by the enemy, and, in case of necessity, to effect his retreat.[58] This
contrariety of instructions from the two general officers did not fail
to perplex Captain Roberts, who, however, with great promptitude and
decision made preparations for the attack. By another dispatch of the
4th of July, from Major-General Brock, Captain Roberts was left at his
own discretion to adopt either offensive or defensive measures, as
circumstances might dictate. On the 16th July, he accordingly set out
with a flotilla of boats and canoes, in which were embarked 45 officers
and men of the 10th Royal Veteran Battalion, about 180 Canadians, and
nearly 400 Indians, the whole convoyed by the Caledonia brig, belonging
to the North-West company; and on the ensuing morning, the British force
effected a landing before Michilimakinack,[59] the garrison of which,
consisting only of 61 officers and men, immediately surrendered by
capitulation. A quantity of military stores and seven hundred packs of
furs were found in the fort, and its surrender had a very favorable
effect upon the Indians, a large number of whom now joined in open
hostility against the Americans. It will be found by a letter of the
12th August, from Sir George Prevost, who appears to have seen no safety
but in defensive measures, that he would _not_ have approved of the
attack on Michilimakinack if it had occurred prior to Hull's invasion!
And yet that officer, in his official dispatch relative to the capture
of his army and the surrender of Detroit, attributed his disasters
partly to the fall of Michilimakinack, which he said opened the northern
hive of Indians against him!

_Major-General Brock to Sir George Prevost_.

YORK, July 29, 1812.

I have the honor to transmit herewith a dispatch this instant
received from Captain Roberts, announcing the surrender by
capitulation, on the 17th instant, of Fort Michilimakinack.

The conduct of this officer since his appointment to the
command of that distant post, has been distinguished by much
zeal and judgment, and his recent eminent display of those
qualities your excellency will find has been attended with the
most happy effect.

The militia stationed here volunteered this morning their
services to any part of the province without the least
hesitation. I have selected 100, whom I have directed to
proceed without delay to Long Point, where I purpose
collecting a force fo