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| William Hull (from Harper's New Monthly Magazine. May 1863.) |
When the War of 1812 began, Tecumseh
traveled to Malden, joining forces with Major General Sir Isaac Brock.
The British
erected defensive works at Sandwich, opposite Fort Detroit, on August 14 and
set up a battery consisting of two eighteen-pounders and an eight-inch
howitzer. The Americans watched as the British fortified their position but did
nothing to stop them.
The next day
Colonel McDonald and Captain Glegg crossed the river to Detroit under a flag of
truce to deliver a message from General Brock ordering the garrison to
surrender.
After that,
the British and Native Americans played an elaborate game of psych with the
Americans. First, Brock ordered the Canadian militia to wear the uniform of the
41st regiment to make it seem like he had a more experienced force.
Then, when the army camped for the night, he had the men light individual
fires, so it appeared he had a more significant force.
Tecumseh
completed the deception, marching his warriors around the fort three times. To
General Hull, who was already worried about the Native Americans, it seemed
like there must be savages lurking behind every tree.
