A VIGOROUS COMMANDER
On July 29th news arrived at York of the successful capture of
Michilimackinac, and General Brock immediately sent a despatch
announcing it to Sir George Prevost. He also informed him that the
militia at York had volunteered for service to any part of the
province, and he had selected a hundred to proceed at once to Long
Point, Lake Erie. He thought that unless the enemy could be driven
from Sandwich it would be impossible to avert the ruin of the
country. He intended leaving himself on the 30th for Fort George,
but would return the next day. On the same date Sir George wrote to
him telling him that he had placed Major-General Sheaffe on the
staff, and was sending him to Upper Canada to assist in the arduous
service there. News had just arrived at Quebec of the revocation of
the orders-in-council, as regarded America, and Sir George was
inclined to moderate measures. In the meantime, on the American
seaboard, and the coasts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, stirring
scenes were enacting.
Sir Thomas Saumarez, who had married a cousin of General Brock,[1]
writes to him from Halifax that {224} he and his wife had safely
arrived there, and considered themselves very fortunate at not having
fallen into the enemy's hands, as war had been declared a week before
they reached port. He says: "We came out in a very valuable ordnance
store ship, which would have been a great acquisition to the enemy,
and its loss would have been severely felt, as all the stores on
board are much required. Our squadron on this station has been very
active. Prizes arrive here daily, I could almost say hourly. The
_Emulous_ brought in ten yesterday, and thirty thousand dollars were
found on some of them. Mr. Foster, the late ambassador to the
states, has been here nearly a week, he is to sail for England
to-day. The northern and eastern states are extremely inimical to,
and dissatisfied with this war, so much so that there is reason to
suppose they will dissolve the union shortly, and declare themselves
totally independent of the southern and western states. The American
privateers are extremely numerous and daring in this neighbourhood,
and I am sorry to add they have proved but too successful, having
captured several of our vessels bound to Quebec and New Brunswick,
and some to this port. I received a note about an hour ago from
Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson, who sailed from here last Sunday with his
wife and family, for Quebec, being appointed inspecting field officer
in Canada, to inform me that he had been made prisoner by an American
privateer. Most of our ships are looking out for the {225} squadron
under Commodore Rodgers, who is supposed to have sailed from New York
with a view to intercept our West India fleet. A transport with a
hundred and forty men of the Royals, from the West Indies to Quebec,
was boarded by the _Essex_, an American frigate, about ten days ago,
and permitted to proceed on condition that the master of the vessel
promised to pay a ransom of twelve thousand dollars for her, and that
the officers commanding should consider themselves on parole, and
give their assurance that the troops would not fight against the
Americans during the war."
This was a rather aggravating piece of news when men and money were
needed so badly.
While General Brock was in York attending to the meeting of the
legislature, affairs at Fort George were in charge of
Lieutenant-Colonel Myers, an officer in whom he had great confidence.
"Niagara on the British side, or as it is sometimes called, Newark,"
so an American soldier writes, "looks wicked everywhere. It is a
charming, fertile village, but all a camp fortified at every point."
[Sidenote: The militia]
The militia, who had been allowed to go to their homes on account of
the harvest, had been recalled. There was a question raised at this
time as to the powers which General Brock had in his combined
military and civil capacity. As civil governor he could convene
general courts-martial for the trial of offenders belonging to the
militia, and even inflict punishment by death; but in his military
office he {226} could only convene the court. He thought he ought to
have equal authority in both offices. He wrote from York on August
4th to Sir George Prevost, as follows: "I have the honour to enclose
a statement made by me yesterday to His Majesty's executive council,
which will fully apprize your Excellency of my situation. The
council adjourned for deliberation, and I have no doubt will
recommend the prorogation of the assembly and the proclamation of
martial law, but doubts occurring in contemplation of such an event,
I take the liberty to submit these questions to your Excellency, and
request the aid of your experience and superior judgment. In the
event of declaring martial law can I without the sign manual approve
and carry into effect the sentence of a general court-martial? 2nd.
Can I put upon a general court-martial, after martial law is
proclaimed, any person not a commissioned officer in His Majesty's
regular forces? In other words, can officers of the militia sit in
conjunction with those of the line?"
