THE IOWA JOURNAL of History and Politics JULY Nineteen Hundred Six Volume Four . . Number Three Route of Robert Lucas Route of Hull's Army THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL ii INTRODUCTION The War of 1812, beneficial as it was in its results to the United States, does not present, when studied in detail, a consistent progress toward victory. It was begun with seemingly no thought for preparation and concluded with apparently little heed to the causes which brought it about. It was not well managed by the administration at Wash- ington, and among the generals in the field there was much blundering incompetence. Individual bravery and patriot- ism brought glory in the naval warfare; but on the land, with a few exceptions, the campaigns were distinctly unfor- tunate. Particularly discouraging was the opening campaign under the command of General AVilliam Hull, Governor of the Territory of Michigan. The purpose of the Hull campaign was to march to De- troit and from that place cross the river and commence a conquest of Canada. General Hull with an army consisting largely of Ohio volunteers made his way, in May and June, through the swamps and wilderness of Ohio and camped a few miles below the town of Detroit. On July 12, urged by his impatient officers, he crossed the river and began his concpiest by issuing a proclamation to the inhabitants of Canada. The following weeks, however, brought little but inaction and vacillation, and early in August he withdrew his force under cover of the night across the river to Ainer- 344 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS ican soil. On Sunday morning, the sixteenth of August, 1812, without having engaged the enemy in a single con- certed action, he surrendered Detroit to the British. Although the officials at Washington were very culpable in the management of the movements in the AVest, the Administration succeeded in extricating itself from the blame, and General Hull received the outpouring of wrath from the entire country for the failure of the campaign. His disappointed army was particularly bitter and even accused him of a treacherous betrayal. A court-martial tried his case, convicted him of cowardice, and sentenced him to be shot. President Madison, however, spared his life. General Hull spent the remainder of his years in re- tirement, and died, an old man, still insisting upon the Tight- ness of his course and vainly attempting to justify himself before the nation. During the disastrous Hull campaign Robert Lucas, of Scioto County, Ohio (afterwards Governor of the State of Ohio and still later the organic Governor of the Territory of Iowa), was in constant service and in a position which brought him in contact with every phase of the campaign. He kej>t a daily journal of the events, which is distinctly valuable in that it gives a contemporaneous view of the cam- paign from the standpoint of an actual participant. For over ninety years this interesting Journal, which is here published for the first time, has been carefully preserved by the de- scendants of Robert Lucas. It is recorded in a note book of about eight by four and one-half inches in dimensions, open- ing at the end, with board covers and leather back and corners. The covers are broken and the pages are yellow THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 345 with age; but despite its almost one hundred years, the writing is as legible as ever and tells a story of exceeding interest to the student of American history. Robert Lucas, the author of the Journal, had come to Ohio near the beginning of the nineteenth century and set- tled in what is now Scioto County. In 1804 he was commissioned Lieutenant in a company of volunteers recruited in apprehension of the refusal of Spain to peacefully surrender possession of the Louisiana Territo- ry, then recently purchased of Napoleon by the United States. Again in 1807 he was chosen Captain of a volun- teer company which tendered its services to President Jefferson during the excitement following the attack upon the Chesapeake by the British ship Leopard. Actual service was, however, not required of either of these com- panies. In the Ohio Militia Lucas had risen by successive proino- tions until at the opening of the War of 1812 he was Briga- dier General of the 2d Brigade of the 2d Division. He had been for some time desirous of becoming a regular army officer; and being finally tendered an appointment he ac- cepted in April of 1812 a commission as Captain in the regular army of the United States. A few days later he re- ceived orders from Major General Duncan Mc Arthur (at that time in command of the 2d Division of the Ohio Mili- tia) to transmit at once from his brigade its proportion of the twelve hundred men required of the State for the coming campaign against the British. These orders placed Robert Lucas in a rather peculiar position. But having received no orders as a regular army officer he concluded after some 346 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS deliberation that the urgency of the call for volunteers ne- cessitated his attending to his duties as a Brigadier General in the Ohio Militia. Without delay he set about recruiting volunteer companies from his brigade. The need for volunteers was urgent, and Lucas threw him- self into the enlistment with all his enthusiasm. Instead of waiting for a position as officer, which he could undoubtedly have had after the organization of his own troops into vol- unteer companies, he enlisted from the first as a private in one of the companies which chose his brother John Lucas as Captain. His purpose seems to have been to encourage enlistments among the men of his brigade. His name re- mained upon the company roll throughout the campaign, but he seems to have preferred the independent duties of a scout, guide, express, and ranger, as the Journal clearly shows. Thus Robert Lucas was at one and the same time a Captain in the United States Army, a Brigadier General in the Ohio Militia, and a private in a volunteer company. The volunteer companies started on their march to the rendezvous at Dayton, Ohio, on April 27, 1812; and from this point The Robert Lucas Journal tells its own story. Beginning with the twenty-fifth day of April, 1812, the Journal records the details of the campaign until August 16, when Detroit was surrendered. Then it tells of the re- turn of the disheartened Ohio volunteers across Lake Erie and the State of Ohio and down the river to Portsmouth. It ends on September 4, 1812, with the arrival of Robert Lucas at his home in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. One hundred and forty-one pages are devoted to this daily chronicle. Following these are twenty-eight pages upon THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 347 which are recorded