Two hundred and fifty men only were left
behind, in charge of a small fortress, a little below Detroit. When
again in Detroit, General Hull sent six hundred men under Colonel
Miller, to dislodge the British from Brownston. Major Muir, who
commanded at Brownston, instead of waiting for the attack, quixotically
went out to meet his adversaries. The two opposing detachments met at
Maguago, a kind of half way place, where a fight began. It was of short
duration, but, considering the numbers engaged, was sanguinary.
Seventy-five of the Americans fell, and the British were compelled,
though with inconsiderable loss, to retreat. On the water as on the
land, the chief mischief fell upon the Americans. Lieutenant Rolette,
with the boats of the _Queen Charlotte_ and _Hunter_, intercepted,
attacked, and captured eleven American batteaux and boats, which were
_en route_ for Detroit, under the escort of two hundred and fifty
American soldiers, marching along the shore, the boats and batteaux
having on board fifty-six wounded Americans and two English prisoners.

General Brocke, who had prorogued his Parliament, now appeared at the
seat of war. He had collected together a force of seven hundred of
British regulars and militia and six hundred auxiliary Indians. And he
very coolly determined upon obtaining the surrender of His Excellency,
General Hull, and his whole force. Knowing from his absurd proclamation,
how much in dread he stood of the Indians, General Brocke intimated
that if an attack were made, the Indians would be beyond his control;
that if Detroit were instantly surrendered, he would enter into
conditions such as would satisfy the most scrupulous sense of honor;
and that he had sent Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell and Major Glegg with
full authority to conclude any arrangement that might prevent the
unnecessary effusion of blood. General Hull replied very courteously in
the negative. Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, had thrown up a
battery in Sandwich, on the very ground so recently occupied by the
Americans, to act upon Detroit. In this battery there were two five and
a half inch mortars, and one eighteen and two twelve pounder guns, and
it was manned by sailors under the command of Captain Hull. For upwards
of an hour the cannonade was terrific, the fire of the enemy being very
feebly maintained, from two twenty-four pounders. On the morning of the
eighteenth, the cannonade recommenced, and General Brocke crossed the