com- 
 manding officer at Amherstburgh, has been 
 forwarded by me to the commanding officer 
 at Niagara, to be by him transmitted to De- 
 troit. 
 
 "The removal of any troops from Niagara 
 to Detroit, while the present agreement con- 
 tinues, would be improper, and incompati- 
 ble with the true intent of the agreement. I 
 have made no arrangement, that should have 
 any effect upon your command contrary to 
 
 your own judgment. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 H. DEARBORN. 
 
 not be expected, that any other than the 
 
 most explicit and authentic directions to [ Letter frQm General Van Rensselaer 
 
 their agent in this country, would produce 
 
 any change in our measures. 
 
 " It is evident that a war with the United 
 States, is very unpopular in Canada. 
 
 "Col. Baynes arrived at our frontier post, 
 at Plattsburg, and was conducted to this 
 place, by Major Clark, an officer in the de- 
 tached miiitia, of thus state, he returned this 
 day with the same officer. 
 
 I am Sir, Sec. 
 
 If. DEARBORN. 
 Letter from General Dearborn to Gen- 
 eral Hull, announcing the tempora- 
 ry armistice, 
 
 acknowledging the receipt of a let- 
 ter from General Dearborn relative 
 to the armistice. 
 
 "Head Quarters, Lewistown, Aug. 19, 1312, 
 
 "■Sir. — In the night of the 17th, I received 
 your letter of the fith inst. The enclosures 
 have been delivered to Lieut. Col. Mjers, 
 commanding at Fort George, who has since 
 acknowledged the receipt of the letters, and 
 pledged himself strictly to observe the terms 
 of the armistice. I am, &c 
 
 S, VAN RENSSELAER. 
 
s 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 It is notorious, that not any troops, passed 
 ■up to Detroit, except those which left Nia- 
 gara, before the temporary armistice was 
 agreed to at Green Bush. But Gen. Hull 
 says, that Gen. Brock informed him of it at 
 Detroit, after the surrender ; that this was 
 impossible, the letter from General Van 
 Rensselaer sufficiently shows, for he says he 
 did not receive the dispatches, until the night 
 of the 17th of August, which was after the, 
 capture of Detroit ; but the following ex- 
 tract of a letter from General Brock to Ge- 
 neral Van Rensselaer, proves that he did not 
 know it, until the twenty-third of August, 
 when he returned to Fort Erie, on the Nia- 
 gara, seven days after the surrender of Gen. 
 Hull. 
 
 "Head Quarters, Fort George, Aug. 25, 1812. 
 
 " II was not until my arrival at Fort Erie, 
 " late in the evening of the 23rf inst. that I 
 " learn that a cessation of hoslillies, had been 
 " agreed upon, between General Dearborn 
 " and Sir George Prevost ; and I in conse- 
 " quence, despatched early yesterday, an 
 *' express to Amherstburgh, ordering a cessa- 
 " lion of all offensive operations against the 
 " United States, in that quarter, and like- 
 " wise to exert my influence in restraining 
 " the Indians, from committing any acts of 
 " hostility, all of which I have again repea!- 
 " ed this day by a second express. 
 
 " The fortune of war having put me in 
 " possession of Detroit and its dependencies 
 " a small garrison has been ordered to occu- 
 " py the Fort, the chief object of which was 
 11 to afford protection to the inhabitants of 
 " the territory. I have the honor to enclose 
 " a copy of the proclamation which I issued 
 " on the occasion. 1 ' 
 
 1 have the honor to be 
 
 Your most obedient Servt. 
 
 ISAAC BROCK, Major General. 
 
 I shall now introduce testimony to prove, 
 mcontestibly, that it was neither to the ne- 
 gligence of the government, or of General 
 Dearborn, that the surrender of the North 
 Western Army is to be attributed, but that 
 it was the result of the lamentable imbecility, 
 of the commander, who could have taken 
 Fort Maiden when he first arrived; which 
 he was urged to do, by his officers,and shoud 
 have done, as he knew General Brock had 
 been there on the 14th of June, " and he ex- 
 u pected the Queen Charlotte to return with a 
 " reinforcement immediately,'''' as will appear 
 by his letter to the Secretary, of the 24th of 
 June, which will be hereafter introduced. It 
 ■will appear that he could have taken Mai- 
 den at any time previous to his evacuation of 
 Canada, and that the enemy with an inferior 
 force was suffered to cross the river, and 
 inarch into the Fort at Detroit, without any 
 resistance being made, during the whole of 
 which time General Hull, so far from dis- 
 
 playing the first quality of a soldier, exhibit- 
 ed a most melancholy spectacle to his army^ 
 of a general, on the eve of anticipated battle, 
 incapable of action, from a total prostration 
 of all his moral and physical energies, a chief 
 without firmness to meet the tempest of tear. 
 
 He has dwelt much on the Navai com- 
 mand of Lake Erie, and endeavoured to 
 show, that he expected the government 
 would have taken measures to secure it to 
 aid his movements. 
 
 The fact is, he knew when he left Wash- 
 ington, that such would not be the case. In 
 his letter to the Secretary of War of the 6th 
 of March, 1812, he observes that, " In the 
 event of peace with England, I am of opinion 
 that the northern frontier ought to be better 
 protected than it is at present. — In the event 
 of war and the object being the reduction of 
 the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, I 
 think it must be evident, that the establish- 
 ment of an army at Detroit, sufficient to de 
 fend that part of the country, control the In- 
 dians, and commence operations on the weak- i 
 est points of defence of the enemy, would be 
 an incipient measure indispensibly necessary. 
 With respect to the other points of attack I 
 shall make no observations, as I probably 
 shall have no agency in them. In consider- 
 ing this subject, I have endeavored to divest 
 myself of all local feelings, and grounded 
 my observations and opinions on public con- 
 siderations alone. 
 
 Two things appear to me to be certain, one 
 is that, in the event of war, the enemy will 
 attempt to take possession of that country, 
 with a view to obtain the assistance of the 
 Indians residing in our territory ; and the 
 other is, that under its present circumstances 
 of defence, it will be in their power to do it. 
 A part of your army now recruiting, may as 
 well be recruited and disciplined at Detroit 
 as at any other place. A force adequate to 
 the defence of that vulnerable point would 
 prevent a war with the savages and probably 
 induce the enemy to abandon the Province of 
 Upper Canada without opposition The na- 
 val FORCE ON THE LAKES, WOULD IN 
 
 THAT EVENT FALL INTO OUR POSSESSION 
 
 AND WE SHOULD OBTAIN THE COMMAND OE 
 THE WATERS, WITHOUT THE EXPENSE OE 
 BUILDING SUCH A FORCE. 
 
 tw The British cannot hold Upper Canada 
 without the assistance of the Indians, and 
 that assistance they cannot obtain, if we j 
 have an adequate force in the situation I 
 have pointed out. 
 
 " There is another consideration very im- 
 portant. It will do more to prevent a gene- 
 ral Indian war, as far west, and beyond the 
 Mississippi, than any other measure. The 
 Indians cannot conduct a war, without the 
 assistance of some civilized nafion. 
 
 " The British establishment at Amherst- I 
 burg is the great emporium, from which e- 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 8 
 
 wn fhe most distant Indians receive their 
 supplies. A force at the point I mentioned 
 would prevent all communication of the In- 
 dians with that post ; indeed, Sir, in every 
 point of view in which the subject can be 
 considered, it appears to me of the first im- 
 portance to adopt the measure." 
 
 From the above it is manifest, that Gen. 
 Hull considered a naval force on Lake Erie 
 unnecessary, provided, "there was estab- 
 " lished an army at Detroit, sufficient to de- 
 " fend that part of the country, control the 
 " Indians, and commence operations on the 
 • ; weakest points of defence of the enemy; 1 ' 
 that li the British naval force on the Lakes, 
 would in that event fall into our possession, 
 and ive should obtain the command of the 
 waters, without the expense of building such 
 a firce.' 1 ' 1 
 
 If he found, such a force, as he had con- 
 templated in his report, was not furnished, 
 it w.is his duty to have demanded it before he 
 marched : — this he did not do ; it is therefore 
 conclusive, that he had such an army en- 
 trusted to his command, as he required, and 
 considered it " sufficient ,-" — this he cannot 
 vow gainsay, for he declined taking addition- 
 al troops* when offered, before he marched 
 from Ohio, declaring, he had " men enough.'''' 
 The following testimony of Gen. P. B. 
 Tarker is plenary, that the President had 
 concluded it better, to send an army with 
 Gen. Hull, than to equip a fleet. 
 
 " I was twice at the President's with Gen. 
 " Hull when the subject of a navy was talk- 
 "edover; at first, it was agreed to have 
 " one, but afterwards it ivas agreed to aban- 
 '* don it, doubtless as inexpedient.' 1 '' 
 
 But a short time previous to the departure 
 of Gen. Hull to Detroit, he was asked by 
 some one whether the naval force of the 
 enemy might not annoy him, when he re- 
 plied, " I will take the land, and the water 
 and ships will go with it." 
 
 That this was the tl expectation''' of the 
 President, the following extract from his 
 message to Congress, after the fall of De- 
 troit, clearly proves, and that Gen. Hull, in 
 making the above declaration, not only pro- 
 claimed his own anticipations, but those of 
 the national executive. 
 
 " That the force sent to Detroit was wilh 
 a general view to the security of the Michi- 
 gan Territory, and in the event of a war, to 
 such operations in the Uppermost Canada, 
 a« would interrupt the hostile influence of 
 Great Britain over the savages, obtain the 
 
 COMMAND OF THE LAKES, 0/1 which that 
 
 part of Canada borders, maintain co-opera- 
 ting relations with such forces as might be 
 most conveniently employed against other 
 posts." 
 
 " Our expectation of gaining' the com- 
 mand of the Lakes by the invasion of Cana- 
 da from Detroit, having been disappointed, 
 measures were instantly taken to provide on 
 them, a naval force,suptrior to that of the en- 
 emy.'' 1 
 
 General Hull has taken great pains to re- 
 present the force he marched from Ohio, at 
 only " 1200 militia, 1 '— the 4th United States 
 regiment, which he states, consisted " of 
 about 300," and " a few straggling volun- 
 teers," — making an aggregate of, apparent- 
 ly, a little over 1500 men, which force he 
 endeavoured to reduce 300 by sickness, de- 
 tachments left at the block houses, on his 
 route, and by capture. And these patriotic 
 citizens of Ohio, he has the effrontery to tra- 
 duce, and brand one of its most valiant, en- 
 terprising and intelligent officers, with the 
 odious name of Cataline. At this immense 
 distance, from these hardy and gallant sol- 
 diers, and after a lapse of a dozen years, he 
 has acquired the nerve to abuse them, when 
 in their presence he would be as silent, as 
 when " seated on a tent with his back against 
 the parrapet," in the fort at Detroit. But 
 by the following official letters and returns it 
 appears his aggregate force, on the 27th of 
 June, when he had reached Fort Findlay, 
 
 Was TWO THOUSAND AND SEVENTY FIVE, 
 
 and that he not only had ample means, for 
 achieving the objects of the expedition, but 
 was full of hope, for a successful result, 
 which was prevented by his own pusilanimity. 
 
 Extracts of Letters from Gen. Hull to 
 the Secretary of War. 
 
 "Camp Necessity, near Blanchard's Creek, } 
 June 24, 1812. $ 
 
 " Sir, — The army is now preparing to 
 march, and will arrive at the foot of the ra- 
 pids by the first day of July, unless prevent- 
 ed by a continuation of the rains. There is 
 now established on this road five strong 
 block houses, garrisoned principally by the 
 invalids of the army. I have stated to von 
 in my former letters, the importance of this 
 communication. 
 
 "Considering the fatigue to which fhe ar- 
 my has been subjected, both officers and sol- 
 diers are in good health, and continue to be 
 animated by a laudable spirit. 
 
 " General Brock, the Governor of Upper 
 Canada, arrived at JUalden on the ]4th i7ist. 
 with one hundred British troops. On the 
 lllh, he sailed for Fort Erie, in the Queen. 
 Charlotte, and it is said she will return with. 
 a reinforcement immediately. Large num- 
 bers of Indians from all the northern nations 
 are collecting at Amherstburg and at Browns- 
 town, opposite the British Fort, and like- 
 wise on the river Huron of lake Erie, three 
 
 a 
 
10 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 H 
 
 miles below Brownstown. They now have 
 a constant communication with the British 
 Garrison, and are supplied with provisions 
 and every thing necessary for them. 
 
 " In the event of hostilities, I feel a confi- 
 dence that the force tender my command, will 
 be superior to any which can bt opposed to it. 
 It now exceeds two thousand rank and file. 
 I cannot by this conveyance send an accu- 
 rate return. 
 
 " It is unnecessary for me to detail the dif- 
 ficulties I have to encounter in marching the 
 army through this wilderness, it is only for 
 me to surmount them. 
 
 I am very respectfully 
 
 Yourobt. Servt. W. HULL. 1 ' 
 
 " Camp at Fort Fiudlay, on Blanchard Fork, 35 
 
 miles from the foot of the Rapids of the Mi 
 
 ama, Jane 26, 1812. 
 
 " Sir, — I have with me a considerable 
 number of friendly Chiefs, and head men of 
 the different Nations. The Indians as we 
 progress appear to be friendly. I hope in 
 three days to be at the foot of the rapids. 
 
