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Brock to Sir George
Prevost
The following letter was written by Brock at Detroit the day after he
captured Fort Detroit.
Head Quarters, Detroit, August 17, 1812.
I have had the honor of informing your excellency, that the enemy
effected his passage across the Detroit river, on the 12th ultimo, without
opposition; and that, after establishing himself at Sandwich, he had
ravaged the country as far as Moravian town. Some skirmishes occurred
between the troops under Lieut.-Colonel St. George and the enemy,
upon the River Canard, which uniformly terminated in his being repulsed
with loss. I judged it proper to detach a force down the river Thames,
capable of acting in conjunction with the garrison of Amherstburg
offensively, but Captain Chambers, whom I had appointed to direct this
detachment, experienced difficulties that frustrated my intentions. The
intelligence received from that quarter admitting of no delay, Colonel
Proctor was directed to assume the command, and his force was soon
after increased with 60 rank and file of the 41st regiment.
In the mean time, the most strenuous measures were adopted to
counteract the machinations of the evil-disposed, and I soon
experienced the gratification of receiving voluntary offers of service from
that portion of the embodied militia the most easily collected. In the
attainment of this important point, gentlemen of the first character and
influence shewed an example highly creditable to them; . . . . A
sufficiency of boats being collected at Long Point for the conveyance of
300 men, the embarkation took place on the 8th instant, and in five days
we arrived in safety at Amherstburg.
I found that the judicious arrangements which had been adopted
immediately upon the arrival of Colonel Proctor, had compelled the
enemy to retreat, and take shelter under the guns of his fort; that officer
commenced operations by sending strong detachments across the river,
with a view of cutting off the enemy's communication with his reserve.
This produced two smart skirmishes on the 5th and 9th instant, in which
the enemy's loss was considerable, whilst ours amounted to 3 killed and
13 wounded; ... Batteries had likewise been commenced opposite Fort
Detroit, for one 18 pounder, two 12, and two 5 1/2-inch mortars, all of
which opened on the evening of the 15th; (having previously summoned
Brigadier-General Hull to surrender;) and although opposed by a well-
directed fire from seven 24-pounders, such was their construction, under
the able direction of Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, that no injury
was sustained from its effect.
The force at my disposal being collected in the course of the 15th, in the
neighbourhood of Sandwich, the embarkation took place a little after
day-light on the following morning; and by the able arrangements of
Lieutenant Dewar, of the quartermaster-general's department, the
whole was in a short time landed without the smallest confusion at
Spring Well, a good position, three miles west of Detroit. The Indians,
who had in the mean time effected their landing two miles below, moved
forward and occupied the woods, about a mile and a half on our left.
The force, which I instantly directed to march against the enemy,
consisted of 30 artillery, 250 41st regiment, 50 royal Newfoundland
regiment, 400 militia, and about 600 Indians, to which were attached
three six-pounders and two three-pounders. The services of Lieutenant
Troughton, commanding the royal artillery, an active and intelligent
officer, being required in the field, the direction of the batteries was
entrusted to Captain Hall and the marine department, and I cannot
withhold my entire approbation of their conduct on this occasion.
I crossed the river, with an intention of waiting in a strong position the
effect of our force upon the enemy's camp, and in the hope of compelling
him to meet us in the field; but receiving information upon landing, that
Colonel M'Arthur, an officer of high reputation, had left the garrison three
days before with a detachment of 500 men, and hearing, soon
afterwards, that his cavalry had been seen that morning three miles in
our rear, I decided on an immediate attack. Accordingly, the troops
advanced to within one mile of the fort, and having ascertained that the
enemy had taken little or no precaution towards the land side, I
resolved on an assault, whilst the Indians penetrated his camp.
Brigadier-General Hull, however, prevented this movement, by proposing
a cessation of hostilities, for the purpose of preparing terms of
capitulation. Lieut.-Colonel J. M'Donell and Captain Glegg were
accordingly deputed by me on this mission, and returned within an hour
with the conditions, which I have the honor herewith to transmit. Certain
considerations afterwards induced me to agree to the two
supplementary articles.
The force thus surrendered to his majesty's arms cannot be estimated a
less than 2,500 men. In this estimate, Colonel M'Arthur's detachment is
included, as he surrendered, agreeably to the terms of capitulation, in
the course of the evening, with the exception of 200 men, whom he left
escorting a valuable convoy at some little distance in his rear; but there
can be no doubt the officer commanding will consider himself equally
bound by the capitulation.
