1811 IN CANADA AND EUROPE
Early in 1811 there was some correspondence between Sir James Craig
and General Brock as to the treatment of the Indians. The question
was, whether in case of hostilities breaking out as threatened
between the Americans and the Indians, the latter should be supplied,
as usual, with arms and ammunition by the British. No doubt the
Americans would expect a strict neutrality to be observed; but by
stopping supplies, Brock thought the British might lose all their
influence over the tribes. There had been a council held in which
the chiefs had resolved to go to war with the Americans, and they
seemed to have had a firm conviction that although they could not
expect active coöperation, yet they might rely on receiving from the
British the requisites of war.
They had suffered much of late. Napoleon's decrees and the English
orders-in-council had put a stop to their trade in furs. They could
obtain nothing for their peltries, for the warehouses of the great
companies were filled with costly furs for which there was no market.
The Americans, too, of late had encroached more and more on their
hunting-grounds. It had been tacitly understood {150} in the treaty
of 1783 that the Indian country west of the Ohio was to be left to
the tribes, but on one pretence and another, by strategy and
persuasion, different Indian tribes had been induced to sell their
lands for a nominal price, and were being pushed further and further
back from the plains and forests and rivers which gave them their
sustenance. One chief had foreseen the doom that awaited them, and
planned to avert it. This was Tecumseh, a Shawanese warrior and
statesman. He dreamed of a confederation of all the tribes of North
America, in order to regain, if possible, their old boundaries, and
to resist the further encroachments of the white race.
[Sidenote: Indian affairs]
The Indians knew quite well the unsettled relations between the
United States and England, and had not made up their minds in 1811 as
to which country they would ally themselves to. They had been
threatened with retaliation on their wives and children if they dared
to serve the British.
Tecumseh was willing to be friendly to the United States if the
latter would agree to give up some lands lately purchased, and would
agree not to enter into treaties without the consent of all the
tribes. Tecumseh pledged himself on these conditions to be a
faithful ally to the United States and to assist them in war against
the English, otherwise he would enter into an English alliance. At
an interview with General Harrison, when he was told that the matter
rested with the president, {151} Tecumseh replied: "If the great
chief is to decide the matter I hope the Great Spirit will put sense
enough in his head to induce him to direct you to give up the land.
It is true he is so far off he will not be injured by the war. He
may sit still in his town and drink his wine, while you and I will
have to fight it out." The demands of Tecumseh as to lands and
treaties were not complied with, therefore he summoned his people to
go to war against the Americans.
Brock wrote in February as to the recent distribution of stores among
the tribes. "Our cold attempt to dissuade that much injured people
from engaging in such a rash enterprise could scarcely be expected to
prevail, particularly after giving such manifest indications of a
contrary sentiment, by the liberal quantity of military stores with
which they were dismissed." For information about them, General
Brock said he had to rely on the reports of officers commanding at
the outposts, as "the lieutenant-governor withholds all communication
on the subject."
The management of the Indians was in the hands of the
lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, and agents were employed by him
to administer their affairs. Mr. Elliott was then in charge at
Amherstburg. Brock speaks of him as an exceedingly good man, who
having lived much among the Indians, sympathized with their wrongs,
but he thought that he was rather biased and prejudiced in their
favour. {152} The general was of the opinion, however, that if Mr.
Elliott had delayed giving them presents until he reported their
mission to Lieutenant-Governor Gore, they would have returned to
their companions with different impressions as to the sentiments of
government.
The instructions issued by Lord Dorchester in 1790 were continued in
full force. The charge of the Indian department was vested in the
civil administration, and Brock thought this led to confusion. Vast
numbers of Indians assembled every year at Amherstburg from a great
distance. Brock said he had seen eight hundred waiting for a month
on rations for the presents to come, and he thought the
storekeeper-general in Upper Canada ought to be allowed to buy them
in case they did not reach the Upper Provinces before the close of
navigation.
In March Brock writes to Major Taylor of the 100th Regiment,
commanding at Amherstburg, and the first sentence is a reproof to
that officer for not having reported to him the important resolution
by which the Indians formally announced their intention of going to
war with the Americans. He had learnt of it from another source and
had reported it to the commander-in-chief. He then gave Major Taylor
an extract from His Excellency's secret and confidential answer,
which especially enjoined on all military officers to report at once
to General Brock whatever transpired at any councils of the Indians
at which they might be present.
