v-^^, - ^ .« .*^%^/.% Vc/ /^fe\ %,*^ N a I C m " o O .^' * • ♦ • °o MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR ACCOMPANIED WITH SUNDRY DOCUMENTS, IN OBEDIENCE TO A RESOLUTION OF THE 31st OF DECEMBER LAST, REqUESTING SUCH INFORMATION AS MAY TEND TO EXPLAIN THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE OF THE ARMS OF THE UNITED STATES, ON THE NORTHERN FRONTIER. VVXVWVWWXiVXrWWVW Laid on the table of the House of Representatives of tlw> United States, on the 2d February, 1814. vwwvvwvwvwvwvv^ IN TWO PARTS. PART I. ALBANY : rni5TEi) DT webstehs axd skikners, and n. c. sodthm^ick. " m 18U. MESSAGE. -' a To the House of Refiresentatives of the United States. I TRANSMIT to the House of Representatives a Re- port of the Secretary of War, complying with their Reso- lution of the 31st of December last. JAMES MADISON. January 31st, 1814. REPORT. War Department, January 25, 1814. SIR, In compliance with the Resolution of the House of Re- presentatives of the 31st of December last, requesting «uch information (not improper to be communicated) as may tend to explain the causes of the failure of the Arms of the United States, on the Northern Frontier, I have the honor to submit the following documents, and to offer to you, sir, the assurance of the very high respect with which I am Your most obedient. And very humble servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. The President, CORRESPOXDEXCE BETWKKN Tin; Secretary ofJVar and Maj, Gen. Dearborn^ £sV. Kote firescntcd to the Cabinet on the 8th J'^ebrtiaryf 1813, by the Secretary of War. THE enemy's force at Montreal and its dependen- cies has been stated at 16,000 efTcctives. It more probably docs not exceed 10 or 12,000. The militia part of it may amount to one sixth of the whole. Is it probable that wc siiall be able to open the campaic^n on lake Champlain with a force competent to meet and dislodge tliis arnjy before the 15th of May? I put the question on this date, l)ectiuse it is not to be doubt- ed but tiiat the enemy VN-ill then be reinforced, and, of course, that new relations in point of strengtii will be establisiied between us. Our present regular force on both sides of lake Champlain does not exceed 2,400 men. The addition made to it must necessarily consist of recruits, v.ho, for a time, will not be better than militia ; and when we consider that the recruiting service is but beginning, and that we now approach • the middle of February, the conclusion is, I think, ^ safe, that we cannot move in this direction and thus early (say 1st of May,) with effect. It tnen remains to choose between a course of entire inaction, because incompetent to the main attack, or one having a secondary but still an important object ; such would be the reduction of that part of Upper Canada lying between the town of Prescott, on the St. Lawrence and lake Erie, including the towns of Kingston and York, and the forts, George and Erie. On this line of frontier the enemy have, At Prescott, 300 At Kingston, 600 At George and Erie, 8cc. - . - 1,200 Making a total (of regular troops) of 2,100 Kingston and Prescott, and the destruction of thd British ships at the former, would present the first ob- ject ; York and the frigates said to be building there, the second ; George and Erie the third. e. We shall, I trust, give him a v.arm reception ; but, if his force is such as is expected, and should make an attack before our troops anive from Greenbush and Plattsburr^h at Sackett's Harbor, the result may at least be doubtful. I have tlie honor, sir, to be, , With the highest respect and consideration, Your obedient humble servant, H. DEARBORN. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Sackett's Harbor, March 9, 1813. I have not yet had the honor of a visit from sir * G. Prevost. His whole force is concentrated at Kin^- Blon, probably amounting to six or seven thousand ; about three thousand of them regular troops. The icc IS good, and we expect him every day, and every n^casurc for preventing a surprise is in constant ac I II • • • • tivlty. The troops from C;rccn1)\ish (upwards of 400) have arrived. 1 liavc heard iK)lliii)t^ from Pike : lie should have been here yesterday. I have sent three expresses to meet him ; neither has returned. I have Buspicions of the express employed by the quarter master general to convey the orders to Pike : the earliest measures were taken for conveying a dupli- cate of his orders. I hope to hear from him to-day. His arrival with eight hundred good troops would be very imporiant at this time. The enemy are apprized of his movement. I begin to entertain sorr.e doubts whether sir George M'ill venture to attack us ; but shall not relax in being prepared to give him a decent reception. I should feci easier if Pike should arrive in season. I am in want of officers of experience. My whole force, exclusive of seamen and marines, who will be confined to the vessels and have no share in the action until my force shall be worsted, amounts to nearly 3000, exclusive of 450 militia at Brownville, and on the road leading from Kingston by land. Within two or three days I may have 300 more militia from Rome and Utica. The ice will not probably be passable more than from six to ten days longer ; it is not usually passable after the 1 5th of March. This unexpected movement of the enemy will effectually oppose the movements contemplated on our part, and I shall not think it ad- visable to order general Chandler to move at present. As soon as the fall of this place shall be decided, we shall be able to determine on other measures. If we hold this place we will command the lake, and be able to act in concert with the troops at Niagara, while Chandler's brigade, with such other troops as may assemble in Vermont, may induce a return of a consi- derable part of those troops that have left Lower Canada. When I ordered Pike to move I directed general Chandler to have the provision at Plattsburgh moved to Burlington. There was but a small proportion of our magazines at Plattsburgh; they are principally at Burlington and Whitehall. Yours witb respect and esteem, lI.DEARDORy. Hon. John Armstrong. 12 • • • • Extract of a letter from Major General Dearbor. to the Secretary at JVar, dated March 14, 1813. " From the most recent and probable informa tion I have obtained, I am induced to believe that si George Prevost has concluded that it is too late t« attack this place. He undoubtedly meditated a coup de-main against the shipping here. All the apprehcn sion is now at Kingston. Sir George has visitec York and Niagara, and returned to Montreal. Se-j veral bodies of troops have lately passed up fron: Montreal ; but such precautions have been taken tc prevent their number being ascertained, as to rendei it impossible to form any accurate opinion of theii forces, or even to imagine very nearly what they amount to. From various sources I am perfectly satisfied, that they are not in sufficient force to venture an attack on this place, knowing as they do that we have collected a fine body of troops from Greenbush and Plattsburgh, and that the militia have been called in. We are probably just strong enough on each side to defend ; but not in sufficient force to hazard an of- fensive movement. The difference of attacking and being attacked, as it regards the contiguous posts of Kingsbm and Sackett's Harbor, cannot be estimated at less than three or four thousand men, arising from the circumstance of militia acting merely on the defen-i sive. I have ordered general Chandler with the 9th, 21st and 25th regiments to march for this place; Clark's regiment and a company of artillery to be left at Burlington for the present, where the regiment will be filled in a few weeks. I have ordered the recruits for the three regiments that will march for this place to be sent to Greenbush, and colonel Larned is order- ed there to receive tliem with Backus's dismounted dragoons and other detachments from Pittsfield." I Extract of a letter from Major General Dearborn to the Secretary at War^ dated Sackett's Harbor, March 16th, 1813. " It was yesterday unanimously determined in a council of the principal officers, including commo- dore Chauncey, that we ought not, under existing cir- IS • • • • cumstanccs, to make an attempt on Kingston, before the naval force can act. The harbors in this lake will not probably be open so as to admit of the vessels behig moved until about the 15th of April." Extract of a letter from Major General Dearborn ■ to the Secretary at War, without date ; /iro/iosing to fiass by Kingston^ and attack York, ^c, " To take or destroy the armed vessels at York, ■will give us the complete command of the lake. Commodore Chauncey can take with him ten or twelve hundred troops, to be commanded, by Pike ; take York, from thence proceed to Niagara, and at- tack fort George by land and water, while the troops at Buffalo cross over and carry forts Erie and Chippe- wa, and join those at fort George ; and then collect our whole force for an attack on Kingston. After the most mature deliberation, the above was considered by commodore Chauncey and myself as the most <:ertain of ultimate success.'* Extract of a letter from the Secretary at War, to Major General Dearborn, dated War Department, March 29, 1813. " Your despatches of the 1 1th and 14th inst. from Sackett's Harbor, and one of the 22d, from Albany, have been received. The correspondence between you and major Murray, in relation to an exchange of prisoners, has been referred to the department of state. The alteration in the plan of campaign, so as to make Kingston the last object, instead of making it the first, would appear to be necessary, or at least proper ; but the force assigned to the attack of the upper posts, is believed to be too small. '* Accident may prevent a co-operation of the corps at Buffalo. That sent from Sackett's Harbor should have in itself the power of reducing forts Geo. and Erie, and holding in check the militia who may be sent to support them. The ships can give little aid in the business, except merely in covering the landing. Double the number you purpose sending, would not be too many. Various considerations re- commend the employment of a large and decisive B 1* • > • • force, and none, that I can think of, dissuade from it. If our first step in the campaign, and in the quarter from which most is expected, should fail, the disgrace of our arms will be complete. The public will lose all confidence in us, and we shall even cease to have | any in ourselves. The party who first opens a cam- paign, has many advantages over his antagonist, all of which, however, are the result of his being able to carry his whole force against a part of his enemy's. Washington earned his whole force against the Hes- sians in New- Jersey, and beating them, recovered that moral strength, that self confidence, which he had lost by many preceding disasters. We are now in that state of prostration that he was in, after he crossed the Delaware , but, like him, we may soon get on our legs again, it" we are able to give some hard blows at the opening of the campaign. In this "we cannot fail, provided the force we employ against his western posts be sufficiently heavy. They must stand or fall by their own strength. They are per- fectly isolated and out of the reach of reinforcements : send therefore a force that shall overwhelm thcm-^ - that shall leave nothing to chance. If I had not an- other motive, I would carry my whole strength, merely that their first service should be a successful one. The good effects of this will be felt throughout the cam- paign. " I have hastened to give you these thoughts, under a full conviction of their usefulness ; and shall only add, that there is no drawback upon this policy. — - When the fleet and army are gone, we have nothing at Sackett's Harbor to guard, nor will the place pre- sent an object to the enemy. ** How then would it read, that we had lost our ob- iect on the Niagara, while we had another brigade at Sackett'b Harbor doing nothing l" Extract of a letter from Major General Dearborn to the Secretary at IVary dated Albany, April 5, 1813. " I have this day been honored with your letter of the 29th ultimo. As troops cannot with safety be transported from Sackett's liurbor to York or Niaga- 15 ra in hatteaux or fiat bot'tomed boats, I must depend 'on eommodore Chauncey's armed yesse s, wUh one or two other sloops, for the transportation of our U oops, ^ndU Avas eonsidered doubtful whether more than Tw ive hundred men could be so conveyed which nurnber I considered amply sufficient for the two fi nbiects contemplated ; but as many as can be tians Sed with saflty shall be sent. The co-operation of the troops under general Lewis may be relied on. Boyd and Winder a?e with him, and nothing but out- raeeous p-alcs oi' wind can prevent success. ^ u The'troops from Maryland and Pcnnsylvar^a ar- rived last evening. They, with the other detachments , at Grecnbush, will proceed towards lake Ontario wi h- in two or three days. As soon as practicable, alter sending off the troops, I shall move westward. War Department, April 19, 1813. SIR Takini? for c^ranted that general Prevost has not been able, or willing, to reinforce Maiden, Erie, and George, arid that he has assembled at Kingston a. force of six or 'eight thousand men, (as stated by you) we must conclude that he means to hazard his more western posts, shorten his line of defence, and place his right flank on lake Ontario. , This arranp-ement is, no doubt, in consequence of our preparauons at Sackelt's Harbor. These gave him reason to fear that we meant to cut his line of communication at that point, which, so long as he has a hope of keeping the command of the lake, is one of infinite importance to his views. The danger, however, now is, that in the event of the success of our present expedition, he may lose this hope, abandon Kingston and concentrate his forces at Montreal. This event is, in my opinion, so probable, as to ren- der necessary a communication of the views of the president, in relation to the movements on your part, (which shall be subsequent to tbose now making) on two suppositions : 1st. That the enemy will keep his ground at King- ston ; and 16 « • • • 2d. That he will abandon that ground and withdraw from [to] Montreal. On the first supposition, there is no difficulty in either selecting our object, or the means of pursuing it. We ought to destroy the communication between Kingston and Montreal, by interposing a competent ^ force between the two, and assailing the former by a ' joint operation of military and naval means. Local circumstances favor this project. A few arm- ed boats on lake St. Francis, stops all intercourse by water ; in which case, cannon, military stores and ar-* tides of subsistence in bulk^ cannot be conveyed be- tween Montreal and Kingston. From lake Ontario to Ogdensburgh we command the navigation of the St. Lawrence by our armed ves- sels, and under their protection, our army can be passed over and established on the Canada side at the point deemed most proper for attack. On the other supposition, that the British garrison is withdrawn from Kingston to Montreal, the old question of approaching him by lake Champlain, or by the St. Lawrence, recurs, and ought now to be set- tled, so that there should be no unnecessary pause in our operations at a later and more momentous period of the campaign. The circumstances in favor of the St. Lawrence route, are these: 1st. Our force is now upon it. 2d. It furnishes a conveyance by water the whole distance. 3d. The enemy is not fortified on the St. Lawrence side, and has on it no strong out-posts, which must be forced, in order to secure our flanks and rear, while engaged in the main attack; and 4th. By approaching his f.a7ik^ (as this route ena- bles you to do) instead of his fronts we compel him to change his position, in which case, he must do one of four things : either he must occupy the north side of the river and give up the south, or he must occupy the south side and give up the north, or he must confine himself to the island and give up both sides ; or last- ly, he must occupy both sides, and in this case expose himself to be beaten in detail. None of these advantages are to be found in ap- 17 • • • ■ proaching him by the olhor route. Our troops arc not upon it ; Vc cannot move by Nviucr ; his out-pobts are ibrtificd, and must be carried by assault ; his front is the only assailable point, and that is covered by the St. Lawrence ; our attack must be made exactly M'hcrc he wishes it to be made ; all his arrangements and defences are, of course, in full operation, nor is he compelled to disturb them in the smallest degree. In a word, we must fight him on hi'< pvcxioua disposi- tions and plans, and not on any of ou7' own. These reasons are dcemc d conclusive for prefer- ruig the route of the St. Lawrence, and your measures (subsequent to your present expedition) will, there- fore, be conformed to this view of the subject. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Major Genei-al Dearborn. Extract of a letter froni Major General Dearborn tnt the Secretary at IVur, dated Sackctt's Harbor, April 23, 1813. " The troops embarked yesterday. Every vessel is crowded with as many men as possi!)le ; the total number 1600, of the best men. I trust we shall sail within one or two hours. If the sails for a new ves- sel arrive v/ithin a day or two, and a small sloop from Oswego, w^hich ought to have been here five days since, 150 more men will go in them. The ice did not move out until the I'Jth ; I arrived on the 20th.'* Head Quarters, York, Upper Canada, April 28, 1813. SIR, After a detenslon of some days, by adverse w Inds, we arrived here yesterday morning, and at 8 o'clock commenced landing our troops about three miles westward of the town, and one and a half from the enemy's -works. The wind was high and in an un- favorable direction for our boats, which prevented the troops landing at a clear field (the ancient site of the French fort Tarento.) Tho unfavorable wind prevented as many of the- armed vessels from taking B 2 18 such positions as would as effectually cover onr land- ing as they, otherwise would have done ; but every thing that could be done was effected. Our riflemen under major Forsyth first landed, under a heavy fire from Indians and other troops. General Sheaffe com- manded in person. He had collected his whole force in the v/oods near where the wind obliged our troops to land, consisting of about 700 regulars and militia, and 100 Indians. Major Forsyth was supported, as promptly as possible, with other troops ; but the con- test was sharp and severe for near half an hour. The enemy was repulsed by a far less number than their own, and as soon as general Pike landed with 7 or 800 men, and the remainder of the troops were push- ing for the shore, the enemy retreated to their works ; and as soon as the whole of the troops had landed and formed on the clear ground intended for the first land- ing, they advanced through a thick vrood to the open ground near the enemy's works, and after carrying one battery by assault, were moving on in columns towards the main works ; when the head of the col- umns was within about 60 rods of the enemy, a tre- mendous explosion occurred from a large magazine prepared for the purpose, which discharged such im- mense quantities of stone as to produce a most unfor- tunate effect on our troops. I have not yet been able to collect the returns of our killed and wounded, but our loss by the explosion must, I fear, exceed one hundred ; and among them I have to lament the loss oF the brave and excellent officer brigadier general Pike,who received such a contusion from a large stone as terminated his valuable life within a few hours. His loss will be severely felt. Previous to the explo- sion the enemy had retired into the town, excepting a party of regular troops, which did not retire early en- ough to avoid the shock ; it is said that upwards of forty of them were destroyed. General Sheaffe mov- ed off with the regular troops and left directions with the commanding officer of the militia to make the best terms he could. In the mean time, all further resistance on the part of the enemy ceased, and the outlines of a capitulation were agreed on. As soon as I was informed of general Pike's being wounded, I went on shore. I had been induced to confide the ifii* r 19 • • • • mediate command of the troops in action to gene- ral Pike from a conviction that lie fully expected it, and would be much mortitied at being deprived of the honor', which he hi^hfy appreciated. Every move- ment was under my view. Our troops behaved with great firmness and deserve much applause, especial- ly those who were first engaged, under circumstances that would have tried the firmness of veterans. Our loss in the action in the morning and in carrying the first battery, was not great, probably about 30 killed and wounded ; among them were a full proportion of ofiicers ; and althougli the enemy had a decided ad- vantage in point of numbers and position at the com- mencement, their loss was greater vhan ours, particu- larly in ofliccrs. It was with the greatest exertion. that the small ves- sels of the fleet could work into the harbor against a gale of wind directly ahead ; but as soon as they got in contact with the batteries a tremendous cannonade commenced from 24 and 32 pounders, and was kept up without intermission under a heavy fire from two batteries until the enemy's batteries were carried or blown up by the explosion, which undoubtedly had a powerful effect on the enemy, 1 am under the greatest obligations to commodore Chauncey for his able and indefatigable exertions in every possible manner that could give facility and effect to the expedition. He is equally estimable for deliberate, sound judgment, bravery and industry. The government could not have made a more fortunate selection for the impor- tant trust he holds. Unfortunately, the enemy's armed ship the " Prince Regent" left this place for King- ston four days before we arrived. A large ship on the stocks, and nearly planked up, with a large store of naval stores, were set on fire by the enemy soon after the explosion of the magazine. There are no vessels fit for use in the harbor. A considerable quan- tity of military stores and provisions remained. We shall not possess the means of transporting the prison- ers from this place, and must of course leave them on parole. I hope we shall so far complete the necessary measures at this place in the course of this day as to be able to sail to-morrow for Niagara, by which route 20 I send this by a small vessel, with notice to general Lewis of our approach. I am, sir, your obedient servant, H. DEARBORN. Honorable John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Head-Quarters, Niagara, May 3, 18 IS. SIR, I arrived at this place last evening with commo- dore Chauncey in his fast sailing schooner, the Lady of the Lake ; we left the fleet with the troops on board in York road. The wind has been so unfavorable as to render it impracticable to come to this place with any prospect of effecting- a landing. I have had' a conference with generals Lewis, Boyd and Winder, at which commodore Chauncey was pre- sent. I did not find the preparations at this place as complete as could have been expected ; but as soon as tiie wind will permit: we shall make a descent. Com- modore Chauncey has returned to the fleet, and will sail for this place as soon as he shall judge the wind favorable for crossing and landing the troops. In the mean time we shall be preparing to act in concert. General Boyd will take command of the brigade lately commanded by general Pike. We find^the ■weather on this lake at this season of the year, such as to render naval operations extremely tedious and uncertain, especially when we have to debark troops on the shore of the lake, where there are no harbors. Westerly winds are necessary : we have none but easterly. I have no doubt of ultimate success, unless harrassed and dispersed by the elements. I enclose a return of the killed and wounded. You will observe the loss was very small excepting that produced by the explosion. As nearly as I have been able to ascertain, the loss of the enemy amounted from ninety to one hundred killed, two hundred wounded, and upwards of three hundred prisoners. I have not been able to ascertain precisely the num- ber of the militia put on their parole ; I presume it could not be less than five hundred. There was an immense depot of naval and military stores. York was the principal depot for Niagara and Detroit ; and notwithstanding the immense amount which was de- • • • • stroyed by tliem, 'vvc round more than v/c could bring off. General Sheaffe's baj^^-ai^c and papcvs fell into my hands. These papers are a valuable aequisiiion : I have not had time for a full examination of them. A scalp was found in the executive and lep;islative chamber suspended near the speaker's chair, in com- pany with the mace and other emblems of royalty. I intend sending; it to you with a correct account of the facts relative to the place and situation in which it was found. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, H. DEARBORN. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War. Head- Quarters, Niagara, May 13, 1813. SIR, Commodore Chaunccy with the fleet and troops arrived here on the evening of the 8th, and in the course of the night the troops were debarked in a very sickly and depressed state. A large proportion of the officers and men were sickly and debilitated. It was deemed expedient to give them time to recruit their health and spirits, and in the mean time for the fleet to return to Sackett's Harbor, and take on board one thousand additional troops ; — and orders were despatched to Utica, Rome and Oswego, to have the troops at those places forwarded here in boats from Oswego. Backus's corps of light dragoons, about four hundred, principally dismounted, and five hun- dred of the 1 1th regiment from Burlington, have been ordered to Sackett's Harbor. These, with three hun- dred volunteers, and a full company of artillery, are to form a garrison at that place. Additional cannon will be mounted. General Brown of the militia has been requested to hold three or four hundred men of the immediate vicinity, in readiness to aid the garrison, in the event of any attack. My intention is to collect the main body of the troops at this place, and as soon as commodore Chauncey returns, and the forces from Oswego arrive, to commence operations in as spirited and eftcctual a manner as practicable. This change • • • • in the proposed system of operations, has been ren- dered necessary by a lon^ series of the most unfortu- nate winds and weather that could have occurred at this season, and such as could not have been contem- plated. Colonel Scott reached this yesterday in boats from Oswego, with three hundred men. He was seven days wind bound in different places, and narrowly escaped the loss of his boats and men. I had ex- pected him on the 3d. I had almost given him up for lost. General Harrison is invested ; and presuming on the uncertainty of events, I shall make calculation of a reinforcement to the enemy of British and Indians from Detroit. We shall ibe prepared for them ; and I shall consider a concentration of their force rather as a fortunate circumstance than otherwise. I observed in a former letter, that on my arrival here on th j evening of the 2d, the preparations for an immediate co-operation, were not as complete as could have been expected. General Lewis was at 14 miles distance. Winder, with his command, was at Black Rock. The boats had not been transported from Schlosser ; not one of the scows completed ; the heavy guns and mortars not placed in the batteries ; two 18 and two 12 pounders not mounted ; but with all tnese defects we should have made an attack on the 4th or 5th, if the fleet had arrived with the troops in health, on the Sd, as was expected. I have the honor to be, sir, Most respectfully, your Obedient and humble servant, H. DEARBORN. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Head-QuarterSj Fort George, Upper Canada, May, 27, 1813. SIR, The light troops under the command of colonel Scott and major Forsyth landed this morning at 9 o'clock. Major general Lewis's division, with colonel Porter's command of light artillery, supported them. General Boyd's brigade landed immediately after the light troops, and generals Winder and Chandler fol- "^J lowed in quick succession. The landing was warm- ly and obstinately disputed by the iiritish ioicos ; but the coolness and intrepidity of our troops soon coni- pelkd them to give (ground in every direction. Gen- eral Chandler with the reserve (composed of his bri- gade and colonel Macomb's artillery) covered the whole. Commodore Chauncey iiad made the most judicious arrangements tor silencing the enemy's bat- teries near the point of landing. The army is under the greatest obligations, to that a'ole naval commander, for ius indefatigable exertions, in co-operation in all itG important movements, and especially in its opera- tions this day. Our batteries succtedcd in rendering fort George untenuble ; and when tiie enemy had been beaten from his position, and found it necessary to re- enter it, after firing a few Lj;uns, and setting fire to the magazines, which soon exploded, moved off rapidly by different routes. Our light troops pursued them several miles. The troops havmg been under arms from one o'clock in the morning, were too niuch ex- hausted for any further pursuit. We are now in pos- session of fort George and its immediate dependen- cies ; to-morrow we shall proceed further on. The behavior of our troops, both officers and men, enti- tles them to the higliest praise j and the difference in our loss with that of the enemy, when we consider the advantages his positions afforded him, is astonish- ing. We had seventeen kilied and forty-five wound- ed. The enemy had ninety killed and one hundred and sixty wounded, of the regular troops. We have taken one hundred prisoners, exclusive of the wound- ed. Colonel Meyers of the .49th, was wounded and taken prisoner. Of ours, only one commissioned of- ficer was kilied, lieutenant Hobart, of the light artil- lery. Inclosed is the report of major general Lewis. I have the honor to be, sir. With the greatest consideration and respect, Your most obedient servant, H. DEARBORN. The hon. John Armstrong, Secretary ol War. On the field, one o'clock, 27th May, 1813. DEAR SIR, Fort George and its dependencies are ours. — e> ■4- The enemy, beaten at all points, has blown up his magazines and retired. It is impossible at this mo- ment to say any thing of individual gallantry. There, v/as no man who did not perform his duty in a man-^* ner which did honor to himself and his country.— Scott and Forsyth^s commands, supported by Boyd's and Winder's brigades, sustained the brunt of the ac- tion. Our loss is triPiing — perhaps not more than twenty killed, and twice that number wounded. The enemy left in the hospital one hundred and twenty- four, and I sent several on board the fleet. We have also made about one hundred prisoners of the regular forces. I am, dear sir, most respectfully, Your obedient servant, MORGAN LEWIS, Major General Dearborn, Commander in Chief of the Northern Army, Head-Quarters, Fort George, May 29, 1813. SIR, General Lewis was ordered to march yesterday morning with Chandler and Winder's brigades, the- light artillery, dragoons, light infantry and riflemen, in pursuit of the enemy by the way ot Queenstown. I had received satisfactory information that the enemy had made a stand on the mountain, at a place called the Beaver Da'ms,where he had a deposit ot provisions and stores, and that he had been joined by three hun- dred regulars from Kingston, landed from small ves- sels, near the head of the lake I had ascertained that he was calling in the militia, and had presumed that he would confide in the strength of his position and venture an action, by which an opportunity would be afforded to cut of his retreat. I have been disappointed. Although the troops from fort Erie and Chippewa had joined the main body at the Beaver Dams, he broke up yesterday pre- cipitately ; continued his route along the mountain, and will reach the head of the lake by that route.