Sir Isaac Brock

CHAPTER VI
A Foolish Boast

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The United States was not a union – for war. While Henry Clay and ex-President Jefferson were breathing out their threatenings and slaughter, New England refused to concur in the country’s wisdom in declaring war, and Boston flew its flags at half-mast. And if the United States was not whole in spirit, she was certainly not in material things. Her soldiers though many, were raw. Her treasury was empty.

Canada, however, was even worse off. Prevost was of the opinion that Quebec was about the only place that could be held against the enemy. Certainly 950 regulars and marines and 550 militia had a gigantic task in the defending of seven forts, from Kingston to Fort St. Joseph, in covering a straggling and wretchedly protected frontier, and in patrolling the huge sheets of water which are our lake district. Even Brock, outwardly optimistic, fully expected that he would be able to do little at first. He had to deal with a governor-general who apparently had no perception and no sense of proportion. Brock at York had received word of war from the House of Astor in New York, earlier even than some of the United States commanders were apprised of it. He was a man of action, and he was for action, and that at once. He believed that often the best defence is attack, and he chafed under the restraint, anything but wise under these circumstances, of Sir George Prevost, who daily adjured him not to strike the first blow. This continued for three weeks after war was declared. Meanwhile General Hull was marching through Ohio and Michigan to Detroit, from thence to attack Canada!

Brock saw what Prevost did not see, the significance to the Indians of an initial victory. If Canada won the first battle, the border Indians would rally to the Union Jack. They were a considerable factor and had been canvassed by American agents for many months in the endeavor to persuade them, in the event of war, to join with the United States. But Prevost fiddled while Brock burned with indignation!

Almost his first act, when war was declared, was to issue instructions to Captain Charles Roberts, who commanded at Fort St. Joseph, to take Mackinaw Island. In Robert’s command were 150 French-Canadians. Though this was contrary to the orders of Sir George Prevost, Roberts did as Brock told him. The fall of Mackinaw meant the capture of much ammunition, many guns, and a rich stock of furs. It also meant a favorable impression on the Indians, which Brock knew to be of first importance, and an impression which at once made itself felt.

By July 5th, General Hull with his men had reached Detroit. Seven days later he crossed the river to Sandwich, losing on his way prisoners, baggage, stores, and private war-papers to Lieutenant Roulette of the British sloop Hunter. This capture was of the utmost importance, as it was the information gained from the seized papers that decided Brock to march directly against Hull. From Sandwich, the American general issued his famous proclamation, in which he promised “peace, liberty, and security” to the people of the province he had invaded, if they made no resistance, but “war, slavery, and destruction,” if they were hostile!

Some of the people at Sandwich had welcomed the United States troops with open arms, but Amherstburg, Hull’s original goal, abandoned by him because of the presence of British ships and the strength of Fort Malden nearby, was not so openly treacherous. Desertions from the British troops were, however, becoming common, and indeed the effect of Hull’s proclamation on a certain part of the population was sufficient to cause alarm. Brock at once countered by the issue of a proclamation in which he pointed out that Great Britain was ready and willing to defend her subjects, whether white or Indian, at all time and places and further urged the folly of trusting to the promises of Hull. This proclamation, couched in plain but stirring language, had the desired effect in recalling the people to their senses! All this time Hull and his troops were spending their time plundering and pillaging the surrounding country.

In the meantime Brock had called the Legislature to meet in extra session at York on July 27th. In opening the House he said: “When invaded by an enemy whose avowed object is the entire conquest of the province, the voice of loyalty, as well as of interest, calls aloud to every person in the sphere in which he is placed, to defend his country. Our militia have heard the voice and have obeyed it. They have evinced by the promptitude and loyalty of their conduct that they are worthy of the King whom they serve, and of the constitution which they enjoy; and it affords me particular satisfaction, that, while I address you as legislators, I speak to men who, in the day of danger, will be ready to assist not only with their counsel, but with their arms.” He concluded his address with the ringing words: “We are engaged in an awful and eventful conflict. By unanimity and despatch in our Councils, and by vigor in our operations, we may teach the enemy this lesson, that a country defended by free men, enthusiastically devoted to the cause of their King and constitution, cannot be conquered.”

