THE ARMISTICE
General Brock lost no time in making preparations to return to the
Niagara frontier, where he hoped to strike another sudden blow. He
dismissed the militia of Michigan to their homes, placed the
volunteers on parole, and sent General Hull with a thousand of his
regular troops in boats to Fort Erie, _en route_ to Montreal as
prisoners of war. After issuing a proclamation to the inhabitants of
the Michigan territory, by which their private property was secured
and their laws and religion confirmed, he set out on his return
journey on August 18th. On his voyage down Lake Erie in the schooner
_Chippewa_ he was met by the _Lady Prevost_, whose commander gave him
the first intelligence of the armistice unfortunately concluded with
General Dearborn.
General Brock could not conceal his regret and mortification, as the
armistice prevented an attack on Sacketts Harbour which he had
contemplated. At that place vessels were being fitted out whose
construction would immensely strengthen the enemy's position on Lake
Ontario, of which it was of the first importance to hold the mastery.
He had given {262} orders to Colonel Procter who was left in command
at Detroit, to send a detachment of the 41st to join with the Indians
in an expedition against Fort Wayne, a supply post in the Miami
country. Brock was now compelled to write and request him on account
of the armistice to postpone the attack, and also to keep the Indians
back from predatory excursions on their own account. On August 25th
General Brock arrived at Fort George, and on the 27th at York, where
he was received in triumph. Addresses of welcome and letters of
congratulation were showered upon him. One[1] wrote: "There is
something so fabulous in the report of a handful of troops supported
by a few raw militia leaving their strong post to invade an enemy of
double the number in his own fortress and making them all prisoners
without the loss of a man, that it seems to me the people of England
will be incredulous until they see the exterminating boaster a
prisoner in London. I shall hardly sleep until I have the
satisfaction of hearing particulars of the wonderful excursion, for
it must not be called a campaign. The _veni, vidi, vici_ is again
the faithful report. Your good fortune in one instance is singular,
for if your zeal had been thwarted by such adverse winds as
frequently occur on the lake, the armistice might have intercepted
your career."
[Sidenote: Answer to address]
In answer to the address from the people of York, General Brock said
with characteristic {263} simplicity: "Gentlemen, I cannot but feel
highly gratified by this expression of esteem for myself; but in
justice to the brave men at whose head I marched against the enemy, I
must beg leave to direct your attention to them as the proper objects
of your gratitude. It was a confidence founded on their loyalty,
zeal and valour that determined me to adopt the plan of operations
which led to so fortunate a termination. Allow me to congratulate
you gentlemen at having sent out from among yourselves a portion of
that gallant band, and that at such a period a spirit has manifested
itself on which you may confidently repose your hopes of future
security."
It was by such unassuming, sincere words that Brock endeared himself
to the people of Canada. The victory he had won had an immediate
moral effect. It has been well said that it was as if an electric
shock had passed through the country, awing the disaffected and
animating the timid and wavering. The success at Detroit caused the
Six Nation Indians on the Grand River to drop their policy of
neutrality and to take an active part on the British side. If
General Brock's hands had not been tied, he would doubtless have
swept the frontier from Sandusky to St. Regis.
A letter from John Lovett, secretary to General Van Rensselaer,
describes the arrival of the prisoners from Detroit on their way to
Fort George, and shows the feeling that prevailed in the enemy's
{264} camp. "Yesterday the first we saw was a guard of about fifty
men passing with some wagons on the opposite shore. It was the
victorious Brock returning to Fort George. He sent over Colonel
Macdonell, his aide-de-camp, and Major Evans, two strapping lads in
scarlet and gold, to make a communication to General Van Rensselaer.
This part of the country now thinks their whole salvation rests upon
our little raw army. I think I know the fact that after Brock had
taken Hull he expressed his determination to return and take Niagara.