 " The army are in high spirits, and anima- 
 ted by a laudable zeal, there exists a perfect 
 harmony. 
 
 " McArthurs Block house stands on the 
 Sciola and the river is navigable for boats to 
 that station. From that station to Fort 
 Findlay, the distance is about twenty seven 
 miles, and from this place there is a boat na- 
 vigation, by the Miama to Detroit. It is my 
 intention to build another block house on 
 the carrying river, about half the distance 
 between this and the foot of the rapids. 
 
 " The friendly Indians are now making Ca- 
 noes, and will carry a part of the baggage of 
 the army, from this to the foot of the rapids. 
 
 " Inclosed is the most correct return, that 
 can be made of the army under present cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 I am Sir, respectfully 
 
 Your Most Obt. Servt. W. HULL." 
 
 " Extract from the Return of the Brigade, 
 " composed of Ohio Volunteers and Militia, 
 a and United States Infantry, commanded 
 " by Brig. General Hull of the United States 
 " army. 
 
 "4th Rcgt. of Infantry - - - 483 
 Col. Find lay's Regiment of Volunteers 
 
 and Militia 509 
 
 Col. Cass' Regiment of Volunteers and 
 
 Militia 483 
 
 Col. McArthurs Regiment of Volun- 
 teers and Militia ... 552 
 Capt. Sloan's troop of Cincinnati Lt. 
 
 Dragoons ..... 40 
 
 Total - ,. - 2075 
 W. HULL, Brig. Gen. 
 "Fort Findlay, June 17, 1812. 
 J. Jessup, Dy. Insp. anu Brig. Maj." 
 
 Extracts of Letters from Gen. Hull to 
 the Secretary of War. 
 
 " Head-Quaiters, Detroit, July 7, 1812. 
 
 " Sir, — The patience and perseverance, 
 with which this army has sustained a march 
 attended with difficulties, uncommon in their 
 nature, dots honor to themselves and their 
 country. 
 
 " The British have established a post at 
 Sandwich, opposite Detroit. The militia at 
 Detroit have manifested a laudable and pa- 
 triotic spirit. 
 
 " In your letter of the 18th of June, you 
 direct me to adopt measures for the security 
 of the country, and wait for further orders,. 
 I regret that I have not a larger latitude. 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Your most ob'dt servant, 
 
 W. HULL. 
 
 " Sandwich, July 12, 1812. 
 
 "Sin, — The Canadian militia are desert- 
 ing from Maiden in large parties, — about six- 
 ty came in yesterday. I send them to their 
 homes and give them protection. The pro- 
 bability is that the greatest part of them will 
 desert in a few days. 
 
 "The force under my command, and the 
 movement into this province has had a great 
 effect on the Indians. They are daily re- 
 turning to their villages. A very large coun- 
 cil is now sitting at Brownstown. The Wy- 
 andots are at the head of it. The object is 
 to induce all the nations to be neutral. I 
 furnish them with provisions. The Crane, 
 Walk-in-the-water, Black-hoof, Blue-Jack- 
 et, &c. &c. are zealous friends of neutrality. 
 I have great hopes the object will be effect- 
 ed. I have reason to believe the number of 
 hostile Indians is daily decreasing. The in- 
 habitants have received my proclamation 
 with great satisfaction, so far as information 
 has been received. 
 
 " 1 shall march the army to Maiden, as 
 soon as the necessary preparations can be 
 made for the siege. 
 
 " As the British have no naval force above 
 Detroit, and as we now command the river, 
 I shall direct the brig Adams to be complet- 
 ed and armed as soon as possible, for the 
 purpose of supplying the posts at Michilli- 
 mackinack, and Chicago with provisions and 
 the necessary stores, provided we can ob- 
 tain them here." 
 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Your ob't serv't. W. HULL. 
 
 " Sandwich, July 19, 1812. 
 " Sir, — The army is encamped directly 
 opposite Detroit. The camp is intrenched-. 
 1 am mounting the 24 pounders, and making 
 every preparation for the siege of Maiden. 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 I i 
 
 " The British force, which in numbers was 
 superior to the American, including militia 
 and Indians, is daily diminishing. Fifty or 
 sixty of the militia have deserted daily since 
 the American Standard was displayed, and 
 taken protection. They are now reduced 
 to less than one hundred. In a day or two 
 I expect the whole will desert. Their In- 
 dian force is diminishing in nearly the same 
 proportion. I have now a large council of 
 ten or twelve nations, sitting at Brownstown, 
 and I have no doubt the result will be, that 
 they will remain neutral. 
 
 " The brig Adams was launched on the 
 4th of July. I have removed her to Detroit 
 under cover of the cannon, and shall have 
 her finished and armed as soon as possible. 
 We shall then command the upper Lakes. 
 I am in very great haste 
 Your most obMt servant, 
 
 W. HULL." 
 
 By this last extract it appears that "fifty 
 or sixty of the Canadian mililia had daily de- 
 serted,'''' that they were " reduced to less than 
 one hundrtd" and tlaat " in a day or two he 
 expected the whole would desert" and as the 
 British regular force did not exceed two 
 hundred and fifty, and there were but from 
 fifty to one hundred Indians, Gen. Hull had 
 opposed to him, in fact not more than two 
 hundred and fifty efficient men, exclusive of 
 the Indians, — for the militia it is not proba- 
 ble would have fought; still he did not think 
 it prudent to risk an action, although his 
 own force, as he stated, in his defence he- 
 fore the court martial, was fourteen or fif- 
 teen hundred, and Major Jessup, his Brigade 
 Major and Inspector deposed, that " the ar- 
 my moved into Canada, with sixteen or eigh- 
 teen hundred men,'''' which is the most pro- 
 bable number, for adding to his force of 2075 
 the 50 regular troops in the Fort at Detroit, 
 when he arrived, the 500 Michigan militia, 
 the Michigan legion, consisting of at least 
 100, and 40 armed waggoners, his aggre- 
 gate was 2765, and after deducting the 300, 
 which he states were left or captured on his 
 route, he had a disposable force of 2465 
 men. 
 
 The Indians within the United States were 
 generally friendly, and disposed to remain 
 neutral, and no doubt would have done so, 
 if Maiden had been taken, which event 
 would also have intimidated those in Cana- 
 da, and induced them to desert the British 
 standard. This is evident from the follow- 
 ing extracts of letters from Gen. Hull to the 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 " Head Quarters of the North-Western Army, > 
 Sandwich, July 21, 1824. $ 
 
 " Sir, — When I marched from Urbanna, 
 1 proposed a general council of Indians at 
 
 Brownstown, to be held the beginning of 
 this month. I have held frequent councils 
 with the chiefs, and my proposition to them 
 was neutrality. 1 ' 
 
 " I have just received the result of the 
 council of nine nations, at Brownstown, 
 counting the ' six nations 1 as one. They are 
 unanimous for remaining neutral. The na- 
 tions are the Ottawas, Chipawas, Potto wo- 
 tamies, Delawares, Wyandots, Munsees, 
 some Ilickapoos, Six and the ' six nations,' 
 Tark or the Crane, Miere, or Walk-in-the- 
 wjter, Blackhoof, Col. Lewis and Wolf 
 have made great exertions to detach the In- 
 dians from the British standard. At the 
 close of the council, they sent speeches to 
 all the nations informing them of the result. 
 I have now informed them that they must 
 proceed immediately to the great council at 
 Piqua. Tecumseh and Marpot are the only 
 chiefs of consequence remaining with the 
 British . 
 
 I am very respectfully, yours, &c. 
 
 \VM. HULL. 11 
 
 What attitude could the Indians have as- 
 sumed more favorable to his enterprize ? — 
 Could one more auspicious have been anti- 
 cipated. Here we see that they were dispo- 
 sed to remain, either inactive, but amicable 
 spectators of the conflict, or to march as al- 
 lies on his flanks. It was only necessary to 
 have planted the American flag on the ram- 
 parts of Maiden, to have secured the friend- 
 ship or neutrality of all the savages, from 
 the shores of Erie to the Lake of the Wood. 
 — And what induced them to abandon his 
 standard, and rally under that of Great Bri- 
 tain but pusillanimous delays, and discoura- 
 ging inactivity ? This ruinous procrastination, 
 in the achievement of a sure and easy victo- 
 ry, blasted the once sanguine expectations 
 of the Indians, and their confidence in the 
 martial prowess of General Hull, was daily 
 shaken, and ultimately lost. 
 
 It is said, that during the twenty-seven 
 days, so unprofitable spent on the Canadian 
 shores, a distinguished chief significantly 
 observed to him, that, u The stumps (Fort 
 " Maiden) was now bare, and the access ea- 
 " sy, — but if he delayed too lung, the sprouts 
 " would grow up, and he would find it diffi- 
 " cult to approach it ; 15 — unfortunately this 
 proved to be too true. 
 
 By the following letter it will appear that 
 seventeen days had elapsed, ten of which 
 were passed in the threatened investment of 
 Maiden, before he discovered that '•'•entirely 
 new carriages must be built far the twenty- 
 four pounders and ■mortars,' 1 '' which would 
 " require at least two weeks to make the ne- 
 cessary preparations. " 
 
12 
 
 DEFENCE OE GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 " Detroit, July 22, 5 o'clk. A. M. 
 
 " Sir — Yesterday afternoon 1 passed over 
 to this place, with Lieut. Col. Miller and one 
 battalion of the 4th reg-t. for the purpose of 
 accelerating the preparations for the siege of 
 Maiden. 1 find that entirely new carriages 
 must be built for the twenty-lour pounders 
 and mortars. It will require at least two 
 ■weeks to make the necessary preparations. 
 . It is in the power of this army to lake Maiden 
 l>y storm, but it would be attended, in my opi- 
 nion, with loo great a. sacrifice, under present 
 circumstances. 
 
 "• 1 am making preparations for an attempt 
 on the Queen Charlotte. 
 
 " If Maiden was in our possession, I could 
 march this army to Niagara, or lark, in a 
 ■very short lime. 
 
 " All the inhabitants are applying for pro- 
 tection under my proclamation. 
 
 " I am, very respectfully, yours. &c. 
 W. HULL. 
 
 Here tben we have the GeneraPs own 
 words, that it was in his " power to take 
 JVIalden by storm. 1 ' Why then wait for can- 
 non, when he declares, kt if Maiden was in 
 our possession, / could march the army to 
 Niagara, or York, in a very short time.'''' 
 This would have exempted him from the pi- 
 tiful subterfuges to which he is now driven, 
 to exculpate himself from the odium which 
 lias been fixed upon his conduct. The wil- 
 derness would not have been searched for 
 innumerable bands of savages, to swell the 
 terrific array of the enemy ; a wilful ana- 
 chronism in relation to the armistice, which 
 "was not known even at Niagara until after 
 his surrender, would not have been resorted 
 to, twelve years afterwards, by a most sud- 
 den but unfortunate reminisceuce ; the long 
 (dories about fleets, co-operations, and pro- 
 visions, would have been unnecessary ; and 
 ■with his flag triumphantly waving over a con- 
 quered province, he might with confidence 
 have said to the President, "■ NOW grant my 
 request, made when I took command of the 
 army, and make me Governor of Upper Ca- 
 nada.' 1 '' 
 
 After a protracted delay of twenfy-seren 
 days, he was with difficulty induced by the 
 oificcrs to consent that an assault might be 
 made upon Maiden, the battering cannon for 
 which he had so long waited, being at last 
 ready, and an order was issued, that an at- 
 tack should be made on the eighth of Au- 
 gust ; but instead of it, and to the astonish- 
 ment and disappointment of his justly indig- 
 nant army, his troops were ordered to re-cross 
 the straits, without being suffered to fire a 
 gun, — when if they had been allowed to 
 right, for which they had evinced the gener- 
 ous ardour of freemen, Maiden would have 
 
 been taken, before the arrival of General 
 Bnck. 
 
 It is a most remarkable fact, that General 
 Hull, did not call on the Secretary of war for 
 any co-operation on the Niagara until the 
 19th, or lor any troops to open a communi- 
 cation between Detroit and Ohio until the 
 29th of July. This letter of the 19th of Ju- 
 ly requesting a co-operation at the Niagara, 
 was not received at Washington, until the 
 first of August and the Secretary had there 
 anticipated his wishes by seven days, while 
 that of the 29th, asking aid from the Go- 
 vernors of Ohio and Kentucky, was not re- 
 ceived by the Secretary of War until the 15th 
 of August, only one day before he surrendered. 
 and the Secretary had written the governor 
 of Ohio, on the 26lh of July, (being twenty 
 days before he received Gen. Hull's requisi- 
 tion for support.) " to take effectual mea- 
 sures to guard the roari and secure the trans- 
 portation [of provision] by calling into ser- 
 vice the necessary troops of the detached 
 militia from Ohio, — as a regular, expeditious 
 and sure conveyance of provisions must be 
 had without delay. 11 — Now forsooth, the Se- 
 cretary is censured for neglecting to afford 
 the necessary assistance to General Hull, 
 when he had taketi the earliest n.easures to 
 afford it, and even before it was required. But 
 how infamous does Gen. Hull appear in rela- 
 tion to this subject. He calls for support and 
 cowardly strikes his flag, the next day after 
 the Secretary received his letter, requiring 
 it; instead of taking Maiden which he could 
 have done ; — instead of killing or capturing 
 the whole British army, which captured him, 
 which he might easily have effected; — and 
 instead of defending his position, which was 
 most tenable, until the assistance he de- 
 manded, could raise the siege, he basely sur- 
 renders his army, and then has the effrontery 
 to attribute his cowardly conduct to the Se- 
 cretary of War. But why comment on the 
 contemptible prevarications of General Hull, 
 who like a mad man raves in a fever of his 
 despair, — puts at defiance the spirit and mo- 
 rality of a gentleman, and with demoniac 
 fury vainly strives to strike down the heralds 
 of truth, and obliterate from the page of his- 
 tory, the records of his infamy. 
 
