1. A Bluff That Helped Save Canada From American Conquest
The surrender of Fort Detroit was a military disaster for the US. Among other things, it derailed plans to invade and seize Canada early in the war, before the British had time to rush in reinforcements. It also reinvigorated the Canadians, who had been pessimistic about the prospects of defending Canada from forcible annexation by the US. Additionally, it fired up Native Americans in the Northwest Territory to war against US outposts and settlers. An American invasion of Canada was attempted later on, but by then the British and loyal Canadians were better prepared and more confident, and forced the invaders back across the border. As to General Hull, after his release from British captivity, he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to be shot. However, his life was spared out of consideration for his heroism decades earlier during the American War of Independence.
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Where Did We Find This Stuff? Some Sources and Further Reading
British Museum – Furst Karl Joseph Franz von Auesperg
Elting, John Robert – Amateurs, to Arms! A Military History of the War of 1812 (1995)
History Collection – This Day in History: Guy Fawkes Cheats the Hangman
IEEE Spectrum – Columbus’ Geographical Miscalculations
Live Science – Top 5 Misconceptions About Columbus
Maude, Frederic Natusch – The Ulm Campaign, 1805 (1912)
Mikaberidze, Alexander – Kutuzov: A Life of War and Peace (2022)
Space – How a Total Lunar Eclipse Saved Christopher Columbus
Zaslow, Morris – The Defended Border: Upper Canada and the War of 1812 (1964)
