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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 17

(x) Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Fort Detroit (W. Dougall, Canadn. Militia), good very fine

Provenance:
Spink, February 1973.

William Dougall is confirmed upon the roll with entitlement to this Medal and clasp, with one roll noting that he served as a Private in the Militia of Upper Canada and was attached to the 2nd Norfolk Regiment.

Within the first few months of the War of 1812, American Brigadier General William Hull marched on what was then considered Upper Canada. He crossed the Detroit River in early July, issuing proclamations encouraging the Canadian Militiamen to ally themselves with the Americans. These efforts were not entirely successful and many chose to remain aligned with the British, who were then also allied with indigenous forces under Tecumseh. The British forces orchestrated attacks and skirmishes on the precarious American supply line that stretched along the river, demoralising the enemy. Following a pyrrhic victory at the Battle of Maguaga on 9 August, Hull made the controversial decision to withdraw his troops further across the river, whilst British Major General Isaac Brock began mobilising his forces at Fort Amhertsburg.

On 15 August, Brock sent his aide-de-camp to Hull with a message urging him to surrender. Hull refused, and in the early morning of 16 August Brock crossed the Detroit River with a force of over 700 men, their arrival covered by the guns of General Hunter and Queen Charlotte. The British marched on Fort Detroit up the road while Tecumseh took his men through the forest, moving in a manner which gave the impression of much greater numbers. This was successful and caused Hull to later remark: "The bands of savages which had then joined the British forces, were numerous beyond any former example".

Convinced he was outnumbered and facing a potential massacre, and lacking confidence in his men, Hull hung up the white flag at about 10 a.m. and surrendered the whole of the Michigan Territory to the British. Over two thousand American troops, along with their guns and supplies, were taken prisoner. A disaster of such magnitude warranted a Court Martial for the misguided American General, whose death sentence was later commuted by President James Madison. The allied British victory and Brock's rapport with Tecumseh strengthened the relationship between British and indigenous forces - however, Brock was to be killed in action just a few months later during the Battle of Queenston Heights; sold together with copied medal roll.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2400