 But instead of dwelling on these circum- 
 stances I shall introduce the statements of 
 officers who were present, and from the facts 
 they disclose, it will be evident to every 
 candid reader, that the imbecilily of Gen. 
 Hull was the cause of all the disasters which 
 befel the North Western Army. This was 
 the opinion of the court, by which he was 
 tried, and sentenced to be executed, and 
 which sentence, public opinion has constant- 
 ly justified ; except in the Western Slates, 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 Jo 
 
 where a lar?c portion of the citizens then 
 brlievcd and still think he should have suf- 
 fered the igaoniinious death of a traitor. 
 
 Instead of being brought to trial immedi- 
 ately, over two years elapsed, which was 
 most favorable to the accused, as it not on- 
 ly afforded him ample time to prepare for his 
 offence, but whatever of improper excite- 
 ment which the event has occasioned, must 
 during that period have subsided, and the 
 court and country could dispassionately in- 
 vestigate the whole transaction, and form a 
 correct opinion upon the facts disclosed. 
 
 Letter from Col. Cass, now Governor 
 
 of the Michigan Territory, to the 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 " Washington, Sept. 10, 1812. 
 
 Sir, — Having been ordered on to this place 
 by Col. M'Arthur, for the purpose of com- 
 municating to the government, such parti- 
 culars respecting the expedition lately com- 
 manded by Brig. Gen. Hull, and its disas- 
 trous result, as might enable them correctly 
 to appreciate the conduct of the officers and 
 men, and to develope the causes which pro- 
 duced so foul a stain upon the national cha- 
 racter, I have the honor to submit to 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 ap- 
 peared within view of us, and had an imme- 
 diate vigorous attack been made upon JVial- 
 den, it would doubtless have fallen an easy 
 victory. I knew General Hull afterwards 
 declared, he regretted this attack had not 
 
 been made, and he had every reason to be- i a n extract: 
 
 ing our march. He declared to me that he 
 considered himself pledged to lead the army 
 to Maiden. The ammunition was placed in 
 the waggons, the cannon were embarked on 
 board the floating batteries, and every requi- 
 site article was prepared. The spirit and 
 zeal, the ardor and animation displayed by 
 the officers and men on learning the near 
 accomplishment of their wishes, were 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 opinions 
 and wishes of all the officers, was adopted 
 by the General. The plan of attacking Mai- 
 den was abandoned, and instead of acting 
 offensively, we broke up our camp, evacuat- 
 ed Canada, and re-crossed the river in the 
 night, without even the shadaw of an enemy 
 to injure us. We left to the tender mercy 
 of the enemy the miserable Canadians who 
 had joined us, and the protection we afford- 
 ed them, was but a passport to vengeance. 
 This fatal and unaccountable step dispirited 
 the troops, and destroyed the little confi- 
 dence, which a series of timid, irresolute and 
 indecisive measures had left in the command- 
 ing officer. 
 
 " ADout the 10th of August the enemy re- 
 ceived a reinforcement of four hundred men. 
 On the 12th, the commanding officers of 3 
 regiments (the fourth was absent) were in- 
 formed through a medium which admitted no 
 doubt, that the General had stated that A ca- 
 pitulation would be necessary. They on 
 the same day addressed to Governor Meigs, 
 of Ohio, a letter, of which the following is 
 
 lieve success would have crowned his ef- 
 forts. The reasons given for delaying our 
 operations, were, to mount our heavy can- 
 non, 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 hun- 
 dred 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 two 
 days before our preparations were complet- 
 ed, 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 ar- 
 tillery, 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 Gene- 
 ral, and the day was appointed forcommenc- 
 
 11 Believe all the bearer w ill tell you. Be- 
 lieve it, however it may astonish you, as 
 
 much as if told by one of us. Even a c ■ 
 
 is talked of by the . The bearer will 
 
 fill the vacancy.' 1 
 
 "The doubtful fate of this letter rendered 
 it necessary to use circumspection in its de- 
 tails, and therefore the blanks were left. 
 The word ' capitulation 1 will fill the first, and 
 ' commanding general 1 the other. As no ene- 
 my was near us, and as the superiority of 
 our force was manifest, we could see no ne- 
 cessity for capitulating, nor any propriety in 
 alluding to it. We therefore determined, in 
 the last resort, to incui the responsibility of 
 
 DIVESTING THE GENERAL OF HIS COM- 
 MAND. This plan was eventually prevented 
 by two of the commanding officers of regi- 
 ments being ordered upon detachments. 
 
 On the 13th, the British took a position 
 opposite to Detroit, and began to throw up 
 works % During that and the two following 
 days, 'they pursued their object without in- 
 terruption and established a battery for two 
 
14 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 18 pounders and an 8 inch howitzer. About 
 sun-set on the evening of the 14th, a detach- 
 ment of 350 men, from the Regiment com- 
 manded by Col. McArthur and myself, was 
 ordered to march to the river Raisin, to es- 
 cort the provisions, which had lor some time 
 remained there, protected hy a party under 
 the command of Capt. Brush. 
 
 On Saturday the 15th, a flag of truce ar- 
 rived from Sandwich, bearing a summons from 
 General Brock, for the surrender of the town 
 and fort of Detroit, stating ho could no lon- 
 ger restrain the fury of the savages. To thi* 
 an immediate and spirited refusal was re- 
 turned. About 4 o'clock, their batteries be- 
 gan to play upon the town. The fire was 
 returned, and continued without interruption, 
 and with little effect, till dark — their shells 
 were thrown till 11 o'clock. 
 
 At day light, the firing on both sides re- 
 commenced; about 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 .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 4th regiment was stationed in the fort; 
 the Ohio volunteers, and a part of the Michi- 
 gan militia, behind some picket, in a situa- 
 tion in ivhich 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 sa- 
 vages. Two 24 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 ex- 
 pectation of victory, awaited the approach 
 of the enemy. Not a sigh of discontent 
 broke upon the ear ; not a look of cowardice 
 viet 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 our line, I 
 orders were received from General Hull for j 
 the whole to retreat to the fort, and for 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 deliberate j 
 result of a dispassionate examination of pass- j 
 ing 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 continually 
 falling. The fort was in this manner filled ; 
 the men were directed to stack their arms, 
 and scarcely was an apportunity afforded of 
 
 moving. Shortly after a white flag was hung 
 out upon the walls. A British officer rode up 
 to enquire the cause. A communication pass- 
 ed between the commanding Generals, which 
 ended in the capitulation submitted to you. 
 In entering into this capitulation the General 
 took council from his own feelings on- 
 ly. Not an officer was consulted, not one 
 anticipated a surrender till he saw the white 
 flag displayed. Even the women were in- 
 dignant at so shameful a degradation of the 
 American character, and all felt as they 
 should have felt, but he who held in his 
 hands the reins of authority. 
 
 " Our morning report of that morning made 
 our effective men present, fit for duty, 1060, 
 without including the detachment before al- 
 luded to, and without including 300 of the 
 Michigan militia on duty. About dark on 
 Sunday evening the detachment sent to es- 
 cort the provisions, received orders from Ge- 
 neral Hull, to return with as much expedi- 
 tion as possible. About ten o'clock the next 
 day they arrived within sight of Detroit. 
 Had a firing been heard, or any resistance 
 visible, they would have immediately advan- 
 ced 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 select- 
 ed. With his raw troops, enclosed between 
 two fires, and no hopes of succour, it is ha- 
 zarding little to say, that very few would 
 have escaped. 
 
 '- 1 have been informed by Col. Findlay, 
 who saw the return of the 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 these were evi- 
 dently Canadian militia. The rest of their 
 militia increased their white force to about 
 700 men. The number of their Indians could 
 not be ascertained with any degree of pre- 
 cision ; 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 ene- 
 my. 
 
 " In endeavoring to appreciate the motives, 
 and to investigate the causes, which led to 
 an event, so unexpected and dishonorable, it 
 is impossible to find any solution in the rela- 
 tive strength of the contending parties, or in 
 the measures of resistance in our power. 
 That we were far superior to the enemy ; 
 that upon any ordinary principles of calcula- 
 tion, we could have defeated them, the 
 wounded and indignant feelings of every 
 man there, will testify. 
 
 " A few davs before the surrender I was 
 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 Id 
 
 informed by Gen. Hull we had 400 rounds 
 of 24 pound shot fixed, and about 100,000 
 cartridges made. — *Ve surrendered with the 
 fort 40 barrels of powder and 2500 stand of 
 arms. 
 
 '• The state of our provisions has not been 
 generally understood. On the day of the 
 surrender we had fifteen days of provisions 
 of every kind. — Of meat there was plenty in 
 the country, and arrangements had been 
 made for purchasing and grinding the flour. 
 It was calculated that we could readily pro- 
 cure three months provisions, independent of 
 150 barrels of flour, and 1300 head of cattle 
 which had been forwarded from the state of 
 Ohio, which remained at the river Raisin, 
 under Captain Brush, within reach of the 
 army. 
 
 I •' But had we been totally destitute of 
 provisions, our duty and our interest, un- 
 doubtedly was, to fight. The enemy in- 
 vited us to meet him in the field. 
 
 " By defeating him, the whole country 
 would have been open to us, and the object j 
 of our expedition gloriously and successfully 
 obtained. If we had been defeated we had 
 nothing to do but to retreat to the fort, and I 
 make the best defence which circumstances 
 and our situation rendered practicable. But 
 basely to surrender Without firing a gun I — 
 tamely to submit without raising a bayonet! 
 — disgracefully to pass in review before an 
 enemy, as inferior in the quality, as in the 
 number of his forces, were circumstances, 
 which excited feelings of indignation more 
 «asily felt than described. To see the whole 
 of our men flushed with the hope of victory, 
 eagerly awaiting the approaching contest; to 
 see them afterwards dispirited, hopeless, and 
 desponding, at least five hundred shedding 
 tears, because they were not allowed to meet 
 their country's foe, and to fight their coun- 
 try's battles, excited sensation, which no A- 
 nierican before 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 
 Col- McArihur, Col. Findlay, and Lieutenant 
 Col. Miller, view this transaction in the light 
 which I do. They know and feel, that no 
 circumstance in our situation, none in that of 
 the enemy, can excuse a capitulation so dis- 
 honorable 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. 
 
 u I was informed by General Hull, the 
 morning after the capitulation, that the Bri- 
 tish forces consisted of 1800 regulars, and 
 that he surrendered to prevent the effusion of 
 
 human blood. That he magnified their re- 
 gular force nearty five fold there can be no 
 doubt. Whether the philanthropic reason, 
 assigned by him, is a sufficient justification 
 for surrendering a fortified town, an army, 
 and territory, is for the Government to deter- 
 mine. — Confident 1 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. 
 " 1 have the houor to to be yours, &c. 
 
 LEWIS CASS, Col. 3d Reg. 
 Ohio Volunteers. 
 
 The following testimony is extracted from 
 the trial of General Hull, as reported by Col. 
 Forbes. 
 
 Extracts from the testimony of Gener- 
 al Cass. 
 General Cass further said, that when he 
 left Detroit, for the river Raisin, the troops 
 were in good health and spirits ; that is, to 
 meet the enemy; but were unpleasantly si- 
 tuated. Being asked by the court what he 
 meant by an unpleasant situation, the wit- 
 ness answered, that the officers and men had 
 lost all confidence in the commanding officer 
 — that this was not a matter of mere private 
 opinion, but was the general expression and 
 feeling. The witness said, that the charac- 
 ter of the Michigan mililia stood high. That 
 when the detachment approached Detroit on 
 the south-west part, and afterwards struck 
 the river at Spring Wells, and marched up 
 the river to Detroit, on the morning of the 
 16th of August, when they heard of the sur- 
 render, it would have been in the rear of the 
 British ; which is a circumstance the British 
 had been apprehensive of." 
 
