The latter proposed a truce, for the purpose of a conference to take place on the day following. This pacific overture was merely intended to disarm suspicion. On the following morning, a little before day-break-the time always selected by the Indians, for a surprise the whole force under command of the prophet, fell upon the American encampment. Fortunately, due precautions had been taken for a timely alarm, and for the preservation of order in case of a night attack. Although the Indians fought with astonishing fury and determination, they were finally driven off and dispersed, not without a loss, on the part of the whites, of one hundred and fifty in killed and wounded. The American troops immediately proceeded to the Indian settlement, and accomplished its entire destruction. Certain disclosures, communicated to congress by a message of the president, in March, 1812, relative to the secret agency of one John Henry, who, several years previous, had been commissioned by the governor of Canada to attempt negotiation with the New England federalists, excited great indignation among the war party. It would appear that for a time undue importance was attached to this affair. The president paid a large sum of money from the secret service fund, to secure the correspondence between Henry and his employer. The principal matter of the communications related to the extent to which the anti-war party might be willing to push their opposition, and the possibility or probability of a secession from the Union by the commercial states of the north, in the event of their political defeat. In the month of April, an important accession to the southern interest resulted from the admission of the new state of Louisiana, including that portion of West Florida already occupied by the United States. The Spanish possessions in East Florida were endangered, at the same period, by an outbreak encouraged and promoted by the American general, Matthews. A strong party in congress—even a majority in the house-was in favour of taking forcible possession of this territory; but a bill for that purpose was lost in the senate. A prospect of speedy hostilities with America, gave rise to a strong opposition in the British parliament, to the measures of government; and strenuous exertions were made to effect a compliance with the principal requisitions of the United States. These movements on the part of the friends of peace and of the rights of neutrals, it has been said, might have terminated in such concession as would have satisfied the latter, if patience had been a little farther extended. At the close of May, 1812, recent intelligence having been received from England, and no prospect appearing of a disposition on the part of government to yield the questions in dispute, President Madison sent in a message recommending immediate declaration of war. The senate promptly concurred with the recommendation; in the house, the question, after about a fortnight's consideration, resulted in the same conclusion. The debate was conducted with closed doors. On the 18th of June, war was formally declared with Great Britain. To this act most strenuous opposition was made by the federal party. In those portions of the United States most dependant upon commerce, a violent outcry was raised against a measure, which, although specially called for by foreign aggressions upon their rights and interest, threatened to increase their present difficulties, while it imposed upon the country at large an enormous burden of additional expense. CHAPTER XII. RIOTS AT BALTIMORE.-HULL'S INVASION OF CANADA.-RE- WHILE expressions of indignation and regret were every where heard throughout those portions of the country where the war was unpopular, and signs of public mourning appeared in the flags of a useless shipping hoisted at half-mast, the war-party in other districts exhibited still more violent feeling. At Baltimore, the most disgraceful scenes of brutal outrage occurred, in connection with the suppression by a mob of a federal news-paper, which persisted in opposing popular opinion. The editor, Hanson, with a number of friends, in defence of his house, attacked by an infuriate populace, fired upon the assailants, one of whom was killed. The municipal authorities at last appeared, with an armed force, and, to appease the mob, Hanson and his companions consented to be taken to prison, to answer to any charge that might be substan tiated against them. The following night the jail was broken into, and a number of these prisoners, falling into the hands of the rioters, were most barbarously beaten, wounded, and tormented. One of the number, General Lingan, an old revolutionary soldier, died under their hands; the others were left for dead, and some never recovered from the injuries received. The perpetrators of this cowardly and villanous outrage received no punishment; some of the foremost in the transaction were tried and acquitted by a jury of the neighbourhood. Upon the organization of the new army, the chief command was bestowed upon General Henry Dearborn, of Massachusetts, an officer of the revolution. At the south, Thomas Pinckney, of South Carolina, was created major-general, and invested with the chief command in that quarter. The first attention of the government was directed to an expedition into Canada, where, it was believed, the disaffection of the inhabitants towards Great Britain would render it easy to obtain a foothold. A force of nearly two thousand men, under BrigadierGeneral Hull, governor of the territory of Michigan, entered Canada West on the 12th of July, crossing over from Detroit to Sandwich. The first object of attack was the British fort at Malden, near the debouchement of Detroit river-the strait connecting Lakes St. Clair and Erie. Owing to delay on the part of Hull, opportunity was given for strengthening the garrison at this place. While the army remained inactive, about the middle of July, the American fort at Michilimackinac fell into the hands of the enemy, and, shortly after, communication by the land route with Ohio, was entirely cut off by a party of Indians under Tecumseh. Hull therefore recrossed the river, with his entire force, and occupied Detroit. General Proctor, in command at Malden, was enabled to cooperate with his Indian allies, and renewed attempts on the part of the Americans to force a passage of the road, only resulted in heavy loss. Toward the middle of August, General Brock, governor of Lower Canada, having hastened to the scene of action, assumed command, and advanced upon Detroit with his whole army of British and In dians, amounting, in all, to over twelve hundred men. The Amer icans, occupying a defensible position, entertained little fears of being able to sustain themselves; but what was the astonishment and indignation of the army, when General Hull, as the enemy approached to the assault, entered into a parley, and arranged terms of surrender Al! the regulars and volunteers in the American army became pris |