240 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
giving the alarm by their yells.! Lieut. Clemow, of the 41st, who was 
in command, perceived his danger, and began his retreat with such haste 
that two sentries posted beyond the bridge were not withdrawn. In 
crossing the creek Cass’s force fell into much disorder, and upon reach- 
ing the edge of the woods, halted irresolutely for about half an hour, 
thus enabling Clemow to get off without loss, although there was some 
firing on both sides at such a distance as to be totally ineffective. About 
the same time the riflemen on the opposite side of the Canard advanced 
upon the sentries, Privates Dean and Hancock, of the 41st Regiment, 
who remained stubbornly at their posts, firmg upon them repeatedly and 
refusing to surrender until the former received three and the latter 
four wounds. After one of Dean’s arms was broken by a shot, he still 
endeavoured to resist his assailants with his bayonet until he was 
knocked down and disarmed. Hancock was removed to a shed near 
by where he died that night? In a General Order of August 6th, the 
Governor-General drew the attention of all ranks to the remarkable 
“heroism and self-devotion ” of these two private soldiers, who were 
the first to shed their blood in defence of Canada during this war. 
‘ An instance of such firmness and intrepidity,” he said, “ deserves to 
be thus publicly recorded, and His Excellency trusts it will not fail 
to animate the troops under his command with an ardent desire to 
follow so noble an example whenever an opportunity shall be hereafter 
offered them.” In truth the dauntless stand made by these two stal- 
wart soldiers was not likely to be soon forgotten by their comrades. 
Shortly before the attack on the outpost took place, Captain Brown, 
of the 4th United States Infantry, bearing a message from General 
Hull to Colonel St. George under a flag of truce, requesting the return 
of papers and private property taken in the Cuyahoga Packet, had been 
allowed to pass on his way to Amherstburg, and this singular proceeding 
naturally provoked a strong feeling of resentment at the time.* 
Cass established an outpost at the bridge and encamped the remain- 
der of his force a mile or two nearer Sandwich, sending back a messenger 
to request a reinforcement to enable him to maintain his position there. 
Hull had as yet received no report from McArthur, who had been absent 
forty-eight hours, and felt alarmed for his safety. He could not con- 
ceal his annoyance at this attempt of an ambitious subordinate to force 
him into a premature advance when he had been sent out merely to 
gain information, and was decidedly opposed to the occupation of an 

‘Lucas, 380-2; Walker, 56. 
? Richardson, 20-1; Coffin. 
*Hull to St. George, 16th July, 1812; St. George to Hull, 16th July, 
1812; Lucas, 382. 