But all the members were not loyal. There was in the Assembly a strong minority who was more than friendly to the United States. This faction, indeed, succeeded in preventing the passage of certain measures which Brock regarded as essential to the safety of the country. In fact, so dangerous did the opposition become, and so much comfort did it give to the enemy, that nine days after the session opened Brock, after consultation with his Council, dissolved the Assembly. But before this the loyal members had rallied to Brock, had passed the bills which he wished, and issued a ringing appeal to the loyalty of the people of Upper Canada.

Before calling the extra session of the Legislature Brock had made up his mind to lead his men in person against the invaders. The loyal volunteers gathered round him. Chief among these were the United Empire Loyalists and their descendants, men who had not forgotten the treatment they or their fathers had received from the nation that was now again threatening their lives and their liberty. But even with this loyal support Brock had his troubles. It meant sacrifice for the farmers to drop their scythes and enlist, for harvest time was at hand, and they could not afford to lose their crops. Many, having enrolled, begged for permission to return and harvest the wheat, which permission Brock felt he had unwillingly to give. His great fear was of desertions which would certainly multiply unless he could forestall complaints by action. He wrote impatiently, but justifiably so, to Prevost, pointing out that he had wretchedly poor supplies of ammunition and even clothing.

On August 5th, his volunteer army reinforced by the handful of regulars set out for Detroit. They went by Burlington Bay and Lake Erie, and so passed the Mohawk settlement. This gave him an opportunity to ascertain the attitude of the Indians. What he found did not cheer him. The work of the United States agents had had its effect. The Indians were distrustful and sulky. Sixty of them gave a sort of promise to follow him, but Brock now knew beyond peradventure, that unless he had the initial success, he would have to fight the Indians as well as the Americans.

Long Point was reached on August 8th, and here Brock, with a force of three hundred, embarked. After a stormy voyage lasting five days they reached Amherstburg. It was lucky that Brock was a seabred man as well as a soldier. That voyage would have disheartened many a brave man.

News of Brock’s expedition had reached General Hull who had turned tail and recrossed the river with his men. Captain Dixon, who entered Sandwich in pursuit of the departing Hull, took the opportunity of strengthening the defences of the town and placed five guns in position covering Fort Detroit.

There now comes into the story of how Brock saved Canada, a romantic figure, Tecumseh. Tecumseh was a Shawanese chief and a brave man. When the choice had to be made as to whom he and his should serve, he decided that his loyalty should be to Britain. “I have more confidence” he said to his tribesmen, “in the word of a Briton than in the word of a Big Knife!” Tecumseh’s decision was a very important factor in the War of 1812. Having set his hand to the plough he lost no time. He and all the Indians had been greatly impressed with Brock’s occupation of Sandwich and Hull’s fear and retreat. This was as Brock had surmised. By a clever trap Tecumseh ambushed a force under an American officer, Major Van Horne, which was bringing supplies from the Raisin River to Detroit. He had not yet met Brock.

Arrived at Fort Malden, Brock received from Colonel Proctor there a number of papers captured by Tecumseh in his brief engagement with Van Horne. They turned out to be General Hull’s further instructions from his government and Hull’s replies. These latter revealed the fact that the braggart quality of Hull had gone. He was very much down in the mouth. Sickness was prevalent in his camp. His constant maraudings were his only source of food and supplies, it appeared, and as his communications had been cut off, starvation faced him and his men.

Brock, like the great commander he was, saw that the real significance of the captured correspondence was its demonstration of the lowered morale of Hull’s men even more than their dwindling supplies. He decided to act. He knew that it would not be easy to conquer a force of 2,500, but he remembered Nelson’s threat at Copenhagen and that it was successful. The old Greeks had a saying which might very well have been running through Brock’s mind at this time, “They did it because they thought they could do it.” He was not overwhelmingly confident, but he knew he could not afford to be unsure of himself. He sent his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonell, and Captain Glegg, under a flag of truce, to General Hull with this message: “The force at my disposal authorizes me to require of you the surrender of Fort Detroit. It is far from my inclination to join in a war of extermination, but 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.”

Hull was caught between the devil of his own self-contempt and the deep sea of this supposed force of Indians. He longed to hand Brock his sword, but he dared not give in without some attempt at resistance. He had boasted so much that he was compelled to make some sort of showing. He said he was ready to meet the British forces.

The rest of the day was occupied in planning the attack, while the guns at Sandwich were pouring forth a desultory fire to which Fort Detroit replied. Brock wanted to lead his army across the river. Nearly all his staff opposed him, but he had two brave men who agreed with him. One was his quartermaster-general, Colonel Nichol, and the other was Tecumseh.

