The Capture of an American ship

Verchères describes the capture of an American ship at beginning of the war
(from War on the Detroit, p. 77 - 78)

... At two o'clock in the afternoon ... a small vessel appeared sailing lightly from the open lake into the mouth of the river but the wind was unfavorable and her speed lessened somewhat. With the aid of a glass it was easily discovered that she carried the American flag, and it seemed probable that her captain was unaware of the knowledge we had, that war had been declared.

The capture of the Cayouga

Finding myself by chance in the shipyard where the Queen Charlotte was under construction, I came upon Lieutenant Frederic Rolette in the act of launching a boat manned by a dozen sailors, all well armed with sabers and pickaxes, and I hastened to ask him where he was going with that array. "To make a capture," he replied, as he ordered his men to row in all haste in the direction of the vessel which was slowly but steadily making her way up the river, all unconscious of the fate awaiting her. I asked some Indians who were standing around if they would follow that boat. They expressed their readiness for the venture and we hurriedly entered one of their canoes, our sole weapons being three guns loaded with duck shot and two tomahawks. Rolette's boat reached the vessel's side a few minutes ahead of us and the men boarded her without meeting any resistance. Either the crew was unaware that war had been declared or they were uncertain of the relations between the two countries. The next instant I came up with my Indians and to leap aboard required only a moment. My friend then ran up the British flag and ordered the American band to play "God save the King." I should have stated that this vessel carried all the musical instruments of Hull's army, besides much of the personal baggage of his men. This was the first prize of the war and it was taken by a young French-Canadian.