Rolette then served at the subsequent capture of Fort Detroit in August 1812, where the entire American invasion force was compelled to surrender. Of his service, the British commander, Major-General Isaac Brock, is reported to have commented that: “I have watched you during the action ... you behaved like a lion and I will remember you.” Rolette was in command of the brig "Detroit" in October 1812 when he and his ship (along with the brig "Caledonia") were captured by the Americans in a surprise raid in which the defenders were heavily outnumbered. Despite the capture of his ship, Brock again referred to him as a having had "the character of a brave attentive officer". Quickly exchanged as a prisoner, he then commanded a naval gun contingent on land during the Battle of Frenchtown in January 1813, where, although suffering a head wound, he refused to leave the field. As captain of the "General Hunter" in 1812–13, he captured more than a dozen prizes.