On the disgraceful and deplorable results of our first military efforts in Canada, we are not in a temper to say much. The whole plan of the campaign was miserably imbecile and utterly inefficient yet such a catastrophe as is just announced was beyond our most gloomy apprehensions. It appears we must be utterly unequal to cope with the experienced veteran British officers in Canada.
As a Federalist, Stephen Van Rensselaer was the prime exception to the partisan rule in awarding military commands. Owning thousands of acres worked by hundreds of tenant farmers, Van Rensselaer was the wealthiest landlord in New York. Educated at Yale, he possessed gracious manners and a popularity derived from his “condescension” to common men, including a reluctance to press his tenants to pay their rent. In 1812 he was preparing to run for governor against the Republican incumbent, Daniel D. Tompkins. In a political game of chicken, Tompkins got the Madison administration to appoint Van Rensselaer to the command on the Niagara front. Tompkins calculated that Van Rensselaer would, by declining, sacrifice his reputation for patriotism or, by accepting, have to mute his opposition to the war. Although a major general in the state militia, Van Rensselaer had never seen combat. Probably to Tompkins’s surprise, Van Rensselaer accepted...Despite their new positions, the Federalists continued to mock the war as a Republican folly.Van Rensselaer' s lettter is reproduced below.
Sunday, August 30 - Set off at 1/2 past 4, saw many pigeons. Mr. Edwards and I went ashore with our guns on E. side, found the walking so very bad that we were glad to reembark with indifferent success. Mr. Frobisher with two N.W. Canoes passed - by 7 got to near the head of the strong current where we stopt to breakfast. While here, two men sent by Mr. Heney for horses for me to ride to the Forks came to us. I embrace this occasion of getting there before the boats and to see something of the country. The saddles were not equal to good pack saddles (I took Mr. Edwards with me). After leaving the river bank entered a fine plain as level as a bowling green covered with a fine sward of grass knee high - here and there a clump of wood as if planted for ornament by the hand of man, partridges rising before us in coveys on each side of the path. Ducks and Geese fly about us. This plain extended close to the Forks which we reached at 2 o'clock p.m. Messrs. Wills and McDonell received us at the gate of the N.W.Co. Fort and asked us in.
On August 30, 1812, the USS Constitution and Captain Isaac Hull arrive in Boston with the prisoners captured after destroying the Guerrière. Henry Adams describes the importance of the defeat of the British ship in very grand terms. "However small the affair might appear on the general scale of the world's battles," Adams writes "it raised the United States in one half hour to the rank of a first-class Power in the world." Adams' full description of the arrival of the Constitution and its importance is reproduced below:
Saturday, August 29 - Wind abated and came round to N.W. Set off at 9. Mr. Hillier remained, judging the sea too high for his small boats. We made straight for the mouth of Red River. My hunter kept along shore with his canoe. I did not join. At 12 entered the mouth of Red River. Passed Dead River where there is a plain, from here up-wards the banks rise and the land appears to be of a good quality and fit for tillage. At 4 p.m. reached the House built this spring by order of Mr. Heney on the E. side, where 9 kegs of potatoes were planted but not in the most judicious manner. The banks are of a convenient height and the soil excellent. Two men were here who complained of not catching many fish. From them I got two kegs of fat left by Mr. Heney, a couple of catfish and 4 ducks. Received here a letter from Mr. McKay who passed the 24th Inst, he and Mr. Heney wait for me at the Forks, on opposite side was an old Establishment abandoned. We came off stopt to boil our kettle at the head of Poplar Island on W side at burnt poplar woods. I do not know why this Island was so called as it appears to be chiefly timbered with Elm and Oak. The batteau come up with us here. It being a still and starry night, I set off again much against the inclination of some of my people, but I was anxious to shorten the distance so as to be able to reach the Forks next day - by 12 at night got to the foot of the strong current where we stopt till day light. Weather clear and fine all day.
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On August 29 1812, Major General Brock, temporarily at York, writes to the Earl of Liverpool. He details what has transpired since the invasion of Upper Canada. Brock also provides his impression of Tecumseh. He is impressed writing: Among the Indians whom I found at Amherstburg, and who had arrived from distant parts of the Country, I found some extraordinary characters. He who attracted most my attention was a Shawnee chief, Tecumset, brother to the Prophet, who for the last two years has carried on (contrary to our remonstrances) an Active Warfare against the United States — a more sagacious or more a gallant Warrior does not I believe exist. He was the admiration of every one who conversed with him: from a life of dissipation he has not only become, in every respect, abstemious but has likewise prevailed on all his nation and many of the other Tribes to follow his example.