Brock had confidence in Tecumseh and he in Brock. On the occasion of their meeting, Brock, though it was past midnight, was busy at his table with his plans and despatches. In the dimly lighted room these two warriors looked at each other. Brock saw an Indian brave. Tecumseh saw a brave Briton. He turned to his followers, and almost in the words of Brutus describing Antony long ago, he said: “This is a man.” Brock reciprocated this high regard. Of the Indian warrior he wrote: “A more sagacious or a more gallant warrior does not, I believe, exist. He was the admiration of every one who conversed with him.”

Brock discussed his plans of attack with Tecumseh and asked the chief if he could give him definite information. Tecumseh, who had an intimate knowledge of the district which Brock planned to make the scene of his first engagement, took a piece of birch bark and, laying it on the ground, made a military map, showing all the natural features of the district. Brock and Colonel Nichol examined the map, and the former advised with his staff no more. His decision was made and needed no further deliberating. He would cross the Detroit River in the morning, though Prevost and the War Office had said him “Nay!”

CHAPTER VII
Detroit Taken

August 16th, then, sees Major-General Isaac Brock and his men embarked for the American shore. Tecumseh had not waited for the main body, but with Colonel Elliott and six hundred Indians had crossed the night before, as an advance guard to hold the enemy should they attempt to hinder Brock.

We can picture the crossing of this comparative handful of men – 382 British regulars, 362 Canadian militiamen, and the remainder of the Indians. They set out to the accompaniment of the booming of the guns from the Hunter and the Queen Charlotte, which were in the river just above what is now the city of Windsor. Many of Brock’s men were quite new to the idea of conflict, and doubtless the thoughts of men before battle then were much the same as they are now. But the sun rose high in the heavens, and the hearts of the men rose with it. The glint of the sun’s rays caught the bayonets which moved to and fro as the batteaux and canoes made swiftly across stream. Blue-shirts of sailors and red-coats of soldiers colored the scene, which took on a quaint and awesome quality when the Indians’ gaudy feathers and brilliant paint began to be discernible as the expedition neared the opposite bank and finally landed at Springwells, three miles below the fort. The whoops and strange cries of the Indians did not tend to hearten the enemy.

Brock surveyed the situation. Here was he, against his superior’s orders, on enemy ground, taking the offensive. He had little better than half the men his opponent had, and, what is more, his men were for the most part green and untried, while General Hull’s, though not actually experienced, were far more highly trained. Above him, as he looked, rose not far away the heavy walls of a strong fort, with all that that implied of gunfire and destruction. But Brock knew that if in material he did not equal Hull, the spirit of his men was unbreakable, while the braggart who opposed him secretly feared the issue.

His plan was to split Hull’s army. He knew that Hull dare not leave the fortress unprotected and that that fact would lessen the number who would give him direct battle. He planned to lure Hull into the open, and he relied on his few regulars and the inveterate fighters he had in the Indians to hearten the raw recruits, if they needed any spur other than that of defending their families and homes. But here a factor was introduced which would not allow him time for strategy.

He suddenly learned that about 350 men – this number was exaggerated to him – were away from Hull’s main body, bringing supplies. Hull, aware of Brock’s approach, had sent peremptory orders to this detachment to return immediately. They were only a short distance away, and Brock saw that he must strike at once. This man of action decided to assault the fort itself. Seldom has there been a more splendidly foolhardy plan. He drew up his 1,400 men, roughly, half Indian and half white, and prepared to attack the fort.

It must have looked a hard obstacle to conquer. It has been described as being constructed in the form of a parallelogram. At each corner was a strong bastion and all round stretched a moat, twelve feet wide and eight feet deep. There were palisades of hardwood, ten feet in height, inclining from the base of the rampart at an angle of forty degrees, and sharpened at the top. The ramparts were twenty-two feet high, and breaches for cannon occurred at regular intervals. There was a portcullis, well provided for small-arm firing, and a drawbridge. And perhaps the most important thing from the defenders’ point of view was that the fort commanded quite open country, so that the attacking army would find it very difficult to remain undiscovered for long. The fortress, Brock told himself, was going to be hard to take, but it was worth a determined struggle, not only for the intrinsic gain but also for what a victory signified. The fort held a great deal of ammunition, as well as more than thirty guns.

