[CRUIKSHANK] HARRISON AND PROCTER 121 
was contemplated nor were the Indians in that quarter considered as 
coming within the influence of the officers of the British Indian Depart- 
ment.' Further inquiry proved that the collision was unpremeditated 
and that some thirty prisoners were scattered among the Indian villages 
on the borders of Lake Michigan. Chief Justice Woodward then re- 
quested that special messengers should be despatched to ransom the 
survivors and conduct them to Mackinac or Detroit.? Procter promptly 
replied that the most effectual means in his power would be employed 
at once “for the speedy release from slavery of these unfortunate 
individuals and for their restoration to their friends.’’? Elliott and 
McKee were accordingly directed to make known his wishes to the 
chiefs and readily secured their promise that the captives should be 
surrendered.* Lieutenant Helm and a few others were soon brought 
in, but the Indians became greatly angered at the destruction of some 
of their villages and decided to retain the remainder as hostages for the 
safety of their own people who had been carried away as prisoners. 
When Robert Dickson visited Chicago in the following March he ascer- 
tained that seventeen soldiers, four women and some children were 
still prisoners among the neighbouring Indians and took instant measures 
for their redemption.’ Eventually most of them were liberated through 
his influence. 
Every available vessel and boat was pressed into service for the 
transportation of the prisoners taken at Detroit; but with every effort, 
several weeks elapsed before the last of them were sent away. The 
regular troops were taken to Fort Erie on their way to Quebec and the 
Ohio volunteers and drafted militia were paroled and landed at Cleve- 
land. The detachment of the 41st Regiment which had been drawn 
from the Niagara frontier was sent back without delay to meet the im- 
pending attack in that quarter and the militia volunteers from the 
counties of Lincoln, Norfolk and York returned to their homes, after 
doing duty as an escort to the prisoners on their way down the lake. 
Three hundred of the local militia were retained in service, part of whom 
were employed in the expedition to the River Raisin and Miami Rapids 
already described, while the remainder were engaged in disarming the 
Michigan militia, dismantling the batteries at Detroit and removing 
the guns and military stores to Amherstburg. The executive powers 
of civil governor of Michigan Territory were assumed by Colonel Procter, 
who appointed as Secretary for the time being, Augustus B. Woodward, 

! Procter to Brock, Sept. 10, 1812. 
? Woodward to Procter, Oct. 8, 1812. 
3 Procter to Woodward, Oct. 10, 1812. 
4 Procter to Evans, Oct. 28, 1812. 
5 Dickson to Freer, March 16, 1813. 
