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HISTORY

Advance on Ft. Detroit

The embarkation of the 5,000 man Army of the Northwest commenced on the 18th with the ships departing on the 20th. The Kentucky mounted infantry however were forced to leave their horses behind due to limited transport space and were now acting as infantry.

Gen. Gaines, the adjutant general, made the following address to the troops on the island: "The general entreats his brave troops to remember that they are the sons of sires whose fame is immortal; that they are to fight for the rights of their insulted country, while their opponents combat for the unjust pretensions of a master. Kentuckians! Remember the River Raisin! But remember it only while victory is suspended. The revenge of a soldier can not be gratified upon a fallen enemy."