s ,** ■ ■•j^ .J--S' .^^'' '''^^. O^ V, \^^l^'^' .'^"^ -^ .s^ o \- /^><. -"^^j^^ y^'^^^'.' 0^ ■< < ^:i -If'- "vO A , ^^/ .^>^;. %^^,c> ^^.^.^ o^^_^ .^. ,j^,^^ ^^^c , -^-z- o"* X/ '^--^'v %,^ ^'■■'^■-■Y^ \/ /^^^^'^^'' %/ -^-'--^"^ ^. ^-»t^-^' ^/'^'--V' v^-^-\^' ^.-^^z V- : %.^ .-^^Sfe \/ :;^^ %/ ^^& \/ .■ . , , ; ^ -, • / ^.,^'?^'\/ %/^f'U^^ %'^^\4^' ^-- '^ .^^ r.' 0^^ >=,->5^^^'* ^/--S'^o^"' v^\- %:^j}j^'J- ^o. '.•' A -Ti- ■'J. • °<. '*b > .^^ •"^. ^o '.' _<.^' •^ o A>0 ^-V to ,^^-. %.c^^ .:^=^^^ ^.^/ :>m:: %.y f4 # * '^' ■■:%( % "% Q. » - <, _ f-. . o " o , .^^' •4- ,«^ THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL OF THE WAR OF 18 12 DURING THE CAMPAIGN UNDER GENERAL WILLIAM HULL EDITED BY JOHN C. PARISH PUBLISHED AT IOWA CITY IOWA IN 1900 BY THE STATE HISTORICAL S(JCIETY OF IOWA (jyJ^I^ z COPYRIfiHT I'JOl) BY THE (STATE HIHTOKICAL SOCIETY OF IDWA UeSARV "^ CONGRESS MOV a )90o f*ss A. aaJ fij, COPY /.. '".I? LIMITED TO FOUR HUNDRED COPIES REPRINTED FROM THE IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS liiiiilc 111' lluU's Annv THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL INTRODUCTION The War of ISI'J, beneficial as it was in its results to the United States, does not present, when studied in detail, a consistent progress towai'd 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 William Hull, Governor of the Territory of Michigan. The purpose of the Idull 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 swami)s 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 conquest 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 Amer- iv THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL ican soil. On Sunday morning, the sixteenth oi 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 Administi'ation succeeded in exti'icating itself from the blame, and (Jeneral Hull rec-eived the outjiouring of wrath from the entire countiy for the failure of the campaign. His disai^pointed army Mas particularly bittei' and even accused him of a treachei'ous betrayal. A court-martial tried his case, convicted him of cowardice, and sentenced him to be shot. President Madison, howevei-, S})ared his life, (xenei'al Hull spent the remainder of his years in re- tirement, and died, an old man, still insisting u]»on the right- ness of his course and vainl}' attemj)ting to justify himself before the nation. During the disastrous Hull campaign Robert Lucas, of Scioto County, Oliio (afterwards (iovernor of the State of Ohio and still later the organic Uovei'nor of the Territoiy of Iowa), was in constant service and in a position which brought him in contact with ever\- ])hase of the campaign. He kept a daily joui'ual of the events, wiiich is distinctly valuable in that it gives a contemiiorancoiis view of the cam- jiaign from the stand])oinl of an actual ]>articipant. For ovci- ninety years this interesting ■lounia^, which is here published fo]' the first time, has been carefully presei'ved by the de- scendants of Ilobert Lucas. It is recorded in a note book of about eight bv four and one-half inches in tiimensions, 0])en- inir at the end, witli boaid covers and leather l)ack and corners. The covers are liroken and the })ages ai'e yellow INTRODUCTION v with age; but despite its almost one hiindred 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 Jonrmd^ 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- r\', then I'ecently purchased of Napoleon by the United States. Again in isii" he was chosen Captain of a volun- teer company which tendered its services to President Jeft'ei'son 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 JNlilitia Lucas had risen by successive promo- tions until at the opening of the ^\"ar of 1S12 he was Briga- dier General of the L'd Biigade of the ^d Division, lie had been for some time desirous of becoming a regular army ofHcer; and being finally tendered an appointment he ac- cepted in April of IS 12 a commission as Captain in the regular army of the United States. A few days later he re- ceived orders from Major (renei-al Duncan j\IcArthur (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 recpiired of the State for the coming campaign against the British. These orders placed Robert Lucas in a rather [)eculiar position. But having received no orders as a regular armv officer he concluded after some vi THK ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL deliberation that the urgency of the call for volunteers ne- cessitated liis attending to his duties as a Brigadier (jeneral in the ( )hio IMilitia. Without delay he set about recruiting volunteer coinpanies fi'oni his luigade. The need foi' \olunteers was urgent, and Lucas threw him- self into the enlistment \vith all his enthusiasm. Instead of waiting for a position as othcer, which he could undoubtedly have had after the organization of his own ti'oops into vol- unteer eom])anies, he enlisted from the first as a private in one of the companies, which chose his brother John Lucas as Ca])tain. His pur})ose seems to have been to encourage enlistments among the men of his l)rigade. His name re- mained upon the comjiany roll throughout the campaign, but he seems to have jtreferred the independent duties of a scout, guide, express, and ranger, as the Jofirnal clearly shows. Thus Robert Lucas was at one and the same time a Ca])tain in the L'nited States Army, a Brigadier (xeneral in the Ohio ^Militia, and a })rivate 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 TJ/e Rohei't IjHcuh Journal tells its own story. Beginning with the twenty-fifth day of A|)i'il, 1812, the JoiininJ records the details of the campaign until August 16, when Detroit was surrendered. Then it tells of the re- turn of the disheartened ( )hio 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 f(ii'ty-(nie pages are devoted to this daily chronicle. Following these are twenty-eight pages upon INTRODUCTION vii 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 news2)aper sketch ^ 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 Annah of Iowa a brief sketch of iowa's first Governor which shows intrinsic evidence that he had perused the pages of The Robert Lucas Jonrnai. 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 al)out 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 pai-agraphs in which the 'This sketch is included in a manuscript collection in the possession of the Western Reserve Historical Society. viii THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL dii})licati()ii occurs most tVeciiieiitlv ai'c those describiuo- in great detail the eveuts at Detroit on tlie day of the surren- del', at whicli time Colonel Cass ^vas miles away on an expedition to the Kiver Raisin. It is fair to presume that Lucas loaned the JoHriKil to Colonel Cass to assist him in the preparation oi his lie port. The record is entirely in the handwi-iting of TJoliert Lucas. It was wi'itten in camp and on the march; for he evidently- carried the J<»irjt((l with him throughout the cam])aign. On August 2;"), as he was leaving Cleveland on his return home he records: "I here got a knapsack and til [1 Jed 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 deci2)her. Espe- cially is this true in regard to proper names to which the context gives no clue, (.'ai-e has been taken to verify these names from other available souives, but in man\- cases such verification is impossible. Ill editing the manuscrijit of 'jlie llohtrt Luca.s Jonnuil certain rules have been followed which may re(piire a brief exjJauatiou. An effort has Iteen made to reproduce the Journal with exactness as regards spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. A\'liei'e letters have been omitted by the author, they have lieeii supplied in editorial brackets. An exception, however, has been made in some cases where words seem to have been uniformly used as al)breviations, 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 INTRODUCTION ix part of the Journal but simpl\- as throwing additional light upon the story of the campaign. The editor wishes to make special acknowledgment to Professdr Benjamin F. Shambaugh for valuable advice and assistance in preparing the manuscript for the press. Joiix C. Parish The Statk UsivERi^iTY ok Iowa Iowa City {/Zt^MuJ y .._ /'' '''^^'^ z^^:''^^^'^ ^t^ /^^ac/iz^ ^-A^^ _j P ^^_^ « '^^^> Ay^Z<^<-c ^^e^:^^^ ^^^at^*^ t^i/'ac* &^^i^^■ >. THE EGBERT LUCAS JOURNAL OF THE WAR OF 18 12 JOURNAL » Robert Lucas was at this time Brigadier General of the 2il Brigade of the 2a Division of the Ohio Militia. — Editor. « A small creek in what is now Pike County. The neighborhood was known as Pe Pee; and a township of Pike County also bears the name.— Editoh. • A younger brother of Robert Lucas. — Editor. O Received orders in Scioto County to march a Company of Volunteers and a Rifle Company from said County to De- troit,' — Issued orders on the 2')"' April 1812 Directing Said Companies to march on the 27"", and assemble at W™ Lucass vv 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"' Both Companies having assembled they proceeded to march to Pe Pee,- and Encamped [ Wednesday, April the Twenty-ninth ] on the morning of the 29'" the Volunteer Company, having })een joined by the Volunteers from Pe Pee, an election was ordered, when John Lucas^ was elected Captain Dennis ir' i .^ --^y . - ..^x,^^^,.^.,^ f ^yc*-J toa''7>*r ,/ / .^- vi^-1 7 ■■.■f ^c^ \^ *4 'a^oci' ';f^f.^^^ ^^ ^^-^ ^St/o^: ,?.■ / t^c- ' Fac'simile'^ftrst p^>'#t!i(>*^^ a<. / 4^ /}^^ y '^^^CJL/ ^CM-I J^ -^..-r*j%^ it TH K ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL OF THE WAR OF 18 12 JOURNAL Received orders in Scioto County to march a Company of Volunteers and a Rifle Company from said County to De- troit,' — Issued orders on the 25"" Apiil 1812 Directing Said Companies to march on the 27"", and assemble at W™ Lucass vv 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"" Both Companies having assembled they proceeded to march to Pe Pee,^ and Encamped [ Wednesday, April the Twenty-ninth ] on the morning of the 29"* the Volunteer Company, having been joined by the Volunteers from Pe Pee, an election was ordered, when John Lucas^ 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 known as Pe Fee; and a township of Pike County also bears the name. — Editok. • A younger brother of Robert Lucas. — Editor. 1 N 2 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL Muii>hy Lieut[e]n[aii]t, and Joseph Barber Ensign, the Rifle Company having been previously organized David Rupe Capti Tho^ ArnoM Lnt and Richard McDougal En- sign — Both of Said Companies thus organized proceeded on their march to Chillicothe, where they Encamped and Drew provisions — [Thursilay, April the Thirtieth] 30"" Remained at Chillicothe making arrangements to get Camp kettels waggon &c to Enable us to proceed to Dayton [Friday, Way the Firet] May 1' 1812 marched towards Dayton, and Encamped at old town- and experienced a Disagreeable rainy night [Saturday, May the Second] 2°'' marched on in the rain about 15 miles [Sunday, May the Third] 3 left the Company and went to Dayton to get provisions to Send to meet the Companies — [Monday, May tlie Fourth] 4"^ ar[r]ived in Dayton and started provisions in M"' Buck- hannors Cart [Tuesday, May the Fifth ] 5"^ returned and met the troop and marched with them to Dayt[o]n was received by the troops at Dayt[o]n with honor and politeness — [ Wednesday, May the Sixth ] 6'" little was don[e] but repo[r]t ' See below, Appendix A. — Editor. - Now Frankfort, Ross County, Ohio.— Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 3 [ Thursday, May the Seventh ] T'*" the other three Companies from my Brigade being pres- ent to wit Cap' Fryatt Keyser, and Capt Ullery I proceeded to organize them together with Capt Kupe's and Lucass from Scioto into one EattaUion and ordered an election to be held at the house of Major Reed in Dayton accordingly when James Denny was Unanimously elected Major of said Bat- tallion, William A. Trimble' was also unanimously elected Major of the other Battallion from Gnl McArthurs Division. Gnl McArthur- was on the Same day Unanimously elected Colo of the Volunte[e]r Regt from his Division—" [Friday, May the Eighth] 8"" an encampment was laid out on tlie Commons East of Dayton and news having ar[r]ived from Green vill[e] of the Murder of M^ Rush by Indians and also the Murder of some Indians I was requested by Governor Meigs* to take 30 men of Capt Rup[e]s men and repair to Greenville to assertain the Situation of the frontier — [Saturday, May the \inth ] G'" Started to Greenville with 33 men and went to Razor Mill on Stillwater and encamjied finding the inhabitan[ts] much alarmed and moving of [f] > For a biographical sketch of William A. Trimble, seethe Ohio Archaeological and nistorical Quarterly, Vol. XIV, No. .S, July, 1905, pp. 225-240.— Editor. » Governor of Ohio, 1830-1832.— Editor. •The three regiments of Ohio Volunteerslwere commanded by Colonels Duncan McArthur, James Findlay, ami Lewis Ca&s respectively. These volunteer troops were joined by the 4th Regiment of Regulars from Port Vincennes under com- mand of Lieutenant Colonel James Miller.— Editor. * Governor Return Jonathan Meigs, as commander in chief of the Ohio MiliUa, took charge of the army until the arrival of General Hull.— Editor. 4 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL [ Sunday, May the Tenth ] ]() proce[e]ded on to M'' Williams on Stillwater where we found a party of men building a Blockhouse the inhabitants having all fled from their homes and assembled at that place being 16 miles from Greenville — [ Monday, May the Eleventh ] 11 on particular en(pury I found the alarm to be principally unfounded I left 20 men to assist the inhabit[ants] to build a blockhous[e] dispa[t]ched Several up Stillwater to the head and proceeded on to Greenville in company with Capt llupe and Six men — ft)und the Countary intirely deserted by the inhabitants except two families one at the old garrison and one at a mill in sight of the oth[er] both of which places a Company of men were Stationed and had erected block houses. [ Tuesday, May the Twelfth ] 12 Explored the Countary up Muddy Creek went to the place where the Murders was Commit[t]ed and when going in the evening to to inter the Dead Indians we Started an Indian from the bushes who had been laying in ambush in sight of the garrison with a view as was supposed to kill some person and retire and when in 2)ursuite of him we found Several packs and four guns that was hid by Indians that was then at the Blockhouse of the Dellaware Miamas and Munces^ the guns was owned by the[m] when brought in, and the Indians was Sent to the Indian agent at Troy — [ Wednesday, May the Thirteenth ] 13 agreeably to our orders returned to Stillwater Collected the balance of our Company, those who went up Stillwater 1 Munseys, one of the three tribes of the Delaware Indians.— Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 5 having returned and made no discovery we prepared to return to Dayton. The Countary was generally Deserted without a caus[e] [Thursday, May the Fourteenth] 14 returned to Dayton and Joined the troops [ Friday, May the Fifteenth ] lo'" made a report of the Situation of the frontier to Gover- ner Meigs The Gov [er] nor recjuested me not to leave the army but informed me He would write to the Secr[e]t[a]ry at war and assured me that I should neither loos rank nor eramolument l)y attending the army I Consented to remain with the army on those Conditions' [Saturday, May tlio Sixteenth, to Monday, May the Eighteenth] It), 17, 18 remained with the troops and dissipliued the officers at their trainings — [Tuesday, May the Nineteenth] lif"' was informed by Govern [or] Meigs that he wished Some person to go through the wilderness to detroit as an express and solicited me to undertake the mission to which I consented I would [ Wednesday, May the Twentieth ] 20"" done my duty with the army — [Thursday, May the Twenty-first] 21" was Solicited by Governor Meigs and Colo Cass- to assist in Detaching a part of Colo McArthurs Regt and ' Lucas had been recently appointed a Captain in the United States Army and was waiting for an assignment as a regular army officer. — Editor. • Colonel Lewis Cass, Governor of the Territory of Michigan from 1813 to 1831 and later prominent in national politics. — Editor. 