Title

Chapter 19

Identifier

http://www.nflibrary.ca/nfplindex/show.asp?b=1&ref=oo&id=298175

page

204-215

Bibliographic Citation

1812; the war and its moral : a Canadian chronicle / William Foster Coffin.

10167813

1812; the war and its moral : a Canadian chronicle / William Foster Coffin.

Type

Text

extracted text

204

CAPTURE OF GENERAL WINCHESTER—ROLETTE AGAIN.

CHRONICLE OF THE WAR.

205

from peril of instant death to assured safety warmed the heart of
General Winchester. He felt, at once that, the British were not the
monsters they were painted, and he offered to surrender the stockaded
house and garrison, if promised quarter. The promise was, of course,
made, and the garrison laid down their arms. This led to a catastrophe which was deeply deplored by us all.
" But I promised you a story about Rolette. He came up to me
on the ice, and said he was very sick—that he had a racking headache. I recommended him to return. The brave little Frenchman
turned upon me as if I had insulted him. He was detailed to take
charge of a gun, he said ; to go back would be eternal disgrace.
' Look here,' said he, producing a heavy Bandana handkerchief,
tie this tight round my head.' I rolled it up thick, and did so.
' I am better already,' he remarked, and pushed on. After the
action he came to me. ' That handkerchief,' said he,' saved my
life ; look here ; ' and in the folds of the handkerchief was a musketball, which had partly cut through the silk, and had flattened, one
side of it, on his skull. That cranium of his must have been substantial. It was all swollen and blackened where the ball had
struck. He was in front of our line in the centre, and had been
wounded by our own men. Irvine, of the navy, a Lieutenant, who
commanded the other gun, was also wounded in the heel.
" I have spoken of the catastrophe. I will tell you, now, how that
came about. Scarcely had the prisoners surrendered, and been
marched off to the rear, when news came that General Harrison
was only eight miles distant, and was rapidly advancing with large
reinforcements. Proctor got alarmed, and ordered a retreat. This
was all right, but there was no need to hurry about it. The prisoners and many of the wounded were removed safely ; but some of
the wounded, too much hurt to be moved, were left in the stockaded
house, where there was also a store of liquors. The Indians—not
Tecumseh's people, but Indians of the Lake, under Dickson-

wood, the reveille was beating inside the stockade, and it seemed
as if the advanced sentry was attracted by the rattle of the drums,
for he did not perceive us, in the mist of the morning, until they
had ceased. Then he heard the rumble of the gun-carriages, and
turned and fired, and hit Gates, the leading grenadier of the 41st,
right through the head. The ball went in at one ear and out at
the other. Our people deployed rapidly to the right and left, in
the open, and commenced to fire. Proctor made a strange disposition of his line. He put a gun on each flank, and advanced one
gun in front of the centre, so that every ball of the enemy,
which missed the gun, struck the men in the rear, and some
of our own musketry hit the gunners. I'll tell you a story about
this presently. In the mean time the fire from our line was so
heavy, that it drove the enemy who were outside the stockade
down the bank on to the frozen stream below, and into the woods
beyond, where numbers were killed by the Indians The stockaded
house still held out, when, to our surprise, General Winchester was
brought in a prisoner. He had slept away from his men at the
house of a Frenchman named Lasalle, about two miles off, and,
aroused by the firing, had mounted his horse, and was riding
down in haste, when he was intercepted by a drunken Indian,
known by the soubriquet of Brandy Jack.* His captor had
despoiled the poor General of his cocked hat, coat and epaulets,
and had donned these insignia of rank, and cut a most ludicrous
figure with his vermilion cheeks and painted face and pompous aspect.
The General, in his shirt-sleeves, on a bitter cold morning, was in a
sad plight. Brandy Jack described how the General had fired his
small gun (pistol) at him—' no good,'—and gave the captive of his
rifle to Proctor, who received him with all kindness. The transition
* James and Christie attribute the capture of Winchester to Round Head a
Wyandot chief. He may also have enjoyed the soubriquet of "Brandy Jack
but the squire maintains the latter denomination to be the true one.
.•

206

CHRONICLE OF THE WAR.

