The Fall of Detroit

The New York Gazette, 5 August 1812

Letters from Detroit of the 14th July say:-"The Canadian militia are deserting from Malden in large parties; sixty in one body on receiving the proclamation reported themselves to the General and retired to their farms.

"The American flag waving on both sides of the river has astonished the natives and they are retiring to their villages and already holding councils to advise the Indians to remain neutral. The General has promised us a trip to Malden after which we shall detach a small party of our friends to Michilimackinac and I hope pursue our march down Lake Erie through several pleasing little settlements.

"The General is determined to adhere religiously to his proclamation and hold as sacred all the property of individuals. The citizens of Canada, for I already hail the peninsula of the lakes as a state, appear satisfied with our visit."

The New York Gazette, 12 August 1812

A letter from Detroit dated July 28th states:-"On Saturday last a scouting party of about one hundred men went down towards Malden and when arrived near the Canard, they got into a scrape with about the same number of Indians. A variety of manoeuvres took place between the contending parties, each endeavoring to gain the most advantageous positions, small parties branching out from each and almost continual firing for nearly three hours when our men retired with the loss of 4 men killed, 1 wounded, and 1 taken prisoner. The Indians lost from 10 to 12 killed, the scalp of one of them I have seen. Had it not been for the dastardly conduct of the drafted Ohio militia who composed one half of the party and who took to their heels when they evidently had the advantage, the whole of the Indians would have been either killed or taken. The officers endeavored to rally them and said they would be fired at by their own party if they did not stand. They replied that they would rather be killed by them than by the damned Indians."

The Federal Republican of Georgetown, DC, 24 August 1812

Extract from a letter from Captain Ulery, dated at Sandwich, July 26.

"We have had four engagements with the Indians and British-the first time beat them back and took the ground. The other three times we had to retreat without the loss of a man, only two slightly wounded, one out of Capt. Frazer's company, the other out of Capt. Cunningham's. Yesterday we had an engagement with a few of our men under Major James Denny, particularly with the Indians but had to leave the ground with the loss of three men out of our regiment."

The National Intelligencer of Washington, DC, 24 August 1812

Extract from a letter from B. F. Stickney, Indian Agent to John Johnson, Agent for Indian Affairs, dated at Fort Wayne, July 20, 1812.

"The Prophet came here a week ago with 60 Kickapoos, 20 Winebagoes, and 12 Shawanese who are still here. They said they had been invited to take the tomahawk by the British but refused and made strong professions of friendship for the Americans.

"I have been informed this morning that an Indian has been sent out from Malden in the forepart of last week with a belt of wampum three feet wide and six feet long (painted red as an emblem of war) as the dernier resort to rouse the Indians to take up the tomahawk. The bearer of this great belt is instructed among other things to advise the Indians not to attend the council at Piqua, that it is a contrivance of the United States to lead all the men from home and then fall upon their women and children and destroy their towns.

"They call the belt the King's Great Broad Axe and that it is to cut down all before it. Some friendly Indians are now in pursuit of the war-belt to stop it.

"I have invited the Prophet to attend the council at Piqua and he has promised not only to go but to send to Malden for Tecumseh to go and stand by his side."

The Federal Republican of Georgetown, DC

Extract from a letter from Fort Wayne to Major William Ruffin, dated 27th July, 1812.

"The Prophet and party consisting of 70 Kickapoos, 20 Winebagoes, 12 Shawanese, and two Piankishaws arrived here on a visit to see their new and good father as they call him.

"The Prophet held out pacific doctrine to the agent, disclaiming everything like hostilities to his white brethern. He requested the agent to pay no attention to news of a contrary import as it might interrupt his great and good intentions to maintain peace. Yet while he was lulling the agent into a belief of the rectitude of his heart, two Indians arrived from Tecumseh who is at Malden and has espoused the cause of the British with speeches to be circulated among the Indians, wanting them to be united for the purpose of assisting him in behalf of the British. Accordingly two young men of the Kickapoo tribe were despatched from this place by the Prophet to his town to further the plan. In order to facilitate the business, they stole two horses from Captain Wells, the most valuable in the country. The two Indians that came from Malden stole a horse in the neighbourhood of the River Raisin which gave out a few miles below this place. Two days after the Prophet despatched those two young men to his village, he and his party left here, which was the 22nd."

E.A. Cruikshank, ed. Documents Relating to the Invasion of Canada and the Surrender of Detroit, 1812. (Ottawa: 1912), pp. 75-78.