The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-06-10
OHIO, SATURDAY, JUNE 10, l84s.

ment, and ,Das the first to land in arms
in the enemy's country. rms. ya
On. the 18th of July he was ordered
to attack British detachment, station
ed atthe river Aux Canards, about fif.
teen miles from Detroit, and five miles
| from Fort Maiden, the British head
quarters. He crossed the river some
distance above the enemy's post, and
briskly attacked them; when, after some
loss, they fled. Here was spiItthe first
blood during the last war. Col. Cass
took possession of the abandoned posi-
ton, and Immediately despatched mes.
senger to Gen. Hull, informing him Of
his success, and advising him to march
Immediately to Fort Malden--,he road
to which was opened. Had this been
done, success must have crowned the
operation, and the war, in that quarter,
would have been over. He was, how.
ever, sadly disappointed by the indeoi-
sion of Hull, who ordered him to return
and join the army. From this moment
bad councils prevailed, the army lost all
confidence IN Hull, and he proceeded
in his own course, regardless of the ad-
vice or remonstrance of his officers.--
About three weeks after the affair at
the Canards, the whole army was or
dered across the river to Detroit;. in
which time, had Col. Cass's advice been
taken, Maiden might have been reduc-
ed, and a secure lodgment made in
Upper Canada. The order OF Hull to
return was not less unexpected to the
army than was the disgraceful surren-
der at Detroit, without a shot being
fired, overwhelming to the country.
On entering Canard, Gen. Hull dis
tributed a proclamation among the in
habitants, which, for the eloquence and
high spirit it contained, cannot be sur
passed; but it was sadly in contrast
with the fulflment Of its professions.--
Unfortunately for the country, the au-
thor Of the proclamation, Col. Cass,
was not the commander Of the army.
Had he been so, the country would
have been saved the modification of.
beholding the descent from the promise
to the fulflment. As it was, he used
every exertion to arouse in the COM
manding general that spirit Of patriot
ism which breathes in every line of the
admirable paper, but in vain. A spirit
Of infatuation, or something worse,
seized upon Hull, and led him on from
one false step to another, until the
crowning act, the surrender Of Detroit,
without firing gun, completed his own
ruin, and brought disgrace upon the
arms ofhis country. 1t is well known
to the country that both Col. Cass and
Col. Macarthur were detached from De-
troit previous to the surrender, ostensi-
bly, for provisions, but, in fact, because
they were unwelcome counsellors at
headquarters. Stung with mortifca-
ton on hearing Of the surrender, Col.
Cass, when ordered to deliver up his
sword, Indignantly shivered it in pieces,
and threw it to the earth, refusing to
surrender it to the enemy.
After the surrender of Detroit, Col.
Cass repaired to Washington, to report
to the government the whole circum-
stances attending the expedition. He
was exchanged during the winter. and
in the spring was appointed q brigadier
general. Shortly after this, he joined
Gen. Harrison, at Seneca, where the
army was collecting, destined to recov-
er the territory of Michigan, and to
take possession of the western district
of Upper Canada. The preparatory
arrangements being completed, and the
lake being open to the transportation. |
of our troops by the victory Of Perry.
Gen. Harrison commenced his move
ment in September, 1918, and embark
ed his troops at the mouth Of Portage
river, whence they moved, and were
concentrated at Put.in-bay. From here
they sailed TO the Western Sister, a |
small island off the coast of, Canada,
where, being all collected, the final ar
rangements were made. The debarca-
ton was superintendent and directed by |
Gen. Cass, Of the army, and Capt. Ell
lott, of the navy; and the troops land
ed in perfect order, expecting to meet
a formidable resistance. !, But the ene-
my had fed, after destroying the public |
buildings at Amhertsburg and Detroit,
and were in full retreat for Lake Onta-
rio. The American army Immediately |
commenced the pursuit, and after cap
turing two small detachments, which
offered some resistance in favorable po-
yitions, overlook the enemy at the Mo-
rravian towns on the river Thames, a.
bout eighty miles from Detroit, The
British general Proc!or) proved him
self unequal to his command. Having
some days the START if be designed to
escape, he should have pushed his re-
treat as rapidly as possible. But he
moved slowly, encnmbered with much