— Lieutenant colonel Preston took possession of fort Erie and its dependencies last evenn»g. The fort had been abandoned and the magazines blown up I have ordered general Lewis to return without delay 25 * • • • to this place, and if the winds favor us, we-may yd cul off the enemy's retreat at York : but unfortunate- ly \vc have plenty of rain but no wind ; it may, how- ever, change for the better in a few hours. I shall afford commodore Chauncey every facility in my power in his preparations for commandint^: lake Eric. He is very anxious to return to Sackett's Ilarbor ; for until his other ship is fitted, it is not certain that he can continue in the command of lake Ontario. I was the last evening honored with your des])atches of the 15th instant. 1 have taken measures in relation to the twenty-three prisoners who are to be put in close confinement. 1 have tlie lionor to be, sir, With high consideration and respect, Your most obedient servant, H. DEARBORN. Hon. General John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Extract of a letter from Major General Dearborn to the Secretary at IVar^ dated Newark, Upper Canada, June 4, 1813. " Chandler and Winder are in pursuit of the enemy who has halted abour fifty-five miles from here, lam still very ieeble and gain strength but slowly." Head Quarters, Fort George, June 6, 1813. SIR, I have received an express from the head of the lake this evening, with the intelligence that our troops were attacked at two o'clock tins morning, by the whole British force and Indians, and by some str/mge fatality, though our loss in numbers was small, and the enemy was completely routed and driven from the field, both brigadier generals, Chand- ler and Winder, were taken prisoners. They had ad- vanced to ascertain the situation of a company of ar- tillery, where the attack commenced. Gen. Chand- ler had his horse shot under him and was bruised by the fall. General Vincent, tiieir commander, is sup- posed to have been killed. Colonel Clark was mor- tally wounded and fell into our hands, with sixtv pris- C • • • • oners of the 49 th. The command devolved on colo- nel Burn, who has retired to the Forty- mile Creek .' If either of the general officers had remained in com- mand, the enemy would have been pursued and cut up ; or, if colonel Burn had been an officer of infan- try. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded and prisoners, must exceed two hundred and fifty. The enemy sent in a flag; next morning, with a request to bury their dead. Generals Lewis and Boyd' set off immediately to join the advanced ?irmy. 1 never so severely felt the want of health as at present, at a time when my services might, perhaps, be most useful- I hope general Hampton will repair here as soon a? possible. With {jfreat respect, I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, H. DEARBORN. Hon. General John Armstrong, Secretary of War. June 8, 1 13. There was a mistake in the arrival of the express mail Since writing: the above the cncniy's fleet has passed, consisting of two large ships and- four heavy schooners. I have consequently deemed it prudent to concentrate the forces at this fioint* H. D. Head Quarters, Fort George, June 8, 1813. SIR, I have been honored with your letters of the 36th and 27th ult. and a duplicate of one of the 19th of April. My ill state of health renders it extremely painful to attend to the current duties ; and unless my health improves soon, I fear I shall be compelled to retire to some place, where my mind may be more at ease, for a sl>ort time. Colonel Macomb proceeded with two hi;t1idrcd men, with the commodore, to Sack- ett's Harl/or. Lieutenant colonel Ripley has also g-one, by tne way of Oswei^o, to the Harbor, with his regiment, where he will be joined by several hundred recruits. He took charge of the provisions to Oswego. The commodore \rili not probably venture out until 37 • • • • his new sliip is fit for sea. Tlie enemy has iioav ilic Comuiancl of the lake, and as long: as that is the case, any offensive oj)eralions bclosv this must be suspend- ed. I had intended placinpj a small i^arrison at ion Eiic,'and a sironi^er one at ion Geori^e ; hut as you have directed otherwise, I shall select fort Geor^-e as guardini;- the only harbor on the southern shore of the lake Detroit will be the safest harbor on lake Eric. I have, by the request of commodore Chauncey, de- tached 200 men to aid captain Perry in removing his firmed vessels from Biack R )ck to Presque Isle. Commodore Chaunccy is unwilliiii; to approach Mai- den, unless he can have a reinforcement to general Harrison, of our regulars. As niy command does not extend to Maiden, 1 ask your directions on this sub- ject. The commodore- is anxious that his Iket on lake Erie should proceed with troops to M:chilimaeinac and St. Joseph, as soon as the business shall be decid- ed at Detroit. On taking possession of this place, the inhabitants came in, in numbers, and gave their pa- roles. 1 have promised them protection. A large majority are friendly to the United States, and fixed in their hatred against the government of Great Bri- tain. If they should generally be made prisoners of war, and taken from their families, it would have a most unfavorable eff'ect on our military operations in the provinces. The whole country would be driven to a state of desperation, and satisfy them, beyoud a doubt, that we had no intention of holding the pro- vinces. The same effect would be pioduced on the Indians, who are now principally quiet, for fear of losing their valuable tract of land on Grand river. I had authorized the civil magistrates to combine in the due exercise of their functions, and cannot, with pro- priety, revoke this authority, unless specially directed. 1'he whole of our troops, officers and men, in the action of the 27th, discovered a degree of ardor and readiness for action, which evinced a determination to do honor to themselves and country. The animat- ing example set by colonel Scott and general Boyd, in landing and repulsing the enemy, deserves partic- ular mention. I am greatly indebted to colonel Por- ter, major Armistead and captain Totten, for their judicious arrangements and skilful execution in dc- 28 • • • • molishing the enemy's fort and batteries, and to the officers of the artillery generally, who had the diree- lion of the guns. I have the honor to be, With great respect, Your most obedient servant, H. DEARBORN. Hon. General John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Extract of a Utter from Major General Morgan LeiviSy • to the Secretary of Ifary dated Niagara, June 14, 18 IS. *' You will perceive by the enclosed copy of or- ders, marked 1, that general Dearborn from indispo- sition, has resigned the command, not only of the Ni- agara army, but of the district. 1 have doubts wheth- er he will ever again be fit for service. He has been repeatedly in a stale of convalescence ; but relapses on the least agitation of mind. " In my last, 1 mentioned the unfortunate circum- stance of the capture of our two brigadiers. Chandler and Winder. The particulars s.re detailed in the re- port of colonel Burns, marked 2, which he gives from the best information he could collect. His corps lay a considerable distance from the scene of active opera- tion, as you will perceive by the' enclosed diagram. — The light corps spoken of, were Captain Hindman's, Nicholas's and Biddle's companies of the 2d artillery, ■ serving as infantry. These three gentlemen, and • captains Archer and Towson of the same regiment, and Leonard of the light artillery, are soldiers who would honor any service. Their gallantry, and that of their companies, was equally conspicuous on this occasion, as in the affair of the 27th ult. A view of general Chandler's encampment will be sufficient to show, that his disaster was owing to its arrangement : its centre being its weakest point, and that being dis- covered by the enemy in the evening, received the combined attack of his whole force, and his line was completely cut. It is said, though I cannot vouch for its truth, that general Winder saw this, and remon- strated against it. The gallantry of the 5th, 25th and 29 • • • • pavt of iliC 23cl and light tioops, saved the army : of tlic 5th it is said, that when tlic day broke, not a man was missing ; and tliat a part of the 22i.\^ under Major Armstrong, m as found sustaining its left llani;. 'Iheip. fire was irresistible, and the enemy was compelled to give way. Could he have bce?i /ireaard (he Jiej.t morn- ir/g, his destruction ivas inevitable. He was dispersed in every direction, and even his commaiiding general was missing witliout his hat or horse, i understand he was fomid the next evening almost fairiislicdj at a distance of four miles from the scene of action. " Lieutenant M^Chcsney's ii;allantry recovered a piece of artillery and prevented the capture of others. He merits promotion for it. *' On the evening of the 6th of June, I received the order, No. 4, and joined the army at 5 in the after- noon of the 7th. I found it at the Forty-mile Creek, ten miles in the rear of the ground, on which it had been attacked, encamped on a plain of about a mile in width with its right flank on the lake, and its left on the creek, which skirts the base of a perpendicular mountain of considerable height. On my route, I re- ceived No. 5 and 6, enclosed. " At 6 in the evening the h.ostile fleet hove in sight, thougii its character could not be ascertained with precision. We lay on our arms all night. At dawn of day struck our tents, and descried the hostile squad- ron abreast of us about a mile from the shore. Our boats which transported the principal patt of our bag- gage and camp equipage lay on the beach ; it was a dead calm : and about six, the enemy towed in a large sch.ooner, which opened her fire on our boats. As soon as she stood for the shore, her object being evi- dent, I ordered dosvn Archer's and 'i'owson's compr- nies with four pieces of artillery, to resist hei attempt?. I at the same time sent captain Totten, of the engi- neers, (a most valuable ofiicer) to construct a tempo- rary furnace for heating shot, which was prepared and in operation in less than thirty minutes. Her fire was returned with a vivacity and effect (excelled by no ar- tillciy in the universe) which soon compelled her to retire. A party of savages now made their appear- ance on the brov7 of the mountain (which being per- fectly bald, exhibited them to view^) and comracnccd C 2 3b « • • • a fire on our camp. I ordered colonel Chrystie to dislodpje them, who entered on the service with alac- rity, but found himself anticipated by lieutenant El- 'dridge, the adjutant of the regiment, who witli a promptness and gallantry highly honorable to that young officer, had already gained the summit of the mountain, with a party of volunteers, and routed the barbarian allies of the defender of the Christian faith. This young man merits the notice of government. " These little affairs cost us not a man. Sir James L. Yeo being disappointed pf a tragedy, rrext deter- mined, in true dramatic style, to amuse us with a farce. An officer with a flag was sent to me from his ship, advising me, that as I was invested with savages in my rear, a fleet in my front, and a powerful army on my fiank, he, and the officers commanding his Bri- tannic majesty's land forces, thought it a duty to de- mand a surrender of my army. I answered that the message was too ridiculous to merit a reply. No. 7 was delivered to me at about 6 this morning. Between 7 and 8 o'clock, the few waggons we had being load- ed, first with sick, and next with ammunition. Sec. the residue of camp equipage and baggage was put in the boats, and a detachment of tvvo hundred men of the 6th regiment detailed to proceed in them.. Orders were prepared to be given them to defend the boats, and if assailed by any of the enemy's small vessels to carry them by boarding. By some irregularity, which I have not been able to discover, the boats put off with- out the detachments, induced probably by the stillness of the morning. When they had progressed about three miles, a breeze sprung up, and an armed schoon- er overhauled them. Those who were enterprizin^ kept on and escaped ; others ran to the shore and de- serted their boats. We lost twelve of the number, principally containing the baggage of the officers and men. " At ten I put the army in motion, on our return to this place. The savages and incorporated militia, hung on our flanks and rear throughout the march, and picked up a few stragglers. On our retiring the British army advanced, and now occupies, the ground weleft." SI • • « • Papers vvjevreil to hy General Lewis. Head Quarters, Niagara, June 6, 1813. DEAR GEMUIAL, You will please to proceed, with as little delay as may be, and take command of the advanced army. Brigadier generals Boyd and Swartwout, and colonel Scott, will accompany you. I have ordered an addi- tional escort of light artillery to he equipped as caval- ry to attend you. You will attack the enemy as soon as practicable ; your force will ensure success ; every possible eflbrt should be made for preventing the en- emy's escape. May success and glory attend you. Yours with esteem, II. DEARBORN. ]V!ajor General Lewis. Niagara, June 6, 1813. DEAR GENKRAL, A ship having appeared tliis morning steering towards the head of the lake, which is undoubtedly one of the enemy's ships ; others ai e appearing ; you will please to return with the troops to this place as soon as possible. Yours, with esteem, II. DEARBORN. P. S. The object of the enemy's fleet must be in- tended to cover the retreat of their troops or to bring on a reinforcement. H. D. Major Gen. Lewis. June 6, 1813. It is possible the fleet in sight may be our own ; a few hours will probably enable you to determine and act accordingly. H. DEARBORN. General Lewis. DEAR GENERAL, I am induced to suspect that the enemy's fleet have an intention on this place. Two small schoon- ers have been examiiiing the shore very minutely for • • • • three or four hours this afternoon. They have gone on tovvartis the liead of the lake, and their ships ap- pear to have taken the same course ; they may take on board additional troops near the head of the lake and be here before you reach this place. You will please to send Milton's detachment and 500 of Chan- dler's brigade, and colonel Burn's light dragoons vv^ith all possible despatch ; they ought, if possible, to be here some time to-morrow forenoon. You vv^ill follovr with tlic remainder of the troops as soon as pvtictica- ble. It will be necessary to .ake care that your boats are nor taken or lost. General Svvartwout and colo- nel Scott should return as soon as they can. Yours with esteem, H. DEARBORN. General Lewis. ORDERS. Adjutant General's Office, Head Quarters, Fort George, June 10, 1813. By reason of the teirrporary indisposition of major general Dearborn, the command of the troops on this frontier and of the ninth military department of the United States, devolves on major general Lewis. Ail persons concerned ?a'e notified accordingly. By command, W. SCOTT, Adjutant General, Extract of a letter from Colonel James Burn^ 2t/ light dragoo7is^ to Major General Dearborn, " In the afternoon of the 5th our advance guard, consisting of the light infantry, under the command of captains Hindman, Biddle and Nicholas, a part of the rifle corps under captain Lytle, and a detach- ment of the 2d dragoons under captain Selden, com- menced a sharp skirmish with the advance of the enemy, said to be a detachment of the 49th regiment, which soon retreated, covered by a thick woods, hav- ing, however, several wounded on both sides, and one dragoon horse killed. In the evening our ad- vance returned behind Stony creek, where the army took a position for the night. The iig!\t infantry, and 35 • • • • part of the rifle cor])s on the rif^hi of the 25lh regi- ment, formed the rit,rlit \vin!^ The ariillery, under captains Towson and L. Leonard, the centre. The 5th, 16th, 23d, and some riflemen, the left win^, and the cavalry in the rear. A stront;- picket i^uard Avas pustcd some distance in front, also s»ron|^ flank and rear guards in such manner as to surround the m hole tnrampment with sentinels — the troops lay under arms without any covering. Our numbers in the field did not exceed one thousand. Three hundred effectives of the 13th and Uth regiments having en- camped on the borders of the lake, about three miles distant, for the protection of the boats. The enemy foixcd our picket and attacked us about two o'clock in the morning (which was very dark) with their army and Indians, expecting, no doubt, to throw us into confusion. Their views were, in this instance, however, completely frustrated, and when the day dawned, none were to be seen except their killed and wounded, who covered the field of battle. The at- tack began on our right, and was gallantly repelled by the fire of the li'^ht troops and 25th regiment, com- manded by major Smith. '^ In a i'ew minutes it became general along the whole line, and was nobly returned by the artillery of the centre, commanded by captains Towson and L. Leonard, and again by the troops of the left wing, viz. the 5th, under lieutenant colonel Milton, the 23d, conimanded by major Armstrong, and the 16th. The fire continued with little inter- mission for one hour, during which time the enemy attempted by frequent charges, to break our line, but •without effect, being obliged to give way by the well directed fire of our brave troops. The 13th and 14th regiments (which had been de- tached the preceding evening) were active in making prisoners, and advanced with much ardor to the field in hopes of sharing with the gallant 5th and 25th, 23d and light troops, the glory of anotiier combat. But the unfortunate capture of brigadier generals Chandler ?.nd Winder, who were taken in the action unknown to any part of the army, and hurried into the enemy's lines, prevented the future operations from being carried into effect with the promptitude whicii would assuredly have taken place had cither of ihoiic •flicersbeen present to command. S4 • • • • You will be surprized to find our loss so small— that ot the enemy exceeds ours much ; they lost in killed about sixty, many wounded, and upwards of seventy prisoners, all regulars and principally of the 49th regiment. Several ol" their officers were killed, wounded and missini^. A flag was sent by colonel Hervey, askins^ permission to make enquiries for them ; also to be allowed to send a surj^eon to attend their own wounded, which I readily granted. On the return of day-light, I fo\nid the command of the army had devolved on me, and being- at a loss what steps to pursue in the unpleasant dilemma, occasioned by the cap nre of our generals ; findmg the ammuni- tion of many of tiie troops nearly expended, I had re- course to a council of the field officers present, of whom fk majority coincided in opinion with n\e that we ouy,ht to retire to our former position at the Forty* mile Creek, wliere we could be supplied with a.mmu- nition and provisions, and either advance or remain until futther orders. Every aid was afforded by the staff. The assistant adjutant general major Johnson, and brigade majors Jones and Wartenby exerted themselves in rendering all the assistance in their power. Tiie army, on this occasion, has proved its firmness and bravery, by keeping its position in a night at- tack, in which the yells of the Indians mingled with the roaring oi catmon and musketry, were calculated to intimidate. The enemy charged repeatedly, and so dark wus the night that our army could not distin- guish friend from foe ; in one of those they succeed- ed in carrying off a six pounder, a howitzer and a caisson, to the great mortification of our brave artil- lery. I presume it was on that occasion also that we lost our generals, who were distinctly heard encou- raging cur men to fight. The squadron of dragoons remained formed and steady at their post, but could not act on account of the darkness of the night and the thickness of the adiacent w^oods. Much credit is due to the troops generally, but loo much praise can-' not be said of the conduct of the 5th and 25th reg- iments.'* 35 • • • • Montreal, June 18, 18IS. Sin, I decTTi it mj duty to improve t^^c earliest oppor- tunity possible, to t^ivc you a more deiaili d account oftlic afTaii" of the 6ili instant, near Stony Creek, than I have before had it in my power to do. On the morning of the 5th, I anived at Forty-mile Creek. The detachment under j^eneral Winder was then under marchini^* orders for Stony Creek. Aficr a short halt the whole marched for that jdace, and ar- rived there between five and six o'clock, P. M. at which place a small picket of the enemy was posted, but retired on our* approach. The advanced i^uard pursued, and soon fell in with a picket of about 100 stroni^, under colonel Williams. A skirmish ensued. I hastened the main body. Williains retreated, and our advance pursued. The pursuit was continued rather lont^er than I could have wished, but returned to their proper position in the line of march, not far from sun set. I had ordered the 13ih and 14th, who "were in the rear, to take a position for the ni^lit near the mouth of the creek, to cover the boats, (should they arrive) which would be on the route which I intended to pursue tlw next morning, and a favorable position presenting itself, I encamped with the residue of the troops (except captain Archer's company of artillery, which accompanied the I3ih and i ith) on the spot where we had halted, with an advanced picket from half to three quarters of a mile in front with ex- press orders for them to keep out constantly a patrole. A right and left flank guard and a rear guard were also posted. I gave positive orders for the troops to lay on iheir arms. Contrary to my orders fires were kindled ; but there are doubts whether this operated for or against us, as the fires of tlie 25th, which were in front, and by my orders had been abandoned, ena- bled to see a small part of the enemy, while the fires on our left enabled the enemy to set our line. On the whole, I think it operated against us I did expect the enemy would attack us that night if he intended 10 fight ; but perhaps this was not expected by all I had my horse confined near mc, and directed that tho harness should not be taken from Uie uriillcry hordes. 35 « • • • I directed where and how the line should be formed, in case of attack. About an hour before day light, on the morning of the 6tli, the alarm was given. 1 was instantly up, and the 25th, which lay near me, was almost as instantly formed, as well as the 5th and 23d, which was on the left, under the immediate eye of general Winder. Owing to the neglect of the front picket, or some other cause, the British officers say, that they were not liailed, or an alarm given, until they were within three hundred yards of our line. The extreme darkness prevented us from seeing or knowing at what point they intended to attack us, until an attack was made on our right. A well di- rected fire was opened upon them from the 25th and from nearly the whole line. After a few minutes I heard several muskets in our rear, in the direction of the rear guard, and then expected that the enemy had gained our rear by some path unknown to me, and were about to attack us in rear. I instantly ordered colonel Milton, with the 5th, to form in our rear near the woods, to meet such circumstances as might take place, knovvmg that I could call him to any other point, if necessary, at any moment. 1 had observed, that the artillery was not covered, and directed gene- ral Winder to cause the 23d to he formed so far to the right, that their right should cover the artillery At this moment I heard a new burst of fire from the ene- my's left on our right, and not able to see any thing which took place, I set out full speed towards the right, to take measures to prevent my right Hank from being turned, which I expected was the object of the enemy. I had proceeded but a few yards, before my horse fell under me, by which fall I received a serious injury. Here was a time when I have no recollection of what passed, but I presume it was not long. As soon as 1 recovered, 1 recollected what my object was, and made my way to the right, and gave major Smith such directions as 1 thought proper, to prevent his right from being turned by surprise. I was then re- turning toward the centre, and when near the artillery, heard mtn, who, by ihe noise, appeared to be in con- fusion, it being the point at which I expected the 23d to be formed. I expected it was that regiment. I approached them, and as soon as 1 was near enough, • • • p I saw a body of men, ^vho I thought to be the 25d, in rear of the anillcry, broken. I hobbled in amongst them, and began to rally them, and directed thciu to form ; but I soon found my mistake : it was the Bri- tish 49th, who had pushed forward to the head of tlieir column and gained the rear of the artillery. I was immediately disarmed and conveyed down the column to its rear. It was not yet day, and the extreme darkness of the night, to which was added tiie smoke of the fire, put it totally out of our power to see the situation of the enemy. This was all that saved their ■columns from sure and total destruction, of which some of their ofTicers are aware. After seeing the si- tuation of the column as I passed, I did hope and ex- pect th(st general Winder, on the first dawn of light, would see their shuation, and bring colonel Milton ■with the 5th, (who I had still kept in reserve until I could have day-light to discern their situation) to at- tack this column, v/hich, I am sure, he would have done to advantage ; but, to my mortification, I soon learned that he had fallen into the same mistake with myself; and by endeavoring to learn what was taking place in the centre, he was also taken, as well as ma- jor Van De Venter. To the extreme darkness of the night, the enemy's knowledge of his intended point of attack, and our not knowing at what point to ex- pect him, must be attributed his partial success, and not to a want of strength or bravery in our troops, •who, generally, behaved remarkably w^ell under all the circumstances ; and however unfortunate the event, as it relates to myself, I only ask that all the circum- stances may be taken into consideration, in making up your opinion upon the conduct of general Winder and myself in this affair, which I am sure you will do, and I flatter myself you will see no cause of censure. I regret that my decrepid situation, and the rapidity with which we have been brought to this place, has put it out of my power to give you a detailed account of the afl'air earlier. I am now able to walk some with the aid of a cane, and I hope I shall continue to re- cover. I have the honor to be, Sec. S^.c. JOHN CHANDLEPm Brigadier General. Major General Dearborn. D Head Quaiters, Fort George, June 12th. SIR, As the general is unable to write, I am directed by him to inform you, that in addition to the debility and fever he has been afflicted with, he has within the last twenty-four hours experienced a violent spasmo- dic attack on his breast, which has obli£i:ed him to re- linquish business aUogetlicr, and the command is p^iv- cn over to major general Lewis, who will in future make the necessary communications to the depart- ment of war. The British fleet still rides triumphant in this section of the lake. 1 have the honor to be, Sir, With great respect and consideration, Your obedient and humble servant, SAMUEL S. CONNOR, ji. D. C. to General Dearborn. Hon. General John Armstrong-, Secretary of War. Esctract of a letter from the Secretary at War te Alajor General Dearborn^ dated War Department, June 19, 1813. " Your letters of the Cth and 8th instant have been received. There is, indeed, some strange fatality at- tending our efforts. I cannot disguise from you the surfirise occasioned by the tvjo escapes of a beaten enemy ; first on the 27*h ultimo, and again on the 1st instant. Battles are not gained when an infcvior and broken enemy is not destroyed. Nothing is done, while any thing that might have been done is omitted. This maxim is as old as the profession of arms, and in no walk of life applies with as much foi-ce as in that of a soldier. " Should Proctor have retired from Maiden, and been able to efiect a junction with Vincent's corps at the head of the lake, it has been done for one of two purposes; either to dispute, with you the possession of the peninsula, or more securely to eft'ect their gen- eral retreat to Kingston. The latter is the more pro- bable conjecture of the two, and is strengthened by the appearance of Yeo on the upper part of the lake, and by the position which Vincent has taken there." n 9 EXTRACT. Head Quarters, Fort George, June 20, 18 13. SIR, . . , I liavc been so reduced in strength as to be in- capable of any ronniumd. lirigiidicr r-eneral lioyd is the only general oHker present, and from resigna- tions, sickness, and other contingencies, the nuniber of regimental officers present fit for duly are far below Avhut the service requires. A considerable proportion of our army being composed of new recruits, and the weather having been extremely unfavorable to health, the sick have become so numerous, in addition to the wounded, as to reduce the etTective force far below -what could have been contemplated ; but if the weath- er should become favorable, which ought to be ex- pected, a great part of the sick will probably be fit for duty in a short time. The enemy have been rein- forced at the head of the lake with about 500 men- of .the 104th regiment. A vessel carrying ammunition and other munitions of war, bound to the head of the lake, was captured four days since by one of commo- dore Chauncey's schooners, from which I conclude, , that the enemy will endeavor to keep up such a force at or near the head of the lake, as to prevent any part of our force in this quarter from joining or proceed- ing to Sackett's Harbor for the purpose of attacking Kingston ; and such is the state of the roads in this flat country, in consequence of continual rains, as to render any operations against the enemy extremely diiFicult without the aid of a fleet for the transportation of provisions, ammunition and other necessary sup- plies. The enemy would probably retreat on our ap- proach and keep out of our reach, being covered by one or more armed vessels, which remain on this part of the lake. The whole of these enibarrassments have resulted from a temporary loss of the command ot the lake. The enemy has availed himself of the advan- tage and forwarded reinforcements and supplies." Extract of a Utter from the Secretary at Jt'ar to Major General Dearborn^ dated War Department, July 1, 1SI3. " The leisure you now have offers a fine uppor- 4a • • • • tunity for the adjutants and inspectors g-eneral to at- tend to their particular duties. Some of the parties of which you speak from the enemy, may practise a trick on those who follow them. These last ought to be very circujnsfiect. Chauncey will, I hope, soon re- appear on the lake. A battle will then decide which of us shall be victor for the campaign. I am afraid that we have all along acted on a belief, very \ pleasing, but ill founded, viz. that we were ahead of the enemy as to naval means and naval preparation on ijj the lakes. Are we sure that our calculations with regard to lake Erie have been better than those with regard to lake Ontario ? A week or two will decide, this question. jj Head Quarters, Fort George, June 25, 1813. SIR, I have the mortification of informing you of an unfortunate and unaccountable event, which occurred yesterday. On the 23d, at evening, lieutenant colo- nel Boerstler with 570 men, infantry, artillery, cavalry, and riflemen, in due proportion, was ordered to march, by the way of Qucenstown, to a place called the Bea- ver Dams, on the high ground, about eight or nine miles from Queenstown, to attack and disperse a body of the enemy collecteo^here for the purpose of pro- curing provisions, and harrassing those inhabitants | who are considered friendly to the United States ; — their force was, from the most direct information, composed of one company of the 104th regiment, a- bove 80 strong : from 150 to 200 militia, and from 50 to 60 Indians. At eight o'clock yesterday morning, when within about two miles of the Beaver Dams, our detachment was attacked from an ambuscade, but soon drove the enemy some distance into the woods, and then retired to a clear field, and sent an express for a reinforcement, saying, he would maintain his po- sition until reinforced. A reinforcement of 300 men marched immediately under the command of colonel Chrystie, but on arriving at Queenstown, colonel Chrystie received authentic informatisn that lieuten- ant colonel Boerstler with his command had surren- dered to the enemy, and the reinforcement returned to camp. A man who belonged to a small corps of V 41 a ■ • • • mounted volunteer riflemen, came in this mornin.'