burying the dead, and rendering assistance to the wounded. On the eighth of November, the army marched into the town. It was well fortified, but totally deserted. A large quantity of corn, all the household utensils, a number of fire-arms, and a considerable amount of ammuni tion were found there. The town and all it contained was burned, and the gardens, corn fields and orchards destroyed.

On the ninth of November, the army commenced its return. The wounded were put in boats on the Wabash, while the rest of the army continued its march to Vincennes.

The Legislatures of Indiana and Kentucky passed resolutions highly complimentary of Governor Harrison, for his cool, deliberate, skilful and gallant conduct in the battle of Tippecanoe, and his reputation as an able and prudent General, was established on the most solid foundation.

In December, several chiefs came to Vincennes to settle all difficulties, and in March, 1812, others came from all the tribes except the Shawanese. This tribe under Tecumseh and the Prophet openly espoused the cause of the British.

CHAPTER XVIII.

DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN, JUNE EIGHTEENTH, 1812—GOV. HULL ARRIVES AT DETROIT, AT THE HEAD OF 2500 MEN-DETERMINES TO INVADE CANADA-COLONEL M'ARTHUR TAKES POSSESSION OF THE VALLEY OF THE THAMES-COLONEL CASS' BATTLE AT AUX CANARDS-ATTACK UPON MAJOR VANHORN, AT BROWNSTOWN-BRILLIANT VICTORY OF COLONEL MILLER, AT MAGAGUA-HULL ORDERS FORT CHICAGO TO BE EVACUATED-DEFEAT AND MASSACRE OF THE GARRISON-HE RETREATS TO DETROIT-HIS INGLORI OUS SURRENDER-AN ARMY RAISED TO RETAKE DETROIT-GENERAL HARRISON APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF-GALLANT DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON, BY CAPTAIN ZACHARY TAYLOR-EXPEDITION OF GENERAL HOPKINS, AND ITS FAILURE THE SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION OF GOVERNOR EDWARDS AND COLO. NEL RUSSEL TO THE PEORIA INDIAN TOWNS-THE SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION OF GENERAL HOPKINS AND COLONEL BUTLER TO THE PROPHET'S TOWNGENERAL TUPPER'S BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS-THE MISSISSINNEWA EXPEDITION.

The battle of Tippecanoe greatly contributed to influence the public mind, and to prepare it for a war with Great Britain. That power had enforced her famous orders in council against our commerce, impressed our seamen, insulted our flag upon the high seas, and continued to pay regular annuities to her savage allies, living within the limits of the Union. (1) The United States, anxious to avoid an appeal to arms with one of the most powerful nations on earth, tried every effort to bring about an honorable adjustment of matters in dispute between the two nations, until the forbearance of the government was construed into pusillanimity, and the name and character of the United States, in consequence, degraded in the eyes of every nation in Europe. At length, on the fifth day of June, 1812, President Madison laid before Congress the correspondence between Mr. Monroe, Secretary of State, and the British Minister, near our government. This correspondence seemed to preclude all hope of adjusting the two principal points at issue-the orders in council, and the impressment of our seamen.

President Madison now sent a message to Congress, in which our complaints against Great Britain were enumerated with great force, and an opinion expressed that no remedy-no hope now remained, but in open war. The committee on foreign relations, to whom the message was referred, concurred with the President in recommending the measure. At length, on the eighteenth of June, Congress sitting with closed doors, passed an act declaring war against Great Britain. On the same day it received the sanction of the President, and on the next day, a declaration of war was publicly proclaimed. Congress, at the same ses

sion, authorised the increase of the regular army to thirty-five thousand men, and also authorised the raising of a large volunteer force, for one

year.

Governor Hull, of the territory of Michigan, was on his march to Detroit, at the head of two thousand men, with a view of putting an end to Indian hostilities, when he received information of the declaration of war. His force consisted of about eight hundred United States troops, and twelve hundred volunteers from the State of Ohio. The Ohio troops were composed of three regiments; one under Colonel Duncan M'Arthur, one under Colonel James Findlay, and the other under Colonel Lewis Cass. The gallant fourth regiment of United States troops, that fought at Tippecanoe, now commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Miller, was added on the march.

This army, now consisting of about twenty-five hundred men, left Urbana, in Ohio, about the middle of June, and commenced its march northward, through the wilderness, still in possession of the Indians, and which separated the inhabited part of Ohio, from the Michigan territory. From Urbana to the Rapids of the Maumee, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles, they passed through heavy timber without roads and abounding with marshes. Through the "black swamp" the army marched, followed by one hundred and six heavy wagons, thirteen of which became fast in the mire, and being scattered along the route of the army, served as guides long afterwards, to show where Hull's army had passed. On the thirteenth day of June, the army reached the Maumee, having in two weeks marched one hundred and twenty miles, cutting their road through a dense forest, and wading knee deep in mire about forty miles. They now entered an open and romantic country, and proceeding on their march, reached Detroit on the fifth day of July. When at the Maumee, Governor Hull put his baggage on board of a vessel for Detroit. This was taken by the British, and his official papers, a full account of his strength, and every information which could be of any value to the enemy, fell into the hands of the British.

