The Life and Correspondence of Sir Isaac Brock, K.B.: Interspersed with notices of the celebrated Indian chief, Tecumseh, and comprising brief memoirs of Daniel De Lisle Brock, Esq., Lieutenant E.W. Tupper, R.N., and Colonel W. De Vic TupperBrock, Isaac, Sir
History
The Life and Correspondence of Sir Isaac Brock, K.B.: Interspersed with notices of the celebrated Indian chief, Tecumseh, and comprising brief memoirs of Daniel De Lisle Brock, Esq., Lieutenant E.W. Tupper, R.N., and Colonel W. De Vic Tupper
as if Colonel Baynes had commanded in chief, and the governor-general
had been present as a mere spectator![124]
From these humiliating occurrences on Lake Ontario, we turn to the
captured post of Detroit, which, it will be remembered, was left by
Major-General Brock in charge of Colonel Proctor. No sooner had
intelligence of the surrender of Hull reached Washington, than the
renewal of the North-Western army for the recovery of the Michigan
territory became the anxious object of the American government. That
army, which eventually outnumbered the former one, was placed under the
command of Major-General Harrison, (who died a few years since while
president of the United States,) and in September was in full march for
the Miami rapids, the spot assigned as the general rendezvous. In
January, 1813, Colonel Proctor received information that a brigade of
that army, under Brigadier Winchester, was encamped at Frenchtown, on
the river Raisin, 40 miles south of Detroit. The British commander,
although he had orders not to act on the offensive, promptly determined
to attack this brigade before it was reinforced by the main body, a few
days march in the rear; and with his disposable force, consisting of 500
regulars, militia, and seamen, he made a resolute assault, at dawn on
the 22d, on the enemy's camp, which was completely successful. In this
affair the Americans lost between 3 and 400 men killed; and Brigadier
Winchester, 3 field officers, 9 captains, 20 subalterns, and upwards of
500 men, in prisoners. This gallant exploit secured Detroit from any
immediate danger, but the day after it was sadly tarnished by the
straggling Indians, who massacred such wounded prisoners as were unable
to walk, the guard left for their protection deserting their charge on a
false alarm of General Harrison's approach. This success, for which
Colonel Proctor was immediately promoted to the rank of Brigadier,
together with the spoil obtained at Frenchtown, brought down several
warlike tribes of Indians from the river Wabash, and even from the more
distant Mississippi, to join the British standard. Towards the end of
March, Proctor learnt that General Harrison intended to commence active
operations for the recovery of the Michigan territory, on the arrival of
considerable reinforcements which he was expecting. Resolved to try the
issue of another attack before the enemy, already much superior in
numbers, gained a fresh acquisition of strength, Proctor embarked at
Amherstburg with 520 regulars and 460 militia, and made for the mouth of
the Miami, which falls into Lake Erie. He ascended that river, about
1,200 Indians co-operating with him, and landed his troops, stores, and
ordnance, on the 28th of April, near Fort Meigs, mounting eighteen guns,
which he cannonaded from both banks of the Miami, On the 5th of May the
enemy's long-expected reinforcements, under Major-General Clay, came
suddenly down the river; they were 1,300 strong, but newly-raised
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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