religious poems, evidently composed by Robert Lucas in the later years of his life. But this unique manuscript did not remain altogether un- known to the world. It has been used at least twice in preparing short sketches of Robert Lucas. In 1834 the writer of a newspaper sketch 1 favoring the reelection of Lucas as Governor of Ohio evidently had access to its pages. Again in 1870, Dr. Frederick Lloyd, at that time Corresponding Secretary of The State Historical Society of Iowa, wrote for the Annals of Iowa a brief sketch of Iowa's first Governor which shows intrinsic evidence that he had perused the pages of The Robert Lucas Journal. The most notable instance of the use of the manuscript, however, was at the close of the Hull campaign. Among the four Colonels in the campaign under General Hull was Lewis Cass. Immediately after the surrender of Detroit, General Hull was taken to Canada as a prisoner of war. Colonel Cass, however, started at once for Washington, where he made a detailed report of the campaign to the Secretary of War. This report severely condemned Gen- eral Hull for his conduct of the campaign and was largely instrumental in bringing about the court-martial and con- viction of that officer. A comparison of the Cass Report with The Robert Lucas Journal reveals the fact that Cass incorporated into his Report sections taken verbatim, or with slight alterations, from the Journal. The conclusion that Cass copied from Lucas rather than the reverse is strengthened by the fact that the paragraphs in which the 1 This sketch is included in a manuscript collection in the possession of the Western Reserve Historical Society. 348 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS duplication occurs most frequently are those describing in great detail the events at Detroit on the day of the surren- der, at which time Colonel Cass was miles away on an expedition to the River Raisin. It is fair to presume that Lucas loaned the Journal to Colonel Cass to assist him iu the preparation of his Report. The record is entirely in the handwriting of Robert Lucas. It was written in camp and on the march; for he evidently carried the Journal with him throughout the campaign. On August 25, as he was leaving Cleveland on his return home he records: "I here got a knapsack and rll[l]ed it with my uniform cloth [e]s hat, my Journal, and Such other articles as I did not wish to leave." The writing, naturally, is hur- ried and in some cases rather difficult to decipher. Espe- cially is this true in regard to proper names to which the context gives no clue. Care has been taken to verify these names from other available sources, but in many cases such verification is impossible. In editing the manuscript of The Robert Lucas Journal certain rules have been followed which may require a brief explanation. An effort has been made to reproduce the Journal with exactness as regards spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Where letters have been omitted by the author, they have been supplied in editorial brackets. An exception, however, has been made in some cases where words seem to have been uniformly used as abbreviations, as Gnl for General and Colo for Colonel. Certain materials taken from the collection of Lucas let- ters and papers have been printed in appendices, not as a THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 349 part of the Journal but simply as throwing additional light upon the story of the campaign. The editor wishes to make special acknowledgment to Professor Benjamin F. Sharubaugh for valuable advice and assistance in preparing the manuscript for the press. Joiix C. Parish JOURNAL Received orders in Scioto County to march a Company of Volunteers and a Rifle Company from said County to De- troit, 1 — Issued orders on the 25 th April 1812 Directing Said Companies to march on the 27 th , and assemble at AV m Lucass 12 miles up Scioto — Met part of said Companies at Ports- mouth on the day appointed and commenc[e]d the march accompanied by a number of the Citizens as a testimony of gratitude for the patriotism manifested in said County — [Tuesday, April the Twenty-eighth] 28 th Both Companies having assembled they proceeded to march to Pe Pee, 2 and Encamped [Wednesday, April the Twenty-ninth] on the morning of the 29 th the Volunteer Company, having been joined by the Volunteers from Pe Pee, an election was ordered, when John Lucas 3 was elected Captain Dennis 1 Robert Lucas was at this time Brigadier General of the 2d Brigade of the 2d Division of the Ohio Militia. — Editor. ' A small creek in what is now Pike County. The neighborhood was knonn as Pe Pee; and a township of Pike County also bears the name. — Editor. s A younger brother of Robert Lucas. — Editor. 350 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS Murphy Lieut[e]n[an]t. and Joseph Barber Ensign, the Rifle Company having been previously organized David Rupe Capt 1 Tho s Arnold Lut and Richard MeDougal En- sign — Both of Said Companies thus organized proceeded on their march to Chillicothe, where they Encamped and Drew provisions — [ Thursday, April the Thirtieth ] 30 th Remained at Chillicothe making arrangements to get Camp kettels waggon peaces of artil[l]ery was placed on the Bank Directed to Sand- wich under the Command of Lieutenant Dallaby. 1 This day the Indians held a Councell with Gnl Hull, the principle Chiefs of the Wyandots ottaways, Chippaways, Shawaneas Senekas Pottawattomi[e]s L ~ Maldon with a flag of truce the purport of which is not known to me he was fired upon as he returned The troops all acted with good Cour- age but not good Conduct the fault is generally in the officers [ Friday, July the Seventeenth ] 17 This morning the reinf orcein [en] t from the 4 th Rgt and artill[er]y having ar[r]ived a Horseman returned from the Bridge stating that the whole British army was a coming on hearing of which Colo Cass myself Capt McCollough and Several others immediately repaired to the Bridge and Crossed over a few Riflemen was Directed to scour the edge of the woods Colo Cass advanced himself to where the Brit- ish had retreated from the evening before Capt McCol- loug[h] and myself went about 2 miles down the road toward Maldon before we Saw any person, we then stop- [p]ed and viewed two boats in the river loaded with men, which appeared to be assending the river — while we was thus viewing 2 British hors[e]men hove in Sight as Soon as they Saw^ us they wheeled and returned in full sjjeed, the THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 383 Back one of th[e]ni raised a white flag and the other a red one the one with a red flag tacked about and de[s]cended toward Maldon. We then returned to the Bridge the officers then met and held a Councill and all insisted upon evacuating the Bridge except Colo Cass and Capt Snelling, who