"Let's Invade Canada and Annex it"

 

Gen. William Hull

(1753 – 1825)

By 1812, Britain had been at war with its longtime adversary France for nearly a decade. In an effort to deprive the French of much needed supplies, especially those from the United States, Britain imposed a series of trade restrictions limiting trade between the U. S. and France. They also closed several foreign ports so American vessels couldn’t enter to load or unload goods. Adding to the tensions, the British navy was stopping and boarding American vessels in American waters looking for anyone they suspected of being British subjects especially those with British accents. In retaliation, the United States put into place a series of embargoes and high tariffs on goods coming from England. While politically the embargos were working, financially, they were a disaster for American businesses who were suffering tremendous financial loses.

Now’s Our Chance

The British were very much aware that another war with the Americans was possible. They also knew they couldn’t afford to fight two major wars on two different continents. Well aware of Britain’s dilemma and vulnerabilities, President Madison saw this as the opportune time for the United States to rid itself once and for all of English interference, not only on the high seas, but on the entire North American continent as well. To accomplish that, it would be necessary to incorporate Canada as part of the United States and what better time to do that then when its mother country was neither militarily or monetarily able to defend it.

During the month of May 1812, Madison began working on his war plan. William Hull, then governor of the Michigan territory recommended to Madison that troops be sent to Detroit as a show of force to discourage the Indians there from aiding the British once the invasion began. Madison liked Hulls idea and offered him the commission of Brigadier General if he would lead a force to Detroit. Hull, a 59 year old Revolutionary War general had recently suffered a stroke so he declined the offer. The command was then offered to Col. Kingsbury but an illness forced him to decline as well. Hull was approached a second time and he reluctantly agreed to accept the command.

Madison’s plan called for a three prong attack into Canada. The right prong would advance from Lake Champlain and capture Montreal, the center would march across the Niagara frontier and capture Toronto and the left prong, with troops already in place at Detroit would then cross the Detroit River and seize Ft. Amherstburg. Hulls troops would then be able to advance into the western districts of Canada where they could expect support from the large numbers of Americans who had recently been given large land grants there.
On May 25, 1812 General Hull took command of his 1800 man militia army near Dayton, Ohio and the following week began its march toward Detroit. An official declaration of war was still nearly a month away and the United States was about to make a preemptive first strike.

The 3-Prong Attack Into Canada

President Madison presented his war message to congress and after contentious debates the House of Representatives voted 79 to 49 in favor of the war and on June 17th the Senate voted 19 to 13 in favor. The following day, June 18th President Madison signed the official Declaration of War with Great Britain. Riders were immediately dispatched to the various military posts informing them of the situation.

Ironic Twist of Fate

In an ironic twist of fate, on June 16th two days before Madison had signed the declaration of war against Britain, the British Parliament had agreed to revoke their Order in Council which included the trade restrictions, blockades, etc. that were crippling American businesses. In essence, they were giving in to the Americas demand. Sadly, it was too late, war had already been declared and word about Parliaments decision wouldn’t reach Washington for another two weeks.
On June 30th, Hulls army arrived at the site of Wayne’s old battlefield.[1] Crossing of the Great Black Swamp and the large numbers of stream and river crossings, had taken more time than anticipated. In addition, several of his men had become ill or injured during the march and they were slowing his advance. Hull decided to load those unfit for duty into boats and take them to a waiting ship, the Cauauga, anchored at the mouth of the Maumee in Lake Erie. He loaded extra baggage, military and medical supplies, in another boat along with his personal storage chest that contained his military correspondence and personal letters; an action that would eventually doom his campaign.

Doomed From the Beginning

On July 2nd the ship carrying Hulls trunk with his personal papers was captured by the enemy. The trunk was immediately sent to General Isaac Brook, the British officer in command at Ft. Amherstburg. Among the contents were several pieces of military correspondence as well as personal letters he’d planned to send to family and friends. In the letters, he’d expressed his deep concerns about the low morale of the men in his army as well as his own personal fears about Indian retaliations. General Brook, whose army was greatly outnumbered, immediately began looking for ways to capitalize on Hulls situation.

On July 12, General Hull, unaware that his personal papers were now in the hands of the enemy, marched his army into the town of Detroit, directly across the Detroit River from Amherstburg. The battle plan called for an immediate attack but Hull hesitated, deciding instead to wait on the arrival of his artillery. Days turned into weeks and officers finally because so disgusted at his lack of action, they secretly plotted ways to remove him from command. Meanwhile to the north, the British, having received word of the American army at Detroit, began heading south with several hundred of their Indian allies. Among them was the 44 year old Shawnee chief, Tecumseh.

Finally on Saturday morning August 15th, nearly a month after Hulls arrival, the British began shelling the American positions. Playing on Hulls fears and with his own army outnumbered, Brook had his men build dozens of campfires along the river’s edge to create the illusion that the British and Indian force was much larger than it actually was. In addition, Brock used a tactic that had been used successfully during the Revolutionary War, dressing his new recruits and inexperienced troops in the uniforms of regulars giving the impression Hull was facing experienced battle hardened veteran soldiers.

The following morning, August 16th, Brock sent Hull an ultimatum; surrender or face total annihilation. He warned Hull that if a battle ensued, he wouldn’t be able to control his Indians who more than likely kill not only the American soldiers, but all 800 of the innocent civilians in the nearby village of Detroit as well. Fearing a massacre, Hull surrendered. Shock, filled the ranks of the Americans. They had marched 230 miles and surrendered to an enemy without firing a single shot. Shocked turned to disgust and humiliation when the men learned that they had surrendered to an enemy they outnumbered two to one.

Hull and his 600 regulars were loaded onto boats and sent to Quebec where many died along the way. The 1200 militiamen in his force were paroled and forced to swear an oath that they wouldn’t take up arms in the war again. Nearly 2500 weapons were captured and became the sole property of the British army. The British victory was total. They had maintained an important post on American soil, Brock was hailed as a hero and Tecumseh added to his influence over the confederation of the other Indian tribes. The war with Great Britain had gotten off to a very very bad start.

On to the Auglaize River

News of Hulls humiliating surrender and the threat of a British invasion into Ohio spread like wildfire throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Militia units in the various counties began to mobilize and hundreds of volunteers flocked to their county courthouses to report for duty. There were no shortages of politicians, clergy and other dignitaries on hand at rallies to encourage the large crowds with rousing patriotic speeches and songs. Speaking at one of the rallies near Cincinnati, William Henry Harrison, then Governor of the Indiana Territory, told an audience that if anyone among them was afraid to fight, to step forward. One man did and was hoisted up onto a wooden fence rail, carried to a nearby river and dumped in much to the delight and cheers of the crowd.

Harrison was well aware of the fact that despite all the hoopla and enthusiasm, Ohio wouldn’t be able to provide all the troops he needed to conduct a campaign. For that, he turned to Governor Shelby of Kentucky. Shelby’s call went out for volunteers primarily from the northern counties of Kentucky. Receiving commissions of Lieutenant Colonel were William Jennings[2], Joshua Barbee, and Robert Pogue[3], all designated as regimental commanders. Some militia companies were already formed in various counties; those along with the hundreds of other volunteers not yet assigned were instructed to report to Newport, Kentucky where they would be assigned to a regiment. This wasn’t Robert Pogue’s first trip into the Ohio country. In 1794 he served in General Anthony Wayne’s army as a young quartermaster and was present at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The plans for building Fort Amanda were underway.






[1] The site of the Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) west of present day Perrysburg, Ohio

[2] See Biography

[3] Ditto