The Life and Correspondence of Sir Isaac Brock by Ferdinand Brock Tupper

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P.S.--If Commodore Grant be still alive, pray remember me
warmly to him and Mrs. Grant.

_Major-General Brock to his Brothers_.

Head Quarters, Detroit, Aug. 16, 1812.

Rejoice at my good fortune, and join me in prayers to Heaven.
I send you a copy of my hasty note to Sir George.

[Here follows his short dispatch of that day. See page 247.]

Let me hear that you are all united and happy.

_Major-General Brock to his Brothers._

LAKE ONTARIO, September 3, 1812.

You will have heard of the complete success which attended the
efforts I directed against Detroit. I have received so many
letters from people whose opinion I value, expressive of their
admiration of the exploit, that I begin to attach to it more
importance than I was at first inclined. Should the affair be
viewed in England in the light it is here, I cannot fail of
meeting reward, and escaping the horror of being placed high
on a shelf, never to be taken down.

Some say that nothing could be more desperate than the
measure; but I answer, that the state of the province admitted
of nothing but desperate remedies. I got possession of the
letters my antagonist addressed to the secretary at war, and
also of the sentiments which hundreds of his army uttered to
their friends. Confidence in the general was gone, and evident
despondency prevailed throughout. I have succeeded beyond
expectation. I crossed the river, contrary to the opinion of
Colonel Proctor,----, &c.; it is, therefore, no wonder that
envy should attribute to good fortune what, in justice to my
own discernment, I must say, proceeded from a cool calculation
of the _pours_ and _contres_.

They say that the value of the articles captured will amount
to 30 or L40,000; in that case, my proportion will be
something considerable. If it enable me to contribute to your
comfort and happiness, I shall esteem it my highest reward.
When I returned Heaven thanks for my amazing success, I
thought of you all; you appeared to me happy--your late
sorrows forgotten; and I felt as if you acknowledged that the
many benefits, which for a series of years I received from
you, were not unworthily bestowed. Let me know, my dearest
brothers, that you are all again united. The want of union was
nearly losing this province without even a struggle, and be
assured it operates in the same degree in regard to families.

A cessation of hostilities has taken place along this
frontier. Should peace follow, the measure will be well; if
hostilities recommence, nothing could be more unfortunate than
this pause. I cannot give you freely an account of my
situation--it is, however, of late much improved. The militia
have been inspired, by the recent success, with
confidence--the disaffected are silenced. The 49th have come
to my aid, besides other troops. I shall see Vincent, I hope,
this evening at Kingston. He is appointed to the command of
that post--a most important one. I have withdrawn Plenderleath
from Niagara to assist him. P---- is sitting opposite to me,
and desires to be remembered. James Brock is likewise at
Kingston. I believe he considers it more his interest to
remain with the 49th than to act as my private secretary;
indeed, the salary is a mere pittance. Poor Leggatt is dead,
and has left his family in the most distressing
circumstances. His wife died last year.

Major Smelt and Captain Brown have sent me your letters, for
which I thank you. Let Richard Potenger be assured that his
letter afforded me the highest gratification. I trust in
Heaven that the whole of his thoughts will be directed to
study, and to qualify himself for the holy profession he has
chosen. Ignorance is despised in most men, but more
particularly in the clergyman educated at one of the
universities, who must have neglected so many opportunities of
acquiring knowledge.

I received the other day a long letter from Sir Thomas
Saumarez, from Halifax. I regret the death of the two Harry
Brocks.[84] I have likewise been particularly unfortunate in
the loss of two valuable military friends. I begin to be too
old to form new friendships, and those of my youth are
dropping off fast.

General Sheaffe has lately been sent to me. There never was an
individual so miserably off for the necessary assistance. Sir
George Prevost has kindly hearkened to my remonstrances, and
in some measure supplied the deficiency. The 41st is an
uncommonly fine regiment, but, with few exceptions, badly
officered. You mention John Tupper[85] in a manner as to leave
hope that he may still be living. God grant it! He is a great
favorite of mine, and I should lament any disaster happening
to him. Perhaps Glegg may be sent home by Sir George, and in
that case I hope he will allow you to see the colours taken
from the 4th U.S. regiment. The generality of the English will
esteem them very little: nothing is prized that is not
acquired with blood.

