than one thousand. Until the moment of a demand to sur render, no intelligence had been received by the garrison of the declaration of war. This event justly filled Hul with surprise and consternation, as he had now no means of checking the incursions of the restless hordes of north ern savages.

On the 5th of August, a council of war was held to deliberate upon the expediency of attacking the fortress of Malden. But, as the artillery had not arrived, it was decided to wait two days, and then to proceed with or without it, as the case might be.

In the mean time, however, communications were received from Generals Porter and Hall, who commanded on the Niagara frontier, that the enemy were leaving their posts, in that quarter, and were concentrating their forces at Malden. At the same time, Hull was informed, that he could not depend upon assistance from General Dearborn, the commander-in-chief, although the latter had been directed by the government to invade Canada from Niagara, and co-operate with Hull. Under all the aspects of the case, although his delayed artillery had arrived, Hull issued orders, on the afternoon of the seventh, for his army to return to Detroit.

An order to the officers and army so unexpected as this— at a moment, when they were anticipating a glorious victory, and the honors due from it—was like a thunder-bolt upon them. The murmurs of the volunteers and regular troops were loud. They upbraided their commander with pusillanimity, and even treachery; and it was with difficulty they could be restrained by their own officers, in whom they confided. The disappointment, and vexation which ensued can be better imagined than described; all confidence in their leader was evidently at an end; if treacherous, he might deliver them up to be massacred; and it was evident he was deficient in the skill and ability necessary to command. It was with much reluctance this gallant little army was compelled to abandon, almost in disgrace, the flattering hopes which they thought themselves on the point of realizing.

On the 8th of August, the American army recrossed the river, and again took post at Detroit.

On the fourteenth, a British force, under command of General Brock took a position opposite Detroit, where they proceeded to erect batteries. On the fifteenth, Brock sent a flag bearing a summons to the American general to sur

render. The summons concluded in these words: "It is far from my inclination to join in a war of extermination; out you must be aware, that the numerous body of Indians, who have attached themselves to my troops, will be beyond my control the moment the contest commences."

To this summons, an answer was returned, that the fort would be defended to the last extremity. The British immediately opened their batteries, and continued to throw shells, during a great part of the night. The fire was returned, but with little effect, on either side. In the morning, it was discovered, that the British were landing their troops at Spring Wells, under cover of their ships. To prevent the landing from the fort, was a matter impossible; the town lying between it, and the river. But if Hull had not neglected the advice of his officers, he might have effectually prevented it, by erecting batteries on the bank, where they would be compelled to debark. A strange fatality seemed to attend this unfortunate man. The enemy having landed, about ten o'clock advanced towards the fort, in close column, and twelve deep. From the position of the fort, the enemy were enabled to approach within two hundred yards, before its guns could be brought to bear, being thus far sheltered by the town. The American force was, however, judiciously disposed to prevent their advance.

All was now silent expectation, and the hearts of the Americans were beating high, in anticipation of successful resistance. But, at this moment, what were the surprise and mortification of the Americans, at hearing orders to retire to the fort! And no sooner were they in their fort, than they were directed to stack their arms-immediately after which a white flag was suspended from the walls, in token of submission. A British officer rode up to ascertain the cause, for this surrender was no less unexpected to the assailants. A capitulation was agreed to, without even stipulating the terms. Words are wanting to express the feelings of the Americans, on this occasion; they considered themselves basely betrayed, in thus surrendering to an inferior force, without firing a gun, when they were firmly convinced that that force was in their power. They had provisions for at least fifteen days, and were provided with all the requisite munitions of war. They were compelled, thus humiliated, to march out, and to surrender themselves prisoners at discretion. The British took immediate possession of the fort, with all the public property it contained; amongst which there were forty barrels of powder, four

hundred rounds of fixed twenty-four pound shot, one hundred thousand ball cartridges, two thousand five hundred stand of arms, twenty-five pieces of iron cannon, and eight of brass, the greater number of which had been captured by the Americans during the revolutionary war.