I think his mind is altered by the armistice, but he can take Niagara
any hour he pleases. Yes, my friend, we cannot defend Niagara one
hour, and as for our present camp, I now write with an eye on a
single gun on yon hill in Queenston which would rout us all in three
minutes. The Ohio officers' prisoners were also last evening with
us, and say that the Indians with Brock are the finest fellows they
ever saw. They are commanded by the prophet's brother Tecumseh. He
is hourly expected at Fort George, and it is said the tawny host is
to follow. Well, be it so, one thing our friends may be assured of,
we are not scared yet. We shall never be 'Hulled.' Our general is
thoughtful but firm."[2]
[Sidenote: Lovett's letter]
Of the loss of Detroit the same officer wrote on the 28th: "This
event has animated Canada beyond anything you can conceive. It has
put a serious face on our Indians on the whole frontier. {265}
Tecumseh, the prophet's brother, a warrior of almost unbounded
influence, now openly holds that the Great Spirit intended Ohio River
for the boundary between his white and red children, that many of the
first warriors have always thought so, but a cloud hung over the eyes
of the tribes and they could not see what the Great Spirit meant,
that General Brock has now torn away the cloud and the Indians see
clearly that all the white people must go back east of the Ohio.
Yesterday I beheld such a sight as God knows I never expected to see,
and He only knows the sensation it created in my heart. I saw my
countrymen, free born Americans, robbed of the inheritance which
their fathers bequeathed them, stripped of the arms which achieved
our independence, and marched into a strange land by hundreds as
black cattle for the market. Before and behind, on the right and the
left, their proud victors gleamed in arms, their heads erect in the
pride of victory. I think the line, including wagons, was half a
mile long. The sensations the scene produced in our camp were
inexpressible, mortification, indignation, apprehension, suspicion,
jealousy, rage, madness. It was a sad day, but the poor fellows went
last evening on board the shipping, and I presume passed over to
York. I saw a gentleman who was present when General Hull alighted
from his carriage at Fort George, hale, corpulent, and apparently in
high spirits. He goes to Quebec."
{266}
One other reverse the Americans had met with this month in the loss
of Fort Dearborn, (Chicago). The Indians had attacked it, massacred
the garrison, and destroyed it by fire.
On August 30th Brock left by a schooner for Kingston in order to
review the militia there. On the way he wrote to his brothers. It
was almost the last letter they were to receive from him, and it
breathes throughout a spirit of love and of yearning that the unhappy
differences between them might be healed.
_Lake Ontario, September 3rd.--_"You will have heard of the complete
success which attended the efforts I directed against Detroit. I
have received so many letters from people whose opinion I value,
expressive of their admiration of the exploit, that I begin to attach
to it more importance than I was at first inclined. Should the
affair be viewed in England in the light it is here, I cannot fail of
meeting reward and escaping the honour of being placed high on a
shelf never to be taken down. Some say that nothing could have been
more desperate than the measure; but I answer that the state of the
province admitted of nothing but desperate remedies. I got
possession of the letters of my antagonist addressed to the secretary
of war, and also of the sentiments which hundreds of his army uttered
to their friends. Confidence in the general was gone, and evident
despondency prevailed throughout. I have succeeded beyond {267}
expectation. I crossed the river contrary to the opinion of Colonel
Procter. It is therefore no wonder that envy should attribute to
good fortune what in justice to my own discernment, I must say,
proceeded from a cool calculation of the _pours_ and _contres_. It
is supposed that the value of the articles captured will amount to
thirty or forty thousand pounds. In that case, my proportion will be
something considerable. If it enables me to contribute to your
comfort and happiness, I shall esteem it my highest reward.
"When I returned heaven thanks for my amazing success, I thought of
you all. You appeared to me happy--your late sorrows forgotten; and
I felt as if you acknowledged that the many benefits, which for a
series of years I received from you, were not unworthily bestowed.
Let me know, my dearest brothers, that you are all again united. The
want of union was nearly losing this province without a struggle, and
be assured it operates in the same way in families.
"A cessation of hostilities has taken place along this frontier.
Should peace follow the measure all will be well; if hostilities
recommence, nothing could be more unfortunate than this pause.
"I shall see Vincent, I hope, this evening at Kingston. He is
appointed to the command of that post, a most important one. I have
withdrawn Plenderleath from Niagara to assist him. James Brock is
likewise at Kingston. The 41st is an {268} uncommonly fine regiment,
but, with few exceptions, badly officered."