prowlers and plunderers; who, it is believed, did not fight at all,
got at the liquor, and, when mad with drink, assailed the prisoners.
The guard was insufficient. It is feared that some of the wounded
were murdered, too. It was a sad affair, and caused intense feeling in our camp. Proctor was greatly blamed by us, though he
was made Major-General, and got the thanks of the Lower Canadian
Parliament. He need not have retired so precipitately. Why, he
left his own dead and wounded, including Colonel St. George, hit
in three places.
" I had under my order at this time a number of sleighs and drivers
for the commissariat transport, and I had taken possession of a
Frenchman's house at Stoney Creek Landing, and used it for a depOt.
When Proctor retired with his men, it was reported that the wounded
had been left behind. We discharged the sleighs there and returned,
bringing down from eighty to a hundred wounded and twenty-three
corpses. The wounded were made as comfortable as possible on
straw spread on the floor of the Frenchman's house. The dead
were conveyed to Amherstburg, and buried, all in one pit, here in
the church-yard ; I can show you the place. I found poor Col. St.
George, a brave old officer, who had been sent out from England to
instruct the militia, lying where he fell, badly hurt. I brought him
back in his own sleigh, having knocked the seat out, and filled it in with
straw. He would have died else ; as it was, he did not get off his
bed before July. The Americans followed us from French Town to
Brownstown, an Indian village, at a cautious distance, it is true ;
for we never saw any of them. But they boasted that the heroes
of Brownstown returned, bringing on their bayonets the scalps of
their enemies as trophies of war.'* This was published and printed ;

• James quotes a paragraph from the National Intelligencer, the American Government paper of that day, which stated that "when the Americana
returned to Detroit from the battle of Brownstown, they bore triumphantly on

FORT MEIGS—BRITISH ENGINEERS—COL. GRATIOT.

207

but it is .not added whether the scalps were those of the wounded,
or of the Indians, or of their own people. It is believed that with
them a scalp was a scalp, from whatever skull it came, and that
it was a cute Yankee trick to carry off the spoil, and credit the
Indians with the act.
" The next affair in the campaign was that of Fort Meigs, on the
Miami, which occurred in the month of April, 1813. General
Harrison, after the capture of Winchester, occupied himself in
strengthening Fort Meigs, as a depot and starting point for future
attacks on Detroit. It is about 40 miles distance. Proctor determined to beat up his quarters, and sent for my brother, Major Reynolds, of the 2d Essex. My brother was highly praised by Proctor
in his despatch of the 26th Jan., for his conduct at French Town.
Proctor asked if he could depend on the services of the militia.
The answer was, that, for a few days and prompt action, undoubtedly ; but that at that period of the season, longer delay would
destroy all hope of crops, and bring starvation on the settlement
and the troops. Proctor despatched, at the same time, two British
engineers, disguised in Canadian costume, grey capats and sashes,
to inspect the ground on the British side of the Miami, opposit.1 to
Fort Meigs. These gentlemen were so imprudent as actually to
stake out the ground where they proposed to erect the British batteries. There happened to be then in the American service a Swiss
colonel named Gratiot, a very clever engineer, and he chanced to
be at Fort Meigs. He detected at once the meaning of the stakes
on the opposite shore of the Miami ; and, before the British got
down, he had run out an epaulement, or some such sort of thing,

the points of their bayonets between 30 and 40 fresh scalps, which they had
taken on the field." James, I, p. 66. But this evidently bore reference to
Muir's affair at Maguagua, 12th August, 1812. Still, " scalps are scalps,'
whether taken in 1812 or 1813.

CHRONICLE OF THE WAR.

