Fort Malden-- Part 6: The Surrender of Fort Detroit

On July 16th, General Hull's American Army met  its first British resistance at the River Canard where two British soldiers were killed, marking the first fatalities of the War of 1812.

Major General Isaac Brock assumed command at Fort Malden on August 13, 1812, and it was Brock who led British troops across the Detroit River a few days later.  With the help of Chief Tecumseh's native warriors, Brock marched on Fort Detroit.

It was reported that General Hull was fearful of "hordes" of Indians swooping down on the civilian population of Detroit and it was this fear that Brock and Tecumseh decided to capitalize on and let Hull know that there were some 5,000 Indians with Brock and that he didn't know if he could control them in a battle if it took place.

This was, even after the fearsome proclamation he had made, why General Hull surrendered Fort Detroit without a fight.

This success at Fort Detroit was a big reason support of the First Nations during the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

What Actually Happened at the Wooden Bridge 200 Years Ago?-- Part 2

Author Marty Gervais who wrote "The Other Windsor: Forgotten Stories" thinks that perhaps they weren't those mighty heroes. Essex County decided to name the replacement bridge at the site over the River Canard "The Hancock and Dean 1812 Bridge to Nationhood."

Gervais claims that he has come across a story that the two British soldiers on sentry duty there were drunk and had passed out at the time the Americans crossed.

James Hancock became the first casulaty of the war and John Dean was wounded and captured.

Dean later was released and rejoined the British Army, but was captured again and this time deserted. He is lost in history from then on.

Heroes Ir Drubks?  --Brock-Perry

What Actually Happened At That Wooden Bridge?-- Part 1

From the July 23, 2012, Windsor (Canada) Star "Tale of 1812 'heroes' questioned" by Julie Katsis.

I have written about this last year. Look up Canard River Bridge. This was one of the opening incidents of the War of 1812 in the Northwest.

What actually happened at the wooden bridge over the River Canard 200 years ago? Were privates James Hancock and John Dean heroes? Did they deserve the honor General Isaac Brock bestowed on them?

Author Marty Gervais thinks maybe not.

 --Brock-Perry

Canada's Bridge to Nationhood

From the July 20, 2012, Amherstburg (Can) Echo "Essex County council renames County Road 20 bridge after War of 1812 figures" by Ron Giofu.

The bridge is now called the "Hancock and Dean 1812 bridge to Nationhood" after earlier rejecting "War of 1812 Commemorative Bridge" as being too generic.

James Hancock and John Dean were two British sentries guarding the wooden bridge at the site when the Skirmishes at the Canard River took place July 16, 1812, generally considered the first action of the war when American forces invaded Canada.

The accounts of the skirmish vary.

I looked up pictures of the bridge and am not sure the one I have is of the bridge as it appears today.  If it is, this is a really beautiful Marsh Rainbow bridge, like the one on Route 66 in Kansas and is well preserved.

Either Way, Nice Bridge.  --Brock-Perry

Bridge to Nationhood

Tuesday, I wrote about a man trying to get a bridge by Windsor, Canada, named after the men who defended it from Americans  in the first battle of the War of 1812.  The man succeeded and it is now called the Hancock and Dean 1812 Bridge to Nationhood.

I also came across mention that the action also cost the lives of the first Native Americans and at least one was reportedly scalped.  Dean was wounded and captured, only to be released shortly thereafter after the American surrender of Detroit.

The River Canard, which the bridge crossed is also where British General Brock first met Indian Chief Tecumseh.

Just Some More Stuff.  --Brock-Perry