insisted upon maintaining the post as an important one as it was the only obstruction in the way from where the army was encamped to Maldon, — They being over- powered the Bridge was abandoned and the Detachment returned to Camp without leaving a g[u]ard to keep the post we had So easily gained. When we returned to Camp we met Colo McArth[u]rs Detachment just arrived from the River La trenc 1 with Considerable public Stor[e]s, — I was now informed that the Sentenc[e] of the Court martial that I left Sit[t]ing on the trial of Capt Rupe was that he should be Cashi[e]red and not permitted to bare arms as an officer in Defence of the United States — (This was a bad manner to fateegue men to take the Bridge and give it up as we fo[u]nd it. [)] This night a report Came to Camp that the Queen Sharlotte a British armed vessel was Coming up the river Demolishing the houses as she Came and that the British had taken possession of the Bridge and was impress- ing and plunder[in]g the inhabitants — Colo Finley took the Command of a detachm[en]t and repaired towards the Bridge he went within two miles Saw the Ship lay in the Riv[e]r below, and with[i]n Carry of the Bridge detached a small party to the Bridge found that the British had come and Cut away the sil[l]s and erected a breastwork of tim- ber on the opposite side 1 The River Thames. — Editor. 384 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS [Entered on One of the British Soldi Tel rs that was wounded the margin ] L J was brought up a prisoner with us, the oth[e]r considered mortally wounded, was left, he died the same day the Indians Came and scalped him and sold his scalp to the British a good trick for an indian to make the British Gov. pay for their own Soldiers Scalps. [ Saturday, July the Eighteenth] 18 Colo Finley returned with his Detaehm[e]nt and made report as above stated, I remained in Camp this day and little was done. French Deserters Continually Coming in from Maldon and get[t]ing protection — This evening Capt Snelling Capt Mansfield and part of Cap? Sloans troop of Horse went on padroll to the Bridge [ Sunday, July the Nineteenth ] 19 th This clay Colo McArthur and a Detachment from his Regiment of about 200 men was ordered down to the Bridge to view the Situation] but restricted So as not to go with[i]n reach of the guns of Queen Sharlot[te]. They repaired immediately to the Bridge being about 14 miles from the Camp Capt McCullough Colo McDonald and Several of the rangers and myself went on in front, we found Capts Snelling Mansfield and part of the Dragoons within a mile of the Bridge in a lane, in full view of the Queen Shaiiot[te] myself and Several of the rangers went do[w]u within about 200 yards of the Bridge I was sit- ting on a gray Horse (that I had got to ride from the Quarter Master Gnl mine being worn do[w]n) Viewing the vessle very attentively when I Received a Shot from a Swivel on board a gun boat, that had not been discovered THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 385 by us, the Shot was Directed at me and the ball struck the ground about 30 or 40 feet before me, (I heard the nois[e] of the ball before I heard the report) we returned to where the troops were; the boat immediate [ly] rowed up stream with all speed to head us and fired a Second shot at us the ball passed over our heads. I informed Capt Snelling he inquired if we had artillery coming on I informed him we had not he observed that we could not maintain that post without artillery he dispa[t]ched his men through the grass near the bank of the riv[e]r, I passed up the lane and hitched my Horse and returned as I returned, I passed by Several Hors[e]men standing in the lane, when a Shot was Directed at them the Ball passed over them Capt Snellings men rose from the grass and fired upon th[e]m the boat returned in great hast[e] whether any person was injured on board or not is unknown — at this time Colo McAr- th[u]rs Detachment ar[r]ived, Capt Snell[i]ngs & Mans- field Compa[n]ys and Dragoons returned, Colo McArthur Adjt Puthuff and a number of the Riflemen went withi[n] Shot of the British troops at the Bridge a number of Shots was exchanged on both sides no injury was done to us we Supposed several of the British and Indians were killed or wounded as Several was seen to fall at the report of the guns, (I took four fair shots myself but do not know whether I injured any person or not) James Cochran of Capt Rup[e]s Comp[an]y who left the Company at Detroit and Came over and Joined Capt Lucas Compa[n]y behaved bravely he got down behind a log and lay and Shot all his ammunition away at them, one man was Seen to fall at one of his Shots after he had Shot his ammunition away he 386 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS blackg[u]arded them and Cursed them for Cowards and dared them to Come over the Riv[e]r, We fired at them in this way for amusement till we was tired and retired to the army about a mile back. In the afternoon Colo McAr- th[u]r and his adjut[a]nt Surgeon went down to where we had been before to take a view of them before we re- turned] when they was fired upon by Some Indians that had Crossed the River at the Bridge and lay in the grass and Bushes the troops was enraged at their Colo being fired upon, they all rushed forward. Capt Lucas Company nearly all being present, Capt Lucas was directed to com- mand the right wing and Capt Pinney the left they rushed on drove the Indians which was about 40 or 50 in number across the river and exchanged Several fires with the Brit- ish and Indians across the river. I at this time was on hors[e]back on the right wing assisting to keep the troops in order. I Saw the Indians flank off from the Breastwork at the Bridge and Crall through the grass Some of them got tolerably close to our men — Our order was such that we Could not keep the bridge if we took it. we was ordered to returned, and when we returned the Indians Crossed the river again and fired upon us we halted faced about and fired upon them Several times. Two of our men was wounded, a ]\I r Mellon of Capt Fryatts Compa[n]y and a M r "Williams of Capt Cunni[n]ghams Company, but neith[er] mortally, (Several Indians took Sight at me for Several Shots as I was on a gray IIors[e] and the only one that was on Hors[e]back on the right wing — The balls whisseled merrily, but none touched me, in the heat of firing. I was diverted to See Some of the boys Dodge at THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 387 the whistelino; of the balk — we returned two or three miles and met Colo Cass and his Rgt and a peac[e] of artillery he insisted upon going back to give them a fire with this Cannon, notwithstanding the orders of the Gnl was not to Cross the Bridge, during the firing Several Shots from Queen Sharl[ot]te and the gun boat was fired at us but none had