Three 'Dirty Tricks' the British Used on Americans at Detroit in 1812

2.  THEY TRIED TO LOOK LIKE THEY HAD MORE SOLDIERS

To add to the illusion that the Americans were facing more enemy troops than they actually were, Isaac Brock had his men create individual campfires instead of one per unit.  It's a very old trick, used often in major battles throughout history.

Plus, the Canadian militia would march across the American field of view, then duck under their defenses, then run back to the end of the line, reform and march past again.  They did this as they  were going to camp meals as well, picking up rations, then marching out of sight, dumping their food and repeating the same action.

Sneaky, Very Sneaky Guy, You Know.  --Brock-Perry

Three 'Dirty' Tricks the British Used on Hull at Detroit-- Part 2: Hull Court-Martialed

They also got the arms and weapons the Americans had in Fort Detroit.  And because of the stunning victory, Indian ally Tecumseh was able to rally even more Indians to his anti-American side and Brock was then able to thtreaten upstate New York.

William Hull was court-martialed and sentenced to death for the surrender, but the sentence was commuted by President James Madison.

Here are the three "dirty" tactics British General Isaac Brock used to cower Revolutionary War veteran William Hull:

*********************************

1.  THEY USED OLD BRITISH UNIFORMS

The total number of  British forces attacking Fort Detroit was around 1,330 and the bulk of Brock's forces were militia members, not the vaunted British regulars that might make the Americans think twice about attacking (or even defending).

He did have some 300 British regulars, but not enough to get the psychological  effect he wanted, so he used old, cast-off coats of regulars.  He dressed his Essex militiamen in as many red British uniforms as he could find.  This made it appear to the Americans that he had more regulars than he actually did.

--Brock-Perry