6 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL attaoMug tli[e]m to Colo Cass, to wit Capt Lucas and Capt Pmney['s] [i] Comp[a]ny and promised me the Command of the liest Battallion in the army if I would Consent, to which I replied, tha[t] when I engaged as a volunteer it was neither with a view to gain rank or emmolum[e]nt but purely to serve my Country and as I Could have had the Command of the Battallion raised from my Brigade, I felt a delicacy in accepting the Com[ma]nd of troops from other Brigades. [ Friday, May the Twenty-second] 22"^ Similar applications was mad[e] but no Satisfaction was give[n] them by me. I informed Major Denny and Major Ti'imbell and they opposed the detaching of any part of the[i]r Battallions in any such manner Thus the pro- ject was abandoned, — there being a supposition that there was Indians viewing the Camp of nights as a nois[e] had be[e]n heard like turk[e]ys Calling the night before. I went and lay in the Ijushes out of the Camp with Sml Herd and watched for th[e]m but none was discovered [ Saturday, May the Twenty-third ] 28 (tuI Hull' ar[r]ived and reviewed the army with Gov Meigs I was informed by Governor Meigs that I would be wanted to go to Detroit in a few Days [Sunday, May the Twenty-fourth] 24"* I was introduced by Governor Meigs to Gnl Hull. I was informed by Gnl Hull the intention of the express, and the rout[e] he wished me to take, and that he wished me to start the next day to which I Consented 1 Brigadier General William Hull, Governor of the Territory of Michigan and in command of the Northwestern Army.— Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 7 [ Monday, May the Twenty-fifth ] ^S"" I prepared to Start to Detroit Called on Gnl Hull, was instructed to pass through Dellawar[e], the Sanduskes, by the foot of the rappids, the liver Kaisin and then to Detroit was furnished with a number of addresses to the Different chiefs of Indians with Dispa[t]ches to M'" Varnum^ at Lower Sandusky,- to Col. Anderson at the River Ilaisin and to M' Atwater'' the Acting Governor at detroit. This day being the day appointed to transfer the Command of the army from Governor Meigs to Gnl Hull I waited to see the Command transfer[r]ed and then proceed[e]d on my Journey in Compa[n]y with with William Denny about 15 Miles where we lodged all night — [Tuesday, May the Twenty-sixth ] 26"" proceeded on to Capt Gabriels on the head of Darby* made inquiry and found the inhabitants much ala[r]med [ Wednesday, May the Twenty-seventh ] 27"" proceeded on to Dellaware where we prepared for our journey made inquiry of the situation of the frontier was informed that the inhabitants was moving of[f]. I en- deavor[e]d to quiet the[i]r fears by assuring th[e]m that they would be protected and that men would be sent to their assistan[ce] immediately I wished Some person to go with rae to lower Sandusky to return with Dispa[t]ches but none Could be got but Capt Welch a man of valure 1 Jacob B. Vamum, United States Factor at Sandusky and later at Chicago. — See American State Papers, Vol V, Indian Affairs, Vol. II, pp. 361, 420. — Editor. ' Now Fremont, the county seat of Sandusky County, Ohio. — Editok. ' Reuben Atwater, Acting Governor of the Territory of Michigan. — Editor. * A creek emptying into the Scioto River opposite Circleville. — Editor. 8 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL and perseverance lie engaged to go Avith me and pripared accordingly to start next mor[n]iiig [Tlun-sday, May the Twenty-eiijlith ] 28*" proceed [ed] on tVom Dellaware to Sandusky, Called at M"" Pyatts neare the Boundary line where the inhabitants had assembled and was stockading around his house I advised them not to (juit tli('|i]r farms and assured them that they would be })rotected, passed on from there to upper Sandusky, lodged at the home of an Indian by the name of Willy Ilermky was treated hospata[b]ly ]>y him [Friday, May the Twenty-ninth] 29 proceeded on was accompanied by AVilly Hemky, passed through Colo Crawfords Battle ground. ^ Hemky explained to me the nature of the nature of the battle sho[we]d me where the Indians cam[e] in upon the whites cfec, proceeded on to Negro town got an iuterpi'eter Called all the Chiefs together that was at home in the neighborhood of Upper Sandusky.- I read and explained (Jnl Hulls address to them they all appeared to be well pleased and exjiressed great friendship and a full determination to adher[e] to the treaty of Greenvill[e]^ The Indians appeared to be plaut- i[n]g their Corn as usual but was alarmed at the news of so large an army being raised, — I then proceeded on to lower Sandusky Saw a number of Indians but no hostile appearance, crossed Timokney^ where Colo Crawford was J For an account of this battle, see Hill's Craivford's Campaign in Mayazine of Western History, Vol. U, No. 1, May, 1885, pp. 19-38.— Editor. ' See below, Appendix C. » Negotiated by General Wayne in 179-5. — Eihtok. *Tymochtee Creek. — Kihtor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 9 burued gave an Indian a Dollar to ferry us ov[e]r in a cano[e], the waters all being extrem[e]ly high, ar[r]ived at Lower Sandusky deliv[e]red my Dispa[t]ches to M"' X^arnum, found that place almost entirely deserted both by the whites and Indians. The Ottowa Indians and the Miami having principally moved of[f], the Wiandots are planting no Corn and every thing appears in confusion, requested Mr Varnum to hold a Councill with the indians and to inform the Governor and Gnl Hull any particular relative to the situation of said place — [Saturday, May the Thirtieth ] .'50"' remained at Sandusky, M"' Varnum held a Councill with the Wiandott and Munsies Indians, the Wiandott appear to be pleased and 1 believe they will be fiiendly to the United States, the Munsis appear otherwis[e] and 1 believe they will be directed entirely by the British Should they not be restrained by fear the Co[u]ncill broke up, M"" Varnum informed the Gnl the result, I wrote to Gov M[e]igs Gnl Hull and Major Den[n]y, Crossed ov[e]r San- dusky and lodged with M'' liutler — [Sunday, May the Thirty.first] .'51~ Crossed the Sandusky to M'' Varn[u]m — deliv- [e]r[e]d my dispa[t]ches to Capt Welch and proceeded on to the foot of the rapids' through a tremendious Swamj^ of 40 ni[i]l[e]s Distanc[e], hired a pilote to go with us to Riv[e]r Carron- made a bark Cano[e] Crossed gave him two Dollars for his trouble, he returned and we proceeded •The rapids of the Maumee River. — Editor. 'Probably a corruption of Carrying River, an old name for Portage River. — Kditor. 10 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL on to the foot of the rapids the Swamp being without inter- mission from kne[e] Deep to Belly Deep to our horses for 8 or 10 miles to gether. We ar[r]ived at the Miami of the lake' at the foot of the rapids at Dusk Swam the riv[e]r and lodged at Capt Hulls where we refreshed ourselves fo[u]nd the inha])itauts in a state of alarm and in great Confusion I informed th[e]m of the approaching army assur[e]d them of protect! [on] advised them not to quit the[i]r hom[e]s but to Defend themselves to the last extremity in case of an attack, left a copy of Gnl [Hull's] address to the indians with th[e]m Directed them to Com- mun[i]cate it to the Indians on Miami, and prepared to proceed on to Detroit [Monday, June the First] June V proceeded on to the river Raison Deliv[e]red my Dispa[t]ches to Colo Anderson found the inhabitant[s] in a similar Situation to those at the foot of the rapids made Similar Communications to them, left a copy of Gnl Hulls address with Colo Anderson, and prepared to proceed on my Jo[u]rney, W™Denny['s] Horse gave out I left him at this place. This is a beautiful Countary but badly cultitivated [ Tuesday, June the Second ] ond proceeded on to Detroit in Company with M"' Beard the contra [c]t[o]r at Detroit, passed near a large encampment of Indians on the River Urian- through Brownstowu and Maguawga two Ind[i]an towns found them in a state of Confusion and but few Indian men at home. Read Gnl 1 Where the name Miami of the Lalce is used it refers to the Maumee River. The words Maumee and Miami were originally the same. — Editor. -The Huron River. — Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 11 Hulls address to George Blue Jacket son to the noted old rli[ijef, he appear[e]d pleas[e]d with the Contents and manifested great fr[ie]ndship ar[r]ived at Detroit about 4 oclo[c]k P M Delivered my dispa[t]ches to the acting Governor was politely received introduc[e]d to to the officers of Detroit generally, and treated with great hospi- tality, lodged at the house of M' Beard — [ Wednesday, June the Third ] 8 Dined with Capt Hickman from "\Mrgima Son in law to Gnl Hull, Solicited by Him to make his house my Home while I tan-ied at Detroit accepted his offer and ^\•as \ery rolitel}- and hospitably treated by hira and M''" Hickman [ Thursday, June the Fourth ] 4- made Considerable inqu[i]ry relative to the situati[o]n of the territo[r]y fo[u ]nd it to be populated by an ignor- ant Set of french that is attached to no particular political principal, the tenitory in a state of alarm, theii- farms small, and no Correct Calculation to be made on the Militia with regard to Defence The territo[r]y generally like a body without a head — [ Friday, June the Fifth ] r)'" Dined with M'' Atwater the Acting Governor was politely treated by him — [ Saturday, June the Sixth ] 6'" Dined with Capt Whistler in the garr[i]s[o]n in com- pa[n]y Avith a n[u]mb[e]r of gentlem[e]n treated with politeness and sp[e]nt the afternoon very agreeably [ Sunday, June the Seventh, to Saturday, June the Thirteenth ] from T'" to 14'" tarri[e]d at Capt Hickmans and enjoyed myself very agreeab[l]y read and examined the princi- 12 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL pl[e]s of the new tackticks and ac(iini'ed a general infor- mat[io]n of the Situation of Michigan territory and Upper Canada, during which time I was on a hunting party on hog Island, above Detroit and Sun[dr]y other pai-ti[e]s, Several Co[n]nc[i]l8 with the Indians at the hous[eJ of the acting governor, with the Wiandots Chippaways ( )tto- ways Pottawattomi and sundry other tribe [s] — some ap- pear[e]d insol[e]nt and other [s] extremely fr[i]endly upon the whole they are in confusion and at a loss how to act fear Can only restrain th[e]m from joining the British, they are much alarmed at the news of our approaching army [ Sunday, June the Fourteenth ] 14' Capt Welch having ar[r]ived as an express from the army handed me a letter from Gnl Hull informing me he had changed the rout[e] of the army Sinc[e] I left him and that he \\'ould Come immediately from Urbauna to the foot of the rapids he also handed a letter to Mr B[e]ard the con- tr[ac]t[oJr M'' Beard wishing to hear from a vessel of his previ[o]us to his return[in]g an ans[w]er to Gnl Hull Con- cluded that he would go down the Eiv[e]r to meet her, my- self and Capt Welch accompani[e]d him we De[s]c[e]nded the river within a mile of Maiden' I viewed the Situation of the British Garrison from on board the vessel while we was in Sight Queen Sharlotte a British lM) gun ship ar[r]ived at JNIaldon with Gt)vernor brock- and a reinforcem[e]nt of a hundi'l e]d British troops. We returned to Detroit. 1 The t;arri.s(in of the British across the river and some miles below Detroit. South of the fort was the village of Amherstburgh.— Editor. "Brigadier General Isaac Brock, provisional Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada and in command of the British forces. — Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 13 [ Monday, June the Fifteenth ] 1 5 the day being rainy I remained at Detroit and prepared to Start the next morning to meet the army [Tuesday, June the Sixteenth] 16"" Started and returned to the riv[e]r liaisin fo[u]nd Brownsto[w]n and Maguawga much as they were when I passed through them fo[u]nd William Denny my comerade well. [Entered on Met 15 canorel loads of Ottoway Chiefs and oth- the margin] ■- j j e[rs] at the Riv[e]r Urn^ going to Mald[e]n. [ Wednesday, June the Seventeenth ] 17 tarri[e]d at M' Godfrays at the riv[e]r Eaisin waiting for Tho? Knaggs- an interpreter who was requested by the gov[er]n[o]r to accompa[n]y me to the army was informed by M"" Godfray that Govern [or] Brock i-eturned from Mal- d[e]n on the Itl' down the lake [Thursday, June the Eighteenth] IS'*" returned to the foot of the rapids, met on the way about 40 Indian Horses loaded with wom[e]n children &c moving from Solomons town'' and round heads to[w]n^ on Scioto and Stony creeke to Detroit (as they said,) or Bi'owns- to[w]n, the men was walking with th[e]m perhaps th[i]rty in number. • The Huron River. — Editor. • One of five brothers, all of whom acted as Indian interpreters and guides. See Knagga' Memoir of J amen Knaggs. of Monroe, in Michigan Pioneer and His- torical Collections, Vol. XVII, 1890, pp. 217-225; also Lo.s-sing's Pictorial Field- liook of the War of 1S12, pp. 362, .363.— Editor. ' An Indian town in what is now Logan County, Ohio. — Editor. < An Indian town at the head waters of the Scioto in what is now Hardin County, Ohio. — Editor. 14 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL [Friday, June the Nineteenth] lO"" Stalled from the foot at the rapids to meet the army proceeded through the Wilderness towards Urbanna — trav- eled ab[o]iit 25 miles, a very rainy day and encamped in what is Called the Black Swamp/ had a Disagreeable night of wet and Musketoes [ Saturday, June the Twentieth] 20"^ proceeded on to Blanchard fork of A[u]glaize Stop[])]ed at an old field, let our horses graise and picked strawberries the while. Crossed the Creek and encamped on the head waters of the great JMiami, was Surrounded in the night by hostile Indians as was Supposed, we left our lire and lay in the Bushes without fear the musqueatos and [gjnats tor- mented us Severely the Indians finding that we was on the alert bore ofi:' we Saw the tracks of the dogs next morning and the trail in the grass. I pres[u]m[e] they was a small party of the Pottawattomies, and not knowing our fourc[e], supposing it to be greater than it was they bore of [f ] and left us there was but 4 men in compa[n]y 2 of which only had ai'ms, we was informed by Some men from fort wayne at the foot of the i-apids that there was a war party of Pot- towattoniLieJs out in that Direction [ Sunday, June the Twenty-first ] 21' Started early in the morn[in]g it began to rain and rained tremendiously untill about '.