Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1848-06-01

patriotism was knOwn, the cili1rns Of that S'n'G
hastened 10 the call of their country, and the force
was raised without delay or difficulty. Mr. Cass
was among the volunteers, md wns elected 10 the
command Of the third regiment. He proceeded
iminedi tely with his regiment TO Dayton, where
the Rrmy WIS concentrated, and WhenCe II COM
menced It's mnrch for Deuoh The country was
n trackIess forest, and much Of II was low aud
wet GrOat dilirulrirs were inlerposd 10 the adj
vance Of the troops by the streams and marshes,
and by the necessity Of cutting road. Blu, these
we're overcome with tue usual good will mud per-
severance Of the American soldiers. The army
reached Detroit on the Ith Of July, 1872,
Official information that war would he declared,
overlook them in the wilderness; hut the declnra-
ton itself was rot received until they reached De-
uoll, Colonel Cass was perhaps more urgent for
an invasion of Canada than any officer in HUI \
army. lie was decidedly in favor cf making an
e01Iy amt deciStre movement, before the lDrsh
should be prepared for the invasion We conceive
1t 10 be no dsparagemenl TO amy one TO say mat
he was the ndsler-sprlt of that army nh'' the
affair ut the Cunards after which, !, is known, he
disapproved Of every step taken by the command
ing general There can now be no doubt that
llulIs amy never would have entered Chnadh
but for the prrsuasions Of Colonel Cass 30 anxI.
Gus was he 10 push forward and do something to
meet the just expectations OF the Administration
and the country, that he commanded the advanced
detachment and lraS he first man 10 lana IN
arms IN me eHemy's country
On the 18th Of July he was ordered TO attack n
British detachment stationed at the river Aux
Canards, about fifteen miles from Detroit, aud five
miles from Fort Maiden, then the British head
quarters lie crossed the river some distance
! irU'u the ""oo"y-S pool, and S'iskly attacked
| them; when, after some loss, they fled Here
was split the first blood during the last wal
Colonel Cuss took possession Of The abandoned
position, and Immediately despatched messenger
to General Hull, Informing hin OF his success, and
al Using him to march Immediately to Font Maiden
the 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. lie was, however, sadly disappointed by
the INDIGESTION of Hull, who ordered him to return
and Join the army. From this moment bad coun.
ellis prevailed, the army losta confidence in Hull
and he proceeded in his own course, regardless OF
the advice or remonstrancG Of his officers. About
three weeks after the affair at tho CunaTds, the
whole army was ordered across The river to De
troit; in which tine, had Colonel Casss advice
been taken, Maiden might have been reduced and
ii secure Judgment made in Upper Canada. The
order of Hull to return was not less unexpected 10
the army than was the disgraceIuI surrender at
Detroit without shot being fired, oycrw henng
to the country.
On entering Canada, General Hull distributed n
proclamation among the inhabitants, which, for
the cloquencc and high spirit that it contained,
cannot be surpassed; but it waS sadly in contrast
with the fpliiIIment Of lis Professions, UnIoI!u.
nateIt for the country, the author Of the PROCLAIM
non, Colonel Cnss, was not the commander Of the
army. Had he been so, the country would have
a., Of H., a.
scent from the promise to the fuIfl!ment As il
WAS, he used every cXetlon TO arouse in the COM.
mandug general lha; spirit Of patriotism which
breuhes IN every line of the admirable pnpcr, but
IN vain. A spmit Of inlauaron, or something
worse, seized upon Hull, and led him on, from
one luSe step to another, until the browning act
the surrender Of Detroit, without gun, conpIel.
ed his own ruin, and brought disgrace upon the
arms Of his country II Is well known 10 the
country that both Colonel Cass and Colonel Nc
Arthur were detached from Detroit previous 10
The surrender, oscnsIby for provisions, but, in
fact, because they were unweIcone CuunseIiors
ut headquarters Stung with modification on
hearing Of The surrender, Colonel Cass, when or.
derch 10 deliver up his sword, Indignantly shwpr-
ed il in pieces, and threw it 10 The earth, refusing
to surrender ii to the enemy.
Alier The surrender Of Detroit, Colonel Casq re-
paired to Washington, to report 10 the Govern
lion lie was exchanged during the winter, and
in the spring was appointed hrlgades general
Shortly after thiS, liz joined General Harrison AT
Seneca, where the army WAS collecting, destined
TO recover the territory of Michigan, and 10 take
possession of the western district oil Upper Canada.
The preparatory arrangements being completed,
and the lake beng open 10 the transportation of
our troops by the victory of Perry, General liar
rison commenced his movement IN September,
1913, and embarked his troops n! The mouth Of
Portage river, whence they moved, and were con.
centraled AT Put IN Bay. From here they sailed
to the Western Sister. Il small ISLAND Oft the coast
Of Canada, where, being all collected, the final ar
rangemens were made The debarka,ion was
superintendent md directed by General CNss, of
the army, and Captain Elliott, of the navy; and
the troops landed in perfect order, expecting TO
meet formidable resistance But the enemy
had fed, after destroying the public buildings ii
Amhorsburg and Detroit, and were in full retreat
for Lake Ontario. The American army immcd.
ately commenced the pursuit, and after capturing
two small detachmcnls, which offered some resist
anCe in favorable POSITIONS, overlook the enemy nj
the Moravlan towns on the river thames, about
eighty miles from Detroit. The British general,
Proctor, proved himsell unequal 10 his command.
Having some days the start, II he designed 10 es
cape he should have pushed his relrent as rapidly
as possible Bu, he moved slowly, encountered
with much unnecessary baggage, and hndng The
American army closing upon him, he prepared
for battle. The ground he chose was heavily Gov
cred with trees, and his left rested upon the river
Thames, while his right extended into The woods,
terminating in Il marsh. This flank occupied
by the Indians, who it was intended should turn
the American left wing and attain the rear, The
IrpOns