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]