Duncan McArthur American The Americans at Fort Detroit

Duncan McArthur (1772-1839) was a rabble rousing zealot who hungered for conflict with the British. The former member of the Ohio legislature was elected as Colonel of the Ohio militia. He worked hard at recruiting men for the militia, even before the declaration of war. As an early campaigner for war, McArthur’s speeches were dramatic appeals for confrontation. “Fellow citizens and soldiers, the period has arrived when the country again calls its heroes to arms!..Could the shades of the departed heroes of the revolution who purchased our freedom with their blood, descend from the valiant mansions of peace, would they not call aloud to arms?” McArthur led his Ohio volunteers up to Detroit as part of General William Hull’s Army of the Northwest. He was popular enough among his men because he possessed a thirst for action that was obviously lacking in the General. After the Americans took Sandwich, McArthur led a foraging expedition into Upper Canadian farmland and five days later, returned with two hundred barrels of flour, four hundred blankets, as well as large quantities of stolen whiskey, salt, cloth, and arms. This had the effect of turning many previously indifferent farmers and homesteaders against the invaders. McArthur was aggressive and pugnacious, leading skirmishes near Amherstburg while Hull stalled in Sandwich. McArthur was despondent when Hull announced a full retreat to Detroit. Shortly thereafter he was ordered to secure a safe supply line to the Detroit fort, returning only to find that he, and the men under his command, were a part of Hull’s terms of surrender. Paroled back to Ohio, McArthur continued to recruit soldiers for the war effort and eventually took over command of the Northwest army, when William Henry Harrison resigned. Though he led a few raids, he had little opportunity to distinguish himself as a commander. By 1814, the western theatre of war was seeing little activity. Along with Lewis Cass, McArthur testified against General Hull at his court martial in winter of 1813-1814. Like so many senior officers after the war, McAthur pursued a career in politics. He became governor of Ohio and a very wealthy man.