active 1812 James Reynolds

“ At sunset the wind died away and we ancored for the night [3] and about 4 o'clock in the morning the wind rose and we weighed ancor and with a fair wind entered Lake Erie all in to good spirits to think we should be at Detroit by 3 o'clock in the afternoon. To our surprise just as we were about to enter Detroit River we saw a boat that hailed us and ordered the Captain to lower his sails [4] . Our arms were all in the hole (hold) and the [8] men sick. ”

“ During the night the British forces crossed to the Detroit side of the river and prepared for an assault on the town. The guns at Sandwich opening a heavy cannonading and their range was so accurate that many Americans were slain. Dr. Reynolds who it is supposed accompanied Hull's invalids from the Maumee to Detroit was instantly killed. Gen. Hull early decided to capitulate.
[30] By the terms of the surrender the American Militia were paroled and allowed to return to their homes, but the regulars were declared to be prisoners of war and were sent on board the prison ships. ”

“ The Indians [12] were flocking into town all the morning armed and painted black. A lousifer with their arms and the town was in an uproar. It appeared by ten o'clock that almost every person had left the town. About five o'clock the Savages began to return into town hollowing and barekin and firing all around our vessell, and to crown the whole they had one of our men's scalp stretched on a pole as they past by us to aggrevate us in a helpless state and wound the feelings of prisoners. These Indians [13] were headed by a british subject. ”

“ In the capture of these two vessels valuable stores and yet more valuable information fell into the hands of the British. The journal of the Surgeon's Mate begins July 1st and some of the events that lead to the final surrender of Detroit and the forces under Gen. Hull's command are recorded in the journal from such observations as were possible to a prisoner on a vessel, and from stray information. The journey from Malden to Quebec is recounted and the subsequent imprisonment there on a ship in the harbor until he with others were sent to Boston for exchange. ”

“ Is it possible that their can be so much corruption in the British Government. They are void of feelings and in fact are as bad as the savages themselves for they carry on their intrigues under the pretence that they cannot govern the Indians, [12] and in fact they themselves are personally at their head and give them their instructions. ”

“ Cass of the American Army with a force of about 280 men pushed forward to the Ta-ron-tee or Riviere aux Canards about four miles above Malden and engaged the British outpost guarding the bridge across the river. The British and Indians fled and were pursued by the Americans. Night put an end to the engagement and the Americans returned to the bridge. Hull however retired the force to Sandwich as he said the position was untenable with so small a force. ”

“ Reynolds of this expedition was killed at the attack on Detroit by a cannon ball. There is a mistake somewhere as the author of this journal says that he was in charge of the Cuyahoga conveying the sick, and that the accompanying schooner carried the stores, and that both vessels were captured at Malden. Could it be that there were two Reynolds, one the Surgeon's Mate and the other the Dr. Reynolds that Lossing refers to as having been killed, and hence the confusion? ”

“ Hull to announce to Col. St. George of his (Gen. Hull's) intention to attack Fort Malden and to advise the removal from the town of the non-combatants.
[12] There were frequent and small engagements between the American outposts and the Indians on the British side. Scalping the dead was practised by both Indian and the frontiers men on both sides. ”

“ To day the Indians past by armed as usual, they returned about sunset some verry much fatigued. We were informed that the Indians and some of the militia had a Scirmish with some of our troops yesterday. ”

“ Women deprived of decency are the damdest creatures that ever were borned.
7th.—Wensday. Could and squalws of snow. The guard came to bury Sergt. Stoner's child. I visited all the prison ships in the Harbor and gave medicine to the sick. We had some sugar, rice, and barley sent for the sick and some other refreshments was sent on bord.
8th.—Thursday. Cold and rain. They brought 7 men sick from 4 to 6 (o'clock) and we returned five. About nothing further. [30]
9th.—Friday. Cold for the season. Corp. Berries child died about three o'clock this morning. The men are something better. ”

“ X.—Nothing extra happened in the course of the day.
10th.—We were moved below town. Dr. Davis attends on our sick daily. The weather verry warm and the men suffer much from the heat.
11th.—We had a very warm day in the afternoon. The officers and Indians were verry busy, however we heard nothing [10]
12th.—Sunday. The American troops crossed the river into Sandwich and divested the people of their arms and sent them to their farms. ”

“ Clouday and some rain in the morning. Many of the men verry low, but verry little refreshment for the sick. Thirteen more sick came on board which augmented the sick to 54.
23rd.—Wensday. Pleasant. The men that came on board yesterday are better after being phisiced. Nothing new.
24th.—Thursday. Clouday. The men generally better 17 men were sent from our ship to those where the main Regt. lay. Nothing further worth attention.
25th.—Friday. Pleasant. Two sick men sent on board our ship which made our number 40. James Duffer died at 4 o'clock p.m. with Hectic fever. Many of the men are very low. ”

“ The Indians crossed the river about 11 o'clock and the people appeared very much allarmed. A party of them returned about sunset but the [16] boats had few in them. Their was six guns fired about 11 o'clock at Browns Town.
6th.—Thursday. Pleasant. Nothing in particular.
7th.—Friday. Pleasant. Capt. Olds and Ensign Elison came on board and informed us that two hundred militia ran from forty Indians and several of our men was taken. God save the ignorant for they cannot take care of themselves.
8th.—Saterday. Pleasant. The Schooner or brig R1° from Fort Erie with about fifty or sixty [22] . ”

“ Amherstburg near which stood Fort Malden.
[8] On the morning of the 6th Col. Cass was sent to Malden with a flag of truce to demand the baggage and prisoners taken from the schooner. The demand was unheeded and he returned to camp with Capt. Burbanks of the British Army. M'Afee.
[9] Mr. Reynolds wrote by this means and this may have led to the belief that he and his party of invalid soldiers had reached Detroit in safety on the schooner.
[10] On the 12th Hull crossed his army to Sandwich of which he took possession. The few British troops stationed here retired to Fort Malden. Col. ”