At Kingston, where he arrived on the morning of September 4th,
General Brock was also received with demonstrations of joy. In
answer to the address presented to him there, he said: "Nothing but
the confidence which the admirable conduct of the York and Lincoln
Regiments of militia excited, could have induced me to undertake an
expedition such as lately terminated so much to the advantage of the
country. I have reason, from the reports made to me by the officers
stationed at Kingston, to rely with equal confidence on the
discipline and gallantry of the militia in this district. It is with
the highest satisfaction I understand, that in the midst of
unavoidable privations and fatigue, they bear in mind that the cause
in which they are engaged involves their dearest interests and the
happiness of their families."
While at Kingston General Brock received a letter of congratulation
from Sir George Prevost, dated August 30th. It was as follows: "I
propose sending an aide-de-camp to England with your short despatch.
I shall delay his departure from hence until September 1st in hopes
of obtaining from you before that time, further particulars of the
operations which led to General Hull's disgrace. Well aware of the
difficulties you have surmounted for the preservation of your
government entire, I shall endeavour to do justice to your merit in
my {269} report to His Majesty's minister upon the success which has
crowned your energy and zeal. I am in hourly expectation of
receiving from General Dearborn intelligence respecting the reception
of the proposed suspension of hostilities in consequence of the
revocation of the orders-in-council, which are the plea for war in
the American cabinet. The king's government having most
unequivocally expressed to me their desire to preserve peace with the
United States, that they might, uninterruptedly, pursue with the
whole disposable force of the country the great interests committed
in Europe, I have endeavoured to be instrumental in the
accomplishment of their views, but I consider it most fortunate to
have been enabled to do so without interfering with your operations
on the Detroit. I have sent you men, money, and stores of every
kind."
This was rather an aggravating statement under the circumstances, for
by reason of the armistice, of which the Americans knew how to take
full advantage, stores of all kinds were at this time being sent as
rapidly as possible by Lake Ontario to the enemy's camp at Niagara,
and vessels at Ogdensburg were moved in perfect safety to Sacketts
Harbour, there to be fitted out as ships of war.
On the 31st Sir George wrote again: "I had scarcely closed the letter
addressed to you yesterday when an aide-de-camp from Major-General
Dearborn {270} made his appearance and delivered to me the despatch
herewith transmitted." The despatch announced that the president of
the United States had not thought proper to authorize a continuance
of the provisional measure entered into by His Excellency and General
Dearborn, through the Adjutant-General Colonel Baynes; consequently,
the armistice was to cease four days from the time of the
communication reaching Montreal and the posts of Kingston and Fort
George. This despatch had been written while the authorities at
Washington were in ignorance of what had happened at Detroit, for it
said: "If a suspension of offensive operations shall have been
mutually consented to between General Hull and the commanding officer
of the British forces at and near Detroit, as proposed, they will
respectively be authorized at the expiration of four days, subsequent
to their receiving copies of this communication, to consider
themselves released from any agreement thus entered into."
General Brock adds a postscript on September 4th to the letter to his
brother: "Hostilities, I this instant understand, are to be renewed
in four days, and though landed only two hours I must return
immediately to Niagara, whence I shall write fully." General Brock
was of the opinion that an expedition should be immediately sent to
Sacketts Harbour, thirty-five miles across the lake from Kingston, in
order to destroy the arsenal there, {271} but Sir George Prevost
disapproved. The official intelligence of the president's refusal to
continue the truce reached the commander-in-chief at Montreal on
August 30th, a day or two before the arrival there of Captain Glegg
with the trophies and the despatches relating to the capture of
Detroit. The attack on Sacketts Harbour could have been carried into
effect immediately on the cessation of the armistice, but the
opportunity was allowed to pass. In fact, in his general order of
August 31st, Sir George Prevost was rather apologetic for having
dared to invade the territory of the United States.