Friday, August 28 - At 8 this morning the Swan and Batteau came up, wind and sea strong against them. They had put into a small bay - passed the night at anchor, not being able to land from the violence of the surf - the wind continuing to blow a head - remained here all day.
Mr. Hillier having no provisions for his people I advised him to desist for the present attempting to fix himself at the Winipic River, as that part was bare of subsistence and he must soon of necessity abandon it. He concludes on going back to Red River. Weather clear all day, wind strong a head sea running high.
Yesterday, I beheld such a sight as God knows, I never expected to see, and He only knows the sensations it created in my heart. I saw my Countrymen, Free-born Americans, robbed of the inheritance which their dying Fathers bequeathed them, stripped of the arms which achieved our Independence and marching into a strange land by hundreds as black cattle for the market !! ...The sensations this scene produced in our camp were inexpressible: mortification, indignation, fearful apprehension, suspicion, jealousy, dismay, rage, madness.Lovett also writes about the rumours that Hull had acted from complete fear and was a coward. Lovett writes:
I saw a gentleman who had this day seen one of Hull's Captains also openly and roundly asserted that Hull was a coward. That as soon as the first gun was fired he sat down with his back against a solid protection.Lovett's letter is reproduced below.
Thursday, August 27 - Wind blowing strong from S.W. all day. My hunter brought me 2 Geese, 3 Ducks and a bittern. In the evening the wind abated a little, the sky looked serene and settled. I ordered the people to embark wishing to get to Hunter's point about 10 mi. distant. We set off at 7, pulling against a head wind. The wind increased and consequently the swell, driving direct upon the shore. The Swan and Batteau lagged astern out of sight. The Otter shipped some water till I took the helm. It was 2 in the morning before we reached Hunter's point, the other two boats remained behind. I felt anxious for their safety and reflect on myself for running any risk with the cargoes, particularly so near the completion of the voyage. My people had a severe pull. I found here encamped Mr. Hillier with two boats destined for Winipic River.
On August 27 1812, John Quincy Adams, the American Ambassador in St Petersburg writes the following entry in his diary:27th. Nothing is published respecting the late battles at or near Smolensk, of which there are now said to have been four. The reports concerning them are exceedingly various. The letters from the officers assert the advantage to have been constantly on the Russian side, and wonder why the Commander-in-Chief, Barclay de Tolly, ordered the retreat. There is now an extraordinary clamor against that General. Prince Bagration is not in much better credit. General Koutouzof, who was made a Prince after the Turkish peace, last week was appointed Commander-in-Chief of all the active armies, and left the city last Saturday night to go and take the command. The want of a single head to the Russian military force is a great misfortune to the country.
Barclay de Tolly received his copy of the imperial decree on 27 August, while his army was marching through Vy’azma, and was deeply hurt by the news. The letter sent to Barclay was not even accompanied by a personal note from the Tsar. This, even more than the decision itself, made the sudden blow particularly painful for Barclay de Tolly. It was more distressing to realize that the decision was made just when Barclay’s strategy was at last showing results and Napoleon’s superiority in numbers was almost eliminated. No one could more faithfully have respected Alexander’s parting warning at Polotsk: “remember that this is my only army and that I have no other”. Yet, now at Vya’zma, Barclay was disgraced and humiliated. Barclay wrote [Aug 28] back stoically to assure Alexander of his continuing “eagerness to serve the country in whatever post or assignment” might be granted to him. To justify his actions, Barclay wrote toward the end of the letter:
“Had I been motivated by blind and reckless ambition, Your Majesty would probably have received a number of reports of battles fought, and nevertheless the enemy would still be at gates of Moscow without encountering sufficient forces able to resist him.”