^, who states, that tlie enemy surrounded our dciach- ment in the wo;)ds, and towards 12 o'clock commen- ced a general attack ; that our troops i'oui^iu mure tiian two hours, uiuil the artillei'y had expended the whole of its ammunition, Vind tlicn surrendered, and at the time of the surrender the informant made his escape. Why it should have been deemed proper to remain several hours in a position surrounded with woods without either risking a decisive action, or ef- fecting a retreat, remains tc^ be accounted for, as well as the project of waiting: for a reinforcement from a distance of fifteen or sixteen miles. No information has been received of the killed or wounded. The enemy's ileet has again arrived in our neighborhood. With respect and esteem, I am, sir, Your humble servant, 11. DEARBORN. .Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. War Department, July 6, 1813. SIR, I have the President's orders to express to you his decision, that you retire from the command of dis- trict No. 9, and of the troops within the same, until your health be re-established, and until farther or- ders. I have the honor to be, Sir, With very great respect. Your most obedient And very humble servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. .Major General Henry Dearborn. D 2 42 CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE Secretary of War and Brigadier Gen, Boyd, JExtract of a letter from the Secretary of JFar ti> Brigadier General Boyd^ dated War Department, July 30, 1813. " The restriction put upon you with regard ta the enemy, was but commensurate with their com- mand of the lake. So long as they had wings and you had only feet ; so long as they could be transported, 'jupplied and reinforced, by water aird at will, com- mon sense, as well as military principles, put you on the defensive. These circumstances changed, the reason of the rule changes with them ; and it now be- comes your business, in concert with the fleet, to ha- rass and destroy the enemy, wherever you can find him. Of the competency of your force there can be no doubt, provided your estimate of his be but toler- ably correct. SIR, War Department, July 30, 1813. I have this moment received information that fort Meigs is again attacked, and by a considerable regular force. This must have been drawn from Dc Rottenberg*s corps. His late insolence in pushing his small attacks to the very outline of your works, has been intended to mask the weakness produced by this detachment. If (as you say) you can beat him, do it without delay ; and remember, that if you beat, yoii must destroy him. There is no excuse for a general who permits a beaten enemy to escape and to rally. These remarks grow out of some recent events in your quarter, and require no explanation. It is the President's wish that you should communicate fully and freely with brigadier general Williams. It is only by this kind of intercourse that the efforts of all can be united in promoting the public good. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your most obedient, humble servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Brigadier General Boyd, Fort George. 43 Extract of a letter from Brigadier General John P, Boxjd to the Hecretary of JTar^ dated Head Quarters, Fort George, July 27, 1813. *' I had the honor to address you last on the 2Uh instant. On the 22d instant, general Lewis and com- modore Chauncey were advised by me that from in- telligence received from major Chapin and deser- ters, most of the enemy's captured ordnance and their principal depot of ammunition, stores, 5<:c. are at the head of the lake. It was suggested that a small force might surprise, take, destroy, or bring them off, if part of the fleet might be aJlowed to assist in moving our troops. Yesterday the Lady of the Lake brought me a letter from commodore Chauncey, stating that he approved of the enterprise, and rjofdd go himfielf with his fleet to the head of the lake^ and requested guides, infor- mation. Sec. I have deemed it proper to detail a number of troops under the command of colonel Scott, which will embark on board the Lady of the Lake, with directions to join the squadron, which is believed to be now somewhere near Little York.'' >* Extract of a letter from Brigadier General Boyd /o the Secretary ofWar^ dated Fort George, July 31, 1813. ** I had the honor to address you on the 27th instant. Agreeably to th<^ plan therein suggested, commodore Chauncey arrived here on the 28th in- stant, and received on board the fleet a body of men under the command of colonel Scott. Light and contrary winds retard their progress up the lake, hut ere this the attack has probably Ijeen made on the head of the lake. No information has yet been re- ceived. " The enemy has lately kept his Indians so constant- ly scouiing the woods of our vicinity, that we gain n* deserters nor intelligence of his movcmenLs." 44 Colonel Scott^s Refiort* Fort George, Augusts, 1813. SIR, I have the honor to report, that in obecUnnce to your orders I proceeded on board the fleet with the •detachment of troops under my command, destined to act against the enemy's post at the head of Little lake, or Burlington bay ; in sight of which place I arrived late in the evening of the 30th ultimo, the fleet having been greatly delayed by the almost constant calm which has prevailed since we sailed. This delay of forty-eight hours, after our destination became obvious to the enemy, enabled him to antici- pate our ariival by a reinforcement of 200 men from the nearest posts on this side of the lake, of which we were early apprized. Nevertheless, commodore Chauncey, with my concurrence, thought it advisable to land the detachment from the army, together with about 250 marines and seamen from the fleet, (mak» ing a total force of about 500 men) the better to enable us to ascertain the exact force and position of the enemy's camp. The landing was made on the neck of land which nearly cuts oft' the I^ittle lake from lake Ontario. From this point^ve could plainly dis- tovcr the enemy's position on Burlington heights, surrounded on three sides by a creek, and in front by an entrenchment and a battery of seven pieces of can- non. The Little lake or bay is between those two points, six or seven miles across. Perceiving the strength of the enemy's position, and learning from the inhabitants, that the force on the heights, independent of the reinforcement above men- tioned, was nearly equal to our own, the commodoie determined not to risk an attack, especially as our boats would have been greatly annoyed in the ascent towards the head of the bay, by a small schooner of the enemy's, having on board one 18 pound carronade. The channel connecting the two lakes did not affurd water for the passage of either of our schooners. In the above opinion I fully concurred with the commo- dore. It may be added, that the enemy received a further reinforcement of 400 men the same evening by land from Kingston. I 45 I • • • • On our return to this harbor the. ilcct put Into York, at which place we burnt the barracks and public stores, unci brought cfi" one piece of ordnance, (24 pounder) eleven batteaux, and about 400 barrels of flour and hard bread. The barracks and stores had been tepaired since the 27th May. Thirty or forty sick and wounded in hospital, were paroled, and four prisoners (regulars) brought off. There had been no garrison at the place for the few days previous, 1 have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, W. SCOTT, Ccl. Com. detachment* Brigadier General Boyd, Commanding, &c. &c. Extract of a letter from Brigadier General John P, Boyd to the Secretary ofWar^ dated Head Quarters, Fort George, U. C. August 8, 1813. " By Tuesday's mail I had the honor to receive your commands of tne 30ih instant, and yesterday a number of letters enclosed, which were delivered as directed. " Conceiving myself at liberty to act offensively on the arrival of the fleet, an expedition was immedi- ately concerted against the enemy, and acceded to by- commodore Chauncey. One thousand was to embark on board the fleet, under the command of brigadier general Williams, to land at the head of the lake. The army at this place was to move in two columns, against the enemy's front, while general Williams assailed his rear and cut off his retreat. Yesterday- morning, the time when the troops were to have era- barked, the enemy's fleet was discovered off this place. " Commodore Chauncey weighed anchor, ap- proached him, and by every indic-ition, that a lee- ward position would admit, offered t© engage." Head Quarters, Fort George, August 12, 1813. SIR, I had the honor to address you the 8th instant. Unfavoiable winds continued to thwart the wishes of commodore Chauncey to bring the enemy to action ; 46 • • • • and about the 9th instant he was so unfortunate as to lose, in a squall, two small schooners, which upset. On the night of the lOth a severe cannonade was heard on the lake, which we ascertained in the morn- ing, resulted in the loss of two of our smallest schoon- ers. Undiscouraged by these slight disasters, commo- dore Chauncey is still in pursuit of the enemy, resolved to bring him to a general engagement. These cir- < cumstances have necessarily delayed the attack upon the enemy, which was contemplated in my la*;t letter. General Porter is assembling a body of volunteers ' and Indians at Buffalo, witli a view to co-operate in this enterprise. He will probably join us soon. Any- thing which can be done without the co-operation of the fleet, shall be attempted. To attack the enemy, without being able to cut off his retreat, v/ould be only beating without capturing him. I have the honor to be, sir, With great respect. Your most obedient servant, JOliN P. BOYD, Brigadier General Comma^idiv^, Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Head Quarters; Fort (ieorge, August 15, 1813. Sir, 1 had the honor to address you on the 12th in- stant. Since which time nothing of importance has occurred. Commodore Chauncey has left this part of the lake, and the enemy have now so far the as- cendancy as to render the proposed enterprise against his land force impracticable. Yesterday general Porter' arrived at this place with a body of volunteers and Indians, which had been previously assembled at Buf- falo. In the event of such an attack as we con- templated, this force would be of infinite service. At present they can only be employed to harass the ene- my. I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, JOHN P. BOYD, Brigadier Gc7ieral Commanding, Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War. Letters from the Secretary at War to Major General Lewis, commanding at Sackctt's Harbor. Extract of a letter from the Secretary of JVar to Afujor General Lewisy dated War Department, July 9, 1813. " An order was expedited to general Dcaiborii yesterday, permitting him to retire from the command of the army and district. Another was sent to Boyd forbidding him to engage in any affair with the ene- my that could be avoided, and subjecting him to the orders of major general Hampton and of yourself — This last (for Hampton is now the oldest officer in the district) was intended to meet the contingency suggested in my last letter, viz. that if we regained the command of the lake, anil Yeo retired under the guns of Kingston ; that this moment of superiority must not be lost, and that bringing down Boyd's di- vision a blow might be struck at that place. To fa- vor this enterprise, orders will be sent to general Hampton to push his head quarters to the position held by our aimy the last campaign on lake Cham- plain ; and a requisition for ten thousand militia from the states of New- York and Vermont, in reinforce- ment of this part of the plan, will be superadded. " The moment Chauneey goes out our stores along the south shore of the lake should be brought down to the harbor, and in that case, your small posts (consisting of regular troops) drawn into your main body." War Department, Julv 3, 1813. SIR, It is not merely possible, but probable, that the British fleet in lake Ontario may, upon the fitting out the General Pike, refuse a battle and take shelter under the guns of Kingston until thc^ir new brig shall restore to them the superiority. A question of much importance arises on this supposed state of things. — • What will be the best possible employment of our force during the pei iod we maybe able to command the lake ? Shall we ninioico the troops at fort George from Sackett's Harbor and cut off Vincent, 48 • • • • or shall we bring from fort George the mass of the division there, and uniting them to your present com- mand, attack the enemy at Kingston ? If the latter part of the alternative be adopted, two things must \ be done. A heavy body of militia should be assem- bled at Ogdensburg, to draw to that point the enemy's attention, and general Hampton should move rapidly and in force against Montreal. Our assembled force at Sackett's Harbor would amount to seven thousand men, independently of the naval means. The ene- miy's land force at Kingston is about four thousand. — Could a successful attack be made here, the fate of the campaign is decided — perhaps that of the war. The object is great ; but in proportion as it is so, the means of effecting it ought to be well considered. From the sketches I have been able to procure of Kingston and its vicinity, 1 have no doubt but that the attack should be made on the works which cover the battery on Navy Point. These gained, town, battery, and harbor are all at your discretion. Beware of di- viding your attack. Confine it to a single point, but let that point be a commanding one. Believe me, general, Very respectfully and faithfully yours, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Major Gen. Lewis, Sackett's Ilabor. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEX THE Secretary of War and Maj, General Harrison, Extract of a letter frum the Secretary of War to Major General William H. Harrison^ dated War Department, March 5, 1813- ** 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches of the 1 Uh and 20th ultimo. V The suspension of your movement in advance, appears to have been necessary ; but though this may be the case, your demonstrations against Mai- den should not cease. These you v»'iil make in such 49 • • • • way as shall be best calculated to keep up the ene- my's alarm for the safety of that post, and of the ships of war winterinj^ thcie. You Mill he luorc able to appreciate the value of this policy wiicn 1 state, tliat \vc shall very soon be in motion on the Niagara and St. Lawrence. " You did well in stoppint^ the march of the two regiments from Ohio. To have added to your force so long as your object is restricted to the maintenance of your present position, \\ould have been a very use- Jess expenditure of both public spirit and public money. " As your campaign is now at an end, and yet near- ly approached to that which is coming, it may be proper to communicate to you the president's views in relation to your subsequent movements. " It would appear that Maiden can only be suc- cessfully approached by the route you are now up- on, at two seasons of the year — mid-winter and mid- summer. The former is gone, and to wait for the latter would be hardly less disastrous than defeat itself. What remains for us to do is to keep our present ground till the lake opens, and then to ap- proach our object by water, and under convoy of the vessels of war building at Presque Isle. These will be afloat and ready to operate by the middle of May. By the same time boats for the transportation of the troops, a train of artillery, baggage. Sec. may be con- structed. Cleveland is believed to be the place best fitted for this purpose. It will also be made the de- pot for the troops to be employed on the expedition, which will be the 24th regiment now at Massa-c ; and three of the twenty new regiments provided by an act of the session of congress which closed yesterday. Two of these will be raised in the state of Ohio, and the third in that of Kentucky. '^ Whatever these troops may fall short of the num- ber and strength contemplated by the laws under which they shall be raised, must necessarily be made up from militia and volunteers ; whence will arise the necessiiy of strictly attending to the progress of enlistments, so that in the event of their failure, which may be readily foreseen, time may be lift for resort- ing to the other expedient." E 50 • • • • War Department, March r, 1815. SIR, Your letter of the 18th of February was, from some cause, delayed much beyond the usual course of the mail, and even some days after the receipt of your despatch of the 20Lh. You will find by mv letter of the 5th instant, the plan prescribed for your part of the ensuing campaign ; and to prevent any ill effect arising from its miscar- riage, a second copy is herewith inclosed. It is pro- bable that colonels M'Arthur and Cass will both be promoted to the rank of brigadier, and will be assign- ed to the command of the two brigades intended to form your division of the army. In the enumeration of corps making parts of this division, I did not m.en- tion the two regiments of the line, the I7ih and 19lh, parts of which are already with you. The filling up of these would be an important service, and you are requested to promote it. If you are at ease with re- gard to the safety of your present post, against the attacks of the enemy, and have secured to yourself the means of subsisting: it, there can be no motive for either reinforcing it by new drafts from the mihtia, or rear- ing from it. If, on the other hand, your force should be so reduced as to make your stay ])ei ilous, without a further reinforcement, you may employ the two regi- ments raised in Ohio, or so many of them as may be iiecessary to your object. If again, the policy of adding to your force be forbidden, by the difiicuhy of subsisting it, and there arises i-i combination of both facts, viz : a want of force to maintain your present position, and a want of means to subsist a larger one, in that case, and in that alone, you will retire to the frontier settlements, and interpose the wilderness be- tween you and the enemy. These directions have not grown out of any sug- gestions to be found in your letters, but have been produced by a circumspection wliich it is always proper to extend beyond the mere limits of existing circumstances. I am, sir, with great respect, Your obedient servant, JOHN ARMSTRONa Major General V/iUiam H. Harrison, Frank linion, Ohio. 51 • • * • War Department, March 9, 13 13. SIR, The p^ovcrnmcnt have the uUcntion of huildinij a minibei- of boats on lake l">ric, for thfj purpose; of trar.sporiint^ troops on that hike. Cleveland is the point farthest west, where any portion of these can be iTia.le with sullicicnt expedition. If the whole could be uKule there the better. These boats will be of the kind known by the name of Schenectady boats, narrow, j^nd sliarp a-head, and Hat-bottoined. They will carry from forty to lilty men car h. with their bai3^g;aj^c, arms and accouircments, and provision for the voyai^c. It is proposed to commit the siiperintcnclence of this ser- vice to you, and to bestow upon you, pro hac vice, the staff appointment of dej)uly quarter master i^eneral. If worumcn cannot be found at Cleveland and other places on the lake, you will take them from Pittbburti;h. Such materials as you may v/ant, other than those ])ro- duced by the country itself, you will provide at Pitts- burgh and have sent on without delay. Funds, for this purpose, v/ill be put under your control, and you •will be careful to make reports weekly of your progress. Very respectfully, I am, sir, Your obedient servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Captain. Jessnp, Washington. Extract of a letter from jLijor General IVilliain H. Harrison to the Secretary of IVar^ dated Head-Quarters, Chilicothe, March 17, 1813. " The known candor of your character is a sufii- cient security for my receiving your pardon for the liberty 1 take in making objections to the plan of ope- rations communicated in your letter of the 5th instant. If titcre is a positive certainty of our getting the com- mand of lake Erie, and having a rep:ular force of three thous nd five hundred, or even three thousand, well disciplined men, the proposed plan of setting out from Cleveland, and landing on the northern shore, below Maiden, would perhaps be the one by which that place and its dependencies could be most easily reduced. I am unacquainted with the extent of t!ie preparations that are making to obtain the naval superiority upon 52 • • * • i ike Erie ; but, should they fail and the troops be as- sembled at Cleveland, it would be diificiilt to get again upon the proper track for making the attack round the head of the lake. The attempt to cross the lake from Clevidand should not be made with any other than well diocipliaed troops. A comparatively smaller number of men of this description could effect the object, and fir thoNe the means of conveyance might be obtained ; bill the means of transporting such an army as would be required of militia, or undisciplined regulars, could not he procured. I can sec no reason why Cleveland should be preferred as the point of embarkation for the troops, or the deposit of provisions and stores. These are already accumulated at the rapids of Miami, or in situations to be easily sent thither to an amount bearly equal to the consumption of a protracted cam- paign. Although the expense and difficulty of trans- porting the provisions, artillery and stores for an army, round the head of the hike, would be very considerable, tlic lake being pos^ressed by our ships, and the heavy baggp.ge taken in boato along its margin, the troops v/ould (ikI no difficulty in thj land route. The force contempLued in your letter is, in my opinion, not suffi- cient to secure success. Admitting that the whole aliould be rrtised by the time pointed out, they would be very little superior to militia ; the officers having, with s'-iarccly an exception, to learn their duty before thev cuuld instruct their men ; we have, therefore, no alternative but to make up by numbers the deficiency in dis'-ipline. *^ I um well aware of the intolerable expense which attends the employment of a large militia force. We are now, however, in a situation to avoid those errors, which made that of the last campaign so peculiarly heavy. Our supplies are procured, and so deposited that the period for the march of the army from the ad- vanced posts can be ascertained to an hour, and of course the troops need not be called out until the mo- ment they are to act. Experience has convinced me that militia are more efficient in the early than in the latter part of their service. Upon the whole, it is my decided opinion, that the rapids of Miami should be the point of rendezvous for the troops, as well as the principal depot. Indeed it must necessarily be the 5S first deposit — the provisions for ihe army be so phced iiiat t!iey can l)e laken to ihe lukc in no olher way. The ariiilery and a cojisiderable supply oi' annmiiniiion are already iheie. Boats and i)etoui;c.s have been built in considerable nunibejs'on the Aui^laize and St. Ma- ry's rivers ; •i.nd every exertion i:3 now making to in- crease them, intended for ilie tJonblc puipo^e of taking down t!ie provisions to the rapids, and for coasting the lake with the bagcjage of the arj.iy in iis advance. I had calculated ujion bein^; able pr.riially to use this mode of trans, ortation, even if the encu)}- should con- tinue iheii navdl superioiity oiy the -lake ; but, with this advantn;^e on our side, the whole bagtifaf^e of the ar:r>y could be stifely and ex,KrditioMsiy c^uried alont^ the coast in the bo..ts and perouges vhicli could be taken into the strait to transport iht; army lo the Canada shore. *' As I have before obstrved, the army, unincum- bered with heavy baj^^age, would find r>o r'ifticulty in wiarchin,c^ round the lake at any season, but what the enemy would create, and we have the nican^ of sub- sisting a force li^iat wouk! be irresistibic. *• Tlie objections to proceeding tl/is way, stated in my letter to colonel Monroe, arose, from the time that ■would be necessary to construct boats after we should have arrived at the strait ; but this objection is en- tirely obviated by our obtaining the conin:and of the lake, as the boats and perouges built upon the Miami will answer the purptise. With regard to the quan- tum of force, my opinion is, that not only the regular troops, designated in your letter, but a large auxiliary corps of militia should be employed. The only ob- jection arises from the expensiveness of troops of that description. This, however, could not be an object, considering the very short time that it would be ne- cessary to employ them. Let the moment for the commencement of the march from the rapids be fixed, and the militia miglit be taken to that poii»t, proceed and accomplish the object, and return home in two months. *' Amongst the reasons which makes it necessary to employ a large force, I am sorry to mention the dismay and disinclination to the service which appears to prevail iii the western country j numbers must ^ivc F ■ 54 • » • • that confidence which ought to be produced by con- scious valor and intrepidity, which never existed in any arnny in a superior degree, than amongst the greater part of the militia which v/ere with me through the winter. The nev/ drafts from this state are entirely of another character, and are not to be depended upon. I have no doubt, however, but a sufficient number of good men can be procured, and should they be allowed to serve on horseback, Ken- tucky would furnish some regiments that would be not inferior to those that fought at the river Raisin, and they were, m my opinion, superior to any m.ilitia that ever took the field in modern times. Eight troops of cavalry have been formed in Kcnincky, to offer me their service ; and several of them were in- tended for twelve month volunteers. Governor Shelby has some thoughts of taking the fieldin person — a num- ber of good men will follow him. fie thinks that an address from me to the people of the state would pro- duce a good effect : I have strong objections to those addresses, but will nevertheless have recourse to one, should other means fail of bringing forward a sufficient force. " Every exertion shall in the meantime be used to forward the recruiting service : for a few weeks I think that my services would be more useful in that than any other employment." War Department, April 4, 1813. SIR, Your despatch of the 17th ultimo, from Chilicothe, has been received, and I hasten to repeat to you the views of the president, in relation to the next cam- paign, and the ii'j unctions growing out of these, with regard to the employment of miiitia. &c. Our first object is to get a command of the lakes. Means to accomplish this object have been taken, and we have the fullest assurance, that by the 1st day of June it will be accomplished. This fact assumed, there can be no longer a doubt by what means, or by what route, the division of the army assigned to you, ought to approach Maiden. A passage by water will carry you directly to the fortress you v.'ould attack, without impairing your strength by ^3 falig'ue, or diminishing^ it hy biitllc. A passiat^^c by ia?id will, on the oliicr banc!, call for great eflbilb, and expose you to great losses, nliicli, it' lliey du not de- stroy, will at least cripple you. 'llie lornicr will he easy, safe, and econonucal ; the latter dilUcuU, dan- gerous, and enormously expensive, On the other suppobilion, that wc fail to ohtain the conun and of the lake, a new qu.stion will aiise : whe- ther the canipai:^n shall take an circnslve or defensive charact. r ? Be this question determined as it may, the ul:nost extent which can be given to the force em- ployed, will be seven thousand effec'.ives \'aiious reasons deteiminc this point. The encuiy have never had in the field, for the ilefencc of Maiden, more t'lan two thousand men. Their number has ni> doubt been hithcrio limited by their means of subsis- tence, and this cause is not likely to sulfei' any very material change in thtir favor iluring the ensuing can)- paign. More than seven thousand men, therefore, would be unnecessary on our part. Again ; to main- tain a greater nmnber, would be iiripraciicable, in the present state of the treasury. It now remains only to signify to you, clearly and distinctly, the kind of force the government meari hereafter to employ in offensive operations, if it can b& obtained. Wheii the legislature, at their last session, adopted the measure of augmenting the army to fif;y-two regi- ments of the line, it was expressly in the view of su- perceding hereafter the necessity of employing militia, excepting in moments of actual ijivasion. In obedi- ence to this policy, the president assigned to the 8th military district of the United States four of these new regiments, which, if filled, and superadded to tl;e two regiments of the line now in that distiict, an i the 24lh in march for it, wid give a total of seven regiments, or seven thousand men. This number forbids the belief, that any employment of miiiiia drafts wi'd be necessary, when it shall have been collected. 3 ill, however, this be done, or at least till time bj given for the experi- ment, so many militia only are to be called out, as shall be necessary for the defence of your posts on the Mi- ami, and your depots of provision on the lake. And should the recruiting service go on less fortunately in 5 5 the patrioiic states of Kentucky and Ohio, than in other parts of the union, you are in that case, and in that case only, authorised to call out so many militia drafts as ivill make good the d^Jicumcy ; and organizing these under the rules already prescribed, await the farther oiders of the president in your camp at the Rapids. To these orders I have to add, that you will regard it as your duty to keep tisis departnient regularly and frequently informed of the actual condition of the troops under your command ; as well in regard to etpiipment and supplies of provision and ammunition, as to number, discipline, and healih ; and that your weekly and monthly reports shall include also the state of the ordnance and quarter master's departments, noting particularly the number of horses and oxen employed by both. You will readily perceive the ne- cessity for giving this order, when I state, that no return of any description from your division of the army has ever been received at the adjutant general's office. Your propoi'tion of the new staff has been given to you. Captain Adams has been appointed assistant adjutant general, and Mr. B irtlett, deputy quarter master gene- ral of your division. The brigadier i/:enerals M'Ar- tluir and Cass arc employed in superintending the recruiting service. A letter from the latter gives reason to believe, that this will tjo on well in the state of Ohio, I am, sir, very respecifudy, Your most obedient servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Major General Hanison, Com. the 8th Military District U. S. Extracts of a letter from Major General Harrison to the Secretary of PVar^ dated Head Quarters, Camp Meigs, April 21, 1813. " The plan for future operations, as laid down in your letter of the 4th, is no doubt the best that could have been devised in the event of the promised naval success, and a prosperous issue to the recruiting bu- siness. My measures will therefore be entirely di- rected to the prosecution of the campaign in that way. " There is nothing to be feared as to the ulterior operations of the campaign. 57 • • • • ' " I shall cause the niovcinents of the enemy to be narrowlv >vatched ; but in the event of their kindinfj at Lower Sandusky, tliat post cannot !)C saved. 