have run under the shadow of our standard so long and so late." 1

The criminality of Proctor in respect to the massacre of Frenchtown was enhanced, if that be possible, by the fact that citizens, in anticipation of a battle, had specially called his attention to the probability of such an occurrence. Judge Woodward, in a subsequent communication reviewing the facts, reminded him of the previous apprehensions of the people, which had induced them to press the subject upon his attention previous to the battle, and that their fears had been quieted by his assurance that he considered his own honor pledged for their effectual protection. Proctor affected to disbelieve the reports of barbarities, and called upon the judge for proofs. They were furnished in great abundance, and the story, which was cruel enough when told in summary, was only the more sickening and horrible when given in detail. Proctor, also, as if that to any extent could excuse the massacre, intimated, without directly affirming, that the surrender had been made without pledge of protection on his part; but he was very properly reminded that the principles of the law of nations impose an obligation almost equally strong; and the judge might very justly have added that a commander who advances the fact that his prisoners surrendered without first demanding assurances that they shall

1 Garneau's History of Canada, by Bell, vol. ii. p. 293.

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be treated according to the rules of civilized war as excuse or palliation for his conduct in suffering them to be massacred, is adding, by the brutality of the excuse, to the original enormity.

For some time after the massacre there might frequently be seen on the streets of Detroit women and children led or driven as the prisoners of savages, and considerable sums were paid by humane people for their ransom. Meantime Proctor, not yet satisfied with the misery inflicted upon the territory, undertook to coerce the citizens of Detroit into taking an oath of allegiance to the king. He seems to have intimated a desire to have the assistance of Judge Woodward in this business; but that officer, with no little indignation, told him that “in a state of open and declared war a subject or citizen of one party cannot transfer his allegiance to the other party without incurring the penalties of treason; and while nothing can excuse his guilt, so neither are those innocent who lay temptations before him." Proctor also, without just cause so far as is known, ordered from the town a considerable number of its leading citizens, in palpable violation of the terms of Hull's capitulation, which stipulated for the protection of persons and private property. They made spirited protest, but it had no effect upon the British commander; and Judge Woodward, apparently convinced that he could no longer be of service to his countrymen by remaining in De

troit as the subordinate of so arbitrary a ruler, withdrew from the territory that he might give the facts to the world. He returned when peace was restored, and took up again his judicial functions.

The capture of Winchester was followed by successive attacks under the leadership of Proctor on Forts Meigs and Stephenson, where his repulse was so decided that he deemed it prudent to fall back with precipitation upon Malden. But the career of this obnoxious officer was now rapidly drawing to a close. On the 10th of September, 1813, Commodore Perry won his great victory over Commodore Barclay at Put-in Bay, capturing the entire British squadron. Making use of the captured vessels for convoy, the army of Harrison, now largely reinforced, was transferred to Canada and took up offensive operations. Proctor, in great haste, proceeded to dismantle the fortress at Malden preparatory to flight. To the great Indian chieftain this looked like an act of cowardice, and he made earnest protest against it. In a formal speech Tecumseh said to his superior officer, "You have got the arms and ammunition which our great father sent for his red children. If you have an idea of going away, give them to us, and then for all we care you may go and welcome. Our lives are in the hands of the Great Spirit. We are determined to defend our lands, and if it be his will we wish to leave our bones upon

END OF MILITARY OPERATIONS.

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them." But the protest and the plainly implied censure were alike in vain. Malden and Detroit were both evacuated and a hasty retreat made. Detroit on September 29th was reoccupied by an American detachment, and Proctor was pursued and overtaken at the Moravian town, where he sustained a crushing defeat, and only escaped capture by precipitate flight, looking, as some of his own people said, more after his baggage than after his army. Tecumseh, who among Americans had in all respects a better reputation than his superior, and was looked upon as honorable and humane, was killed in the engagement.

This victory effectually broke for the time the British power in Western Canada, and was the end of important military operations in the vicinity of Detroit. Colonel Cass, much to the satisfaction of the people, was stationed with his regiment at that place and given the command. Mackinaw still remained in the hands of the British, and an attempt made by Colonel Croghan to recover it in July, 1814, proved abortive. It was only restored after the conclusion of peace in the spring of the following year.

After the death of Tecumseh a considerable number of Indians abandoned their British allies, and some of them offered their services to Colonel Cass and were accepted and enrolled by him. But it was not easy to subject them to proper discipline, and their thirst for plunder was so uncon

trollable that Colonel Cass did not long retain them. Hostile Indians hovered about Detroit and committed occasional depredations until after the peace with Great Britain. A mounted force was sent up from Ohio as a protection against them, and they were soon brought under such fear of punishment as kept them for the most part to a proper observance of the rights of others.