KINGSTON, September 4.

I this instant receive your letters by Mr. Todd, So honest
John Tupper is gone! I could not have loved a son of my own
more ardently. Hostilities I this instant understand are to be
renewed in four days; and though landed only two hours, I must
return immediately to Niagara, whence I shall write fully.

_Lieut.-Colonel Nichol, Quartermaster-General of Militia, to
Major-General Brock._

DETROIT, August 25, 1812.

I have just been informed by Colonel Proctor that he intends
sending an express to-morrow to Fort George, which gives me an
opportunity to forward a few printed copies of your
proclamation, and to inform you that in order to carry it into
effect, it has been found absolutely necessary to organize the
civil government. Under existing circumstances, I have advised
Colonel Proctor to assume the administration until your
pleasure is known, to which he has agreed, and the necessary
arrangements consequent thereto have been adopted and
promulgated. In Judge Woodward, who has been appointed
secretary _pro tem_, he will find an able coadjutor; and as
your object undoubtedly was to tranquillize the public mind
and to give the inhabitants a proof of the moderation and
benevolence of his majesty's government, as well as to ensure
the due administration of the laws, I do not think a more
judicious choice could have been made. In all the discussions
which took place on this subject, Colonel Proctor did me the
honor to consult me; and I have no hesitation in saying, that
I urged him to the step he has taken, of which I hope you
will, as it is only temporary, approve. We have had much
difficulty in collecting the public cattle and horses, and
have suffered greatly from the predatory spirit of the
Indians; indeed, their conduct has been infamous. There is
hardly a house on either side of the river that has not been
robbed by them; they have taken away the greater part of the
captured horses and cattle, and without our being able to
prevent it. It has not been in my power as yet to send a
statement of all that we have captured, as the property is so
scattered, but I hope to finish this week. We got upwards of
L1,200 in money, and have sent down a hundred packs worth, I
suppose L1,500 more. I have reason to think the captured
property will not be much under L40,000.

We have still 350 prisoners to ship off, but I hope to get
rid of them in a few days. Public confidence seems to be
partially restored; business is again going on, and I hope
that the country will become perfectly quiet.

It is impossible for me to say when I shall get done here. I
hope, however, it will not be long. I regret that we are not
able to send you complete returns of every thing; but the
captured property is in so many different places, and so
scattered, that it cannot be done.

* * * * *

_Extract from a Canadian Newspaper._

MONTREAL, September 12.

Last Sunday evening the inhabitants of this city were
gratified with an exhibition equally novel and interesting.

That General Hull should have entered into our city so soon,
at the head of his troops, rather exceeded our expectations.
We were, however, very happy to see him, and received him with
all the honors due to his high rank and importance as a public
character. The following particulars, relative to his journey
and reception at Montreal, may not be uninteresting to our
readers:

It appears that General Hull and suite, accompanied by about
25 officers and 350 soldiers, left Kingston, under an escort
of 130 men, commanded by Major Heathcote, of the Newfoundland
regiment. At Cornwall, the escort was met by Captain Gray, of
the quartermaster-general's department, who took charge of the
prisoners of war, and from thence proceeded with them to La
Chine, where they arrived about two o'clock on Sunday
afternoon. At La Chine, Captains Richardson and Ogilvie, with
their companies of Montreal militia, and a company of the
king's from Lower Chine, commanded by Captain Blackmore,
formed the escort till they were met by Colonel Auldjo, with
the remainder of the flank companies of the militia, upon
which Captain Blackmore's company fell out and presented arms
as the general and line passed, and then returned to La Chine,
leaving the prisoners of war to be guarded by the militia
alone. The line of march then proceeded to the town in the
following order, viz:

1. Band of the king's regiment.

2. The first division of the escort.

3. General Hull in a carriage, accompanied by Captain Gray.
Captain Hull and Major Shekleton followed in the second, and
some wounded officers occupied four others.