> oclock in the afternoon ab[o]ut which tim[e] we reached Round heads town on the head of Scioto we found it entirely deserted by the Indians, we proceeded on to Solomons town on Stony Creek one of > A large swamp in the present counties of Henry, Wood, and Sandusky. — Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 15 the branches of Mad liiver we there found Some Indians and made inquiry about the array they informed us they had passed us and taken a rout[e] to shun the black Swamp and directed us where to strike the road. We struck the road and overtook Some AVaggons that was taking foreg to the army we encamped with th[e]m got some korn for our horses and provisions for ourselves — [ Monday, June the Twenty -second ] 22 proceeded on to fort McArthur' on Scioto got our Brakefasts of Capt Dell the Commandant, proceeded on overtook the rear-g[u]ard about ;5 oclock P M passed them and came to the ma[i]n army encamped at Camp Necessity a Disagreeable ]Muddy place, — Delivered my Dispa[t]ches to the gnl, was politely received and thanked for my vigil- [a]nce, — invited to remain in the generals family but see- ing so many fops and so much parade and no action among them I Chose to attach myself to Gnl McArthurs Regiment, return [e]d and lodged with Gnl McArthur — [ Tuesday, June the Twenty-third ] 23'''^ remained at Camp Nec[e]ssity and erected a Block- house, I wrote back to my father and M"" Kendall,- an alarm in Camp that a man was Shot at with an an-ow the army alarmed and under arms about Brake of day, I attached myself at the time of the alarm to my Brothers Compa[n]y [ Wednesday, June the Twenty-fourth ] 24 Broke up Camp and marched about 4 miles, during this • A fort built about three miles southwest of Kenton, in what is now Hardin County. See Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio, centennial edition, Vol. I, pp. 876,878.— Editor. » A brother-in-law of Robert Lucas. — Euitor. 16 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL march I was on the flanks with the rifle men, but encamped with Capt Lucas [ Thursday, June the Twenty-tif th ] 2") the army marched to fort Finley^ on Blanchards [Fork] of A[u]gh\i/ie where we overtook Colo Finleys Regiment who had went on from IMcArthur to cut the road, here is a Blockhouse erected in a beautifull Situation and a hand- some countary [ Friday, June the Twenty -sixth ] •2<) the army remained at this encampment except Colo Cass Regiment who went on as Pinoneers to Cut the road, here the army left all the baggage that Could be Spared, left Some men to bring them on by \\'ater and to keep garrison, this morning Colo Dunlap ar[r]ived from Chillieothe on express [ Saturday, June the Twenty -seventh ] 27"' the army crossed the Creek and marched about 12 miles and encamped, throwing a breastwork of timber aro[u]nd the Camp, this day I was employed by the gnl in assisting to bring up the bagga[ge] and to go a head in the afternoon to view an incamp[m]ent [Sunday, June the Twenty-eiglitli] 28 marched on to Carrau'- River where we threw up a Breastwork of timber and used great precaution during the night to jjrevent an alarm ' Now Findlay, the county seat of Hancock County. Ohio. Named in honor of ColonelJames Findlay, in command of the 2d Regiment of Ohio Volunteere in Hull's campaign. Findlay was later a member of Congress from Ohio and was, in 1834, an unsuccessful candidate against Robert Lucas for the governorship of the State of Ohio. — Editor. ^ See note on page 9. — Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 17 [ Monday, June the Twenty-ninth ] 29"" Marched on to the rappids of Miami of the lake over- took Colo Cass and the whole army encamped on the the east side of the Riv[e]r directly opposite Gnl Waynes old Battle ground I was dispa[t]ched with M'' Berry to \iew the river and to ascertain the best foarding we found the one at Preskial ' at the old battleground to be the best and reported accordingly [ Tuesday, June the Thirtieth ] 30 This morning I was engaged in conveying the Sick over the river in boats and when the Sick had crossed the genl Concluded to cross the whole army in boats which he did, the AVaggons and Horses having crossed at the ford, Ithen went in compa[n]y with Several gentlemen and a pilote that was in Gnl "Waynes Battle- and viewed the battle ground manutely, the ar[m]y this day marched in hand- som[e] ord[e]r through the village at the foot of the rap- ids and encamped on a jirararie about two miles below the village in Sight, below the old British garrison, this garri- son has been a well built garrison with regular Basti[o]ns and Ditches with Douljle walls but is now Demolished, it being the garrison the Indians fled to after Waynes battle [ Wednesday, July the Firet ] July T the army marched on the 4"^ Regiment went on as Pinonners this day I was taken with a flux and fev[e]r So that I was Scarcely able to ride, but 1 advanced on })efore ' Probably refers to Presque Isle Hill, the site of Wayne's battle. See Los- sing's Pictorial Field-Iiook of the War of ISIS, pp. S4, .55.— Editor. ' Sometimes called the Battle of the Fallen Timbers, fought on August 20 1794.— EuiTOR. 18 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL the army with the Spies this day the army marched about 12 miles and encamped in a liandsome plain, I had a Dis- agreeable night and took some medicine. [Entered on ^ Considerable (luantity of Baii-grao^e, the Sick, the margin] ^ •' »to & ' ' and Considerable of the jjeoples j^i'ivate prop- erty Sent on in a vessle [Tliursilay, July the Second] 2"'^ my being on well I rode on a head to the river Raisin where I met Some gentlemen from Detroit they informed us that Tecumseh^ was at Maiden that there was al)Out two thous[au]d Indians at Maldon and on the river Uran' and Brown [s] town that they Saw a])Out two hundred of the S[i]oux Indians at Brownstown as they passed with the Brit- ish rtag hoisted, and that we Certainly would be attacked be- fore we got to detroit on Receiving this intelligence I C'aught new life the fever left me and I prepared and proposed to go on to Brownstown to view the Situation and Disposition of the Indians the proposition was approved In' all the officers the army this night encamped on the South Side of the riv|e]r liaison I lodged in a house being on^^'ll and pre- pared to start next morning [ Friday, July the Third ] 3"' I repaired to the (leneral was given the Command of the spi[e]s and started on to brownstown being fur- nished with a fresh horse by the gnl. The Spies parted and Sco[u]red the Countary in Different Directions my- ' A Shawnee warrior and leader of the confederation of Indian tribes forming alliance with the British forces. — Edituii. - The Huron Hiver. — Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 1<) self and five others went to Brownstown and found the Indians instead of hostile array engaged in repairing their houses, they had built a new Councell house Since I had passed through and manifested every appearance of friend- ship we then repa[i]red to the big Rock' the principle Crossing plac[e] to Maldon, found about 30 of the Ottowas Drunk on the bank Could get no Satisfaction from them, The Crafts was all on the Canadian Side the S[i]oux Indians that had been seen at Browustown having crossed over to Maldon, I prevailed upon the chiefs at this place to return with me to the army to explain to the Genl the Situ- ation of their town and those Indians that had Crossed to maldon, and returned to meet the army in Company with M"' Walker a white man that lives at the Big Rock (the Crossing pl[a]c[e]) and Some Indians. We fo[u]nd the army encamped at Swan Creek- strongly fortified by timbei- aV>out 9 miles from Brownstown, I inmiediately reported to the Genl my proceedings and discoveries [Entered on \Yg ^.^s informed to a crelrtrailiitv by the in- the margin] L i l i .^ j dians that the vessel with our baggage had been take[n] by the British, but that the boat with the Sick had gone up safe [ Saturday, July the Fourth ] 4'*' having been informed that the Indians and British had Crossed from ]\Ialdon to RosiaP Island and probably had ' Opposite Maiden. — KniTOR. •A small creek flowing into the Maumee River at Toledo. The early settle- ment at this point, which later became Toledo, was known as Swan Creek. — Editor. 'Probably intended for Gro8.se Isle, which lay in the Detroit River opposite Maiden.— Editor. 20 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL Crossed the river above with a view to attack us I was re(|uested by the Genl to proceed on and examine the banks of the river Uron^ to the river Sacroix, - about 18 miles from the ai'[m]y and within the 9 miles of Detroit it being within the white settlement and at the head of the Island. I did So and examined manutely but was advised by the Indians at Hrownstown to be Cautious least we should be killed by Some of the Indians from Maiden we was Carefull but went to the extent of our oi'ders we assertained that no one had C'ross[ed] from Canada Ijiit heard Considerable Shooting on the Island we on our retui-n was informed by Some friendly Indians, that the British intended Crossing over that niy-ht and either to attack the army or Detroit — we returned and made a report of our proceedings to the Gen- eral — about 11 oclock this night the Genl Sent for me re(juested me to take Some of the Spies and repair to the big rock to watch the Crossing of the riv[e]r (the army at the time lay at the I'iver Uran' having marched but six miles being detained throwing a bridge ovei' the river being ab[o]ut 4 miles from the Big Rock) the army was kep[t] under arms all night the expectations of an attack was Strengthened by the discovery of a British '20 gun Ship Laying in sight of the Camp in the lake which was sup- posed to contain troops and Could bumbard our Camp from the lake. I obeyed his Command and started went about ." miles was hailed by a man who spoke engiish in a very abrupt mannei', we wheeled into Bushes and the Compa[n]y that was with me wished to lire on them but expecting an ' The Ilunm River. — Editor. - Probably tlie River Aux ricorce.s. — Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 21 en[e]my nigh and our number small being only tive or six I thought it prude[n]t to return to the Camp and inform the GerJ, thinking that perhaps it might be Some of our own men that might be out unbeknown to me, and if not it must be a party of the En[e]my that had landed from on board the vessel, that might be far Superior to us in number being too far from the Camp to get any assistance, 1 returned to the Camp made no alarm repaired to the (ilnl enquired of him whether any of our men was without the lines he informed me there was none to his knowledge, he requested me to take the Spies about 20 in n[u]mb[e]r and pass the pickets and to scour the Countary and watch the road towards the enemy and endeavor to asseilain who it was and whether there was an en[e]my in tha[t | (quarter or not. 1 did so we passed the pickets about a half a mile or a mile and explored and watched the roads till day — The general was mistak[eln he had Sent on a party of m[e]n who he had forgot and instead of going to where they was directed they went a peace and lay in the Bushes at the side of the road who on our approach instead of making themselves known was alanned and acted in this imprudent manner by hailing us not like a friend but an enemy. They may tliaiik me for their lives had it not struck me that it might t)e Some of our men they would Certainly have been kil[l]ed on meditation I conceive the Gnl acted very imprudent by detaching us that night in the first place to watch the Crossing of the liver in the heart of the en[e]my four miles from Camp through a wilderness, and in the second by Sending us with so small a party without the Pickets, had we met an en[e]my in either Case every Soul 22 tup: ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL of ns must have been Sacraficed as we could have got no assistanc[e] from the army being Such a distan[ce] from it that we would have been intirely Cut of [f] fi'om the army. I tlioug[ht] of no fear, nor nothing els[e] but to do my duty at the time, untill I heard the remarks of the ofHc[e]rs the next day Sev[e]ral of them declared they would not have went. My principle is to do my duty whatever may ])e the task being Satisfied that courage guided by prudence n[e]ver Shortened a mans days — [ Sunday, July the Fifth ] i")"' the Camp broke uj) and marched for Detroit I went on ahead as usual, we hea[r]d great firing of Cannon at Detroit. We Supposed that Detroit was attacked as we had heard of a British vessle going up the night before. The Sound of the Cannon hurried our pace and about 4 oclock P. M. the army ar[r]ived at the Spring well on the bank of the lliv[e]r opposite Sandwich within three miles and in Sight of Detroit having marched about 20 miles that day -where they encamped. The firing that was heard was from the Batt[e]ry at Detroit, firing upon the vessle that had come u]) and uj)on the town of Sandwich, they having assertained to a Certainty that the British had taken our vessle that was Sent from the rapids with a (quantity of the Baggage of the ar[m]y the offi[ce]rs Mon[e]y papers Cloth- ing tfec and and those that was in the vessle rive ladies[?] three offic[e]rs and about 30 nien^ [Entered on This moming I was in Gnl Hulls Markee and the margin] " Colo Cass came in, he had been sent to go to ' Cf. Lossing's Pictorial Field-Book of the War of ISIS, pp. 2.57, 258.— Editor. 24 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL Maldon. The (iiil re(jii[e]st[e[d me to with- draw \\hieh I did, for what purpos[e] the man was sent to go to Maldon I know not. Perhaps the Gnl kep[t] it a secret from him as he did from me — on the ar[r]ival of the army the tiling ceased l)eing disapproved l)y the Gnl as injuring private projjcrty. [ Monday, .July the Sixth] •>"' The army remained at the spring Well till evening then marched to Detroit, through the town and returned to the Same encampment — This day a great number of Indians Came into Camji for the purpose of holding a Councill They all profess friendshij). '2 Peac[e]s of artil[l]ery brought to the Camp this evening — The people in Canida in great Confusion at the Sight of our army. — [Entered on (Jq Qass Went to Maldon with a flag of truce to the margin] '-' dem[an]d the private })i'operty that was held [?j [ Tuesday, July the Seventh ] 7"" The army remained at the encamj^ment this day 5 peaces of artil[l]ery was placed on the Bank Directed to Sand- wich under the Command of Lieutenant Dallaby.