 Testimony of Major J. Snelling, of the 
 4th U. S. Infantry. 
 " That towards sundown (on the 15th) 
 witness was ordered with 47 or 50 men, and 
 a field piece (4 pr.) to Spring Wells ("about 
 3 miles distant) as a picquet guard. — He had 
 also 3 dragoons, to serve as expresses, in case 
 of need — that the Queen Charlotte on the 
 same day had moved up the river, directly 
 opposite to the Springwells ; that the order* 
 witness received were, to take a post at 
 Springwells, report any movements of the 
 enemy which he might discover, and return 
 by break of day, so as to avoid the fire of 
 the Queen Charlotte, which lay in the mid- 
 dle of the channel — that the shore was much 
 higher than the deck of that vessel, and the 
 river at Springwells about f of a mile broad; 
 that the detachment could have moved by 
 other routes, but not the artillery, and that 
 
ltf 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 the road was directly on the shore. That 
 witness sent a dragoon to communicate with 
 Gen. Hull ; that Col. Taylor and Major Jes- 
 sup visited Springwells, and were consulted 
 on the expediency of having a 24 pr. brought, 
 to be posted on the artificial mound, with a 
 view to dislodge the Queen Charlotte from 
 her moorings ; that another dragoon was des- 
 patched to acquaint Gen. Hull verbally, that 
 those officers coincided in opinion with the 
 witness that a 24 pounder would do well, 
 and that they recommended it to Gen. Hull. 
 — that the dragoon returned with an answer, 
 that a 24 pounder could not be transported 
 over the bridge ; which bridge, witness says, 
 was about 12 or 14 ft. high, and 8 or 10 yds. 
 long, and built of wood — that Captain Hull 
 was also there and prop#sed recommending 
 it to Gen. Hull to send a 24-pounder. That 
 witness heard of no military movements du- 
 ring the night ; he heard oars, which he sup- 
 posed were in two or three boats passing 
 from the Queen Charlotte to the Brig Hun- 
 ter or to the enemy's shore. That witness 
 thought, with the other officers, that a 24- 
 ponnder could have been transported across 
 the bridge. That witness returned to the 
 fort at Detroit about dawn of day, soon af- 
 ter which the cannonading and bombard- 
 ment commenced from the enemy, and were 
 returned by the American batteries on the 
 river, but not from the fort. That a- 
 bout 7 o'clock in the morning the British 
 were seen from the ramparts, crossing the 
 river, which was reported by witness to Ge- 
 neral Hull : that no resistance, which wit- 
 ness knows of, was made either to their land- 
 ing or to their approach — that two shots took 
 effect on us, one of which killed two com- 
 missioned officers and a surgeon, and wound- 
 ed another surgeon ; the other killed two 
 privates. That soon afterwards Capt. Hull 
 was sent across the river with a flag of truce, 
 and witness was ordered by Gen. Hull to 
 proceed to Col. Findlay, who was stationed 
 with Major Denny and his Regt. about four 
 hundred yards in advance towards Spring- 
 wells, and direct him to retreat to the fort. 
 That the artillery, ammunition, and part of 
 the 4th Regt. were at the batteries, two of 
 which were on the banks of the river, the 
 other in Judge Woodward's garden. — The 
 Michigan militia were in the rear of the 
 town. That witness delivered the order to 
 Col. Findlay, who appeared unwilling to 
 obey it by marching his Regt. into the fort. 
 That after this service, witness repaired to 
 the battery commanded by Major Anderson, 
 where a British officer, Lieut. Dicer, of the 
 Quarter-master's department, arrived with a 
 man bearing a nag of truce, to know why 
 our flag was sent over the river ; that wit- 
 
 ness replied he believed it had been s« 
 with a message from Gen. Hull to Genei 
 Brock, who was supposed to be on the otl 
 side of the river. That witness then se 
 Lieut. Hull on horseback to Gen. Hull, w 
 returned with a sealed paper from Gene 
 Hull, addressed to Gen. Brock, with dire 
 tions to witness to proceed to Gen. Bro 
 with the same. That witness carried a 
 delivered the note to Gen. Brock, who m< 
 two hundred yards in advance of the he 
 of his column, without any advance-gua 
 That the enemy was then near the house 
 which Dr. Henry resided, about £ of a m 
 or a mile from the fort at Detroit 
 
 41 Questio7i. What were the contents 
 the note ? 
 
 " Answer. I cannot now speak with c 
 tainty: but my best recollection is that 
 contained these words, u Sir,I agree to sum 
 der the fort and town of Detroit ;" and 1 
 signed " William Hull," Brig. General U] 
 ted States Army. I considered at the ti 
 that it was a surrender without stipulati 
 The witness would not undertake to 
 that what he had stated was the whole s 
 stance of the note ; but he believed it wa 
 
 " Witness then proceeded in the us 
 manner to state further, and said, thatCa 
 Hull, who had been sent over the river w 
 a flag, did not return until after the Bril 
 flag was hoisted. — That Gen. Hull ca 
 within a few paces of the Marquee in wh 
 Col. M'Donald and Capt. Glegg were 
 Gen. Hull was conversing with Col. Fi 
 lay, who spoke with considerable warm 
 that witness did not hear distinctly, but 
 derstood that he, Col. Findlay, would h 
 nothing to do with the capitulation — T 
 Lt. Col. Miller and Capt. Brush were din 
 ed to confer, and did Confer with the Bri 
 officers with respect to the terms of the 
 pitulation — that Lieut. Col. Miller at 
 time had a violent fit of the ague and lay 1 ' 
 the ground while the officers were enga' 1 ' 
 in drawing up the articles of capituiati 
 that many of the American officers assem 
 near the marquee, when Gen. Hull desi 
 them to retire ; and that witness, who 
 one of them, retired accordingly.'''' 
 
 1,1 Witness then stated, that during 
 cannonade of the 16th, he saw Gen. ! 
 get up once for some particular purpose, 
 perhaps twice ; and that during the res 
 of the time, he was sitting on an old tent 
 something of that sort, on the ground, vjiS 
 his back against the ramparts, and under 
 certain nearest the enemy." 
 
 ■' Question. Were the appearance, rJiit 
 duct and conversation of Gen. Hull suclffi 
 to induce a belief that he was under thep 
 fluence of personal fear? 
 
 hi 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN, 
 
 17 
 
 ''•Answer. I have always understood that 
 le passion of fear is indicated by certain 
 )oks and actions ; and, judging from past 
 nowledge on that subject, [thought him 
 nder the influence of fear; his whole con- 
 uct made that impression on my mind at 
 le time. — The reasons that induced me to 
 raw that conclusion were : that the Gener- 
 l selected the safest place in the fort for his 
 at, on an old tent on the ground and leaned 
 ;ainst the ramparts between the guard house 
 id. the gate ; his voice trembled when he 
 take — he apparently unconsciously filled his 
 ■outh ivith tobacco, putting in quid after quid, 
 ore than he generally did ; the spittle color- 
 l with tobacco juice, ran from his mouth, on 
 \s neckcloth, beard, cravat and vest — he tvould 
 ib Ihe lower part of his face, which was ap- 
 irently covered witlt spittle; he was repeat- 
 lly informed that the enemy were crossing 
 e river, but he took no measures to oppose 
 em, with which I am acquainted." 
 " The witness then proceeded to state, 
 at the American troops were called into J 
 e fort, which was very much crowded, he- 
 re the articles of capitulation were signed. ' 
 lat when General Hull was informed that | 
 e enemy were crossing, he made no other 
 swer to Lieut. Peckham (to the knowledge ! 
 witness) than " are they coming ?" That j 
 tness stood at the corner of a slip leading i 
 the gate of the fort, and endeavoured to j 
 iint the British troops on entering the fort 
 that the troops in advance were the 41st, 
 platoons of 14 files, as well as the York 
 litia volunteers, twenty-nine platoons, two 
 ep, in red coats — that the militia platoons 
 nsisted of no more than seven or eight 
 :s, and composed one third of the whole 
 ce — probably seven hundred and fifty 
 lites — of which the remaining two thirds 
 re regulars and uniform militia. Wifness 
 iposes the Indian force to have been more 
 in one hundred and fifty, although he only 
 v about that number drawn up to fire a 
 ute, as he understood. 
 ' Witness says that the spirit of the Ameri- 
 i troops to meet the enemy, was in his 
 inion of the most laudable kind, and he 
 ieves pervaded the whole of them." 
 Gleneral Hull has now meanly attempted 
 pervert the statement of Major Snelling, 
 fere the Court Martial, as to the numbers 
 the enemy, by a punctuation of his oion, 
 i misquoting him, making him say, " that 
 ! militia platoons [which were in the rear] 
 isisted of no more than seven or eight files, 
 1 composed one third part of the whole 
 ce, probably seven hundred and fifty 
 lites; of which the remaining two thirds 
 re regulars and uniform militia." After 
 i- mutilnting the quotation by his own 
 aoias and semicolons, which alter the 
 
 sense of the entire period as printed in the 
 report of the trial, he has the effrontery to 
 attempt to make it appear by Major Snelling's 
 testimony, that the " white force' 1 '' of the 
 enemy was 2200 men, when Major Snelling's 
 words are, that the " whole force," was 
 " probably seven hundred and fifty whiles' 1 ' 1 — • 
 the words "probably seven hundred and fifty 
 whites" being inserted by way of parenthesis, 
 and alluding to the "whole force," as ap* 
 pears in the extract from his testimony which 
 I have given, and not to the militia. This 
 too was General Hull's construction at the 
 trial, for he says in his defence, before the 
 Court, " Major Snelling, who says he made 
 some attempt to count the enemy's force, 
 supposes that there were no more than seven 
 hundred and fifty whiles.'''' But not satisfied 
 with this horrible distortion of facts, he 
 assails the military reputation of Major Snel- 
 ling, and brands a gallant officer with the 
 vile epithet of ' Coward,' which a Court 
 Martial has given to general Hull, as a cog- 
 nomen. 
 
 It is tedious to unravel the prevarication . 
 and gross attempts of Gen. Hull, Ihnwghouf. 
 all his numbers to misrepresent, equivocate 
 and distort fact', and I have only introduced 
 this instance to illustrate his character and 
 shall let most of the others of a like import, 
 remain as everlasting blots on his escutcheon, 
 as a soldier, and as a gentleman. 
 
 Extract from the testimony of Capt. 
 Samuel M'Cormick, of the U. S. Ran- 
 gers. 
 
 " That he was at Detroit at the time of 
 the capitulation— that Col. Findlay's regiment 
 was encamped in the rear of the town, on 
 the 15th, when the cannonading commenc- 
 ed—that they lay on their arms all night, 
 and had a chain of sentinels posted nearly 
 three hundred yards in advance— that Capt, 
 Kemper, of the waggoners with about thirty 
 volunteers, formed a picket guard along a 
 fence — that it was expected the savages 
 would attack from the woods — that Capt. 
 Robinson, with his company, was in a mea- 
 dow — that during the night lie received no 
 orders from Gen. Hull— that he was not pre- 
 sent whsn Col. Find lay, received orders from 
 Gen. Hull on the 1Gth August, to return, 
 but joined Col. Findlay after he had received 
 that order — that the Col. appeared dissatisfi- 
 ed and distressed, and almost determined 
 not to obey it— that witness had halted two 
 of the companies, when the Col. rode up to 
 him and told him to march on — that between 
 9 and 10, A. M. when ordered to halt near 
 the fort, on the outside, Col. Findlay and wit- 
 ness dismounted from their horses, went into 
 the fort together, and enquired for Gen. Hull, 
 who was seen sitting on something on tha 
 
18 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 ground with his back to the ramparts — that 1 thinks, the landing place at Springwells the 
 Col. Findlay asked Gen. Hull "What in best and uiost commanding place (or a batte- 
 hell am I ordered here for ?" to which ques- | tery on Detroit river — one could have been 
 tion the General, in a low trembling tone ofi erected there by a few hands in a few hours 
 ■voice, replied, stating the numher of men | — such a battery would have commanded 
 killed in the fort (witness thinks three men) the plain within cannon reach — there was 
 that a surrender would be best — that he none erected from the 11th to the 16th of 
 could procure better terms from Gen. Brock August, nor at any other time — that when 
 at that time than if he waited a storm — that the army marched from Spring wells to De- 
 the reply of vjol. Findlay was " terms ! Dam- troit, it took a back route, which General 
 nation ! we can beat them on the plain, 1 Hull stated was for the sake of preventing 
 did not come here to capitulate ; I came the enemy from ascertaining his numbers, 
 to fio-ht." — Col. Findlay enquired where Col. and for concealing his movements from 
 Miller was, turned and left the General — a Springwells — that the army encamped at the 
 moment afterwards I left him. The Gene- back of Detroit, and continued, he believes, 
 ral appeared much agitated, and in as great till the morning of the 12th July, when it 
 fear as I ever saw any person — he had -used j crossed the river in boats, in two divisions — 
 so much tobacco as to have the lower part ofi the 4th Reg. and Col. Cass's formed the first 
 his face much discolored by it. division, witness's regiment and that of Col. 
 