1 will direct it, in such an event, to l)C evacuated, 'i he stores there are not of much consv-quence, exceptinj; about 500 stands of aims, which I will cause to be removed as soon as the roads are piacticable — at pre- sent it is impossible." « Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War to Major General IVilliam H. Harrison^ dated War Department, May 8, 1813. " Your letters of the 2 1st and 2otli ultimo have been received. I never meant that you, or your artil- lery, or stores for the campaign, now collected at fort Meigs, should be brought back to Cleveland for em- barkation.' My intention was, that the boats built there should move along the coast in the wake of the fleet to Sandusky, or to the very foot of the rapids, if that were practicaUc and expedient, taking in on the route what was wanted. The boats building and built by major Jesup arc not decked, but strong and high sided, and very competent to the navigation of the lake, particu- larly between the chiin of islands and the west shore." Extract of a letter from the Secretary of IVar to Major General U'l'lium H. Harrison^ dated War Department, May 21, 1813. *' Your future requisiuons for oidnance stores will be governed by the quantity on hand at foit Meigs and Franklinton, and by the number and Culibres of the pieces you propose to take with you against Maiden. Your whole train, if 1 am well informed, amounis to thirty-five pieces, of which nine are eighteen pounders. " The 24th regiment was on tlie lOth instant, at Lexington, (Kentucky) on their way to Cleveland. You will give it any other point of rendezvous you may think proper, and adopt such means to assemble the other parts of your division as will be njost advis- able. On this head, I would but suggest, thiU the ar- rangement which shall best mask your real design and most impress the enemy with a belief that your march to Maiden will be by land, will be the best. " Clothiner for the 26ih, 27th and 2Sth reG,iinOTts has been forwarded from Philadelphia. *' The last accounts of the bouts preparing by major Jesup were favorable. That o'iicer will necessarily report to you and take your orders." Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War. to Major Gen'^''al Harrison^ dated War Department, July 14, 18 13. '' Orders have been sent to captain Perry to communicate to you the naval movements, and to con- cert with you the necessary co-operations. " Of the miiilia, you are auihorized to take what in your judg-ment will be necessary. Such of the Kentucky militia as are in service would be better than a new draft. There is (of the Pennsylvania mi- litia,) one recv.iment at Erie armed, equipped, Sec— - Tliese are suojected to your command." War Deoartment, August 5, 1813. SIR, The best interpretation of the late movements of the enemy in your quarter is, that De Rottenberg has detached to the aid of Proctor bctv/een four and five hundred men, and thatwith these he is attempting to save Maiden by attacking fort Meigs, if tiiis con- jecture be well founded, it suggests the true policy on our part, provided the flotilla was over the bar. — Go directly to Maiden a.nd leave Mr. Proctor to amuse himself with fort Meigs. There is no objection to. your appointing the sergeants Lo other ofiiccs pro tem- pore. Captain Butler has been appointed major of the 32d regiment and lieutenant M'Gee captain m the 4^d. I am, sir, very respectfully. Your most obedient servant, JOHN ARMS'! RV.NG. Major General Harrison. Extract of a letter from Major General IVUliam II. Harrison to the Secretary at War^ dated Head Quarters, Seneca Town, August 22, 1:j13. *' 1 am exerting every nerve to complete my 55 »reparations for crossinti; the lake, as soon as 1 am rc- !)lorccd by two ll^ousand of the Kentucky militia. — That number is indispensable, from the sickly staie >f the regular troops, of whom I shall think myself .ortunate to take with me two- fifths of the aggregate imount." Extract of a letter from Major General Harrnoii to the Secretary of Jt'ar^ dated Head Quarters, Seneca Town, August 29, 1813. t^ I shall be able to embirk some day between tlie loth and 15th procimo, v/ilh upwards o[ 2000 re- gular troops, and 3000 militia. Every ejcertion has been, ar.d is continued to be made, to prepare for the contemplated offensive operations; but, as we could not navigate the lake until our flotilla came up, nor ac- cumulate at any point on its margin, the stores that ■were at Upper Sandusky and fort Winchester, dur- ing' Proctor's late invasion, it will take the time I have mentioned before the embarkation can be effected. — It might be facilitated by moving the troops that are here immediately to the lake, and then waiting for the Kentucky militia. But so extremely unhealthy is the \vhole of the southern shore, from Huron to the river Raisin, that the most fatal effects would foUov/ the keeping the troops upon it, even for a few days. You can form a correct estimate of the dr-eadful enects of the immense body of stagnant v/ater, with which th€ vicinity of the lake abounds, from the state of the troops at Lower Sandusky. Upwards of ninety are tills morning reported on the sick list, out of about two hundred and twenty. Those at fort Meigs are not much better." Extract of a letter frcm Major Gc72eral William H. Harrison to the Secretary at IVar^ dated Head Quarters, Bass Island, September 22d, 1813. '^ The greater part of the troops are here with me, and the whole will, I believe, be up by twelve o'clock. I shall proceed as far as ihc Middle Sister in the course of to-night and to-morrow, and in tlie following night get so near the enemy's coast as to land two or three miles below Maiden by eight o'clock 60 • • ■ ■ in the morning. These prospects may, however, be retarded by adverse winds. Commodore Perry gives me every assistance in his power, but his crews were so much cut up in the late action, that he cannot nav- igate his vessels without the aid of my men.*' War Department, Sackett's Harbor, Sept 22, 1813. SIR, Information has reached me through various but unofficial chatmels, that commodore Perry had captured the w hole of the British fleet on lake Erie. If this be true, it is matter of much personal and pub- lic congratulation. It enables you to make sure of Maiden, and as a subsequent measure, to carry your main body down the lake, and by throwing yourself into De Rottenberg's rear, to compel him to quit his new positions before fort George. After Gen. Wil- kinson shall have left that place, there will be found I on the two sides of the Niagara, a force amounting to three thousand men, who will be subjected to your orders. By giving this new direction to your opera- tions, you will readily perceive of how much more importance it is, in the opinion of the executive, to be able to expel the enemy from the country lying be- tween the two lakes, Erie and Ontario, than to pursue the Indians into their woody and distant recesses. A few days will put us in motion from this point. Accept my best wishes, Sec. JOHN ARMSTRONG. General Harrison. Head Quarters, Amherstburgh, Sept. 27, 1813. SIR, I have the honor to inform you, that I landed the army under my command about three miles below this place, at three o'clock this evening, without op- position, and took possession of the town in an hour after. General Proctor has retreated to Sandwich w'lih his regular troops and Indian-s, having previous- ly burned the fort, navy yard, barracks, and public store houses, 'i'he two latter were very extensive, covering several acres of ground. 1 will pursue the enemy to-morrow, although there is no probability of overtaking him, as he has upwards of 1000 horses, 61 • • • • and wc have not one m the army. I shall tliink my- self fominate to be able to collect a sun'iciency to momn the general ofTicers. It is supposed here that general Proctor intends to establish himself upon tlv« river French, 40 miles from Maiden. 1 have the honor to be, With iijreat respect, Yovu' most obedient humble servant, WILLIAM HENRY ILVRRlSON. John Armstrong, Esq. Secretary of War. Extract of a letter from Major General milium IT, Harrison to the Secretary of War, dated Head Quarters, near IMoravian town, on the river Thames, 80 miles from Detroit, October 5, 1813. « I have the honor to inform you, that by the blessing of Providence, the army under my command has this evening obtained a complete victory over the combined Indian and British forces under tlie com- mand of general Proctor. I believe that nearly the >vhole of the enemy's regulars are taken or killed ; among the former are all the superior officers, excep- ting General Proctor. My mounted men are now m pursuit of him. Our loss is very trilluig.'* Extract of a letter from Major General Harrison, t>i the Secretary of War, dated Head Quarters, Detroit, October 16, 1813. « A detachment of the army, under the command of brigadier general M'Arthur, has been for some days waiting at this place for the necessary provisions to proceed to lake Michigan. I am sorry to mfornx you, however, that from tbe effects of a violent storm, there is now no prospect of accompUshmg that de- sirable object, the reduction of Michilimackinac, this season. It is witli the greatest regret I mlorm you, that it is almost reduced to a certamty, that two of our schooners have been lost on lake Erie, the Chip- pewa and Ohio ; the former loaded with the baggage of the troops from Bass island, the latter with flour and salt provisions fron. Cleveland." " Upon a consultation with the two brigadiers and commodore Perry and captain Elliott, it was unan- imously determined, that the season Is too far advanc- , cd to attempt an expedition to Maccinac, if it wei-e not commenced in two or three days, and there was no hope of the supplies being obtained in that time." " It is generally believed here, that general Pioctor despatched an order to the commanding officer at Maccinac to destroy the post and retreat by the way of Grand river. At any rate, it is not a matter of inuch importance to have that place in our possession during the winter, cut off as it is from a communica^ | tion with the rest of the world.'* Sackett's Harbor, October 20, 1813. SIR, The enemy's corps before fort George, broke up their cantonments on the 9th, and marclied rapidly for Burlington bay, which he reached on the 1 Ith. By taking this route he may intend to reinforce Proctor on the river French, or Kingston, at the head of the St. Lawrence. He was apprized of the abandonment of Maiden on the 5th. We are perhaps, too remote to profit by each oth- ers suggestions ; but it does not appear to me, that Sandwich is the point at v.hich Proctor will stop, if you pursue him. From Point aux Fins, on lake Erie, there is a good road to Chatham, on the Thames, the distance not more than 24 miles. Were this gained and travelled back to Sandwich, the enemy's means cf subsistence might be destroyed, and himself com- pelled to surrender. But of tiie practicabiiiiy of this, you are the best judge. My opinion is suggested by the map. The first division of this army sailed two days ago. The second and the reserve follow to-day. Yours with great respect, JOHN AFvMSTRONG. Major General Harrison. Extract of a Utter from JSIajcr General Harrison^ t9 the Secretary of V/ar^ dated Flead Quarters, Erie, Pa. October 22, 1813. "Soon after my letter to you of the 16th instant was written, I was inform.ed that a special messenger 13 ";vith despatches from you, had left B.iss island In tlic schooner Chippewa, which had been driven from the mouth of Detroit river in a violerit storm ; and from the circumstance of a quantity of bai^gaije belonj^int^ to the officers, which was known to have been on board, being found on the lai^c shore, she was believ- ed to have been lost. As I had nearly completed the arranp;cnicnt for a suspension of hostilities with the Indians, although I had no information as to the movement of the army on lake Ontario, I determined to embark general M'Arthur's brigade and the bat- talion of the United States riflemen, and proceed with them down the lake until I could receive some certain information of the movements of the arniy under gen- eral Wilkinson, and what was expected from me. I arrived here this morning with comniodore Perry in the Ariel, having left the remainder of the fleet at Bass island. It is probable they will be here this evening, when we shall immediately proceed lo Buf- falo." Extract of a letter from Major General Harrison^ to the Secretary of IVar^ dated Head Quarters, Buffalo, N. Y. October 24, 1813. ^^ I have this moment landed at this place, from on board the schooner Ariel, which is one of seven ves- sels, with which I left Deiroit, having on board the greater pirt of M'Arthur's brigade, and the detach- ment of the "United States rifle regiment, under colonel Smith. The other vessels are all, 1 believe in sight, and will be up in a short time. The aggregate num- ber of troops with me, is about thirteen hui.drcd, but not more than one thousand fit for duty. Before this reaches you, you will, no doubt, be informed of the loss of yoiT messenger, captain Brown, with des- patches that were entrusted with him. Not having received your directions, and being entirely ignorant of the state of our military operations in this quarter, I was much at a loss to know how to proceed ; but be- lieving that general Cass with his brigade vould be able to secure Detroit and our adjacent conquests, after having concluded an armistice with the greater part of the hostile tribes, I concluded that 1 coulcj not 64 do better than to move down the lake with the remain- ing part of the troops. A part of M'Arthur's bri- gade is still at the Bass Islands, where they were left for the want of means of conveyance ; and a considerable portion of their baggage was also left from the same cause. Means, however, have been taken to collect and bring them on. *' I shall move down the troops immediately to fort George, where I shall aAvait your orders, unless an opporiunity should previously occur of striking at the enemy. The information I have received here of the situation and movements of the enemy on the head of lake Ontario, is vague and contradictory." War Department, Wilna, October 30, 1813. SIR, I have the honor to acknowledp:e the receipt of your letters of the 5th and of the 24th instant. The despatch by captain Brown, and which with him was lost in lake Erie, suggested, as an ulterior movement, the coming down to Niagara river, and putting yourself on the right and rear of De Rottenburg's position before fore George : while ge- neral IVrClure, with his brigade of militia, volunteers and Indians, should approach them in front. The en- emy seems to have been aware of this, or of some sim- ilar movement, as he began his retieat on the 9th and did not stop until he had gained the head of Burlington bay, where I understand, by report, he yet is. This is his last strong hold in the Peninsula, Routed from this, he must surrender or make his way down lake Ontario to Kingston. His force is estimat- ed at twelve or fifteen hundred efiectives. The cap- ture or destruction of this corps would be a glorious Jinale to your campaign. Our operations in this quar- ter are but deginning-^ at a time when they ought to ^ have enchd. I shall go on slowly towards Utica, where I may have the pleasure of seeing adjutant general Gaines. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your most obedient servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Major General Harrison. 05 Extract of a Uturfrum 11^' Secretary at :i\.r to Gen,. Till Harrisoriy (uUea noonsville, Novembers, 1813. «v 1 have forlunatelv met colonel Gaines on the nay to his reLnmcnt. The deputy pay master shall have orders to attend the brii;-ade you have broui^^ht v;ith vDU. Capuin Butler nill act as your assistaiU adju- taut o-cnerah and shall receive an appointment as such. The'lfficers ofthc several corps composing yourdivi. s-.on (as well those at ibrt deorge as oi general Cass s brii-ade^ not indispensable to the command ol the troops now in the field, should be immediately des- patched on the recruiting service. I need not invoke your attention to a sui)ject so important to the early 'and successful opening of the next campaign, ana to the extent and cliaracter of your particular command. Will' the whole of Cass's brigade be wanted to the >vestward? In the event of a peace with the savages a less force would be sufficient; and, to hasten and secure this event, the present moment and present im- pressions must be seized. Of the warriors, suing for Lace, one or more should be sent by the nearest route, Ld the most expedilious mode, to the Creek nation The story of their defeat by you, and subsequent abandonment by the British, communicated by them- selves, would probably have a decided cllect on their red brethren of the south, and save us the trouble and cM^ense of beating them into a sense of their own m- terest. When 1 wrote to you from Wilna, it was doubtful whether our attack would be made directly upon Kingston or upon Montreal. Reasons exist for ordering the latter course-, and have probably detei- mined general Wilkinson to go down the St. Lawrence. In this case, the enemy will have at Kingston, besides his fleet, a garrison of twelve or iourtcen hundred men. Had we not a corps in the neighborhood, these might do mischief, and even render insecure the win- ter station of our fleet. To prevent this^it is deem- ed advisable to draw together at Sackett s Harbor a considerable military force. There are now at that post between four and five hundred men oi ^U ^'^s- criptions— sick, convalescent and effective. Colonel Scott's detachment (.about 700) are on their march F 2 66 • • • • thither, and it is barely possible that colonel Ran- dolph's (not arriving in time to move with the army) may be there also. This does not exceed three hun- dred and fifty. M'Arthur's brigade added to these M'ill make a force entirely competent to our object. To bring this brigade down the lake you must have the aid of the fleet, which will be readily given by commodore Chauncey. On this point I shall write to him and suggest a communication with you in re- lation to it. " This new disposition M'ill render necessary the employment of so many of the militia and volunteers, now in service under general IM'Clure, as you may deem competent to the safe keeping of.forls George and Niagara and their dependencies." Head Quarters, Newark, Nov. 16, 1813. Commodore Chauncey, with the fleet arrived here yesterday morning, and informed me that he was ready lo receive the troops to convey them down the lake ; and that the season was so far advanced, ren- dering the navigation dangerous to the smaller ves- sels, tf^at it was desirable they should be embarked as f'xpcditiously as possible. As a very small part of the militia and volunteers had arrived, and the situa- tion of Sackett's Harbor appearing to me to require immediate reinforcement, I did not think proper to lake upon myself the responsibility of postponing the departure of the troops for the lower part of the lake, conformably to the directions contained m your letter of the 3d instant. " The information I received yesterday from two respectable citizens that were taken near to fort IVIeigs in June last, and who made their escape in an open boat from Burlington, conJir?ns me i?i the projiriety of sending them off. These men state the troo/is luene hurrying to Kingston from York as fast as possible. The regulars going down in boats and militia bringing the latter back. The troops are now all embarked and are under the command of colonel Smith, who is an officer in ■whose capacity and bravery the greatest reliance may be placed. f7 » • • • T shall set o\it this evening for the seat or.govcrn- went. I have the honor to he, With the hi'^hest consideration, sir, Your humble servafit, WILl.lA.M HKNRY IIAIMUSON. Hon. John Armstront^, Ksq. Secretary of War. CORRESPOXDEXCE wim Governor Shclhij, in relation to the Xorth^ JTcstern Campaign, Frankfort, August 1, 1813. SIR, A h\v days ago I was honored \vith a letter from j^cncral Harrison, under the date of the 20th ultimo, by his aid-de-canip, major Trimble. In it he says, lliat " he had just received a letter from the secretary at war authorizing him to call from the neigliboring states such numbers of militia as he might deem re- quisite for the ensuing operations against Upper Can- ada." In pursuance of that power, he has made a requisition on the government of Kentucky for rein- forcements, and has referred me to majoi- Trimble for inforn^ation, Sec. Sec. and has in warm tcrn^s solicited my taking the field in person. Much delay would have been the inevitable consequence of ordering out the militia as infantry in the ordinary mode, by draft. As mounted volunteertt^ a con)pctent force can, I feel confident, be easily raised. 1 have therefore appoint- ed the 31st cf this month, at Newport, in this state, for a general rendezvous of mounted volunteers. I have the hon(jr of inclosinp;, for the information of the president, a copy of my address to the militia of this state on the occasion. The prospect of acting efficiently against Upper Canada will, I have no doubt, call forth a large force to our standard, and they will be immediately march- ed to the head quarters of the north-western army, in such bodies as will best facilitate their movements ; when there they can act as foot or mounted, as cir- cmstances may require. 68 • • « ft I shairtake c^reat pleasure to hear from the presi- dent on this subject previous to my departure from this place, and 1 request the lavor of you to lay this letter immediately before him for his consideration, , and that you willi)e pleased to apprize me of the re-*- suit by the earliest conveyance. I have the honor to be, Most respectfully, Your obedient servant, ISAAC SHELBY. The honorable the Secretary of War. Red-Hook, North River, August 21, 1813. SIR, I had the honor of receiving your excellency's letter of the 1st of August by the soutiiern mail of yes- terday, and of learning from the war office that a copy of it had been forwarded to the president for his con- sideration and orders. These will be communicated to your excellency as promptly as possible. I have tlie honor to be, he. See. Sec. JOHN ARMSTRONG. His Excellency the Governor of Kentucky. Note. — It is understood that it was not till the re- ceipt of the above at the war office, for transmission to Kentucky, that governor Shelby's letter was sent to the president. War Office, September 27, 1813. SIR, In the absence of the secretary of war, I have the honor to inform your excellency, that the presi- dent has been pleased to approve your arrangements, in substituting volunteers for the detached militia re- quired by general Harrison. The term of service for- the detachment under your excellency, must depend on the arrangements of the commanding general, to whom you are referred for the necessary information relative to their duty, and the points where your troops will be expected to ope* rate. It will be proper for your excellency to keep up a eorrespondcnce with general Harrison. This is ren- 69 • • • • dcrcd tlic more iiccessarv, «.v thv several vtquinUxonn ivhich have been made by him for volunircrn and tni^ tifiu have not been accurately rejiorted to the war o/- /ice ; and it is /lossible he may find it advisable to din' chari^e a part of your force before they reach the Jrun^ tier. In the present critical period of the cainpaii;n, it seems advisable to submit all fnrtlur arrani^cmenis to general Harrison, under the insirurtions ho has re- ceived from the president throu[;h the bccretary of war. With perfect respect, I have the honor to be, Your excellency's Most obedient humble servant, DANL. PARKER, C. C. War De/iartment, His Excellency Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. CORRESPOXDEXCE BETWEEN THE Secret art/ of War and Major Gen. Hampton, September 1, 1813. DEAR SIR, Prevost has gone up to the head of the lake ; Yeo has followed him. The object is either to at- tack Boyd, or to draw Wilkinson to the west, and spin out the campaign, without either (giving or receiving blows of decided chai-acter. In either case, his [Pre- vost's] rear is manifestly neglected, and we must not lose the advantage he presents for attacking it. \\\\- kinson has gone on to fort George to i)ani( Prevost, (if the former be his object) and to biing off tiie army, should the other be manifestly his intention. If Chaun- cey beat Yeo, sir George's case will be desperate — . This is the pivot on which the issue of the campaign turns. I am, dear sir, vours. Sec. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 70 Camp, r.ear Burlington, September 7, 1813* SIR, Your letter of the 1st instant came to hand, by express, the last evening. My dispositions for a movement had been shaped to meet the arrangement communicated in my letter of the 31st ultimo; but I called together the heads of departments this morn- ing to knovi' hov/ far it would be practicable to antici- pate that which you had iiuUcated in your despatch of the 29th, and it v/as found impracticed^Ie. Learned's regiment has not ariived. The ordnance and fixed ammunition belonging to the ariillery were only to leave Albany on the 5th, and the latter for the infantry is not yet on its way, nolvv'ithslanding my or- der to major Bumford, as early as the I2thcr 15th of August ; and without it I shall be fifty rounds a man short, having now less than fifty, including those in the cartridge boxes. But what is worse than all, the quar- ter master general's arrangements, for the land trans- portation, is shaped to the 20th, and cannot be met at an earlier day. A descent by water, and dire>:t atiack on the Isle aux Noix, is out of the question. It is a place of immense strength, and cannot be approached, bui by a decided superiority of naval strength. This commodore M*Do- naugh docs not pretend to assume in the narrow nvaters. He has this morning been explicitly consulted upon that point. Our approach must be by the Plains of Acadia. I have directed a monthly return to be in- closed. Onr strength will be less than 4,000 effectives. Lane and Leonard's regiments have come on, with mumps and measles upon them, and totally destitute of the least instruction. Too much must not be ex- pected from us. AH accounts concur in representing the force of the enemy at more than 5,000, exclusive of three battalions of incorjiorated militia^ (twelve months men) stationed at the Cedars and Cascades, \ some distance up the St. Lawrence. If any have gone to Kingston, they have been detached from these points. These battalions consist of AO'o men each. I shall expect information from you respecting the / 1 • • • • state of things above, but shall not wait a rriomcni for it, after 1 am rc-idy. 1 have the honor to be, sir, \'eiy respectfully, Your most oI)eclicnt servant, W. HAMPTON. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War. Sackett's Hurbor, September 13, 1813. SIR, Your letter of the 7th hislnnt has been received. Chauncey probably fought a battle on the 11th instant. A heavy cann.,riade was disiinctly heard at this place for several hours, and a boat from the Great vSodus •states, that an engagement between the fleets took pluce off Preaque Ide on the northern shore of the lake. (Presque Isle is nearly oppo.^te to Great Sodus.) We are anxiously looking for the result. I lad Chaun- <:ey been beaten, or socrippUd as to make it necessary for him to go into port, we should have seen him here before to-day. His absence and his silence give us, therefore, an assurance that v/hatever may have been the issue of the battle, it has not disabled him from covering the intended movement of the troops. Our information diiTers widely horn yours as to the strength of the enemy at Montreal and its dependen- cies. A deserter from a British detachment of 300 men, moving from Montreal to Kingston, and who left them near the head of the rapids, came to this post the day before yesterday. He states that the whole regular force near Montreal does not exceed one thousand erTeclives, and that but three hundred invajids have been left at Quebec. 1 his agrees with information received through other chcainels less direct, and per- haps less correct, than yours. ^ From general Wilkinson I have not heard a syllable smce his arrival at fort George, uhich was on tne 4th instant. He must now be on the point of moving. The 10th and 52d regiinents arc in march ll;r Piatts- burgh. The litter was destined for thi^ i)lace, but learning that it could not leave Philadelpliiu before the 12lh, 1 have given to it the shorter n.arch and nearer scene of action. It is much to be regretted that our naval means or US I 72 • • • • lake Champlain should have fallen so far short of their object. To our operations an ascendancy in the nar- row parts of the lake is of infinite moment. A well chosen position on the plains is the alternative of most promise. It may keep the different corps of the ene- my in a state of separation. With great respect, I am sir, Your most obedient, and Very humble servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Major General Hampton. Head Quarters, Cumberland Head, Sept. 15, 1813. SIR, I have got my forces nearly concentrated at this point ; and, with IVl'Donaugh's aid have put a stoppe ' on the lake which ensures tranquility while my prepa rations are going on. All now depends on the quarte inasler general, and I belive he will surmount every obstacle. I shall soon be ready. I am, Sec. WADE HAMPTON. Secretary of War, Sackett's Harbor, September 19, 1813. DEAR GENERAL, Chauncey has chased Yeo round the lake and obliged him to take shelter in Kingston. The com- modore has now gone up to fort George to bring down the troops. We are ready at this point to embark. It may, perhaps, be the oOih before our forces will be assembled and in motion. Yom* movements may ol course be somewhat delayed — say to the 25th or 26th. It is believed in Kingston that sir George Prevost is about going to Quebec. Will he not stop at Mon- treal ? Yours faithfully, JOHN ARMSTRONG. General Hampton. Head-Quarters, at Little Chazy, September 22,1813 SIR, II At 6 o'clock, P. M. on the !9th, I dropped do\^ with the army from Cumberland Head for the shon f near this place, and landed al 12 o'clock ul nr-^lil, and an hour alter had the lit^ht corps of ihe army in moliou against the advanced posts of the cntmy. Sncllinp:'s command agamst a post a liiUc over the line, on the. lake shore, and Hamilton's ac^ainst Odletown. Ihe blow ^vas to have been struck at the dann, a:;d the coips ^vere to unite at the kilter pbce, twelve iriiles distant. Roth corps were misled by their p,»uides. Snelling finding himself out of his way for the firbt point, pushed 'fi)r the second, and as Hamilton had taken a circuit to i>-ct below it, Snellini^ arrivrd first and fell upon the picquet in a house, whi( h he killed or took, except two or thice, and the nuiin body escaped - Hamilton arrived soon after ; the army joined them a little after nine. A few desperate Indians continued to lurk about the distant buslies, and frequently crawled up and fired upon our sentries during the C\ixy and the succeeding night. One was killed upon his post in the dark, and two or three others wounded. They were frequently drove ofi', and the thickets scoured, but they continued to hover round us as long as v.'e staid. 1 he army had on their backs five days provisions, and my intention was to push through the wood, lenvne all obsMuctions, and repair the roads for ov.r supplies, sriillery, baggai^e, S:c. which was to follow ; but i n i;:su»moumi.ble diH;- cully occurred, which at once defied all human Qy>'tv- tion. 1 he drought had been uncommon, and I had some doubts ol the practicability of procuring water for the troops, horses and teams; but the poinfS ot Odletown. La Cole, and the ri^cr -La Cadia were re- presented to me as a sure ree=ouvce. The troops, howevei-, soon d; icd up the w-ells rnd sprin£>s of Odletown, and the beds of La Cole and La Cadi.-, are represented, from authority not to be ques- tioned, to be drv. 