226 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
sion, and, finding that they numbered less than one hundred, decided to 
renew the attempt that night, taking the precaution to divert the atten- 
tion of the troops at Sandwich from the real point of crossing by the 
movement of a part of his force in the direction of Spring Wells, 
threatening their line of retreat to Amherstburg. 
It will now be necessary to follow the march of events in Upper 
Canada up to this time. arly in the year, Lieut.-Col. Thomas Bligh 
St. George, of the 63rd Regiment, an inspecting field officer of militia, 
who had seen service at Toulon and Corsica, nearly twenty years before, 
was selected for the command of the Western District by General Brock. 
His personal courage was beyond question, but before proceeding to his 
post he acted so strangely, that his superior’s confidence in him was 
greatly shaken.” He arrived at Amherstburg about the 1st of Febru- 
ary, and shortly afterwards Colonel Matthew Elliott, the veteran Deputy 
Superintendent of the Indians, who was attending the session of the 
Legislature at York as one of the members for the County of Essex, 
was directed to return to his post and exert his influence in restraining 
them from hostilities.* The garrison consisted of a corporal and eleven 
gunners of the Royal Artillery, under Lieut. Felix Troughton, in charge 
of four six pounder field guns, and two companies of the 41st Regiment, 
numbering about one hundred rank and file, commanded by Captain 
Joseph Tallon. Fort Amherst was a small quadrangular field work 
composed of four bastions connected by curtains, and surrounded by 
a line of palisades and a shallow, dry ditch. The palisades were much 
decayed and the works were faced and lined with wood. The store- 
houses and barracks were of wood and might easily be burnt by bom- 
bardment. The northern and western faces could scarcely be made 
defensible as they were overlooked and commanded by some high ground 
within five hundred yards. The garrison ordnance consisted of a 
single eighteen pounder and five nine pounders. The magazine was 
eracked from roof to foundation and was not bomb-proof. It was, 
however, a post of much importance, as it was the sole protection for 
the naval depot and dockyard of the Provincial Marine on the Upper 
Lakes, and the place where the Western Indians congregated, annually 
in great numbers to receive their presents from the officers of the Indian 
Department.* A schooner, designed to carry twelve guns, was then 
being built at the dockyard. 

1Lucas, Journal, pp. 375-6; Forbes, Trial, Evidence of Major John 
Whistler. 
2 Brock to Baynes, Feb. 12th; Tupper’s Life of Brock, pp. 147-50. 
8 Niles’ Register, Vol. VIII; Brock to Baynes, Feb. 12th. 
*Major General Glasgow to Sir George Prevost, 18th Sept., 1811; Prevost 
to Lord Liverpool, 18th May, 1812; Can. Archives; Freer Papers. 
