The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-26
Centeniary Of Gen. Halls
 Conviction Of Cowardice


 TT IS JUST a hundred years since a court mar tial found Gen. William Hull, Of the United States army, guilty of coWardice in hav- ing surrendered Detroit without an effort at de- fense and sentenced him to be shot.
 This was during the War of 18f2, in which the nation was victorious but after a fashion not very cre7itable to its military genius. It may be Imagined what disposition would have been made of officers who laid down their com missions, because unwilling to obey orders. They certainly would not have been restored to rank and right to pension.
 The verdict was received with great iubila- tion by the majority of the people of the United States, who attributed to the condemned and disgraced soldier the failure of their high hopes for the conquest Of Canada A
 The sentence of death passed upon Hull was approved by President Madison, but later, on account of the general age and the merit of his services in the Revolution, the sentence was |remitted.
 A century after the conclusion of the mem orable court-martial, tardy justice is being done Etc the memory Of Gen.. Hull. Most historians are now Inclined to believe that Hull was made q seapegoat for the delinquencies of linen high Ter Ip.'
 The stigma of cowardiee elung to Hull until his death in 1895, but his Memoirs, 2 to which The devoted the latter years of his life, tended to clear up many military mysteries and to put Hull and has actions in better light. Hull was Ia native of Derby Conn, a graduate of Yale, lawyer Of ability, and an officer of note in the On the outbreak Of the second war between England and the United States, Hull was Cover norsof Michigan Territory His capital, the vil-5 lage of Detroit, had population of only 800 In a fort a square inclosure of two acres, Hull had 25OO soldiers at his command. His superiors believed that Canada would fall an easy prey l to an invading army, and Hull was ordered to attempt the conquest With 2, GOO men he cross. l ed the river, and issued proclamation prom ising the people relief from British tyranny and oppressIon,p and threatening with instant ldestruetion all Canadians who fought beside Indians. Hull s invasion served only to show Major General Sir Isaac Brock, the brave and lresourceful connander Of Upper Canada, where the first blow was to be struck The en- lergetic Brock immediately set about the work of lcircumve ntIng the invaders. Tn August Of 1872 Hull realized the dangers Of his situation, and returned to Detroit
 Brock pursued Hull's army to Detroit. and with 320 regulars and 400 militia, assisted by l Chief TeeuInseh and 600 Indians crossed the Heading the way to battle,-as Tecunseh after lward described the event-the English general crossed the stream and demanded the surrender Of the fort. Hull refused Brooks battery tn en opened fire from the Canadian side Consider ling the day lost, Hull surrendered, the capitula l tion including 25O0 men, the entire territory Of Miehigan as well as the fort and town of Detroit, l thirty three cannon, and much stores and arms. The whole republic rHng with denuncla- ltions of Hull when the news of his surrender Twas spread broadcast. seThe treachery and leowardice Of Hull, like that of Arnold, cannot l be a matter of blame tosour government, wrote T Thomas Jefferson. Everywhere it was de- lmanded that Hulls life pay the forfeit, and ear fly in 18i4 the disgraced general was placed on ltrial the court martial bringing it's verdict Of guilt and it's sentence of death on March 26 l History has passed somewhat kinder Judgment on Hull and has attributed his act, not Ito cowardiee, but to lack of judgment, the un- f wise orders Of his superiors, who had vastly tunderestimated Canadian loyalty to the British IcroWn; the panic stricken condition of his troops and the fact that he was opposed to a general far abler than himself.
 Drastic Means Necessary To