[Sidenote: The British government]
The British government approved of Sir George Prevost's pacific
policy at the commencement of the war, as we gather from a letter of
Lord Bathurst to the governor-general, written on October 1st, 1812,
before the refusal of the American president to ratify the armistice
was known in England: "The desire which you have unceasingly
manifested to avoid hostilities with the subjects of the United
States, is not more in conformity with your own feelings than with
the wishes and intentions of His Majesty's government, and therefore
your correspondence with General Dearborn cannot fail to receive
their cordial concurrence." By the time this letter reached its
destination, had it not been for General Brock's more vigorous
measures, Sir George Prevost's careful avoidance of hostilities, so
much approved of by {272} the home government, would probably have
led to the loss of the Canadas.
As it was, the month's armistice had immensely strengthened the
position of the enemy on the Niagara frontier. General Brock, who
had hastened back there from Kingston, wrote from Fort George on
September 7th to the commander-in-chief:--
"Sir, on my arrival here yesterday morning I found that intimation
had been received by Major-General Sheaffe to renew hostilities at
noon to-morrow. During the cessation of hostilities vast supplies
have been received by the enemy. His field artillery is numerous,
and I have reason to believe his heavy ordnance has been considerably
increased. He is now busy erecting batteries in front of Fort
George, and everything indicates an intention of commencing active
operations. Reinforcements of troops of every description have
evidently arrived. I have written to Amherstburg for such troops as
Colonel Procter conceived the state of affairs in that quarter
enabled him to part with. Colonel Vincent has likewise been written
to on the same subject. The prodigious quantity of pork and flour
which have been observed landing on the opposite shore from a number
of vessels and large boats which have entered the river during the
armistice, are sufficient to supply the wants for a long period of a
considerable force. I expect an attack almost immediately. The
enemy will either turn my left flank, which he may easily accomplish
{273} during a calm night, or attempt to force his way across under
cover of his artillery. We stand greatly in need of officers, men
and heavy ordnance. Captain Holcroft has been indefatigable and has
done everything in the power of an individual, but on such an
extended line assistance is necessary.
"I look every day for the arrival of five 24-pounders from Detroit,
and other artillery and stores which are not required there, beside
two thousand muskets. Should your Excellency be in a situation to
send reinforcements to the upper country, the whole of the force at
present at Kingston might be directed to proceed hither. One
thousand additional regulars are necessary. A force of that
description ought to be stationed at Pelham on the Grand River, to
act as exigencies might require. At present, the whole of my force
being necessary for the defence of the banks of the river Niagara, no
part can look for support. If I can continue to maintain my position
six weeks longer the campaign will have terminated in a manner little
expected in the states. I stand in want of more artillerymen and a
thousand regulars. I have thus given your Excellency a hasty sketch
of my situation, and this I can aver, that no exertions shall be
wanting to do justice to the important command with which I am
entrusted." Two days afterwards he wrote again that news had come
from Colonel Procter that another attack was expected at Amherstburg,
as reinforcements for the Americans were on their {274} way from
Kentucky. Although so short himself of men, General Brock determined
to send to the Detroit frontier two flank companies of the
Newfoundland Regiment, which had just joined him at Fort George.
Fresh troops were still arriving for the enemy at Niagara, supposed
to belong to the Pennsylvania quota. They were reported as in a
wretched state as to clothing, and ill-fitted to brave the rains and
cold of the coming season. There was much sickness in the American
camp. Two or three hundred Indians had joined them, but General
Brock did not believe they would act against him. It all depended,
however, on which side success lay. Any disaster would send them to
the winning side.
On September 10th Colonel Procter wrote that the _Queen Charlotte_
had been sent off from Detroit with ordnance and stores for Fort
Erie, and also the remainder of the prisoners of war, with a guard of
two subalterns and forty men of the 41st Regiment, with whom, as
Procter says, "I cannot now afford to part." The _Detroit_, formerly
the _Adams_, captured at Detroit, was to sail in a few days with
prisoners and stores.
