272 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
twenty-four hours, thoroughly drenching everybody. This was cheer- 
fully endured and they moved steadily onward until the morning of the 
10th, when the lake became so rough that they were forced to put into 
a creek near Port Talbot until the wind fell sufficiently to permit them 
to take the lake again. Next day a few hours’ hard pulling brought 
them to the mouth of another small stream in the township of Ald- 
borough, which still bears the name of Brock’s Creek, where a second 
landing was made to rest the men, who were considerably fatigued by 
their exertions and lack of sleep. Orders were issued for a strict 
inspection of arms and ammunition as the boats must now pass along 
a part of the coast which had been visited by scouting parties of the 
enemy. Re-embarking at midnight, they overtook the schooner next 
morning at Point aux Pins. At nightfall they again pushed forward, 
great precautions being taken to keep the boats together and guard 
against surprise, as no information of any kind had been received from 
the garrison at Amherstburg since leaving Port Dover. The inspiring 
example of Brock kept the whole force on the alert and in the best of 
spirits. Shortly before midnight on the 15th the expedition arrived 
at Amherstburg and was welcomed by a regular feu de joie of musketry 
from the Indian encampment on Bois Blanc Island. All ranks were 
much elated to learn that the invaders had already retreated to their 
own territory and that Colonel Procter had re-occupied Sandwich, where 
he had begun to construct batteries. Brock did not fail to stimulate 
his followers to further exertions by well considered words of praise. 
“Tn no instance,” he declared in a General Order published next day, 
“have I witnessed greater cheerfulness than was displayed by these 
troops under the fatigue of a long journey in boats and during extremely 
bad weather, and it is but justice to this little band to add that their 
conduct throughout excited my admiration.” 
Procter was warmly commended for his judicious measures, which 
had brought about the evacuation of the Province by the invaders, while 
Colonel Elliott, Major McKee, and other officers of the Indian Depart- 
ment were thanked for their adroit management of the Indians and 
their gallantry in the field. He expressed surprise at the numerous 
desertions from the militia, but tactfully added that he was willing to 
believe that “their conduct proceeded from an anxiety to get in their 
harvests, and not from any predilection for the principles or govern- 
ment of the United States.” He announced his intention of employ- 
ing “the whole physical force of the country to drive the enemy to such 
a distance as to ensure its tranquility,” and the officers commanding 
militia corps were consequently instructed to have every man liable to 
service immediately mustered or treated as a deserter in default of his 
