HISTORY

Hull Invades the British Province of Upper Canada July 12, 1812

General William Hull, an undistinguished Revolutionary War officer, took command of militia forces at Dayton on May 25th. The militia in Ohio comprised about 1,600 men in three regiments. They were soon joined by the 582-man 4th Infantry Regiment. The men of the militia were poorly equipped and unenthusiastic about strong military discipline, and Hull relied on the regular 4th infantry regiment to quell several instances of defiance.

Unaware the war had actually broken out, Hull sent the schooner Cuyahoga Packet ahead of the army to Detroit with all his plans for an attack on Fort Amherstburg and this schooner was captured by the British, who were aware of the war from American newspapers.

Hull began his invasion of the British Province of Upper Canada on 12 July 1812.