[CRUIKSHANK] A STUDY OF DISAFFECTION IN UPPER CANADA 25 
instigating the militia to disobey orders. Smith, however, explicitly 
states that many of the recent immigrants warmly resented General 
Hull’s invitation to assist him in freeing them from British tyranny 
“for if they had been under any, they could at any time have crossed 
into the United States” and adds that when a militia officer came 
to warn them for service, they promised to obey but instead of doing 
so they concealed themselves in the woods to await the course of events. 
When Detroit was surrendered several residents of the Western 
and London Districts who had taken service with the enemy were 
made prisoners, but Simon Z. Watson evaded capture and on August 
20, 1813, was appointed topographical engineer on the General Staff 
of Military District No. 8, with rank of major in the United States 
Army. Among the prisoners were Chester Rogers, Isaac Willett, 
Elijah Willett, Samuel Hartwell, Stephen Hartwell and others, several 
of whom were duly paroled. Allan McDougall, Antoine Meloche, 
Antoine Lafitte and Isaac Willett were indicted for treason at the court 
of Oyer and Terminer held at Sandwich on September 11 and 12, 1812. 
Nor were the evidences of disaffection at this time entirely confined 
to the western portion of the province. On August 10, Colonel Leth- 
bridge wrote from Kingston :— 
“There are, I am sorry to say, some exceptions to universal loyalty 
in the County of Leeds and I wish to be honored with your instructions 
in respect of men who have lived as peaceable inhabitants but who 
being called on, refuse to take the oath of allegiance. To send them 
across the river is perhaps accomplishing the very object they have 
at heart.’’? 
For several months Brock’s unexpected and surprising triumph 
at Detroit inspired the loyal militia with the utmost confidence and 
silenced the discontented. 
A letter from a spy or secret agent addressed to Major General 
Van Rensselaer at Lewiston, N.Y., apparently written somewhere in 
the District of Niagara makes this quite clear. 
“When General Hull’s proclamation appeared it had its effect, there 
being a security for private property contained in it. Most of the 
inhabitants would willingly have submitted, but when it was found 
that private property was seized without (compensation), the public 
sentiment entirely changed. The success of General Brock established 
the change of sentiment. He has since made the most of it, has become 
personally highly popular and in short has taken every measure that 
a judicious officer could take in his circumstances for the securing of 

* Lethbridge to Brock, August 10, 1812. Can. Arch. C 688 A, p. 173. 