4. The American officers.

5. The non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

6. The second division of the escort.

It unfortunately proved rather late in the evening for the
vast concourse of spectators assembled to experience that
gratification they so anxiously looked for. This inconvenience
was, however, in a great measure remedied by the illuminations
of the streets through which the line of march passed. When
they arrived at the general's house, the general was conducted
in, and presented to his excellency Sir George Prevost, and
was received with the greatest politeness, and invited to take
up his residence there during his stay at Montreal. The other
officers were accommodated at Holmes' hotel, and the soldiers
lodged in the Quebec barracks. The general appears to be about
sixty years of age, and is a good looking man, and we are
informed by those who have had frequent opportunities of
conversing with him, that he is a man of general information.
He is communicative, and seems to bear his misfortunes with a
degree of philosophical resignation that but few men in
similar circumstances are gifted with. On Thursday last
General Hull, with eight American officers, left this city for
the United States, on their parole.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 79: We can discover none from Colonel Baynes on the subject.]

[Footnote 80: This dispatch was published in a Gazette Extraordinary, in
London, on the 6th of October. See page 240.]

[Footnote 81: Captain Glegg was made a brevet-major for the capture of
Detroit. Sir George Prevost's aide-de-camp, Captain Coore, was also made
a brevet-major for taking the dispatches to England.]

[Footnote 82: Created a baronet on the 30th November, 1818.]

[Footnote 83: This letter is apparently written with the left hand, as
if the writer had lost his right.]

[Footnote 84: Henry Frederick Brock, Esq., jurat of the Royal Court of
Guernsey; and Lieutenant Henry Brock, R.N. In his letter, (see page
194,) Sir Thomas Saumarez, speaking of the latter, says: "He was a most
promising young officer, and, had the poor fellow lived, my brother
James would probably have made him a commander this summer."]

[Footnote 85: His nephew, John E. Tupper, Esq., aged twenty, perished at
sea in January, 1812, in the Mediterranean, the vessel in which he was a
passenger from Catalonia to Gibraltar having never been heard of after
sailing. He was educated at Harrow at the same time as Lord Byron, Sir
Robert Peel, &c.]

CHAPTER XIII.

After issuing a proclamation to the inhabitants of the Michigan
territory, by which their private property was secured and their laws
and religion confirmed, and leaving as large a force under Colonel
Proctor as could be spared at Detroit, Major-General Brock hastened to
return to the Niagara frontier; and while on his voyage across Lake
Erie, in the schooner Chippewa, he was met on the 23d of August by the
provincial schooner Lady Prevost, of 14 guns, the commander of which,
after saluting the general with seventeen guns, came on board and gave
him the first intelligence of the armistice which Sir George Prevost had
unfortunately concluded with the American general, Dearborn.
Major-General Brock could not conceal his deep regret and mortification
at the intelligence, which he feared would prevent his contemplated
attack on Sackett's Harbour. Sir George Prevost, early in August, on
hearing of the repeal of the British orders in council, which were the
principal among the alleged causes of the war, had proposed a suspension
of hostilities until the sentiments of the American government were
received on the subject; and to this suspension General Dearborn
readily agreed, with the exception of the forces under General Hull,
who, he said, acted under the immediate orders of the secretary at war.
But, by the terms of the truce, General Hull had the option of availing
himself of its provisions if he thought fit, and that he would gladly
have done so there can be no doubt. Happily, however, owing to the
rapidity of Major-General Brock's movements, the news of the armistice
did not reach the belligerent commanders in time to prevent the
surrender of the one, or to snatch well-earned laurels from the brow of
the other.[86] This armistice was attended with very prejudicial
consequences, as it not only marred the attempt on Sackett's Harbour,
but it rendered unavailing the command of the lakes, which was then held
by the British.[87]