effect, Colo McArth[u]r at the request of Colo Cass returned and encamped in the houses and Barns within a few miles of Bridge the Boys all acted with great courage, one of Capt Lucases Comp[au]y by the name of McGill got his gun choaked in the heat of the action and at a time when we expected to be met by an equal or Superior fourc[e], he deliberately took the Barrel out of the stock on Bricked his gun Drove out the load, Bricked ker put ker in order and loaded and Skot five rounds afterwards during tke Contest, it is an astonsking tking to me tkat no more of our men was wounded altko[ugk] we was at a consider- able distanc[e] the balls generally went over our heads, we understand that Several of the British have been kil[l]ed and wounded — [Entered on (j \ M' Arthur had his horse wounded in the the margin ] forehead It is truly distressing this evening to see "Women and Children run[n]ing for their houses thos[e] in favor of the Britis[h] for fear of us those in favor of us for fear of the British Those whose fortunes it is to reside at the seat of war must experience] trouble — [ Monday, July the Twentieth ] 20 th The Colonels Cass McArth[u]r myself and Several others went to view the situation of the British troops 388 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS at the Bridge we Saw that they had artillery at the Bridge, Colo Me Arthur was oppos[e]d to £ateegui[ii]g the men in bringing them up to action against artillery when they had not an equal Chane[e], but Colo Cass and Major Trimble insisted upon giving them a shot, accordingly the two regi- ments marched down Colo McArthur requested me to take two Rifle Companys and flank to a Point of wood that they Sup[p]osed the Indians would make to in order to Come upon the[i]r flank I did so. I advanced to the woods Sco[u]red them found there was no Indians in them and posted myself in the edge (if the wood as I had been directed to watch the movem[en]t of the Indians, while I was Sco[u]ring the woods I heard Shot from Cannon and I Saw them retreating they advanced and Shot three Shots from a Six pounder at the British and received Several Shots from Swivels and nine pounders from the British, they retired without a man being hurt after the army had retreated I was directed to retreat also which I did and overtook the army in about 4 miles had the en[e]my immediately rushed in after the army retreated they might have Cut of[f] my retreat as the officers did not let me know that the army had gone till they had got Some dis- tance. We all returned to Camp in Safety, but much fateeguied and very Hungary being nearly two days with- out much to eat — There appears to be a mistery in these proceedings, if the bridge was wo[r]th contending for, why did we not keep it when we had it, if it is not an object why fateegue troops in Sending them to it 15 m[i]l[e]s from camp. I fear that these proceed [i]ngs will prove injurious to us THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 389 [ Tuesday, July the Twenty-first ] 21' I Remained in Camp there was no alarm. The general returned to Detroit, and Several Companies of the regular Regiment Colo McArth[u]r acts as Commandant he directs the rangers to start to morrow morning to explore the Rack Countary and search for a road a Rack way to fort Maldon — The army get[t]ing Sick Considerably, and I fear that they will Suffer the ensu[i]ng Season — The artificer is engage [d] in making pike Irons and mounti[n]g artillery, the Ship Carpenter [s] are engaged at Detroit in riggin[g] the Rrig Adamfs] 1 Calculated to Car[r]y 16 guns [ Wednesday, July the Twenty-second ] 22 d Crossed over to Detroit and Received orders from Colo Miller of Ohio to repair to Chillicothe 2 immediately to attend to the recruiting Serv[i]ce f the enemy made a general discharge and proceeded with charged Bayonets, when the whole British line and Indians commenced a retreat they was pursued by our troops in a most vigorous manner for a considerable dis- tance, the victory was compleete in every part of the line, and Success would have been more brilliant had the cavalry charged the enemy on the retreat when a most favorable oppertunity presented. It has been stated that Capt Sloan refused to charge when ordered & that he gave up his hors[e] to Capt Snelling to make a charge — Majors Mor- rison tfe Van horn[e] Commanded as Majors in the action and is stated to have acted with great bravery an[d] untir- [in]g exertions, (Major Morrison had his horse killed under him) Capt Brown from Colo Finleys Regt Commanded the right wing and Capt Sanderson from Colo Cass', Regt the left, who both Distinguished themselves, as gallant offi- cers, also Captain Delandre 1 of the Michigan volunteers — There was in this action of the 4 U S Rgt 10 Noncomd 1 Dequindre. — Editor. THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 403 officers and privates Killed and 45 wounded — In the Ohio and Michigan Militia 8 were killed and 13 wounded. There was no officers Kill[ed] but were wounded, Capt Baker of the 1* Reg* Lieut 8 Larabee and Peters of the 4' Eegt, Ensign Whistler of the 17? Lieut Silly and Ensign Flisher of of the Ohio and Michigan Militia — [ Monday, August the Tenth ] 10 th Colo McDonald and myself Started from Detroit to meet the Detachment under the Command of Colo Mc- Arth[u]r to assist with the wounded to Detroit. We Started with two Compauies of Michigan Militia under the command of Capt Knaggs and Captain Schley [?], the whole Commanded by Colo Godfrey It rained tremendiously from the time we left Detroit till we ar[r]ived at the River Sacross 1 where the men was ordered to fire of [f] their guns, — Such Confusion I never Saw in men pertending to be under any Subordination. Indeed I would [have] Consid- ered myself more Safe with a Dozen of the Ohio Volunteers, and could have made a more formidable defenc[e] in case we had been attacked than Could have been don[e] by the whole of those two Companies. We proceeded on undis- turbed to the village of Maguawga, wher[e] we Saw a gun boat loaded with men assending the river, my advice was to leave a party at that place to Keep them in check and pre- vent their landing, and for the ballance to proceed on as quick as possible to meet the Detachm[en]t my advice was not attended to, the whole marched on in confusi[o]n till within a mile of Colo Millers Camp when they met a man that told them that Colo McArthur had ordered, them to 1 The River Aux Ecorces. — Editor. 