280 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
was occupied until nearly seven o’clock, when a column of troops in 
scarlet was seen advancing upon the river road. This was apparently 
the first intimation they had of the landing of the British. 
When the whole of his men were disembarked, Brock ordered the 
reports to be collected, and was informed, to his amazement, that he 
had only five hundred and fifty of all arms. <A strong detachment had 
Leen detailed to support the gunners of the Provincial Navy who were 
working the guns in the batteries, but this number seemed so incredibly 
small that he directed the report to be verified. It was then ascertained 
that there were actually 750 officers and men, including some boatmen 
who were not under arms! Brock’s despatch states the number at 
730, distributed as follows:—Royal Artillery, 30, with five light field 
guns; 41st Regiment, 250; Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 50; militia, 
400. Possibly this return may have included rank and file only, as a 
contemporary account printed in the Montreal Gazette increased the 
number to 830, besides twenty seamen to manage the batteaur, and the 
detachment of militia stationed at the batteries.” 
The Indians, who had occupied a position about a mile inland, were 
thrown forward through the woods to gain the rear of the town. From 
some prisoners taken by them in this movement, it was learned that a 
small column of troops had been detached to the River Raisin two days 
before, which was now supposed to be returning, as horsemen had 
been seen on the back road about three miles distant. Hitherto Brock 
had intended to take up some strong position near the town in the hope 
of inducing Hull to come out and attack him, but finding that the 
garrison of the place had been unexpectedly weakened, he determined 
to advance at once upon the fort and intercept the return of this 
column.* Lieut. Bullock, with his picked detachment of sixty men of 
the 41st, led the way along the road which followed the bank of the 
river so closely as to be commanded by the guns of the vessels until 
within a few hundred yards of the town, where it was intersected by 
a deep ravine. Two twenty-four pounders had been placed in position 
at the town gate to enfilade the road as it ascended the opposite slope. 
Their gunners could be seen standing beside them with matches burn- 

Richardson, p. 52. 
? Distributed as follows:—Royal Artillery, 30; 41st, 290; Royal New- 
foundland Regiment, 45; militia, 465. Lomax’s History of the 41st Regi- 
ment gives the following return of the strength of the detachment of that 
corps commanded by Captain Muir:—Three captains, nine subalterns, one 
assistant surgeon, thirteen sergeants, thirteen corporals, 240 privates. Cap- 
tain Tallon was in command of the brigade. 
* Brock to Prevost, August 17th. 