DEATH OF LAURENT BONDY—INDIAN EXCESSES.

with a brass eighteen-pounder behind it, and our people were caught

their own advanced rear, consisting of 300 militia, who opened fire
at once, and then charged with a cheer, which brought up the
regulars still further in the rear. Reynolds and Capt. Laurent
Bondy, of the C6te, led up to the muzzles of the American rifles,
which, once fired, are no match for the bayonet. Bondy was shot
through the body, and fell against a tree. Don't stop for me,'
he said, to some of the men who paused. ' Don't mind me—I'm
done for. Do for those fellows.' And they did.*
" The Kentucky men ran, the sortie was repulsed, the battery recaptured, a large number of prisoners was taken, and again occurred
some of the same scenes which had caused so much horror at
French Town. The Indians of different tribes, scattered through
the woods, were beyond control ; they overpowered the escort. One
man, Russell, of the 41st, was slain in defending his charge.
Tecumseh rushed up, and drove his tomahawk into the skull of a
truculent ruffian who would not hold his hand. Some of the prisoners
were murdered, and among them Colonel Dudley, the second in
command. I call it murder, because I won't call murder by any
other name. There is no doubt those Indians were shocking implements of war, though perhaps not much worse than bomb shells or
Greek fire, and why could not the Yankees leave the devils alone ?
Who scalped the red skin at the Ta-ron-tee ?-1. The Indians were
fighting for their lands, and avenging their own wrongs. If you

208

in their own trap.
"After Hull's surrender, my brother had been sent with two companies of militia, about 100 men, mostly French Canadians of the
COte, to occupy French Town, on the Raisin. He was backed by
some Indians—how many can hardly be said, they were so uncertain,—one day, 20 ; the next, 100 ; the next, 50 ; the next, none at
all. One Colonel Lewis, with about 700 American regular troops,
attacked him there. Our people fought most bravely, retired slowly
from log to log, from morning till night. When night came, the
Americans thought better of it, and gave up the pursuit, returning
to the quarters our people had occupied at French Town. This
affair was the subject of Proctor's despatch of the 26th Jan.
"Proctor embarked at Amherstburg, here, on the 23rd April, with
a considerable force, convoyed by gun-boats.* He took with him two
long 24-pounders, to arm the work his engineers had planned against
Fort Meigs. It took some time to get into position, and then the 18pounder began to show its teeth. It commanded our guns, and was
well served and aimed. It soon dismounted one of the 24's, and disabled the other, killing a fine boy of the Newfoundlanders, who was
serving the vent. Still our people were not to be beaten that way.
They got things right at last, when Harrison planned a sortie under
Miller, aided by an attack from without. A reinforcement of 1200
Kentuckians, under General Green Clay, was within striking distance. Clay came down the river, crossed to the British side, and,
aided by Miller's vigorous sortie, drove our people out of the battery
upon their reserves, who were in camp further down the stream.
The Americans followed in confusion. Our people rallied upon

209

* 5th May, 1813.
t James, in his Military Occurrences, Vol. I, p. 62, gives the following version
of the same occurrence : "In the pocket of Captain McCulloch of the American
army, killed in this affair (Tecumseh and Van Horne) with the Indians, was
found a letter addressed to his wife, in which this humane individual states
that on the 15th July he had

• Force 23d April, 1813.—Regulars
CC
CC
Militia..
"
C'
It
CC
Indians.
"

520
460
1500-2480

killed an Indian, and had the pleasure of tearing
the scalp from the head of the savage with his teeth." That the Indian was

scalped is an undoubted fact. We may be allowed to question the operation
in dental surgery.

210

CHRONICLE OF THE WAR.

want the skin of a wild cat, you must take the scratching. We did
all we could to stop the Indians. We gave five dollars for every
prisoner brought in. Hundreds were brought in, and paid for by
the Commissaries. I have paid numbers of such certificates myself.
" Another word on these scalping stories. They have been the
stock in trade of American writers ever since the war, only they
grow a little as they get on. Have these people forgotten the
' heroes of Brownstown, with the scalps on their bayonets,' borne
home in triumph ? Now if the boast was true, where did the scalps
come from ? Not from our dead, for I removed them all myself.
Not from our wounded, for I helped to remove most of them, and
know that none were left. Did they scalp their own dead ? or did
they scalp the Indians ? If they scalped the Indians, what right
have they to complain that*the Indians scalped them ?
" But the defeat of Green Clay had no effect on the place, which
still held out. Proctor opened fire from his 24's, and Gratiot gave
him shot for shot. We were getting back to the old slow work, and
I knew that the supplies were running short. I despatched orders
for more, and got them, but we wanted push.' Proctor did not go at di
it in a way to satisfy any one. At last he dismounted his guns,
put them on sleds, and let them down the steep bank under the fire
of the enemy. It was done, by the men, as if on parade, but it was
clear that a retreat was intended, and all began to talk. Tecumseh,
through Colonel Elliott, demanded a council. It was held. I was
present, but came in after Proctor had spoken. Tecumseh was up,
calm, cool, deliberate, thinking in look, very hard in what he said.
Elliott translated. ' Our father has brought us here to take the fort,
why don't we take it ? If his children can't do it, give us spades,
and we will work like beavers ; we'll eat a way in for him.' Other
and harder words followed, until suddenly Proctor, in a passion, ri
turned on Elliott with, Sir, you are a traitor.' Elliott instantly,
half drawing his sword, answered, Sir, you short, and