The whole territory, and all the forts and garrisons of the United States, within the district of the general, were also formally surrendered; and the detachments under Colonels Cass and M'Arthur, as well as the party under Capt. Brush, were included in the capitulation. Orders had been dispatched the evening before, for the detachment under Cass and M'Arthur to return, and they had approached almost sufficiently near to discover the movements of the enemy, whilst their accidental situation might enable them to render the most material service during the attack. They were surprised at the silence which prevailed, when every moment was expected to announce the conflict; and that surprise was changed into rage, when they learned the capitulation. A British officer was dispatched to the river Raisin, to convey the intelligence to Capt. Brush, who at first gave no credit to so improbable a tale, and actually put the officer in confinement. The melancholy story was, however, soon confirmed by some Americans, who had escaped. Captain Brush indignantly refused to submit to the capitulation, declaring that Hull had no right to include him, and determined to return to the state of Ohio. first deliberated whether he should destroy the public stores, which he had in his possession, and which he could not carry away; but, reflecting that this might be used as a pretext for harsh treatment to his countrymen, he resolved to abandon them. The greater part of the volunteers and militia were permitted to return home; but the regulars, together with the general, were taken to Canada.

He

In his official dispatch, Gen. Hull labored to free his conduct from censure, by bringing into view the inferiority of his foree, compared with that of the enemy-his not exceeding eight hundred effective men; that of the enemy amounting to thirteen hundred, of whom seven hundred were Indians; and also the dangers which threatened him from numerous western tribes of Indians, who were swarming in

The detachment under Colonels Cass and M'Arthur, here alluded to, consisted of three hundred and fifty men. They had been dispatched for the purpose of assisting Captain Brush to make his way in safety to Detroit, with supplies for the army, which had been forwarded by Gov. Meigs, of Ohio, under the direction of that officer.

the neighboring woods, and who were ready, in case of his defeat, to rush to the indiscriminate slaughter of the Ameri

cans.

Whether the views which induced this surrender of Hull were in reality justly founded or not, the public mind was altogether unprepared for an occurrence so disastrous and mortifying.

Not long after, Gen. Hull was exchanged for thirty British prisoners Neither the government nor the people were satisfied with his excuses. The affair was solemnly investigated by a court martial. He was charged with treason, cowardice, and unofficer-like conduct. On the first charge, the court declined giving an opinion; on the two last, he was sentenced to death; but was recommended to mercy, in consequence of his revolutionary services, and his advanced age. The sentence was remitted by the presi dent; but his name was ordered to be struck from the rolls of the army."

*

Sec. 15. On the 19th of August, three days af-. ter the unfortunate surrender of Detroit, that series of splendid naval achievements, for which this war was distinguished, was commenced by Capt. Isaac Hull, of the United States' frigate Constitution, who captured the British frigate Guerriere, commanded by Capt. Dacres.

The American frigate was superior in force only by a few guns, but the difference bore no comparison to the disparity of the conflict. The loss of the Constitution was seven killed, and seven wounded, while that on board the Guerriere was fifteen killed, and sixty-three wounded; among the latter was Capt. Dacres. The Constitution sustained so little injury, that she was ready for action the succeeding day; but the British frigate was so much damaged, that she was set on fire and burnt.

Sec. 16. On the 13th of August, another naval victory was achieved-the United States' frigate Essex, Capt. Porter, falling in with and capturing the British sloop of war Alert, after an action of only eight minutes.

This engagement took place off the grand bank of New* Brackenridge's History of the War.

foundland. A single broadside from the American frigate so completely riddled the sloop, that, on striking her colours, although she had but three men wounded, she had seven feet of water in her hold. The frigate suffered not the slightest injury.

Sec. 17. Upon the declaration of war, the attention of the American commander in chief, Gen. Dearborn, was turned towards the invasion of Canada, for which eight or ten thousand men, and considerable military stores, were collected, at different points along the Carada line. Skilful officers of the navy were also dispatched, for the purpose of arming vessels on Lake Erie, Ontario, and Champlain, if possible to gain the ascendancy there, and to aid the operations of the American forces.

The American troops were distributed into three divisions-one under General Harrison, called the North Western army; a second under Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer, at Lewistown, called the army of the Centre; and a third under the commander in chief, Gen. Dearborn, in the neighborhood of Plattsburg and Greenbush, called the army of the North.

Sec. 18. Early on the morning of the 13th of October, 1812, a detachment of about one thousand men, from the army of the centre, crossed the river Niagara, and attacked the British on Queenstown heights. This detachment, under the command of Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer, succeeded in dislodging the enemy; but, not being reinforced by the militia from the American side, as was expected, they were ultimately repulsed, and were obliged to surrender. The British general, Brock, was killed during the engagement.

The forces designated to storm the heights, were divided