{153}
[Sidenote: An accusation]
Sir James Craig was of the opinion that every effort should be made
to prevent a rupture between the Indians and the United States.
General Brock therefore advised Major Taylor that if he perceived the
smallest indication to depart from the line so strongly laid down by
His Excellency, he should offer friendly advice to the officers of
the government in charge of Indian affairs, and even have recourse to
written protests to deter them from persevering in any act that might
irritate and dispose the two nations to a conflict. Brock adds,
"This you must do as coming from yourself, and report
circumstantially every occurrence that may come to your knowledge."
It was not for some months after this that actual hostilities broke
out, and the accusation was then formally made in congress, that by
supplying some of the tribes with arms, ammunition and food, the
British had aided the Indians in their warlike designs.
In April Colonel Vesey writes from England and thanks General Brock
for the interesting details he had given him of local politics, both
civil and military, in Canada, although the colonel expresses himself
as not partial to that country, and he regrets that the 49th should
be detained there so long. He condoles with the general on the
lonely winter he must have passed at Fort George, in spite of the
companionship of Colonel Murray and his nice little wife. He adds,
"Pray remember me {154} to my old friend St. George. Mrs. Vesey has
charged me to call her to your recollection. She and my six children
are as well as possible, and a very nice little group they are, all
as healthy as can be. I wish I had a daughter old enough for you, as
I would give her to you with pleasure. You should be married,
particularly as fate seems to detain you so long in Canada, but pray,
do not marry there."
There is a legend, not confirmed, that General Brock at this time was
engaged to a "lady living at York"; but no hint of this is shown in
his letters, and it seems improbable, in his position, that if it
were the case, nothing should be said of it by contemporaries.
In another letter Colonel Vesey thanks him for the interest he had
taken in procuring for him his grant of land. He adds, "I quite feel
for you, my good friend, when I think of the stupid and uninteresting
time you must have passed in Upper Canada. With your ardour for
professional employment in the field, it must have been very painful.
Had you returned to Europe there is little doubt but that you would
have been immediately employed in Portugal; and as that service has
turned out so very creditable, I regret very much that you had not
deserted from Canada. I take it for granted that you will not stay
there long, and should the fortune of war bring us again upon duty in
the same country, I need not say how I shall hail the event with joy.
If you come to England, I would wish {155} you to call upon the Duke
of Kent, who has a high respect for you and will be happy to see you.
The Duke of York is to return to the army. Sir David Dundas will not
be much regretted."
[Sidenote: Craig's departure]
A letter from Colonel Baynes in March reports that Sir James Craig,
owing to extreme ill-health, was to return to England early in the
summer. He wished to be relieved from the anxiety of his office,
which, now that a war with the United States seemed probable, was too
onerous a position. For himself, his mind was made up, and he was
resigned to a speedy termination of his sufferings.
Communication was so slow between Upper and Lower Canada that many of
Colonel Baynes's letters were transmitted through the United States.
At that time there was only a post once a fortnight between Montreal
and Kingston, and from the latter place to York and Fort George the
post was scarcely established at all, and letters came at uncertain
intervals. Colonel Baynes's letter contained the last wishes of the
commander-in-chief with regard to Brock. "I assure you," he writes,
"Sir James is very far from being indifferent in regard to forwarding
your wishes, but from the necessity of returning himself, and that
without waiting for leave, he feels it the more necessary to leave
the country in the best state of security he can. He desires me to
say that he regrets extremely the disappointment you may experience,
and he requests that you will do him the favour to accept as {156} a
legacy, and as a mark of his very sincere regard, his favourite horse
'Alfred,' and that he is induced to send him to you, not only from
wishing to secure to his old favourite a kind and careful master, but
from the conviction that the whole continent of America could not
furnish you with so safe and excellent a horse. 'Alfred' is ten
years old, but being high bred, and latterly but very little used,
may be considered as still perfectly fresh. Sir James will give him
up to Heriot whenever you fix the manner of his being forwarded to
you. Kempt goes home with His Excellency."