PROCTOR AND TECUMSEH-PROCTOR AND THE MILITIA.

211

not sweet.' Proctor put his hand on his sword-hilt. Tecumseh,
who had sat down, Indian fashion, on his hams, and who was filling
the pipe on his tomahawk, rose slowly, and shook the tobacco out,
saying to Elliott, ' What does he say ? " Sit clown,' says Elliott,
putting his hand on Tecumseh's arm, " never mind what he says."
Other officers present moved up at once, and without a word stepped
between; all felt it was wrong. Not long after, Elliott resigned his
place as Indian Superintendent, and called Proctor out, but no
meeting took place. Proctor was right ; a commander in the field
holds his life for the safety of, others; he can't toss it away for the
fun of a personal fight.
4

"

Next came the militia. It has been said they deserted Proctor.
Nothing can be more untrue, unfair, ungenerous. Who had they

to speak for them ? He was their mouthpiece. His despatch was
the only record—praise others; say nothing about them ; and the
brave man who fought for all he loved, had nothing to look to, but
the love of those he fought for. Proctor treated the militia badly.
When they saw his guns on skids, and knew the siege was over, they
sent respectfully to ask leave to go home, only to put in a crop for
the benefit of his men and their own children. He sent them home
and disarmed them. He tried to disgrace them, but they would
not be disgraced, because they knew they did not deserve it. Brock
was another sort of man. He thought, and felt, and spoke for othe
men, and other men loved him, and fought for him, and died for
him.
"About the middle of July, Proctor planned another attack on
Fort Meigs. He only took with him the regulars, and a few Indians.
He refused the services of the militia, and, as I before said, took
away their arms. How much of his future ill success is to be
credited to this piece of policy, you will see. I went with the troops
on this second expedition to Fort Meigs.* The plan was to inveigle
. ,
• 25th July, 1813.

212

CHRONICLE OF THE WAR.

the enemy out of the fort, and to get in with them ; but they would
not come out, and as the place could not be taken with two sixpounders, the British retired with all the discredit of a defeat. What
Proctor could not do at Fort Meigs, he tried to do on a more distant
and more defensible work on the Sandusky river, Fort Stephenson,
defended by Major Croghan, a brave Irishman, in the United States
army. Proctor sent Major Chambers, with a flag, to demand the
surrender of the fort.* Croghan came out on the drawbridge of
the ditch, and said to Chambers,—' Tell your General he may blow
the fort to hell, but it shan't be given up by me.' He was as good
as his word.
"Fire was opened on the work from the six-pounders, and on the
evening of the 2nd August, Colonel Short, of the 41st, led on the
storming party. They rushed through the smoke, down into the
ditch, up against the palisades, but neither ladders nor fascines had
been provided ; the tools they had were bad, some of the axes had
no handles. The attempt to tear down the palisades failed. The
men then tried, desperately, to clamber over, and while doing so, the
enemy opened from a concealed gun, which flanked the ditch, and
which, charged with grape, did deadly execution. Lieut. Gordon
and Colonel Short were both killed ; about 100 men were killed and
wounded, and the recall was sounded. The storming party was
brought off; the Indians, who don't understand storming, covering
the rear. The next morning Proctor left the river.
"Croghan made a gallant defence, and deserved all praise. His
number was under 200 men. We had 500, and about 200 Indians.
Croghan found in the magazine many boxes of muskets, meant for
the militia. He opened them, and provided every one of his men
with four or five, loaded ready at his side, so that the musketry fire
was tremendous and incessant, and at close quarters, in open day• 2nd August, 1813.