 " Capt. M'Cormick, continuing his evi- Findlay's were in the second division — he 
 dence, stated that the troops that were out believes there were not boats sufficient to 
 on the lines marched into the fort about the transport the whole army at one time — that 
 time the British officers, General Hull, and 
 
 Colonels Miller and Brush went to the 
 officer's quarters — that to the best of his re- 
 collection, Colonel Findlay's regiment was on 
 that day between 430 and 460 strong, who 
 marched into the fort — that there were under 
 arms, outside of the fort, (and those who also 
 marched in) including Col. Findlay's regi- 
 ment, Major , from Col M' Arthur's regi- 
 
 after landing on the opposite shore nearly 
 opposite Detroit, the expectations of the icit* 
 ness were that the army would have proceeded 
 on towards Maiden ; it was however ordered 
 to encamp, which was done ; and in that 
 place the main body of the army remained 
 until it recrossed to Detroit. 
 
 u That frequent calls of officers command- 
 regiments were made by General Hull, 
 
 merit, the company of waggoners belonging respecting measures to be pursued, at least, 
 
 to captain Kemper, part of Col. Cass' regi- 
 ment under Capt. Sanderson, and a detach- 
 ment of Michigan Militia under Lt. Brady, a 
 number which he estimated at between tiOO 
 and 1000 men— that the fort was very much 
 
 upon an average, once a day, while the army 
 was on the Canada side ; at which meetings 
 General Hull was frequently urged to viove 
 on to river Jlux Canards, or doicn to Maiden 
 — witness thinks General Hull said he only 
 
 crowded — that the spirit of the men formed j waited to have some catinon mounted to 
 outside of the fort was evinced by their say- | make a breach, in the enemys works at Mal- 
 iug, they would have an opportunity of reveng- j den. That about the time witness returned 
 ins themselves for the injuries they had re- \ from river Thames, or French, the General 
 ceived, by killing most of the enemy — that , stated that he supposed cannon would be 
 many of the private soldiers were seen to shed ' ready in a few days — sometimes he said in 
 tears in abundance on receiving the orders of, two days, sometimes in four, at others in a 
 surrender, that the picket fence, behind week, and so -on — plans were frequently pro- 
 which Col Findlay's regiment was posted, , posed for taking down the cannon (24 pr.) 
 was generally so close as that the rails nearly i to river Aux Canards — three floating batte- 
 touched each other, and many of the men j ries were commenced, two completed, but 
 employed tomahawks to open a space for ! witness does not recollect whether before or 
 their muskets — that on the evening of the ; after the fall of Mackanac — that the opin- 
 15th, the quarter-master supplied Col. Find- I ions of the Gen. and of the field officers 
 lay's Reg. with as many cartridges as the j were frequently taken in the councils, and 
 boxes could contain — that he never heard j that Gen. Hull declared that he apprehend- 
 any complaints of the quantity of provisions ', ed that the fall of Mackanac would induce 
 or ammunition, though he did of the quali- ; many Indians to descend the lakes, or to 
 ty ; nor were an}' apprehensions entertained • shower in from the upper lakes — He thinks 
 of a scarcity, there being in the town plenty [ it was at that time that General Hull \ ro- 
 
 of salt, of pork, and sheep, grain and slock. 
 u Extract from the testimony of Brig. 
 General Duncan M' Arthur. 
 " General M'Arthur, then continuing hi 
 
 posed to erect a picket fort on the Canada 
 side ; but the officers thought and it was ur- 
 ged by them to Gen. Hull, that it ivould be 
 more advtseuble to make an immediate attempt 
 
 narratiVe^'said tbal hr"thoughtVTnd° still I "P°» -^" Wen than io dda 'J a lon S iime to 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 1& 
 
 trect the fort; and they frequently stated i army recrossed. The determination was 
 to him that there could be no doubt of success,} communicated to the platoon officers, and 
 
 as there was frequent information, by deser 
 ters, of the enemy's force at Maiden, as well 
 as concurrent reports of the militia, some 
 of whom said that the regular force of the 
 British did not exceed two hundred, others 
 stated two hundred and twenty — these militia 
 could never give the exact amount of the 
 Indian force, but supposed that for the first 
 fortnight it was from fifty to one hundred — 
 they also stated that, at the time of General 
 Hull's crossing to Canada, the militia force 
 was about five or six hundred, but that they 
 Were daily deserting, and there was no doubt 
 but that they would leave Maiden upon the 
 Jirst appearace of our army. 
 
 " brigadier General M'Arthur then stated, 
 that he was afterwards sent for by General 
 Hull, who said he intended to leave the wit- 
 ness with his regiment to occupy the picket 
 fort which he so cordially despised, and that 
 he himself, with the residue of the army 
 would return to Detroit — that on this witness 
 became warm, and in his reply to the Gen- 
 eral stated the hardship of his regiment be- 
 ing left to be sacrificed to the enemy, and 
 said that if it were his order, he would obey 
 it, but thought it would be better to have a 
 force detailed — that witness stated, and it 
 was admitted, by the General that the work 
 could not be defended against cannon, but 
 only against small arms, and there was no 
 doubt the British would bring cannon — he 
 recollects telling the prisoner that he thought 
 the leaving a detachment there could only 
 produce disgrace to the officer, though it 
 might cover his own disgrace in recrossi7ig to 
 Detroit ; upon which General Hull made in 
 reply an insinuation of cowardice in the wit- 
 ness, who became warm and felt much hurt 
 by the insinuation, and said that if General 
 Hull would advance to Maiden, he would 
 prove that he could go as far as the General 
 tr any of his friends could go or would dare to 
 go — that witness then retired, and in about 
 an hour after, an orderly came to desire wit- 
 ness to repair to General Hull's quarters, 
 where he was met by the other commanders 
 of regiments ; on which occasion General 
 Hull stated that he had called them together 
 for the purpose of adopting their opinions as 
 his own — that as the officers including his 
 own son and his son-in-law differed in opin- 
 ion from him, respecting the recrossing the 
 river, lie would move against Maiden at the 
 head of his troops, " and,'''' said he, '•'■in 
 whatever manner the affair may terminate, I 
 never will reflect upon you gentlemen." Im- 
 mediately after which an order was issued 
 to prepare for an attack upon Maiden — wit- 
 ness thinks this was on the day before the 
 
 by them to the troops, who appeared highly 
 pleased at the confident expectation enter- 
 tained of attacking the enemy — These pre- 
 parations were continued until about the 
 middle of the next day, when General Hull 
 again sent for the field officers, and stated 
 to them, that notwithstanding the respect he 
 had for their opinions, he considered himself 
 responsible for the movements and the ulti- 
 mate fate of that army t and that/tt had come 
 to a determination to recross the river, for the 
 protection of the fort aiid town of Detroit, 
 to which witness replied, " well, General, 
 if it is your opinion, it must be so, but I must 
 beg leave to decline giving any further opinion 
 as to the movement of the army.'''' Upon the 
 promulgation of this order to the men, they 
 appeared dispirited and dejected, and seemed 
 regardless of what they did. The army re- 
 crossed according to order and took post at 
 the back of the town of Detroit." 
 " Extract from the testimony of Lt. Col. 
 Thomas B. Vanborne. 
 
 " That on the morning of the 16th of Au- 
 gust, Colonel Findlay received a verbal or- 
 der by Captain Hull to form his regiment in 
 line, in advance, and South west of Fort De- 
 troit, in the rear of the picket fence, with 
 Col. Cass' regiment on the right, and Major 
 Deunie on the left, with a company of thirty 
 waggoners and some citizens ; and that the 
 whole force on the line amounted to betiveen 
 eight and nine tiundr d, but what the force 
 ot the Michigan militia was he could not say 
 — that the picket fence was about seven feet 
 high and completely covered the men.'''' 
 
 " Major bnelling came out to the line and 
 asked for Col. Findlay ; the cannonading 
 had then ceased, and witness then, for the 
 first time, saw the white flag on the fort — 
 that Major Snelling addressed himself to wit- 
 ness, saying, ' where is Col. Findlay 2' and 
 that Col. Findlay's regiment must retire into 
 the fort ; that a flag was out and must not 
 be violated — that Col. Findlay did not ap- 
 pear satisfied at this order, but said it must 
 be obeyed ; and then ordered witness to 
 march his battalion into the fort and slack 
 arms, which was done." 
 
 u Witness thinks he saw General Hull near 
 the door of one of the rooms in the same si- 
 tuation that .Vlajor Snelling stated, and from 
 his wliole appearance, was immediately im- 
 pressed ivith the idi a that he was under the 
 influence of fear ; and at the time, communi- 
 cated hts thoughts to some of the other offi- 
 cers. Witness says that some time after Gen. 
 Hull invited the officers into the room, he 
 saw Col. M'Donald and Captain Glegg ride 
 
ifO 
 
 DEFEXCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 up to the fort and come into the room, but 
 he does not know if Gen. Hull was in a mar- 
 quee or not, or where the terms of capitula- 
 tion were made or agreed upon — he says 
 that the fort was very much crowded. Wit- 
 ness further says that about the 20th or 25th 
 •'uly, he was officer of the day, and when, 
 as was customary, he called on General Hull 
 for orders, he, General Hull, estimated the 
 regular force at Maiden at about two hundred, 
 :tnd that of the militia to have been original- 
 ly above five hundred ; but said that, from 
 the best information he could obtain, it was 
 then reduced to about two hundred and .fifty, 
 and that they were leaving them daily — the 
 Indian force he at the same time computed 
 at about three hundred.' 1 '' 
 " Extract from the testimony of Major 
 William A. Kemble, of the 26th U.S. 
 
 Infantry. 
 " That at the time witness went to make 
 his report [about the 6th of August] he saw 
 Col. Brush at the General's epiarters, togeth- 
 er with three young men, who had been ta- 
 ken prisoners, and confined at Maiden, and 
 from whence, they said, they had been releas- 
 ed on parole — one of these men was a car- 
 penter, and had worked at Maiden — that 
 this man stated (as well as witness recol- 
 lects) that the British had about 270 regu- 
 lars, of whom from 200 to 220 were fit for 
 duty, and 150 militia ; and as to Indians (of 
 whom the British themselves could not tell (he 
 exact amount) he supposed they were from 
 150 to 300, and could not exceed the latter 
 number — they also stated that when Colonels 
 Cass and Miller had routed the British pic- 
 ket, they were all in confusion and prepar- 
 ing to embark — (this account was confirmed 
 by the other two young men) — witness thinks 
 Getieral Hull asked whether the British had 
 strengthened the fort at Maiden, and that 
 the answer was in the negative.' 1 
 
 " Witness s.'.ys, that on the loth August, 
 (as he recollects) he was officer of the day 
 at Detroit, waited on Gen. Hull and found 
 him and Col. Brush, sitting on the settee en- 
 gaged in close conversation, rather low — 
 that the General turned the conversation to 
 provisions, alluding to some wheat which was 
 then hauling in — that Col. Brush asked what 
 quantity of public provisions there was, when 
 the General replied, about a month's, and 
 then asked the Col. whether the country 
 around could not afford a sufficient quantity 
 of provisions for the army ; to which Col. 
 Brush answered he thought there would be 
 enough for two months — witness also thinks 
 that it was on the 14th August, be saw Gen. 
 Hull at Col. M'Arthur's marquee, with Col. 
 Bru&h and other officers — that witness was 
 
 about retiring but was called back by Cen. 
 Hull, who invited him to a seat, and asked 
 him (in connexion with the conversation then 
 passing, which was on the subject of the ene- 
 my's moving on the other side with their ar- 
 tillery) " What would you do?" — "Sir," the 
 witness replied, "I would fire upon them" — 
 upon which General Hull said, " But, Sir, 
 ai.iut lie ammunition ! wculd it be proper to 
 expend it under these circumstances ?" 
 
 Extract from James Dalliby's testimo- 
 ny, of the Ordnance Department. 
 
 "That he belonged to the Northwestern 
 army, under the command of General Hull, 
 in 15)12, was at Detroit on the 16th of Au- 
 gust, and was there previous to the war — 
 went there in. 1811, and had never been ab- 
 sent — that he commanded the battery (the 
 uppermost of the three batteries) in the town 
 — he says that the following is an account of 
 the ordnance at Detroit, viz. 
 9 24 pounders, 7 mounted, 2 unmounted. 
 8 12 do. Iron,4 do. 4 do. 
 5 9 do. do. 4 do. 1 do. (as he 
 
 believes.) 
 3 6 do. brass, mounted on travelling car- 
 riages. 
 
 2 4 do. do do. do. carriages. 
 I 3 do. do. do. do. do. 
 
 1 8^ inch howitzer, brass, mounted on do. 
 1 5i do. do. do. do. do. 
 
 I '3\ do. do. do. do. do. 
 
 3 6 do. do. iron, on trunk wheel car- 
 riages, in the block house at the upper end 
 of the town. 
 
 " Witness says, that this was the whole of 
 the ordnance, excepting two or three small 
 howitzers and swivels, which were not re- 
 ported ; and that most of these ordnance was 
 mounted before the 8th August. "\\ itness is 
 of opinion, that there were 2500 stand of 
 arms in the whole, including rifles, for the 
 army : he says that, according to the returns 
 made, there were at Detroit, on the day cf 
 the surrender, 1400 cannon balls for 24 poun- 
 ders, about 1700 for 12 prs. 1400 for 'J prs. 
 about 4000 balls for 4 and 6 prs. about 4800 
 three pound balls, 290 ten inch shells (not 
 fixed) about 500 eight inch shells, of which 
 100 were fixed, a large quantity [say 4000] 
 of 2j inch shells, called hand grenades, a 
 considerable number of which were fixed 
 with powder and boxed. There were also, 
 witness said, about 3| tons of lead, of which 
 a considerable quantity had been run into 
 balls, as much as was considered a sufficient 
 supply for the army ; about U'.OO fugecs in 
 the rough — between 2000 and 3000 priming 
 tubes, several hundreds of which were fixed 
 for immediate use ; about 100,000 flints, 200 
 rounds of fixed ammunition for the 24 prs. 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 21 
 
 (as there were 400 rounds on the 14th), 
 about 20 rounds of grape for the 24 prs. 
 about 200 rounds were fired. As before sta- 
 ted, there were 100 rounds fixed for each of 
 the 8 and 5 inch howitzers, about 7 having 
 been fired, leaving the above number. Wit- 
 ness says, that about 100 rounds for each of 
 the brass 6 pounders were sent over to Cana- 
 da, of which about 80 of each were expend- 
 ed — that about 50 rounds were prepared for 
 each of the 3 prs. and some few for the 4 
 prs. [say 23 each] that he does not know 
 the quantity of ammunition, or rounds of 
 grape and canister, prepared for the 21, 12 
 and 9 prs. as, previous to the declaration of 
 war, the fort had been put in a state of de- 
 fence, in expectation of an attack from the 
 Indians and in expectation of one, after the 
 declaration from the British and Indians ; 
 and as the ammunition was not deemed neces- 
 sary for the defence of the place, it remained 
 untouched at the surrender. Witness says 
 that there was a large quantity of musket 
 and rifle cartridges .prepared, as much as was 
 deemed necessary, but he cannot fix precise- 
 ly the quantity. He cannot state the exact 
 number of barrels of powder, as a good many 
 had been taken to fix the ammunition — he 
 believes there were about 100 casks remain- 
 ing, marked from 100 to 112 lbs.; that is, 
 including fixed and unfixed, about 10,000 
 lbs. He does not know exactly. He says 
 that, on the 7th or 8th August, every thing 
 was reported to be complete for service. — 
 Witness had charge of the laboratory in July 
 f.nd August ; a general preparation was 
 made by artificers under the orders of witness 
 — the artificers were then discharged. 
 
