[CRUIKSHANK] GENERAL HULL’S INVASION OF CANADA IN 1812 237 
be considered and treated,as enemies, and the horrors and calamities of 
war will stalk before you. 
“If the barbarous and savage policy of Great Britain be pursued 
and the savages let loose to murder our citizens and butcher our women 
and children, this war will be a war of extermination. 
“The first stroke with the tomahawk, the first attempt with the 
scalping knife will be the signal for one indiscriminate scene of desola- 
tion. No white man found fighting by the side of an Indian will be 
taken prisoner. Instant destruction will be his lot. If the dictates 
of reason, duty, justice, and humanity cannot prevent the employment 
of a force which respects no rights and knows no wrongs, it will be 
prevented by a severe and relentless system of retaliation.” 
After his previous advice to remain at their homes and pursue 
“their customary and peaceful vocations,” his readers may well have 
been mystified by the concluding sentences: 
“Tf you tender your services voluntarily, they will be accepted 
readily. The United States offer you Peace, Liberty and Security, your 
choice lies between these and War, Slavery and Destruction. Choose 
then, but choose wisely, and may he who knows the justice of our cause 
and who holds in his hands the fate of Nations, guide you to a result 
the most compatible with your rights and interests, your peace and 
prosperity. 
This document was expected to produce a great effect, and subse- 
quently became the subject of much ridicule from the opponents of the 
American Government. John Randolph, of Roanoke, sarcastically 
referred to Hull’s operations as a “ holiday campaign” in which Can- 
ada was expected “to conquer herself and be subdued by the principle 
of fraternity.” The anonymous author of the “ Wars of the Gulls” 
makes President Madison say :—‘ By proclamation my illustrious pre- 
decessor defended this extensive region during a long and warlike reign 
of eight years and brought the belligerent powers to his feet. By 
proclamation I have commenced this great and perilous war, and by 
proclamation I will carry victory to the very chimney corner of the 
22 1 
enemy.” 
By occupying Sandwich, General Hull expected to interrupt the 
communication between Amherstburg and the thriving settlements on 
the River Thames, and by means of his solitary armed vessel eventually 
gain contro! of Lakes Huron and Michigan, provision the garrisons of 
Mackinac and Chicago, and intimidate the Indians of that region. With 
these views in mind he began at once to fortify his position and to 


1Proclamation in Canadian Archives, C 676, p. 168. The italics are as 
in the original. 
