PROCTOR, HENRY
Proctor, Henry
(1763–October 31, 1822)
English General
P
roctor was an efficient leader who
overcame shortages of every descrip-
tion and dominated military affairs in
the Old Northwest for almost a year. How-
ever, his inability to restrain Indian allies from
committing atrocities rendered him one of the
most vilified figures from the War of 1812.
Henry Proctor (or Procter) was born in Ire-
land in 1763, the son of an army surgeon; in
1781 he became an ensign in the 43rd Regi-
ment of Foot. Proctor fought in the closing
stages of the American Revolution and after-
ward rose by purchasing commissions as a
lieutenant, captain, and major by 1795. On Oc-
tober 9, 1800, he advanced to lieutenant
colonel and began a long, fateful association
with the 41st Regiment. Two years later Proc-
tor accompanied Lt. Col. Isaac Brockof the
49th Regiment to Canada as part of the over-
all military buildup. For nearly a decade prior
to the War of 1812, Proctor established him-
self as an outstanding regimental-grade offi-
cer and transformed the 41st from a tottering
garrison unit to a finely honed fighting force.
He was complimented in official orders,
gained a promotion to full colonel in 1810,
and was serving as commander of Fort
George on the Niagara frontier when the War
of 1812 commenced.
General Brock, now commander of Upper
Canada, knew Proctor well and appreciated
his demonstrated military competence. For
that reason Brock dispatched him to Fort
Malden (Amherstburg) near Detroit to help
thwart an invasion by Gen. William Hull. Ob-
serving Hull dithering in the vicinity of Sand-
wich, Proctor solicited Indian support from
the Shawnee Chief Tecumsehand went on
the offensive.
Small troops of Indians and British regu-
lars made slashing attacks against Hull’s lines
of supply at Brownstown and Maguaga in Au-
gust, which induced him to timidly abandon
Canada altogether and withdraw behind for-
tifications at Detroit. Brock reunited with
Proctor on August 13, 1812, crossed the De-
troit River, and three days later Hull surren-
dered his entire army, along with vast quanti-
ties of supplies and weapons. Brock
subsequently ventured back to Niagara, leav-
ing Proctor in charge of the western theater
as governor of Michigan Territory. He next
ordered a British column to attack and cap-
ture Fort Wayne in Indiana Territory, but his
men turned back after being approached by
superior forces under Gen. James Winches-
ter. Soon after, Proctor was informed of
Brock’s death at Queenston Heights in Octo-
ber 1812; with him died any real commitment
of supplies and reinforcements sent west to
support his operations.
Proctor wintered at Detroit until January
1813, when he learned that Winchester’s
force, the advance guard of the even larger
Northwestern Army under Gen. William
Henry Harrison, arrived at Frenchtown (on
the River Raisin) in anticipation of attacking
Detroit. On January 21, 1813, Proctor led
1,300 regulars, militiamen, artillerists, and a
large contingent of Indians against 934 poorly
dressed, half-frozen Kentuckians. Owing to
Winchester’s poor dispositions, the Indians
routed the right flank of his army, but riflemen
occupying the farmhouse inflicted consider-
able loss upon British regulars. Winchester
was subsequently captured and ordered his
entire force to surrender. Proctor then trun-
dled up his prisoners and made for Detroit,
but he erred in leaving scores of American ca-
sualties in Indian hands. The sullen warriors
got drunk, went on a rampage, and scalped
many of their captives. Such depredations en-
raged the American public, Kentuckians in
particular, and “Remember the Raisin!” be-
came a vengeful battle cry for the remainder
of the war. In the minds of many, Proctor was