— Isaac Brock.
Prevost
The following letter was written by Brock at Detroit the day after he
captured Fort Detroit.
Head Quarters, Detroit, August 17, 1812.
I have had the honor of informing your excellency, that the enemy
effected his passage across the Detroit river, on the 12th ultimo, without
opposition; and that, after establishing himself at Sandwich, he had
ravaged the country as far as Moravian town. Some skirmishes occurred
between the troops under Lieut.-Colonel St. George and the enemy,
upon the River Canard, which uniformly terminated in his being repulsed
with loss. I judged it proper to detach a force down the river Thames,
capable of acting in conjunction with the garrison of Amherstburg
offensively, but Captain Chambers, whom I had appointed to direct this
detachment, experienced difficulties that frustrated my intentions. The
intelligence received from that quarter admitting of no delay, Colonel
Proctor was directed to assume the command, and his force was soon
after increased with 60 rank and file of the 41st regiment.
In the mean time, the most strenuous measures were adopted to
counteract the machinations of the evil-disposed, and I soon
experienced the gratification of receiving voluntary offers of service from
that portion of the embodied militia the most easily collected. In the
attainment of this important point, gentlemen of the first character and
influence shewed an example highly creditable to them; . . . . A
sufficiency of boats being collected at Long Point for the conveyance of
300 men, the embarkation took place on the 8th instant, and in five days
we arrived in safety at Amherstburg.
I found that the judicious arrangements which had been adopted
immediately upon the arrival of Colonel Proctor, had compelled the
enemy to retreat, and take shelter under the guns of his fort; that officer
commenced operations by sending strong detachments across the river,
with a view of cutting off the enemy's communication with his reserve.
This produced two smart skirmishes on the 5th and 9th instant, in which
the enemy's loss was considerable, whilst ours amounted to 3 killed and
13 wounded; ... Batteries had likewise been commenced opposite Fort
Detroit, for one 18 pounder, two 12, and two 5 1/2-inch mortars, all of
which opened on the evening of the 15th; (having previously summoned
Brigadier-General Hull to surrender;) and although opposed by a well-
directed fire from seven 24-pounders, such was their construction, under
the able direction of Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, that no injury
was sustained from its effect.
The force at my disposal being collected in the course of the 15th, in the
neighbourhood of Sandwich, the embarkation took place a little after
day-light on the following morning; and by the able arrangements of
Lieutenant Dewar, of the quartermaster-general's department, the
whole was in a short time landed without the smallest confusion at
Spring Well, a good position, three miles west of Detroit. The Indians,
who had in the mean time effected their landing two miles below, moved
forward and occupied the woods, about a mile and a half on our left.
The force, which I instantly directed to march against the enemy,
consisted of 30 artillery, 250 41st regiment, 50 royal Newfoundland
regiment, 400 militia, and about 600 Indians, to which were attached
three six-pounders and two three-pounders. The services of Lieutenant
Troughton, commanding the royal artillery, an active and intelligent
officer, being required in the field, the direction of the batteries was
entrusted to Captain Hall and the marine department, and I cannot
withhold my entire approbation of their conduct on this occasion.
I crossed the river, with an intention of waiting in a strong position the
effect of our force upon the enemy's camp, and in the hope of compelling
him to meet us in the field; but receiving information upon landing, that
Colonel M'Arthur, an officer of high reputation, had left the garrison three
days before with a detachment of 500 men, and hearing, soon
afterwards, that his cavalry had been seen that morning three miles in
our rear, I decided on an immediate attack. Accordingly, the troops
advanced to within one mile of the fort, and having ascertained that the
enemy had taken little or no precaution towards the land side, I
resolved on an assault, whilst the Indians penetrated his camp.
Brigadier-General Hull, however, prevented this movement, by proposing
a cessation of hostilities, for the purpose of preparing terms of
capitulation. Lieut.-Colonel J. M'Donell and Captain Glegg were
accordingly deputed by me on this mission, and returned within an hour
with the conditions, which I have the honor herewith to transmit. Certain
considerations afterwards induced me to agree to the two
supplementary articles.
The force thus surrendered to his majesty's arms cannot be estimated a
less than 2,500 men. In this estimate, Colonel M'Arthur's detachment is
included, as he surrendered, agreeably to the terms of capitulation, in
the course of the evening, with the exception of 200 men, whom he left
escorting a valuable convoy at some little distance in his rear; but there
can be no doubt the officer commanding will consider himself equally
bound by the capitulation.
— Isaac Brock.