| The
4th left Vincennes on May 14th. On June 18th the Regiment arrived at Urbana, 63 miles
north of Dayton. At this point the unit, now commanded by Lt. Col. James Miller, was to
join the Army of General William Hull. The bulk of the Army was made up Ohio Militia. The
first impression of these troops was no different that those militia encountered in
Indiana. They are described in one contemporary account as having "no idea of order
& discipline, they think they can do as they please…" These men of Ohio
actually had to be forced at one point by the 4th to take the line of march north at
bayonet point. Such was the discipline and mood of the Army sent to "Liberate"
Canada. Plagued with internal struggles between General Hull and the Ohio Colonels, Led by
a man who protested that he was not fit for the job and supported by a Government that
failed to follow the advise of this Commander once appointed, the Army stumbled North.
Uninformed of the Declaration of War the Army actually sent its’ baggage and
dependants on ahead by boat which caused it, Hull’s private papers and the
Army’s Medical supplies to be captured on the Detroit River by the British. The Army
did cross into Canada despite this placing a large part of of Essex County under US
control. The Army advanced towards Fort Malden and stalled out in its’ progress. |
