July 9, four days after his arrival, Hull received orders from Washington authorizing him to invade Canada:—
“Should the force under your command be equal to the enterprise, consistent with the safety of your own post, you will take possession of Malden, and extend your conquests as circumstances may justify.”
He replied immediately the same day:[239]—
“I am preparing boats, and shall pass the river in a few days. The British have established a post directly opposite this place. I have confidence in dislodging them, and of being in possession of the opposite bank.... The British command the water and the savages. I do not think the force here equal to the reduction of Amherstburg (Malden); you therefore must not be too sanguine.”
Three days later, July 12, his army crossed the river. Not a gun was fired. The British militia force retired behind the Canard River, twelve miles below, while Hull and his army occupied Sandwich, and were well received by the inhabitants.
Hull had many reasons for wishing to avoid a battle. From the first he looked on the conquest of Canada as a result of his mere appearance. He began by issuing a proclamation[240] intended to win a peaceful conquest.
“You will be emancipated,” said the proclamation to the Canadians, “from tyranny and oppression, and restored to the dignified station of freemen.... I have a force which will break down all opposition, and that force is but the vanguard of a much greater.... The United States offer you peace, liberty, and security,—your choice lies between these and war, slavery, or destruction. Choose then; but choose wisely.”...
This proclamation, dated July 12, was spread throughout the province with no small effect, although it contained an apparently unauthorized threat, that “no white man found fighting by the side of an Indian will be taken prisoner; instant death will be his lot.” The people of the western province were strongly American, and soon to the number of three hundred and sixty-seven, including deserters from the Malden garrison, sought protection in the American lines.[241] July 19 Hull described the situation in very hopeful terms:[242]—
“The army is encamped directly opposite to Detroit. The camp is entrenched. I am mounting the 24-pounders and making every preparation for the siege of Malden. The British force, which in numbers was superior to the American, including militia and Indians, is daily diminishing. Fifty or sixty (of the militia) have deserted daily since the American standard was displayed, and taken protection. They are now reduced to less than one hundred. In a day or two I expect the whole will desert. The Indian force is diminishing in the same proportion. I have now a large council of ten or twelve nations sitting at Brownstown, and I have no doubt but the result will be that they will remain neutral. The brig ‘Adams’ was launched on the 4th of July. I have removed her to Detroit under cover of the cannon, and shall have her finished and armed as soon as possible. We shall then have the command of the upper lakes.”
To these statements Hull added a warning, which carried at least equal weight:—