The Commandant's house
(from War on the Detroit, p. 170 - 171, 174)
On landing, I went to the house of my friend Maisonville, who would not listen to my going to a hotel. My goods were stored with Mr. William Duff, and after a few hours rest, accompanied by Mr. Maisonville, I set out to see what changes the war had made in the town. Directing my steps to the site of my former home, I found it in the saddest state imaginable. The Americans had used it as a guardhouse. Everywhere one met nothing but dirt, the streets were in a disgusting condition, and everything reflected distress and poverty. ...
Old Meloche, my clerk, knew of all the circumstances connected with the storing of [my] merchandise at the time of
Procter's precipitate departure, and knew, too, that it had become the spoil of the enemy, together with all my books and papers, silverware, and other articles that I had been forced to leave behind. He had interceded, but without success, with the American commander, Puthuff. My departure with the British army was the sole reason for treating me so badly. The goods were worth at least eight thousand dollars. So that was what the war did for me. After so many years of hard work a good part of my earnings was wiped out!
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The Commandant's house |