^ This day the Indians held a Councell with Gnl Hull, the principle Chiefs of the AV}'andots ottaways, Chippaways, Shawaneas Senekas Pottawattomi[e]s ifc ]\Iohaw^kes were pres[e]nt they all profess fr[i]endship and re(piest time to Consult among themselves and to return an answer a Beef was given them by the Genl. This niglit al>out 12 oclock an alarm origin- nated in Camji that the Ind[i]ans that was without the ' Lieutenant James Daliba. — Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 25 Camp had Collected a force and intended to attack the Camp — (Gnl Hull was in town) Gnl McArthur took the command ordered the men under armes and recpiested me to repair to 3IrKnag[g]s The Indian Interpreter about H[-] miles to re(|uest him to attend in the Camp. I went and returned with the interpreter; — inquiry was made — The alarm was found to be principally unfounded and the men allowed to retire to their tents — [ Entered on Qolo Cass returned accompanied by a British the margin] ^ •' officer he was admit[t]ed by the Genl into our Camp, the property refused [ Wednesday, July the Eighth ] 8"' the camp was thought to be in Danger of being bom- barded by Cannon from Sandwich the whole army was ordei-ed to march a back way to Detroit When the army was about marching Ci'ane the principle Wyandot Chief Came and remonstrated against the Conduct of the Gnl in taking 21 Indian Horses that belong to the S[i]oux Indians that was then at Maldon, (The horses was directed to be giv[e]n to the Wyandott Chiefs,) The Same Chief Said that they all intended to speak with the Same friendly vows and that the Wyandots all intended to use their influence to keep all other nations quiet, at this moment (Tnl Hull heard that there was a party of the Kickapoo Indians on the river liaison Sent me out to See them and to assertain their number and intention. I started immediately and went to the river liaison it being 36 miles where I Stayed all night — 26 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL [Thursday, July the Ninth ] 9"^ this morning I went up the river to the Indian Camp I found there 28 Warriors without any Women or Children with them. They was of the Kickapoo nation and the Same fellows that was at the battle with Harrison 8ome of them show their wounds — They Said there was more of their nation coming — behind them. They was almost naked except Breeehcloths and IJlankets. They said they left their homes to go to Maldon, l>ut ou their being told of our army and that they would all be kil[l]ed if they did go they said they \\x»uld not go to Maldon l;)ut would go to See the Gul at Detroit The two principle Chiefs started in Company with me and a M'' Thompson for Detroit, we travelled together to Brownstown where the Chiefs stop- [p]ed and said they would Come on the next day. M"' Thompson and myself ^vent ou to Detroit, it being late in the night before we ar[r]ived, the Centinels was placed, and the officer of the CT[u]ard Could not be found therefore we Could not git into town and had to lay out, we returned to M"" Mays and la}- in his poarch all night (The officer of the g[u]ard being of the Detroit Militia) [ Friday, .luly the Tentli ] 10 this morning early I went to the Genl and made my report, he offered me the Command of a Small Company of Spies I observed to him that I would prefer some other station wherein if I Came into action I Could be of more Service in exercising my military talents, and that I would wish to be with Gnl McArthurs Ilegt he observed he would wish to accomodate me in anything I would wish and if there was any station in Gnl McArthurs Reg[i]ment wherein OF THE WAR OF 1812 27 I Could be ot" use it would meet with his intire appro- bati[on] Gnl McArthur requested me to attend him in Case we Should be attack [ed] and assist him in Directing the maneuvres to which I consented I would. I found the army this day encamped on the Commons at Detroit. Tliis night was pitched upon to Cross the river, and Considerable Confusion took place with the militia a number of th[e]m refused to Cross the river — Those that refused to Cross was Considered by the army as Cowards. The army was almost prepared to march when by accident, Major Munson' was badly wounded, and the Camp thrown into confusion. The Gnl pos[t]poned the march till the next day — [ Saturday, July the Eleventh ] II This day Cappt Cunninghams and Capt E.upes Com- panys refused to Cross the river, but after Some Statement made by the Colo Cunninghams Company agreed to go Rupe and his Company through obstinacy refused to march. The (renl demanded a list of the names of those that refused to Cross the river Capt Rupe returned his whole Company — The adjutan[ t] rashly abused the whole Com- pa[n]y as Cowards Traitors tkc and made a return of them to the Gnl under the head of a list of Cowards under the name of militia, unfortunately attached to Colo McAr- thur['s] Reg[i]ment, and then ar[r]ested Captain Rupe — for ungentlemanly and unofficer like Conduct — This night Colo McArthur['s] Regiment was ordered to march down the River to dicoy the British, they marched down the river about three miles halted a few hours and silently ' One of the two Majors of the 3d Regiment of Ohio Volunteers under the com- mand of Colonel Cass. — Editor. 28 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL returned, taking boats down ])y water at the Same time, — The project had the desired ett'eet the British Siipjiosed we intended Crossing below Sandwich and they drew all the forces they had down towards Maldon — When the Regi- ment started B Rankin James Cochran Daniel [ ] ' and John Lafarge fell in Capt Lucass Company and marched with him Supj)osing the army intended cross[in]g [ Sunday, July the Twelfth ] 12 This morning by daylight the Crafts was all moved up the river to the foot of Hog Island the army all marched up to that place Ensign McDougal and about 15 of Capt Rupes Comjiany followed and Crossed with the Regiment by^ which they gained considerable However the names was all returned to the Gnl and received — Colo Cass and the 4"> regulai- Regmt was to cross first I could not endure to be ])ehind I asked permission of Colo Cass and crossed with him and was among the first that landed in Can [a] da. AVe made our landing good and formed an encampm[e]nt opposite Detroit and raised the American flag without there even being a gun fired at us, — a party of the regulars went down as low as Sandwich and procuicd some flour wheat Sic. out of a mill, — The inhabi- tants all fled in Ditt'erent Directions from us. The Gn] immediately circulated his proclamation which gave great satisfaction to the inhaljitants and Caused many of them to return and aj^ply for protect[i]ou — The inhabitants here are generally ignorant french people — The eucam]nnent is foi'med at the farm of Colo Bawbie- a British Colo, it ■ This name is not legible. — Editor. 'f'olonil Francis Babie.— See Lossing's rktorial Field-Book of the War of 1S12, p. U'(12. — EllJTOK. OF THE WAR OF 1812 29 affords us fair pasture for horses, and his hous[e] good (juarters for the Genl, which is occupied by him as such [ Monday, July the Thirteenth ] lo I went in Company with Capt Ullerys Company and pai-t of Kupes Compa[n]y down towards Maiden about y miles we found the bridge at turk[e]y Creek brok[e]n by the Bntish and Saw the Signs where about :?0<) men [had] lay in ambusli the night before watching the Biidge that they had broken laying in a posit[io]n that they Could [have] intirely Surrounded a small party had they attempted to Cross the bridge in the night. A^'e was informed by a man that lived at the Bridge that there was a great many Indians Close about there and insisted upon us returning assuring us that it was Dangerous for us to be So far from Camp with So small a party of men — we thought it prudent to return, — we was half way from our Camp to Maldon and had but about 40 men in all, on our return we Saw a fine mare and Horse that the inhabitants said belonged to Colo Bawbie and Capt Magrige [?] two British officers we was requested to bring them to the Gnl which we did, he Received them as Enemies property and gave them in charge of the Quar- teiTnaster Gnl to be disposed of as such — AVe on our return made a report to the Gnl of what we had seen and done, — this night there was an alarm in Camp that the Indians and British was near with an intention of attacking us the army was put in readiness, the Gnl Sent for me and requested me to attend to the Padrolls and Picket g[u]ards, — The alarm was fals[e] and little was required to be done, — and my being fateegued by traveling the day before after I found 30 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL there was no danger I retired to my tent, and went to Sleep on the ground — (all was well next morning) [ Tuesday, July the Fourteenth ] 14«i J vemaiued in Camp the men was engaged in throwing up a breastwork round the Camji this night Gnl McArthnr with a party of his Reg[i]ment started to the river La Trench 1 to take possession of 8om[e] public property I did not know of the intention of their going so far, or I would went with them [ Wednesday, July the Fifteenth ] 15 a number of Deserters from Maldou is daily Coming into Cam]) and obtaining protection — all appears to be admitted that appli[e]s, Some of whome I presume Comes only as spi[e]s from maldon into our Camp and gets pro- tection and returns with the news to maldon. The inhabi- tants are generally returning to theii- homes, — this is a beautifuU countary, fine orchards Meadows, and excell[e]nt Crops of wheat which I pres[u]me must go to loss for want of Cut[t]ing as the men are general [l]y impressed and driven to Maiden, — this night we remained quiet without an alarm [ Thursday, July the Sixteenth] IG this day Colo Cass and Colo Miller obtained permission to take a ]")etachment of men for the purpose of obtaining possession of the Bridge at the River Canard- within ;"> miles 1 The River Thames, a river of Ontario flowing .southwestward into Lake St. Clair. — EiiiTOH. = The River Aux Canards, flowing westward .and emptying into the Detroit River opposite (Jro-sse Isle a few miles above Maiden. This river was called by the Wyandots the Ta-ron-tee, and Colonel Cass because of his capture of the bridge on this day was frequently referred to as the "Hero of Ta-ron-tee."— Editor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 31 of Maiden. The Bridge we had been informed was broken and occupied by a British fourc on the opposite side. The Detachment consisted of Capt Snellings compa[n]y of regulars Capt Reynolds Compa[n]y of vol[u]nteers Capt Spencers Capt Burslers Capt Barrens and Capt Ullery and Capt Eobinsons Com])anys of Riflemen — in all about 200 men, — I was permitted to accompany them as a volunteer myself ^V'illiam Stockton and Samuel Herd of the party of Rangers went in front of the advanced g[u Jard, we marched on within 2 oi' 3 miles of the bridge when we was informed by some of Cavalary that the Bridge was guarded by a Brit- ish force and Some Indians, also that they had artillery at the Bridge a Sergeant and 12 of Capt Robinsons men was requested to go in front with me as the advanced g[u]ard together with the two rangers that had accompanied me, and took a rout[eJ to Cross the River and Come in upon the Back of the enemy the Balance of Capt Robinsons Com- pa[n]y was ordered to advance along the road in sight of the Bridge to keep the enemy in check they advanced and wounded and took two of the British Soldiei's that had been posted across the river as Centinels — the balance of the army went up the river with me (except a few Dragoons and a part of the rangers under Capt McCoUough and a few other men who Stayed on the Side of the Creek to annoy the en[e]my) — We assended the river about h or (> miles (piloted by two frenchmen that we made go with us) crossed the river (myself W™ Stockton and Saml Herd being the first ther[e] and advanced on a rise and kept a look out while the others crossed) we De[s]cended on the opposite side through a tremendous thicket of Bushes and Prickly ash 32 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL swamps till we came in Sight of the Bridge. The advanced g[u]ard having intirely skirted the praari and Got some dis- tan[ce] in front halted, in Some woods by the edge of a praari) Colo Cass and Miller by Some means marched into the praary in Sight of the Bridge by which means the enemy got Sight of the army, at this time about 5i> Indian [s] lay within gun Shot of the advanced g[u]ard, Commanded as we have be[e]n informed by Elliot McKee' and Tecumseh M'hich had we proceeded immediately on might have surrounded them Ijut on their getting Sight of the army they raised the yell and jumped and run with- out even tiring a gun at us — The advanced g[u]ard could have Shot Some of them had they not had orders from Colo Cass not to Shoot in case they Saw anything but to immedi- ately inform him. The army under Colo Cass had to turn up a Creek Some distanc[e] before they Could Cross — and when they Crossed they all rushed into the Praari in Sight of the enemy at a half mile or f of a miles distanc[e], and halted, tlie Sight of our own men across the Bridge Con- fused them Considerably they Supposed them to he the arm\- the whole Stood in this Confused state for perhaps 20 minutes, I was at the time quite in the front on the right wing (I never was more vexed in my life to See men and othcers in Such Confusion) The Eitlemen was ord[e]red all to take the left flank a( d]join[in]g the woods and to form in line they advanced with great Courage but in bad order. 1 Mallu^w KUioU and Andrew McKoe, both natives of Pennsylvania, were malignant Tories during the Uevolutionary War and had since been prominent in the service of the Britisli in stirring up the Indian tribes against the Ameri- cans. The renegade Simon Girty was associated with them. — See Lossing's PiHorUil Field- Hook of the War of ISl i, pp. 45,4(!.— Editor. OF thp: war of is 12 33 1 endeavored all in my power to keep th[e]m in order but in vain (Some of the men Called upon me to take the Com- jiiaiid to which 1 replied that I Could not take the Com- ni.'iiul tVom their officers as their own offi[ce]rs was present. The Infantry halted and foi-med in ord[e]r. T[he] Rifle- men rushed on perhaps 100 yards in front, a tiring Com- menced hy our men across the Creek, and was returned by the Britisli and Commanded our men when 300 yards Dis- tan[t] a party of Riflemen was directed to take the woods, they appeared Backward Supposing a body of Indians lay therein, But Capt [ ]' myself and Denton Scott (a gentleman who had went with us as a volunteer) rushed into the woods and was followed bravely by Capt Ullerys Com- pa[n]y and pait of Capt Rob[in]sons we ran through the point of woods to where the British and Indians had been encamped, by this time our troops that was across the riv[e]r Joined us, we flred upon them from the woods, being about 200 yards distan[t] being the nearest we could get to them, they retreated in Such hast[e] that we Could not Come up with them, by this time it began to get dark in the evening, we returned not having one man injured, we left a guard at the Bridge and returned about 1 or 2 miles to Some houses and Barnes antl encamped — The Brittish had 2 small field peaces at the Biidge and when they Saw our advanced g[u]ard Sent them of[f]. — They was so Skittish that had we Conducted proj)erly and Came in behind them we might have kilf l]ed or taken them all prisoners — there was 150 British Troops in Unifo[r]m and about i)0 In- dia[n]s — had they know[n] our force and acted with ' The surname is omitted in the original manuscript. — Editor. 34 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL Courage they might have beat lis — This night an alarm went to Camp that there was tiring heard and that the Bridge had been attacked a Second time. The Genl. Sent on to onr assistan[ee] the whole of the -i"' Rgt of Regulars and a ])eac[e] of artillery under the Command of Lieuten- [ajnt Eastman with order [s] for us to return to Camp, wher[e] the ar[m]y all was ijuiet we had kep[t] the bridge peaceably all night — [EntercMioii '£\i[fj, Jay Capt Brown of the remdars went to the margin J JMaldon with a Hag of truce the purport of which is not known to me he was fired upon as he returned The ti'oo])s all acted with good Cour- age but not good Conduct the fault is generally in the officers [ Friday, July tlie Seventeenth ] 17 This moruiug the iviiifaired immediately to the Bridge being about 14 miles fi-oni tlie Ctimp Ca])t McCullough Colo McDonald and Several of tlu^ rangers and myself went on in fntiit, we found Ca])ts Snelling Mansfield and ]>art of the Dragoons within a mile of the Bridge in a lane, in full view of the Queen Sharlot[te] myself and Several of the rangers went do[w]n within about 200 yards of tlie Bridge I was sit- [t]ing on a gray Horse (that I had got to ride from the Quarter Master (hi\ mine being worn do[w]n) Viewing the vessle very attentively when I lleceived a Shot from a Swivel on board a gun boat, that liad not been discovered OF THE WAR OF 1812 37 by uti, 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 bet'iire 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. 