26. Capitalizing on an Enemy’s Fears
General Brock played on his enemy’s fear of Indians by arranging for a misleading letter to fall into American hands, which greatly exaggerated the number of his native allies from an actual 600 to a fanciful 5000. He also tricked the Americans into believing that he had more regulars under his command than was the case, by dressing up his Canadian militia in castoff British regimental uniforms.
Outside Detroit, Brock had the same troops march in a loop over the same stretch within eyesight of the garrison, duck out of sight, then return to march anew as if they were fresh reinforcements. He also ordered his troops to light 5 times as many fires at night than was the norm, in order to further convey an illusion of greater strength. General Hull’s already low confidence collapsed at the prospect of facing a strong British army accompanied by 5000 Natives.
