The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-09-22
GENERAL NULL's ARMY.

command os Brig Genera. WIN. full, 20 the Sc
erctary OF War.
Vdshirytor, .SeGt. 10th, 1872.
SIn---tIavirg been ordered "a To this place by |
col. MArthur, tar the purpose Of eummuaicarg 10
the government such particulars respecting the ex
petition lately commanded by brgader general |
Hul and its disastrous result might enable them
correctly to appreciate the conduct OF the officers *
men, and to devclope the causes whsh produced! so
foul stain upon the national character, have the
honor to submit to your consideration the following
statement
When the forces landed in Canada, they an.
ded with ardent zeal ard stimulated with ,
the hope ct conquest. no enemy appeared with
in view OF us, and had an INN, date and vigo
rons attack been made upon Maiden, it would doubt
less have fallen an easy victory know gen. Hull
afterwards declared he regretted this attack had
been made, and he had every reason to believe sue.
cess would have Gro wed his efforts. The reason
given for delaying operations, was to mount our
heavy cannon and to aEorr TO the Canadian militia
time and opportunity to quit an olaoxiops service
In the o. two weeks, the number Of their mi
htia who embodied had decreased by dsserIion
from SIX huodsed to oN hundred men aid, ia the
coarse of Slrce weeks, the cannon were mounted,
<he accumulation axed, and evsfy preparation made
Tor Immediate inveGtineiFt ot tine fort At
ell. Mt which were present ali te feld osise;a. and
which be!l TWO DAYS before preparations
were completed, it was unanimously agreed to make
an immediate attempt to accomplish the object at
che expedition. Ii By waiting two days we conld
have the service of heavy srtiery, ii agreed
70 wait f'not, il was determined TO 60 without it
and to attempt the place by s;crn,. This opinion
appeared IN correspond with the views of the gene
raj; and the day appointed for eSnsulencing our
march. He declared tn ME, that he ccnsderc'l him
self pledged TO lead tse army TO Madden. The
munition was placed in the Wagons; tie cannon
were embarked board the i.oating batteries. aud
very rcqHiste article prepared The spirit AMI
zeal, the mdor and animation displayed by the off,
GERS anil men on learning the plishmeut
ct their wishes, and sacred Oct!gs, that in
the hour OF tra, they would not be found wanting in
their duty to their country and themselves. But
change OF measures in opposition 20 the wishes and
opinions of all the officers, was adopted BY the gene
ral. The plan of attacking Maiden abandoned,
and Instead OF acting Extensively, we broke up
camp, evacuated Canada and re-crossed the river in
tie night, without even the shadow Of enemy TO
inicrc us. We left 80 the tender of the enc
my the miserable Canadians who had joined u.s. and
the protection afforded them was bu1a passport
TO vengeance. This fatal and unao oouatshle step
slispiritel the troops and destroyed the little conf
dence which series of timid, iiresolutc and ndeci-
syc measures had left in the commanding officer.
About the tenth of August, the enemy received
reinforcement ut four hundred men. On the 18th.
the commanding officers Of three of the regiments
(thefourth was absenil were informed through
medium which admitted Of no Doubt, that the gene
I'd had stated, that capitulatjon would be ne
eessary. They on the same day addressed to Gov.
Nleies OF Ohio letter, OF which the following is an
extract:
$50 Believe all the bearer will tell you. Believe it,
however it'ray asiousli you, much if told you
by one OF us. Even 4 c----is talked OF by the
The bearer will fill the vacancy.''
The doubtful fate of this letter renderetlt necessa-
ny TO use creumspceton in It's details and therefore
these blanks were left. The scapituiaton' will
nil the hrst and commanding general the other
Hsno enemy us, and che superiority of
our force was manifest, we could see no necessity
for captivating, any proorety in abiding to IT,
We therefore determined in the last resort incur
the responsibility OF dvcsting the general OF his
1nand. This plan wss eventually prevented by two
OF the commanding officers oil regiments being order
ed upon detachnieuss.
Onthe 18th, the British took Il position opposite
to Detroit and began throw up works Daring
that aud the two following days, they pursued teig
object without Interruption and established battery
for two Is-pounie.s and oil Snrh howitzor About
sunset on the evening of the 18th, detachment of
$50 men from the regiments commanded by col.
M'Arthu' and myself was ordered TO march to tie
Rasn, to escort the provisions, which had some
time remained there protected by party under The
command, OF cart, Brush. II
On Saturday, the 18th, about O'Clock, fag Of |
truce arrived from Sandwich, bearing summons |
from gen Brock, for the surrender ol the town |
and fort OF Detroit, stating h could TO longer
train the fury of the s.vsges To this lmmedi |
ate and spirited refusal returned. About 4 o.
clock their batteries began TO play upon tnc town.
The fre was re!urued and Continued without inter |
ruption and with little effect till DARK. Their shells |
thrown till eleven O'clock.
AT daylight, the FIRING on beth sides Tccommen- |
eed about the same time the enemy began 70 land |
troops, at the Spring wells three miles below De-
troit, protected by c%o of ther armed vessels Be
tween and O'Clock, they hal effected their land
ing and Immediately tnak up their line Of march.
They moVe ed in close column of platOons, twelve
in front, upon the bank Oh the river
The fourth regiment stationed in the fort
the Ohio volunteers and part of tie Michigan mi
hta, behind some pckes, IN situation "a which the
whole flank o.! the enemy would nave been exposed
The residue OF the Michigan militia were IN the uIl-
per part OF the town to resist the DcGrsions Of the
sayages. Two 24-pouDders loaded with grapesloi
were posted upon commanding eniinence, ready to
sweep the advancing column. In this situation, the
superiority OF our position was apparent, aud our.
troops in the eager expectation ofvicory, awaited
the approach of the enemy. Not sigh Of discon-
tent broke upon the ear not a look OF c0warlice
met the eye. Every man expected proud dav for
his country, and each anxious that lis ndivi-
dual exsrtiUn shcad contribute TO the general re-
suit.
when the bead of their Column arrived within n
bout hyc hundred yards OF line, on~rs were re-
eey "a from General Hull Tor The whole 10 retreat
10 the Fort, and for TIE twenty four Founders not
so open upon the entmy. One universal burst ofin.
order Those, whose conviction WAS tire deliberate
Tesut Of dispsasionate examination OF pas.in, e.
vents, the folly and inpropriety Of crowol,nr.
100 men into little work, which 500 could ru,iy
man, and into which the shot aud shells OF the enc
my were falling The Fort in tiis manner IN.
ed the men were directed to stack ,heir arms
and scarcely was All opportunity afforded of moving
Shortly after white flag hung out up4n lie
walls. a British officer rode np 10 enquire The
cause. communication passed between thc com. /
Inanding generals, which ended in the canitulatoA
submitted to you In entering into this can:tu.aor
She general TOOK counsel from his own iceincs o,lv
Not an officer was consulted. Not one anticipa,sd
surrcnder till he SAW the white nas displved-l
II -. IL