404 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS return back to Maguawga. They all returned and found the British Brig Hunter laying across the channel to intercept our boats She fired Several Shots at us. Colo McArthur, on the Sight of the brig Stopt the boats and landed the wounded that was able to walk, Sent them round from the riv[e]r and pushed the boats up to the lower end of the village of Maguawga where they was met by Some wag- gons. Colo McArthur attended to onloading the wounded himself he Carried Several of them out of the boat, himself, and had them Securely placed in waggons. Several Shots was fired at them while they was onloading the boats, and when the wounded was all put into waggons the Colo left the boats, and Marched for Detroit with the wounded my Brothe[r] and a part of his Company was with the colo I placed myself at their head as the front g[u]ard. The British Continued to fire upon us as we marched up the river but without effect, we advanced as far as the River Sacross 1 where we expected to be intercepted by a party of British and indians, when we came in Sight we Saw a gun boat laying in the river opposite the Bridge over the River Sacross 1 which we was obliged to cross, we advanced on expecting every moment to receive a show[eJr of grape shot from the guns aboard, the gun boat lay to, and never fired as we crossed the bridge, which led us to believe there was a party of Indians waylaying us on our flank, and that She was only amusing us, as cpiick as I Crossed the Bridge, flanked of[f] with my detachm[e]nt and examined, but found none. The boat fired at the rear as it passed, but to no effect, (I presume she was afraid we had artillery with 1 The River Aux Ecorces. — Editor. THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 405 us which prevented her firing upon our front. She might have done executi[o]n had she kep[t] up a fire upon us as we crossed the bridge, — ) We ar[r]ived that evening safe at Detroit with the wounded The man that turned us back at Maguawga, Did it without any orders from Colo McAr- thur, And was thereby very near throwing all our wounded into the hands of the british had we been detained one half hour longer, we would have lost them, as there was Sev- [e]rel boats loaded with men coming in Sight when we left the boats, — never was there a braver or better hearted man than Colo McArthur This day the British Received a reinforcement of 400 men from down the lake [ Tuesday, August the Eleventh ] 11 This day Major Denny was ordered to evacuate and destroy the fort in Canada opposite Detroit, — Gowris house that was in the fort was also consumed. It was Set on fire by Some person, and Major Denny extinguished the fire but after he Crossed the riv[e]r to Detroit, it was con- sumed. — There ap[p]ears to be nothing doing at this place today, The British was up oppisite Detroit, Soon after Major Denny crossed the riv[e]r, It is stated that Colo Miller is ordered back to Detroit, without accomplishing the object for which he started, and for which the lives of many valuable men have been lost — ! ! ! My God what proceedings — [ Wednesday, August the Twelfth ] 12 th I was this morning at the w[h]arf and Saw a boat De[s]cending the riv[e]r with a white flag, (at first Sight I thought it was coming up the riv[e]r) and on enquiry I was informed that it was a flag of truce Sent by Gnl Hull to 406 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS Maldon, — The flag Soon returned and on enquiring the caus[e] of its returning So Soon I was inform [e]d that they had met Gnl Brock at Sandwich, and that the British had established the[i]r head quarters there I enquired the particular caus[e] of the flag being sent but could not assertain it This day I met the Contract [o]r Mr Beard in the street, and enquired of him the state of our provisions, he informed me that he had 20 days provisions then in Store and mentioned to me where he could get a consider- able quantity of flour, he also stated to me that it would be necessary for the army to recross the river and to attack Maldon, immediately or else to Capitulate, as the British was reinforcing and would attack Detroit [?] they could not otherwise Save the property at Detroit. I observed to him that the army had been prevented from going to Maldon when they wished and had been forced across the riv[e]r from canada against their will. I did not think that they would again cross willingly under the present commander, that all confidence in him was lost, and I thought if the fort must be Surrendered, that the Ohio volunteers would never consent to be Surrendered as prisoners of war, mearly to save the private property at Detroit, he felt much agitated at the Idea, I found from his conversation that that an arrangement of that kind had been talked of and I was led to believe that the flag of trace that had be[e]n sent to the british in the morning had been Sent for that purpose, — knowing Mr Beard to be one of Genl Hulls confidential fr[i]ends I was convinced from the Substance of his conver- sation, that the Gen! had it then in contemplation, to Sur- render us as prisoners of war, in case there Should be THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 407 an attack on Detroit by the British, and from his conver- sation it appeared as if he knew what was a going to be done by the British, and how we would have to act on our part, — Colo McDonald was present during the greater part of the conversation — I informed Colo Mc- Arthur the substance of the conversation, and expressed my fears that a Capitulation was intended by the Gn! — I then wrote a letter to Major William Kendall of Ports- mouth Ohio, a Copy of which is as follows Detroit 12 th August 1812 Dear Sir, I have the mortification to announce to you, that on the evening of the 7 th inst[a]nt while waiting with anxiety for liberty to march to Maldon, that the american Army was ordered by their Gen! to recross the river to Detroit, and thereby have been prevented from plucking the laurels that has heretofore been hovering over our heads Never was there a more Patriotic army, never was there an army possessing a greater love of Countary, or a more ardent desire to render it important Services, neither was there ever an army that had it more completely in their power to have accomplished every object of their Desire than the Present, And must now be sunk into Disgrace for the want of a General at their head — Never was there officers more Solicitous, or more united than our Patriotic Colonels (and indeed the whole army) have been both of the Regulars and Volunteers, to promote the Public good neither was there ever men of talents as they are so shamefully opposed by an imbesile or Treach- erous Commander as they have been — he has frequently 408 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS Called the field officers to councill in which they have with- out an exception united in Sentiment, and have in every instance been been opposed by Gnl Hull. Would to God Either of our Colonels had the command, 1 if they had, we might yet wipe of [f] the foul stain, that has been brought upon us, We are now reduced to a perilous situation, the British are