[Sidenote: Sir George Prevost]
The answer to this was written on August 12th, and Sir George said:
"As the martial law which you propose declaring is founded on the
king's commission and upon the extreme case of invasion alluded to in
it, I am inclined to think that whatever power is necessary for
conveying the measure into effect must have been intended to be given
you by your commission. The officers of the militia, becoming
themselves subject to martial law, I {227} conceive they may sit upon
courts-martial with officers of His Majesty's regular force, but upon
both these points I desire not to be understood as speaking
decisively."
News had just reached Quebec of Captain Roberts's capture of Fort
Michilimackinac. Sir George wrote: "Great credit is certainly due
that officer for the zeal and promptitude with which he has performed
this service. At the same time I must confess my mind has been very
much relieved by finding that the capture took place at a period
subsequent to Brigadier-General Hull's invasion of the province, as
had it been prior to it, it would not only have been in violation of
Captain Roberts's orders, but have afforded a just ground for the
subsequent conduct of the enemy, which I now plainly perceive no
forbearance on your part would have prevented." As a matter of fact
the capture of Michilimackinac was effected contrary to Sir George
Prevost's order, because Fort St. Joseph, being nearly three hundred
and fifty miles from Detroit and Sandwich, and the expedition having
left the fort four days after Hull's invasion, it was not possible
for Captain Roberts to have heard in that time of the event. In his
letter to the adjutant-general announcing the capture, he does not
say that he had heard of the invasion. In his letter to Lord
Bathurst, Sir George expresses himself rather differently. He says:
"In these measures Major-General Brock was most opportunely aided by
the {228} fortunate surrender of Fort Michilimackinac, which giving
spirit and confidence to the Indian tribes in its neighbourhood, part
of whom assisted in its capture, determined them to advance upon the
rear and flank of the American army as soon as they heard it had
entered the province."
At this time Sir George was much occupied with the meeting of the
legislature at Quebec. To the credit of the House it must be said
that they took prompt measures for the safety of the country. Past
differences were forgotten, and all the members worked for the common
weal. An act was passed providing for the issue of army note bills.
The province was to pay the interest accruing upon the notes and the
expense of the establishment. They were to be legal tender. Fifteen
thousand pounds annually for five years were granted to pay the
interest that might become due on these bills, of which two hundred
and fifty thousand pounds were authorized to be put into circulation.
Large bills, of twenty-five dollars and upwards, were to bear
interest at the rate of four pence a day for every one hundred
pounds. At the end of five years all those who might be the holders
of such army bills were entitled to receive the amount of the same,
with interest due, out of the provincial treasury.[2]
{229}
The commander-in-chief was at last able to send the much-needed money
and stores to Upper Canada. Major Ormsby, with three companies of
the 49th, protecting a large supply of ordnance, left La Chine on
August 6th for Kingston and Fort George, taking two thousand five
hundred pounds for the payment of regulars and militia. Another
company, with one hundred and ten men of the Newfoundland Regiment
and fifty picked Veterans, were to follow under Major Heathcote.
Camp equipage for five hundred men was also promised as soon as
_bateaux_ could be collected at La Chine. Colonel Vincent with the
remainder of the 49th, and a subaltern and ten gunners of the Royal
Artillery, with two 3-pounders, were ordered to Fort George.
As to military affairs on the frontier of Quebec, it was reported
that the Americans were forming dépôts in the neighbourhood of
Montreal, and were also building _bateaux_ on Lake Champlain. In the
meantime the House of Assembly at York was prorogued as soon as it
had passed the necessary supply bill, and Major-General Brock was
free to proceed to the western frontier. Most of the members of the
House were in the active militia and were needed in their respective
districts. Colonel Baby, who had been attending to his parliamentary
duties, had been bereft of his house in his absence, as General Hull
had chosen it for headquarters, being the largest and best in
Sandwich.