Justice demands the recognition of Barclay de Tolly’s achievement in saving the army and handing it over to his successor unimpaired. At the beginning of the campaign, the ratio of forces was against the Russians. It was, perhaps, fortunate for Russia that Bagration and his supporters were not given high command, since a battle at that time would have led to the destruction of both Russian armies and all of Russia would have laid open before Napoleon. Opposing the entire army and all the nobility, Barclay had prevented this from happening by his continued retreat. At the same time, Barclay must be criticized for playing a double game with Bagration and the other generals. For instance, while promising them to attack the French, Barclay informed the Tsar, the same day, of his intentions to abandon Smolensk. Naturally the rumors of Barclay’s schemes reached Bagration and others, causing them to mistrust the commander in chief.
Wednesday, August 26 - It was 8 o'clock before our departure this morning from Ft. Alexandria. I was curious to see their crop of wheat, barley and oats which was very fine, that of Pease failed. Mr. Thompson obligingly gave me a pile of the Inverness Journal & Henry's Publication of his confidential Mission. I found much civility from all these N.W.Co. gentlemen. Some potatoes and other vegetables from their thriving garden was put into my boat some of my men were missing at the time of coming away. It would be making them a bad practice to stop - they ran along the side of the bank and embarked by the Canoe.
It is also clear that the armistice is a bit shaky. On the same day General Van Rensselaer is writing to apologize and release some British troops that had been captured the day before. This was in breach of the armistice. Brock replies with thanks to Van Rensselaers' letter. He also writes that he will honour the armistice, which he only heard about on August 23 1812. In this regard, Brock writes: "I, in consequence, despatched early yesterday morning, an express to Amhersthurgh, ordering a cessation of all offensive operations against the United States, in that quarter; and likewise to exert every influence in restraining the Indians from committing any acts of hostility". The letters are reproduced below.
For Lord Chichester—who will recollect tho newspapers he [Shelley] sent to Miss Hitchener some time since, one of which contained a copy of the enclosed paper. Might it not be advisable to communicate with the Secretary of State—Mr. Shelley is so active in disseminating his principles?—24 August, 1812.
I think it right to communicate tho circumstances to the Secretary of State. It will have no effect to speak to Mr. Shelley's family, they suffer enough already for his conduct.
BEGINNING ON AUGUST 23, 1812, General Brock staged a four-day parade along the west bank of the Niagara River. His troops slowly marched north from Fort Erie to Newark, driving four hundred prisoners recently captured at Detroit. Brock displayed the prisoners to American troops watching from Lewiston, on the river’s east bank, where Major John Lovett reported: I saw my Countrymen, Free born Americans, robbed of the inheritance which their dying Fathers bequeathed [to] them, stripped of the arms which achieved our Independence and marching into a strange land by hundreds as black cattle for the market!! Before and behind on the right and on the left their proud victors gleaming in arms, and their heads erect with the pride of victory. Lovett reacted exactly as Brock had hoped: disgraced as an American and awed by British prowess.
Acknowledge receipt, with Lord Sidmouth's thanks. Recommend that Mr. Shelley's proceedings be watched if he is still at Linton. It would also be desirable to procure the address of his different correspondents, to whom he writes, from the post-office. Lord S. will be obliged by any further information respecting Mr. S., and, in the meantime, inquiries will be made about him here. Lord S. quite approves of tho stops that have been taken respecting Daniel Hill.—August 22.
Post-Office, Barnstaple, August 22nd, 1812.
Sir, have taken the liberty of enclosing to you a handbill that has been circulated through this town by a servant-man of P. B. Shelley's, Esq., who resides at Linton, about eighteen miles from this. Tho man is taken into custody, and confined in the prison of this town for six months, unless he pays the fine of £200 for distributing bills without the printer's name. The man says he was met between this and Linton by a gentleman, who desired him, if he was going to Barnstaple, to stick some of these bills up about tho town, for which he gave him five shillings. He says he does not know who the gentleman is, never having seen him before. The bill is thought to have a seditious tendency, for which reason, sir, I have presumed to enclose it to you. I am, sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
Richard Jones
The surgeons' reports were terrifying. In that country a brandy made of grain, containing narcotic plants supplemented wine and grape brandy. Our young soldiers, weakened by hunger and fatigue, had an idea that this drink would restore their energy, but its deceptive heat, made them spend all their remaining vitality in one burst, after which they fell completely exhausted, and were too sick to rise.
There were others, even more intoxicated, or weaker, who were overcome by dizziness, stupor or drowsiness and sank down in ditches or on the road. Their eyes, dim, half closed, watery, seemed to look on with indifference as death finally took control of all of their being, and they died dully, without even a whimper.Napoleon's Thirteenth Bulletin De La Grande Armée dated August 21 1812, reproduced below, does not mention any of this.