FORT MEIGS AGAIN—CROGHAN. AND FORT STEPHENSON.

213

light, most fatal, and the masked gun did its work just in the nick
of time.
"While these fights had been going on on the west shore of the
Detroit, we had been preparing at Amherstburg for a contest on the
lake, which we knew must determine who should be master on the
western frontier. It was supremacy on this lake, or starvation.
The party who held the lake cut off all means of supply from the
other, and the more the mouths, the greater the danger. Now,
the British had to feed the Indians, and their whole families, as well
as their own people, and from the absence of the militia, no crop
had been put in.
" Since June, Captain Barclay, of the Royal Navy, had been hard
at work, fitting out his small squadron. We had a good harbor
and dockyard between Bois Blanc Island and Fort Malden. We
were preparing the Detroit, the Queen Charlotte, and other smaller
vessels, but Barclay had neither guns, nor men, nor marine stores.
The guns from the fort were put on board of the Detroit. I heard
Captain Finnis ask Proctor to let him have two 24-pounders, the
same that had been withdrawn from before Fort Meigs. Proctor
said he must keep them to cover his retreat, should it take place
General,' said Finnis, `if we are lost, you are gone. Give me
the guns, and, mayhap, you won't have to retreat at all." Finnis
was right ; the guns might have saved all. As it was, they were
taken without a shot fired, at Dalson's farm. Poor Finnis, who was
a brave officer, was killed at the second broadside. The same ball
killed Garden, of the Newfoundlanders, acting as marines, another
brave officer. I was not in the sea fight of course, but I know that
when the ships were supplied, our stock in store was reduced very
low.
" Perry's squadron were all armed with 32's and long 24's. His
two best ships, the Lawrence and Niagara, were brigs, armed each
with 20 32-pounder Columbiads. The best of ours had only a

214

CHRONICLE OP THE WAR.

motley 'complement of 24's, 16's, and 12's one brig, the Hunter, had
10, 4-pounders. The men told me that when engaged with the
American schooners, their 32's crashed through her; while, in return,
our balls stuck in the side of the American, like currants in a
pudding."
CHAPTER XX.
Captain Barclay and Commodore Perry—Resources of each—Perry's difficulty—Crosses the
bar at Presqu'Isle—Description of Barclay's crew and armament-10th September—
Battle of Lake Erie—Desperate contest—The Lawrence surrenders—Perry's personal
exploit—Changes his ships—Renews the contest—The British squadron captured—
Officers all killed or wounded—The resistance of Barclay and his crews—Barclay's
heroic character and conduct—Appearance before a Court martial—Honourably acquitted—Barclay's defeat, Proctor's doom—Position of Proctor—Nature of country—Sup. plies exhausted—Alternative of retreat or surrender—Retreats—Line of march—Difficulties—Followed by Harrison—Kentucky Mounted Riflemen—Tactics in the battle—
Character of forest—Not impracticable to horsemen.

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We take leave of Squire Reynolds, and his store of incidents, at
the time of this great disaster. While Barclay had been occupied
at Amherstburg, Commodore Perry had been equally busy at the
port of Presqu'Isle, in Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie. He had the
great advantage of being near to his supplies, and abounding in
them. From the sea-board he had received excellent crews. Military and marine stores had been furnished to him at great cost and
trouble, but neither cost nor trouble could supply Captain Barclay.
For some time Perry labored under this disadvantage : Presqu'Isle
was a bar harbour, across which he could not take his ships with
their guns on board. In consequence, Barclay lay off the harbour,
ik
and, with a very inferior force, kept him at bay. He could not
venture into deep water in disarmed ships, but a gale at last drove
Barclay away. Perry slipped out, took his guns on board from
lighters, and was, from that moment, master of the lake. Not, however, without a desperate struggle. Barclay retired to Malden,
and pushed on his preparations. The Detroit was fitted for sea
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