The sloop was the Little Belt, the last of the squadron captured by the gallant Perry on that memorable occasion which he announced in the immortal words: 

“We have met the enemy, and they are ours!”

Matters were growing critical, and it was necessary to transfer all prisoners to a place of greater security than the frontier was now likely to be.  It was resolved therefore to send Mr. Kinzie to the mother-country.  Nothing has ever appeared which would explain the course of General Proctor in regard to this gentleman.  He had been taken from the bosom of his family, where he was living quietly under the parole which he had received, and protected by the stipulations of the surrender.  He was kept for months in confinement.  Now he was placed on horseback under a strong guard, who announced that they had orders to shoot him through the head if he offered to speak to a person upon the road.  He was tied upon the saddle to prevent his escape, and thus they set out for Quebec.  A little incident occurred, which will help to illustrate the course invariably pursued towards our citizens, at this period, by the British army on the Northwestern frontier.

The saddle on which Mr. Kinzie rode had not been properly fastened, and, owing to the rough motion of the animal on which it was, it turned, so as to bring the rider into a most awkward and painful position.  His limbs being fastened, he could not disengage himself, and in this manner he was compelled by those who had charge of him to ride until he was nearly exhausted, before they had the humanity to release him.

Arrived at Quebec, he was put on board a small vessel to be sent to England.  The vessel when a few days out at sea was chased by an American frigate and driven into Halifax.  A second time she set sail, when she sprung a leak and was compelled to put back.

The attempt to send him across the ocean was now abandoned, and he was returned to Quebec.  Another step, equally inexplicable with his arrest, was soon after taken.  This was, his release and that of Mr. Macomb, of Detroit, who was also in confinement in Quebec, and the permission given them to return to their friends and families, although the war was not yet ended.  It may possibly be imagined that in the treatment these gentlemen received, the British commander-in-chief sheltered himself under the plea of their being “native-born British subjects,” and perhaps when it was ascertained that Mr. Kinzie was indeed a citizen of the United States it was thought safest to release him.

In the mean time, General Harrison at the head of his troops had reached Detroit.  He landed on the 29th of September.  All the citizens went forth to meet him—­Mrs. Kinzie, leading her children by the hand, was of the number.  The General accompanied her to her home, and took up his abode there.  On his arrival he was introduced to Kee-po-tah, who happened to be on a visit to the family at that time.  The General had seen the chief the preceding year, at the Council at Vincennes, and the meeting was one of great cordiality and interest.