'J he troops be^-an to suffer exiren^c- ly, and the' few cavalry and aiiilleiy ho; ses that ariiv- ed were oldiged to be sent back to Ch^niplain, a tis- lance (jf four miles, itrc wutcr. The difficuky begin to produce cfi^ects the iv.ost to be dreaded. it v»'as not a time to hesitate : the general, staff and con.m ii-ciing ofiiccrs of corps were caJed together, and there was but one voice. '^ViQ Ci'iatiiu;^y VQiitc )vas adopted. It was circuit- G 7-1 cus, but affoidcd water, and was practicable in less time, all obstructions in ihc other considered. The army fell back in the alternoon of the 21st, and encamped at Champlain. The Chaiaugay road takes off near this place, and the army will advance on it seven miles this afternoon. The batjgage is now ad- vancing on it. I hope to arrive at Chataugay on the evening' of the 24lh. I can from thence join you at any point you may advise on the St. Lawrence. IMy object is Cog7:a^i'cugh', opposite to La Chine, about forty miles from Chaiaugay and ten from INlontreal. I liave my guides and information 1 can rely upon. This position will present three points. If I do not hear from you, I can take either or hold fast, as circum- stances shall indicate. My first movement was unexpected to the enemy : must draw him into some confusion, and will pass as a feint so soon as he hears of my route to Chataugay. My force is less numerous than 1 expected. It is raw nnd of a description that will be for ever falling off. All J can say isj it shall have all the capacity I can give it. I have the honor to be, sir, Very respectfully, Your most obedient servant, W. HAMPTON. P. S. Since writing I find all the corps cannot Itave this ground before the morning, and that it will be the 'rsth before we reach Chataugay. AV. II. The lion. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Sackett's Harbor, Sept. 25, 18 13. SIR, Your letter of the 2 2d instant, was delivered to me h\st night. Commodore Chaunccy left this place on the 18th, in the intention of running up to fort George, and covering tl.c transportation of ihe troops from that ])oint to this. On the 2 1st he had not anivtd there ; the effect, as I suppose, of adverse winds. This cir- cumstance will necessarily bring after it a delay in ihe execution of our joint operations, and will indicate the propriety oi your not advancing beyond Malonc or the J^'our Corners, until you have advice of our moveuient. The distance from this place to Malone is about 130 miles. An express can reach you in 30 hours, and 75 • • • • ^vil^ of course, enable you to ^ai/i the village of Cog. nmLfuuga as early as ru:iy be propci'. Vou will j^ivc such direction to ihc militia corps assembling or assem- bled at Plattsburgh, as you may think most advisable. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your most obc.'.ieni servant, JOHN AUMSTRUXG. Major General Hampton. Head Quarters, Pomcroy's, 13 miles from Chatiugay, Scpicmljer 25, 1813. SIR, I had this morning, at 3 o'clock the honor to re- ceive your letter of the I'^tli, and finding so much lime on my hands, the idea has occurred, that a great ad- vantage may arise from a closer view of our means, and the clearest possible Concert and understandin'r in their ajjplication. Of every matter and thing re- lating to mine, colonel Atkinson will give you as full an idea, as if you had been With me for the last five days. When you shall have reflected fully upon them, my arrangements and ideas, your indications can be made with more precision and confidence. The perfect raivness of the troops, with the excep- tion of not a single platoon, has been a source of much solicitude to the best informed among us. This soli- citude has not been removed by the first experiment. Kvery thing was done, to be sure, that ought to have been done ; but not in that ntyle which the example of a Snelling, a Hamilton, See. ought to have inspired in the movements of even the light corps. We want a little more mercury in the ranks at least. Can you not let me have the 1st dragoons, and one more vet- eran battalion ? At all events let me have Hane and Haig, tiiat 1 may have their local as well as their con- stitutional ardor. But the great object of this letter is, a full and dis- tinct view and understanding on both sides. All I need say is, that whatever part shall be assigned me in the general plan, shall be executed to the utmost extent of my ability and power. I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obed't and very humble serv't. W. HAiMPTON". Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War. 75 • ■ « • Extract of a letter from the Secretary of JVar to Major Central Hamjiton^ dated ^Va^ Department, September 28, IS 13. " 'Hie position you have taken is better calculated to keep up the enemy's doubts with re^^ard to your real point of attack than any other. Hold it fast till we a/2/iroac/i ijoii. In the present state of the cam- paijjn we ouf^ht to run no risks by separate attacks \vhen combined ones arc practicable and sure. Had you been able to have broken down the head of their defences and seized the bank of the St. John's at the Kapids, you would have bothered his knightship con- siderdbly ; but, on the whole, the western movement is to be preferred ; because in it there is safety and concert^ and in the mean time, enough to render his attention to different points necessary, and of course to keep his forces in a state of division. ^' The moment the enemy left the upper parts of the Chesapeake, 1 ordered Pickens with his battalion of the loth, to join you. A battalion of the .)2d had sim- ilar orders." Head Quarters, Chataugay, Oct. 4, 1813. DEAR SIR, No change of importance in my aHairs has oc- curred since my last, by colonel Atkinson ; but, as there are several of minor consideration, I have judg- ed that a detailed view of them might be of some use, at the moment of your arranging with the command- ing general the main course of the proposed opera- tions. Tiie road to Plattsburgh will be completed to-day, and is a perfect turn/iike. Tlie artillery, consisting of 8 six-pounders, 1 twelve, and 1 howitzer, tolera- bly appointed and found, is arrived. I have but a small stock of provisions on hand, but have the most pointed assurance from colonel Thomas, the quarter master general, that a supply of sixty days of bread and flour will arrive at once, in the cours.e of three or four days. I have only from forty to fifty rounds of musket cartridges with me, but this coiiyoy will make the oUpply an hundreds and give to the artillery all it requires in reserve. The supply of salted pi ovisions • • • • will not exceed a fourth of the proportion of flour ; but \vc have, anil can Iiave, an unliniitcd supply of p;ood beef eattle. Brigadier c^eneral I'arkci- is at Plattsburs^h hastenin'^ my supplies, and prcsidinj^over some arranijemcnts that were thought necessary. 1 have directed the commencement of a /i^*^^!/ rjur, or invasion of the lines, at and near lake Cham- plain, by colonel Clark, who has some volunteers, and brif^adier general Fassett, (our colonel) who has, at my instance, called out his brigade of militia. The latter, 1 understand, turn out but badly, but they will make together, I suppose, from 600 to lOOO men. There has been inculcated by the artifices of the Bri- tish, a shameful and corrupt neutrality on the lines, for ihc purposes of gain.- I have directed these offi- cers to break the truce. And should oiHcr meanti fail, to act the part of the mischievous urchin, Avho, to get two peaceable tabbies ^\. '■'' viakin;^ tht fur fy^* hold them up together by the tail. To be serious, it is really time each individual should take his side, and that traitors to either, should meet their due re- \vard. What I am aiming at, however, is tranquility on the road, by kicking up a dust on the luics. It ^vilI also create a division at a proper point. Of Hop- kins's militia, but about 25'J have arrived, and not orklng party, advanced on a more circuitous but practicable route for a road. The measure, as will ^e seen by tbc report of brigadier general Izard, which I liavc the honor to inclose, completely suc- ceeded, and the main body of the army reached tlic advanced position on the eveninj^ of the 22d. The 23d and 2 tih were employed in completing the road and j^-etlinjj up the artillery and stores. I had arranp;cd, at my departure, under the direc- tion of major Piu kei", a line of communication as far up the St. Lawrence as Oedensburgh, for the purpose of hastening to me the earliest notice of the progress of our army down. I had surmounted twenty-four miles of the most difficult part of the route, and had m advance of me seven miles of open country, but at tlie end of that distance commenced a wood of some miles in extent, which had been formed into an entire abatis, and filled by a succession of wooden breast- works, the rearmost of which were supplied with ord- nance. In front of these defences were placed the Indian force and lig-lu corps of the enemy, and in the rear all of his disposable force. As the extent of this force depended upon his sense of danger on the St. Lawrence, it was a cause of regret that all communi- cation from yourself or major Parker scerned to be at an end. As it was, however, believed that the enemy was hourly adding to his strength in this position, if free from the apprehension of danger from above, an efibrt was judged necessary to dislodge him, and if it succeeded, we should be in possession of a position which we could hold as long as any doubts remained of what was passing above, and of the real part to be assigned iis. Our guides assu?'ed us of a shoal and practicable fording place, opposite the lower flank of the enemy's defences, and that the wood on the opposite side of the river, a distance of seven or eight miles, was practicable for the passage of the troops. Colonel Purdy with the light corps, and a strong body of in- fantry of the line, was detached at an early hour of the night of the 25th to gain this ford by the morning, and to commence his attack in rear, aiul that was to be the signal for the army to fall on in front, and it vvas believed the pass migiu be carried before the en- I- 82 mfs distant troops could 'be brought forward to its '"l ^'returned to my quarters from Purdy's column about 9 o'clock at night, when I found a Mr. Bakhvm, of the quarter master general's department, who put into my hands an open paper contammg mstructions to him from the quarter master general, respectmg the building of huts for the army in the Chataugay, below the line. This paper sunk my hopes, and raised serious doubts of receiving that efficacious sup- port which had been anticipated. I would have re- called the column, but it was in motion, and the dark- ness of the night rendered it impracticable. I could only go forward. The army was put in motion on the morning of the 26th, leaving its baggage, &c. on the ground of encampment. On advancing near the enemy, it was found that the column on the opposite side was not as far ad- vanced as had been anticipated. The guides had misled it, and finally failed in finding the ford. We could not communicate with it, but only awaited the attack below. About two o'clock the firing commcn- ccd,and our troops advanced rapidly to the attack. — The enemy's light troops commenced a sharp fire, but brij^adier general Izard advanced with his brigade, drove him every where behind liis defences and si- lenced the fire in his front. This brigade would have pushed forward as far as courage, skill and perseve- rance could have carried it ; but on advancing, it was found that the firing had commenced on the opposite side, and the ford had not been gained. The enemy retired behind his defences, but a re- newal of his attack was expected, and the troops re- mained some time in their position to meet it. The troops on the opposite side wore excessively fatigued. The enterprise had failed in its main point, and colo- nel Purdy was ordered to withdraw his column to a shoal four or five miles above, and cross over. The day was spent, and general Izard was ordered to with- draw his brig,ade to a position three miles in the rear, to which place the baggage had been ordered forward. The slowness and order with which general Izard retired with his brigade, could but have inspired the enemy with respect. They presumed not to venture a shot at him during his movement ; but the unguard- 83 • • • • edness of some part of Purdy*s command exposed him to a rear attack from the Indians, which was re- peated after dark, and exposed hini to some loss These attacks were always repelled, and must have cost the enemy as many lives as we lost. Our entire loss of killed, wounded and missing, does not exceed fifty. In its new position within three miles of the enemy's post, the army encamped on the night of the 26th, and remained until 12 o'clock of the 28th. All the deserters, of whom there were four, having con- curred in the information that sir Georg-e Prevost, with three other general officers, had arrived with the whole of his disposable force, and lay in the rear of these defences, and a letter from major Parker (by ex- press received on the evening of the 26th) having in- formed me that no movements of our army down the . St. Lawrence had been heard of at Ogdensburgh, and for some distance above ; the following questions were submitted to the commanding officers of brigades, regiments and corps, and the heads of the general staff, in a council convened for the purpose : " Is it advisable, under existing circumstances, to renew the attack on the enemy's position, and if not, what po- sition is it advisable for the army to take, until it can receive advices of the advance of the grand army down the St. Lawrence ?" The opinion of the coun- cil was expressed in the following words : " It is the unanimous opinion of this council, that it is necessary, for the preservation of this army and the fulfilment of the ostensible views of the govern- ment, that we immediately return by orderly marches to such a position (Chataugay) as will secure our communications with the United States, either to re- tire into Vrinter quarters or to be ready to strike be- low." In pursuance of this opinion the army has re- turned by slow marches to this place, and now awaits the orders of the government. Its condition will be stated by the bearer, colonel King, who can give you, upon every point, more full and perfect information, than could be contained in a written detail. I have the honor to be, With great respect, your obedient servant, W. HA?^lPTOiV. The Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. fii Heacl.Quariers of ihe Army, District J^o. 9, seven miles above O^densburtrh, November 6, 1813. in the cveuiug. 'l address you at the special instance of the secre- tary of Nvar, M ho, bv bad roads, worse weather, and ill health, was divert\d from meeting mc near this place, and determined to tread hack his steps to \\ ashiuotoii from Antwerp on the 29th ultimo. I am des'.ined to and determined on the aliack ul Alontreal, if not prevented by some act of Ciod ; and to -ive sccuriiv to the enterprises the division under vour command must co-operaie with the corps under my immediate orders. The point of rendezvous is tlie circumstance of greatest interest to the issue ot this operation, and the distance which separates us, and my ignorance of the practicability ol the direct or devious roads or routes on which you must march, lYiake it necessary that your own judgment should deternrme that point. To assist you in forming the sound(;st determination and to take the most prompt 'ji\\(\ efl'ectual measures, I can only inform you of m/ intentions and situation in one or two respects of first importance. I shall pass Prescott to night, because ^ the stage of the season will not allow me three days to takc'it ; shall cross the cavalry at llamblcton, whicli will r.ot require a day, and shall then press forward and break down every obstruction to the connucnco of this river with Grand river, there to cross to the isle Perrot, and with my scows to bridge the narrow inner channel, and thus ob'.ain foothold on Montreal island, at about twenty miles from the city ; after M hich our artillery, bayonets and swords must secure our triumpii or provide us l^onorable icraves. Inclosed you have a memorandum of my lit Id and battering train, pretty well found in fixed ammunition, which may enable' you to dismiss your own, but we are de- ficient in loose powder and musket cartridges, and therefore ho|ic you may be abundantly found. On the subject of provisioi^s, 1 wish I could give as fa- vorable information ; our wliole stock of bread may be computed at abov.t 15 days, and our meat at 20. In speaking on thii subject to the secretary of "svar, ho 83 • • • • informed me that ample magazines were laid up on lake Champlain, and therefore I must request you to order forward two or three months supply by the safest route in a direction to the proposed scene of action. I have submitted the state of our provisions to my general officers, who unanimously agree that it should not prevent the progress of the expedition ; and they also agree in opinion, that if you are not in force to face the enemy you should meet us at St. Regis, or its vicinity. I shall expect to hear from, if not to see you, at that place on the 9th or 10th instant. And have the honor to be respectfully, Sec. JAS. WILKINSON. To Major General W. Hampton, &c. P. S. I was preparing an express which I should have despatched to-morrow but for the fortunate call of colonel King. A copy, JOHN HOOMES, Aid-de-camfi. Head-Quarters, Four Corners, November 8, I813» SIR, I had the honor to receive, at a late hour last evening, by colonel King, your communication of the 6th, and was deeply impressed with the sense of re- sponsibility it imposed of deciding upon the meians of our co-operation. The idea suggested as the opinion of your officers, of effecting the junction at St. Regis, was most pleas- ing, as being the most immediate, until I came to the disclosure of the amount of your supplies of provi- sion. Colonel Atkinson will explain the reasons that would have rendered it impossible for me to have brought more than each man could have carried upon his back ; and, when I reflected that,in thr ow- ing myself upon your scanty means, I should be weakening you in your most vulnerable point, I did not hesitate to adopt the opinion, after consulting the general and principal officers, that by throwing myself back on my main depot, where all the means of trans- portation had gone, and falling upon the enemy's flank, and straining every effort to open a commumcatior* H $6 m » * m from Plattsburgh to Cognawaga, or any other point you may indicate on the St. Lawrence, 1 should more effectually contribute to your success than by the junction at St. Regis. The way is, in many places, blockaded and abatiscd, and the road impracticable for '::}/ieels during winter ; but, by the employment of pack horses, if 1 am not overpowered, I hope to be able to prevent your starving. I have ascertained and witnessed the plan of the enemy is to burn and consume every thing in our advance. My troops and other means will be described to you by colonel Atkinson. Besides their rawness, and sickliness, they have endured fatigues equal to a winter campaign in the late snows and bad weather, and are sadly dispirited and fallen off; but, upon this subject I must refer you to colonel Atkinson. With these means what can be accomplished by- human exertion, I will attempt, with a mind devoted to the general objects of the campaign. W. HAMPTON. A copy, JOHN HOOMES, Aid-de-camji. To Major General Wilkinson. Head Quarters, Plattsburgh, November 12, 1813. SIR, I have the honor to inclose the copy of a letter I have received from general Wilkinson, and of my re- ply. The forage at Chataugay had been nearly con- sumed before the expedition down the river; and in the return of the army, enough only could be found to subsist the horses and teams two or three days. All accounts concurred in the report, that general Wil- kinson had not commenced his operations against Kingston, and that no descent down the river was in- tended. Hence, the necessity for sending off the cavalry, artillery, and provision teams to Plattsburgh for subsistence ; and hence also, the impossibility of a junction at St. Regis with more provisions than must have been consumed on the march to that place. General Wilkinson had no spare transportation for us; and the junction would have reduced the stock of pro- • • • • visions to eight or ten clays for the -whole.* The al- ternative was adopted under the impression of abso- lute necessity. The army has approached on this route to the road leading to Chazy, a few miles from the lines, where I shall join it to-night. I can only repeat what I said in my letter to general Wilkinson, " that what can be accomplished by human exertion shall be attempted to meet the objects of the campaign." But I should be uncandid not to own, that many circumstances are \inpropitious. The force is dropping off by fatigue and sickness to a most alarming extent. My returns yesterday, report the effectives at little more than half their original state at Chataugay ; and, which is more discouraging, the officers, with a few honorable exceptions, are sunk as low as the soldiers, and en- dure hardship and privation as badly. In a word, since the shew, produced by clothing, movements, Sec. has worn off, all have assumed their native raw- ness. Fatigue and suffering from the weather have deprived them of that spirit, which constituted my best hopes. What confidence can the best officer (and I Kave a few surpassed by none) feel under such cir- cumstances ? It is painful to hold up to you this pic- ture, but it is but too faithfully drawn. The quarter master general has been ordered td procure on hire 400 waggons, and I shall attempt to open a communication on the direct route from the town of Champlain. Success, under the circumstan- ces I have mentioned, must depend upon the efforts and force opposed to me. The deinonstration^ howev- er, can but produce a partial good. On the route I took, the enemy burnt and consum- ed every thing before him, and this I understand to be his general plan. If the same course precede the ad- vance of general Wilkinson, and my feeble force should be foiled, the consequences are much to be dreaded. But the Rubicon is now passed, and all that remains is to push for the capitol. I have the honor to be, sir, Very respectfully. Your most obedient servant, W. HAMPTON. Gen. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Is •si 88 • • • • jExtract of a letter from Major General Hampton to the Secretary of IVar^ dated Cliazy, November 15, 1813. " I have the honor to enclose you the copy oft letter I received the last evenini,' from general Wil- kinson, by colonel Atkinson, whom I had sent to him for the purpose of settling the plan of our proposed joint operations. Of the consistency of tins letter with that of the 6th instant, and my answer, or of the insinuation it contains, I shall say nothing. Upon so plain a case, and an attempt so unworthy the occasion, common sense will alTord every explanation I could •Wish. I shall make the necessary arrangements for placing the troops in winter quarters, and commence my journey to the southward." ^ %:^- Head Quarters, near Cornwall, (U. C.} Nov. 1^ 1313 SIR, "* I this day had the honor to receive your letter of the 8th instant, by colonel Atkinson, and want lan- guage to express my sorrow for your determination not to jom the division under your command w h \he troops under my mimediate orders. As such resolution defeats the irrand obiccts nr.i,.* campaign in this quarter, which, b'efore tir cefp of your letter, were thought to be completely u' th^our power, no suspicion being entertained tha^ VouZZ decline the junction directed, it will oblige us to Ti post at the French Mills, on Salmon d vC or i 1/,' Vicinity, for the winter. ^^ ^" ^'^^'^ I have the honor to be. Respectfully, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Major General Hampton. ^' ^^^^^^^>^'^ON. ^ / ■/•' ..v-^ €.v r:^^^^^^lt^:^-7 f/ Xr? PART II, CORRESPONDENCE Between the Secretary of War and Major General Wilkinson. Submitted to the president by the secretary of war, on the 23d July, and communicated to general Wilkin- son on the 5th of August 1813. The time at which we have reason to expect an as- cendancy on lake Ontario has arrived. If our hopes on that head be fulfilled, though but for a short period, we must avail ourselves of the circumstance, to give to i, if en^au'-tl for tlirrc months only, .-houUI be put in motion from the viciiijlv o( lak* Mtniphramairoi;, to «lc«ccnd the rivrr St. Francis, nmi lake post on the ri^ht hank of lake St. f^•t^^. u iib a hnt- lering train of trav«IIincc carriazeB, orr. ! Atn\ e«piipt ' Ither to keep post or retire when ilu- ^aizon or other circumstances should render expedient. Before I close this letter, I will hog leare to call your attention to several 5.pecific |^oint^ on which I re- quire infot'nmlion and aulhoritv, which I deem cksen- tial to the salutary dlnharire of the high and loleinn trust about to devolve upon nw. 1st. A copy of the iiislruclions to Major-(;rneral Hampton, for my govermneot in the correspondence to ensue between us. 2d. «hall I be alloued a private Bccretarr, nbirh is' iiecessary, and of ri.^bt belongs to the conwnand oa nnicn 1 am about to enter ? a..M?' I '^"^"""'^ P^-nnis.ion to take for my aid.^ de c^mu ^^ch officers as are best fitted to discharge the in.portanl dt.iiesol (he station. * «JJ!'t\^/'^ authority (or is it understood that I poi». j scss It) to supply every defect of the nuniilion. nf war • 'seo agents. JiUi. 1 enlreat that ample fnn.ls niav be ,le,,„.ii,.,l i„ duct olthe ^1 r "*" -"'^ "ece.s..ary <„ Ihr r,-^„,:,v c.»]. preser 1^^^^^ '"T"",' '"" " '' '"""y •■^^<''"i^'' "- ">'• to the «; "ni '""' ?"'"'"'"''-'li"'>. a...l Ue„„r..nnal,l. Irresponsible (oral! sl.gulU have the control ..f,|| -fh. I hope I may be expressly aulliori3e (lie whole of our horse aitdleiy, and to mount the whole of our dragoons, be- Zr^U-l T- f ™' ""' "^ '■°""'' *" important in e ery combat which may ensue. ^ A serious impression of fhe dread responsibilitr which n! n ^"'^; ^ ''''''^''^ '^"'^ ^^' the public expecta- tion winch accompanies me, must be my apologv f^r giving you so much trouble. ^ With perfect respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Honorable John Armstrong, '■^- "^'"^^^^^ON Secretary of War. Sir, ^"^^ DEPARTi^i^r. Jug-usi Sth, 1313. an tf z:&L':ire;tiu:STe°ir ^'" ^--^ tbat m the eveat of iu success it leave. IheXith tf the enemy unbroken ; it but woujuU the tail (»f fitc liou and of course is not calculated to hasttn thf lermiria- lion oi" the war, either by inort'a-* Iw r«t;tiin this, and keeps o|)en his communication uith tin he will not want the means ol inulti|dyini: his naval and other defences, and of reinl'orcini; or renewinj; the war in the west. Kimcston therel'ore, as well on grounds of policy as of military principle, presents theyir.vr ami great ol>ject of the campaii;u. There are two ways of approachinc; this ; by direct, or hy indirect attack ; by breakinn; tlowti the enemy's hat- talions and forcins; his works — nr by sei/inir and oIh structins: the line of hi^ conmumication, audi bin jlryint; up (he sources by wiiicli he \* nourished and m;;intiiin«'il# Circumstances mast govern in choosina? het\\ern these ditierent mode?. Vere our assembled land and naval forces comj)ete;it to the object, a direct attack wouUI, lui - U>'-, and take a position wh*«ch s-hail enalde you to se- cure what you gain. On tliis plan, the navy would pcr- jorm its part by occupying the nu)uth of the river, and preventing a pursuit by water ; by clearing the river of the armed boats of the enemy; by holding:, with its own, the passage at Hamilton, and hy giving support to that position. If the enemy pursues, it must be hy land, without subsistence, (excepting what he carrier on hid back) and without artillery. If he remains stationary, bis situation must soon become eren more serious, as ^he country in whicli he is cannot long subsist him. \i vnW then but rewiain for bim to tight his way to Que . bee, to perish in the attempt, or to lay (Io^\^l his arm?. After this exposition, it is unoecessary to adtl, that ia conducting the present campaign, you will make King. Stan your primary object, and that you will choose (as circumstances may warrant) betweea a direct and iiidi^ T€ct aUack upon that post. 1 have the honor to be. With great respect. Sir, your most obedient serv't. JOHJN ARMSTRONG. Major-General Wilkinson, Commanding District No. 9. WAR DEPARTMENT, August 9, 1813. Sir, In answer to that part of your letter of the 6th ia^- stant, which calls for information, Arc. on certain enu- merated points, I have the honor to state : 1st. That General Hampton's instructions go only i% assemljle and organize his division at Burlington, It is intended that he shall operate cotemporarily with you, and under your orders, in prosecution of the plan of camj)aign which has been given to you. 2d. Tiie senior major-general commanding the princi- pal army is entitled to the services of a private se- cretary. 3d. The ordnance and other departments of supply within the district (No. 9) are subject of course to 3^our orders. 4th. The quarter-master general of the aimy will sup- ply the funds for secret service. 5th, All orders to subordinate officers pass from the war department to the adjutant-general, to be com=- municated by him to the general commanding the district in which such subordinate officer may serve. 6th. No specitic permission is necessary for removing factious or disorderly men. All such will pronerly become subjects of the confidential reports to be made by iuopectors. To detach such men from one district to another, is only shifting the evil : the bet- ler way is to report them for dismission. 7tli If the corps at Fort George be recalled, the work- should he razed or occupied hy a loree coinpel^nl |o hold it against an assault. There is a corp. of inili- lilia and voluiitt-ers (lo Nshorn the Six imlion huhans have associaled themseive.*) at Black Kock, %xhich may be kepi in service. They are conunandi-d Uy General Porter ami Air. Par^i^ll. [See tlie cunlideii- tial letter of General Porter enclo?*^!,] Sth. The secretary of war will d«-cline and forbid all improper comniuni«:alion?, and particularly -uch M may bear any color of insubordinatiun. 0th. Besides the ordin-try mode of comninniration by mail, expresses may l>e employed iu exlraurdinary cases. I ,, , ICth. The draccoon and lij^hl artillery corps Miall be made elhcieut. Horses may be bou2;ht for l»oth. An officer from each corps shoidd be tlirected to nupcrin- tend the purchases. Price (average) nut to exceed 120 dollars. I have the lionor to be, WiOi ^reat respect, Sir, your most nb't. servM. JOHN AKM:3TKUNC Major-General Wilkinson, Commanding the Norihrrn Ajmy. SackaCs Harbor, Aupist 2\sf, 181?. Sir, I arrived here yesterday : my machiucry is in mo- tion, and 1 have strons; hopes of giviim; the change to Sir George, wiiicb will lead directly to the oliject of first importance. Commodore Chauncey is in port here and his antago- nist. Sir James Yeo, at Kingston. In the late inter- Tiews between these naval commanders the fir^t ban zealously sounht a combat, which the latter has cau- tiously avoided ; the superiority on the l-ake, therefore, remains still to be settled ; but I have Chauncey'g as- surance for it, and place much confidence in his wonl; it is obviously Sir James's plan to ake press on Ihe rerrnita from Albany and the southward, and send me Vatic* worth, Swift, Fenwick, and l/.ard. All things go wril here, and thank God, the men are rec<)verin«c rapi«ll3\ 1 hear not a word from Hampton. I hope he tloes not mean to take the stud ; hut if so, we can do w ithout him, and 'he should be sent home. Truly yours, J A. WILKINSON. General Armstrone, Secretary of War. n Sackett's Harbor, jitfs^ust 30, 1813. iExtract of a letter from Mnjor G enteral Wilkinson to the Secretary of War. Sir, With every exerlion he could make, it was not until the last evening, Chauncey got imder way, and the wea- ther being calm, he must he now off this harbor. Agreeably to my information. Sir James Yeo sailed for the head of the like Ihe 22d in?tant, with the two captured schooners in addition to his squadron, no doubt to co-Oj)erate with Sir George, but did not get clear of the Ducks before the 25th. Brigadier General Poyd is warned of this movement, and being placed on his gunrd, he ought to battle every enterprise of the enemy — what an awful crisis have I reached. If hir George beats Boyd, and Sir James, Chauncey, my prospects are I. lasted, and the campaiga ivill, I fear, be lost. If Sir G<'orge beats Boyd, and Chauncey beats Sir James, Kingston yet may be ours ; hut slio: 1! bolh the knights be beaten, and our quarter- master can find transport in season (of which I have fears, as I found next to none here) then we shall cer- tainly winter in Montreal, if not discomfitted by some act of God. If I could have mustered three thousand combatants on this ground, with trans|»ort to bear them, I would now have been before Kingston, where Sir George has left only one thousand five hundred regular troops, and about ftve hundred militia; but our utmost force is short of two thousand five hundred, as you will perceive Irom the enclose/. 