164 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Of those reported killed or missing, twenty-five or thirty, including 
three officers, made their escape to the Miami. Forty or fifty others 
were carried off as prisoners by the Indians, most of whom were de- 
livered up or ransomed in the course of six months, through the efforts 
of the officers of that department. Quite three hundred were killed, 
and the small number of wounded prisoners sufficiently indicates the 
merciless character of the pursuit. 
The worst was vet to come. During the night a number of Indians 
intent on plunder stealthily returned to the River Raisin. Major 
Reynolds and two of the interpreters had been called away and but one 
remained, who was unfortunately not proficient in their language. 
The Indians ransacked the village and found a quantity of liquor. 
Many of them became drunk and began to rob and insult the wounded. 
The interpreter and surgeons were helpless. Words were succeeded by 
blows, and finally these wretches killed Captains Hart and Hickman 
and several privates who were unable to walk and carried off the re- 
mainder with the surgeons as prisoners. Several others whose strength 
failed on the march were instantly butchered. Not more than half 
the wounded left here eventually escaped death in this manner.’ 
It is, perhaps, not surprising that Procter was personally blamed 
for this massacre by his enemies, and indeed, he seems to have antici- 
pated censure. 
“My opinion of the enemy is not more favorable than it was from 
what I have seen and heard of them. They were armed with knives 
and tomahawks, and some of them used them. They fired at the 
wounded as they lay on the ground, themselves behind enclosures and 
in buildings. Every art, every means have been employed to prejudice 
and influence these misguided people against us. There have been 
some instances, I am sorry to say, of Indian barbarity; but the example 
was set by the enemy they came to seek. I know we shall be vilified, 
for the truth is not in them. I have not anything to accuse myself of.’’? 
In evidence of this he enclosed an extract of letter written to him 
from Sandwich on January 29 by General Winchester, in which that 
officer said: 
“You will please to be assured, sir, that I feel a high sense of grati- 
tude for the polite attention shown to myself as well as for the humanity 
and kindness with which you have caused the prisoners to be treated 
who fell into your hands on the 22nd instant.’’ 
The 510d of these men Em was uncouth and repellant. 
1 Am. State Papers, Military Affairs, 1, 367-75; Atherton, 70-5. 
2 Procter to Sheaffe, lst February, 1813. 
3 Winchester to Procter, 29th January, 1813. 

