284 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
the fort, anda third, two more outside its walls. These casualties com- 
pleted the demoralization of the non-combatants. 
About the same time it was reported that an out-picket of the 
Ist Michigan militia, under Lieut. Godefroi, posted in rear of the town, 
had surrendered without firing a shot, and Colonel Brush, commanding 
that regiment, remarked excitedly to General Hull with an oath that 
he believed his men would run away to a man! Again Hull sought 
to gain time. At ten o’clock his batteries ceased firing, and he in- 
structed his son to display a white flag. For this purpose a large towel 
was produced by him, which a senior officer rejected as being too dirty. 
A sheet or table cloth was next obtained, which was objected to as being 
so large that before it could be hoisted the United States ensign must 
be lowered. Finally, this was displayed upon the south-western bas- 
tion, and Captain Hull crossed the river at the same time with a flag 
of truce to request a cessation of hostilities for three days. He quickly 
returned, accompanied by Lieut. Edward Dewar, of the Quartermaster- 
General’s Department, who came to enquire why a flag had been sent 
to Sandwich when General Brock was on the American side of the river. 
Captain Snelling was then despatched with a letter to General Brock, 
whom he found quietly reconnoitering the works without an escort, 
about two hundred yards in advance of his troops, who were lying down 
under cover. The proposal could scarcely have arrived at a more 
opportune moment, as the Indians had already reported the appearance 
of McArthur’s column about two miles in rear of their position. Brock 
informed Snelling with great emphasis that he would certainly move 
to the assault if terms of surrender were not agreed upon within three 
hours, and delegated Glegg and Macdonell to return with him and 
receive General Hull’s answer. When this message was delivered, Hull 
seemed greatly agitated and his voice faltered. He had been chewing 
tobacco, and his lips, chin, and neckcloth were stained with the juice. 
By this time a number of Indians had appeared in the fields near the 
fort, where they employed themselves catching horses, and the woods 
rang with their yells in all directions? McArthur’s return was evi- 
dently cut off and his force might easily be surrounded and destroyed. 
Menaced on all sides by a confident and imperious enemy, whom he 
believed to be already superior in numbers and daily increasing, Hull 
had neither provisions nor ammunition to stand a prolonged siege. 
None of his troops except the regulars had as yet behaved in a manner 
to inspire confidence, while many of the volunteer officers had openly 

‘Hull, Defence, p. 163; Forbes, Trial, Evidence of Lt.-Col. Miller. 
* Forbes, Trial. 