1 have commencefl, barely, the arranu;ement of the «3epartnient of intelligence ; an intellic;encer left Kings- ton or its vicinity, last evening:, to tell m** that Sir George Prevost had commenced his operations asiainst Boyd, and had driven in his |)iquets and taken sixty or seventy prisoners, hut had been repulsed from his line of encampment. The militia of Montreal are at kinirs- ton, and reinforcements by single hundreils are arri\in^ frequently; lour hundred men are expected in the course of the week. The force at Kingston is 2000 men, (regulars 1500, militia 500.) Major General Uarrachcommands, and they are assiduously strengthening their works. Sir James Yeo sailed with six weeks provisions, expressly to co-operate with Sir George at the head of the lake: A double battle and a double victory offer a strong temp- tation : but 1 will not be diverted from my course. 1 have written Governor Tompkins on the 8ul)ject of e draft of militia for the strait of ^Jiagara, to supply the 13 alisence of our Iroops of the line, ami prereat clamor, but Imve not heea so happy as to receive an acknowledg- ment of my letter. Wilh perfect respect, Your obedient servant, JA. WILKINSON'. The Honorable John Armstrong, Secretary of War. War Department, September G, 1813, Sackett's Harbor. Dear General, I arrived here yesterday. Nothing new, excepting that Prevost has returned to Kingston. Gen. Hampton will go through the campaign cordially and vigorously, but will resign at th« end of it. He will he ready to move by the 20th, with an effective regular force of 4,000, and a militia detachment of 1 ,500. On the sup- position that Sir George had decidedly taken his part, ind had chosen the i)euinsula as his champ de bataille, i had ordered Hampton to move immediately against the Isle aux Noix. 2,000 militia will be promptly assem- bled at Champion, twenty-four miles from this place, and on the route to the St. Lawrence. The place was selected, as offering two objects, and of course leaving his knightship to guess. To have pushed them directly to Ogdenshurgh, Avould not have had that advantage. A largrer draft would have been difficult. Another view of the snhject is, that this part of the plan cannot be confided to militia, exclusivel}^ ; they must be propped by a regular corps, otherwise the back door may not be snfiaci'^ntly closed and harred. The battle on the lake ! Shall we have one? If Yeo fights, and is heaten, all w ill be well. H he does not fight, the result may aho be favorable. Yours cordially, JOHN ARMSTRONG. General Wilkinson. Extract of a letter from 7nujc( general Wilkinson to the secretary of war ^ dated fort George, Wtli Sept. 1813. " i have indulged the hope for sfverdl days past that I sliouki have been enabled to address you in propria. B 14 ])ersoiJ8e, bill, in this 1 ]is/ebeen baf^^^dhy a •evfrc anrt uarciiaUing nja'.ady uhicli obliges nie to report to the pen oi dConiDion liiciul. *' I reac'ie*! this ])iace the evenin;i of Hip iih. Com- jiiodoie Chauncey at that time occupied the hnrhor; and !^ir James Yeo with the Eiitish sqn.Tlron was vaporiiii; ID Iron t of it. This state of things conliniird without any material cliange, uniil the evening of the 7th, wlien a light land breeze gave to Hie connnodore an o|«portu- idtj of standing out to nuet the eneniy. Tlie two squadrons were about two leJirrues ariinder, of conse- «;uence an action appeared inevitable : yet so it liae hapjiened, that, since that jH^riod, until about five , o'clock yesterday, P. IM. these two naval armaments j have kept from 4 to 8 miles distant, without having ex- changed a single shot, or done to each oth«'r the* small- | est visible damage. The Ikitish uiiiforndy on the re- treat, and the American in pursuit. *■• General Peter B. Porter left me today, properl}' au- tborised and instructed to bring into oi>:.-rtions, and retards our measures. ' ." -^'^l^. ^^»'^oval of the main body of the troops from this position is an operation of great delicacy and inter- est; and it was therefore your presence here would have been more important than elsewhere. " 1 am notauthorised to abandon this useless occupan- cy, and therefore it must be maintained against the united British force in its vicinity ; to secure the end' and nothing must be hazarded, will require a serious dram from our best trooi)s, which enieebles our too feeble lorce for the main attack. Tlie head of the militia un- der M^C lure has not yet shown itself: when it does (it in any reasonable time), and we have conierred. I shall better be enabled to develope the intricate mh belore me. But in the mean time, alas ! sir, the sen- son will, I fear, be lost. " The Indians enter into our views with great zeal and 1 look for a corps of at least five hundred men ii eight days ; whether to relieve De RoCenbero- of five or SIX hundred of his effective men, before I (urn my back on him, will be determined by considerations of policy in relation of our red allies and the militia, and the fate ol our squadrons. The enemy profess to Ar^y a total ignc= ranee ol the occurrence of an action between the squadrons. " In the course of sixteen days the enemy have lost sixty five men by desertion, we barely six. We count '1,aoo on paper, and could show about 3,400 combat- anJs. The enemy, from the best information we have have about 3,000 men on paper, of whom 1,400 are sick' Shall I make a sweep of them or not, at the hazani of our main object ? Not unless that main object is ieo. i>anUs8d by tfeg ats ci our sq^aadiong— it would refiuire- au operaliou oC three weeks ; but luy vien* nre forward ami 1 shall not ahaiidou the i>rufci>ecl while a ray o! hope remains. " 1 have received your letters to the 0th from Sack- i'tt's Harbor, and thauk you lor them. Ten- your eom- iort, the men here are j:ainin«: h.eallh, and, with their officers, breathe an ardent j=pirit lor combai.' Extract of a Idler from major fianral Wilkwsnn to the >i- crctary of nar, (latcd fori George, Sc^t. 18, liil3. DEAR*GENKRAL, Accident detained the express last evemng, and fives me an opportunity to drop yon another line. '^ Not a word more ofChauncey ; what has become of him? I pray yon to deeiile, whether I am to move, with or without any furlher Knowle(!i:;e of the squadron. From tlie enclosed No. 2, it wouhl appear that ihe enemy expect trampjil winter (juarlers in this nei-hbor« hood, lor the number of barrack? proposed to be built ^viil not receive more than 1,100 or 1,COO men, includ- ing guards, ordinary nnd extraortlinary, slow Ihrm at you can; hut shall 1 have the enemy withUi f«>nr milet of this place, mnkinp a wide invc^titm-e of it IrDfU Qneenslown to Four r^Iile Creek ; or >hall 1 break him ii[)? Avith our i>rospects the decision is embarrassing; change them to the abandonment of the chief desi«r»i, and our course is direct, viz: to take possession at Wwv- Jinclon baj', and cut up or capture the whole division in this quarter, which may be estimated at 3,000 recu- lar troops. 1 pray you to deliberate on these poiut^s and «;ive me yourad\ice without delay. 1 have despatched an ex|»ress to for seneral JMl'lure, ol whom 1 have heard nolhinir since • my last; but to sup|)ly the debet of his silcnrc.', the en- closed copy of a communication from a coimniltre of Avhich P. R. Porter is chief, will fully «^iiHicp. I have responded in the most c< n-teous tfrnjs, making; r« fr- ence to you f < r your determination on the momentous occasion, as you will perceive from my answer. Now let me intreat you to weisrh these ])roposition8, to take into cojjsideration the possible failure of the militia and the substitution in such caseof these volunteers; lor in t]ie present crisis, we should, if possible, render "as>>^i- 17 fance doubly sure.'' The letter of Daniel Eodiiiati (a stranger) is also transmitted for consideration : let me have your answer, and tell me how tu act as speedily as possible, 1 beseech. The boats from Oswego have not yet arrived. I am feeble to childhood, but shall look at the troops in battalion on Tuesday. Truly yours, JA. WILKINSON, The honorable John Armstrong, secretary of war. Fort George, Septemb er 1 8, 1 8 1 3"^ Sir, I am ordered by General Wilkinson to forward the enclosed papers. One a letter from a committee of thre^, of which P. B. Porter is the first; and the other a letter from Daniel Rodman, the organ of an association of re- sidents in and near Canandaigua. 1 have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, H. LEE, jr. Major of infantry and aid de camp (• Major- General Wilkinson. The Honorable J. AniK-itroug, Secretary of War. Black Rock, September 17, 1813. ^IR, In consequence of encouragements from Gen. Boyd, ihat a general and decisive movement was about to be made by the army, and that an additional force was de- sirable, we repaired to Fort George about five weeks ago with 500 men, consisting of volunteers, militia, and Indians. JMost of us remained there for twelve or four- teen days, but our hopes not being realized, the men continually dispersed and went home; not however, ivithout expectations, again encouraged by Generals Boyd and A\^illiams, that we should be shortly called oa again to aid in operations, which the people in tliis j)art of the country, so long harrassed by the calan>i'ies of ■war, feel so strong an interest in forwarding. Undet .similar expectations, many of our friends in the interior h-lTc iotixnated iQ us their readiness tc join irith respect- -B2. ^h\e reinrorcements en the sliortr:t notice ; an«l \re trr inlornied that one company, ai>out seventy ^trons, is ac tiially on its marcli> and will arrive here to-ilay or to- inorrow. We are at thi?^ moment much at a loss how Jo act, «ml our difficulty is incicasoc! hy Jli*i various rumoraand conjectures circulated by the dilVerrut olVicer? dnily ar- vivinfT :rom head-quarlers, some ol" whom reprt^itnt that no oil'-nsive operations are to he uudertal^erj on this Iron- tier, but that the regular army is imujotliately to be juarclied, either to the east to attack Kin«;ston, or to the west to join General Harrison. Others state tliat an attack is to be made on the Briti.^h forces in tlie vi- cinity of this place. Under these circumstances, we are indijce quire of you, whether such a force ns we ha\e it in our power to raise, is desired by yo-i to elTecluate your plans, and if so, in what numbers, and at what lime ? Il* y^our olject be to sally out upon the enemy at Fort George, we could bring; you a respectalde force. Dut on the contrary, ifyou mi'ditate an attack at some other point, and the withdrawal of the re<;idar troops from Fort Georce. and placing this frontier on the delV nsive only, by means of niTlitia, we would observe that oui* prep irrd force is of such a character as could not he cn- «"a2;e'"; in this service. Upon the supposition that yon intend to wiJhdrn\r the rr.:u!ar troops from this frontier, we he^ leave to sabmi! a proposition for your consideration. We believe we are not incorrect in saying, that \t would require nearly ([uite as great a force to defend this line of frontier asr<>inst a given force of the enemy, as it would to attack and suhdire that enemy. Sir Georee Prevost has ordered the militia of the npper province to be called out en masse. They are to as- sernhje on Satunlay next. An' ot the militia stationed on the lines as may be willing to join us. That we be furnished with a small train (say 4 pieces) of field artillery, with experienced officers and men tofieht them, and that with this force we be au- thorised to invade the enemy's couatry. Should you think proper to confer such an authoritr on us, and direct that the volunteers shall be furnished V, ith arms, ammunition, and provisions, &c. and receive pay while in actual service, we pledge ou? lives that he- fore the close of the season, we will occupy the whole of the valuable and populous peninsula opposite this riv- er, and either capture, destroy, or disperse all the eoc- my's force in this quarter. Vou may, perhaps, make it convenient to sen«l an an-. swer by the bearer, Captain Hall. Wo are, sir, most respectfully, Your obedient servants, PETER B. PORTER, CYREMUS CHAPiy, JOSEPH M'CLURE. Major General Wilkinson. Canandahuaj Sept. 14, 1813?, Sir, A large n.jrnber of patriotic citizens of this and the a.d-^ Jacent towns, J^nxious to do their duty in a crisis so in- teresting to the nationin general, and to this part of the country in particular, have associated themselves to vo- lunteer their services to the United States for the resi^ due of the campaign at least. In order to etfecTuate their intentions however, it will be necessary, that their movements should receive your approbation and sanction, and tliat they should be as- sured that the corps, whether a company, battalion, or (as is possible) a regiment, should be received, organ-i izBil, and countenanced by your order and authority. — The lateness of the season and the anxiety of the mem- bers, induce ns to recpsest an early nndauthorit'itive reply, that the association may he equipped according to law, and be useful to their country this season. It s\my not he hardly decoroug for t^ to say it, but we must observe that the subscribers will prove (o be obeil^- eat and brave soldiers. In their behalf, 1 am, rcspecirully, Your obedient servant, DANL.KODMAN. Major General Wilkinson, or Officer commanding Fort George. Fort Gcorge, Sep:, 18, 1813. Gentlemen, Your letter of yesterday winch reached me last even- ing:, gives you a claim to my acknowledgments, and to those of your country. But as I am altogetlur unaullio- rised by law, or iustruction, to sanction your |»lan lor the levy of a body of volunteers, and as your anticipaliouf, propositions, and suggestions, embrace a range and a character upon which 1 have neither right nor autborily to deliberate, 1 have considered it my duty to transmit a copy of your letter to the secretary of war, now at Sackett's Harbor, by express, tor his deliberation and decision. 1 hope he may find it convenient and proper to meet your views, and have onl}^ to add, that you shall be ad- vised of his answer without a niomeot's delay, after it 2oay reach my hands. With high consideration and respect, I have the honor to he, geutlemen, Your most obedient servant, JA. WlLKLNbON. To Peter B. Porter, Major Cyrenius Chapin, and Jose^jh M'Clure. SacketCs Harbor, Sept. 18, 18 IS. Dear General, Our information from the other side of the !ak« amounts to this: Prevost goes to Montreal. The whole regular force in Kingston consists of iew companies of De \\ at( r, ille'a regiment, that at Preac^ot of two com- panies of tiie same corps, and about forty artillerists. De Waierville's regiment was made u> in Sj)ain ; i? ©omposed of Pole^, Germans, Spaniard*, and Portor gnese, anil completely disaffected. What a precioils moment my friend is this. The commodore ^vas brought back to lis yesterday by adverse winds. He goes this morning — let not the great objects ot the campaign be hazarded by running after Yeo : these accomplished, his race is run. Kings- ton, or the point below seized, all above perishes, be* cause the tree is then girdled. In speaking of your artillery, you do not include th« guns taken at Fort George, and which will be neces- sary for its defence. A small garrison will be sutlicient against assault: siege we need not dread. It is already too late to live in trenches. Porter (of the artillery) would do weir to command the place. Tell him front me he is a brigadier by brevet. The means of transportation are now with you, hasten j^our march, and may God blesi you in all your enterprises. Yours trulv and always, JOHiN ARMSTRONG, General Wilkinson. Extracts of a letter from Major Gen. WUMnson to the Sc*^ cretary of War., dated September 20th, 1813. I am well again, and that's a good thing, for I havfe been during my sickness somewhat of a sviell fungus. Now indeed would be a fine time to slip into the St. Lawrence, if Chauncey could keep Sir*James blocls- aded above Kingston, and command the river below at the same time, jukI onr preparations vrere completely matured; but it is an herculean t;.c=k to extract order from chaos, ^o time has or shall be lo-^t on my part ; but we CRunot, when prena;c(i at all poinis, control the winds — It was last nigbt c- ly the trnnsports from Os- we-^o arrived ; and if I aui .»ot hardly opposed by wea- ther, 1 hope I shall have 1000 men atloat by the 26th, and comi>letemy embarkati- aon the 30lh, after which, until we reach Grenadier island. 1 ;nust look to our squjMlron and the heavens for saiety. Chauncev tells me he is liable to be blown off from his statio)], ;>nd in siich c-r^e Sir Jame^ may !^!ip out by biro, but promises to follow^ him. It is material, to pre- 22 • 4 * ■ • rent the enemy from followinci; anJ cutting our rrnr, iliat some competent force fliouM take [)0^l on the St. Law- rence below Kingston; ;»ntl I pray of you (•> niaVc tliU arrangement v.itli Chauiice}'. Before 1 left SacUt It's Harbor, I ordered a dozen slip-keeled hoats, to e rry iO men eacJj, and to row 30 oar^, to be armed u illi a li^^bt cannon in their how. This armament is to sweep the St. Lawrence of the enemy's gun-boats, and to take post in ailvance, uhen, and wherever it may be advi:»ahle 1 heir > on, ii neces- sary on your part, to j^ive eflVct to thi-* order. We have just received advice confirmatory of a naval ©ombat on Lake Erie, in which it '\^ <\u\ Perry has* taken the whole British sfpiadron, on the lOth instant, and brought the vessels into " Putney harbor at the islamls'' his own vessel, the Lawrence, barely cajmble of being floated. 'J'he action lasted six hours. 'This will can- cel your news from our commodore. The enclosed letter from G( neral >rClure breathes a good s])irit, but he will not be i\\) for several day*». In the mean time I shall prepare his onlcrs^ to be ready ta give him the comma ml. A body of horse, a small one at that point where the ■fete of the isbmd is to he decided by c()nd)at (for believe not that we shall get possession of Montreal without a battle) will be invaluable. Hum has been order(e per- mitted to raise, between this and the first of October, a Tolunteer force of from one thousand to one thousand two hundred men, exclusive of Indians ; that we m\*\ to it as many of the militia stationed on the lines as may be willing to join usj that we be furnished with a small • • • < • %&m, (say four pieces of artillery with rxpcnenced offi- cers and men to ^ght them) and that with this force we he ciutboiised to invade the enemy's country." Rodman's corps may join Porter. Any volnnteePB you may have with the army, whose times are near ex- piring, and who are desirous of conlinuinir in g»^r- vice°may do so also. We will cover the whole hy a requisition upon Governor Tompkins for addiiionai militia. The enemy's fleet have left the Chesapeake, I he- lieve for Halifax, Avhence the lami trooj»s arc to he sent ioto Canada: another motive for quick movements. My last letters by Chauncey of the 13th or 10th irave jou all we jet know. Prevost h.is lett Kinjrston, it is saidfor Quebec; more probably for Aloiitreal. YoiU's faithriillv and ever, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Niagara, September 27, 1813, 6 o^clock, A. M. Dear Sir, . .1 received at eiu;ht o'clock last evening^, your interest- ing letter of the 22(1, and shall emi)loy its authorisations to the lest possible ettect. Fifteen hundred men were embarked with orders to srU the day belbre yesterday', but a strong easterly wind has made itimi;o£sible to move. The whole lone, say three thou?and combatants, after deducthig the garrisons of Fort George and Nia- gara, were ready for embarkation yesterday, and as the weather is serene at this moment, I hope the whole may be able to move at dusk this day : I say at dusk because 1 am desirous to keep my neighbors under a deiu-ion as long as possible ; they are perplexed as to itiy ititeii- tions, and will not be able to penetrate them before they have discovered the course of my flotilla. I have authentic information from Vork the evening of the 24th inst. The brigade of miliiia in the vicinity were required to assemltle the 25th, and six hundred men of the 4 1st and 49th regiments, second battalion were daily expected there on tbfir route to this neigh- borhood: this is good; and still better, three spacious block-houses are ordered by Sir George to be erected at York. 25 But sir, here is one drawback ; the tantalizing gir^ James Yeo was in shore with his fleet on the evenino-of the 24 th, (Friday) about twenty-eight miles east° of York. Where he is now, we know not, for he has not since been heard of, and Chauncey is just sentMng; out the Lady of the Lake and the xVeptune, to reconnoitre York and the coast in that quarter. What may be the Tiews of the knight? to gasconade, to retard my move- ment, or to enable De Rottenberg to follow me ? 1 am unable to divine, but will not be longer delayed, and, therefore, shall be twenty miles to the eastward before to-morrow morning, should the weather permit. If Sir James can be discovered, Chauncey will seek him, otherwise he will sail with me to cover my left flank. As we have not a moment to loose, 1 shall proceed directly to Grenadier* Lsland, writing you and sending orders to the commanding officer by a despatch boat en passant. ' After all we are so straitened for transport, that we shall not find room for more than fifteen days' provisi- ons; indeed, we have little more to spare from this posi- tion, and therefore, our sole dependence must be on the magazines at Hackett's Harbor, of which the contractor should be personally advised. Heaven protect you. Truly yours, „ . ^ , Jf A. WILKINSON, lion. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. ^ ^ ^lock, thvMii:^ vfrr lUstant. vr^ dii^coTrrf'il it wh% warmly ensiv'^^OiU th«^ numy to IoowhkI mul ^^.Mrl'tly discernible: wo couhl uith our classo?, (Hstin;:iiish tliP Fike firin;: bo\h her battcri.^s, ami frequeMtly tn>ol«M'»'<' in siv.okr. The enemy \\erc (orccA towards the head ol tlie lake, aiul ahoul 3 o'clock we lost sijjjht of our stern- most vessek the ftctiou ?!ill eontinviinac. Fn>ni that |»e- rim^. until yes'teraay nioruins. 1 was kept in suspense as to ihe issue of the action, the wiml hlowins a sjaie Iroiu the souih-east, ami pnxiucin.i: such a swell as ma«!e it iuHH>?jihle lor our privateers to keep the l^ke. and of course my Hotilla was connned to port with the tri>ops, eitl;er on bi)ard or encamped on the heach. 'J'he e> en- iusr before the last, our whole dt et (alone) were discov* ered heating down the lake : \\\ the course ol the nighf, they came too otT Four Mile Creek, and yesterday morn- ins the conuuodore presented himself. Our ohst rvationa on the action were in the main correct, except thut tiie battle was louirht by the Pike alone, (ornext to it) who haviui: carried away sir .tames' wn/vn and main top masts, Jiis squadron bore up to protect him. and Chaun- t?ey wasenirai^ed with the whole. Vnlucky fellow, he could have taken a scb.oont r and n brisr, but his eyes be- ing fixed on the conmioilore, he woidd not look at smal- ler game. Finally, sir .lamesi, as usual, ran away ; was chased to the head of the lake, came to anchor close in shore: and the gale and tremeihlous sea threatening, in ease of a coutinueil action, to put both sjjuadrons on shore, sir .^ames with the British •orce assendded th<'re, and I'liauncey into the hamis of the enemy, he clawed oi^'aml came down to confer with me ; he has n»} opin- ions in writing, and I expect his answer this morning. Early yesterday, before I had heanl from tlu^ com- modore, the wind, for the first, becoming favorable, I despatched all my batteaux,and as soon as I had ascer- tained !-ir James Yoo's situation, our savl-boats followed; but, alas, before 1 o'clock, the wiiul again came round to the south east, and several of our scluumers returned, though a majoritj- of them, and the uliol** of the bat- tenux proceeded, and 1 hope reachetl Eighteen IMile Creek. I hare been detained by the arrival of about 350 In- 27 diaoe, to whom 1 was obliged to give an au;Uence anii a talk, ami I lodged in thi*-: place to bee vviiether the en- emy might look at it, ami what would be the conductor the garriBon of 090 militia and oOO regular troops?, un- der the command of Colonel Scott. We have just hat! an alarm, and being my&ell' among the first on parade, 1 have witnesBcd a scene by which I bhall profit Scott, be- fore I leave him, which v/ill be in a couple oi' hours, as, thank Afmighly God, the wind again breezes, though it has rained all night, and still continues to rain. Oh, it' it rnay pleage Gotl to I'avor us with this breeze, we shall goon be near you; but it is in his power, by adverse >vindg, to delay, and by tempests to destroy us. I move with about 3,500 men. Farewell, and God preserve you. JA. AVILKINSON. The honorable John Armstrong. Extract from tkr Journal of the Secretary of War. " 4th October, 1813. General Wilkinson arrived at tJackett's Harbor on this day from fort George. He im- mediately visited the Secretary of War, in company ivith generals Lewis and Brown, and in the presence oi these oiiicers remonstrated freely and warmly against making an attack on Kingston — ur£j;ing the pro[)riety of passing that post and of going lace the ilivbion nf the hea»l ol the lake, un*ler De UoUedburg, in great ditliciiUy anil distress ; and 4th. We shall destroy every naval reRource, ftnd of consequence prevent the huildint;, cijuipjiing, and even repairing; a singh^ vessel. Agahist this attack it may he urped, 1st. That the reduction of the place may cost niortj lime than we can calculate on. 2d. It Diay cuci^niber us with wouuded and sick ; and 3d. It is possible the British squadron may as hereto- fore elude commodore Chauncey, and tiiui us before Kingston, or overtake ns on th<' St. Law rence. In the first place, froin the lateness of the season, the loss of a few days may expose us to the au(iuiu)al rain?, and jeopardise the chief o!>ject of the camfiai^n. In the second place, our own force will be iliminished, and our mov^ements retarded ; and In the third |)lace, the chief ohjrct of the campaip^r. ike capture of Montreal^ will be utterly defeatttl, and o*ir own army subjected to j^reat dirhcultic s, losses and pe- rils. Submitted to the honorable the secretarv of war. JA. WILKINSON. No. 2. 1st. The Niagara division will probably arrive here iu a day or two. 2d. The weather is yet good, and the iake navigable hv scows and boats. 3d. The enemy's main force is in the neinhborhootl effort Goorge, and his fleet at the head of the lake. 4th. The garrison of Kingston does not exceed COO or 1000 men. 5lh. If we effect a landing at M'Pherson's farm, o?i the eastern side of Kingston, a point fjiay be Feized, which will command the town, the forts, and the har- bor, and within seven hours after the landiii"; is eflected a sutficient battery may be erected and in operation. 6th, 1^ and 12 pounders will be sufficient for burning block-houses^ &c, antl may be dragged by the meu. 2Sf ^ \ 7tli. The time necessary to reduce the place will \ exceed a single day, and of course will not niateria» jaterlere, on I hat account, with our object below. 8th. Tiie loss we may sustain can only be con- jectured. Judging from that at fort George, where the enemy were more numerous, it will be inconside- rable. 9th. The adv^antages of taking Kingston are two: you sever the enemy's line of communicatiou, and you «xpel him from his only secure harbor. The premises assumed under the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th heads may change, and our conclusions with them. The only safe decision, therefore, is, that if the British fleet shall not esca])e commodore Chauncey and get in- to Kingston harbor ; if the garrison of thiit place be not largely reinforced, and if the weather be such as will al- low us to navigate the lake securely, Kingston shall be our first object, olhei wise, we shall go directly to MoH" JOHN ARMSTRONG, Sackett's Harbor, 5th October, lSi3. War Department, October 9, 1813. Dear General, Does there exist between you and the commodore a clear and distinct understanding on the subject of our plan of operations, and the kind and degree of assistance he will be able to give to its execution ? Can he take a, position which shall have the etfect of shutting in Yeo, and of covering our descent upon Kingston, and our sub- sequent movement down the St. Lawrence i* la it not probable that a part of the enemy's lleet will, immedi- ately on our appearance at Grenadier Island, occupy the passages of the river ? If we can be covered in go- ing to our first object, and should attain that, we may be able to dispense with further naval assistance ; but should we fail (a contingency, which being possible, ought to be regarded) naval aid will be necessary to the prosecution of the second part of the plan. As the fleet IS wicd-boumljand the commodore here, explanations oa C2- 39 Jiiese points may Tje readily ami convenieully giyeu Let me kuou' the reyuit, aiitl briirve ine Yours trulv, JOHN* ARMSTRONG- Major general Wilkinson. Head-Qiiarters, Sackei's llarhor, Oaobcr 9, 1813. ©EAR SiK, The commodore and myself have hithrrlo undtr^toocl each other jjerlectly, and 1 think we ghall iiarnionize to the end. He is ready to sail the moment the wind serves; and you may rest assured tiiat nothinj; etisen- tial to give effect to the operations of the army undtr my command, and to nccomidish the views of the gi^ vernment, has been or shall be omiiud. Respectfully and truly voura, J a': WILKIN SOX. Honorable John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Extract of a letter from Genera! Wi!/iinson, to the Secre- tanjofJVar, elated Hcad-Qimrlersj Saiktti\s linrdor, Oetoher 18, 1813. " The dimimition of our force by disease and various casualties, and more especially, tbr unct rtaiufy of the peTiod of our movnment agj'.inst lUontr("al, render it ne- cessary, in my judgment, that you should revoke the or- der ol march you have given to uT^jor sreueral Hampt(»n, and that he should be directed to march for Morrirville, as rapidly as may be consistent with the health of \\'\% troops. This proposition is founded on the presumption, that we make the reduction of Kincrston ami the con- quests of the upper provinces, the first objects of our op- ^ralioBs." War Depeirtment, October 1 9, 1 8 1 3. I received your letter of y^iterday, an, tiro ctle* acd aheif belcw i-iBg^ajri ^2 these tliAn six hundred,! including the 2d regiment of dragoons, is, i understand, deemed iiisufficient. No\r these must be fed. and their provender drawn from this place, as the country i>et ween Gravelly Point and Pul- neyviHe, affords none, and interpose* a swampy desart which shuts us out from the supplies of Rossie and Kay- ■yiile, &c. An important question arises here... can the necessary forage be chtained from this neighborhood? The quarter-nmster-general says " it cannot, that it must be carted from^ Lowvilie, ( lO miles distant) and transported hence by water." These facls, on your plan, menace our operations against Kingston with a delay, which would probably surronnd us with all the embarrassments of a Canadian winter, and extinguish every hope of grasping the other, the safer and the great- er object below. 1 call it the safer and greater object, because — At Montreal, you find the weaker place, and the small- er force to encounter : at Montreal, you meet a fresh, unexhausted, efficient reinforcement of four tliousand jnen : at Montreal, you approacli your own resources, and establish between you and them an easy and expe- tlitious intercourse: at Montreal, you occupy a point which must be gained in carrying your attacks home to the purposes of the war, and which if seized now, will save one campaign : at Montreal, you hold a position which completely severs the enemy's line of operations; which 3huts up the Ottawa as well as the St. Lawrence against him, and which, while it restrains all below, withers and perishes all above itself. These general, are the thoughts which present them- selves on your proposition, and which 1 understand a» abandoning, for this campaign, the proposed attack on Montreal. 