Sir James Craig left Canada on June 19th, 1811, in the frigate
_Amelia_. Although his administration was known afterwards among
certain of the population of Lower Canada as the "reign of terror,"
he was yet beloved by many and respected by all. Even his enemies
gave him credit for the purity of his motives, and no one doubted his
courage, straightforwardness, and devotion to duty. He is described
as being "of agreeable countenance and impressive presence. Stout
and rather below the middle height, he was yet manly and dignified.
He was positive in his opinions and decided in his measures.
Although hasty in temper he was not implacable, and was easily
reconciled to those who incurred his displeasure. Hospitable and
princely in his style of living, he was yet a friend of the poor and
destitute." He did not long survive his departure, but died in
London the following March. {157} When he left Canada, Mr. Thomas
Dunn, the senior member of the council, was again left in charge of
the civil government, while Lieutenant-General Drummond, who was one
step higher than General Brock in the service, was left in command of
the forces in the Canadas.
On June 4th of this year Brigadier-General Brock was made a
major-general on the staff of North America. His friend Vesey, who
had also been made a major-general, writes his congratulations to him
on June 10th, and says: "It may, perhaps, be your fate to go to the
Mediterranean, but the Peninsula is the most direct road to the
honour of the Bath, and as you are an ambitious man, that is the
station you would prefer. As it is possible you may have left
Canada, I will enclose this letter to our friend Bruyères."
Lieutenant-Colonel Bruyères was an officer in the Royal Engineers,
and was at that time engaged in reporting to General Brock on the
condition of the different forts scattered throughout Upper Canada.
[Sidenote: Arrival of Prevost]
In September, 1811, Sir George Prevost arrived, and assumed the chief
command of British North America. His military reputation then stood
high, and he had been much liked in Nova Scotia, where his
administration had been a success. Sir George was born at New York
on May 19th, 1767. His father was a native of Geneva who became a
major-general in the British army, served under Wolfe at Quebec, was
wounded there, and {158} afterwards distinguished himself in the
defence of Savannah. His mother was a Swiss, the daughter of M.
Grand of Lausanne. Sir George was lieutenant-colonel of the 60th
Regiment, and had served in the West Indies. He greatly
distinguished himself at St. Vincent, where he was dangerously
wounded. In reward for his services he was made governor of
Dominica, which he had successfully defended. He returned to England
in 1805, when he was appointed lieutenant-governor of Portsmouth. He
was then promoted to be lieutenant-general and lieutenant-governor of
Nova Scotia, and in the same year, 1808, was second in command at the
capture of Martinique. He then returned to Nova Scotia, where he
remained until called upon to take the place of Sir James Craig. His
appointment gave great satisfaction to the French Canadians, and he
began his administration by very conciliatory measures. The man whom
his predecessor had imprisoned as a promoter of sedition (M. Bédard),
was appointed to a judgeship at Three Rivers. M. Bourdages, another
adversary of the late governor, was made a colonel of militia, and
all the officers who had been dismissed from the militia were
re-instated. Speaking French as his mother tongue, Sir George
Prevost's knowledge of their language aided him in gaining the
confidence of the people, and he very judiciously began by professing
perfect belief in the loyalty of the Canadians.
{159}
News came from England to Brock that his friend General Kempt had had
a very flattering reception there, and that the Duke of York had told
him he would give him a _carte blanche_ as to his future destination.
Colonel Thornton, another of Brock's friends, had been appointed to a
regiment, one battalion of which was in Portugal, the other in the
East Indies. Thornton hoped to persuade his senior to go to India,
leaving him in Portugal. He sends a message by Colonel Baynes to his
friends in Canada. "Pray give a hint in private to General Brock and
Sheaffe that if the former were to ask for a brigade at home or on
European service, and the latter to be put on the staff in Canada, I
am almost certain they would succeed."
[Sidenote: Brock's new office]
No wonder Brock pined at inaction while his more fortunate friends
were leaving him far behind in the race for glory. It was not glory
alone that his ardent soul desired, but a chance to use the powers
that he knew were his. The chance was nearer than he thought, and he
found it in the common path of duty. Soon after Sir George Prevost's
arrival in Canada as governor-general and commander-in-chief,
Major-General Brock was appointed president and administrator of the
government of Upper Canada during Lieutenant-Governor Gore's absence
in England. He entered on his new office in what to him was a
fateful month, October 9th, 1811.
{161}