reinforcing, our Communication [s] with the States are cut of[f], our Provisions growing short, and likely to be Surrounded by hosts of Savages All appears Dark [at] present, but hope is not lost If energy and decision is united with courage we may yet extricate ourselves, — With Sentiments of respect I am your obed[i]ent ser- vant Robert Lucas Maj r Wm Kendall This Afternoon Colo Miller returned with his detachment after undergoing a fateegue of a Severe engagement, and being kep[t] for Several days without Provisions or Tents Some of them had Indian Scalps hanging to the ramrods of their muskets as they marched in — [ Thursday, August the Thirteenth ] 13 l The British have taken possession of the Bank opposite Detroit and have commenced erecting a Battery, opposite the town, Lieuts Anderson and Dallaby- each threw up a Battery on our side one in the old Public Garden and the 1 The assumption of the command of the army by one of the Colonels was sev- eral times discussed, but the decisive step was never taken. — See Adams' Ilistory of the United States, Vol. VI, p. 326.— Editor. 2 Lieutenant James Daliba. — Editor. THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 409 other Just below the town, — The British is Suffered to work at their batterys undisturbed aud perhaps will Soou Commence firing upon the Town (Why in the name of God are they not routed before they compleet their Battery) This afternoon Colo Finley with a Detaehm[en]t was ordered to prepare to march on a Detachment up the river. They prepared and waited for orders, application was made and the Gnl was found asleep he could not be disturbed, therefore the Detachment had to remain in camp till the next day. — he probably had been taking a little Wine with his friends, which threw him into a deeper repose than Usual, — We also this day heard that a party of Indians from Ma[c]kinaw was coming do[w]n and was seen at Lake St Clair [ Friday, August the Fourteenth ] 14 th The British is Suffered to continue their work unmo- lested, no kind of preparation is making by o[u]r army about the garrison, Lieuts Dallaby 1 and Anderson, still at work at the[i]r batterys. This afternoon Colo Finley is ordered with a Detachment to the Spring wells, and about Sunset Colo? McArthur and Cass is ordered with a Detach- ment from their Regiments of 350 men, to march a back way to the riv[e]r Raisin to escort the provisions that had Some time remained there Colo Finlays Detachment returned to camp [ Saturday, August the Fifteenth ] 15 th Every thing in confusion as usual, Gnl Hull has a Markee Pitched in the camp South of the Fort of a Singu- 1 Lieutenant James Daliba. — Editor. 410 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS la[r] Structure, never before seen in this army — with Sundry Red and Blue Stripes in various ways over the top, (I am apprehensive that it is intended as Som[e] Signal, — as he never before had a markee in camp since the army has been at Detroit) abo[u]t 1 Oclock Two officers ar[r]ived from Sandwich with a flag of truce. AVhile they are consult- ing with Gnl Hull the British on the opposite shore is busily engaged in removing a house out of the way of the Batterys, and as Soon as they had the house compleetely removed the officers returned, no attempt was ever made by Gnl Hull to prevent the British compleeting the battery, about 2 oclock we was informed that the British Summoned the fort to Surrende[r] and had stated that their force was Amply Sufficient to justify such a Demand, and if it did not sur- render that the Garrison and Town would be massacred by the Indians, to this demand an immediate refusal was given. The army was astonished at the insol[e]nce of the Briti[s]h knowing our force to be Superior and possessing every ad- vantage over them that we could desire were it properly used — about 4 oclock 2 vessels hove in Sight below Sand- wich point, and their battery played upon the town The fire was returned and continued without interruption and with little effect till Dark the Shells were thrown till 11 oclock, 2 of which fell within the garrison one of which Wounded a man which was the only injury don[e] in the fort, — Capt Snelling was Sent down to the spring wells to See the movements of the British vessels, he ascertained that they was landing troops and Sent to Gnl Hull for some peaces of Artillery, the Gnl neglected to Send him any, and the British landed the[i]r troops and Some peaces of Artil- THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 41 1 lery unmolested — What could have a greater appearance of treach[er]y in our Gnl, than Suffering the en[e]niy to erect their Battery unmolested, and the refusing to grant Capt Snelling Artillery to prevent their landing their troops. The British might easily [have] been prevented from erect- ing their batterys and if Capt Snelling had been furnished with artillery when requested he would have drove the British Vessels down the river, or Shattered them to peaces, and would intirely have prevented the enemy from landing the[i]r troops. It appears as if Colo? McArthur and Cass had been sent a way on purpose by Gnl Hull So that he might have a fair oppertunity of Surrendering the fort to the British, — when the British first commenc[e]d firing upon the town The fourth Regim[e]nt and the Ballauce of Colo McArthurs Regt that was not with him, was ordered into the fort and placed on the walls, in which position they lay all night, — immediately after the fort was Summon [e]d an express was sent to Colo? McArth[u]r and Cass inform- ing the[m] thereof and ordering them to return immediately to Detroit [Sunday. August the Sixteenth] 16 th This morning about daybr[e]ak the British renewed the[i]r fire upon the fourt, and it was returned from our Battery. The roaring of the cannon was tremendious but there was but little injury done, one Shot axidentally killed a man, in the plain, and two by axident being nearly Spent fell within the garrison, one of which killed Ensign Sibly and a Soldier from Mackinaw and the other killed Lieu' Hanks 1 Doctor Reynolds Surgeon-mate to Colo Cass Rgt 1 Lieutenant Hancks had been in command of Mackinaw when that fort was captured by the British on July 17, 1812.— Editor. 