1 am entirely disposed to listen to all that can be said on the other side of the question, but at pre- sent, the reasons assigned, leave me no doubt of the pol- icy of pursuing, promptly and tirmiy,* the plan already ia- f Forage for this number was required by the general. * This refers to the preceding plan, approved by the president on th* 23d July, and communicated to geoeral Wilkinson on the 5th of Augast. 33 iiicated, aiifl vvlilcli, besides the approbation of (he pfes^ ident, has received the sanction of a council of war.f 1 am, very respectfully, Sir, your most oh'dt. serv't* JOHN ARMSTKONG. Major general Wilkinson. Head quarters, Sackett's Harbor, October 19, 1813. Dear Sir, I was about to embark for Grenadier Island, when I received your letter of this morning, which I will en- deavor to answer; my very feeble condition and the want of time for reflection, disqualify me from doing full justice to my opinions. You will recollect that in my letter of the 6th of Au- gust, I proposed to take Kingston, as preliminary to an attack on Montreal ; you offered a different opinion in your letter of the 8 th, and on my arrival here, I submit- ted the alternative to a council of war, which decided in favor of your plan, to leave Kingston untouched, and proceed directly against Montreal; but ulterior consid- erations and iiij or illation^ have induced me to adhere to my oriofinal plan. Permit me, previous to the discussion of the grounds ©f my opinion^ to submit a few incidental remarks. It is extremely doubtful what may be the jjresenf force of the enemy at Kingston, and very uncertain how X This council consisted of generals Wilkinson, Lewis, Brown, and Swartwout, and commodore Chauncey. The opinion was unanimous. Note. — Before tiie sucretarv of war left Sackett's Harbor, and while it wsi? deemed practicable, and was intended to carry our attacks against both Kingston and Montreal, he had one or more conversations with commodore Chauncey, on the general subject of naval co-operation. — These had particular reference to two points, the place cf landiiig (in case Kingston was the object of attacit) and the (hgree ^f protection which the fleet could be able to render to the debarkation of the army. The places of descent indicated by the secretary were three. 1st. IM'Pherson's farm, two miles and a hali below Kingston. 2d. The mouth cf the Little Catarqui, four or five miles above Kingston and 3d. The mouth of the Gananoqui river, twenty-four miles below Kings- ton. Tlie commodore's answer was substantially as fellows : that he would not take upon himself the responsibility of covering the lauding of the army at the^r.^t of these points, but that he would cover its landing at either of tlie other two. * Tliis ulterior inforDiallon was not coiumucicatcd to the gecretary flif- Tf.ar, 34 siucR our owa force may have been diuiiiiialied by uit- ease, and the casualties attendias: our movements. From the retreat of Proctor before general Harrison, and the iaCormation received from colonel Scott, I think it probable that De Rottenherg, with the effectives of his division, has gone to reinforce Proctor, and tliat the iroojjs which have descended to Kingston consisted on- ly of the sick of that division. My idea of recalling general Hampton to reinforce us, Vv'as produced by an alarm with respect to the insufficiea- ey of our force, which I found spreading ; and the direc- tion which 1 suggested was (bunded on your own propo- sition* of the 13th instant, at which time 1 understood you to offer the opinion, that the march from Hampton's encampment to Morrisville might be accomplished in six days, and my owp oi>inion is, that by disembarrassing iiimself of his artillery and its attirail, perhaps he mightbe able to make the march in that time, era few days more. My reasons for preferring the attack of Kingston to ^hat of Montreal, are these : By the reduction of that place, we conquer a province, mot only of great importance to the ent^my, but a valu- able acquisition to ourselves ; we capture or destroy four thousand of his best troops; we put an en*! to the Indian ■War, and by the destruction of his naval force, establish <)ur command of the lake, and permit a respectable [nut «f our naval force to be employed elsewhere. On the contrary, leave Kingston, its garrison, and the British squadron in our rear, and proceed to Montreal, Bone of those important objects will be gained. The enemy will remain in undisturbed oossession of the pro- vince, at liberty to exercise his enterprise against this frontier at (tiscretion ; for it is a fact, however opinions ®iay vary, the resources of ihe province are adejjuate to the subsistence of his army. His naval sufwriority ou the lake will he re-established 'y the opening of the spring, the Indian depredations mav be encouraged anti eoDtinned ; or sheiiid he prefer it, he may, on the open- ing of the campaign, leaving sir James Veo triumphant Jft vp 3i 1 ij'^'f'rmed in six days 7 General W. au9^vered in the ne- eagaawa"^ ^""^ ^^"- Hampton should be ordered ta go on to- 33 Ott the lake, with a suitable garrison for the profectiois ^f Kingston, descend the St. Lawrence with his main force and iall upon our rear, while we shall be engaged in front, admitting we succeed in establishing ourselves at Montreal. Having passed Kingston, the fortifications at Prescott may j)resent such an obstacle to our further [)rogress, as to conjj)el us to land and reduce it by force ; an opera- tion which mjiy consume more time than can be s[)ared at this advanced season, i speak coniecturally, but shoiikl we surmount every obstacle in descending the river, we shall advance upon Montreal ignorant of the force arrayed against us, and in case of misfortune, hav- ing no retreat, he army must surrender at discretion. I will bjirely ad !, that as the winter commences at Montreal by the 20ih of November, should we be de- layed on the rout I y any untoward incidents, our em- barrassnu nts and perils will be greatl-y multiplied. I oifer these results of my frail judgment with a con- scientious regard to the public good. I am bigotted to no project, and therefore am willing to yield my own judgment to that of others. Personal considerations would make me prefer a vis- it to Montreal to the attack of Kingston; but before I abandon this attack, which by my instructions I am or- dered to make, it is necessary to my justification, that you should by the authority of the president, direct the operation of the army under my command, particularly against Montreal. With my earnest wishes for the suc- cessful issue of whatever may be undertaken, I am, dear «ir, with much respect and esteem, truly yours. JA. WILKINSON. The honorable John Armstrong, secretary of war. N. B. All the objections which apply to the lauding below Kingston may be obviated by landing above it. My sole motive for suggesting the idea of landing be- low, was to prevent the scarrisoii's escape. If there be a deficiency of forage on our part, it is the fault of the quarter-master general, who was instructed as early as August to lay in a supply of twelve thousand bushels for the subsistence of the cavalry. J A. WILKINSON. Honorable J. Arragtiong, secretary of war. 36 Wtdorments m die preceding letter, hythe secretary oj war, Note. If we look at the plan of campaign of 23d July» we find that it proposed an attack on Kin»sfon, and even indicated the mode of that attack. If we examine general Wilkinson's letter of the Gth of August, we fjid that he provisionally adopted that opiuion; and if .-we refer to the letter of the secretary of war of the 8th, so far from expressing a different epinio)i, Ave discover that it instructed the general to choose between a direct Siiid indirect attack on that post. It was not therefore any difftrence of opinion between the secretary and the general that was submitted to the council of \rar, as stated in the preceding fetter, but the mere alternative presented by the instructions of the letter, the simple choice between the two modes of attack. War department, October 20, 1813. SIR, I received your letter of yesterday by major Lee, You appear to have written it under an impression, that -your instruction of August last made a direct attack up- on Kingston unavoidable. A copy of these instruct- ions is before me, and in the last paragraph of them we find a summary of llteir substance. It is as follows ; '*' After this exposition, it is unnecessary to add, that in conducting the present campaign, you will make Kins^s- ion your principal object, and that you will choose, as circumstances may indicate, between a dirict and ant/i- direci attack on that post." Both modes ol attack arc slightly detailed in these orders, and a preterence given f to the latter, but without at all infringing your riuht of choice, or in any degree lesseniuL'" your resfionsibility. Nor am I now at liheHy to change the ground of these in- structions, since the only effect of this would be, to sub- stitute my opinion for yours. The former has not how- ever been withliebJ; it has been given freely and fully, and is yet unshaken by any consideration presented to my mind. As we are now about to part, it may be proper that II should subjoin to what 1 have said in favor of a move- ment on Montreal, a short statement of my objectiopii to a direct attack on Kingston. • 1 st. If its garrison consists offour tlioiisand of the best troops of the enemy (as you suggest) your attack will fail. 2d. If your attack fails, your retreat is inipracjicable! 3d. Your descent must necessarily be made above or below the town, on the water's edge, and within a short distance of your object. If made below the town, your fleet cannot cover it:"^ if made above the town, it must be done in presence of the enemy, and within stroke of his fleet, and that he will think the object suf- ficient to justify the risk cannot be doubted. Besides, an approach on this side, however successful, leaves to the enemy the means of escaping. 4th. The experiment already made of the lake na- vigation is not encouraging. Though pressed by no en- emy other than the weather, the army has not been able to reach Grenadier Island, but in broken order, and with considerable loss. On your plan they have eighteen other miles to go on the open lake, and much of this distance under the eye of the British fleet. Is it probable that our scows will be able to navigate this re- maining distance (at a season and under circumstances so unfavorable) in better order, or with less loss ? These are the best thoughts I can offer, and it only remains to add to them my best wishes for your army and for vourself. JOHN ARMSTRONG. Major general Wilkinson. Ladi) of the Lake, off SacketVs Harbor, October 24, 1813. SIR, I was at Grenadier Island the day before yesterday, and found the troops drop{)ing in so slowly, tiiat I de- termined to return, hunt them up, and quicken their movemen'. r>ly presence at the Harbor was also neces- sary to h^ve clothing selected to cover numbers of our naked men. I will say nothing of the horrid condition in which that place was left. Colonel Coles has arrived with up- wards of two hundred good men, aiid expects about * Coai. Chauncey declared he -would not take tlie rrsponslbility ot covering the descent of tile army if made at M'Phcrsou's farm, bdom the town. D el^tT more lo-day. Randolph and 5ooti are pT?^eHHI at 0>wesxx nine hoodred strong. I hare con o rig and s^nd off vessels to brin» up six hundreii of them in seasoti for nay moTemeni from Grenadier Island, whkh will not be delayed one instant unneressarily. The people at Kington appear to be much aflTrighleil, firing tkeir alarm pins on the slightest -\ J. N. has returned, jumI if be — ^ ^t^ creui^evi. :-'c Hot ten- ter* has DOtarrihred, and ^., .^e force they can spare is sent doim the river lo tadie po?s«^-'<^"i -f. ai>d fortify 9ome critical passes. MykealthcoL - jnioriunate- iybad. I hare the honor to be. Most resf>ecifully. Sir, Vourobt. servant. J A. WILKINSOy. Ertraet §f a, letter from MaJ. Gn%. JTiUoMS^^y to the St- critary tfWsr, dated Grenadier Isinnd^Ocf. 29. 1813. ^ I send yoo this by an extra aid de camp, Captain Nour^e, to relieve the anxiety to which you must be subject, in the impeodinsr erentful moment.'' '• The extent of the injuries to oar craft, the clothing and arms of tl>e men, and to our provisions on the pas- sage from Sacketi's Harbor to this place, greatly ex- ceeded our apprebt^oaioBS* and ha? - ' 'Cted us to the necessity of fumishinr a supply ofci-. >.iug, and of mak- ing repairs and equipments to our fiotilla generally. In fact, all our hopes hare been very nearly blasted ; but thanks to the same proviiience which placed us in Jcofiardy, we are surmounting our difficulties*, and. God willing, I shall pass Prescott on the ni^ht of the 1st or 2d proximo, if some unforeseen obstacle does not pre- sent to forbid me. I shall expect to hear from vou at Morrisville, where Colonel Swift is to meet me. and to gnard again&t cAance shots, I ^^irh waggons woold be held in readiness to receive our powder and field amofnH nidon, at a snit^le distance above Prescott.~* " I keep up the delusion here ; and the enemy, about sisteen hundred strong, exclusive of five hundred mili- ti?-. -ire in liaily expectation of a visit at Kinsrston. yet they hare taken post, I uaderstand, at Cornwall and the Coteas de Lac. — No matter, once pasc^d Prescott, and Tj9 our bayonets aod sabres thall remove aJI impedimeniz." " The inexorabje ^vinds and rains continue to oppose and embarra&c our rnoTements ; but I am seizing on eve- ry moinent'g iaterval, lo slip into the St. Lawrence corps and detachments, as they can be got ready. Our rendezvous will be in Bi..fh creek, about twenty mile* below, and neaxly opposite to Gananoqui, which posi- tion menaces a descent on the opposite shore. I sha!} &aii from that position at four o'clock of (he mornin<^. and Will pass Prescott about the same time the ensuing morning.'' '•• We have had so-ch a fluctuation of sick and well bfeiueen this place and Sackett's Harbor, that it is Im- possible to say in what force we shall move; but 1 cal- culate on GOOO combatants, exclusive of Scott and Ran- dolph, neither of whom will, I fear, be up in seasoo, notwith-tandins all my arrangements and exertions to accelerate their march; they are both under provisional orders for 0?densburne of them at i^reat peril to three thousand men, whoiii 1 seasonat)ly renmndeil to the llnrhor witlunit the loss of a life. Our siek, oi\o himdred and ninety-six in numlier, have not taretl n* Hell ; they were emharlvtd in stout condortahle vessels, «nd saileti the day before yesterday nmrniii': for Sack- ett*s Harbor, hut thev Avero driven on shore l»y a storm, Hliich continued with iinremitlini; violence all nij^ht ; and as no exerliou could relieve them, I anticipated the loss of the uhole; but the tempest havini; abatCil, and the wind shifted friMn S. W. to N. F. boats were sent out vesterdav moriiini!:, ami Dr. Bull reports the lohinteers, the sun bt>at?«, lUsseTs regiment, and a part of IMacomb's, are, I expect, safe at French creek, with the artillery and ordnance stores. These corps have matle the traverse of the arm of the lake under circumstances ofirreat dan- der, though fortunately without the loss of a life, but at Ibo expense of some boats." "•I shall wait one day longer, and if the pns?np:e sholdd !»till continue impracticable to the troops, 1 will land tliem on the opposite shore, nu\ix'l.* them acro-s the country to the iSt. Lawrence, and the empty boats round to a civ en rendezvous.'* '• As Major-General Hampton is under your order?, permit me to suci^est to vou what is worthv of rellee- tion — whether he should take a position and wait the arrival of my cojumand, near the couttuence of the Sf. Lawrence and (iraud river, or whether be sluMdd move down the St. I^awrence and rtiennce Chambly ? If he is stro!!?: enoui^h to meet Sir Oeorue, the latter will be the preferable plan, because it will have the elVect to diviile ilie enemy's Ibrce ; otherwise he shouhl hiUm'* the first idea, hazard uolhiug, and strengthen n»y hauils,* 4f^ *• The enrlosecT copy of a mernorafidurn troni Colo- THl! Swiif, will nhow you what he is afxjijt, I flatter in)- acW. to your ftatiHfaction. The sole unpleasant circum- 8lafK:e before me, is our total ignorance of the //ro/yarc- 2ions of Sir (jeorj^e, and what we may expect to meet on 1}i<' i*lan<]. I fear no consequences; hut it mu^t he painful to lead more than feix thousand irian to battle? hoodwinked; and yet all my efforts to procure intelir- gence from .Montreal have proved fruitless." Eil.racl of a Utter from the Secretary of War to GcnercU IVUkin-son, dated War Department, \st Nov. 1813. " Frevoct will [jerhaps be found between the Cotean rii2ht; will take to-morrow" for final orj^anizatlon and arrani^craent-, and the next day either pass or prepare to take Prescott; l)y preference I shall not disturb the place, because 1 have no time l» •space." (Extract.) Albany, I2th November, 1813. /)f:AR GeneraIj, My accounts from and of you are of the same date, Neither come down lower than the 3d instant. These left you with the reserve at Grenadier Island. General Hampton has made a movement towards the St. Lawrence. After feeling and skirmishing with the enemy, he retired again to the Four Corners, until he iMid notice of your approach. I h^^teoetl to iuform b'ut P2 42 by express (who would reach him in 48 hours) tiiat yoir ■were in motion; that on the 3th you wouhl pass or take Prescott, and that on the 8th you wouhl he at Hamil- ton, whence he mii^ht expect to hear from you; that he mus^t put himself again in motion, and take a pos> lion which would enable him to Join you, or which should detain the enemy on the south side of the river. IfPrevost, on learnins: your approach, (piits his present jiosition, and re-occupies the north bi\nk of tiie St. Law- rence, Hampton goes on and Joins you. If he remains on tlie south hank, he abandons lAIontreal and even the road to his capital. In the fulness of my faith, th;U you are in i\Iontreal, and that you have both seen and seized on all the advantyges that tlie errors of an enemy may have given you, I am, Det\r genera]. Cordially yours, *J. ARMSTRONG. Blajor General Wilkinson. Extract of a htter from Major General WirAitiwu io the SecT^ctan/ cf War^ dated French Mills, j\ov. 1 .5, 1 J> 1 ;i. It is a fact, for which I am authorised to pledge my- self on the most confidential authority, that on the .|:li of (he j>resent month the British garrison of Montreal consisted solely of four hundied marines and two hun- t'red sailoi-s, which had been sent up from (^ueliec. — What a golden, glorious opjiortunity has been lost by the caprice of :MaJor General Hampton. Mead-Qitarlers, French Mills, adjoiyiins: the province af Lower Canada, Novcmhcr : 6, 1 f; 1 3. Sir, i beg leave fo refer yon to the journal which accom- panies this letter, for the paniculars of the movement of the corps imtler my command down the St. Lawrence, and' wjlj eadeavor to exert my en!ecbled mind to detail to you the more striking and imjjortant incidents which hare ensued my departure from Grenadier Island, at the foot of Lake Ontario, on the 3d instant. The corps of tiie enemy from Kingston, \\ hich followed me, hung on my rear; and, in concert with a heavy galley and a few guu-bortF, seemed deter- 43 Bjined fo retard my progress. I was strongly (empte-i to Iialt, turn about and put an end to his teazmg*; but a!as, I was confined to my bed. Major General t^enis ivastooill for aoy active exertion; and, above all, 1 did not dare sutfer mysell to be diverted a single day (rom the [prosecution ol the views ot'tiie government. 1 had written Major General Ham[»ton on the ijlii irist. by his aw us. At the same time the enemy were observed in our rear, and their galley and gun-boats a})|;roached our flotilla and opened a fire on us, which obliged me to order a battery of eighteen pounders to be planted, and a shot from it compelled the vessels of the enemy to retire, together with their troojis, after some firing between the advanc- ed parties. But, by this time, in cousequence of dis- embarking and re-embarking the heavj^ guns, the day %vas so far spent, that our pilots did not dare enter the sant, (eight miles a continued ra)dd) and therefore we fell down about two miles, and came to for the night. — Early the next morning every thing was in readiness for motion ; but, having; received nointelligence from Gen. Brown, I w as still tielaved, as sound eantion prescribed I should learn the result of his atfair !)el'ore I committed the flotilla to the saut. At half past 10 o'clock, A. M. 44" an officer of dragoons arrived with a letter, in whicU the general inlbrmed me he had iorced the enemy, and woiskl reach the loot ol tl»e saut early in llie day. Or- ders were immediately given for the ilotilla to sail, at which instant the enemy's gun-boats apj^eared, and be- gan to throw shot among us. Information wa? broii-tit me at the same time, from Brigadier General Boyd, that, tlie enemy's troops were advaucing in column. 1 im- media eiy sent orders to him to .ittack them. This re- port was soon contradicted: Their gun-boats however continued to watch us, and a variety of reports of their movements and counter-movements were brought tome in succession, which convinced me of their determina- tion to hazard an attack when it could be done to the greatest advanta'-e, and therefore I determined to anti- cipate them. Directions were accordingly seat by that distinguished officer. Colonel Swift, of the engineers, ti> Brigadier General Boyd to throw the detachment of his command, assigned to him in the order of the precedins; day, and composed of men from his own, Covington s and Swartwout's brigades, into three cohnnns, to march upon the enemy, out-flank them if possiiile, and take their artillery. The aclion soon after commenced with the advanced hody of the enemy, and becr.me ex- tremely sharp and galling ; antt with occaT^ional [»auserf, Was sustained with great vivacity in open space and fair com'iat, for upwanls of two and a iKilf hours, the adverse lines alternately yieldiiig and advancing. It is imjiossible to saj with accuracy what was our number on the tield, because it consisted of indefinile detach- ments taken from the boats to render safer the pass^age of thesaut. Brigadier Generals Covington and Swart- wont voluntarily took part in tlie action at (he head of the detachments from their resnective brigades, and ex- hibited the same courage that was displayed by Briga- dier General Boyd, who hapi/cned to be the senior offi- cer on the ground. Our force engaged might liave reached sixteen or seventeen hundred men, but certain- ly did not exceed eighteen hundred. That of the ene- my was estimated at fr(xn twelve hundred to two thou- sand, but did not probably amount to more than fifteen or sixteen hundred, consisting, as 1 am informed, of de- lacbments from the 49th, 8-ltb, aaU I04th regiments of 45 the line, with three companies of the roltigeur and Glengan'^ corps and the militia of the country, who arc Bot inchided in the estimate. It would be presumptuous in me to attempt to give jon a detailed account of this affair, which certainly re- flects high honor on the valor of the American soklier, 53 no example can be produced of undisciplined men, witJi inexperienced officers, braving a fire of two hours and a half, without quilting the field, or yielding to theii' antagonists. But, sir, the information I noiw give you is derived from officers of my confidence, who took ac- tive parts in the conflict ; for, though I was enabled to order the attack, it was my hard fortune not to be able to lead the troops 1 commanded. — The disease with which I was assailed on the 2d of September, on my Journe;f to Fort George, having, with a few short intervals of convalescence, preyed on me ever since ; and at the moment of this action, I was confined to my bed, and emaciated almost to a skeleton, unable to set my horse, or to move ten paces without assistance. I m.ust, however, be pardoned for trespassing on you? lime a few remarks in relation to the atTair. The ob- jects of the British and American commanders were precisely opposed; the last being bound by the instruc- tions of his government, and the most solemn obliga tions of duty to precipitate his descent of the St. Law- rence by every practicable means ; because this being effected, one of the greatest diflicnlties oj)i>03ed to the American army would be surmounted. And the first, hy duties equally imperious, to retard, and if possible, prevent such descent: He is to be accounted victorious who effected his purpose. The British commander, having failed to gain either of his objects, can lay no claim to the honors of the day. The battle fluctuated, and triumph seemed, at different times inclined to the contending corps. The front of the enemy wfis at first forced l)ack more than a mile, and, though the}' never regained the ground thus lost, their stnnl was permanent, and th^ir charges resolute. Amidst these charges, and near the close of the contest, we lost a fi«d sures and movements of moment, 1 have taken the opi- nions oj my general officers, which have been in accord with my own. I remained on the Canada shore until the next day, without seeing or tiearing from the " powerful force," of the enemy in our neighnorhood, and the same day reached this position with the artillery and infantry. — The dragoons have been ordered to Utica and its vici- nity, and 1 expect are fifty or sixty miles on the march. ^ You have under cover a summary abstract of the killed and wounded in the affair of the 11th instant, which shall soon be followed by a particular return, in wiiich a just regard will be paid to individual merila. The dead rest in honor, and the wounded bled for their country and deserve its gratitude. With perfect respect, I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient humble servant, ^ JA. WILKINSON. The Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of VV ar. Mdurn of the killed and wounded of a detachment of the army of the United States^ descending the St. Latvrence^ under the conmiand of major-general James Wilkinson, in an action fought at Williamsburg, in Upper Canada^ ' on the II th No vemher, 1813. KILLED. WOUNDED. ^; * r^ ^^ ■* s ZIfc 1? i tfl c X .Si ■L r: a > ■i.4 ri < c V 'c 3 a. 2S o CO en C a OP i o c o .2 m en rt 0^ bJC a; < 5 " — — -■ ■ — — — — — — — — - -■ ^•a -_- _. ,« ' 3 7. 3 1 :]8 99 102 1 1 1 1 1 5 6 2, 13 1 198 221 2.37 320 339 48 ^"mus of the Commissioned Officers Killed and JVonndcd. KILLED. Lieutenant William W. Smith, of the lijjht artillery. David Hunter, of the 12th re;2;i,neut iniantry. , Edward Olmstead, of the IGlh, do. ■VSOl NDED. Brig. Gen. Leonard Covington, mortally, (since dead.) Major Talbot Chambers, assistant adjutant general, slightly. Major Darby Noon, aid-de-camp to brigadier general Swartwout, slightly. Colonel James P. Preston, of the 23d regiment infantry, severely, his right thigh fractured. Major William Cummings, 8th ditto, severely. Captain Edmund Foster, 9th ditto, slightly. David S. Townsend, 0th ditto, severely. Ta- ken prisoner. Mordecai Mj^ers, 13th ditto, severely. John Campbell, 13th ditto, sJightly. John B. Murdoch, 23th ditto, slightly. Lieut. William B. Heaton, tDh ditto, severely. John Williams, 13th ditto, slightly. John Lynch, 14th ditto, severely. Taken pris" oner. ■ Peter Pelham, 21st ditto, severely. Taken prisoner. ' James D. Brown, 25th ditto, slightly. Archibald C. Crary, 25th per::ite v, ,u. t,»^i, ,....- |)n.>m|>lly *and with decision. The ^reneral officer of the day will strictly attend and see that the fl<3tilla luit^uflTand ino\es in the prescribed order, and will arrest any officer who presumes to deviate tlierefroin.'' Brigadier general Brown marched, and ahont noon was engaged by a party of the etx^my near a block home on the saut, erected to harras? onr flotilla in its descent. About the same time the ♦ e observeti to he advancing on qui rear, ami i .iWy and ?;ni l>oat5 hove in sight, appr:>achetl our .. i;.a then at sliore and began to caiinona'^*^ ** Thp t'f r-.r'pf. ftnicfure of our gun barges made ii , .ii to rr^i-t the loni; twenty. four ponn*ler o4 the f pmy'« galley ; this obliged the general to order two c . cr? to J»e run on shore and formed in battery, a ^insle s!:ot from which gave Mich an alarm to the enomv*s \ that thcr re- tired u;> the river ac^ nied bv tiittr troo:>5. Brit these slight operations sv ;..r wasted the i\\y that our pi- Jots were afraid to enter th saut \i continuetl rapid of eight miles) with the fiotilla; we therefore fell down ^itiiin two or three miles of the trTr* o*" ?? n.rd rr.me to for the night. By this time the g ne fO extremely ill as to be nnable to set up, ami was confined to hi? ^red in a small birth under the quarter deck of his passage boat. November llih. Having he-^rd the firing of the can- Eca yesterday between gene ral Brotvn and the enemy, heing still nnapprisetl of the resuU, it hec: - - ry that we should hear from hhw Vfore we cin., r- selve? to the sauL which anov's no retreat, r g, BO tiirning to the right or left *>ut where the i; y ofthecarrect rmnek ALout 10 or II o'clock, A. M. the commander in chief received advice from genera!" Brown that he hr.d forced the enemy to retire btfore h*mj and had arrived aexr llic feot of the ** c Or- QD ders were immediately giren for the flotilla la prepare {« sail, and for general Boyd and his command to com- rnence their mdrch, when some firing took place from the 2:un boats, and a report was brought to the com- mander in chief that the enemy wa= advancing in col- umn ; on this be ordered general Boyd to attack them, and the flotilla was directed not to leare the shore. BuSt the report was soon after contradicted. A Tariety of re- ports respecting their raoveraeijts and counter move- ments were, after this, successively brought to the gene- ral, which impressed him with the conviction that the enemv had determined to *ttack his rear as soon as the flotilla should put off and the troops commence their march ; he resolved to anticipate them. He therefore sent colonel Swiit of the enarineers. with instructions tt> brigadier general Boyd, who bad been directed by the order of the preceding day to take commaad of the de- tachment on shore, to form that detachment into threc^ coiumas, to advance upon the enemy, to endeavor to out fiank them, and to take their artiilerj'. Soon after this the action commenced, and for the Dtmibers engaged was extremely warm and bloody for upwards of two hours, during which time, in open space and fair combat, the raw undisciplined troops of the United State? brav- ed, and frequently drove the best troojis of the British army. Descriptions of battles have become too subser- vient to the gratification of pereonal vanity and the ac- quisition of popular applause ; yet every man who has lakea j>art in a great action must know that there is no- thii)£ more diiScuIt than to do iastice to the merits of a battle in all its parts, where it is h^.rd to find two omcers. nless fizhting side by side, who agree in opinion as to file propriety of measures and the conduct of men. The fortunes of this dsy were various ; sometimes one line* sometimes the other giving way. Unfortunately, during the shiftings of the Hction, by the death of lieut. SmUh, a yooDg officer of the highest promise, i\w enemy got possession of a field piece, the only trophy they obtain- ed. It is difficult to speak of the precise numbers en- tranced on either side, 'because the detachment under general Boyd ci^nsisted of an indefinite number of hi? own, Covington's and Swart wont's brigades, onlereA irom on board the boati to lichtejD tbeni; end rave the- bo ijazard of the mens lives in descending the saut. Nei- ther Covington nor Swartwout were obliged to have tak- en part in the action, with this detachment : yet they both entered the fiekl, taking command ol" that part of it which belonged to their respective brigades, where they exhibited the same courageous conduct which distin- guished general Boyd on the field ; and to the great loss of the service brigadier general Covington received a mortal wound when encouraging and leading on his de- tachment. The numbers engaged on our side could not have exceeded sixteen or seventeen hundred men, while those of the enemy are reckoned, by spectators, al from one to two thousand ; but 'tis probable did not exceed 1,500, consisting, as we are informed, of detachments of the 49th, 8-Ith, and 104th, the voltigeurs, and (Jleugari- an regiment. With respect to the courage disj)layed by our officers, it would l)e useless to enter into details, since they all manifested in their resi)ective stations equal intrejiidity. The names of the meritorious dead and wounded will be recorded in another place. The firing ceased by com- mon consent about 4 o'clock P. I\I. our troops were form- ed in battalia in front of (he enemy, who were also in line, and they separated, the enemy to their camp, and we to our boats. The troops being much exhausted, it was considered most convenient that they should em- bark, and that the dragoons with the artillery should proceed by land. The embarkation took[)lacc without the smallest molestation from the enemy, and the tlo- tilla made a harbor near the head of the saut, on the op- posite shore. The views of the American ami British commanders were, on this occasion precisely oi)posed. The first being bound by the instructions of his govern- ment, and the most solemn obligations of duty to preci- pitate his descent of the St. Lawrence by every practi- cable means, and the last by duties equally imperious to ret4ird, and if possible to prevent such descent. If then he found himself victorious on this day, it w is certain- ly in his power to have effected one or the other object; and as he made no attempt to effect either, it follows in- contestibly that he had no fair ground on which to claim e victory. 