216 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. whole was commanded by major Muir, of the British army. On the 9th, the Americans moved forward with great caution, fearing a surprise; they, nevertheless, fell into the ambuscade, and their advanced guard, under captain Snelling, was suddenly attacked by the English, accompanied by the usual barbarous shouts of the Indians. This combined and vigorous assault was firmly withstood by the American troops, until their main body approached, when a severe engagement ensued, in which Tecumsech and his savages fought with desperate obstinacy. After an obsti nate resistance of two hours, captain Snelling was obliged to retreat, having had fifteen killed, and above sixty wounded. The British who retired slowly, and in good order to Brownstown, had only three killed, and thirteen wounded, among the latter were two officers; but of the Indians, nearly 100 were left on the field. About this time, general Hull had sent orders to captain Heald, who commanded at fort Chicago, to abandon that post, and proceed to Detroit. He accordingly proceeded on his route, with his company of militia, about fifty regulars, and accompanied by several families who had resided in and near the place. On his march he was attacked by a large body of Indians, who soon gained his rear, and seized his horses and baggage. He then reached an open place, and kept the enemy at bay for some time; but finding that he should be compelled to yield at last, he aceepted the offer of protection from an Indian chief. Twenty-six regulars were killed, and all the militia; a number of women and children were murdered by the savages. Among the killed were captain Wells and ensign Warner; the commander, who was desperately wounded, with his lady, who had received six wounds, after many escapes, at length reached Michillimackinac. On the 14th, colouels Miller and Cass, with 350 men, were despatched to the river Raisin for the purpose of escorting the provisions for the troops, which still remained there under the charge of captain Brush. On the 19th, the British took a position opposite Detroit, and summoned the place to surrender. To this summons an answer was returned, that the fort would be defended to the last: extremity. As the enemy approached, major Denny, who commanded at Sandwich, abandoned his position and crossed over to Detroit, it having been determined to act thenes, wherever he went, called councils of the tribes, and with that high-toned energy for which he was celebrated, never failed to convince and attach his auditors. Had such a man opposed the first settlement of Europeans, in all probability America would still have been a wilderness. entirely on the defensive. The British immediately opened their batteries, and continued to throw shells during a great part of the night. The fire was returned, but little effect was produced on either side. In the morning, it was discovered that the British were landing their troops at Spring-wells, under cover of their shipping; nor was it possible to prevent them from disembarking by the guns of the fort, the town lying between them and the river. But if general Hull had not neglected the advice of his officers, he might have effectually prevented it, by erecting batteries on the bank. A strange fatality seemed to attend this unfortunate man in every thing he did, or Deglected to do. All the British troops having been landed about ten o'clock, advanced towards the fort in close column and twelve deep. The American forces was judiciously disposed to prevent their approach; the militia and volunteers occupied the town, or were posted behind pickets, whence they could annoy the enemy's flanks; the regulars defended the fort, and two 24-pounders, loaded with grape-shot, were posted on an eminence, and could sweep the whole of the British line, should they venture to advance. All was now silent expectation; the intrepid foe still slowly moved forward, as if in utter contempt of death; but they had still greater contempt for a commander who had so meanly abandoned Sandwich a few days before. But who can describe the astonishment of the American troops, when they were ordered not to fire; and that at the very moment when they thought the enemy were advancing to certain destruction! The whole force, with a great number of women and children, were gathered into the fort, almost too narrow to contain them. Here the troops were ordered to stack their arms, and to the amazement of every one, a white flag, in token of submission, was suspended from the walls. A British officer rode up to ascertain the cause, for this surrender was no less unexpected to the assailants. A capitulation was agreed to, without even stipulating the terms. Words are wanting to express the indignant feelings of the Americans on this occasion; they considered themselves basely betrayed, in thus surrendering to an inferior force without firing a gun, when they had the enemy completely in their power. They had at least fifteen days provisions in the garrison, and were well supplied with arms and ammunition; notwithstanding which, they were compelled, thus humiliated, to march out, and to surrender themselves prisoners at discretion. The British took UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. immediate possession of the fort, with all the public property; amongst which were forty barrels of gunpowder, 400 rounds of fixed 24-pound shot, 100,000 ball cartridges, 2,500 stand of arms, twenty-five pieces of iron cannon, and eight of brass; the greater part of which had been captured by the Americans during the revolution. By this disgraceful surrender the whole Michigan territory, of which Detroit is the chief town, containing 27,000 square miles, was given up to the British, with all the forts and garrisons within general Hull's district, and the detachments under colonels Cass, Miller, and M'Arthur, as well as the party under captain Brush, were included in the capitulation. The latter indignantly refused to surrender, declaring that Hull had no right to include him, and determined to return to the state of Ohio. The number of American troops made prisoners of war amounted to 2,800, while the whole British force consisted of no more than 700 regulars and militia, and 600 Indians. The Ohio and Michigan volunteers and militia were permitted to return home, but the regulars, together with the general, were