Early in July he procured a "National Intelligencer," which contained the act of congress declaratory of war, and the message of the president accompanying it, and this information was of course decisive.
_Colonel Baynes to Major-General Brock_.
QUEBEC, June 25, 1812.
Sir George Prevost desires me to inform you that he has this instant received intelligence from Mr.Richardson, by an express to the north-west company, announcing that the American government had declared war against Great Britain.
This dispatch left New York on the 20th instant, and does not furnish any other circumstance of intelligence whatever.

His excellency is induced to give perfect and entire credit to this report, although it has not yet reached through any official channel.

Indeed, the extraordinary dispatch which has attended this courier, fully explains his not having received the minister's letters, of which he will not fail to give you the earliest intimation.
Mr.Richardson informs his excellency that it is the intention of the company to send six large canoes to receive their furs by the Grand River, (or Ottawa,) and should it be thought expedient to reinforce the post of St.Joseph, that they will be able to carry six soldiers in each boat.[55] Anxious as Sir George feels to render you every aid in his power, and to afford every possible assistance and protection to the north-west company, who have on their part assured his excellency of their ready and active co-operation to the utmost of their ability, his excellency, nevertheless, does not think it advisable, under existing circumstances, to weaken the 49th regiment, which occupies so important and critical a station; nor can he hold out any certain prospect of any further reinforcement until the arrival of the troops he has been led to expect from England, but directs me to assure you of his cordial wish to render you every efficient support in his power.
_Major-General Brock to Sir George Prevost_.
FORT GEORGE, July 3, 1812.
I have been anxiously expecting for some days to receive the honor of your excellency's commands in regard to the measures the most proper to be pursued on the present emergency.
The accounts received, first through a mercantile channel, and soon after repeated from various quarters, of war having been declared by the United States against Great Britain, would have justified, in my opinion, offensive operations.

But the reflection that at Detroit and Michilimakinack the weak state of the garrisons would prevent the commanders from accomplishing any essential service, connected in any degree with their future security, and that my means of annoyance on this communication were limited to the reduction of Fort Niagara, which could easily be battered at any future period, I relinquished my original intention, and attended only to defensive measures.

My first object has been the calling out of the flank companies of militia, which has produced a force on this line of about 800 men.