[CRUIKSHANK] GENERAL HULL’S INVASION OF CANADA IN 1812 279 
The military value of the militia, it is true, had not yet been ascer- 
tained. 
Lieut.-Colonel St. George was directed to march his brigade soon 
after dark to McKee’s Point and quarter them in houses there, and the 
remainder of the regulars and militia were ordered to be in readiness 
to embark promptly at that place at three o’clock next morning. Elliott 
was instructed to bring forward the Indians during the night to the 
River Rouge, and take up a position to attack the enemy in flank and 
rear in case they attempted to oppose the landing. As soon as he accom- 
plished this the passage of the river would begin. 
Hull had, in fact, anticipated an attempt would be made to land 
near Spring Wells, and despatched Captain Joseph Snelling, with fifty 
men of the 4th United States Infantry and a light field gun, after dark 
to occupy the high bluff at that place, which commanded a wide view 
of the river below, but advised him to return before daybreak to avoid 
the fire of the British vessels. His Adjutant-General and Quarter- 
master-General were likewise directed to examine the ground and select 
a position for a field work to be armed with artillery later on. During 
the night Snelling’s sentries reported hearing the sound of oars on 
the river, but he returned to Detroit before daylight without having 
noticed anything of importance. 
During the afternoon and evening, three hundred wild western 
warriors, Ottawas, Sacs, Saulteux, and Winnebagoes came up from 
Amherstburg in their canoes. They had painted their faces and all 
exposed portions of their bodies with fantastic devices in blue and ver- 
milion, and spent the greater part of the night before in dancing the 
war-dance and practising their customary incantations on the eve of 
battle. They then crossed the river swiftly and silently, under the 
supervision of Major McKee, whose influence over them was remarkable. 
The moon had entered its first quarter and favoured this movement in 
the early part of the night. 
Shortly after midnight the whole of the troops were roused, and 
Brock made a hasty inspection of regulars and militia as soon as they 
were formed up. The passage of the river began shortly after dawn. 
Brock himself crossed in one of the first boats, standing proudly erect 
to encourage his men. The batteries at Sandwich opened fire as soon 
as it was light enough to distinguish objects on the opposite side, with 
little more result than on the previous evening for several hours, as the 
town was practically deserted within range. It was very languidly 
returned at long intervals: By this means the attention of the garrison 


DC O0, August goth: 