On August 21, 1812, General Joseph Foos, who had operated a ferry on the Scioto River and had suggested the name Columbus for the new capital of Ohio, writes a letter about the surrender of Detroit.Madison county, Head of Deer Creek; August 21,1812.
Sir—I hasten to drop a line by the governor's express, he carries the melancholy news of the surrender of Detroit, with the whole territory of Michigan, by general Hull, to the British government, without a struggle. Our brave countrymen are now prisoners of war. If the whole requisition late called for, in the three first brigades, in the 2d division, have not yet marched, you will use every exertion by starting expresses to ride night and day, to get them started. You will then direct them to proceed to Urbanna, by forced marches. The Public stores on the frontiers are to be protected.
JOSEPH FOOS. Brigadier-general, 4th brigade, 2d division.
The Mayor has also been informed that Mr. Shelley has been seen frequently to go out in a Boat a short distance from Land and drop some Bottles into the Sea, and that at one time he was observed to wade into the Water and drop a Bottle which afterwards drifting ashore, was picked up, and on being broken was found to contain a seditious Paper, the Contents of which the Mayor has not yet been able to ascertain but will apprize your Lordship immediately on learning further particulars.We owe the survival of Shelley's Devil's Walk to Drake who sent a copy to the Home Office. Shelley probably destroyed the other copies after the arrest of his servant. Drake's letter can be found here in the interesting site Luddite Bicentenary. The information in this post is from the very fine introduction by Donald H. Reiman and Neil Fraistat which is reproduced in part below and can be found here.
Various grave complications coming after the two armies united, have impelled me to appoint one commander above all others. I have chosen for this post the General of Infantry, Prince Kutuzov, under whose command I place all four armies.
At 2 o'clock on the afternoon of August 19, the Constitution spotted a sail in the far distance off the port bow. Hull was on deck instantly, followed quickly by nearly every man on board. "Before all the hands could be called, there was a general rush on deck," said Able Seaman Moses Smith. "The word had passed like lightning from man to man; and all who could be spared came flocking up like pigeons from a net bed. From the spar deck to the gun deck, from that to the berth deck, every man was roused and on his feet. All eyes were turned in the direction of the strange sail, and quick as thought studding-sails were out, fore and aft."
On August 15 1812, Ludwig Beethoven writes to Bettina Von Arnim, a German writer and novelist. The authenticity of this letter is not free from all doubt: 
Dearest, good Bettina! - Kings and princes can certainly create professors, privy councillors and titles, and hang on ribbons of various orders, but they cannot create great men, master-minds which tower above the rabble; this is beyond them. Such men must therefore be held in respect. When two such as I and Goethe meet together, these grand gentlemen are forced to note what greatness, in such as we are, means. Yesterday on the way home we met the whole Imperial family. We saw them from afar approaching, and Goethe slipped away from me, and stood on one side. Say what I would, I could not induce him to advance another step, so I pushed my hat on my head, buttoned up my overcoat, and went, arms folded, into the thickest of the crowd — Princes and sycophants drew up in a line; Duke Rudolph took off my hat, after the Empress had first greeted me. Persons of rank know me. To my great amusement I saw the procession defile past Goethe. Hat in hand, he stood at the side, deeply bowing.
On August 15 1812, President James Madison writes to his Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin:
On August 14, 1812, the Quarterly Review publishes a savage review of Anna Letitia Barbauld's poem Eighteen Hundred and Eleven. Barbauld had published the poem earlier in the year. She was a well known writer. The review in the Quarterly was written anonymously but it is likely the work of John Wilson Croker, a Tory member of parliament and frequent contributor to the Quarterly. The criticism that Barbauld received for her poem, including this review, it is said, effectively silenced her as a writer. Many found her poem objectionable because it did not seem sufficiently patriotic. The poem praises America and seems to have some sympathy for Napoleonic France. Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth disliked Barbauld and her poetry. Coleridge, at the beginning of the year, was critical of Barbauld's poetry in one of his lectures. Henry Crabb Robinson thought Coleridge was "unmanly" for criticizing her in public. Croker is even more savage in his criticism of Barbauld calling her a "fatidical spinster." I do not have the time to examine in detail her poem or the review but both deserve a close reading. Barbauld remains an important writer, in the sense that her disappearance or banishment from the literary canon sheds an important light on the political and literary changes in the early nineteenth century. Barbauld's poem can be found below followed by Crocker's review.
