Their own officer could do nothing with them.

At Detroit two hundred of them refused to cross the river, on the ground that they were not obliged to serve outside the United States.

Granted such extenuation as this, however, Hull showed himself so weak and contemptible in the face of danger that he could not expect his fighting men to maintain any respect for him.
His fatal flaw was lack of courage and promptitude.

He did not know how to play a poor hand well.

In the emergency which confronted him he was like a dull sword in a rusty scabbard.