peaceful relations existing between the United States and England would soon be terminated by a declaration of war, forced by the repeated and continued aggressions of the latter.

Acting upon the preservative principle, "in peace prepare for war," Congress adopted measures for the increase of the army. As it was probable, in the event of war, that the frontiers bordering upon the British Provinces, would be the principal theatre of hostilities on land, the attention of government was directed to their protection. A call was made upon the Governor of Ohio for a draft of militia and volunteers, for the service of the United States. Col. Kingsbury, of the 1st regiment, U. S. Infantry, was designated as the commander of the force, and was ordered to Washington to receive his instructions. Sickness, at that place, prevented him assuming his post, and General William Hull-who had acquired a high reputation in the revolutionary army, and who was then at Washington-was appointed a Brigadier General, and was assigned to the command of the north-western army. Gen. Hull was, at that time, civil Governor of the territory of Michigan. It was with some reluctance that he accepted the military command. This was in April 1812. The military force was raised for a double object to act against the British in Canada, if there should be war, and to suppress hostilities from the Indians in the Territory of Michigan.

The Militia of Ohio, under the order of Gov. Meigs, were, in a very short time, prepared to march. They rendezvoused at Dayton, to the number of 1200, and, marching from there to Urbana, were joined by 300 men of the 4th United States Regiment. The third regiment of Ohio militia and volunteers, was commanded by Col. Lewis Cass. Early in June, the army left Urbana for Detroit, distance more than 200 miles. Previous to commencing their march Col. Cass addressed his fellow soldiers, urging upon them the necessity of performing their duty to their country, and setting forth in glowing colors the honor and fame to be acquired by a successful campaign. The way led through a wilderness requiring the opening of roads and the construction of bridges and causeways. The soldiers were zealous in the cause which they had espoused, and bore the labors and fatigues of the march with heroism and patience. For the protection of the country, and the use and con

venience of the army, they erected a number of block houses on the route. These were of great service to the invalids of the army, some of whom were worn down by the great and arduous difficulties of the march.

While the army was on the march to Detroit, there were, necessarily, but few opportunities for drilling the soldiers. Indeed there appears to have been culpable inattention to that important. part of military education. But it is mentioned, by those who were the companions of Col. Cass, that he availed himself of every opportunity of drilling his regiment and accustoming them to movements and evolutions, upon the proper execution of which, battles have been often won. When the army halted for any length of time, after they were sufficiently recruited, Col. Cass would have his regiment on parade. The men thought the more of him for the interest he showed for their instruction. It would have been different, had he merely been content with issuing his orders, and entrusted their performance to his subalterns. That he did not do. He was on the ground himself; on the very spot where he should be. He required nothing of his soldiers, which he was not willing to do himself. Seeing him thus zealous in the cause in which he had embarked, the soldiers could not help being influenced by his example. A laudable emulation for excellence in martial acquirements thus became infused throughout his regiment, and with that spirit grew an attachment to their leader, which was attended with the happiest results. Kind, yet strict, he was loved and respected by all under his command. He had been chosen, by acclamation, to lead them, and they were willing to obey his orders, and follow him to the cannon's mouth. There was not between him, and the obscure volunteer in the ranks, that broad and deep abyss, over which neither could pass, and throw aside. the strict etiquette of military distinctions. He could sit beside the sick or wounded soldier, and administer to the wants of the unfortunate, without feeling himself humiliated by the act, or his rank degraded by the humanity, which was moved by the sufferings of the private soldier. He could talk with him as man to man, of the common occurrences of the day, without lessening his influence, or hazarding obedience to his orders. Nor did he consider it unbecoming his station as an officer, to dismount from his

horse and march on foot at the head of his regiment, while the wearied soldier, sinking with fatigue or illness, was placed upon the seat his commander vacated. Such acts as these endeared him to his men, and made him the most popular and esteemed, and best obeyed officer in the army. When the army reached the forks of the Miami, Gen. Hull chartered a small vessel to transport to Detroit the heavy baggage and such of the sick as required rest and an easier mode of travel. This vessel was captured by an armed force, at the mouth of the Detroit river, sent from the British fort at Malden. War had been declared by the United States while Hull and his army were in the woods, and information had reached the enemy's post at Malden, before it was known to Gen. Hull or any of his officers. Gen. Hull had previously received a communication, bearing date on the 18th of June, the day that war was declared, directing him to proceed to Detroit with all possible expedition. It was probably written previous to and just on the eve of the formal act, declaring hostilities to exist. On the 2d day of July, he received notice from the Secretary of War, that war had been declared. This communication, also, bore date on the 18th of June, but, by some means never ascertained or accounted for, it was fourteen days on its route, and did not reach him until five days after the event was communicated to the officers at Malden, and not until the day after the vessel had sailed from the Miami, with the invalids and baggage.

