Sir Isaac Brock

by Hugh S. Eayrs

Brock’s spectacular capture of Fort Detroit brought all Canada to his feet. Foremost in admiration was Sir George Prevost. Had Brock failed, Sir George no doubt, would have been as brusque in condemnation as, now that Brock had conquered, he was fulsome in praise. He had done his best to hamper Brock, and indeed at the last minute had sent a staff officer commanding him not to undertake the proposed Detroit expedition, but the messenger, happily alike for Canada and Brock, had failed to arrive in time. Provincial authorities and friends rained their congratulations, while Lord Bathurst, the British Secretary for War and the Colonies, commended him for his “firmness, skill, and bravery.” Bathurst’s case was similar to Prevost’s, for he had adjured the governor-general by repeated messages not to assume the offensive lest the Americans become unduly aggravated and thus possibly have some genuine cause of complaint. Nothing could better show the smallmindedness of the class of officialdom to which Bathurst and Prevost belonged than their willingness, now that victory was achieved, to share in the credit therefore. Bathurst wrote to Brock that “the Prince Regent had honored him for his services by making him an extra Knight of the Bath.” Unhappily, the man whom the Prince thus delighted to honor and who, one likes to think, would have honored the order by accepting it, died before he received word.

Brock’s victory did something to offset the misfortunes which had piled upon the British in Europe. Just before the news of the capture of Fort Detroit was received in London, Britain had been beaten in a naval duel. The American ship Constitution had thrashed the British battleship Guerriere. The shame which Britain felt on this account was deepened by the knowledge that she had been beaten on her own element by what was once a colony of hers. News of Brock’s victory, therefore, was opportune, and the British government was able to point out to the people that, if America had won a victory on the sea, she had more than lost it by the surrender of Detroit.

October 6th was Brock’s birthday, the day on which the news of the victory at Detroit reached London. Brock’s brother William and his wife happened to be walking in a London park, and Mrs. Brock asked the reason of the flag-waving and the firing. “Do you not know,” said William, “that it is Isaac’s birthday? It is in honor of him.” What William said in jest turned out to be the very truth.

If Brock’s victory had a happy effect on the people of Britain the opposite was the case in the United States. The Jeffersons, the Clays, and the Hulls of the United States had led the people to believe that their northerly neighbor could very easily be conquered. It was a sad blow to American self-esteem when it became known that Detroit and Michigan had fallen to a country which they had been taught to regard as an enemy hardly worth considering. Gloom and discouragement were everywhere evident, and President Madison ordered the churches throughout the country to hold services of prayer that success might come to American arms.

Between Black Rock and Fort Niagara part of the American army was camped. It did nothing to hearten them for the task that lay before them to see the men whom Brock had taken prisoners at Detroit, and who had come by boat to Fort Erie, march along the Niagara River to Fort George. From there the prisoners were sent down the St. Lawrence to Montreal, and in some cases, to Quebec. Some Canadian cities, therefore, had an opportunity of seeing that when Brock bared his arm it was not for nothing. They might indeed feel hopeful under such a leader. On the other hand, the American army, badly disciplined, ill in health, and surprisingly inexperienced were gloomy and morose.

Brock, having left the arrangements for the future government of Detroit in the hands of Colonel Procter, left for Fort Erie. Hardly had his schooner passed Amherstburg when it was hailed by the Lady Prevost coming up the lake. The commander gave Brock the news that an armistice had been concluded between Sir George Prevost and the American commander-in-chief, General Dearborn, and until President Madison had ratified or discountenanced this armistice, all actual warfare must cease.

Brock was dumbfounded. Instead of being allowed to finish the task he had got so well under way, that of clearing the borders of American troops, he found his hands tied.

General Brock’s plans were all laid. Procter, whom Brock had left at Detroit, was marching against Fort Wayne in the Miami country with some regulars and some Indians, and there was little doubt of his success. As the fort contained supplies, its capture would seriously hamper American operations. Its defenders were few and were in deadly fear of a horde of Indians who, intoxicated with their success at Detroit, desired only further chance to display their prowess. Brock knew that they would show the garrison at Fort Wayne no quarter, and it was as much to save the lives of the men of this garrison as to secure the fort that he had despatched Procter. Now, of course, he had to countermand his instructions. His plans for raiding Sackett’s Harbor were likewise spoiled, though the capture of that port would have given the British complete power over Lake Ontario.

A personal incident in Brock’s voyage to Fort Erie showed how mentally distraught he was at this time. His schooner, the Chippewa, ran into a fog. The commander lost his bearings and, when the mist lifted, found himself very near to the American shore. No doubt news of the armistice had not reached as far down the shore as this, and had the Americans known of the proximity of the victorious British general, they certainly would have made an effort to capture the schooner. Brock, who was vexed and heart-broken, instantly suspected treachery and cried to the captain of the Chippewa: “You scoundrel! you have betrayed me. Let but one shot be fired from that shore and,” pointing aloft, “I will run you up on the instant to that yard-arm.”

There does not seem room for doubt that the captain was quite innocent, and loyal to Brock. Luckily the Queen Charlotte, which had preceded the Chippewa by several days, heard a shot which was fired from the latter and bore down on the vessel which held the commanding general. Ultimately she towed the Chippewa to safety.