The Unpopular History of the United States
to march, and informed them if they did not obey, the Fourth United States Regiment would be sent to compel them. They still refused, and a part of the Fourth Regiment was marched to their station. Then they obeyed.”
Fair-minded men were convinced that Hull’s surrender was caused by the fact that the larger portion of his recruits were unfit, unreliable, and insubordinate. A mutinous spirit prevailed among the men, the authority of their officers was not sufficient to command obedience, and nothing but the bayonets of the Fourth Regular Regiment could have any effect.
It was considered that General Hull’s long and disheartening experience with raw militia preyed upon his mind and might possibly have caused him to surrender when there was no real necessity. If so, what a travesty, that the gray-haired and gallant officer should be placed in such position.
Were it not so humiliating, the details of this blunder would be amusing. One hundred and eighty of Hull’s recruits, who had so
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