HISTORY

Change in Secretary of War, December 3, 1812

Although he agreed to do so, Eustis never enlarged the ranks of the regular army as proposed, leaving the Regular army short by 4,000 men. He also did not organize adequate supplies of uniforms, weapons, and other provisions. Complaints from disgruntled American officers poured in.

When war broke out he informed American commanders by regular post (British commanders knew about the war long before their US counter parts. This led directly to the loss of Fort Mackinac. He effectively abandoned the original American plan to divide Canada's defenses with simultaneous attacks on Niagara and Montreal, but failed to inform any US commanders.

The disastrous campaigns of the U.S. forces in the fall of 1812 caused an uproar in Congress and the American public. Eustis resigned on December 3, amidst this mounting criticism.