Page:Harris Dickson--The unpopular history of the United States.djvu/102

This page has been validated.

The Unpopular History of the United States


column from Kentucky, when only a few days out, had to be argued and pleaded with, remaining only in response to the personal entreaties of General Harrison. The middle column, from Urbana, after a slight skirmish with Indians, flatly refused to obey orders for a further pursuit, and returned to their camp. This ended the autumn campaign, and represented the total accomplishments of ten thousand men, frontiersmen at that, engaged in the very kind of warfare for which they were supposed to be peculiarly adapted. Once again they demonstrated the undependableness of men who were not trained to control and obedience, no matter what may be their patriotism and courage. Nothing, absolutely nothing, was done until January 22, 1813, when a forward movement under General Winchester was defeated and captured at Frenchtown with a loss of 397 killed, 27 wounded, and 526 prisoners. The British force was the same that had, under General Brock, captured Detroit, and were now commanded by Proctor who terrorized the north-

[84]