412 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS from Zanesville and Wounded Doctor Blood Surgeon mate in the 4 th U S Egt The ball took of [£] intirely one of Doc- t[o]r Reynolds legs, and the other part[l]y of [f] he Died in ab[o]ut a half an hour after, (he was Said to utter the following words about the time he expired) "fight on ruy brave comrade. I shall nev[e]r see Zanesville I die in peace" — Peace be to his manes — but his comrades was pre- vented from fighting, by their commander — for the fort was Surrendered about 8 oclock, the Gnl Capitulat[e]d^at the time the Gnl raised a flag of truce on the walls of the garrison, the 4 th Regt and a small part [of] Colo McAr- th[u]rs was in the fort, Colo Finleys Rgt was posted on the North of the plain back of the fort. And Major Denny with part of Colo? McArthurs and Casses Regts along Some Pickets South of the plain, a Part of the Michigan Militia in the upper part of the town and a part in the plain; 2-24 pounders loaded with grate shot and Musket balls placed on a Commanding eminence, b[e]low the town, and indeed our whole force was placed in a situation that the enemis flank and front must have been exposed let them make an attack upon what part they would, — Every man was wait- ing with anxiety the approach of the enemy and expected a proud day for his Countary, at the Same time Colo? Cass and McArthur was within a few miles and would have fell upon the enemies rear, (altho[ugh] not known to us at that time) our a[r]my thus placed, I was on the back wall of the garrison viewing the movements of Some Indians that made their appearance in the plain and was catching som[e] horses, and was just de[s]ceuding the wall with a view of joining colo Finleys flank to meet them when I was Called THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 413 to by Some of my acquaintances], and informed that a white flag had been raised upon the wall, I was struck with estonishm[e]nt and returned to enquire the caus[e] I was informed that Gnl Hull had ordered our Coulors to be struck and that it was opposed by Colo Miller, but that he had Sent out a flag of truce to the British to capitulate, and had ordered the whole of the troops into the garrison to stack their Arms The British at this time was marching up the Detroit river by Colum[n]s of plato[o]ns twelve men in front and when the head of their colum[n] hadar[r]ived within about 5 hundred yards of our line, when a Single Discharge from the 24 pound [e]r must have dispersed them, orders were received from Gnl Hull for all to retreat to the fort and not to fire upon the En[e]my one universal burst of indignation was apparent upon the receipt of these orders, our troops was immediately crowded into the fort, and two British officers rode up to the Gnls marke[e] they remained there a short time and retired, — I made inquiry of the caus[e] and what was done I Soon ascertained that the Gn! had Capitulated and had Surrendered the whole army as Prisoners of War. In entering into this capitulation the Gnl only consulted his own feelings, not an officer was con- sulted, not one antisipated a Surrender till they Saw the white flag displayed upon the walls. 1 Even the women was indignant at the Shameful degradation of the Am eric [an] character, and all felt as they should have felt but he who held in his hands the reins of authority our mornings report from information] was effectiv[e] men fit for duty 1060, ' Cf. Report of Colonel Lewis Cass to Secretary of War Eustis, September 10, 1812. — Editor. 414 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS exclusive of 300 Michigan militia on duty, — The whole force of the enemy both white red and Black was from the best informati[on] we could gain about 1030. They They had 29 plattoons twelve in a plattoon of men in Uniform, a number of them must have been Canadian militia,— after enquiring into the principles of the capitulation, I assertained that all the U. S troops was to be Sent to Quebeck, and being apprehensive that Gnl Hull would wish to have me Sent with them, 1 I thought it prudent to leave the garrison previous to the British taking possession I therefore placed my Sword and uniform clothes in my brother [QCapt J Lucas) Trunk threw my musket and cartridge box against the wall and left the fort, I went down in the town of De- troit and passed in the capacity of a citizen, and paid a par- ticular attention to the Proceedings. 2 The British first placed a peace of Artillery in front of Gnl Hulls Door one at each of our Battery and placed guards to command the defiles round the fort previ[o]us to our troops being marched out of the fort. Their order of march into the fort wa[s] the Regulars and those in Uniform in front, the Militia not in Uniform next a Compa[n]y with handkerch[i]efs round their heads and painted like Indians next and the In- dians in the rear Commanded by British officers Dressed and painted like Indians. The Indians was not Suffered to go into the fort, I Stood at the corner of the street and Saw them pass me in this order, with indignant feelings, but when our troops was marched out our Coulors Struck and the British Coulors hoisted in their Stead, my feelings was 1 See below, Appendix B. — Editor. 2 See below, Appendix B. — Editor. THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 415 affected beyond expression, My God who could bear the sight without vowing eternal vengeanc[e] against the perpe- trators of Such Diabolical acts, and agaiust the Nation that would employ such Detestable Savage allies. To See our Coulors prostitute to See and hear the firing from our own battery and the huzzaws of the British troops the yells of the Savages and the Discharge of small arms, as Signals of joy over our disgrace was scenes too horrid to meditate upon with any other view than to Seek revenge — The In- dians after the British had got peaceable possession of the fort, gave, themselves up to plunder they took and bore away at will, horses and Such other property as fell in their way, they robbed and plund[e]red the the hous[e] of M r Atwater the Acting Governor and Capt Knag[g]s the Ind[i]an interpreter of every thing they could find, (the Capitulation to the contrary notwithstanding) and many other attrocious acts, — I Saw Major AVitherall of the Detroit Volunteers Brake his Sword and throw it away and Sev[e]ral Soldiers broke their muskets rather than Surrender them to the British — Soon after the British had taken the fort, and made the arrangements by placing g[u]ards at various places in the town I saw Gnl Hull walking linked arms, with a British officer, from the fort to his own hous[e], Possess- ing a more pleasing countenanc[e] than I had ever Seen him, and appeared to be very pleasingly engaged in con- versation with him — While in town I happened in company with a British officer who was exulting at their concjuest. I could not refrain from telling him that the conquest he was boasting of they had obtain [e]d through treachery, and that in my opinion they would not maintain it long, as we 416 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS could have an army of 10,000 men there in a few months, he appeared to make light of my observations — after he retired I was advised by an acquaintance] not to speak my mind so free as the British was Such a haughty people and I was ther[e] in their power, it might operate against me. I had previously formed a determination not to