About 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 15th, a general cannonading began between the British at Sandwich and the Americans at Detroit. Considerable damage was done by the British artillery and several American officers were killed. Two guns on the British side were silenced by the American artillerists.
During the night the British forces crossed to the Detroit side of the river and prepared for an assault on the town. The guns at Sandwich opening a heavy cannonading and their range was so accurate that many Americans were slain. Dr. Reynolds who it is supposed accompanied Hull's invalids from the Maumee to Detroit was instantly killed. Gen. Hull early decided to capitulate.
By the terms of the surrender the American Militia were paroled and allowed to return to their homes, but the regulars were declared to be prisoners of war and were sent on board the prison ships.
Mostly the 4th Regt. of Regulars.
The Queen Charlotte and Hunter were also detailed to convey some of the prisoners of war including Gen. Hull and other officers, to Fort Erie opposite Buffalo.
The writer evidently means Fort Erie at the entrance to the Niagara River.
Fort George directly opposite Fort Niagara which was on American territory and garrisoned by American troops.
The British escort from Kingston was commanded by Major Heathcote of the Nova Scotia Regt.
From Cornwall to Lachine the British escort was in command of Captain Gray of the Quarter Master General's Dept. From Lachine to Montreal Captains Richardson and Ogilvie with three militia companies, and a company of the 8th Regt. commanded by Capt. Blackmore formed an escort.
The line of march in Montreal was as follows:
1st. The 8th Regt. Band. 2nd. The first escort division. 3rd. Gen. Hull and Capt. Gray in a carriage. 4th. The American Officers. 5th. The non-coms. and soldiers. 6th. The second escort division.
Gen. Hull was paroled at Montreal with 8 other officers and left the city for the United States.
The Officers and regular troops of the American Army taken at Detroit and which have no permission to return on their parole arrived at Anse des Meres Friday afternoon escorted by a detachment of the Regt. of Glengary of Three Rivers. The prisoners, with the exception of the officers were immediately embarked in boats for the transports. The officers were lodged in the city for the night and the following day were conducted to Charlesbourg where they will be domiciled on parole.--QUEBEC GAZETTE
The Quebec Mercury of Sept. 15th says: The commissioned officers were liberated on their parole. They passed Saturday morning at the Union Hotel where they were the gazing stock of the multitude, whilst they in no way abashed presented a bold front to the public stare, puffed the smoke of their cigars into the faces of such as approached too near. About 2 o'clock they set off by stage with four horses for Charlesbourg the destined place of their residence.
The man previously referred to as Duffer.
Commisary General's Office. Quebec 28 Sept. 1812.
Wanted for the American prisoners of war comfortable warm clothing consisting of the following articles viz: Jackets, shirts, trousers, stockings mockessons or shoes--also 2000 lbs of soap. They will require to be delivered immediately.
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Transcriber's Notes:
The spelling and punctuation errors in the journal pieces were retained. This includes such words as Wertern for Western, ancor for anchor, "high. and spent", etc.
Page 2, "FAIRCHIDD" changed to "FAIRCHILD" (G. M. FAIRCHILD, JR.)
Page 4, "Reynold's" changed to "Reynolds" (Dr. Reynolds of this)
Page 4, "Cugahoga" changed to "Cuyahoga" (Cuyahoga conveying the sick)
Page 5, "Cugahoga" changed to "Cuyahoga" (the Cuyahoga packet)
Page 11, Footnote 11, "combattants" changed to "combatants" (town of the non-combatants)
Page 14, Footnote 18, "pusrued" changed to "pursued" (confusion pursued by)
Page 16, Original text read R1 with a degree symbol after the 1. For this ascii version this has been rendered R1^o. As the footnote attached to that paragraph references reinforcements, it is presumed that this is some type of error for "RI'd", or perhaps "Rt'd" for "returned".
Page 19, Footnote 30, "allowen" changed to "allowed" (allowed to return)
Journal of an American Prisoner At Fort Malden and Quebec in the War of 1812 · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.