Arizona republican., 1914-06-18
TRIAL OF GEN. WILLIAM HULL

When the war of 1872 was begun, the country was ill prepared for a conflict. Among the Brigadier Gener- als appointed to command was William Hull, at the time governor of Michigan. Detroit at this period contained some eight hundred people and a fort a square enclosure of two acres. Hull notified the government of his made quacy to cope with the situation in this section. He undertook a siege of Fort Maiden, a few miles below Detroit on the opposite side of the river, but he was compelled to re- linquish his project and return home. Then word reached him that the British commander, Brock, was ap preaching with large force When Brock arrived he called upon Hull to surrender, but he refused. Then the British prepared for an attack. As the enemy approached Hull was greatly agitated. He is said to have sat in his tent with his back against the rampant, moody and uncommuni- cative. Yet he might have made an
 immortal name that day.
 Hull ina gined the forest SwaIming with Indians, and he thought of the women and children in the fort, among whom was his own daughter. His supplies would last but a month. His former bravery now forsook him utterly and to the astonishment of friend and foe, he surrendered the fort and his army without struggle and all the Michigan territory. The country was much disappoint ed, for it was led to believe that Canada was to fall an easy prey. | Colonel Lewis Cass, in a letter writ ten September 10, 1872, severely
 blamed Hull, and the government ac cepted his statements and removed Hull and appointed Cass as governor | of Michigan. Then arrangements were made to try Hull by court mar tial.
 | The court martial proceedings were held in Albany, New York, beginning on the third day of January, 1874.
 but were continued by adjournment
 to the twentyfifth day of March fol- lowing There were three different | charges, each one containing several
 specifications Hull was not only ac- cused of cowardice, but he was
 charged with treachery as well.
 The indignation of the army at
 what seemed to them a pusillanimous surrender was intense. The first sug- gestion of thousands of minds was
 that Hull from some corrupt motive
 must purposely and Urea asonably have
 betrayed his army.
 The first charge was treason against the United States, between
 the ninth of April and the seven
 teenth of August, 1872. The second was cowardce at and in the neigh borhood of Detroit. between the frs day of July and the seventeenth da.
 of August of the same year. Ant
 the third charge was neglect of dut. and unofficerike conduct while com manding a separate army betweel the ninth of April and the seven teenth of August.
 The court was presided over b. Major General Dearborn. After tn evidence was all delivered. the find
 ing was that Hull was not guilty O j the charge of treason. On the secon charge however, the court found hir
 guilty of the first, second and fourt
 specifications. except that part whic Il charged him of "forbidding tn American artillery to fire on the en | emy on their march to Fort Detroit. On the third charge the cour found Hull guilty of neglect of dut , and unofficerlike conduct, which wa the first specification. but on tn :. others they acquitted him.
 ! The court martial was finally ad { journed on March 26. In conse quence of their determination re specting the second and third charge ! and the specifications under thes ! charges. General Hull was sentence ! to be shot to death-two-th thirds ] the court concurring in the sentenc The court, however, in consideratio of the brigadier generals revolution ! ary services and his advanced az , earnestly recommended him to tf