go with them as a prisoner of war — altho[ugh] I had heard it stated that the 4 th Rgt and Gnl Lucas was to be Sent on to Quebeck, I knew they did not know my person, and being informed by Major Denny that his Detachment was to be immediately Sent on board a vessel, I thought it desirable to go aboard lest Some of the inhabitants of Detroit Should betray me. I communicated my intention to Some of my confidential friends in or[der] that I might not be betrayed about 3 oclock the Detachm[en]t went aboard the Maria of Prisque isle — I requested Ensign Baird to have Capt J Lucas Tru[n]k taken aboard, he being absent with Colo McArthur, which he had done I made Some arrang[e]ments in town and went to the w[h]arf, with them. The British G[u]ard that was at the vessel asked me if I was going aboard I told them I was, he asked me if I was going to stay aboard I answered him also that I was, he then Suffered me to pass aboai'd without asking any further questions, — I went aboard and requested the boys aboard not to call me by any title and told them my reason for making Such request. Soon after I went aboard the vessel dropped down the riv[e]r about a mile and lay too all night Some time that Evening Colo? McArthur and Cass returned with their Detachments, and was Surrendered as prisoners J 1 See below, Appendix B. — Editor. THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 417 [Monday, August the Seventeenth] 17 this morning the British were firing of[f] our arms up at the w[h]arf — we Surrendered 2500 stand of small arms be- sides what was in the magazin[e], about 60 peaces of Can- non of Various Sizes 2 Howitzer[s] 40 Barrels of Powd[e]r 100,000 Cartridges made up 400 rounds [of] cartidges for 24 po[u]nd[er]s and a great quantity of Balls Shells, and Cartridges for the Smaller Cannon, the particular quantity not precisely known to me we lay to all this day, Colo Mc- Arthur Came aboard and returned, on Shore he was engaged in making out the rolls of his regiment this evening Capt Keys and a party of Colo McArth[ur , ]s Bgt passed us in open boats they had Some provision with them but left none of it with us, — Several British offic[e]rs wa[s] aboard this day — and I was informed that there had been Consider- able enquiry made for me at Detroit after I had left there, by the British offic[e]rs, but could not find where I was, Capt J Lucas and a number that was out with Colo McAr- thur came aboard The vessel was loaded with furs, and the Strength of the Skins and the Bilge water was enough to Suffocate us to Death [Tuesday, August the Eighteenth] 18 Colo McArthur McDonald Puthuff Majors Denny and Trimble came aboard we raised anchor and Drop[p]ed down the riv[e]r, toward Maldon but the wind being against us we did not get down till night here we drew Some provisions for the first [time] after the fort had been Surrendered, having been three days without eating any thing I felt considerably hungary, — The Commandant at Maldon came aboard, but I kep[t] tolerably close below 418 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS while we was laying at Maldon for fear I Should be be- trayed, as I had no great inclination to go with Such Detest- able enemies, as the British to Quebeck as a prisoner of war [Wednesday, August the Nineteenth] 19' This morning we Saw a great number of Indians cross- ing the river towards Brownstown. I am fearfull that they are gone in pursu[i]t of Capt Brush, and if they overtake him his party must become a Sacrafice as the[i]r number is So far Superior to his, — (I hope he may make his escape to Ohio with his provisions before they overtake him) we lay this day at Maldon, our officers were frequently ashore Con- siderable inquiry was here made where I was, but no one informed them [Thursday, August the Twentieth] 20 th we still lay at Maldon Capt Ruff is on Shore making Some arrangem[e]nts about his vessel, Colo McArth[u]r Sent for him to come aboard he Came and hoisted Sail for Cleveland in the State of Ohio [Friday, August the Twenty-first] 21' This morning we landed at the Island at Put in bay and Cooked Some pro visions we th[e]re assertained that th[e]re was 230 men aboard, not more than half of them could ever lay down at a time. There was a British officer and a g[u]ard of men with us, we again went aboard and Set Sail — this night Capt. ruff had his boat prepared, on Deck to get in in case th[e]re should be a storm he was appre- hensive the vessel would upset in case there Should arise a gale of wind, as the great part of the men was obliged to remain on deck. THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 419 [Saturday, August the Twenty-second] 22 nd The weather was fine but no wind, we made but poor headway and our provisions growing Scanty [Sunday, August the Twenty-third] 23 rd The weathe[r] as yesterday in the evening we came near land at the mouth of Black Biv^jr, 1 Colo McArthur and a number of his men was Set a Shore, 26 or 27 miles from cleaveland, here I took my Sword out of the trunk and went a Shore, I never had from the time of the Surrender of Detroit felt intirely indejiendent untill I got my feet on land at the mouth of Black Biv[e]r, I lay down by a fire and rested comfortab[l]y this night — [Monday, August the Twenty-fourth] 24, Those that had landed Started a foot to Cleveland, I had no provision, nor nothing to buy with, I traveled on and found the inhabitants extrem[e]ly hospitable, I ar[r]ived at Cleveland in the evening, where I found my comrad[e]s that had went on in the vessle, we lodged at Cleveland that night [Tuesday, August the Twenty-fifth, to Thursday, August the Twenty-seventh] 25 th This day Colo Cass and Colo Huntington (the former Governor of Ohio) Started to the City of "Washington with dispa[t]ches to [the] governm[en]t rendering an account of our Disasterous Campaign, Colo McArthur Drew pro- visions for the troops to last them to Canton and allowed each Captain to march his Company as he Saw proper. I here got a knapsack, and .fil[l]ed it with my uniform cloth [e]s hat, my Journal, and Such other articles as I did 1 A river emptying into Lake Erie in what is now Lorain County, Ohio. — Editor. 420 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS not wish to leave and started on a foot with my Brother Capt J Lucas, he being on well we did not ar[r]ive at Can- ton till the evening of the 27 th where he was treated with great hospitality by the Citizens of Canton and also by the inhabitants on the road from cleaveland to that place [Friday, August the Twenty-eighth] 28, Colo McArthur Made out a Provision return for his reg- iment and Drew for them money in Lieu of provision, to bare their expences hom[e], here every man was allowed the liberty of returning to his home [by] Such rout[e] as he thought proper. Myself Capt J Lucas and 1 1 other men of Capt Lucas