Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-09-25
From the Shirt OTIS.
GENERAL HULL.

This unfortunate man has been de-
nounced by the minlons OF the War De-
partment, in a most uncharitAblc and I'M
reasonable manner. We do not believe
that he has evinced in his late campaign
that dereliction Of principle ard onis-
sion of duty, that ought to consign him
10 disgrace, 1t is true, that IN the be-
ginning of his descent upon Canada, he
did not rightly appreciate the elFcnn-
Stances that presented. In crossing o.
yer the river Detroit unopposcd, cspe-
ci.liy when he knew that The English
had timely notice of the war, he bad un-
equivocal testimony that there was no
force in the neighborhoodF OF Maiden to
resist him; otherwise he would have
most certainly encountered severe
struggle in passing the stre'ghts. lie
ought then, by all means, to have pushed
down with expedition and have stormed
the fort. Had this been his course, the
Indians would have remained neutral,
and the greater part Of tie Canadians
would have :aken protection nndcr Ills
arms. But the mistakes which alter
wards crowded embarrassment upon
him daily, we conceive were not comm
Aed to him. II seems TO be understood
that Hull had not special orders to invade
Canada, and although prcci pitaiedby the
ardor &c bis gallant army into the enc
my's country, ha did not forget that
great responsibility whick this measure
inflicted upon him. 1t is hence that he
hesi,ated, took counsel Of his officers 81
the most experience, and delayed 10 ap-
proximate Maiden until he was ready
bcyond all dorbt. Il is not d.Gcuit t
prove that Hull must have been victo
rious at Maiden, and have directed his
army to successful result, had he not
been sacrificed by the omissions and err
rors of other persons who hold most re-
spectacle rank in the government Oncoi
these was the absolute wautct vigilance
on the part OF the secretary CT war. II l.
known That the garrison a Makina do
not contain more than nifty men, at the
very point most Important to comm'nd
the temper and disposition OF the nuinc-
rous tribes of Indians on our north vest
srn boundaries * that at this post were
a quantity of military stores, & other p!o-
perry of value. This garriso'. was com
rnanded to surrender, by a force OF At least
one thousand English, Canadians aid Ia
dams, before the officer commanding
there, had any notice 1T the declaration
of war. The very quality and humbe'
Of the assalants prove that III the neigh
borhoud of MakIna, our enemy vas "p-
prised Of our declaration + Sp'sr seye'ai
days before their appearance In an hos
tile character, and before or ozsH Tcch%
in very exposed situation, we're Il
formed oil their danger. 81 sudGc'a'o
unexpected was the att,,ok that even -,
few inhabitants of Michigan TeIrr"..
could no, repair 10 their assistance, Ia
any way secure ther prop' rly, In
news of this disaster was received al Inc
seat of government with the mos, pr.
feet unconcern. No eXcr,'on vas E..de
in the War Department to save Hull
from the effects of the SURRENDER OF Ala
kina. II was the rather noticed as an
affair Of small Importance, the h,dcnesN
of which was necessarily to- be lost n
the brilliancy of Hull's daily expected
CAPTURE of Maiden. But the loss or Nj
kina set the Indians upon Hull. Even
the imnrovideat and rude Indians ilad
the imbecility Of the w:r measures
Could they do otherwise An Ameri-
cav garrison, the importance Of which
they could well appreciate, entirely neg
lectca, literally Abandoned to rs hard
fate. gave them contempt Tor the pro
,sction which had been promised, and
prompted them to seek an ai!iauce liz
thar quarter, where was = he found the
greatest activity and enterprise.
As though fate had determined he
sacrifice of Hull and his army, for the
want OF sufficient diversion OF the En-
xlish forces bslow, general Brock, wnh
q powerful reinforcement was suffered
TO steal upon him, and IN conjunction
with Indians and other forces about
Maiden, 10 surround him. by 'hes"
means, his designs upon the English
Fort were completely annulltd, ami his
retreat entirely circumSentcd. Had
Niskina been rcinforccd as II ought to
have been, and Brock with his troops be-
low, been kept in check by the approx
nation Of formidable force, Maiden
would have been taken by Hull. perhaps
wi,hou, TIE loss of man. The tive
cron,nen, events which are above des-
cribsd, we,e IN no way under the con-
,r..l of Hull aud the power to avert
them only In ths war department. Then I!