[Sidenote: Fort Wayne]
The expedition to Fort Wayne had already set off before any counter
orders arrived. It was a troublesome and difficult journey of
several hundred miles into the enemy's country, but its capture was
important as being the base of supplies for the left division of the
American army. It was at this time {275} invested by a body of
Indians. Captain Muir of the 41st, with one hundred and fifty men of
that regiment, the same number of militia, some field guns and a
howitzer, crossed Lake Erie to the Miami River, thence to the village
of that name, where they were joined by three hundred Indian
warriors. They had proceeded only about half way to the fort when
they were met by some Indians who informed them that two thousand
five hundred Ohio and Kentucky volunteers under General Winchester
were advancing to the Miami, and were then only about three miles
distant. As a proof of this story they produced the scalps of five
Americans, part of the advance guard, whom they had treacherously
killed while engaged in friendly conversation. Under the
circumstances it would have been folly to proceed, so Captain Muir
conducted an orderly retreat, expecting at any moment to be attacked
by the advancing force. He at last reached his boats without the
loss of a man or any of his supplies, and returned to Amherstburg
after a fruitless absence of three weeks. As it turned out
afterwards the Americans had avoided an engagement, thinking the
British had a much superior force.
In the meantime Sir George Prevost was again complicating affairs by
his vacillating and contradictory orders. He wrote on September 7th
finding fault with General Brock's conduct of affairs on the Detroit
frontier. It drew from the general the following reply, dated
September 18th: "I have {276} been honoured with your Excellency's
despatch, dated the 7th inst. I have implicitly followed your
Excellency's instructions, and abstained under the greatest
temptations and provocations from every act of hostility." He
enclosed a letter from Colonel Procter containing the information of
the force sent under Captain Muir against Fort Wayne, and continued:
"I gave orders for it previous to my leaving Amherstburg, which must
have induced Colonel Procter to proceed upon receiving intelligence
of the recommencement of hostilities, without waiting for further
directions. I regret exceedingly that this service should be
undertaken contrary to your Excellency's wishes, but I beg leave to
assure you that the principal object in sending a British force to
Fort Wayne is with the hope of preserving the lives of the garrison.
By the last accounts the place was invested by a numerous body of
Indians, with very little prospect of being relieved. The prisoners
of war, who knew perfectly the situation of the garrison, rejoiced at
the measure, and give us full credit for our intentions. The Indians
were likewise looking to us for assistance. They heard of the
armistice with every mark of jealousy. Had we refused joining them
in this expedition I cannot calculate the consequences. I have
already been asked to pledge my word that England would enter into no
negotiation in which their interests were not included. Could they
be brought to imagine that we should desert them, the consequences
{277} must be fatal." General Brock added that the attack of the
enemy on his frontier could not be long delayed, and that he thought
the militia could not be kept together without such a prospect.
[Sidenote: Prevost's advice]
On the 14th Sir George Prevost wrote again, evidently in a panic, and
advised General Brock to take immediate steps for evacuating Detroit,
together with the territory of Michigan. This must have indeed been
galling to the second in command. The reason for this advice, Sir
George said, was a despatch dated July 4th from Lord Bathurst, which
seems to have been somewhat belated. It said that His Majesty's
government trusted he would be able to suspend with perfect safety
all extraordinary preparations for defence which he might have been
induced to make, also that every special requisition for warlike
stores and accoutrements had been complied with, except the clothing
of the corps proposed to be raised from the Glengarry emigrants, and
that the minister had not thought it necessary to direct the
preparation of any further supplies.
Sir George adds: "This will afford you a strong proof of the
infatuation of His Majesty's ministers upon the subject of American
affairs, and show how entirely I have been left to my own resources
in the event which has taken place." He informed Brock that he could
not expect any more reinforcements.
The latter did not agree with Sir George Prevost's opinion as to the
advisability of evacuating {278} Detroit and the Michigan territory,
the fruits of his splendid victory. He wrote from York on September
28th to the commander-in-chief: "I have been honoured with your
Excellency's despatches dated the 14th inst. I shall suspend, under
the latitude left by your Excellency to my discretion, the evacuation
of Fort Detroit. Such a measure would most likely be followed by the
total extinction of the population on that side of the river, as the
Indians, aware of our weakness and inability to carry on active
warfare, would only think of entering into terms with the enemy.
