r
weapons are longer. The regular soldiers of the enemy are really old,
whose best years have been spent in the sickly climate of the West
Indies. They will not be able to stand before you--you who charge with
the bayonet. You have seen Indians, such as those hired by the English
to murder women and children, and kill and scalp the wounded. You have
seen their dances and grimaces, and heard their yells. Can you fear
_them_? No; you hold them in the utmost contempt.

"_Volunteers!_--Disloyal and traitorous men have endeavoured to dissuade
you from your duty. Sometimes they say, if you enter Canada you will be
held to service for five years. At others they say that you will not be
furnished with supplies. At other times they say that if you are
wounded, the Government will not provide for you by pensions. The just
and generous course pursued by Government towards the volunteers who
fought at Tippecanoe, furnishes an answer to that objection. The
others are too absurd to deserve any.

"_Volunteers!_--I esteem your generous and patriotic motives. You have
made sacrifices on the altar of your country. You will not suffer the
enemies of your fame to mislead you from the path of duty and honour,
and deprive you of the esteem of a grateful country. You will show the
_eternal_ infamy that awaits the man who, having come in sight of the
enemy, basely shrinks in the moment of trial.

"_Soldiers of every corps!_--It is in your power to retrieve the honour
of your country, and to cover yourselves with glory. Every man who
performs a gallant action shall have his name made known to the nation.
Rewards and honours await the brave. Infamy and contempt are reserved
for cowards.

"_Companions in arms!_--You come to vanquish a valiant foe; I know the
choice you will make. Come on, my heroes! And when you attack the
enemy's batteries, let your rallying word be 'The cannon lost at
Detroit, or death.'

(Signed) "ALEXANDER SMYTH,
"_Brigadier-General Commanding_.
"Camp near Buffalo, 17th Nov., 1812."]

[Footnote 201: We are inclined to think that those volunteers and others
who professed such patriotic indignation against Smyth, and promised
such great things, were, in general, no less poltroons than Smyth
himself. It was as easy for them to denounce Smyth, and to boast of what
they could and would do, as for Smyth, in his proclamation, to denounce
those who opposed the invasion of Canada.]

[Footnote 202: Lossing's Field Book of