s,
Major-General Brock at once determined on crossing the river, with the
view of attempting, by a sudden and resolute attack, the annihilation of
the enemy's power in that quarter. In the afternoon, a fire was opened
from a battery of five guns, erected opposite to Detroit, under the
direction of Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers: this cannonade was
returned from seven 24-pounders, but the British general, perceiving
that little effect was produced by either fire, gave orders that his
should cease. The troops retired to their bivouac and lay on their arms,
with orders to cross the strait, or river, which is here about
three-fourths of a mile in width, on the following morning. Accordingly,
at the first blush of dawn, on Sunday, the 16th of August, when the fire
from the British battery was resumed, 330 regulars and 400 militia were
embarked, with five pieces of light artillery, in boats and canoes of
every description, and soon effected a landing without opposition, near
Springwell, four or five miles below Detroit. About 600 Indians, under
Colonel Elliott, had crossed the river during the night, and were
ordered to be so placed as to take the enemy in flank and rear, should
he attempt to oppose the landing. The white troops marched towards the
fort, while the Indians moved through the woods, and covered the left
flank, the right resting upon the river, and protected by the Queen
Charlotte, colonial vessel of war. The enemy's effective force was
estimated at nearly 2,500 men, and, supported as they were by a
neighbouring fortress, it required no little daring to pursue them on
their own ground with such unequal numbers. Contrary to Major-General
Brock's expectation, the Americans abandoned a favorable position,
strengthened by pickets and two 24-pounders, and retreated into the fort
on the advance of the British, who halted in a ravine within a mile,
and, discovering the weakness of the works on the land side, prepared
for its assault. While the various columns were forming for that
purpose, a flag of truce, borne by Captain Hull, was unexpectedly seen
emerging from the fort,--Lieut.-Colonel M'Donell and Captain Glegg
accompanied him back; and shortly after the British troops marched in
with Major-General Brock at their head, the American general having
assented to a capitulation, by which the Michigan territory, Fort
Detroit, with thirty-three pieces of cannon,[68] the Adams vessel of
war,[69] and about 2,500 troop