[CRUIKSHANK] GENERAL HULL’S INVASION OF CANADA IN 1812 258 
of the floating batteries by means of which it was expected that the 
Queen Charlotte would be driven from her position and the guns might 
be landed near the British works. It was not anticipated that this 
would entail a further delay of more than two or three days. Orders 
were accordingly issued on the 4th of August to prepare for an imme- 
diate advance. But in his letter of the same date to the Secretary of 
War, General Hull exhibited fatal irresolution. 
“Circumstances, however, may render it necessary to recross the 
river with the main body of the army to preserve the communication 
for the purpose of obtaining supplies from Ohio,” he wrote. “I am 
constantly obliged to make a strong detachment to convoy the provisions 
between the foot of the Rapids and Detroit. If nothing should be 
done at Niagara and the force should come from the north and east, 
as is almost certain, you must be sensible of the difficulties which will 
attend my situation. JI can promise nothing but my best and most 
faithful exertions to promote the honour of the army, and the interest 
of my country.” 4 
On that day he had received Lieutenant Hanks’s official account 
of the capture of Mackinac and information leading him to believe 
that messengers had been despatched from Amherstburg to that post to 
demand immediate assistance. Watson had returned from his raid up 
the Thames with information that Major Chambers with fifty regular 
soldiers and four pieces of artillery had arrived at Delaware where he 
was endeavouring to assemble a body of militia and Indians numbering 
five or six hundred. All communication with the River Raisin had 
been cut off for the last three days and a considerable body of hostile 
Indians was reported in possession of Brownstown.’ 
A supply column was known to be upon the road from Ohio ap- 
proaching the River Raisin. Major Van Horne of Findlay’s regiment 
was accordingly detailed with one hundred and fifty men of that corps 
to escort the mail from Detroit fo the River Raisin and return with 
the convoy. He was also directed to take with him all the Ohio militia 
who had refused to cross into Canada, about a hundred in number. 
During the day a report reached the American camp at Sandwich that 
a British scouting party had crossed Turkey Creek, and McCullough’s 
rangers were sent out to gain information. It was ascertained that 
some cattle had been driven off the day before and some mounted patrols 
were seen at a distance. On his return McCullough asked permission 
to join Van Horne’s force, which he was allowed to do with three of 

1 Hull to Eustis, 4th August, 1812; Forbes, Trial, Appendix II, p. 11. 
2 Letter in Poulson’s american, August, 1812. 