The successful commander, in transmitting by Captain Glegg his
dispatches to the governor-general at Montreal, expressed, through his
aide-de-camp, his intention of proceeding immediately to Kingston, and
from thence to the attack of the naval arsenal at Sackett's Harbour, on
Lake Ontario. Had its destruction been accomplished--and no one can
doubt that this was the proper period to attempt it, as the enemy,
dispirited by the capture of Detroit, would probably have offered but a
feeble resistance--the Americans could not, without much additional
difficulty and future risk of destruction, have built and equipped the
fleet which subsequently gave them the naval ascendancy on that lake,
and enabled them twice in 1813 to capture the capital of Upper Canada.
The armistice, however, caused a delay of nearly a fortnight in the
necessary preparations, as Major-General Brock returned from Detroit to
Fort George on the 24th of August, and the cessation of the truce was
not known to him until his arrival at Kingston, on the 4th of September.
The distance by water between Fort George and Kingston is about 160
miles, and from Kingston to Sackett's Harbour only 35 miles; so that the
destruction of the arsenal might have been effected early in September,
had not the armistice prevented the attempt. But, unhappily for the
interests of his country and the credit of his own fame, Sir George
Prevost disapproved of the proposition, and commanded Major-General
Brock to relinquish all idea of the contemplated enterprize, although
the official intelligence of the president's refusal to continue the
suspension of hostilities reached him at Montreal on the 30th of August,
a day or two _before_ Captain Glegg, with the dispatches and trophies of
the capture of Detroit. At the commencement of the war, a defensive
attitude was perhaps excusable, especially as the British cabinet seems
to have been anxious to accommodate the differences between the two
countries; but _after_ the American government had refused to continue
the armistice, it appears to us that Sir George Prevost was pursuing a
suicidal course, as to wait for the enemy till he shall have prepared
his forces and passed your frontiers, to plunder your towns and occupy
your country, is a very recent expedient recognized by no government,
and practised by no people of ancient or modern times. But
notwithstanding the delay caused by the armistice, the proposed attack
could still have been carried into effect after its cessation; and it
was only relinquished by express orders from the commander-in-chief. We
seek not to impugn his motives, as they probably originated in a
mistaken sense of duty, and evidently from an impression that to attack
the Americans again on their own frontier would be to render the contest
more popular among them. It was under this impression that, in a general
order[88] issued at Montreal on the 31st of August, the
commander-in-chief was weak enough to offer an indirect apology to the
American people for the invasion of their territory at Detroit. Whether
this continued defensive policy was such as, under all the
circumstances, ought to have been observed, we leave it to others to
determine; but certainly the result did not justify its expediency, and
the tree is usually judged of by its fruit. Forbearance in war, where
success is probable, strikes us as a positive evil that a very doubtful
good may ensue--it is seldom properly appreciated; and the
governor-general appears to have seen his error when too late, as in the
following year he was himself ignobly foiled in an attack on Sackett's
Harbour. We cannot understand why the attack under Sir George Prevost,
in May, 1813, was more politic than it would have been in September the
year preceding, under Major-General Brock; and although Captain Glegg
met with a very chilling reception from the former officer, yet we would
willingly acquit him of any jealous feeling where such important
interests were at stake. At the same time it is due to the memory of
this unfortunate officer to add, that his civil administration was as
able as his military one in Canada was inglorious; and that although his
conduct as a soldier was on more than one occasion the subject of much
and just animadversion in England, yet he acquired the warm attachment
of the French Canadians, who speak highly of him to this day. Those
leading men who, during the administration of Sir James Craig, had been
considered almost as enemies, were treated with confidence by his
successor, who gradually appointed them to situations of trust, and by
this wise measure secured their aid and influence in the defence of the
province. Certain it is, on the other hand, that Major-General Brock did
not approve of the defensive warfare to which he was restricted, and
subsequent events too truly proved that had he been permitted to pursue
that course which his zeal and foresight dictated, his valuable life
might have been spared, and a very different series of incidents in that
war claimed the attention of the historian. The high-minded soldier
could not brook a state of inaction with such promising prospects before
him. His best feelings revolted at being compelled to languish within
the strict pale of military obedience, when so rich a field for doing
good service presented itself; and in place of becoming the assailant,
he was soon doomed, by awaiting the attacks of his opponents, to
sacrifice not only life, but, what is far dearer, the opening prospects
of honorable ambition.

