The Prairie Fire Panic
west. The American loss at Frenchtown was a natural sequence of Hull’s surrender, and a further installment of the price that we were continually paying for the insubordination of our militia.
But, my son, let me impress upon you, let me tell you over and over again, the shame of it is that these same militiamen who run away, mutiny, and surrender, represent A No. 1 military material which we lose for lack of training, discipline, and organization.
For a moment now turn back to the beginning of the war. You will remember that President Madison had an argument with various governors and lawyers as to whether the state militia could be employed outside of the United States. That powwow raged in the capitol and continued in the camp, to this distressing outcome: On October 12, 1812, General Van Rensselaer, commanding 900 regulars and 2,270 militia, held Fort Niagara; 225 American regulars crossed the river into Canada and by a brilliant assault captured the British heights at Queenstown. General
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