While lying at Ogdensburg, Fernando heard of the daring feat of Lieutenant Jesse Elliott, who, with a picked party of seamen and riflemen, had at Black Rock, under the British heavy guns, captured the war-schooner Caledonia and burned the Detroit.  While these many stories of the bravery of Americans were thrilling the hearts of patriots, the cowardice of the pompous General Smythe at Buffalo caused much ridicule and humiliation.

Despite all his boasts and threats to invade Canada, he remained on American soil.  He was finally dismissed from the service, and, in a petition to congress to reinstate him, he prayed for permission to “die for his country.”  His petition excited much ridicule, and, at a public celebration of Washington’s birthday, a wit proposed the following: 

“General Smythe’s petition to congress to die for his country.  May it be ordered that the prayer of said petition be granted!”

Early in January, 1813, Fernando Stevens’ company, being Ohio volunteers, was for some reason, he never knew what, transferred to the army of the West.  General William H. Harrison had succeeded Hull in command of this army.  Historians do not accord to General Harrison the distinction of greatness, though he was one of the successful generals of the last war with England.  It was under him that first victories were gained over the British in the Northwest.  Though his name goes down to posterity connected with the battle of the Thames, Colonel Richard M. Johnson was the real hero of that conflict.  Johnson’s Kentucky riflemen fought and won the battle, though Harrison received the credit.  Harrison was even more honorably remembered for his Indian wars, and, as the hero of Tippecanoe, gained a fast hold on the public heart; but Tippecanoe was only a skirmish and, viewed in the light of a battle, could hardly be considered a great victory.  The American losses were probably as great, if not greater than the Indians, and it was only an accident that Harrison was not surprised.  Tippecanoe was fought by the soldiers, and to their coolness and courage belonged the victory.  Critically speaking, General Harrison was inferior in military genius to both Jackson and Brown.  He wanted the terrible energy, the almost reckless bravery which characterized these two leaders.  He belonged to a different school altogether.  His was a policy of Fabius rather than of Marcellus, and this not from necessity but for choice.  The bent of his mind was to be prudent, economic of means, willing to listen to advice, a very excellent qualification for a general or a statesman.

The dispute between Harrison and Winchester had been settled before Captain Rose with his company reached the army and joined General Winchester, then on his march to the Raisin, January 21, 1813.  As Winchester’s volunteers were mostly Kentuckians, Fernando found many friends among them.  Some had formerly lived in Ohio.  On the same evening, they reached Frenchtown, where they found Colonel Lewis, who, with Allen and six hundred men, had defeated and routed a force of British and Indians under Major Reynolds.