Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-11-29
PIONEER RECOLLECTIONs.
Hull's Surrender at DetrOit--The Last
Of TecumSeh.

Z lectiOnS OF General George SandersOn,
of Lancaster, Ohio, who died IN that
place on the 26th of August last, In
/ the seventy fifth year of his age.
| General Sanderson was a native of
( Pennsylvania, but with his parents
removed to Lancaster in 1900, where
he resided all his life. He published
the Independent Times at Lancaster
| in 1910, and on the breaking out of
/ the war of 1872, organized a company
of volunteers for Colonel Lewis Cass'
regiment. General-then Captain
Sanderson was at the surrender of
DETROIT, with his regiment, and with
Harrison at the river Thames, as a
Captain in the regular army. We
make the following extracts from his
recOlleetions in regard to two of the
most Interesting events of the war:
HULL's SURRENDER.
II was late in May, 1912, when
General Hull arrived at our camp at
Dayton, and Governor Meigs relin-
quished command. A few days after
we were on the march to Detroit.
The road was a difficult one to travel,
but by the aid of efficient guides, and
the protection of Divine Providence
we arrived safely at our destination,
after much suffering and many stop
pages by the way For nearly two
months after our arrival, we engaged
in the performance of no extraOr-
dinary military duty, the general
routine of camp life being the order
from day to day. In August the
British and Indians arrived, and soon
after the scene occurred which pro-
duced such Indignation at the time,
and about which histories do not
agree. My Company, belonging to
Cass's regiment, was surrendered with
all the Ohio volunteers, Miller's regu-
lars, and large force of militia. /
shall never forget the scenes which
then transpired. My opinion of
General HulPs conduct, formed at
the time, land events since have not
changed it) was, that General Hull
was an imbecile-nOt traitor, but an
imbecile, caused by the excessive use
of ardent spirits. He was a constant,
heavy dTinkeT. On the day before
the surrender, his son, Captain Abra-
ham L. Hull, came among my men
in beastly state of intoXicatiOn. On
the day of the surrender l saw General
Hull frequently. His face about the
chin and mouth was covered with
tobacco juice, and / thought, in COM
mon with other officers, that the
General was under the influence of
liquor. His personal appearance in
dicated that he had been drinking.
The general was surrounded, in camp,
with military family, the members
of which were fond of high living,
wines, liquors, etc. l know US poor
volunteers wondered how they could
keep up such luxuTies, but our surgeon
relieved our mind by informing me
one day that Hull's officers drew all
the liquors from the hospital stores,
on continued co 1plaDts of illness.
Hulls surgeon lone of the partly
certifying to the acquisitions.
When the news of the surrender
was known to the troops, they were
able to restrain their indig-
nation. Hundreds of horrible oaths
and threats aseended, which / hope
have not been set down by the " Re-
cording Angel" Macarthur broke his
sword, as did other officers. General
Hull was repeatedly insulted to his
facegand soon hid himself away. The
members of his military family, es-
pecially the Generals son Abraham.
received some pretty tall abuse from
US OhiOaDs. After the surrender and |
before the enemy had entered, many |
officers, myself among the number, /
Colonel Findlay to take /
of the American forces, and |
resist the enemy, but he declined. I
Colonel James Miller was importuned |
he same as Findlay, but he was un-
willing to assume the responsibility, /
saying, as near as near as / can !
-eeollect, " Matters have gone too far, /
Dut had General Hull signified to me |
his intention of surrendering, 1 would.
nave assumed command, and defend
ID to the last" Miller would have
lone so, and so would Macarthur had
he been in the fort.
Some little time after Hull had
'rdered the white flag, August 16,
S12, Colonel Isaac Brock, the British
entered the fort attended
" his staff and several Indian chiefs.
The American troops were ordered TO
he parade ground and there piled up
heir muskets, swords, pistols, knives,
boxes, etc. A heavy guard
Tas placed over us, and we We're then
ent to the " citadel, " where we were
ept until released on parole. Hull
nd the regular officers were sent to
quebec. l was very particular to ,
ave a good look at General Brock,
5 l had never before seen a British ,
ficer of his rank. He was heavily
uilt man, abouG six feet three inches :
j height, broad shoulders, large hips, !
nd lame, walking with q cane One :
his eyes, the left one / think, was /
lOsed, and he was withal the ugIiest :
ficer | ever saw. He wore a bright, :
sarlet uniform, with a sash wrapped :
ght around his waist. When he !
ime to our company he said to me: =
If your men attempt to escape, or +
} complain of their treatment, l can +
OF be answerable for the conse- +
lences, but if they remain quiet and +
'derly, they shall shortly be released 4
Id no harm shall befall them,u !
his was good news to my men, many n
whom were afraid when they re- j.
rned in a defeneeless condition, the n
wages would be let loose after them. +,
II the officers of our army who con- y
.rsed with Brock, spoke of him as u
ing u very agreeable and courteous r
who had seen much SER n
ce in India and the East. q.
WHO KILLED TECUMsEH. IL
My company shared in the glorious
ute of Proctor and his proud army =,
that result being attained by the h,
ctOry at the River Thames. 1t was r.
that memorable day, October ), In
l3, that Tecumseh fell. 1 remember 4,
eumseh. / saw him a number Of ! h.
nes before the war. He was a man re
huge frame, powerfully built, and 70
Is about six feet two inches in oT
light. saw his bOdyo Oh the Thames n
before it was cold. Whe- M
t, l cannot say. During the battle m
was smoke, noise and confusion. N
deed, never heard any one speak he
Colonel JOhnsOn's having killed M
cumseh until years afterward.
lnson was brave man, and was ad
lily wounded in the battle in q Lr
y painful part-his knuckles-and m
o, 1 think, in the body. He was do
ried past me on a litter. In the mr.
,ning on the day of battle was 6f
pointed by General Harrison to
lrd the Indian prisoners with my an
npany. The location was near a We
amp. As to the Kentuckians hav- of
skinned Teeumseh's body, / am To
sonally cognizant that such was ~
fact. l have seen many contrary 70,
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