{230}
Colonel Elliott, another member of the legislature, lived near
Amherstburg, and had long been in charge of the Indians in that
district, over whom he exercised great influence. John Macdonell,
the acting attorney-general and member for Glengarry, a young man of
much promise, was chosen as aide-de-camp by the general. The latter
called for volunteers to accompany him on the expedition, and such
was the enthusiasm aroused that more than five hundred offered their
services. The general, however, could only accept half of that
number as the rest were required to guard the Niagara frontier.
Forty men of the 41st Regiment were also detached from the little
garrison at Fort George, to proceed to Amherstburg. The volunteers
chosen were chiefly young men, sons of the principal residents of
York and the adjacent country. Before they left on their perilous
expedition they attended a service at St. James's Church in York,
where their friend and rector, Dr. Strachan, whose pupils most of
them had been, preached them a stirring sermon, and sent them on
their way with his blessing to drive back the invaders of the land.
[Sidenote: Brock leaves York]
A word of farewell was sent to the general by his friends Colonel
Bruyères and Colonel Baynes. The former wrote: "The difficult task
placed in any other hands I should consider very discouraging, but I
acknowledge that I look with a certain degree of confidence to your
abilities and perseverance in surmounting every difficulty." The
other says: {231} "Adieu, my dear general, we cannot command success,
but I am sure you will not fail to merit it."
General Brock and his little band left York on August 6th for
Burlington Bay, and thence proceeded by land to Long Point, Lake
Erie. On the way he passed the Mohawk village on the Grand River,
and took the opportunity of personally finding out the disposition of
the Indians there. About sixty promised to follow him. At Long
Point the forty regulars and two hundred and sixty volunteers which
composed the troop, embarked in all sorts of boats for the journey of
about two hundred miles along the coast to Amherstburg. Up this same
lake had journeyed fifty years before, Major Rogers with his rangers,
bearing with them the English flag for the old French fort of
Detroit. There it waved until, by the treaty of 1794, the fort was
ceded to the Americans. The coast of Lake Erie is a dangerous one to
navigate, with sand cliffs rising one hundred to two hundred feet
sheer from the water, and there were very few creeks or inlets where
safe landing could be made. At times a heavy surf breaks upon the
shore. The weather was bad, rainy and stormy, but, inspired by their
leader, the men bore their privations without a murmur. Once the
boat in which were the general and some of his new recruits ran on a
rock. Oars and poles were used in vain, when Brock with the daring
expertness learnt long before on the Guernsey {232} coast, jumped
overboard, an example quickly followed by the others, and the boat
was safely pushed into deep water.
On August 12th they reached Point aux Pins, and the general wrote
there his orders to his little fleet. "It is Major-General Brock's
intention, should the wind continue fair, to proceed during the
night; officers commanding boats will therefore pay attention to the
order of sailing as directed yesterday; the greatest care and
attention will be required to prevent the boats from separating or
falling behind. A great part of the banks of the lake where the
boats will this day pass is much more dangerous and difficult of
access than any we have passed; the boats will therefore not land
except in the most extreme necessity, and then great care must be
taken to choose the best place for beaching. The troops being now in
the neighbourhood of the enemy, every precaution must be taken to
guard against surprise. By order, J. Glegg."
After five days and nights of incessant exertion, the little squadron
reached Amherstburg shortly before midnight on August 13th. There is
a note in General Brock's handwriting which gives this tribute to the
men who accompanied him: "In no instance have I seen troops who would
have endured the fatigue of a long journey in boats during extremely
bad weather, with greater cheerfulness and constancy; and it is but
justice to this little {233} band to add that their conduct
throughout excited my admiration."
[Sidenote: The armistice]
It was well for Canada that no message reached Brock to stop him on
the way, for while he was pressing on, the over-cautious and
vacillating commander-in-chief, possessed with the idea that the
repeal of the orders-in-council would bring a cessation of
hostilities, had sent Colonel Baynes to General Dearborn at Albany,
with a proposition for an armistice.
[1] Sir Thomas Saumarez married, in 1787, Harriet, daughter of
William Brock and Judith de Beauvoir.
[2] In February, 1815, it was estimated that $5,200,000 had been
issued, of which $3,200,000 were bearing interest amounting to
$192,000, of which the province paid $60,000.
{235}