The route to Detroit passed along the margin of the Detroit river, and through an Indian village, nearly opposite the British fort. War existing, it was supposed that our soldiers would be attacked and annoyed by detachments from that garrison. But such was not the case: the army continued its march and arrived at Detroit on the 5th of July, where it remained until the 12th of July, when it crossed the river into Canada. It was supposed that Gen. Hull would proceed at once and capture Malden. His officers and men were alive for the expedition. It was, to the extreme of military propriety, urged upon the commanding General by his associates and subordinates in command, but these suggestions had no effect other than to cause him to make preparations, ostensibly for the attack on Malden. Col. Cass, who had recently been at Malden, was satisfied that the fort there was not defensible against

In

a well directed and vigorous attack from our army. He was ardently desirous that the army should march forthwith to that point. In this he was not alone; other officers as well as the men, were solicitous for the expedition. They considered it a part of the duty they had come there to perform, and did not understand why they were held back. Gen. Hull himself, could not be otherwise than convinced that the possession of Malden, would be holding the key of the whole campaign; for, in one of his letters to the Sec. of War, he says: that possessing Malden, he could march his army through Canada, to York or Niagara, in a very short time. Nothing could have been easier than to have taken the place. When the army crossed over, according to Gen. Hull's official report of the affair, one hundred British regulars, six hundred militia, and seven or eight hundred Indians, fled at his approach from Sandwich to Malden. The crossing was effected on the night of the 11th, from the point known as Bloody Bridge, a mile above the town. The movement was admirably performed, and was pronounced by the General to be honorable to the officers and men. less than five minutes after the first boat struck the shore, the whole regiment was formed. Col. Cass was the first man of the army to step foot on the enemy's shore. Many of his companions were emulous of being the first to lead the way, but the honor of so doing was achieved by the gallant Colonel. Upon the landing of the army, Gen. Hull issued his proclamation to the inhabitants of Canada, promising them protection if they would join his standard. Numbers of them did so, and of those who did not, many returned to their homes. The day after the crossing, entrenchments were thrown up around the encampment and pickets erected on the bank side of it. Here the army remained, mostly in a state of inactivity, in expectation of being moved to Malden. In regard to the siege of that place, consultations were held almost daily among the officers, called together by Gen. Hull. A majority were always of opinion that no delay should occur in regard to it. Gen. Hull was unwilling to proceed without a number of heavy guns, which unfortunately were out of repair, requiring to be mounted. Unusual delay attended the preparation of the artillery. The General himself seemed unable to say when they would be ready. In the mean time, news arrived of the surrender of Mackinac. Some

days after, Gen. Hull convened a counsel of officers, to consider whether it would be better to wait a few days longer, for the heavy guns, or proceed without them to Malden. It was apprehended that there would be difficulty in getting the guns over the river aux Canards, which lay between the army and Malden. Time was consumed in forming plans and making preparations for the attack. Nothing was done, and after remaining nearly a month in the enemy's country, Gen. Hull on the eighth of August in despite of the earnest entreaties of his officers, and to their great mortification, and the disappointment of the men, ordered the army to retreat, by recrossing the river to Detroit, which it did. The men were dispirited by this abandonment of the advantage they had so laboriously gained. The officers were disgusted with the indecisive, wavering conduct of the commanding general, though they were obedient to his orders, yet some of them refused to participate any further in his counsels, and declined expressing any opinion as to the movements of the army.

Although Gen. Hull did not engage with his main army in any offensive operations while he remained in Canada, yet some of his officers, unwilling to pass the time in total inactivity, obtained from him permission to reconnoitre the country, and obtain such knowledge of the condition of things, as might be of benefit, when the army should move against Malden. For this purpose Col. Cass, on the 17th of August, led a detachment towards Malden, to examine the enemy's advanced posts. He found them in possession of a bridge at the river Aux Canards, about four miles east of the fort. Col. Cass stationed a company of riflemen near the bridge on the east side of the river and then proceeded with the rest of his troops to cross the river at a ford five miles above, the only crossing that was known. He succeeded in reaching the opposite side of the river and marching along the easterly bank of the river arrived about sunset in sight of the bridge. A nearer approach to the enemy at this point was prevented by an impassable creek. Col. Cass moved along the bank of the creek, in search of a fordable spot, and found one about a mile distant from the spot where he was intercepted. The enemy had seen the detachment during this last movement, and had time to make arrangements for defence. By the time Col. Cass had crossed the creek