1 informed Capt Snelling he intjuired if we had artillery coming on I informed him we liad 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 pei'son 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[u] Shot of the British troops at the Bridge a number of Shots was exchanged on both sides no injurj' 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 lie 38 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL blaokg[u]arded them and Cursed them for Cowards and dared tliem to Come over the Riv[e]r, We fired at them in this way for amusement till we was tii'ed aud retired to the army alxiut a mile back. In the afternoon Colo McAr- th[u ]r and his adiut[a]nt Surgeon went down to where we had ]>een Ijefore to take a view of them before we re- turn[edj when they was fired upon by Some Indians that had Crossed the River at the Bridge and lay in the grass aud Bushes the tr()Oj)s was enraged at their Colo being fired upon, they all rushed forward. Capt Lucas Company uearl)' all })eing present, C'apt Lucas was directed to com- mand the right wing and Capt Pinuey the left they rushed cm 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. 1 at this time was on hors[eJback on the right wing assisting to keep the troops in order. I Saw the Indians flank oft' from the Breastwork at the IJridge and Crall through the grass Some of them got tolerably close to our men — ( )ur order was such that we Could not keej) the liridge if we took it. we was ordered to I'eturned, 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 oui- men was wounded, a W Mellon of Capt Fryatts Compa[u Jy and a M"' 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 Hors[e] and the only one that was on IIors[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 OF THE WAR OF 1812 39 the whisteliag of the balls — we returned two or three miles nw] met Colo Cass and his Rgt and a peac[e] of artilleiy he insisted upon going back to give thcin a fire with tliis Cannon, notwithstanding the ordei"s of the (tiiI 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 efi'ect, Colo McAilh[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[anJy by the name of McGill got his gun choaked in the heat of the action and at a time when we expected to ])e met by an equal or Superior fourc[e], he deliberately took the Ban-el out of the stock on Briched his gun Drove out the load, Briched her put her in order and loaded and Shot five rounds afterwards during the Contest, it is an astonshing thinsi to me that no more of our men was wounded alth<)| ugh] 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 anel wounded — [Entered on Q^^]^, ^['Arthur IkuI his iiorse wounded in the the margin J 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 experienc[ej trouble — [ Monday, July the Twentieth ] 20'" The Colonels Cass McArth[u]r myself and Several others went to view the situation of the British troops 40 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL at tlie Bridge we Saw that they had artillery at the Bridge, Colo McArthur was ()|.]>(is|e|(l to fateegnif'ir]g the men in bringing them up to action against artillery when they had not an e(nial Chane[e], l)ut Colo Cass and Major Trimble insisted upon giving them a shot, accordingly the two regi- ments marched down Colo McArthur rerpiested 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 1 did so. I advanced to the woods 8co[u]red them founlis[h]ly, had we made the attempt agreeable to liis plan we would been both take[n], instead of taking Tecumseh, ])er- haps that was his wish — [Tuesday, August tlie Fourth] •4"^ August — having been informed that a party of British and Indians had Crossed turk[e]y Creek and that two British officers had advanced within 4 miles of our Camp, Capt McCoUock W" Stockton Edward fowler Montgomery MeCuU and myself went in Search of th(-m we proceeded as far as turk[e]y creek we ascertained that there had ])een a jiarty of the British and Indians there the day before and had driven of[f] a quantity of the inhabitants Cattle and were expected there again that day, we went as far as was thought pnulen[t] and took a cross the Countary for Sev- [e]ral miles Itack, we Saw Sev[e]ral British or Indians riding at a distance from us Ijut on seeing us they made of[f] from us we returned to Camp and reported accord- ingly — on our return we was informed that tlie Gnl had Consented to Send a Detachment of altout 150 men under the Command of Major Van horne^ to escort the male and to join Capt Brush at the river raisin, C'apt McCoUock applied to the Gnl for li])ert.y to accompany them with the rangers. The Gnl refused to let tliem all go, but granted him liberty to take half there being but Six fit for duty, he Selected W'° Stockton and Edward fowler to accompa[n]y him in Consert with myself the detachment having marched we four Crossed the i'iv[e]r in the evening and proceeded 'Thomas B. Van Ilorne was one of the Majors of the 2d Kegiment of Ohio Vohinteers under command of Colonel Findlay. — Ei>itor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 47 on after them and overtook them at the riv[e]r Rush^ the whole proceeded on after night to the Riv[e]r Sacroix,^ where we lay in the Bushes all night, McCollough Fowler Stockton and myself lay toge[t]her on the left flank the remainde[r] of the night — [Wednesday, August the Fifth] 5th "^g arose at Day brake and got our horses and took a rout[e] around the Detachment, we assertain[e]d by the tracks in the road and trails in the gi'ass that there had been a pii[r]ty of Indians watching us dur[i]ng the night, it was a beautiful clear morning, we advanced to the riv[e]r and heard the Sound of oars of boats rowing — but at Such a distanc[e] that they could not be Seen for a fog that rose a few feet above the water, — The Detachment prepared and we proceeded on tlie march Ca})t McCollock and myself advanced in front for Some distance frequently turning across to the river to See if there was not men crossing from Canada, we passed through the Indian village of Maguawga and found the villag[e] intirely evacuated (the Indians that resided at maguawga had always express[e]d the most extr[e]m[e] friendship for the Americans) we open[e]d Several houses and found that all the property had been removed, we proceeded (tn with great care to a place known ])y the name of the Big-Appletree Capt McCoUocli and myself was then together, the Capt alighted from his horse; and I proceeded on, the roads forked one round the riylit of an Indian Cornfield and the other on the left. I took the right hand road and was accompanied by ' Probably the River Rouge. — Editor. » Probably the River Aux Ecorce.s. — Editor. 48 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL Capt Barran wlio was the[u] on W™ Stocktons Horse we proceeded on with care and had passed the Cornfield leaving the field between us and tlie river, unfortunately for Capt McCollocli he took the left hand road round the field he was accompanied by a Black man waiter to major Van home, they was fired upon by 12 or 14 Indians, as Soon as we heard the report of the guns I exclaim [ed] that McCol- loch was fired upon and requested the men in front to form a line across to the riv[e]r and to ad vane [e] to the place where the fire was being about 150 yards in the rear of us and between the main body and the river, we don[e] so in front and had the rear performed the Same maneuvor we might have killed all the Indian[s], the rear g[u]ard at the fire was thrown into Confusion, the Indi[a]ns scalped and tom[a]hawked McCollo[cJh ran across the Cornfield fired upon the rear g[u]ard and made the[i]r escape without being hurt, we brough[tJ in MeColloch and the other man, McCollocli was shot one ball through his Ixxly two through his breast and one througli liis thigh. I Carried him and |)ut him in a li(»us[ej, laid liim ou a plank and Covered him witli Bark being the Itest I Could do at that time, this transactioj n ] took ])lace al)out an hour by Sun in the morn- iiiii', and wliilc we was ])i'ino;ini'' in the Dead we was over- taken ])y a ])art of the Cavalry from Detroit and Several gentlemen armed that Avished to pass through to the river raisin, we was liere informed by a frenchman that there was a body of three or four liundred Indians and Some British waylaying us at })rownsto\vn, we liad been So mucli accus- tom[('|(l to the fals[e] Statements of the french that we paid no attention to tiie report but proceeded on, our De- OF THE WAR OF 1812 49 tachm[e]nt was foriuud iu the following ord[e]r three of the Cavarly in front of each Colum[n] of the front g[u]ard the front G[u]ar(l Consisted of about 24 men in two colum[n]s, from Capt Robinsons Rifle Compa[n]y the right Commanded by Ensign Roby and the left by a Ser- geant of Said Company, the detachment marched in two lines or colum[n]s, as follows, Capt Rupe in front, Capt Robinsons, and Capt Spencers Rifle Compan[ie]s formed the right Coluni[n], Capt BaiTen in front Capt Ull[e]ry and Capt Gilchrean' formed the left colum[n], and Capt Boerstlers Compa[n]y formed the rear guard, the two Col- um[n]s marched where the ground would admit about 100 yards apart, the mail and the li(irs[e]mea that escorted the mail was between tlie Colum[n ]s, a part of the Cavalry was in the rear with the rear g[u]ard, thus formed Major Vanliorne requested me to assist him in Comnmnicating orders to the lines which I Consented I Avould, we niarehed on in this order for four or five miles, till we approach[ed] near Brownstown into a defile through which we had to pass, as we approached the defile I rode along the the right colum[n] and requested of the men to see that their guns were fresh primed assur[i]ng them that their Safety depended on on their arms and their Valur and pointing out the place told them that if we met an enemy at all that day that it would be there, the road here passes through a naiTOw parari Sur- rounded on the right by a Mirey Creeck which Cannot be crossed but at the one place for Some distan[ce] up and on the opposite Side Covered with thick Bushes, on the left ' This officer was evidently Captain Robert Gilchrist, who was killed in the battle that followed. — Eijitor. 50 THE KOBEliT LUC'AS JOURNAL rtauk was a ii[ u]mb[eli' of small Indian Cornfields and thickets of Bushes, the indians lay in the Bushes on the opposite Side of the Creek from us immediately on the bank in our front and right flank and in the Clornfields on the left flank, the flank had to elose at tliis ])lace in ord[e]r to Cross the Creek within 40 <-)r 50 yards of each other, as Soon as 1 had Cautioned the right flank I rode up in front bet\ve|e|n the lines to ]Major Vanhorn[e], in compa[ny] with W'" Stoekton the hors[e]men on the flanks was just entering the Creek and myself Major Vanhorn[e] and W" Stockton was of a breast in front l)et\veen the lines, and had advanced within '25 or 80 yai'ils of the Indians when we was fired upon, the first fire a})peared to be principally directed at us that was a hors[e]back. My Horse and Wm Stocktons was shot mine wheeled and gave a fierce lunge and i)i[t|ched asrainst a horse that had his fore leg broke and pi|t |ched me of[f] in the fall my gun flew out of my hand I I'aised and looked rounossing"s I'ictorial Field-Book of the War of 1S12, p. -J"", note. See also General HulTs Letter to the Secretarj' of War, August 7. 1812. — Editok. 52 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL [Thursday, August the Sixth] 6"^ Cok)" McArtluii- and Cass Solisited Gnl Hull for liberty to take ii Detachment of men and go to Brownstown to intpi'r tlie Dead, that liad unfortunately been Killed the day before Imt was positively refused a Detachment Sufficient [ Friilay, August the Seventh ] 7"' tliis morning Genl Orders issued for the army to draw 5 daj's provision to have three days cooked and prepare them- sel[v]es against the next morning to take the field against the eu[e]my. Major Den[n]y was directed to stay in the fort at (lowris with IHO j\Ifn but by Solicitation Capt Cook of th(^ 4' Uegt was allowed to stay with liim those tliat was to Stay in tlie fort was tlie Convelessent that was not able to take the field, the exi)ei'ted attack was on Maldon every Countt'uance was cheered and their spirits raised wdth a prospect of having lil)ei1}- to act in Defence of their Couutary, liut to the[i]r gi'eat Supprise and dissatisfaction in the dusk of the evening the Orders for taking the field was Compiiiiianded and the army was ordered to recross the Deti'oit Kiver to (U'ti'oit after night which was done, or at least as many as Could l)e Crossed till daylight, (and from this timi- will be recorded the Dastardly evacuation of Sandwich b\- (-inl Hull Contrary to the general wish of all liis ti'oo])s ) [ Siilurclay, August the Eighth ] 8"' this morning the balanc[e] of the army that could not cross last night was Conveyed Noncomd ' nequiiiilie, — Euitor. OF THE WAR OF 1812 55 officers and privates Killed and 45 wounded — In the Ohio and Michigan Militia 8 were killed and 13 wounded. There was uo officers Kill[ed] but were wounded, Capt Baker of the 1' Reg? Lieut? Larabee and Peters of the -4' Resl, Ensisn AVhistler of the 17? Lieut Silly and Ensign Flisher of of the Ohio and Michigan Militia — [ Monday, Augiust the Tenth ] lO"' Colo McDonald and myself Started from Deti'oit to meet the Detachment under the Command of Colo Mc- Arth[u]i' to assist with the wounded to Detroit. We Started with two Companies of Michigan Militia undei- tlie command of Capt Knaggs and Captain Schley [?], the wliole Commanded by Colo Godfi-ey It rained tremendiously from the time we left Detroit till we ar[r]ived at the River Sacross' 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 \-illage 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 ' The River Aux Ecorces. — Ei>itor. r.H THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL return \n\ck to Maguawga. They all returned and found the Britiish Brig Hunter laying across the channel to interee])t our Ijoats She fired Several Shots at us. Colo Mc Arthur, on tlie Sight of the brig Stopt the boats and landed the wounded that Avas able to walk, Sent them round from the riv[e]r and pushed the Ijoats uj) to the lower end of the village of Maguawga where they was met by Some wag- gons. Colo McArthur attended to ouloadiug the wounded himself he Carried Several of them out of the boat, himself, and liad 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 Ctilo 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' where we expected to be intercepted hj a 2:)arty of British and Indians, Avhen we came in Sight we Saw a gun boat laying in the river opposite the Bridge over the River Sacross^ which we was t)1jliged 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 ])elieve there was a i>arty of Indians wayhiying us on our tiauk, and that She was only amusing us, as (juit-k as 1 Crossed the Bridge, flanked of j f ] with my detachm[e]nt and examined, Init found none. The boat fired at the rear as it passed, but to no effect, (1 presume she was afraid we had artillery with ' Tlie River Aux Ecorccs, — Kpitdh. OF THE WAR OF 1812 57 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 witliout 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 tlian 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 tlie lives <»f many valuable men have been lost — ! ! ! My God wliat proceedings — [ Wednesday, August the Twelftli ] l-J"' I was this morning at the w[h]arf ami Saw a boat I)e[s]ceuding the riv[e]r with a white flag, (at first Sight I tliought 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 58 THE ROBERT LITCAS JOURNAL Maldou, — Tlie flag Soon returned and on en(|uinng the caus[e] of its returning So Soon I was inform [e]d that they liad met Gnl Broek at Sandwich, and that the British had established the[i]r bead quarters there 