Brock personally led his army in the attack. Colonel Nichol, the gallant Scottish-Canadian merchant whom Brock had made quartermaster-general of militia, protested against this. He reined up by the side of the commander who was riding up and down in front of his army, heartening them for the attack, and said: “General, I cannot forbear entreating you not to expose yourself. If we lose you, we lose all.” But Brock, who had always believed in the inspiration of personal example, turned to his officer and said: “Master Nichol, I duly appreciate the advice you give, but I feel that in addition to their sense of loyalty and duty, many here follow me from personal regard, and I will never ask them to go where I do not lead them.”

Brock believed in co-operation, and while he advanced down the long, narrow road the battery at Sandwich, commanded by Captain Hall, and the guns on the deck of the Queen Charlotte poured heavy fire into the fort. This had its effect, for just at the time Brock’s column was nearing its destination a shot from Captain Hall’s guns found its billet in one of the rooms at the fort, wounding and killing several officers and men. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Bullock was leading the advance guard for Brock. He had three six pounders and two three pounders. It was a case of David and Goliath over again, for this sort of weapon was hardly fitted to the great task in front of Brock. He was leading his men down the country road, in the very face of a battery of two twenty-four pounders, two twelve-pounders, and two six-pounders.

General Hull was feeling subdued enough by now. Brock had uniformed the militiamen he had with him in the old tunics of the 41st, and Hull therefore imagined that Brock had more regulars than he had at first supposed. And he was sure too of the presence of the Indians. He conjured up visions of innumerable scalpings. His last ounce of courage faded when Captain Hall’s effective shots fell within the fort and he despatched messengers with a flag of truce to the Captain. Hall, however, returned word that Major-General Isaac Brock alone could accept surrender.

Not far away the Indians were coming through the woods, shrieking their war-cries, terrifying all who heard. Already the York volunteers had had some desultory fighting, and they were now only a mile or so from the battery of heavy guns. But to the American soldiers manning them, as to the men in the fort, there came no order to fire. Presumably, Hull expected that the white flag he had despatched precluded any opposition. Brock, of course, knew nothing of the offer of surrender.

The British advanced to within three-quarters of a mile of the fort and called a halt to reconnoitre. Brock was amazed to find that the American gunners had fled to the fort, and that, approaching him was one of Hull’s staff officers bearing a flag of truce. An hour or two later Brock led his men into the fort! The way which had seemed so difficult had become miraculously easy.

It was next day, Monday, August 17th, that Brock formally took possession of the fort, which implied the surrender of the whole of surrounding Michigan. There were many prisoners of war, but even more to be desired, 40 cannon, 2,500 muskets, 60 barrels of gunpowder, 200 tons of cannon ball, and large stores of other ammunition fell into the hands of the British. Looking around, the men found horses and sheep and cattle in abundance. These had been stolen from Canadian farmers by the marauding Americans. Food too was discovered. The fort had evidently prepared for a long siege. There was one other prize, a brig called the Adams. With this Hull had hoped to make himself master of the lakes. Brock converted it into the British Brig Detroit.

The fickle population who had welcomed Hull with open arms now shouted just as hard for Brock. There were great rejoicings, and everywhere the Union Jack was hoisted. In the fort there were some captured British cannon which had been taken from the British in the Revolutionary War. These fired salutes in honor of Brock’s victory, and the guns of the Queen Charlotte replied heartily.

Brock’s first act, almost, after entering the captured fort, was characteristic of the man. He ordered that Private Dean, who a few days previously had distinguished himself at the Canard River and had been taken prisoner by the Americans, should be brought before him, and in the presence of the assembled troops warmly congratulated him on his heroic conduct.¹

The capture of Detroit was a very real victory. Had the day gone otherwise, Hull might have made his boasted march to Quebec, and that as a conqueror. But his march now was as a prisoner of war. Brock had dared what looked impossible and by a stroke of fortune had won out. His victory was an imposingly public one. It cheered his men. It made those Canadian inhabitants who were hesitating declare definitely for the British, while those with leanings towards the United States kept silent. It saved Canada from invasion at a moment when, owing to the shortsightedness of her rulers, she was particularly vulnerable.

Brock apprised Sir George Prevost, modestly enough, of his victory and wrote to his brothers: “Rejoice at my good fortune, and join me in prayers to Heaven. I send you a copy of my hasty note to Sir George. Let me know that you are all united and happy.”