'I Come to Find Enemies Not to Make Them': Gen. Hull's Proclamation to the People of Canada-- Part 1

From the National Park Service.

As I said in the last post, I need to find out about General William Hull's Proclamation that his son, Captain and Aide de Camp Abraham Fuller Hull (who I have been writing about) witnessed in official capacity.

The whole quote from the headline:  "I come to find enemies not to make them, I come to protect not to injure you."

When American General William Hull made an early invasion of Upper Canada he was convinced that the inhabitants there desire freedom from the tyranny of the British.  He also feared attack by native warriors.  In one sweeping proclamation, Hull tried to impress  and threaten the entire region into compliance.

On July 11, 1812, American Brigadier General William Hull led his army across the Detroit River into Upper Canada, capturing  the town of Sandwich.  Hull's invasion was the first major offensive since Congress declared war on Britain in June 1812.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Abraham Fuller Hull-- Part 5: Poor William Hull

Source continues from the previous post.

From the Memoir of Gem. William Hull.

Only a few months after the sentence of the court martial (finding William Hull guilty in his court martial and sentencing him to death), General Hull met  with a greater misfortune in the loss of his only son, Captain Abraham Fuller Hull of the Ninth Infantry, who fell in the battle at Lundy's Lane, July 1814, while leading his company in a bayonet charge on the enemy's guns.

So, here was William Hull, facing the death penalty for his surrender of Fort Detroit and he then finds out about the death of his only son.  Like I said, poor William Hull.

As his father's aide, Captain A. F. Hull signed "Hull's Proclamation" in July 1812.

(Well, it looks like I'll be looking up Hull's Proclamation to see what that is all about.)

--Brock-Perry

Captain Abraham Fuller Hull-- Part 4

From the July 25, 2012, War of 1812 Chronicles.

Captain Abraham Fuller Hull, of the Ninth Infantry, died on July 25, 1814; killed at Lundy's Lane.

In the History of the Ninth  U.S. Infantry, his burial is described:

"Only one other body of an American has been dug up on the battle-field at Lundy's Lane.  It was that of Captain Abraham Fuller Hull of the  Ninth Infantry, to which regiment  of the nine other Yankees, as their buttons showed, belonged.

"The bones of Captain Hull, unearthed several years ago, were reburied in an isolated spot at the south end of the Drummond Hill Cemetery.  The grave into which the remains remains of his nine comrades were laid yesterday is close beside it."

--Brock-Perry

Capt. Abraham Fuller Hull-- Part 3

In 1910, the remains of nine more American dead were found and placed in a similar grave nearby with quiet ceremonies  in which historical societies from both countries took part.  The monument that marks these graves is the gift of the Niagara Frontier Landmarks Society of Buffalo.

The name "Bridgewater" that appears in the inscription was given by American officers and historians to this battle  because of the long-vanished hamlet of that name, near Burning Spring, was  the last place the Army passed through before it became engaged, and near where they had their base hospital and supplies during the fight.

How many American dead are buried in this field will never be known.  Many who fell in the action were removed and a number of them were burned.  But certainly, many were interred in unmarked trenches.

Adjutant Thomas  Poe, of the Pennsylvania Volunteers was killed here, but he was buried  at Fort Niagara, New York.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Abraham Fuller Hull-- Part 2

Of the American soldiers who lie here the only one whose name  and resting place are known is Captain ABRAHAM FULLER HULL, of the 9th U.S. Infantry, who lost his life in one of the desperate charges against the British battery.

He was the son of Gen. William Hull, a captain  in the 13th U.S. Infantry and aide-de-camp to his father at Detroit when that place surrendered on August16, 1812.  He was exchanged on the 18th of January 1813 and given a captaincy in the 9th U.S. Infantry with which he served until he was killed at he age of 28 years.

For years, his grave was marked by a humble white marble slab.  In 1901, the bones of nine men of the same regiment were found elsewhere and re-interred on October 19th beside their captain with full U.S. military honors.

The troops performing the honors (13 U.S. Infantry) from Fort Niagara, who on that day  laid their predecessors to rest fired three volleys over the open grave, were the first United States troops to enter Canada under arms since 1815.

--Brock-Perry

Abraham Fuller Hull (Son of Gen. William Hull)-- Part 1

While researching about William Hull's surrender of Fort Detroit to the British and their Indian allies in 1812, I came across Abraham Fuller Hull's name, the son of Gen. William Hull.  

From Find-A-Grave.

BIRTH:  8 March 1786

Newton, Massachusetts

DEATH:  25 July1814 (age 28)  Killed at the Battle of Lundy's Lane.

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

BURIAL:  Drummond Hill  Cemetery

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

--Brock-Perry