1 enquired the particular eaus[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 wliere he could get a consider- able quantity of flour, he also stated to me that it would be necessary foi' tlie army to recross the river and to attack Maldou, immediately or else to Capitulate, as tlie 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 Maldou when they wished and had been forced across the riv[e]r from Canada against their will. I did not think that tliey would again cross willingly under the present commander, that all confidence in him was lost, and 1 tliouglit if tlie fort must be SuiTendered, 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 truce 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 OF THE WAR OF 1812 59 an attack du Detroit by the British, aud from his conver- sation it appeared as if he knew what was a going to be done by the Hritish, and how we would have to act on our part, — C August 1812 Dear Sir, I have the mollification to announce to you, that on the evening of the 7"" inst[a]nt while waiting with anxiety for liberty to march to Maldon, that the american Army was ordered ))y tlieii' Gen! to recross the river to Detroit, and thereby have been prevented fi'om 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 irabesile or Treach- erous Commander as they have been — he has frequently {]{) THE ROBERT LUt'AS JOURNAL Called tilt' field otKc-ers t<» foiiucill iu which they have with- out an exoeptiou united in Sentiment, and have in every instance l)een Ijeeii ()])p(ised l)y (Tnl Hull. A\'uald to God Either of our Colonels had the coininand,' if they had, we might yet wi})e of[f] the foul stain, that has been brought upon us, AVe are now reduced to a jiei'ilous situation, the British are reinforcing, our Coniinunication[ s] with the States are cut ot'[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 ( )urselves, — With Sentiments of respect I am your ol>ed[iJent ser- vant RoBEK'l' LrCAS Maj^ AVni Kendall This Afternoon Colo Miller returned with his detachment after undergoing a fateegue of a Severe engagement, and being ke])[t] for Several days without Provisions or Tents Some of them had Indian Scalj)s hanging to the ramrods of their muskets as they marched in — [ Thursday, August the Tliiitcontli ] I'.V The ib'itish have taken possession of the Bank opposite Detroit and lia\ c commenced erecting a Battery, opposite the town. Lien's Anderson and Dallaby- each threw u]» a Battery on our side one in the old Public (iarden and the ' Tlie risKUiiiptioii of tlie coiiiiuand of the army by one of the Colonels was sev- i-ral times diseiissed, but the decisive step was never taken. — See Adams' Jlistonj ufthe Uniled StiUen, Vol. VI, p. ;>2(!. — Koimu. = I/ieutenant James Daliba. — Enrrou. OF THE WAK OF 1812 61 other Just ht-low tlu' town, — The British is Suffered to Moi-k at tlieir batterys undisturbed and perliaps will Soon Commence firing upon the Town ( ^^'lly in tlie name of God are they not routed before they t-ompleet their Battery) This afternoon Colo Finley with a Detaohm[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 j)robably had lieen taking a little ^^'iIle with his friends, which threw him into a deeper repose than Usual, — We also thi-< 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"' The l')riti-;li is Suffered to continue their work unmo- lested, no kind of preparation is making by o[u]r army about the garrison, Lieuts Dallaljy' and Anderson, still at work at tlie[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 thei'e Colo Finlays Detachment returned to camp [ Saturday, Augu.st the Fifteenth ] 15"" Every thing in confusion as usual, Gnl Hull has a Markee Pitched in the cam]) Soutli of the Fort of a Singu- • Lieutenant James Daliba. — EniTou. 62 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL la[r] Stnicture, uever ].)efore seen in this army — with Sundry Red and Bhie Stripes in various ways over the top, (lam a])prehen8ive that it is intended as Som[e] Signal, — as he never before had a mai'kee in camp since the army has been at Detroit) abo[u]t 1 Oclock Two oliicers ar[r]ived from Sandwich with a flag of truce. While 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 Ijy Gnl Hull to prevent the British complecting 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 ])attery played upon the town The tire 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 A¥ounded a man which was the only injury don[e] in the fort, — Ca])t Snelling was Sent down to the spring wells to See the movements of the British vessels, he ascertained that they was landing troo])s and Sent to (inl Hull for some ])eaces of Artillery, the (inl neglected to Send him any, and the British landed the[i |i- trooj>s and Some peaces of Ai'til- OF THE WAR OF 1812 63 lery unmolested — What could have a greater appearance of treach[er]y in our Gnl, than Suffering the en[e]my to erect their Battery unmolested, and the refusing to grant Capt Snelling Artillery to prevent their landing their troo})S. 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? Mc Arthur and Cass had been sent a way on pui'pose by Gnl Hull So that he might have a fair oppertunity of Surrendering the fort to the Bi-itish, — when the Bi-itisli first commenc[e]d firing upon the town The fourth Regira[e]nt and the Ballance 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] !•'>"' This morning about daybr[e]ak the British renewed the[i]r fire upon the fourt, and it was returned from our iiattery. The roaring of the cannon was treniendious 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^ Doctor Reynolds Surgeon-mate to Colo Cass Rgt • Lieutenant Hanclis had been in command of Mackinaw wlicn tliat fort was captured by the British on July 17, 1812. — Editor. 64 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL from Zcanesville and Wounded Doctor Blood Surgeon mate in the 4"' U S Rgt The hull took of [f] intirely one of Doc- t[o]r Reynolds legs, and the other part[l]y of[f] he Died in al:)[o|ut a half an hour after, (he was Said to utter the following words about the time he expired) "fight on my 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 (inl Capitulat[e]d — at the time the (inl raised a flag of truce on the walls of the garrison, the 4'^ Regt and a small part | of] Colo McAr- th[n]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 u])per part of the town and a part in the plain; i'-L'4 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, — Eveiy 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 Avithin a few miles and would have fell uj)()n the enemies I'eai', (altho[ngh] not known to us at that time) our a| r]my thus placed, I was on the l)ack wall of the garrison viewing the movements of Some Indians that made their appeai'ance in the plain and was catching som[e] horses, and was just de|s|eending the wall with a view of joining colo Finleys flank to meet them when I was Called OF THE WAR OF 1812 65 to by Some of my acquaintanc[es], and informed that a white flag had been raised ujion the wall, I was struck with estonishra[e]iit and returned to enquire the caus[e] I was informed that (iiil 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] had ar[r]ived within about ') hundred }ards 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 tire uj)on the En[e]my one universal burst of indignation was aj)pai'ent upon the receipt of these orders, our troops was immediately crowded into the fort, and two British otScers rode up to the Gnls marke[e] they remained there a short time and retired, — I made inquiry of the cau9[e] and what was done I Soon ascertained that the Gn! had C'apitulated and had Surrendered the whole anny as Prisoners of AVai'. In entering into this capitulation the (xnl 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.^ Even the women was indignant at the Shameful degradation of the Americ[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 informati[on] was etfectiv[e] men tit for duty lUGU, ■ Cf. Report of Colonel Lewis Cass to Secretary of War Easti.s, September 10, 1S12.— Editor. 66 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL exclusive of 300 Michigan militin ou duty, — The whole foi'ce (if the euemy l)oth white I'ed and Black was from the best inf(ii'niati[on I we oonld gain al)ont 1030. They They had 2S) 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,' I thought it prudent to leave the garrison previous t(i the British taking possession I therefore placed my Sword and uniff Artillery in front of Gnl Hulls Door one at each of our Battery and jjlaced guards to command the defiles I'ound 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 tliose in Uniform in front, the Militia not in Uniform next a Compa] n]y with haudkerch[ i]efs round their heads and painted like Indians next and the In- dians in the rear Commanded l)y British officers Dressed and 2)ainted like Indians. The Indians was not Suffered to go into the fort, I Stood at the coi'uer of the street and Saw them jiass me in this order, with indignant feelings, but when our troo])S was marched out our Coulors Struck and the British ('oulois hoisted in their Stead, my feelings was 1 See below, Ai>[irii(Iix 1!. — F.ihtoi!. -See below, Appcjulix I!. — KlUTOIl. OF THE WAR OF 1812 67 affected beyond expression, My God who could ])ear the sight without vowing eternal vengeanc[e] against the perpe- trators of Such Diabolical acts, and against the Nation that would employ such Detestable Savage allies. To See our Couloi-s 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 Biitish had got peaceable possession of the fort, gave themselves up to plunder they took and bore away at will, horses and Such other pi-operty as fell in their way, they robbed and plund[e]red the the hous[e] of M"" 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 1 saw Gnl Hull walking linked arms, with a liritish officer, from the fort to his own hous[e], Posses[s]- ing a more pleasing countenanc[e] than I had ever Seen him, and appeared to be very pleasingly engaged in con- versation with him — ^\'hile in town I happened in company with a Biitish officer who was exulting at their conquest. I could not refi-ain from telling him that the conquest he was boasting of they had obtain[eJd through treachery, and that in my opinion they would not maintain it long, as we OS THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL could have an army of 10, ()()(> men there in a few monthw, he appeared to make light of my observations — after he retired I was ad\ised l)y an ac(j[uaintan[ce] not to s])eak my mind so five as the British was Siieh a haughty people and I was thei'[e] in their power, it might operate against me. I had jirevidusly formed a determination not to go with them as a ])ris(>nei- of war — altho[ugh] I had heard it stated that the 4"' Iigt and (nil Lucas was to be Sent on to Quebeck, I knew the}' ditl not know my person, and being informed by Major Denny that his Detachment was to be immediately Sent on boai'd 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 c)r[derj that I might not be betrayed about 3 oclock the Detachm[en]t went aboard the Maria of Prisque isle — I i'e( [nested Ensign Baird to have Capt J Lucas Trii I n I k taken aboard, he being absent with Colo McArthur, which he had done 1 made Some ari'ang[e]ments in town and went to the w[ ii |ai'f, with them. The British G[u]ard that was at the vessel asked me if I was e'oino; aboard I told them I was, he asked me if 1 was going to stay a])oard I answei'ed him also tliat 1 was, he then Suffered me to })ass aboard without asking any further (piestions, — I went aboard and re([Uested the lioys al)oai'd not to call me by any title and told them my reason for making Such recjuest. Soon after I went aboard the vessel dropped down the i'iv[e]r about a mile and lay too all night Some time that Evening Colo^ jNIcArthui- and Cass returned with their Detachments, and was Sui'i'eiidei'ed as pi'isoners ' ' Set' below, Appeiulix 1!. — Eniron. OF THE WAR OF 1812 69 [Monday, Augiwt the Seventeenth] 17 this morning the British were firing of [£] our ai'ins up at the vv[h]arf — we Surrendered 2500 stand of small arms be- sides what was in the magazin[e], about (iO peaces of Can- non of Various Sizes 2 IIowitzer[s] 40 Barrels of Powd[e]r 100,000 Cartridges made up 400 rounds [of] cartidges for 24 po[u]nd[erJs and a great quantity of Balls Shells, and CJartridges for the Smaller Cannon, the particular quantity not precisely known to me we lay to all this day, Colo ]\Ic- 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 Rgt passed us in open boats they had Some provision with them but left none of it with us, — Several British offic[e]i's 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, l:)y the British offic[e]rs, but could not find where I was, C!apt 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 considerab[l]y hungary, — The Commandant at Maldon came aboard, but I kep[t] tolerably close below 70 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 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 wai- [Wednesday, August the Nineteenth] lU' This morning we Saw a great number of Indians cross- ing the river towards Browustown. I am fearfull that they are gone in ])U]'su[i]t of Capt Brush, and if they overtake him his jiarty must become a Sacrafice as the[i]r number is So far Supei'ior to his,— (I hope he may make his escape to <.)hio with his pi'ovisions l^efore they overtake him) we lay this day at Maldon, our officers were frequently ashoi-e Con- siderable in(|niry was here made where I was, but no one infdi'iiied them [Tlmrsday, August the Twentieth] 20"' we still lay at Maldon Capt Rutl^' 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 tlie Twenty-first] 21' This morning we landed at the Island at Put in bay and Cooked Some ])ro visions we th[e]re assertained that th[eji'e was -2'^) 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]i-e should be a storm he was a]ipre- 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. OF THE WAR OF 1812 71 [Saturday, August the Twenty-second] 22n by wate[r] to our homes — In the afternoon I was overtaken by Lieut Larwell of the U. S Artillery and a Mr Mason who furnished me with a horse. I left my Ct>mj>a[n]y and went on to (xeorge [towuj to provide crafts, I j)roceeded on in company with Mr Larwell and Mason, to an old gentlem[an's | by the name of (ri-iswould where we Lodged all night, [Saturday, August the Twenty-ninth] 29 1 continued on with my (|[u]est to new Lisbon'-' and Breakfasted here I A\as invited by Ct)lo Kinny to attend with Some gentlemen from Virginia and Pennsylvania that had come on as a Committee of arrangement, to accjuire information relativ[e] to the Surrender of Gnl Hulls Army and the Situation of our frontier. I attended and gave them Such informat[io |n as I was possessed of relative to the 1 A town on the .south bank of the Ohio river in ISeaver Coiuity, Pennsylvania, a few mile.'i east of the Ohio State line. — Editoh. • I.i.slion. (lie county .seat of Columbiana County, Ohio. — Kditok. OF THE WAR OF 1812 73 Disasterous Caraj)aign. I was at this place treated with great attention and politeness and furnished with an ellegant horse to ride to Georgetown I then proceeded on to George- town in company with a young Gentleman by the name of Bell, and ar[r]ived at Georgetown in the evening I was introdused by jMr Bell to his uncle a Mr Christmass Merchant at Georgetown whose Polite attention and hospitality had too deep an impression upon my mind ever to be forgotten. Altho[ugh] we had been meeting troops every day marching towards the frontier Since we left cleaveland, I met this afternoon a Battallion of troops from "Washington