 ''The witness proceeded, said that the 
 fort lies on the highest ground in a circumfer- 
 ence of three miles, was a regular half bas- 
 tion fort, composed of 4 curtains and 4 hall' 
 bastions, about 100 yards on each face, not 
 including the half bastions ; about 75 yards 
 being the extreme length of the curtain — 
 that the fort was made partly of earth — the 
 parapet eleven feet in elevation— the thickness 
 of the top of the parapet about 12 feet, the 
 banquet for Infantry six ftet from the foun- 
 dation or leve of the fort, and five feet for the 
 parapet — the whole width of the rampart at 
 its base 26 feet, at the bottom of the exterior 
 or slope of the parapet there was a horizontal 
 space of ground about 2 or 3 feet in (he ividth, 
 extending round the whole circumference of 
 the work, the ditch upon an average was from 
 Jive to six feet deep,and at the bottom 12 feet 
 wide, beyond the exterior or slope of the ditch 
 anscope, or glacis, or esplanade. There was 
 formerly a covert way, of which traces were 
 remaining unhurt. In the bottom of the ditch 
 round the fort there was a row of pickets of 
 
 cedar, nearly new, 11 inches in diameter and 
 1 1 or 12 feet high ; these pickets were fasten- 
 ed together by a rib — the gate was strongly 
 made of plaiik with spikes ; over the gate was 
 a look out house, also strongly built in the 
 lall of 1811 — cannon were mount td in the 
 cmbrazures , most of which were repaired and 
 put in good order in 1811, and the fort was 
 generally, in good order and in good repair. 
 
 After stating that he was stationed at the 
 battery called Bartlett's wharf on the 14th 
 ot August, which being without a parapet 
 and lower than those of the enemy, his men 
 were exposed to be swept off in case of an 
 attack, he deposed, 
 
 "That he therefore applied to the General 
 for leave to build a battery in the centre of 
 the town and upon the level with the battery 
 erecting by the enemy, permission for doing 
 which was obtained ; the battery was com- 
 menced about one o'clock on the 14th, and 
 completed, so far as to be ready for action at 
 the same hour on the 15th ; that on the even- 
 ing of the 14th, when the workmen, after 
 leaving off work had generally dispersed, 
 witness remained in the battery, to which 
 Gen. Hull rode up ; when witness conversed 
 with him on the propriety of driving the ene- 
 my from their works opposite the lower end 
 of the town, which had been completed for 
 some time — the words of witness were, "Sir, 
 if you will give permi.-sion, 1 will clear the 
 enemy on the opposite shore from the lower 
 batteries."— The Gen. answered, "Mr. Dal- 
 liby, 1 will make an agreement with the ene- 
 my, that if they will never fire on me, I will 
 never Jire on them' 1 '' and concluded his answer 
 with this sentence — '•'•Those who live in glass 
 houses must take care how they throw stones. ." 
 He then rode off. Witness says that on the 
 morning of the 5th July, before the Ameri- 
 can army arrived at Detroit, the enemy were 
 engaged in erecting two batteries on the same 
 ground where they were seen working after- 
 wards — that witness was then ordered by 
 Major V histler, who at that time command- 
 ed, to fire on them from the battery at the 
 lower end of the town, from the 24 pounders 
 •—that he did fire upon them, which had the 
 desired effect — that they were driven away 
 as they were also from the King's stores about 
 a mile and a half distant, from whence they 
 were taking off flour, and about the same 
 time the inhabitants on the opposite shore re- 
 moved, and took a new road at some dis- 
 tance from the side of the river, to keep out 
 of the range of our shot, 
 
 "Witness says that the cannonading com- 
 menced about 3 o'clock of the afternoon of 
 the 15th, and was answered by the battery 
 he commanded, as well as from the other 
 batteries — that this cannonade commenced 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 a short time after the return to the enemy of 
 the flag of truce which had been sent to ask 
 a surrender of the fort, and continued to be 
 exchanged till about 10 o'clock at night — 
 that the fire of the 15th was not injurious to 
 the army, only one man having received a 
 wound in his leg ; the town was a little in- 
 jured — that on the 16th the firing re-com- 
 nienced on both sides (first by the enemy) at 
 break of day ; during which little injury was 
 received, to the knowledge of the witness, 
 the fne being' principally directed towards 
 our batteries — that witness had reason to sup- 
 pose, and has since understood that one of 
 the enemies batteries was silenced, which 
 they repaired ; and about 10 o'clock on the 
 16th August, witness received orders from 
 Capt. Dyson in the name of Gen. Hull, to 
 cease firing, which orders he obeyed — that 
 the enemy then continued their fire for fif- 
 teen minutes, which they directed princi- 
 pally against the fort, and which they were 
 enabled to do with precision, not being an- 
 noyed by us ; and some officers and men were 
 killed in the fort, while witness with his men 
 were in the battery unemployed, and that 
 soon afterwards he saw the white flag hoist- 
 ed on the fort— witness says that he did not 
 know of any musket cartridges having been 
 damaged. 
 
 " Witness says, that he was at Maiden in 
 July or August, 1811, and has been there 
 since — that the fort was a regular four 
 bastion one, of earth — that the curtains were 
 nothing more than pickets or palisades on 
 three sides — there was formerly on the river 
 side, a fleeche, upon which a cannon had 
 been mounted, but none were mounted on 
 it in 1812, when he was a prisoner, at which 
 time he went round it to satisfy his curiosi- 
 ty, but found no alterations. Witness says 
 that on the south side of the fort there had 
 been considerable alterations, and the batte- 
 ries had been repaired — the pickets appear- 
 ed to be old, not very strong, and in a state 
 of decay — witness remained three weeks af- 
 ter the capitulation, and no northern Indians 
 arrived sooner than about three weeks after 
 the capitulation, at which time witness was 
 at Maiden, when there was time for them 
 to have heard of the fall of Detroit. 
 
 " Capt. Dalliby then stated that the batte- 
 ry he erected in the middle of the town was 
 about four feet high, and the embrazures 
 were marked out — that when General Hull 
 went to that battery on the 14th August, and 
 was asked by the witness for permission to 
 fire on the enemy, the word " never" was 
 used (the witness believes, but will not po- 
 sitively say,) by Gen. Hull, in answer to the 
 request. He did not understand that Gen. 
 Hull had made an agreement with the ene- 
 
 my, not to fire on each other, but that he 
 teas willing lo do it.' 1 ' 1 
 
 Extract from the testimony of Captain 
 Darnel Baker, of the 1st Reg. Unit- 
 ed States Infantry. 
 
 " This witness stated in evidence that he 
 was in the army at Detroit on the 15th or 
 .6th August, under Gen. Hull, and had 
 been there for several years before, in the 
 Quarter Master's department. There were 
 on those two days, or ought to have been, 
 between 5 and 600 of the Michigan militia ; 
 that he served with the volunteers from that 
 territory at Brownstown, where their con- 
 duct was brave; witness was at the fort of 
 Detroit until he heard of the surrender, and 
 saw General Hull in the course of the morn- 
 ing of the 16th, when he appeared to be em- 
 barrassed and at a loss how to act ; that wit- 
 ness cannot say what the General's feelings 
 were, but could account for the surrender 
 no other way than by supposing him under 
 the influence of personal fear. Witness says 
 that he was formerly acquainted with Gen. 
 Hull, that he was tolerably well acquainted 
 with the resources of the army, and was sa- 
 tisfied, in his own mind, that there was a 
 sufficiency for its subsistence for 3 months ; 
 witness says the fort was much crowded." 
 
 Extract from Major Thomas S. Jessup's 
 Testimony. 
 
 "Shortly after quitting the General I met 
 Mr. Dougan, Quarter Master of Col. Find- 
 lay's regiment, and went with him to Spring 
 Wells. We discovered a considerable Bri- 
 tish force at Sandwich, nearly opposite to 
 Spring-Wells ; one or more British vessels 
 had anchored below, and some of them were 
 moving up slowly : the enemy appeared to 
 be collecting boats, and we supposed they 
 intended to cross the river. When we were 
 about to return, the British batteries com- 
 menced firing, which was immediately re- 
 turned by our fire. This was on the 15th. 
 On our return, we passed by General Hull 
 on horseback in the street, near the second 
 battery ; he appeared to be agitated. Mr. Dou- 
 gan or I, observed that the General was fright- 
 ened ; and it was also observed by one of us 
 (I do not recollect which) that "we must 
 cheer him up." We approached him and 
 spoke to him, and noticed that he was pale 
 and very much confused — he dismounted 
 from his horse and led him towards the fort. 
 
 " After the firing of the enemy had ceased, 
 which was not until after dark, Major Jes- 
 sup testifies that " The General then per- 
 mitted Messrs. Berry and M'Dougal and my- 
 self to go to Spring Wells. We overtook 
 Capt. SneJling a short distance from them 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 23 
 
 and accompanied him thither. He had, I 
 think, a six pounder, and was very anxious 
 to have a 24 pounder. It was the opinion of 
 the other officers and myself, that with one 
 or two 24 prs., we could drive the British 
 from their moorings; we searched immediate- 
 ly for a place to plant them, and discovered 
 in an orchard a fine situation for a battery. 
 We examined the bridges and considered it 
 practicable to pass the cannon over them all 
 except one, near which there was a large 
 quantity of hewn timber. We returned and 
 found Gen. Taylor in the fort, who, we then 
 learned, had also proposed taking down hea- 
 vy cannon. I urged it to Gen. Hull, who 
 objected in the first place to the bridge, and 
 then that the pieces were heavy and unma- 
 nageable. Some person (I think Gen. Tay- 
 lor) said that 100 horses could be ready in a 
 moment. I then told Gen. Hull the result 
 of my observation as to the bridge : he an- 
 swered that it was the opinion of the supe- 
 rior officers of artillery, that the cannon 
 could not be taken over the bridges, and that 
 he would be governed by it. 
 
 "On the morning of the 16th of August, 
 Major Jessup being with Col. Findlay,whose 
 regiment was posted outside of the fort, he 
 was requested by him to go to Gen. Hull for 
 orders, as the enemy had opened a fire on 
 the Canada shore, and he testified— "1 found 
 the Gen. in the fort, he said he wished the 
 line of battle to be formed at some distance 
 below the fort ; directed me to order Col. 
 Findlay's regt.andCols.M'Arthur and Cass's 
 detachments to be posted there; and ordered 
 me to consult Col. Findlay, and to tell him 
 that he would support him immediately. The 
 line was formed perpendicularly to the river, 
 perhaps a quarter of a mile below the fort ; 
 the left behind a row of high pickets ; the 
 right, I believe was behind a common fence; 
 our dragoons were on the right. When the 
 line was formed, Capt. Maxwell and myself 
 went out for the purpose of reconuoitering 
 the enemy ; we discerned them marching in 
 column through a lane, on their left of which 
 there was a number of orchards, gardens and 
 buildings ; the fences appeared to be a pick- 
 eting or stockade. I returned immediately 
 to the fort, having requested Capt. Maxwell 
 to report to Col Findlay the situation of the 
 enemy. 
 
 "■On my arrival at the fort, I immediately 
 reported the position of the enemy to Gen. 
 Hull ; observed that this would be a fit op- 
 portunity for artillery to open upon them ; 
 and that if they attempted to form in line, 
 our dragoons could take them in flank. The 
 Gen. permitted me to take out some pieces 
 of artillery, and directed me to take com- 
 mand of the dragoons. Immediately after 
 
 leaving the fort I met with Capt. Dyson, 
 who, I think, informed me that Lieut. Ander- 
 son had taken out a piece of artillery. I 
 left him and proceeded to the right, to com- 
 mand the dragoons who were patrolling. By 
 the time I met with some of the officers of 
 the dragoons, I perceived that our line was 
 breaking up, retreating to the rear, towards 
 the fort, by flanks of platoons or companies. 
 I rode to Col. Findlay to enquire the reason: 
 on my way I met an officer and enquired 
 what was the matter : he said " look to the 
 fort ; I did so, and saw a ivhite flag flying. 
 Col. Findlay, if I recollect right, said he did 
 not know why we retreated, and desired me 
 to ride to the fort and enquire. I saw Gen. 
 Hull in the fort, and thought him very much 
 frightened when I met him. I enquired of 
 the Gen. if it was possible we were about 
 to surrender. He said something about the 
 enemy's force and terms, but 1 could not 
 collect what: his voice was at this time tre- 
 mulous; I mentioned that we could at least 
 hold out till we were joined by Cols. Cass 
 and M' Arthur, He exclaimed, " My God, 
 what shall 1 do with these women and chil- 
 dren !" I left him, went to Col. Findlay, 
 and stated that all was lost, and requested 
 him to endeavour to save us. After this, I 
 did not see the General until the terms of 
 capitulation had been agreed upon. 
 
