138 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The armed schooner Lady Prevost was instructed to cruise off Sandusky 
and the River Huron to create an alarm. 
Early in November, General Tupper advanced from Urbana to 
Fort McArthur, where a considerable quantity of supplies had been 
accumulated, with a strong brigade of Ohio Volunteers and sent Hink- 
ton’s company of scouts ahead to reconnoitre by Hull’s road. Arriving 
at the rapids on the afternoon of the 7th, Hinkton found the Indians 
in possession busily engaged in killing hogs and gathering corn. A 
white man who was seen in a corn-field stalking a flock of wild turkeys, 
was stealthily surrounded and taken prisoner before he could give the 
alarm.? He proved to be Interpreter Clark of the British Indian 
Department. When he was brought to Fort McArthur, Clark was 
significantly warned that his future treatment would depend on the 
truth of his statements, and he talked freely. He said that the number 
of Indians at the rapids, exclusive of women and children, did not ex- 
ceed 250 and described the weak state of the garrisons of Amherstburg 
and Detroit. This information decided Tupper to make a dash forward 
with the object of dispersing the Indians and securing the cattle and 
corn. The distance was seventy-seven miles which he expected to cover 
in three days.*? Every man who was not afraid of fatigue was ordered 
to draw five days’ rations and he began his march on the 10th at the 
head of 650 well mounted riflemen, taking with him a light field gun. 
An express was sent to warn Winchester of the proposed movement 
and invite his co-operation. Finding that the gun impeded his progress 
it was left behind at a blockhouse fifteen miles in advance of Fort 
McArthur.. The road was very bad and it was the evening of the 
15th before Tupper arrived at the ford of the Miami two miles above 
the settlement. His scouts reported that the Indians were encamped 
near Beaugrand’s house on the opposite side of the river and their 
boats were moored some distance below. They were drinking and 
dancing and seemed unaware of his approach. He determined to cross 
at once, surround their camp in the dark and attack at daybreak. 
But the river was swollen by recent rains and the current was swift. 
Very few men succeeded in gaining the opposite bank, several of whom 
lost their rifles and others had their ammunition spoiled. They were 
ordered back and the attempt to cross was abandoned. When day- 
light returned Tupper marched his force into the clearing opposite their 
camp. The Indians assembled in considerable numbers and began a 
fire of musketry across the river while several shots were also discharged 
‘Return of November, 25 1812. Royal Artillery, 30; 41st Regiment, 256 
Royal Newfoundland, 117. 
2? Procter to Sheaffe, Oct. 30 and Nov. 9, 1812. 
3 Howe, Historical Collections of Ohio. 
