North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-10-14


The eorprnandes Of IL. On The 2slh III MAY
rour bsifslions Of incorporated militia were
called into active service under The com
fnand Of -four Lieutenan, Colonies Of Can.
adam extraction.
The news Of the declaration Of war was
known at Quebec on the e9th Of June
The Governor left forthwith for Montreal
and was soon followed BY n battalion 81
the incorporated Canadian Militia. Sir
George Provost in the petiloes situation in
which the Province was found 10 be,
thought II his duty 10 throw himself upon
the therai,v and good feetines Of the Le-
/ riaature. The Canadians who had bren
| pointed DOT as notorious rebels by the pre-
decessor cf Sir George Provost, were in
the opening speech of His Excellency, sd-
dressed in The following complimentary
manner.
! "'To meet this unexpected event, RELY,
with the fullest confidence, upon the spr-
il of his majes,y's subjects in this Prov
! ipee, upon their attachment 10, and zeal
for the religion Of their forefathers, their
! LOYALTY 10 the true Interests Of their coun-
tFv and as feel satisfied that they are
neither 10 be inundated by the threats
nor deuded bv the insidious offers Of the
enemy, | shall depend implicitly, under
| Divine Providence, upon their best exer-
tons, aided by the courage and LOYALTY OF
the militia and by the valor, skill and dis
cipline Of his malrsty's regular forces, for
repeling every hostile attempt that may
be made upon this colony.n
= The House Immediately passed bill 10
authorize the Governor to issue army Bills
which were 10 be mel by specie from the
English treasury, and the interest thereon
is vet ne 10 the Proyrce
On the LIST of August this short session
OF the Provincial Parliament was brought
~ a close after having passed the bill
of which we have spoken above.
Meanwhile the American government
whose ostensible object in this war, was to
possess themselves Of the Canadas, and
thereby get rid Of an enemy who could at
any time annoy them so powerfully with
the aid OF The hordes Of Indians who were
in the rear and flank oi the American
Union, made extensive preparations To in
wade Upper Canada in the vicinity OF De-
troit, in the territory of Michigan. Brig
adler General Hull, an old officer OF the
Revolutionary war, was appointed Com
mander in Chief ef that portion of the
American army which was deputed TO
make this invasion. A Drawer set Of men
he could never have been appointed 10 CON-
mand, but whilst i, was his lot to be proud
Of the army over which he was placed,
il was reserved to this same army to weep
very soon over their dishonour and dis
grace, in having the misfortune of being
under the command Of so knavsh and
cowardly chief.
On the 10Th July the march OF this
army had been so rapid through the will
derness OF the far West, that General
Hui had crossed the Detroit River and
had taken possession Of Sandwic smah
village situated in the Province OF Upper
Canada nearly opposite Detroit, where he
issued the following proclamation which
the reader will find 10 the Appendix on the
last page marked C. ea5s
I But alas the prosperous and victorious
course Of the American General was to be
Of no long duration A panic seized upon
the old chief, he re-crossed the Detroit
River abandoning thus in the most cow
ardIy manner those friendly Canadians
who had received him so kindly and so
generously. Some Of these men finding
their fortune so much blended with the
fate of the American army which they
had openly joined, followed General Hui
TO the American territory, but others were
so situated that ihey could not very prop
lerly risk the abandonment Of their homes;
and these were the objects Of The inveier-
ate wrath Of the British, who exercised
over them the most anmerciful vengeance,
Il