The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-09-24
Gen. Brock, Tor The

ited refusal was returned. About o'clock
their batteries began 10 play upon the town.
The FIRE was rcturned and continued without
interruption and with little effect ill dark.
Their she'll. were thrown Till Ii O'Clock.
At day light the firing on ooth sides re-
commenced about the same time the enemy
began 10 land troops, at the Springwells, three
miles below Detroit, protected BY swo OF tneir
armed vessels. Between aud o'clock ;hey
had effected their landing and immediately
took up their lire OF march. They moved In
a close column OF plattoons, twelve In front,
upon tbe bank of the river.
The fonrth regimsnt was stationed IN tue
fort the Ohio volunteers and part OF the
Michigan militia, behind some pickets, w
situation in which the whole hans OF ne one-
my would have been exposed nc Residue
of the Michigan Militia were in the upper
part of the town to resist the incurslons OF
the savases. Two "a Founders loaded with
grape shot were posted on commanding
emineace, Eeady to sweep the advancing col
umn. In this situation, the superiority OF
our position was apparent and our troops In
the eager expectations OF victory, awaited
tae approach Of the enemy. Not sigh
broke out upon the cav and not look OF
cowardice met the eye. Every man expect
ed proud day for his country, and esch was
anxious that his individual exertion shoult
contribute 10 the general result.
When the head of their column arrived
within about five hundred yards OF our line,
orders were received from Gen. Hull for the
whole 10 retreat TO the fort, and for the "a
Founders not to- open upon the enemy. One
unive rsal burst of indignation was apparent
upon the receipt of this order. Those, whose
conviction was the deliberate result of dis
passionate examination of passing events, saw
thc folly and impfopriely OF crowding 100
men into a little work which 800 could fully
man, and into which the shells OF the enemy
were falling. The fort was in this manner
filled the men were ordered 10 stack their
arms, and scarcely was an opportunity afford.
ed of moving. Shortly after white flag was
hung out upon the walls A British officer
rode up to enquire the cause. A communi-
cation passed between the commanding gen
erals which ended IN the Capitularion submit
ted to you. In entering into this capitula,on
the general took council from his own feel
ings only Not an officer was Consulted
Even the women were indignant at so shame
full degradation of the American Character,
and all felt as they should have felt, but lie
who held in his hands the reign OF authority.
Our morning report had that morning
made our effective men present fit for duty
1860, without including the detachment be-
fore alluded to, and without including 500 Of
tho Michigan militia on duty. About dark
on Saturday evening the detachment sent to
escort the provisions received orders from
Gen. Hull to return with as much expedition
as possible. About ten o'clock the mex.
day they arrived within sight Of Detroit
Had firing been heard, or any resistance
visible, they would have imme diately advanc-
ed and attacked the rear OF the enemy. The
situation in which this detachment was plac-
ed, although the result of accident, Was the
best for annoying the enemy and cutting of
his retreat That could have been selected.
With his raw troops enclosed between two
fires and no hopes OF succour, 1t is hazarding
little 10 sag, that very few would have escaped.
have been informed BY Col. Findlcy, who
saw the return OF ti;eir quarter master gcner-
al the day after the surrander, that their
whole force OF every description, white, red
and black, was 1880. They had twen,y-niae
platoons, twelve in platoon, OF men dressed
in uniform. Many Of these were evidently
Canadian militia. The rest of their militia
Increased their white force to about seven
hundred men. Their number of Indians
could not be ascertained with any degree of
precision not many were visible. And in
the event Of an attack,hpon the town and fort,
it was a species Of force which could have af
torGed no material advantage to The enemy.
In sndeavoring to appreciate the motives
and Investigate the causes, which led to an
event SO unexpected and so dishonorable, ii
is impossible to find any solution in the rela-
tive strength of the contcnding parties, or of
the measures of resistance in our power.
That we were Far superior to Our enemy
that upon any ordinary principles of cacuIa-
tion we would have defeated them, the woun-
ded and indignant feelings Of every man
there would testify.
A few days before the surrender was in
formed by Gen. Hull, we had 400 rounds OF
oound shnt fvad and ,,,o,, IIn oDn ..r