Meanwhile Hull waited for trial. During the summer of 1813 he saw nearly all his possible judges disgraced and demanding courts martial like himself. Hampton was one; Wilkinson another; Dearborn a third. Dearborn had been removed from command of his army in face of the enemy, and loudly called for a court of inquiry. Instead of granting the request, the President again assigned him to duty in command of Military District No. 3, comprising the city of New York, and also made him President of the court martial upon General Hull. The impropriety of such a selection could not be denied. Of all men in the United States, Dearborn was most deeply interested in the result of Hull’s trial, and the President, next to Dearborn, would be most deeply injured by Hull’s acquittal. The judgment of Dearborn, or of any court over which Dearborn presided, in a matter which affected both court and government so closely could not command respect. That Armstrong lent himself to such a measure was a new trait of character never explained; but that Madison either ordered or permitted it showed that he must have been unconscious either of Dearborn’s responsibility for Hull’s disaster, or of his own. Hull offered no objection to his court, and the trial began at Albany, Jan. 3, 1814, Dearborn presiding, and Martin Van Buren acting as special judge-advocate. March 26 the court sentenced Hull to be shot to death for cowardice, neglect of duty, and unofficer-like conduct. April 25 President Madison approved the sentence, but remitted the execution, and Hull’s name was ordered to be struck from the army roll. That some one should be punished for the loss of Detroit was evident, and few persons were likely to complain because Hull was a selected victim; but many thought that if Hull deserved to be shot, other men, much higher than he in office and responsibility, merited punishment; and the character of the court-martial added no credit to the Government, which in effect it acquitted of blame. END OF VOL. I. FOOTNOTES [1] Madison to Wheaton, Feb. 26, 1827; Works, iii. 553. [2] Castlereagh to Russell, Aug. 29, 1812; State Papers, iii. 589. [3] Russell to Monroe, Sept. 17, 1812; State Papers, iii. 593. [4] Castlereagh to Russell, Sept. 18, 1812; State Papers, iii. 592. [5] Cobbett’s Debates, xxiv. 463; Feb. 18, 1813. [6] James, App. No. 77. [7] Cobbett’s Debates, xxiv. 34; Nov. 30, 1812. [8] Cobbett’s Debates, xxiv. 47, 48; Nov. 30. 1812. [9] Cobbett’s Debates, xxiv. 72; Nov. 30, 1812. [10] The Times, Jan. 2, 1813. [11] Cobbett’s Debates, xxiv. 625; Feb. 13, 1813. [12] Cobbett’s Debates, xxiv. 582. [13] Cobbett’s Debates, xxiv. 586. [14] Diary of J. Q. Adams, Sept. 21, 1812; ii. 401. [15] VETUS, in the “Times,” Oct. 26, 1812. [16] Diary of J. Q. Adams, Oct. 21, 1812; ii. 414. [17] Diary of J. Q. Adams, ii. 433. Adams to Monroe, Dec. 11, 1812; State Papers, iii. 626. [18] Diary of J. Q. Adams, Feb. 1, 1813; ii. 440. [19] State Papers, iii. 608.