Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-17

summons from Seli. DIoSNs Aoi 49, 49, 81
of the tewn and fort of Detroit, statihg' he
could no longer restrain the fury OF the sava-.
pes To this an Immediate and spirited relu-
sal was returned. About O'Clock thelr Dat
ferries began TO play upon the town. Inc nfe
WAS returned and continued without interrupt
lion and with little effect till dark lheif
shells were thrown till eleven o'clock.
Al day light, the firing on both sides recon
meDced: about the same time the enemy De-
can to land troops at the Spring wells, three
miles below Detroit, protected BY two OF tneir
armed vessels. Between and O'CLOCK, 'hey
had effected their landing and immediately
took up their line of march. They moved IN
a close column of platoons, twelve III front,
upon the bank of the river.
The fourth regiment vas stationed IN the
fort . the Ohio volunteers and a part OF the
Michigan militia, behind some pickets, In ST.
tuation in which the whole hank OF the enemy
would have been exposed The residue OF 1he
Michigan militia were IN the upper part oithe
town to resist the incurslons OF the sayages.
Two q Founders loaded with grape shot were
posted upon a commanding emlnence, ready 10
sweep the advancing column. In this situa-
ton, the superiority of our position was APP
parent, and our troops, in the eager expecta-
ton of victory, awaited the approach OF the
enemy. Not sigh of discomfort broke upon
the ear; not look of cowardice the eye.
Every man expected proud day for his couil-
try, and each was anxious that his individual
exertion should contribute to the general re-
suit
When the head of their column arrived
NJ. ofo lire
orders were received from general Hull for
the whole to retreat to the Fort, and tor the
twenty-fonr Founders not to open upon the
enemy One universal burst of indignation
was apparent upon the receipt of this order.
Those, whose CONVICTION was the deliberate
result of dispassionate examination Of pass
ing events, saw the folly and Improperly of
crowding 100 men into little work, which
500 could fully man, and into which the shot
and shells of the enemy were falling Ihe
Fort was in this manner filled the men were
directed to stack their arms, and scarcely WAS
an opportunity afforded of moving. Shortly
after white flag was hung out upon the walls.
A British officer rode up TO enquire the cause.
A communication passed between the COM
handing generals, which ended in the capitu-
lation submitted to you In entering into this
capitulation, the general took counsel from his
own feelings only Not an officer was con
suited. Not one anticipated surrender, till
ne saw the white flag displayed. Even the
women were indignant at SO shameful degra-
dation of the American character, and all felt
as they should have felt but he who held in
his hands TIE reins of authority.
Our morning report had that morning made
our effective men present fit for duty 1860,
without including the detachment before al
luded to, and without including 800 of the
Michigan militia OH duty. About dark on Sa-
turday evening the detachment sent to escort
the provisions received orders from general
Hull to return with as much expedition as
possible. About ten O'Clock the next day they
arrived within sight of Detroit Had firing
been heard, or any resistance visible, they
would have Immediately advanced and attack
ed the rear of the enemy. The situation IN
which this detachment was placed, although
the result of accident, was the best for annoy
ing the enemy and cutting off his retreat that
could have been selected With his raw troops
enclosed between two fires and no hopes Of
succoub it is hazarding little to say, that very
few would have escaped.
nave Deen lbloF'neu Oy Col. fHlaioy, WIZ
saw the return of their quarter-master gene
raj the day after the surrender, that their whole
force of every description, white, red and
black, was 1880. They had twenty-nine pla-
toons, twelve in a platoon, of men dressed in
uniform. Many of these were evidently Ca
madam militia The rest of their militia H.
! creased their white forcs to about seven hun
dred men The number of their Indians could
| not be. ascertained with any degree of preci-
sion; not many were visible. And in the
event of an attack upon the town and fort, it
was species of force which could have at
(; forded no material advantage to the enemy.
| In endeayoring to appreciate the motives
and to investigate the causes, which led to an
event 50 unexpected and dishonorabe, 1t is
! impossible to find any solution in the relative