Preface



It dispelled that gloom and displayed a clear sky to the
American armies. Cornwallis felt as much despair in the
death of Ferguson as Harrison felt hope in the flight of
Proctor.
   It is not always best in a preface to anticipate too
much of what is said in the text. The story of the Battle
of the Thames is better told in the text than it can be
told in an introduction, and it is well to leave the reader
to learn what is said in the text of the author. He may
sometimes be thought to color his facts with the hues of
romance, but if they are thereby made more interesting
to the reader no harm can come of such a departure from
cold and naked narrative. Even if he should now and
then be thought to substitute creations of a vivid imagi-
nation for dry historic facts, the reader may be benefited
by the change, whether cold history approve or not.
Differences of opinion have always existed as to certain
facts about the battle of the Thames, and they may con-
tinue to exist after this or any other essay on the subject.
What battle was ever fought about which all historians
perfectly agreed
   One valuable feature of this account of the battle of
the Thames may be pointed out. It is the appendix, in
which the names of all the officers and soldiers who took
part in this battle are given. The descendants of these



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