 "Major Jessup having continued his narra- 
 tive so far, recurred to former parts of it, and 
 stated that, when, before the capitulation, 
 he communicated to Gen. Hull that he had 
 reconnoitered the enemy, witness found him 
 in the fort on the side next the enemy" 1 s bat- 
 tery, completely sheltered silling on the side 
 of a tent by a bed ; that he then told the 
 General, that the enemy's force was about 
 7 or 800, and that our guard which was most 
 advanced, had surrendered to the enemy. — 
 At this time witness thinks Gen. Hull said 
 that Col. Brush told him that his men were 
 leaving him ; he also exclaimed that four 
 men were killed at one shot, and appeared to 
 be so much alarmed that he did not know 
 what he was about. The tobacco juice had 
 fallen from his mouth upon his jacket and a- 
 bout his cheeks. The head of the enemy's 
 column was at some yards distance, and a 
 detachment of the enemy's troops came into 
 the fort before the American troops marched 
 out, and before the articles of capitulation 
 were signed. No means were taken, to the 
 knowledge of witness, to prevent the enemy 
 from getting command of our batteries. — 
 Witness was informed that the advanced 
 guard which had surrendered, consisted of 
 about twelve, said to be commanded by one 
 Godefroy, a Frenchman and a citizen. 
 
 " Major Jessup stated also that, on th& 
 
21 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 evening of the 15th, when he mentioned to 
 the General that the enemy had moved with 
 most of his forces, he observed that it would 
 be a fine opportunity to cross over and spike 
 the cannon ; and proposed going himself 
 with 20!) men — then with 150, and then 
 with 100 men — on which propositions sever- 
 al observations were made, but no permis- 
 sion given to the witness ; whose opinion 
 then was, and still is, that the enemy's 
 works could have been carried with one 
 hundred men. Witness said that, at the, 
 nnnentof this conversation, a shot struck 1 
 a house near him, upon which Gen. Hull 
 was much agitated, dismounted, and led his 
 horse to the fort. Witness did not know 
 from what the agitation arose, but believed it 
 ivas from fear, and the nivelty of his situa- 
 tion. Whenever he saw the General before 
 the capitulation, he was agitated ; after it 
 he appeared composed. Witness says that 
 the country near was of such a nature, as 
 that, by cutting down some of the orchards 
 in the neighborhood of the fort, and posting 
 mfm in the gardens, a few msn could have 
 defended themselves against the whole Bri- 
 tish force, and that he wondered that it was 
 not occupied on the evening of the 15th Au- 
 gust. The witness did not know the ene- 
 my's force, but his impression, from the at- 
 tempt he made to count them, and from the 
 size of their platoons and of their columns, 
 was, that the white force was about 750, ex- 
 clusive of Indians — a part of the militia force 
 was dressed in red coats as regulars. 
 
 "■Question. What were the conduct and 
 sensations of the troops when you read the 
 articles of capit^ation to them ? 
 
 Ansictr. On the morning of the 16th the 
 spirits of the troops seemed to be somewhat 
 depressed ; but, upon my giving the order to 
 form the line of battle, they were revived, 
 and appeared desirous of meeting the ene- 
 my. When the line was retreating, both offi- 
 cers and men appeared displeased and mur- 
 mured ; and when ordered to stack their 
 arms, after marching out, they evinced the 
 greatest dissatisfaction and indignation. 
 
 Question. Did Col. Brush's men leave 
 him, as stated to you by Gen. Hull ? 
 
 Answer. I btlievc not. I only stated that 
 the Gen. mentioned that Col. Brush report- 
 ed to him (the General) that his men were 
 leaving him. / did not hear of this but thro" 1 
 Gen. Hull. 
 
 Question. Do you know what was the 
 causp. of the troops being low-spirited on the 
 morning of the 16th, before the line was or- 
 dered to be formed ? 
 
 Answer. They had been under arms the 
 whole of the preceding night, aud appeared 
 
 to be of opinion that no exertions would bs 
 made to repel the enemy. 
 
 Question. While the terras of capitula- 
 tion were discussing, were the troops of the 
 U. States so posted as to have been able to 
 make a defence, in the event of degrading 
 terms being insisted on by Gen. Brock ? 
 
 Answer. The man were crowded in the 
 fort in the utmost disorder. The enemies 
 troops were permitted to approach so near 
 the fort as to be able to take possession of the 
 batteries." 
 
 Extract from the testimony of Capt. 
 
 Charles Fuller, of the 4th U. States 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 14 Witness say3 that he saw Gen. Hull se- 
 veral ti'nes on the 16th, an! in his judgment, 
 he appeared to be frightened — witness 
 thought so at that time — he never saw the 
 marquee before the morning of the 16th, and 
 does not know when it was pitched." 
 
 "Question. You stated that I had the ap- 
 pearance of being under personal fear : do 
 you not think that appearance might have 
 proceeded from anxiety and the heavy res- 
 ponsibility I was under ? 
 
 44 A'iswer. I presume it would. / have 
 no doubt of your appearance on that occasion 
 being the effect of personal fear : I had none 
 then, I have none noio." 
 Extract from the testimony of Capt. 
 
 John L. Eastman, of the 4th U. S. 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 44 That he saw Col. M'Donald with Gen. 
 Hull in Captain Dyson's quarters — heard the 
 General express to Colonel M'Donald a wish 
 to make provision for the Canadians who 
 had taken protection from him, when Col. 
 M'Donald replied, u It is totally inadmissi- 
 ble," and the General said, 4l Well, Sir, I 
 shall surrender.^ When the shot from the 
 enemy killed the officers, General Hull went 
 into Capt. Dyson's quarters, and immediately 
 returned with a letter, which he gave to Capt. 
 Hull, his aid,to send by Capt. S7ielling with a 
 flag. Capt. Hull took one of the pikes made 
 for boarding the Queen Charlotte, tied a 
 white handkerchief upon it, and gave it to 
 Capt. Snelling, who took hold of it without 
 seeing the flag, but seeing it, said HE would 
 
 BE DAMNED IF HE WOULD DISGRACE HIM- 
 SELF BY TAKr.VG THAT FLAG FROM THE 
 
 fort. Gen. Hull standing near asked what 
 was the matter ; Major Snelling said he was 
 in a passion, and Capt. Hull then took the 
 flag and went, witness did not know where. 
 14 Witness said he saw the General on tl*e 
 morning of the 15th, when the shell hurst. 
 When it came into fort he ran as if he was 
 going under the platform, bnt witness did not 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 2y 
 
 know whether it was his intention or not. — 
 'j he General's whole conduct, on the evening 
 of the Ibth and morning of the \6(h, was 
 such as to impress the witness with the convic- 
 tion that he was under the influence of per- 
 sonal fear, which opinion icitness expressed at 
 the lime. Witness remained 24 days at De- 
 troit after the capitulation. The Saganac 
 Indians arrived there in about three days af- 
 ter the capitulation, in number about 250, of 
 "whom 60 were warriors — (he Makana Indians 
 did not arrive before the \Qlh or \\lh of 
 September, in number about 1100 or 1200 
 warriors." 
 Extract from the Testimony of Lieut. 
 
 Georg3 Gooding, of the 4th U. S. 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 " Witness says that he was in the North- 
 Westem Army under Gen. Hull, and went 
 with the baggage in the vessel from the Ra- 
 pids — did not go by any order, and never 
 knew the master of her before he went on 
 board ; that he saw two trunks on board, 
 which he supposed to belong to Gen. Hull, 
 containing letters from the Secretary at War 
 to the General, but does not know of any 
 muster-rolls. The boat was taken in the 
 mouth of the river, between the shore and 
 the island of Bois Blanch, and on the Mai- 
 den side, near EllsolFs house — they were ob- 
 liged to pass near to the fort of Maiden. The 
 boat that took them was coming from the 
 island. Witness saw on the south side of 
 their boat a large batteau full of British sol- 
 diers making for them — that there were in 
 the boat with witness altogether about 40 or 
 45 men, 34 or 36 of whom were of the 1st 
 and 4th regiments, the whole of whom were 
 invalids ; two militia officers, three serjeants, 
 and himself being the only persons in health 
 ou board, excepting the boat's crew ; that 
 the arms were in the hold ; that when they 
 started they had not the smallest apprehen- 
 sion or suspicion of being attacked ; that on 
 the 2d July witness was taken to Amherst- 
 burgh, and remained there until the 6th Au 
 gust ; while there he saw a letter from Ge 
 neral Harrison to General Hull, naming ; 
 certain Indian chief, upon whom the latter 
 might rely; which Indian was put in irons 
 in consequence. Witness says that the re 
 gular British force at Maiden was from 200 
 to, 250 ; that about 120 boatmen arrived af- 
 ter he arrived there, he having seen them 
 draw part of their arms from the military 
 store ; that the militia was coining in every 
 day, but he did not know their numbers, nor 
 ever saw them parade — the militia guard 
 about the middle of July stood 43 hours, on 
 account of the smallness of their numbers ; 
 fhat Colonel Proctor arrived at tin end of Ju- 
 
 ly or first of August, in an open boat, with 
 ten or twelve men. Witness knew of no force 
 brought by Colonel Proctor, nor of any rtin- 
 forcements after his (witness') arrival there, 
 except about 50 or 60 Sank Indians, who 
 came about the middle of July. Witness 
 saw a man riding in, and heard him halloo 
 '_' The Yankees are coming," and then he 
 saw some things going on board the brig 
 Hunter, and there was much confusion in 
 the town." 
 
 Extract from Lieut. Asher Philip's tes- 
 timony. 
 
 " That he was doing duty in the fourth 
 regiment of infantry, and in the army com- 
 manded by Brigadier General Hull, and was 
 at Detroit on the 1 5th and 16th Aug. 1812 ; 
 that he saw General Hull on the morning of 
 the latter day, but did not hear him say 
 much ; he was sitting on a tent which was 
 lying on the ground, with his back toivards 
 the parapet or wall, one gentleman and one 
 lady near him — he appeared to be very much 
 agitated, and witness then supposed that he 
 was under the impression of fear — the gen- 
 tleman who stood by the General was Doc- 
 tor Cunningham, and who the lady was wit- 
 ness did not recollect." 
 Extract from the Testimony of Col. 
 
 James Miller, of the 6th United States 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 " Question by General Hull. Can you 
 mention any act of mine on the 16th, which 
 you did at the time, or do now, impute to 
 cowardice or personal fear, and if so, 
 what ?" 
 
 11 A. Yes ! such an immediate surrender 
 I think was indicative of a want of cou- 
 rage." 
 Extract from the testimony of Lieut. 
 
 Lewis Peckham, of the 4th U. S. In- 
 fantry. 
 
 Lieutenant Peckham was again called and 
 said, *' I saw General Hull frequently at 
 Detroit, on the 15th and 16th August; and 
 on the \Gth during lite cannonade, he ap- 
 peared to me to be much agitated ; and the 
 impression made upon my mind was, that lie 
 was under the influence of personal fear. He 
 gave no ci'ders, lo my knowledge.''' 1 
 
 Extract from General James Taylor's 
 testimony. 
 11 Witness said that the order to retreat 
 from Canada excited very general and almost 
 universal disapprobation among the troops ; 
 that after the orders were issued to retreat 
 from Canada, the officers and witness in par- 
 ticular, expostulated with General Hull, and 
 ilrongty urged him not to retreat, observing 
 
26 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 that the nature of his proclamation offering 
 protection to the inhabitants, was such as 
 would materially injure any other army 
 which might come, if those inhabitants who 
 had come in under that proclamation should 
 be deserted ; stating that the Indians could 
 not collect such force as he apprehended, from 
 the want of provisions necesssary for their 
 march through the woods ; and finally urging 
 him to suspend the execution of his orders un- 
 til the next day, that means might be taken 
 to remove the waggons and other public pro- 
 perty from Canada ; the General, however, 
 ■persisted in his determination.'''' 
 
 " Witness says that he saw the Eritish offi- 
 cers come to the fort at Detroit — he was then 
 at the gate ; that General Hull was about 
 taking them into the fort ; but he was advi- 
 sed not to do so, and then directed them to 
 his marquee ; that Gen. Hull sent witness for 
 Colonel Fiudlay, whom and witness he wish- 
 ed to act as commissioners, and to draw up 
 the terms of capitulation ; they both replied 
 that they did not agree with him as to the ne- 
 cessity for it, and therefore could not act ; 
 and the General expressed his sorrow that 
 they did not join him in opinion as to the on- 
 ly measure that could be adopted." 
 
 h Witness also says that he saw General 
 Hull several times on the 15th and 16th Au- 
 gust, and cannot say that the Generals ap- 
 pearance made any impression on his mind 
 on the 15th, as indicative of personal fear; 
 that when witness saw him early in the morn- 
 ing of the 16th, he appeared pensive and 
 very low-toned : he did nothing to cheer the 
 men or keep up their spirits : his countenance 
 teas dull, and his whole conduct made an im- 
 pression on the mind of the witness that he 
 was not as Jirm as he ought to have been ; 
 his position was very near the gate and to- 
 wards that part of the fort least exposed: — 
 that General Hull sent an order to Col. Find- 
 lay to move from the upper to the lower side 
 of the fort, without giving any directions 
 where the troops were to station themselves, 
 or how they were to act ; that while witness 
 was with him, the General was informed 
 that the British were preparing to cross, and 
 
 HE GAVE NO ORDER THAT THEY SHOULD BE 
 
 met ; that witness saw the tobacco-spittle which 
 was rubbed over his face ; and that he thinks 
 General Hull was under the influence of per- 
 sonal fear — witness thinks that the force un- 
 der Colonel Bush consisted of about 300 
 men." 
 