Went to Garroway’s Coffee House to the sale of Newstead Abbey by auction by a Mr Farebrother – where having first secured myself with Byron, I bid twelve times and left off at 113,000 guineas – for the large lot – which was brought in at 115,000 guineas – Byron having fixed £120,000 as the price. The second was brought in at 13000 guineas. Never having done the like before, I was, before the thing began, in a complete fever – but was told by Hanson, Byron’s solicitor, that I came off most admirably – I had just then only one pound one shilling and sixpence in the world
On August 13 1812, Major General Isaac Brock arrives at Fort Malden, Amherstburg near Detroit. He meets with Tecumseh. Captain John Glegg describes Tecumseh "with bright eyes beaming cheerfulness, energy and decision." They have a council of war. Brock's advisors oppose attacking Detroit. Brock decides that they will attack. "This is a man!" Tecumseh is supposed to have said.
James Laxer in his fine book Tecumseh & Brock: The War of 1812 (House of Anansi, 2012) describes their first meeting this way:
Late on the evening of August 13, Brock’s flotilla reached Amherstburg, near Fort Malden. Native warriors fired muskets into the night air to welcome the general and the recruits he had brought with him. Brock immediately sent Matthew Elliott, who had served for decades as the British Indian agent in the region, to find Tecumseh. Elliott had two messages for the Shawnee chief. The first was to ask Tecumseh to tell his warriors to stop shooting and save their ammunition for the Americans. The second was that Brock wanted to meet Tecumseh immediately.
...As a show of respect, Tecumseh dressed more ornately than was his custom for the occasion. He wore a large silver medallion of George III, the long-serving British monarch who had sat on the throne since 1760, attached to a coloured wampum string around his neck. Suspended from the cartilage of his nose were three small silver crowns. He was attired in a tanned deerskin jacket and trousers of the same material, and he wore his leather moccasins decorated with dyed porcupine quills. Tecumseh set out with Elliott for the meeting. By the time they arrived, the major general had already received the good news that Hull had pulled his remaining troops at Sandwich back across the river to Fort Detroit, ending the American invasion of Upper Canada. Brock had been sitting at a candlelit table, reading the packets of mail captured from the Americans, which told of Hull’s low morale and the lack of confidence of the men under his command, when the door opened and Tecumseh entered. The general, taller and stouter than Tecumseh, rose to his feet and stepped forward to shake the hand of his visitor...
...According to an account written by British Captain John Bachevoyle Glegg, who was present at the meeting, Brock commended Tecumseh for his leadership and courage in the native warriors’ recent engagements against the Americans. “I have fought against the enemies of our father, the king beyond the great lake, and they have never seen my back,” he continued. “I am come here to fight his enemies on this side of the great lake, and now desire with my soldiers to take lessons from you and your warriors, that I may learn how to make war in these great forests.” Glegg recorded that Brock outlined his plan for a swift attack on Fort Detroit, while the British officers shook their heads and strongly dissented. Tecumseh responded positively to the proposed offensive, and when Brock asked him about the lay of the land en route to Detroit, the Shawnee chief spread out a long strip of elm bark on the table. He secured the corners with stones, unsheathed his knife, and proceeded to create a map with its tip. Brock was impressed as Tecumseh drew in the roads, waterways, and valleys and hills of the neighbouring terrain.
It has already long been my duty to recall myself to your memory, but partly being occupied about my health, partly my unimportance caused me to hesitate. — In Prague I missed Y.I.H. by one night, for when I went to pay my respects to you, you had already left the night before. In Teplitz I heard every day Turkish music four times ; that is the only piece of musical news that I can offer. I was a great deal with Goethe. From Teplitz my doctor Staudenheim ordered me off to Carlsbad, from there back again here, and probably I shall have to return once again to Teplitz — what a running about! and yet how little certainty is there that my present state of health will improve! With regard to the health of Y.I.H. I have up to now always received most favourable news, also of your continued affection for, and devotion to the Musical Muse. Y.I.H. will have heard of the concert which I gave with the assistance of Signore Polledro for the benefit of those who had suffered from the fire at Baden. 
