[CRUIKSHANK] HARRISON AND PROCTER 129 
afford, can be obtained. Engaged in agricultural pursuits, you are 
well aware that from about this time when the crop is either secured 
in the barn or laid by in the field until the commencement of spring, 
there is leisure for any kind of enterpirse.’’! 
Two weeks later persistent rumours respecting the precarious situa- 
tion of Detroit excited grave misgivings. 
“Should Hull’s army be cut off,” he wrote confidentially, “the 
effect on the public mind would be, especially in this quarter, in the 
highest degree injurious. Why did he proceed with so inconsiderable 
a force, was the general inquiry made of me. I maintained it was 
sufficient. Should he meet with a disaster, the prediction of those who 
pronounced his army incompetent to the object will be fulfilled, and the 
Secretary of War, in whom already there unfortunately exists no sort 
of confidence, cannot shield Mr. Madison from the odium which will 
attend such an event.’’? 
In public he kept up a brave show of confidence and on the very 
day of Hull’s capitulation he addressed three regiments assembled at 
Georgetown, serenely predicting the speedy capture of Amherstburg 
and conquest of Upper Canada.* 
Some time before this, Harrison, the capable and energetic Governor 
of the Indian Territory, had been invited by Governor Scott to attend 
a conference on military affairs at Frankfort and his arrival evoked a 
great demonstration of warlike enthusiasm. Many leading politicians 
had assembled there to be present at the inauguration of Isaac Shelby, a 
veteran soldier of the Revolution, as Scott’s successor in office. Briga- 
dier General James Winchester of Tennesseee had been designated by 
the Secretary of War to command the forces then being organized but 
he had not yet arrived and was by no means popular in Kentucky. 
Steps were immediately taken to secure his supersession by the “hero 
of Tippecanoe.” At the suggestion of a small caucus of influential 
politicians, Harrison was accordingly appointed Major-General of the 
Kentucky militia, thus outranking Winchester. On the day of his 
appointment, Clay wrote in the highest spirits to solicit the same rank 
for him in the army of the United States. 
“Tf you will carry your recollections back to the age of the Crusaders 
and of some of the most distinguished leaders of those expeditions, you 
will have a picture of the enthusiasm existing in this country for the 
expedition to Canada and for Harrison as Commander. ”# 

* Clay to Monroe, July 29, 1812. 
? Clay to Monroe, Aug. 12, 1812. 
* Williams, Two Campaigns in 1812. 
* Clay to Monroe, Aug. 25, 1812. 
Sec. II., 1910. 9. 
