[CRUIKSHANK] A STUDY OF DISAFFECTION IN UPPER CANADA 21 
resistance. On their return to Delaware they actively circulated a 
petition desiring Hull to detach a force for their protection which was 
signed by many of their neighbours. 
On the 20th of July a copy of Hull’s proclamation was obtained by 
General Brock and he was informed at the same time that “it had been 
productive of considerable effect on the minds of the inhabitants.” 
Further intelligence of an alarming nature induced him to direct the 
march of a small force of regulars and militia to Delaware to overawe 
or arrest the malcontents. 
“Numbers have already joined the invading army,” he wrote, 
“commotions are excited and late occurrences have spread a general 
ODA he ts ee ney ek Soyeuse CR ee ae ee en Re The 
enemy’s cavalry amounts to about 50. They are led by one Watson, 
a surveyor from Montreal, a desperate character. This fellow has been 
allowed to parade with about 20 men of the same description as far as 
Westminster vowing as they went along the most bitter vengeance 
against the first characters in the province. Nothing can show more 
strongly the state of apathy in that part of the country. I am perhaps 
liberal in attributing the conduct of the inhabitants to that cause.”’? 
In a few days, however, a party of militia led by two enterprising 
young officers succeeded in arresting both Allen and Westbrook and 
learned that Watson had returned to Sandwich. The apprehension of 
these two men had a marked effect upon the disaffected. 
Meanwhile the flank companies of the Norfolk militia had been 
ordered to assemble at Long Point and march to Oxford under the com- 
mand of Colonel Talbot who had become unquestionably unpopular. 
Many of them absolutely refused to obey this command and with very 
few exceptions the remainder mutinied and returned home after march- 
ing a few miles, alleging as reasons for their conduct their great dislike 
for their commander and the reluctance they felt in leaving their families 
exposed to the depredations of the Indians of the Grand River, whose 
attitude at that time appeared extremely suspicious. 
Still, there can be little doubt that there was a regularly organized 
effort to prevent the militia from obeying orders. Smith states that 
John Beemer, a justice of the peace, Timothy Collver, an ensign in the 
Norfolk militia, and a third man whose name is not recorded, rode 
about the country from house to house for three days advising them 
to refuse to march. Beemer was present at the muster and on being 
ealled upon by Colonel Talbot as a magistrate boldly told him that 

! Brock to Prevost, July 20, 1812, Can. Arch. C 676, p. 203. 
? Brock to Prevost, July 26, 1812, Can. Arch. C 676, p. 408. 