On the 16th December, 1812, the inhabitants of the Niagara district
addressed a spirited letter to Sir George Prevost, from which we copy
the following extract, as confirming what we have already stated on the
same subject: "Nevertheless, such was the popularity of the general,
such the confidence he had inspired, that he was enabled to carry with
him to Detroit, though under great privations, a large body of
volunteers, which, in addition to the small regular force at
Amherstburg, enabled him to capture an entire army of our invaders, with
the fortress from which they had made their descent into Canada--a
success unparalleled in the annals of war. Here, for the first time, we
got a supply of good arms. The success of this first enterprize, in
which the militia were engaged, acted like an electric shock throughout
the country: it awed the disaffected, of whom there were many; it
confirmed the timid and the wavering; and it induced the Six Nation
Indians, who had until that time kept aloof, to take an active part in
our favor. At that moment such was the energy and confidence that had
been excited by our illustrious chief and the success of his plans, that
had _he_ been permitted, he could, and would, have destroyed and laid
waste the whole American frontier, from Sandusky to St. Regis. Your
excellency doubtless recollects the armistice which immediately preceded
the capture of Detroit, which gave the enemy an opportunity to recover
from their consternation, to fortify and strengthen their lines, to
accumulate in security the means of annoying us at pleasure along our
whole frontier, and which sent at least 800 of our Indian allies in
disgust to their own homes."

_Colonel Baynes to Major-General Brock._

MONTREAL, August 13, 1812.[89]

I wrote to you from Albany on the 8th instant, but as my
letter was submitted to the inspection of General Dearborn, I
of course confined myself to the sole subject of the armistice
entered into with that officer.... A clause, admitting
reinforcements to pass with stores, was readily agreed to on
my part. General Dearborn told me that a considerable
reinforcement with stores was on its way to Niagara, and that
he could not delay or alter its destination. I informed him
that we were also forwarding reinforcements and stores, and
that it would be advisable to agree that all movements of that
nature on either side should be suffered to proceed
unmolestedly by troops under instructions to preserve
defensive measures. I am apprehensive that General Dearborn
may not explicitly explain all these points; and I have
therefore cautioned all the officers, to whom I have
communicated them, to act with the utmost caution, and to be
prepared for all events that may arise. I feel extremely
prepossessed in favor of General Dearborn, whose manners
appear to evince great candour and sincerity: he assured me
that no event of his life would afford him so much
satisfaction and happiness as resigning his command in
consequence of our honorable adjustment of differences. He
told me that General Hull was placed under his orders merely
for form sake, but that he acted by particular instructions
from the war department, and would not consider himself bound
to obey any order that was not in conformity to them.

[Colonel Baynes describes at length the incipient state of
military preparation for the invasion of Lower Canada, which
he witnessed on his journey; and after mentioning that the
Americans had sent the most efficient of their forces to the
Niagara frontier, he adds:]

Under all these circumstances, which I have represented to
Sir George, I have strongly urged his sending you further
reinforcements, which I am sure can be spared: we are at
present checked from the want of conveyance, but I trust after
the corps, now on their route, are dispatched, that Sir George
will be induced to send you further aid, and that of the best
description. I think it of the highest importance,
particularly if we are likely to arrange matters with the
States, that the balance of military events should be
unequivocally in our favor. I found a very general prejudice
prevailing with Jonathan, of his own resources and means of
invading these provinces, and of our weakness and inability to
resist, both exaggerated in a most absurd and extravagant
degree--a little practical correction of this error would be
attended with the best effects.

The 1st battalion of the royals are upwards of 1,100 strong,
but sickly, having suffered from their long residence in the
West Indies, and they are in consequence marked for the Quebec
garrison.

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