This was the favorable opportunity for commencing operations against the Province of Upper Canada; and as Governor Hull had received discretionary power to act offensively, an immediate invasion was determined on. The British attempted to throw up a breast-work to oppose the landing. This was twice destroyed, but was finally constructed and mounted with seven cannon, and two mortars. On the twelfth of July, the army crossed over into Canada, some distance above the fort, and entered the village of Sandwich. In a few days the whole country

along the Thames, a beautiful river, whose borders were well settled, was taken possession of, by Colonel M'Arthur, with his regiment of Ohio volunteers, without molestation. Colonel Cass was dispatched in an opposite direction toward Fort Malden, with one hundred and eighty Malden is situated thirteen miles south of Detroit, at the junction of the river and the lake. Having reached the river Aux Canards, about four miles from Malden, he found a British detachment in possession of the bridge. Here a battle took place, and the enemy was routed with the loss of eleven killed and wounded.

men.

In the mean time, a party of three hundred British troops embarked from St. Joseph's on the sixteenth of July, for an attack upon Fort Michilimackinac. As only fifty six men were in the garrison, this important post was surrendered to the British. The news of the surrender of this Gibraltar of the Lakes, filled the mind of General Hull with consternation.

Another disaster happened in another quarter. General Hull had ordered Captain Heald, who commanded at Fort Chicago, to abandon that post, and retreat to Detroit. He accordingly consigned the public property to some friendly Indians, and with his company of United States troops, numbering about fifty, accompanied by several families that resided near the place, commenced his march. He had proceeded but a short distance along the shore of the Lake, when he was attacked by a large body of Indians. After a severe action, in which he manfully maintained his ground, the Indians gained his rear and cut off his baggage. Finding that he would be compelled to yield at last, he at length received protection from an Indian chief. Twenty-six of the regular troops were killed, all the men and a number of women and children in company, were inhumanly murdered. The brave Captain Wells, who was captain of the scouts under General Wayne, was among the slain.

A council of war was called on the first day of August, when it was determined to attack Fort Malden immediately. But after sending a detachment of Ohio volunteers under Major Vanhorn, to escort a convoy of provisions from the River Raisin, he suddenly gave an order to recross the river Detroit, abandoning the enterprise without any reason, to the great mortification of every officer and soldier under his command. Major Vanhorn was attacked on his second day's march, near Brownstown, by a large force of British and Indians, and after a desperate resistance, made his retreat with the loss of nineteen killed and nine wounded.

Lieut. Col. James Miller, was now sent at the head of five hundred

men to escort the provisions at the River Raisin, to Detroit, and to chastise the enemy, that had attacked Maj. Vanhorn, He commenced his march on the ninth of August, and having arrived in the vicinity of Brownstown, proceeded with great caution. The enemy had thrown up a breast work about four miles from the town, at a place called Magagua, behind which the Indians under Tecumseh were concealed wait. ing the approach of Col. Miller. The whole British and Indian force was commanded by Maj. Muir. The advanced guard of the Americans under Capt. Snelling, approaching the ambuscade of the Indians, was suddenly attacked with great fury. Capt. Snelling kept his ground until the main body approached when the whole Indian force poured à destructive fire into his ranks. Col. Miller returned the fire, and then charged the enemy with great impetuosity. The British troops gave way and fled, but the Indians under Tecumseh, retreating a short distance into the woods, kept their ground with desperate obstinacy. The British regulars being rallied, returned to the contest, and the fight continued for some time, with great fury on both sides. Five hundred savages under Tecumseh, aided by a body of British troops, fought with great desperation. Col. Miller disregarding the musketry of the British and the yells of the savages, repelled their attacks on every side, and by repeated charges, compelled the enemy to retreat. They retired slowly to Brownstown, literally retreating at the point of the bayonet. Here they hastily embarked in boats and crossed the river to Malden. The British loss was fifteen killed and more than thirty wounded, and the Indians left nearly one hundred dead on the field of battle. The Americans had fifteen killed and about sixty wounded.

After this brilliant victory at Magagua, Col. Miller was unable to proceed to the River Raisin, and Col. Cass and Col. M'Arthur were despatched with about four hundred men, to escort the provisions to Detroit. In the meantime, the British had taken a position opposite Detroit, and erected fortifications. On the fifteenth of August, a flag of truce was sent from Gen. Brock, the British commandant, to Gov. Hull, demanding a surrender of Detroit. To this summons an answer was returned that the place would be defended to the last extremity. The British immediately opened their batteries, and continued to throw shells during the night. The fire was returned, but with little effect on either side. In the morning, it was discovered that the British were landing on the American shore, at a place called Spring Wells, under the cover of their ships. The enemy having landed about ten o'clock, advanced towards the fort in close column, and twelve deep. The American force