The fall and recapture of Detroit in the War of 1812
Subtitle: in defense of William Hull
By: Anthony J. Yanik
Series: Great Lakes books series; Great Lakes books
Publisher: Wayne State University Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Detroit
Language: eng
Number of pages: 220
ISBN-13: 9780814335987
Subjects: Campaigns; History
Description: From the Dust Jacket: The focus of the opening campaign of the War of 1812 was Detroit, a location the War Department considered one of the significant launching points for the invasion of Canada, Detroit's surrender only two months after the declaration of war shocked the nation and led to the court-martial of Brigadier General William Hull. Hull was sentenced to death-the only commanding general ever to receive such a sentence in U.S. military history-and has been vilified by many historians to the present day for his decision to surrender. In The Fall and Recapture of Detroit in the War of 1812: In Defense of William Hull, author Anthony J. Yanik reconsiders Hull's abrupt surrender and the general's defense that the decision was based on sound humanitarian grounds. Yanik begins by tracing the political roots of the War of 1812 and giving readers an idea of what life was like in the tiny frontier settlement of Detroit in the years leading up to the war. He moves on to Hull's appointment as brigadier general and the assembly of the North Western Army in the summer of 1812, culminating in the arduous journey to Detroit and botched invasion of Canada. Yanik then details Hull's surrender and its repercussions for Detroit, including life under British rule and the eventual recapture of Detroit by American forces. Yanik also probes the general's court martial for cowardice in 1814, arguing that a close examination of the testimony of the witnesses, an analysis of Hull's defense, and a review of the actual events themselves raise many questions about the credibility of the verdict that was issued. The Fall and Recapture of Detroit in the War of 1812 also includes a useful chronology of Hull's Detroit campaign and appendixes with historical writings and speeches from the officials involved in the war effort.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Chronology of Hull's Detroit campaign; title: Detroit at the outbreak of the War of 1812; title: Preamble to an unnecessary war; title: Through the wilderness to Detroit, May 23-July 9; title: The invasion of Canada, July 12-August 2; title: Tragedy on the trail to Frenchtown, August 3-August 14; title: From crisis to surrender, August 1516; title: The trial of brigadier General William Hull; title: Was Hull's surrender justified?; title: Detroit under British rule, 1812-14; title: The recapture of Detroit.