taken to Quebec. The sensations produced by this event, throughout the United States, and particularly in the western country, can scarcely be described. At first, no one could believe so extraordinary and unexpected an occurrence. It had not even been supposed that the situation of Hull was critical, nor was it doubted by any person that he was fully able at least to defend himself. He was afterwards exchanged for thirty British prisoners, and brought before a court-martial. He was charged with treason, cowardice, and unofficer-like conduct. On the first charge the court declined giving an opinion, on the two last he was sentenced to suffer death; but was recommended to mercy on account of his former services and advanced age. The sentence was remitted by the president; but his name was ordered to be struck from the rolls of the army. He afterwards published a vindication of his conduct, without effect, the public mind being too well satisfied. Naval transactions.-At the moment of the declaration of war, a squadron under commodore Rodgers, consisting of the President, Congress, and United States frigates, with the brig Hornet, had rendezvoused off Sandy Hook. On the 21st of June they put to sea, in search of a small British squadron which had sailed as the convoy of the West India fleet. While thus engaged, the British frigate Belvidera was discovered, to which they gave chase. The President, which outsailed the other vessels, had come within gun-shot, and commenced firing with her bow guns, which the Belvidera returned with her stern chasers. In about ten minutes, one of the President's guns burst, killed and wounded sixteen men, and fractured the commodore's leg. By this accident the deck was so completely shattered, as to render all the guns on that side useless. The Belvidera then shot ahead, and escaped from all her pursuers. After this, the American squadron proceeded after the West Indía convoy as far as the British channel, without falling in with them; they then stood for Madeira, the Azores, and Newfoundland, and arrived at Boston on the 30th of August, baving made very few captures. On the 3d of July, the frigate Essex, sailed from New York, and nine days afterwards the Constitution, captain Hull, put to sea from the Chesapeak; at the same time, the brigs Nautilus, Viper, and Vixen were cruising off the coast; the Wasp sloop of war was on her return from France. On the morning of the 17th, the Constitution, then off Egg-harbour, was chased by a British ship of the line and three frigates, which were rapidly approaching with a fine breeze, while the American frigate was nearly becalmed. At sun rise the next morning, escape was almost hopeless, the enemy being only five miles distant, and the seventy-four towed by all the boats of the squadron. Captain Hull then sent boats a head to warp the ship, and the enemy immediately resorted to the same expedient. In this manner the chase continued for two days, partly sailing and partly warping, when the squadron was left out of sight by the Constitution. This escape was considered as deserving a high rank in naval exploits, and was much admired at the time, proving great nautical skill. On the 24 of August, the Constitution again put to sea, and on the 19th discovered the British frigate Guerrier, who immediately backed her main-topsail and waited for the enemy. After much tacking and manoeuvring on both sides for three quarters of an hour, during which the Guerrier attempted to board, both vessels were brought along side of each other, when a furious action commenced for thirty minutes, which ended in the capture of the Guerrier, after being reduced to a mere wreck, and having lost fifteen killed and sixty-three wounded: the Constitution had seven killed and seven wounded; but was so little injured in her hull and rigging, that when a ship appeared 2 F NO, X. next day, she actually prepared for action. The Guerrier was so much damaged that it was found impossible to take her into port, she was therefore burnt at sea. It will be proper to observe in this place, that the Constitution was of a force much superior to the British frigate. Never did any event produce such universal joy over the United States. Captain Hull and his officers were received with enthusiastic gratitude wherever they appeared. In all the cities through which the captain passed he was presented with his freedom, and also many valuable donations. Congress voted 50,000 dollars to the crew, as a recompense for the loss of the prize, and several of the officers were promoted. The public mind was now continually excited by some new series of naval exploits. On the 7th of September, commodore Porter, of the Essex, entered the Delaware, after a most successful cruise of two months, during which he captured a brig with 150 soldiers on board, which was ransomed for 14,000 dollars; the men were disarmed and released, on taking an oath not to serve against the United States during the war. He also captured, on the 13th of August, the Alert sloop of war, after an action of eight minutes. When she struck her colours, she had but three men wounded; but there were seven feet water in her hold. Being now embarrassed with prisoners, above 500 in number, the Alert was converted into a cartel, and she was sent to St. John's in order to procure an exchange. The Essex was afterwards chased by two ships of war, but escaped by skilful manoeuvring. On the 8th of October, the President, United States, Congress, and Argns, sailed from Boston, and on the 13th captured the British packet Swallow, containing 200,000 dollars. After a very successful cruise, they returned to the same port on the 30th of December. The Argus, which had separated from the others in a gale of wind, after being out ninety-six days, arrived at New York with prizes to the amount of 200,000 dollars. The United States, commodore Decatur, had also separated from the squadron, and on the 25th of October, off the Western Isles, fell in with the Macedopian frigate, captain Carden, a brave and honourable officer. After a severe action of nearly two hours, in a very heavy sea, the Mecedonian having lost her main-mast, main-topmast, and main yard, and being much cut up in her hull, struck her colours. She had thirty-six killed and sixty-eight wounded, while the United States had only five killed and seven wounded; but, as in the case of the Guerrier and Constitution, there |