"The Indians, since the Miami affair in 1793, have been extremely
suspicious of our conduct, but the violent wrongs committed by the
Americans on their territory have rendered it an act of policy with
them to disguise their sentiments. Could they be persuaded that a
peace between the belligerents would take place without admitting
their claim to an extensive tract of country fraudulently usurped
from them, and opposing a frontier to the present unbounded views of
the Americans, I am satisfied in my own mind that they would
immediately compromise with the enemy. I cannot conceive a
connection more likely to lead to more awful consequences. Should
negotiations of peace be opened I cannot be too earnest with your
Excellency to represent to the king's ministers the expediency of
including the Indians as allies, and not to leave them exposed to the
unrelenting fury of their enemies.
{279}
"The enemy has evidently assumed defensive measures along the strait
of Niagara. His force, I apprehend, is not equal to attempt the
expedition across the river with any probability of success. It is,
however, currently reported that large reinforcements are on their
march. Should they arrive an attack cannot be long delayed. The
approach of the rainy season would increase the sickness with which
the troops [of the United States] are already afflicted. Those under
my command are in perfect health and spirits."
[Sidenote: Army discipline]
It speaks well for the discipline and morale of Brock's little army
that he is able to say: "It is certainly something singular that we
should be upwards of two months in a state of warfare, and that along
this widely extended frontier not a single death, either natural or
by the sword, should have occurred among the troops under my command,
and we have not been altogether idle; nor has a single desertion
taken place."
On September 17th General Brock had written to Colonel Procter that
he approved of his expedition against Fort Wayne, which would
probably save the garrison from the fate of Chicago. He added,
however, in obedience to Sir George Prevost's instructions: "It must
be explicitly understood that you are not to resort to offensive
warfare for purposes of conquest; your operations are to be confined
to measures of defence and security. It may become necessary to
destroy the fort of Sandusky {280} and the road which runs through it
from Cleveland to the foot of the rapids. The road from the river
Raisin to Detroit is perhaps in too bad a state to offer any aid to
the approach of an enemy except in the winter. As to the Indians,
Colonel Elliott does not possess the influence over them that Captain
McKee does. In conversation with him you may take an opportunity of
intimating that I have not been unmindful of the interests of the
Indians in my communications to ministers; and I wish you to learn
(as if casually the subject of conversation) what stipulations they
would propose for themselves or be willing to accede to in case of
either failure or success. I wish the engineers to proceed
immediately to strengthening Fort Amherstburg, the plan for which I
shall be glad to see as soon as possible."
On September 18th the general wrote to his brother Savery: "You
doubtless feel much anxiety on my account. I am really placed in a
most awkward predicament. If I get through my present difficulties
with tolerable success I cannot but obtain praise. But I have
already surmounted difficulties of infinitely greater magnitude.
Were the Americans of one mind the opposition I could make would be
unavailing; but I am not without hope that their divisions may be the
saving of this province. A river of about five hundred yards divides
the troops. My instructions oblige me to adopt defensive measures.
It is thought that without the aid of the sword the American people
may {281} be brought to a due sense of their own interests. I firmly
believe I could at this moment sweep everything before me between
Fort Niagara and Buffalo, but my success would be transient." No
doubt the general thought of that other victory, which by the
supineness of the commander-in-chief had been taken so little
advantage of.
[Sidenote: 49th Regiment]
The letter continues: "I have now officers in whom I can confide.
Six companies of the 49th are with me here, and the remaining four
are at Kingston under Vincent. Although the regiment has been ten
years in this country, drinking rum without bounds, it is still
respectable and apparently ardent for an opportunity to acquire
distinction. It has five captains in England and two on the staff in
this country, which leaves it bare of experienced officers. The
United States regiments of the line desert to us frequently, as the
men are tired of the service. Their militia, being chiefly composed
of enraged Democrats, are more ardent and anxious to engage, but they
have neither subordination or discipline. They die very fast. You
will hear of some decided action in the course of a fortnight, or in
all probability we shall return to a state of tranquillity. I say
decisive, because if I should be beaten the province is inevitably
gone; and should I be victorious, I do not imagine the gentry from
the other side will care to return to the charge. I am quite anxious
that this state of warfare should end, as I wish much to join Lord
Wellington and to see you all."
[1] Chief Justice Powell.
[2] From John Lovett to J. Alexander, dated August 26th, 1812.
{283}