 Extract from the testimony of Lieut. 
 Aaron W. Furbush, who was taken 
 in the small vessel which was sent 
 with the baggage from the Rapids, 
 and carried prisoner to Maiden. 
 
 Question by the Judge advocate. 
 " Q. " Did the enemy permit you to g» 
 about the works at Maiden ?" 
 
 Answer. They did ; 1 was a little re- 
 strained. 
 
 Question. Could you ascertain their force ? 
 Jlnsiver. I took every opportunity I could 
 of counting them. The regulars when I ar- 
 rived, were from eighty to one hundred — from, 
 250 to 300 militia, including those in the 
 hosts ; perhaps from 300 to 350 Indians ; but 
 it was dificult to ascertain this with any pre- 
 cision. 
 
 Question. What number of troops arrived 
 at Maiden ? 
 
 Jlnsiver. There were in the Hunter 30 re- 
 gulars, and in the Lady Provost from 30 to 
 40 regulars — this was about the 20th July ; 
 and after the battle of Brownston there were 
 about 300 in red coats from York. From the 
 20th to the 30th July, many of the militia 
 went to their farms and returned, making, 
 as many as before, exclusive of those in red 
 coats — say 900 were the whole force at Mai- 
 den. At the time of the battle of Browns- 
 town there were only a sergeant and 12 mtu 
 in the fort. 
 
 Question. How many crossed at the battle 
 of Brownston ? 
 
 Jlnswer. About 740 regulars, militia and 
 
 Indians, exclusive of the Brownston Indians. 
 
 Question. Were you at Maiden when 
 
 Col. Cass and Miller took the bridge at Aux 
 
 Canards, and what became of the troops? 
 
 Jlnswer. I was. The troops were mostly 
 moved out of the town — there was a good 
 deal of confusion in the town, moving ef- 
 fects. The Queen Charlotte came to the 
 wharf, and took in the baggage and women ; 
 she afterwards had her topsails loose ready 
 to sail. 
 
 Extract from the testimony of Brevet 
 Major John Whistler. 
 " I saw Capt. Hull on that morning (after 
 the men were killed, General Hull being 
 near the gate) take a dirty towel to Jix as a 
 flag of truce on one of the boarding pikes, 
 which I thought loo dirty; he then brought 
 out a table cloth or a sheet, which I thought 
 would be too large, and said it should not go 
 wp,' as the jlmerican Ensign must be lowered, 
 and the enemy might suppose we had surren- 
 dered. This passed so near General Hull 
 that he must have heard the ivhole of it ; he 
 however said nothing. Capt. Barton hoisted 
 it on one of the bastions. General Hull was 
 leaning on the side of the fort next the ene- 
 my, and in a secure part except against the 
 shells. I went, some days before the army 
 re-crossed, with a Mr. Baird, the deputy 
 contractor, to a store which held the provi- 
 sions of the araiy ; and saw, and helped to 
 
DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN, 
 
 27 
 
 count, between 2 and 300 bbls. of flour, 48 
 barrels of pork, 16 or 17 barrels of salt beef, 
 and 20 barrels of whiskey. I kept the key 
 of the store at ray quarters. I think there 
 were a couple of waggon loads taken out at 
 different times, before the surrender, — there 
 might have been more, as they could get the 
 key in my absence. There was one waggon 
 load of flour brought there before the capitu- 
 lation ; the army was furnished with some 
 fresh beef from the time Mr. Baird and I 
 counted these provisions. Mr. Caird might 
 have furnished salt provision? from outside 
 of the store. Gen. Hull told me, I think, of 
 COO or 900 sheep taken from the Canada 
 side, which he put under my charge — there 
 was an old man who came with them, their 
 former keeper. Some of them were taken 
 for the use of the garrison to my knowledge, 
 reports of them being made to me every 
 night — some of them were killed by the ene- 
 my's balls. I went to Detroit in 1797, and 
 am generally acquainted with the country. 
 If provisions could have been collected with 
 the other resources of the country, the army 
 might have subsisted for two months. There 
 were large crops of wheat in 1812. 
 
 Question. Did you see General Hull in 
 the fort on the moruign of the lGth during 
 the cannonade ? 
 
 JLnswer. I did. 
 
 Question. Did or did not the situation and 
 appearance of the General induce you to 
 think at the time that he was under the in- 
 fluence of personal fear ? 
 
 Answer. It did. 
 
 These were the facts on which a court 
 martial convicted General Hull. They tell 
 such a plain, clear and unequivocal story, 
 and place his disgraceful conduct, in such 
 bold relief, that comment thereon would be 
 supererogation. A brave, zealous and patri- 
 otic army was shamefully sacrificed, without 
 being suffered/o^/rre a single gun,and the whole 
 of the north western frontier, laid open to the 
 ravages of the enemy and his savage allies, 
 which occasioned those horrible scenes of 
 devastation and massacre, in which was spilt 
 the hest blood of the gallant sons of the west, 
 who were compelled to roll back that tide of 
 war, which might have been stayed, at the 
 straits of Detroit, if the commander had 
 been fired with the ardour of his soldiers, 
 who were eager for battle and confident of 
 victory. This most culpable dereliction of 
 duty, a Court Martial has attributed to 
 cowardice ; but which, General Hull has 
 now attempted to prove, was not the cause, 
 and pleases himself with the idea, if he can 
 be exonerated from that imputation, he shall 
 go down to posterity as a brave, but much 
 injured man. tl Let him not lay this flatter- 
 
 "ing unction to his soul," for if he is unwil- 
 ling to rest under the charge of coivardice, he 
 must flee to the other horn of the dilemma, 
 and be blasted with the more odious and 
 criminal epithet of traitor, — for no milita- 
 ry man can assign any other, than one of 
 those two causes, for his conduct. 
 
 Having closed my remarks on General 
 Hull's tm-military conduct, while command- 
 ing the north western army, it is proper to 
 advert to some of those unwarrantable asser- 
 tions, and sweeping denunciations, which 
 have been so profusely scattered over his 
 Memoirs. 
 
 In his second number is the following ex- 
 traordinary paragraph ; — "and that although 
 the administration employed, at your ex- 
 pense, two of the first counsellors in our 
 country, Mr. Dallas and Mr. Van Buren, to 
 assist the Judge Advocate in the prosecution, 
 the Court would not suffer me, to employ 
 any counsel at my own expense, to open 
 their lips in the court." Such is the studied, 
 phraseology of this assertion, that every per- 
 son, ignorant of the fact, would presume, 
 that '■'•the court would not suffer him to em- 
 u ploy any coiinse!," and that he was left, 
 single handed, to manage his defence ; and 
 although he may quiet his conscience, and 
 elude the charge, of having made an incor- 
 rect assertion, by a cunning equivoque, I shall 
 expose the unmanly attempt at delusion, by 
 the following extracts from the report of his 
 trial. 
 " 3d day, Wednesday, 12th January, 
 1814. 
 
 " The Court met pursuant to adjournment 
 — General Hull appeared and proposed that 
 Robert Tillotson, Esq. should be admitted 
 as his counsel — which was agreed to.'''' 
 
 " 5th day, Monday, 17th Jan. 1814. 
 
 " The Court met pursuant to adjourn- 
 ment — the charges against the prisoner were 
 read, to which General Hull pleaded — Not 
 Guilty — in the usual form. It was then pro- 
 posed that C. D. Colden, Esq. should be the 
 additional advocate in behalf of the prison- 
 er, which was granted by the Court.' 1 '' 
 
 In his thirtieth number he dwells on this 
 subject, and in the same Jesuitical manner, 
 so as to leave the impression, that he was 
 u not permitted to employ counsel," to aid 
 him in his defence. — But having unhinged 
 the wily equivoque, and shown this part of 
 his charge untrue, I assert with confidence, 
 that the court acted in conformity to the es- 
 tablished principles of martial law in refus- 
 ing " his counsel to open their lips," in the 
 presence of the court. This is the establish- 
 ed law of all nations, and our naval and mi- 
 lilary courts martial have been, and still are 
 
28 
 
 DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 
 
 governed by this rule. For the truth of this 
 declaration, I appeal to the writers on mar- 
 tial law, and to the officers of our army and 
 navy. The counsel can only make sugges- 
 tions to the accused, reduce questions to the 
 witnesses, to writing, which must be submit- 
 ted to the judge advocate and the Court, be- 
 fore they are put — and aid the accused in 
 drawing up his defence. General Hull well 
 knew, this was the established law. 
 
 He accuses the President and Secretary of 
 War, of having; organized a court martial, 
 that would be subservient to their wishes — 
 which he alleges were his destruction — and 
 that the officers who deposed on his trial, 
 had been suborned with the bribe of promo- 
 tion. The names of most of the witnesses 
 I have given, and these were the officers who 
 composed the court. 
 
 Major Gen. Henry Dearborn, President. 
 Members. 
 Brig. Gen. Joseph Bloomfield, 
 Cols. Peter Little, 38th Regt. 
 
 Wm. N. Ervine, 42d Regt. 
 
 Lieut. Cols. James House, 
 
 Wm. Scott, 36th Reg. 
 Wm. Stewart, 38th Reg. 
 Cols. J. R. Fenwick, Art. C. 
 Robert Bagardus, 41st. 
 Lieut. Cols. Richard Dennis, 16th. 
 Samuel S. Conner, 13th. 
 S. B. Davis, 32d. 
 J. W. Livingston, 41st. 
 Lt. Col. J. G. Forbes, 42d Reg. Super- 
 numerary. 
 Judge Advocate, Martin Van Buren, Esq. 
 Army Judge Advocate, Phillip L. Parker, Esq. 
 Their characters are well known, and it 
 would be insulting to them, to do any thing 
 more, than to publish their names, to refute 
 the calumnies of a man who is intrenched 
 behind the ramparts of convicted cowardice, 
 and beyond the reach of an honorable officer; 
 but I shall here introduce an extract from 
 the concluding remarks of his defence, by 
 
 way of contrast, to his late insulting obser- 
 vations. 
 
 " Allow me, Mr. President, and gentlemen 
 of the court, with the most heart-felt sensi- 
 bility, to return you my sincere thanks, for 
 the manner in which this trial has been con- 
 ducted. For thought, as I humbly conceive, 
 there has been some departure from accus- 
 tomed forms, in respeci to the examination 
 of witnesses, I know that the court has bten 
 governed by nothing but its own sense of 
 propriety. The conduct of the members of 
 this court, and of the judge advocate, has 
 been such as I had anticipated, and every 
 thing that I could expect from honorable, 
 impartial and humane men. Whatever may 
 be your sentence, I shall always with grati- 
 tude acknowledge that I have had a fair, 
 candid and patient hearing." 
 
 To the clemency of the members of this 
 court, which he has so much abused, is Gen. 
 Hull indebted fcr his life, as it is probable 
 he would have suffered the just senttnee of 
 death, had they not " earnestly recommen- 
 ded him to the mercy of the President of the 
 United States." 
 
 He has introduced the surrender of Bur- 
 goyne, General Lincoln, Lord Cornwallis 
 and Washington as parallel to his at Detroit. 
 What monstrous presumption, and horrible 
 profanation ! Those officers fought battle 
 after battle, and were overwhelmed, after 
 gallantly disputing every inch of ground 
 with the enemy. 
 
 As to the mean and contemptible vitupe- 
 ration, in relation to General Dearborn, it is 
 sufficient to say that it is the wanton act of 
 a desperate man, who has no character to 
 lose, — of General Hull. 
 
 This has been the most painful act of my 
 life. I should never have exposed the char- 
 acter of General Hull, had it not been my 
 duty as a Son, during the absence of a much 
 injured Father. 
 
 H. A. S. DEARBORN. 
 Brinley-Flace, July 27, 1824. 
 
 THE END 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 2d Page Oth line 1st column for Lower Canada read Upper Canada. Same page, 2d column, 12th 
 Vme for — ami that, read b",t that. 
 
 MB-20.5 
 
 II n - <u. 
 

 
 
 
 
 *9 *7\ 
 
 4 o, 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■o V' 
 
 .>. 
 
 ■;■_ 
 
 vP 9' 
 
 ^ A^ 
 
 V^ . 
 
 "-V-, 
 
 .4 ^ 
 
 '.> 
 
 
 
 
 
 <* J • * * ^° 
 
 V* 
 
 ♦ 
 
 * 
 
 V •' 
 
 
 
 
 
 r.S*?, 
 
 ■J - -. 
 
 „/» 
 
 **n« 
 

 ^v 
 
 % 
 
 
 "■\ ^ ^ *^fe'- ^ / 
 
 
 y\ 
 
 *0 „ 1 » A V^ 
 
 4 o. 
 
 *°v 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 
 
 DOBBSBROS. V^ V vP V 
 
 I LIBRARY BINDING - ^ 
 
 iMAY. 73 -^ \, ° 
 
 
 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS