[CRUIKSHANK] GENERAL HULL’S INVASION OF CANADA IN 1812 275 
while the hall resounded with the excited whoops of his fellow-warriors, 
who sprang wildly to their feet brandishing their weapons in the air. 
At a private conference with a few of their chiefs, Brock spoke of the 
difficulty he had found in obtaining satisfactory information respecting 
the course of the roads and streams on the American side of the Detroit, 
and Tecumseh rapidly sketched a neat map of the country with the 
point of his hunting knife upon a roll of birch bark.’ 
Much encouraged by the result of this meeting and the alacrity 
with which the militia were mustering, Brock continued his preparations 
for a vigorous offensive movement. The Queen Charlotte and General 
Hunter, with the whole of the gun-boats, were sent up the river to the 
vicinity of Spring Wells. These vessels were still very weakly manned, 
as the whole of the Provincial Marine force at his disposal at this date 
numbered only five officers and 128 petty officers and seamen, including 
the impressed voyageurs. Brock went forward to Sandwich, where 
Captain Dixon was still busily engaged in the construction of batteries, 
and after leaving a slender garrison of militia in the works at Amherst- 
burg, the remainder of the troops were put in motion. During the day 
Dixon had met with no molestation, although working parties were seen 
similarly engaged on the opposite bank, ‘and when night fell, his bat- 
teries were ready to receive their guns. Before noon of the 15th, 
these were placed in position, and most of the troops from Amherstburg 
having arrived, Brock decided to summon the garrison of Detroit to 
surrender without further delay. After a statement that the force 
at his disposal fully authorized him to make this demand, he added 
significantly:—“It is far from my inclination to join in a war of 
extermination ” (borrowing this phrase from Hull’s own proclamation), 
“but you must be aware that the numerous body of Indians who have 
attached themselves to my troops will be beyond my control the moment 
the contest commences. You will find me disposed to enter into such 
conditions as will satisfv a most scrupulous sense of honour.” ? 
A close study of Hull’s letter to the Secretary of War of August 
4th and other captured correspondence, had already satisfied him that 
his opponent was in a thoroughly despondent mood and particularly 
susceptible to the influence of such an argument. It was also apparent 
that he must in any event be seriously embarrassed by the indiscipline 
and insubordination of his troops. To add emphasis to the summons, 
orders were given to tear down a building which masked the batteries 
at Sandwich,  Lieut.-Colonel John Macdonell, acting Attorney-General 
of the Province, and Major Glegg were selected to deliver it to General 


1Richardson; Coffin. 
2Brock to Hull, August 15. 