County Pennsylva[nia] whose patriotic appeai-anc[e] exceeded any I had Seen on this march. I lodged this night with M'' Christmass [Sunday, August the Thirtieth] 30"" About 1 -2 Oclock Capt J Lucas and the party with him ar[r]ived, we was all invited to dine with M"' Christmass and M" Bevers, who assisted us in procuring Crafts we pur- chased a Sciff and in the evening Started down the Ohio and de[s]cended about two miles we found that our Sciff would not carry us all, and purchased a second one, and divided our Compa[n]y [Monday, August the Thirty-first, to Friday, September the Fourth] 31 We Started down the Ohio, and rowed day and night by turns till we landed at Portsmouth which was on friday the •l"" of Septemb[e]r about 10 oclock A. M. being not quite four days and a half from Georgetown to Portsmo[u]th we found our friends general[l]y well except M" Lucas who had been in a bad state of health for a long time, — I was happy to find on my return that the Disasters at Deti'oit 74 THE ROBERT LUCJAS JOURNAL had kindeled an unextinguishable ilame of Patriotism in the breasts of my neighbors, I do hope that the Disasterous Surrender of Detroit may terminate in Puldie good. It has kindeled an nnexampeled flame of Patriotism in the western countary, and it may perhajis be a usefull Caution to our Governm[en]t who they entrust with th[e] Com- mand of their armies— for my j^art I am determined if life is spared, nev[e]]' to desert till I have Satisfaction, for the insults giv[e]u us by ou[r] Detestable Enemy the British and the[i]r savage allies Robert Lucas Portsmouth Ohio 4'*' Sept[embe]r 1812 Safe ar[r]ived tfec ^ -<>*^ «t*j/ ;^^c/5;/:^^^ ^:^ -* al,^^<^14 -^i^^y of May to take a Comjiany of men and repair to greenvill[e], to ascertain the movements and disposition of the Indians about that })lace, (they having previously commit[t]ed some depreda- tions) I accordi[n]gly went, complied with my instructions returned APPENDIX B 79 and made report to his excellency, at which time his excellency in- formed me that it was necessary to Send an express through to detroit, previous to the army marching and requested me to under- take tiie journey, to which request I readily Consented, on Condition that he would obtain permission from the Departm[en]t of war (as I had previously accepted of an appointm[en]t in the U S Army I thought it nee[e]ssary that permission should be obtained previous to my leavi[n]g the State) to which he replied that he could not dis- pen8[e] with my service[8] and that he would write to the Depart- ment of war, on the Subject which I presume ho did and assured me that I Should neither loos rank nor emolument by attending to his request, flat[t]ered with these assurances I undertook the journey, and on the 2oth of May in Compa[n]y with W"> Den[n]y of the vol- unteers, I started from Day[t()nJ for Detroit, with Directions from Gov Me[i]gs, and Gnl Hull, to pass by tlie way of Dellaw[are] Upper and Lower Sanduskys, then by tlie Kaj)ids of the Miami of the lake, the river Raisin, and through Brownstown to Detroit, I went as Direct[ed] and on the 3"' of June ar[r]ived to Detroit, Des- charg[ing] my duty agreeable to the instructions, and on the 21 of June returned met the army in the wilderness, on the head waters of Miamy, between forts M'Arth[u]r and fort Finley, and reported to the Gnl. I returned with the army to detroit, and crossed with it to Canada, — wliile in Canada on tlic 22"i3 of July I received orders from Colo Miller of Ohio to repair to Chillicothe for the purpose of receiv- ing mon[e]y [?] and instructions to command the recruiting service (they being the first orders I had received on that Subject) immedi- ately on the receipt of the orders I prepared to return to the Stat[eJ of Ohio, and on informing Gnl Hull thereof, he requested to See tlie orders I shew him, and after perusing them he Said that he could not spare me from the army, and that he would take all the responsi- bility ui)on himself in ordering me to remain, untill further orders, and that he would account to Colo Miller, and the Department of war for my not returning to the State of Ohio. I considered myself bouniut Sir, I will give you as correct information of all transactions during my tour to Detroit as I am possessed of — On the 25th of May 1812, I waited on Gnl Hull at Dayton to receive Such instructions as he thought proper to communicate to me, previous to my departure to Detroit, at which time he delivered me a Packet, addressed to M^ Varnum, U. S. factor at Lower San- dusky one Directed to llueben Atwater Acting Governor at Detroit, and a letter Directed to Colo Anderson at the river Raison, also a letter Directed to the Acting Governor at Detroit, also Sundary Copies of an address to the Several nations of Indians througli wliieh I was to })ass, — The Gn! then informed me that he thought the journey 1 was about to undertake a hazardous one, and my Safe ar[r]ival of great importance, he then delivered to me Such verbal instructions as he thought necessary for me to attend to, stating, that written instruetiims was unnecessary and might opjierate as an impediment- to the expedition in case They Should be intercejited. — I was instructed to ])ass by the town of Dellaw[ar]e by the U])per and Lower Sandusky ^^ by the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the APPENDIX C 83 lake, by the settlement on the River Raisin to Detroit, thence to return and meet the army, and to advise the inhabitants on the frontiers, not to quit their homes, but in case of any hostile appear- ance of the Indians to assemble and build block houses, and if attacked, to defend themselves to the last extremity, untill the army ar[r]ived, or untill men Should be Sent to their releaf. I was also instructed to request the inhabitants at the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the lake, those at the river Raison, and at detroit to assist in opening a Road from Detroit to meet the army, — and was Authorized to State to tlie inhabitant[s] at Lower Sandusky that a Detachment of men would be immediately Sent on to tliat place, to erect a Block hous[e] and g[u]ard the Public Store— I was also requested by Gnl Hull to call at the different Indian villages as I passed through and to read and have interpreted to them his address — (which was in substance as follows. It was Dated Head quarters on the Northern frontier Dayton May aSfd 1812— Addressed to the chiefs Sachems and warriors of the Wiandots Dellawar[e]s Miamis Ottawas Pottawattomi[e]s Chippa- was and Such of the Shawanecs as reside in the State of Ohio or Territory of Michigan — (addressing them in the usual stile of addressing Indians) stating that he long had lived amonngst [them], that he long had smoked the pipe of peae[e] and friendship with them, that their ears had been open to his councell and their conduct had proven that they respected his advice. He informed them that their Great father that jiresided at the great councell tire of the nation had deemed it necessary to send a num[e]rous army to the northern frontier, that in one hand he carried the olive branch of Peace, and in the other the Sword, and that those of them that accepted the one Should enjoy protection peace and haiifi)Jiness, and those that prcfer[r]ed the other Should experience all the punish- m[e]nt his powerfull hand could inflict, and to his Command the President had entrusted tlic army wilh autliority to adopt such measures with the ch[i]efs of the[ijr Several nations as in his opinion 84 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL might best Secure the peace and Safety of the inhabitants on the frontiers — He then informed tliem that the present was a most important crisis. That everything dear to them was then at stake, and if any considerations Should induce their nations to commit acts of hostil- ity, they would forfo[i]t all their lands all their annuities, and that they would forfe[i]t indeed their very existence amongst; us and on the other hand that those of them who was disposed to adher[e] to the existing treaties and live in ])eace and friendship with their white brethr[e]n, Should enjoy their lauds in peace Should receive their annuities and enjoy all the blessings a bountiful! countary could bestow, and concluded with assuring them of the sinsere desire of the white people ever to live in peace and friendship with the[i]r Red IJi'cthren — &. V. After Receiving the above instructions I left the army on the eveni[n]gof the liSthof May ISl'J in company with William Den[n]y, and ar[r]ived at Dellaware on the SV'b we ther[e] furnished ourselves witli ]irovisions, and ])rocee[d]ed on to Sandusky, we ar[r]ived at Negro Town upjier Sandusky on the morning of the 29','' and had all the chiefs of the Wyandots that was about home called together, and read and explained Gnl Hulls address to them. To which I added that there would be a party of men through their village in a short time on tlieir way to Lower Sandusky to g[u]ard the public Stores, and advised them not to be alarmed but to attend to their ordinary callings, and they would be [protected] by the white peojile. So long as th[e]y remained ])eaceable, assuring them that it was not the dis- position of our governm[en]t ever to go to war with any nation of People that did not first intrude upon us. They after consulting for a short t[i]me answered that they was thankfuU to me for the trouble I had taken to inform them of the the intention (jf tlu'ir father (Gid Hull,) and assured me that it was their full ili'l('i-ruin:it[io]n to strictlv adher[e] to the treaty of Green- ville. Tlicy also stated that they had l)een much alarmed at the movements of the white people, in Collecting an army on their APPENDIX C 85 borders, also that they was at a loss to know, what was the caus[e] of the white people leaving their homes on the frontier and assemb- ling together to build block houses. They also enquired with apparent anxiety when the men would be through that place on their way to lower Sandusky, alledging as the caus[e] of their in(iuiry, that they wished to know, when they would be along So that their Squaws and children might not be alarmed. I observed in answ[e]r to which that the white peoyjle on the frontier had been alarmed in consequence of Some late murders, having been com- mitted near Lower Sandusky, by Some Indians; and tliat the men that was Shortly expected on to lower Sandusky g[u]arding the pub- lic Store was going on in consequence of those murders, for the pur- pose to protect the settelment [and] inhabita[nts] there from further depredation, and that I could not inform them the particular time, but that it would be in the course of a week or two — They ajjpeafed all well Satisfied, and We took our leave of them, and proceeded on to Lower Sandusky and ar[r]ived at Mr Varnums in the evening of the Same day and deliv[e]red my dispa[t]chcs to him, in which was inclosed a copy of the address as above Stated — On the 30"> M"" Var- num Called the Wiandots, and Munsies to councell (The Ottoways having previously moved away) he read and had interpreted the same ad[d]re8s as above stated. The Wyandots appeared pleased and expressed a Similar Sentiment, to that of the[i]r nati[o]n at Upper Sandusky, (the Munsies retired without giving any Answer, and on the Same evening moved of[f] towards Maldon — The Indians have appeared to be planting no corn, and the Wyandots talked of moving to LTppcr Sandusky; to be with their principal chief — The Ottowas had moved of[f] for Some time and encamped on the River Huron opposite Maldon, The Settelm[e]nts at Lower Sandusky appeared to be almost intirely Deserted, both by the white People and Indians,, Sl^^^We proceeded on to the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the lake, through a tremendious Swamp, we ar[r]ived in the evening, at the Settelm[e]nt, and found a party of the militia on duty under the Command of Lut Bond,: This place was in a Defenceless Situation, 86 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL and intirt'ly cxjiosed to the mercy of the Savat^es, — on tlie !<■ June we proceeded on to tlie i-iv[e]r Raison. I delivered the letter I was entrusted with to Colo Anderson, I informed him of the Situati[o]n and Strenfjth of the army, and the request of Gnl. Hull that they should assist in opening a road, to meet the army, (at this place there was a Comjiauy of militia on duty under tlie command of Captain Lecroix, They was in a Bad State of defence and Considerably alarmed ii"d I proceeded on to Brownstown but for want of an interpreter I could not explain Gnl Hulls address to the Lidians at that jihicp. I proceeded on to Maguaga, and stop[p]ed at the house of George Blue-Jacket son to the old chief of that name, he being an english Scholar I Shew him Gnl Hulls address, he apj)eared to be pleased with the contents and treated me with Considerable friendshij). I then prt)ceeded <;in to Detroit and ar[r]ived abont 5 oclock P. M. I delivered my disjiatches to M^ Atwater the acting Governor, and was Treated with a great deal of hospitality by him, and all the officers in the U. S. army that was ther[e] at detroit. I remained at Detroit 1-t days during which time I attended Several councells with different Natiiins of the Indians. The Acting Governor on the recei])t of Gnl Hulls letter. Sent for the different nations near that place to attend the councell. They all readily attended but the Ottowas, and Munu- ces tho[ugh] on a second invitation the Ottawas attended, he read and exj)lained (tiiI. Htdls address to them Some of the Chippawas, Ottowas and Pottowattom[ie]s ap]ieare him by M'' Jefferson at the C'ity of Washington, — stating that he had APPENDIX C 87 engaged with the[i]r great father ever to remaiu in peace and friend- ship with him — he then apologised for their leavi[n]g their towns and neglecting to plant corn, alleging that they came to the river huron, to be nigh their father So that they could be Supplied with Such things as they wanted, stating that they would return to their town again in the fall — There was a Chippawa chief by the name (Moccons[?] or little Bare) attended in great stile, three different days to deliver a speech in behalf of his nation (as he said) he was wailed on each day by the Acting Govei'nor, But he finally retired without Saying anythiiig, or giving any expla[nation] of his con- duct — Walk in-tlie water, Adam Brown and Several other chiefs of the Wiandots from Brownstown and Maguawga, also attended a councell Walk in-the water prodused a writ[t]en speech, in which lie charged the americans of improper enterferences, in .attempting to prevent, their young men from crossing to Maldon, and witli the Indians the last fall on the Wahash, stating tliat the troul)le the white people had met witii on the wabash they had brought upon themselves, that it was the fault of the white people and not the Indians and with respect to crossing Detroit River — he Stated that they was their own masters and would go where they pleased, iiidependent of the ameri- cans, — and many other expressions of a similar nature. ^I'' Atwat[c]r then asked him if liis speech contained the senti- ments of his nation generally about Bi'ownstown and maguawga, he Walk in-the water answered that it did, he then stated to him the inconsistency of his conduct that he had came to him in the spring and asked liberty for two of his young men to go to a friendly coun- cell on the wawbasli and requ[e]sted Some assistance, that he had granted the liberty & wrote to the agent at fort Wayne to furnish them with a cano[e]. And that when they ar[r]ived at Fort Wayne the agent assertained that they had been send with a message from the British ag[e]nt (Colo Elliot) to the Indians on the Wabash, and that in con8equen[ce] of which, the agent at Fort Wayne had refused to furnish them with a cano[e] and had wrote to him on the subject 88 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL (wliich k'ttcr lio read) Tliat lie had promised to inform him, when the young men returned, and the result of the[i]r councell. And that they had returned, and had gone to the British at Maldon. This kind of conduct said Mr Atwater is unsuilerable We cannot be deceived. If you respect your British fathe[r] Elliot better than me, why do you not go to him, you come to me and jirofess to be my friend, you tli[e]n go to the British and profess to be their friends, you Cannot be both our friends, — If the Americans and British Differ, what is that to you; you have nothing to do with our quarrels, you live amonng us, and if you were disposed to live in peace with us, you would not interfere in our disputes, but attend to your own business, to plant your corn and take care of your women and children &c Wa[l]k-in the water a])i)eared Considerably affected at the reproof of Mr Atwater — And addressed him as follows, Father altho[Hgh] yon have reproved me for what I have Said, there is one thing that I will inform you, off — that is — I have been informed that Several of the Shawanees, that live on the Miami and Sciotii, have engaged as S])ies for the army that is Coming on here, and that when I heard it I Sent Several of my young men on to keep before them — The Councell then broke up without his giving any Explanation of his conduct ap])arently not well Satisfied — For what purpose their young men was Sent to keep before our Spies, I could then only infer one of two things, that was I Supj)Osed them either Sent, to waylay our Spi[e]s for the purpose of cut[t]ing them of[f], or to have frequent communication with them, to ascer- ta[i]n the Situation of our army, (Time has d[i]s[s]olved the mistery, at the time of this Councell, at Detroit there was no Indians had joined our army as Spies. It appears obvious that there was an agreement between the British and those Indians and that they had been sent by the British British to Spi[e] for our army, and that their yo[u]ng [men] that Walk in the water had Sent to keep before them was Sent for the purpose, of receiving from these spies Such information, relative to the army as they wished. This opinion is proven by two APPENDIX C 89 Circumstances, one is that Several of thos[e] Indians that Spied for our Army joined the British as Soon as they ar[r]rived at Detroit, the other is that I was informed about the time I left detroit to meet the army, — by a frenchman (who Said he had got his information from an Indian) Where our army was a few days before, and Described the particular order of march, which on meeting the army I found to be correct — on the 12"> Jun[e] Previo[u]s to my leav[i]ng detro[i]t I rec[eive]d by Capt Welch of Dellawa[re] a lett[e]r from Gnl Hull of which the following is an exact Copy Stanton 4th Jun[e] 1812 Sir Sin[ce] you left this I have changed the rout[e] — The army will proceed by Urbanna and strike the Miami at the foot of the rapid[s] It will therefore be improp[e]r for you to return by the Auglaize as you will not meet the army on that rout[e] I am very respectfully Your most obed[i]ent servant General Lucas ^.^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ on the 14t'> of June in compa[n]y with Capt Welch and two gentle- men from Detroit I des[ce]nded the Detroit Riv[e]r, to within a short distance of fort Mald[e]n So that with a glass I viewed the Situation of the garrison, at this tim[e] there was but 100 British troops in the garrison, but while I was in sigh[t] the queen Sharlet ar[r]ived with Gnl Brock aboard and a reinforcement of 100 troops. The garrison was greatly out of Repa[i]r the back and lowe[r] [?] walls appeared to be partly down; — my intenti[o]n was to land and take a particular view of the garrison but was advised not, by the gentlem[e]n with me, as the British had been inform[e]d of my being at detroit, — they apprehended that I would be Suspected if I landed,— I returned on the Same evening to detroit, — While at Detroit I had made particular inquiry into the the local situation of the Territory of Michigan, and upper Canada, I found the inhabitants of Michigan to be principally a set of ignorant French 90 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL Canadians, attached to no particular Political principal, apparently more of the Disposition of Indians than white people, And that there was a Considerable Spirit of disaffection among them, That two of their capt[ai]n[s] had been arrested and Broke [':!] for advising the men to cross to Canada and not to Suffer themselves to be Drafted, and that there had been a considerable mut[i]ny among them that had been called out, upon the whole I found that no certain cal- culation could be made uj)on the militia of Michigan with respect to defenc[e], — I Saw that Detroit lay intirely at the mercy of the British and Lidians, in case they should unite against it and I had every reason to l)el[i]eve from the general movements of the Indians in that cpuirter (notwithstanding their professed friendship) that they was intirely under the influence of the British, and was only waiting their signal to strike the Blow unless they Should be restrained by fear, at the news of our approaching army. I was fearfull that in the event of a Declaration of war previous to the ar[r]ival of our army at detroit which I thought probable that that post would be immediately attacked ])y the British and Indians. I therefore on the 15'h proposed to the Acting Governor, and the ofl"[i]cers at Detroit, to Invite the principal chiefs of the Several nations of Indians, about that place, to accompany me to the army, I thought if I could get them with me that it might answer the good purpose first that it would Secure Detroit from an attack by the Indians while their ch[i]efs were absent, Second that it would take the chiefs out of the way of British influence (and it was generally expected that the army would be attacked before it ar[r]ived at Detroit, and Considering its Safe a)-[r]ival of importanc[c], I thought in the third plae[e] that the chiefs being with the army, would Considerably lessen the force of our en[e]my in case we Should bo attacked, as those of their nation would not be likely to attack an army, while their chiefs was in their j)Ower — In this proposition I was joined by a numb[e]r and Mr Knaggs the interpreter, gave it as his opinion that the ch[i]efs could be easily influenced to accompany me, in case he would go with them. APPENDIX B 91 Mf Atwater the acting gov promised to give me an answer on the Subject, the next day, I aocordingly waited on him on the IG"", he then informed me that he was convinced of the utility of my proposition but that, it was out of his power at that time to send the chiefs with me to the army, as they could not go without the inter- preter (Mr Knaggs) accompanying them, and under the th[e]n exist- ing circumstances, he could not be spared from Detroit. I readily acquie8[c]ed, took my leave of him and proceeded on to meet the ar[m]y, — as I crossed the river Huron I saw 15 cano[e]s loaded with Ottawa indians in compa[n]y with their chief (Tontoggas — or Dog) on their way to Maldon (this was the chief that had at a previ[o]us councell professed Such friendship) — I ar[r]ived at the river Raison on the evening of the le'h found the Situation of the place much as I had left it on my way to Detroit, but Considerable exertion using, in opening a road for the ar[m]y, on the morning of the 18'h in com- pa[n]y with M^ Denny Capt Welch and M^ Tho? Knaggs (Brother to the interpreter at Detroit) I started to meet the army — (at this time I was informed by M' Godfray who passed Maiden the day before that Genl Brock had returned down the lake on the le'*",) and met on our way between the River Raisin and the foot of the rapids a numb[e]r of Indians moving from Solomons Town on Stony creek and Round heads town on Scioto with about 40 Horses loaded with packs Squaws and children, The men tell us that they was a moving to Detroit, (They settled at Brownsto[w]n and afterwards crossed to Maldon) we ar[r]ived in the afternoon at the foot of the rapids, — The company of men that was doing duty as I passed out had been dis- missed by Some means, the particular caus[e] of which I was not informed — we was here informed that there was a war party of Pot- towattom[ie]s out in the quarter we was a going — and requested to be on our g[u]ard here we laid in provisi[o]n to last us through the wilderness, and proceeded on the next morning 19' and struck our course through the black Swamps, and ar[r]ivcd at Round heads town on the Scioto in the afternoon of the 21? we we found the town intirely evacuated, and the houses locked up, we proceeded on the Same evening to Solomons town on Stony creek where we struck 92 THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL the road the army had passed on, (from the foot of the rapids to Solomons Town we Saw nobody but was surrounded one night by Indians, we heard them yell in the woods, and Saw their trail next morning, we used precaut[io]n and left our fires in the night, which they proba[b]ly was apprised of, and moved of[f] without interrupt- ing us) — the 22°d we overtook the army, I reported to the Genl deliver[e]d Such dispa[t]ches as I was entrust[e]d with, and made a report, to him of all the proceedings during my absence, stated my opinion relative to disposition of the Lidians and particular[ly] the speech of Walk in the water the Wiandot ch[i]ef at Maguawga to which he replied, That he could not think it possible, that Walk in the water was such a particular friend of his, That he was Such an enli[gh]tened Indian, and So much interested in our cau8[e] that he could not think it possible that he would be opposed to us, — I made Sev[e]ral Similar Statements which I found he paid little attention to, Tho[ugh] he very politely thanked me for my attention while absent, and expressed his intire approbation of my conduct, and expressed a wish that I should return with the army, and invited me to become a member of his family, — being much fateegued I re- quested liberty to retire to Colo M'Arth[u]rs Rgt for a few days, during which time I observed that the Gnl was quite imbecile and that he paid more attention to parade than action, which did not cor- respond with my inclination, I therefore declined accepting the Gnls offer to becom[e] a member of his family, and attached myself to the Spies, with whom I continued untill the army was Surrend[e]red at Detroit, — Sir, these are the particulars of my exi)edition as express to detroit, if they will be of any Service to you, toward completing a narrative of the Disasterous campaign under Gnl Hull you are wel- come to make Such use of them as you may see proper, I also Send you, my dayly journal of the campaign, if it will be of any service to you, you can take such extracts therefrom as you may be deemed necessary — With respect I am your very Humble Servant MR James Foster — Robert Lucas An Index INDEX Adams (a brig), rigged up at Detroit, 41 Administration, management of War of 1812 by, iii, iv Allison, Andrew, killed in engagement under Van Home, Al Ambush, warning of, 48; on Mirey Creek, 49 Amherstburgh, reference to, (note) 12 Anderson, Colonel, dispatches for, 7, 82; dispatches delivered to, 10, 80 Anderson, Lieutenant, battery erected by, on, (il Annals of Iowa, sketch of IJobert Lucas in, vii Arnold, Thos., Lieutenant of a rifle company, 2 Atwater, Reuben, dispatches for, 7, 82; dispatches delivered to, 11; house of, plundered by Indians, 67; council held by, 86, 87, 88; Lucas makes pro- posal to, !)0; answer of, 91 Auglaize River, references to, 14, 16, 89 Aux Canards River, expedition to, 30; skirmishing at the bridge over, 31; exploration of, 41 Aux Ecorces River, references to, 20, 47, 51, 53, 55, 60 Babie, Colonel Francis, army camped on farm of, 28; stock captured from, 29 Baird, Ensign, reference to, 4.3, 68. Baker, Captain, wounded, 55 Barber, .Joseph, ensign of volunteer com- pany, 2 Barran, Captain, reference to, 48 Barren, Captain, reference to, 31, 49, ,50 Battle of the Fallen Timbers, (note) 17 Bawbie, (see Babie) Beard, Mr., Lucas accompanied to De- troit by, 10; Lucas lodges at house of, 11; Lucas descends Detroit River with, 12; Lucas talks with, 68 Bell, Mr., reference to, 73 Berry, Mr., looks for fording place, 17 Bevers, Mr., reference to, 73 Big-Appletree, engagement at, 47 Big Rock, Lucas repairs to, 19; refer- ence to, 20 Black River, troops land at, 71 Black Swamp, Lucas encamps in, 14; Hull's army avoids, 15; reference to, 91. Blanchard's Fork, references to, 14, 16 Blood, Doctor, wounding of, 64 Blue .Jacket, George, Lucas reads ad- dress to, 11, 86 Boei'stler, Captain, reference to, 49, 51 Bond, L'eutenant, militia under com- mand of, 85 Bonty, Captain, helps Indians to way- lay Americans, 43 British, influence of, over Indians, 9, 90; report of, crossing of, from Mai- den, 19; capture of Hull's baggage by, 19, 22; commander of, referred to, 42; reenforcements received by, 57; headquarters established at Sand- wich by, 58; attack on Detroit by, 59; bank opposite Detroit in posses- ion of, 60; work on battery by, un- molested, 61; surrender of Detroit demanded by, 62; troop. Toledo, early settlement of, (note) 19 Tontoggas, speech of, 80; on his way to Maiden, 91 0' Trimble, William, chosen Major of battalion of volunteers, 3; proposal to detach part of battalion of, 0; ref- erence to, 09 Troy, Indian agent at, 4 Turkey Creek, bridge at, broken, 29; Major Denny retreats to, 44; Britis and Indians cross, 40 Tymochtee Creek, Lucas crosses, 8 Tymokney, (see Tymochtee Creek) Ullery, Captain, in command of a vol- unteer company, 3; on expedition to River Aux Canards, 31; company of, 20, 33, 49; death of, 51 United States Army, Robert Lucas ap- pointed Captain in, v, 5 Urbana, Hull to come from, 12; Lucas starts toward, 14; Hull's army to pass, 80 Uran River, (see Huron River) Urian River, (see Huron River) Van Home, Major, in command of de- tachment to join Captain Brush, 40; black waiter of, 48; asks assistance of Lucas in transmitting orders, 49; orders a retreat, 50; conduct in bat- tle, 50, 54 ■Varnura, Jacob B., dispatches for, 7, 82; council of, with Indians, 9, 85 Wabash River, Indians on, 87 Walker, Mr., at Big Rock, 19 Walk-in-the-water, speech of, 87, 88, 92 War of 1812, management and results of, iii Wa.shington County, Pennsylvania, troops from, 73 Washington, D. C, references to, iii, iv, vii, 71, 80 Wayne's Battle, 17 Wayne, General, negotiates treaty of Greenville, (note) 8 Welch, Captain, Lucas accompanied by, 7, 89, 91; returns with dispatches, 9; arrives at Detroit, 12; descends river with Lucas, 12; letter brought to Lucas by, 89 Western Reserve Historical Society, manuscript collection of, (note) vii RD-94 - INDEX 103 Whistler, Captain, Lucas dines with, 11 Whistler, Ensign, wounded, 55 White, Mr., killed at Maguawga, 53 Williams, Mr., blockhouse on Still- water, 4 Williams, Mr., wounded in skirmish, 38 Witherall, Major, sword broken by, G7 Wyandot Indians, planting no corn, 9; council with, 9, 12, 24; address to, 83, 85; references to, 25, 84, 87 Zanesville, reference to, 64 ILLUSTRATIONS Front view of the original manuscript Journal, opposite i Fac simile of first page of tlie Journal, opposite 1 Fac simile of last page of the Journal, opposite 74 ■ ~ ■:•■ /r, c "> ,Y' ''-^.^ o'^ ^^ O >■ •7- .^>' ^^•=V,_ ^0 -o V^ C" "^ <\ ^ ' ' A <0 \v . . 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