51 • • • *• November 12th. The flotilla sailed early this morn> ing, and passed down the saut without discovering eith- er the boats or troops of the enemy, and arrived, in the course of the forenoon, at Barnharts, where the com- manding general received a letter from major general Hami)ton, by the hands of colonel Atkinson, his in- spector general, which blasted all his hopes and destroy- ed every prospect of the campaign. A council of w ar was called upon the receipt of this communication, which was submitted to their consideration, whereupon the council determined that the conduct of major gene- ral Hampton, in refusing to join his division to the troops descending the St. Lawrence to carry an attack against Montreal, rendered it expedient to leave the left bank of St. Lawrence, and to remove the troops to French Mills, on Salmon river; and on the 13th of No- vember this recommendation was accordingly carried into effect ; ample time having been given to the enemy to have tried a second action, if they had dared to rua the hazard. Extract of a letter from major general Wilkinsoti to the se:^ crelary of war, dated French Mills, Nov. 17, 1813. *' After what has passed between us, you can perhaps conceive my amazement and chagrin at the conduct of major general Hampton. The game was in view, and, had he performed the junction directed, would have been ours in eight or ten days. But he chose to recede, in order to co-operate, and my dawning ho])es, and the hopes and honour of the army were blasted." Extract from the general order of genercd Wilkinson of Novewher 13. *' The troops are to embark without loss of time; yet *are not to be hurried in leaving the Canadian shore, from whence the commander in chief is compelled to retire by the extraordinary, unexampled, and it appears un- warrantable conduct of major general Hampton, in re- fusing to join this army with a division of 4,000 men un- der his command agreeable to positive orders from the commander in chief, and as he has been assured by the secretary of war, of explicit instructions from the war department. " Thus tleprived of a larsje portion of his promisetl force, the coiiiniamler in chief feels himself hound hy a sense of regard to his meritorious corps, and of harred duty to the United States to spare the lives of t)rave men, aud not to hazard th«' character or interest of the nation, hy an unLijual contlict. He with lively rej2;ret and the deepest mortilication, suspeiuls the attack oa Montreal. But he assures the army that it is not aban- doned." f^olonel Purdifs report to major srfnrrni U'ilkitL^an of tlw action at Chatcawj^mf, &:c. transmiittd hij Ifu gaural to the sccretan/ of war. 1 arrived at Cumherland-head Septeniher 10th, 1813, and on the 18lh took coinmand ol th«' 1th regiment of in- fantry, stationed at that place. The army, con-isting of about lour thousand men, was coinjio^ied prirn'ijially of recruits wlio had been but a short*tkne in serrice, and had not been exercised with that ri«;i(| discipline so es- sentially necessary to constitute the .oldier. 'J'hey hatl', indeed, been tauj^ht various evolutions, but a spirit of subordination was foreiijjn to their views. On the liMhj orders were i^sutMl lor the whole army, except a s(jiKnlron ©f horse and the artillery, to embark in batteaux. The P.rni}'^ g;ot under way, preceedrd by the li\ideh created •Riurmnrings on the }^art ol sctne ottieers at their posts. It J5 only necessary Iiere to ol)srrve, thateAery olhcer ©f the army can testily that the sick were very nmch neglected as far as regards conilbrtable quarters and IrausportatJon, and that they were strewed along the roads througii which we marched without care or attend- iince; and it is nre?nmable that many have died in con- sequence of tliis, who miglit have been saved to them- selves if not to the service. 'J'he general, indeed, at the lime this order was issued, which was after our return to the Four Corner?, did order transfiortation for the sick to Eurlingtoii, but this ie the only instance to my know- ledge. The commissary's department is worthy of notice. My order for provision was not sufficient; nor could I •Vdain any but by special license of general Hampton. TJie commissary of issues hais been constant!}- in the liahit of selling the livers. \c. of the beeves to officers; and though I rej>repented Ibis lo general Hampton as imI- nsual and improper, he relused to take any olhtT iu)tice of it than saving'' the commissar}' is accountable for all parts of the beef, even to a |»ound or ounce of tallow ;'* nor did he take any notice of another piece of miscon- duct of the commisFHry, that of acting in the capacity of autler, l.ut sanctioned it by purchasing of him. I'he common practices with general Hampton, of ar- resting officers and relensing them without their consent; of releasing arretted ofVicers without the knowledge or consent of the officers by whom they were arrested (the case of lieutenant Morris, of the 33d regiment, who was arrested by me on the charge of cowardice and miscon- duct before the enemy on the 26fh October, IP* 13, ihc time of the skirmish with the enemy at ()rm«town, or CI.^'.- uviy river, being an irstrnce); of refusing to ar- re-t officers whom I reported to him as havinir deserted fheir posts in time of action ; of daily issuing orders and i^3 countermanding thn-n; and of interfering in an impropei: miiti;ier with the subordinate commands of the army, as a TM^ereuce to the orders issued by him wil- show, mark very strongly the capri«iousne?s of his cor/J.uct and the total WALK of steadiness in his intentions. Such has been the general's conduct on some occa- sions, that I have, in common with other ufacers, beea induced to believe that he was under the influence of a too free use of spirituous liquors. I must, injustice to General Hampton say, that the expedition he planned, and which I have called "dilficult and fatiguiag," did, at the time it was sugge mmumcated in those letters, as far as respects the security of our flanks and centre. When I -.ordered Major-General Hampton to reinforce the post of the Four Corners, it was under the im])ression that Cumberland-Head was gu-inled ; but the moment i v/as undeceived and apprised of the exposed situation of our depot at Plattsburg, the order was countermanded, as you have seen from the documents which i have trans- mitted you. You must also have pei'ceivcd from those documents, that I was not insensible of the importance of condensing our force, and that I had made a propogi-- Moa respecting quarters preparatory to such event." E2 ■ G6 • • • • • Abstrflct from the report ofthe adjutfint-gcneral of Gene' lal Wilkinson's army, showing the Avhole number of non-commissioned officers, musicians, and artificers of* the several regiments and corps, on Dec. 1, 1813. 472 117 675 4^5 349 454 500 591 295 648 330 841 455 578 2t)3 Jiieht artillery ?a\ regiment artillery 3d ditto 5th regiment infantry Cth ditto nth ditto J 2th ditto 13th ditto 1 Ith ditto li/th dittCT 20 th ditto 21st ditto 22d ditto 25th ditto Uifiemen I . 8,143 A*J'utant and Inspector Generars ssa^ss Onice, Jan. 27, 1814. A . Y . N 1 C O L L , In rpect or GeneraL ISoTF. — The two regiment** of light dragoons, which luid made part oi General Wilkinson's Force in detxend- ing the St. Lawrence, are not included in this return, tiiese corps having been detached to L'lica. Exlract of a letter frojn MajorGmeral Wilkmson to the Secretary cf JVar^ dated Malcne, Dec. 8, 1813. *' The unavoidable delay ofthe express (as no reli- ance can be placed in the mail from this place) enables iue to send 3'ou the co{)y of a letter from General Izard, ijated the Clh instant, which exhibits additional exposi- tions of the pernicious and unwarrantable couduct of Major General Hampton. 1 will not charge this man wiih traitorous de»iigns, hut I apprehend, in any other jiovcinmeni, a military otTicer who firht defeated tlie ob- ject of a campaign by disobedience of ^rder?^, and then, \^ ithout authority, furloughcU all the efficieut officers of ^7 tbe division he commanded on a national frontier, in iho viciuity of an enemy, would incur lieavy penalties." Extract of a letter from Brij:;adi€r Gejiey^al Isard to Ma^ Jor-General Wilkinson, dated Plattshir^, Dec. t), 1813. " There is an unavoidable delay in ih_e returns of the regiments of this division, proceedins; irom the extreme^ inexperience of the officers of all grades, now with them; almost every efficient officer is either sick, or was lur- loughed by Major- General Hampton at the moment of his own departure; those that remain are barely enouglj* to perform the routine of duty in this cantonment.'* Extract of a letter fron Major-General Wilkinson to the Secretary of War, dated Malone, Dec. 24, 1813. "I believe 1 have not hitherto transmitted you a copy of a commurdcation which took place between . mmo- dore Chauncey and myself, the day before ( saileu -ojii' French Creek, and I do it now to show you what were my anticipations of the movements of the enemy lef^ behind me, and how delusive were all the prom? raade to me that my rear should be protected." French Creek, Nov, 4, 18^.^. Dear Sir, ^ I was so ill yesterday I could not call to see you ;■ and 1 now send up to say that I shall sail this evening, F,ad if I am not obs'»*ucted by the enemy's armed vessels which may have slipped down the other channel, 1 shall pass Prescott to-morrow night, or land the next morn^ ing to take the place, if I cannot pass it without too great hazard. As this operation may require three or four days, it is not improbable the enemy's squadron may make some attempts to destroy my boats ; and therefore I must entreat you to watch his every motion, and to give my flotilla every protection in your power. We are a match for the gun boats of the enemy, but inferior to armed schooners, and therefore could you consistently spare us the Pert, or some armed vessel, to run down to the vicinity of Ogdeusburgh, and imme- diately return, it would add security to our movements. Major Johnson will have the honor \o deliver you this, and I will thank you for any information you can give me respecting the movements of the enemy. 6^ t widi very much to say farewell to yx)u, but I aok sensible of the delicacy ol your situation, and my dis- ease having changed into a violent inflammation of the breast, 1 dare not get wet. If then it is destined that we are not to meet again, 1 will leave with you my prayers for long life and laurels in this world, and ever- tasting happiness in that which is to come. Farewell, my friend, and may your country under- stand your skill and valor as well as does JA. WILKINSON. Commodore Chauncey. United Staies* ship General Pike, at anchor off east end of Long Island, river 6V. Lawrence ^ Nov. 4, 1813. Dbak Sir, Your favor of this day's date, has this moment beeit. handed to me by Major Johnson, From the best information that I can get, the ene- my's fleet is at or in the vicinity of Kingston, and I ttiink you have nothing to a[)i)rehend from them, as I ;ixn in a situation to watch both channels. I should deem it unsafe to separate any part of my squadron aa long as the enemy remains above me: in fact, 1 am in hourly expectation of being attack* «d by Sir James down the south channel ; in that case I shall require all my force, as he has added a number ©f gun boats to his fleet. If, however. Sir James should ♦letach any part of his fleet down tbf north channel, I will send a sufftcient loree down to oppose him. I will remain in my present situation until you pass Prescott, but am anxious for that event to take place at as early a day as possiide, as the fleet cannot move out of thiij river except with a lair wind. It is to be appre- hended that after a few days, a spell of westwardly winils will set in, which may detain us until the ice makes, v.hich would entlanjrer the safety of the fleet, and probably lead to its final destruction. If it is possi- ble lor you to communicate to me in any way, when you pass Prescott, I should esteem it as a particular fa» vor. May your present enterprise he crowned with all the success that you yourself can wisb^ and that your emi" 63 aent serTices may be duly appreciated by your country; la the prayer of Dear Sir, your friend And humble servant, ISAAC CHAUNCEY, Major-General James Wilkinson, commander in chief of the American forces, in and upoa the St. Lawrence, &c. &c. &:c. CORRESPONDENCE Beiwecn tlie Secretary of War and Colonel Porter anti,. General M'Clure^ &c. WAR DEPARTMENT, Feh, 23, 1813, Sir, x\s tifo enemy*s force and defences on the Canadj^ side of the Niagara river are understood to be weak ; a« your force is respectable, and supposedto be competent to a successful attack of these ; and as the season has now furnished you with a bridge, as well for retreat as for advance, it is thought advisable that you do not permit circumstances so favorable to escape without making a stroke on such points of the enemy's line, as may be most within your reach. If, after feeling the enemy atl Fort Erie, you should find yourself able to extend your attack to Fort George, it will be desirable; but of thia you can ju^lge best after your tirst experiment. To an old soldier, like yourself, it is unnecessary to go more into detail. You know what you ought to do, and you will do it. Communicate this letter to Lieutenant-Co- lonel Boerstler, and accept the assurances of ray respecS and good ^vishes. (Signed) JOHN ARMSTRONG. Colonel Porter, Light Artillery, commanding ' the troops of the United States on the Nia- gara river. Extract of a letter from Major-General Dearborn to the Secretary of War ^ dated Albany, March 25, 1813. " Colonel Porter informs me that he had commenced ilie necessary preparations for an attack on Fort Erie> 7a but the desertion of a serjeant prevente*! h's carrying his iiiteniiei] attack into operation. Two oilicer^ with six men pursued tiit serjeant so far as to i^e suiToundod on the ice, and were jiiad<» [jriaoners. Fort Erie .\ as immediately reintorced, and he had given over an}"^ im- mediate movement.' Extract of a letter from Colon' I Scctt^ f^d Artillery Ro- gimcntij to Major-Gcmral H ilkmson. Fort George, Monday, 7 o'clock, P.M» October 11, 1813. Sir, Within the last five minutes, I have had the honor to feceivr your despalch hy '" the Lady of the Lake." The enemy hay treated me with neglect. He con- tinued in his old jiositions until Saturday last, (the 9th) when he U>ok up his retreat on Burlington heights, ami has iihavdoncd this whoU peninsula, T wo caur* s are as- fjigned lor this precipitate movement; the succor of Proctor, who is reported to have been entirely defeat- ed, il not taken; the other, the safety of Kingston, eat dangered hy your movement. We have had from the entmy many deserters, moat f>f whom ccmcur in the latter supposition. The British burnt every thing in store in this neigh- l[»orhood, 3,000 blankets, many hundred stand of arms^ also the blankets in the mens' packs, and every article of clothing not in actual use. They are supposed to have reached Burlington lieights last evening, from the rate of their march the night before. 1 have information of their having imssed •• the 40," by several inhabitants who have come down. They add to \vhat was stated by the deserters, that two ©fficers of the 41st had joined General Vincent from Prpctor's army, with the information that Proctor waB defeated 18 miles this side of Maiden. 1 cannot get particulars. ^ From the same sources of intelligence, it appears that the 40th, a part of the 100th, and the Voltigeurs. moved from this neighborhood the day after our flotilla left thia, the 3d iF.stant, but with what destination is not certaid- If known« 71 It was first reported (I mean in the British camp) that Ihese regiments had marched to suj)port Proctor, who, it is said, wrote that he would be compelled to surren- der if not supported. 1 am pretty sure, however, that they are gone below. The movement of our army, bclotv, seems to have been known in the British lines as early as the 3d instant, together with the immediate objects in view; hence I hav? no difficulty in concluding that all the movements of the enemy will concentrate at Kingston. Chapin, who has been commissioned lieutenant colo- nel, marched late last evening up the lake, with about •100 volunteers under his command, and was followed this morning by generals M'Clure and Porter, with about 1000 men, Indians and militia included. There is no danger of their coming up with the enemy, or they would be in great danger of their total annihilation. Vincent took hence with him about a thousand or «leven hundred regulars, Many of the militia left this with the avowed design of plunder ; but I fear from re- ports, that the British have left the miserable inhabitants without any thing to be ravished. 1 expect General M'Clure back to-morrow evening, as he only took with bim supplies for two days ; he will probably go as far as ^■'- the 20." On the 8th, Chapin went out with a small party, and attacked one of the enemy's picquets, which brought on a skirmish, in which many of Colonel Swift's regiment participated. After a great waste of ammunition, the parties retired to their respective camps, with little loss on either side; we made and lost a prisoner, had two In- dians killed, and two other men wounded. We hear the enemy had five men wounded. I had this morning made an arrangement, on applica- tion of General M'Clure, to be relieved in the com- mand of this post on the morning of the 13th instant, with an intention of taking up my line of march for Sackett's Harbor, according to the discretion allowed me in the instructions I had the honor to receive from you at this place. My situation has become truly in- supportable ; without the possibility of an attack at this post, and without the possil)ility of reaching you time enough to share in the glory of impending operations 72 Ijdow. I ana, nevertheless, flallereil willi the assu' ranee that trauspoi is will be tbrwariled for my removal> ami to liivor that inlentioB, I propose taking up my line ol march on the morning ol t he 1 3th, for the mouth of Gen- esee river, and there await the arriva I ofthe vessels you are good enough io promise me. By this movement, capt. Mix thinks with me, that 1 shall hasten my arrival at Sack- ctt's Harbor, five, possibly ten days. Captain Camp has a sufficient number ol wao;gons to take me thither ; 1 can easily make that place by the evening of the 15th. 1 hope I j-hall have your approbation, and every thing is arranged witb IJrigadier ?rClure. Knowing your wishes respecting the invalids or sub- jects for di>«-harg« , and fearing that water transport might not be had till the season was too far advanced for their removal, 1 have ventured to send Lieutenant Arclier, pay-master of the 20th, (who was lelt here with- out orders) on command to Greenbu&h, with 100 men of this description. It was a measure approve(< of by doc- tor Mann, and 1 ho[)e not contrary to your wishes and intentions. Doctor Hugo, surgeon's mate of the 14th, (also lelt here without orders,) accompanied the de- tacl'.ment. The fjuarter-master's department furnished eight waggons on my requisition. The sick-list of the garrison is much reduced since your position that 1 should meet water transport for my ('.elaehmeut ai the mouth of tiie Gennessee River, i had his orders to take with me tlie whole of the convalescents left in the dilferent hospitals by the regiments which had accompanil trupt, will excuse the ^ppecrance of any disrespect in making this communi- 79 cation, which is certainly far from my feelings. M/ confidence in the valor, ability, and prudence of gene- ral iiarrison, will dispose nie most cheerfully to submit to any arrangements he may he bound to make, howe- ver great may be my disappointment in their result. I have the honor to be. With the utmost respect, Your obedient servant, GEO. M'CLURE. Major general Harrison. Headquarters, Newark, Nov. 15, 1B13. Dear Sir, Your letter to me of this morning has been receiv- ed. 1 feel most severely the weight of the reasons which you urge for the prosecution ol the intended ex- pedition to Burlington. The disappointment, however, to the brave and patriotic men, who have turned out un- der the expectation of serving their country etfectually in the tield at this inclement senson, is the most painful circumstance attending it, as I am well convinced from the injormmion recciied this morning and last evening that the enemy are n moving as fast as possible from the head of the lake so Kingston, which ha^ been left Avith a very small part of the force that was lately there, and it is more Ihau probable that shouhl we advance in force, the euemy having now none but effective men at Bur- lington, would destroy the stores which they hpve re- maining there, and retreat too rapidly to be overtaken. Tl'.ere are considerations, however, which would make it extremely desirable to make an expedition of force in that quarter, but the orders I have received from the se- eretaiy of war leave me no aiternaiive. Comtnodore Chaitncey is extremely pressing that the troc2>s should immediately embark, declaring that the nav- igation al this season to small vessels is very dangerous. The force at Sackett's Harbor is . The troops at York are ail hastening down to KiuL^ston. SaeketCs Harbor may he endangered hy even a delay of a few days ; and should the troops that are here not get •down before the lake is frozen, mir fleet may be destroy- rtdfor the 7vant of their aid. 1 cannot, therefore, take VL^n inyseif the responsibiliiy of delaying their g etfective resiidar troops, under captains uodg- ers and Hampton of the 24th reziment of United Strifes' infantry, and probably forty volunteers. Within tlte last three davs the term of service of the militia has been expiring, and they have re-crossed the river ahnost to a man. Foreseeing the defenceless situation in which the fort was left, I had authorised some of my most active •u;\t!terns to raise volunteer companies for two month?, an^ioCTerfd a bounty in addition to the month's pay. il. is with rpffret^l have to sar th.it this ex{)edient failed of protlucing; the desired effect. A very inconsiderable number indeed were wiHinsto engage for a farther term of senice, on any conditions. " From the -uost indu!)itabie information, I learn that the enemv are advaijcin? \n force. This dav a scoulini^ party of eolonel Wilcocks' vohinteen? came in contact witii ih*^ir julvance at Tvelve Mile Creek, lost four prisoners and one killed ; one of th^ forrrer they gave U|> to the sar?»£:e?. 'ibis movef^ent determined me in call- in? n council of the princi >al i-ptrnlarand militia officers left at Fort Georore this mornin?. Thev all accorded in opinion that the fort was not tenable with the remnant ©f force left in it. I, in consequence, gave orders for evacuatin?: the fortsince dusk, and Avith but three boats have brought over all the lisht artillery, and most of the arms, equipase, ammunit'r>n, Scd, and shall doubtless feave time to dispose of the heavy cannon before the ene- tiy makes his appearance. The village of Newark is now in tianies — the few remaining iiiliabitants in it, hav- ing been noticed of our intention, were enal led to re- move thdr property. The hous-es were generally vacant long before. 'J'his step has not been taken ivUhoid conn- scL^ andis in conforvtity with the views of your ticciltncy^ disclostd to me in ajomicr cmnmunication, "The enemy are now com letely shut out from any hoj.'es or means of wintering in the vicinity of Ft. Geoig:e. It is truly mortifying to me that a part of the militia at least could not have been prevailed on to continue in service for a longer term; but the circumstance of their having to live in tents at this inclement season, added to thai of the paymasters coming on only prepared to tur- ni^h them witli one^ out oi three months' pay, has had all the bad eflfects that can be imagined. The best and moEt subordinate militia that have yet been on this fron- tier, finding that their wages were not ready for them, be- Hcame, \\ith some meritorous exceptions, a disaffected and ■ngovernahle multitude. .7 " December 11. I have this moment received a com- munication from the govenor of this state, covering a re- quisition on major general Hall for 1,000 men. It is probable not more than six or seven hundred will rendez- vous on this frontier, which will, in my humble opinion, be not more than competent to its proper protection, as £ome will have to be stationed at Black Rock,Schlosser, and Lewistown. ^' i have written to general P. B. Porter, desiring him to employ the Indians for the protection of Birffalo un- til the detachment arrives. Our shipping is in danger. Ko exertion will be wanting, xvithin the pale of our lim- ited means, to afford the protection contemplated.'' Letter fron the Secretart/ of JVar to Major Lee, of the \Qth Repment oflnfeuitry^ deputy pay-master of tht army at Uiica. Sir, You will immediately take measures to pay off the brigade of M' Arthur, (1,300 men,) at Fort George, and the militia, volnnteers and Indians under General M'- Clure. Send an assistant without loss of time on this business. lam, &:q, JOHN AR3ISTR0>'G. Shelden's, Nov. 4, 1813. «4 Extract of a letter from Brigadier-General George M'Cbire to the Sea^etary of JVar, dated Head-Quarters ^ Niaga^ ra, December 13, 1813. " Since 1 last had the honor of writing you, the ene- -my has appeared in considerable force on the opposite shore; but having deprived them of a shelter, they are inarching up to Queenstown, and appear to be fortifying on the heights. Several hundred Indians have appear- ed. I have prevailed on Lieutenant Colonel Greaves, and about 100 of his regiment of artillerists, to remain in the service one month longer, until the detachment of militia which I have ordered, arrives here. 1 have 4lirected the colonel, with two pieces of artillery, to X^ewiston, to oj)en a hot shot on Queenstown, and de- prive them of quarters there also. You will observe Irom my despatch of yesterday, that every building in Newark is reduced to ashes. The enemy is much ex- asperated, and will make a descent on this frontier, if possible ; but I shall watch them close with my handful of men, until a reinforcement of militia and volunteers^ arrive, when I shall endeavor to re-possess myself of Fort George, and drive them back to Burlington. I am not a little apprehensive that the enemy will take ad- vantage of the exposed situation of Buffalo, and our ship- |»ing there. My whole effective force on this exten- eive frontier, including the garrison at Fort Niagara, does not exceed two hundred and fifty men. I have «ent an express to Mr. Granger, the Indian agent, to call out the In(Kans; an exhibition of two or three hun- dred of them will strike more terror in the British than one thousand militia. Permit rae to observe to you, «ir, that it is all important that payment should be made punctually to the Indians every month, or at the expiration of the term they may volunteer for. They are a people that cannot be made to understand the dif- ficulty of having funds here at all times for that pur- pose. I would beg leave to mention that Mr. Granger has interested himself warmly in suj)port of the govern- ment, by his endeavors to have the Indians join us on every occasion, and accompanied me himself on my late expedition to the twenty . " This day I start to Buffalo, which place I shall make my head (juarters. I will reinforce this garrison ^5 Assotfn as possible. In Iho mean lime iiothini; sliall !•« "Wiinted oil my j)ail to promo'.c tiie views ol'tlic govern- ment, and protect the delenceless inliabitauts of this frontier. Head-Quarters, Buffalo, Dec. 22, 1813. Sir, 1 re«;ret to be under the necessity of annonncinjr to yon ihe moitifying intelligence of the loss of Fort Nia- gara. On the morning of tlie 19th inst. about 4 o'clock, t,he enemy crossed the river at the "• Five j\]iile Mcn- [. ;- spect com|)ly with those orders. On the same morning, a detachment of mi' 'ia under Major Bennet, stationed at Lewistown Heights, was at- tacked by a par^y of savages; but the major and hisHt- tle corps, by making a desperate charge, effected their ?etreat after being surrounded by .^yeral hundred, with H 96 111* lofs of six cr eight, who doubtless were ki"-'.^ amonz whom w^re two sons of Cantaia Joues, 1:, * interpreter. The villages of Youugsiown, Lewi^iown, Manchester, ?ntl the Inilian Tuscarora village were ^uceil to ashes, and the inoffensive inhabitants who cotild not escaj^, were, without regard to age or sex, inhumanlv buiehered bv savages heade , who was stationed at 5?chlos- ser, with about 40 Canadian volunteers, advanced to Lewistown beidits, *nd compelletl the advancetl guard of the enemy to fall Iwck to the foot of the mountain.— The major is a meritorious officer. He fought the ene- mv two days, and contended every inch of ground to the Tantawantv Creek. In these actions Lieutenant Lowe, 23d redment U. S. army, and eight ot the Cana- tain Leonard was much intoxicated and left the fort about 11 o*clc=ck, P. 3L I am assured that he has sine egiven himself up: that he and family are now on the Canadian side of the straii. It was not without some reluctance that I left him in im- mediate command of the fort, but there was no allerna- tire, as he outranked everv other officer. His uniform attacliment to British men and measures, added to the circum»tance of his not effecting his escape, w hen in his power, strengthens me in a suspicion that there was a secret understanding viih regard lo tins disgraceful transaction. •• Permit me to suggest to you, dr. that unless regu- lar troops are sent to this frontier immediately, the en- emy will penetrate into the interior of our coustry. and lay waste ail before them. The militia will do to act with regHlars, but not -without them. In spite of all mx ev?rtions to insure subordination, my late de- lachment ultimately proved to be very little l)etter than an infuriated mob. It was not, however the fault of the privates, but of sucii officers as were st e'dng. popularity and who on that account were afraid of enforcing sab- < rdii»ation and introducing strict discipline. 88 *' I have eolleclcd from tlie diftVrcnt rrcruiling reo- h. The garrison was not alarmed when the eiiemv entered the gates ot the fort. Some faring took place after thev entered the works particulaily 0^^""^^° the guard at the suiiih east block house, and the sick m the hospital at the red barracks, on the part of the Amencaus wiih the enemy. This deponent was positive there was ^400 men of all descriptions in the fort, immediately before td^eu^ acd thit 350 of that number were capable and williug to bear aiins in that way, viz. firing on the enemy from the block houses, ^c. The principal resistance the enemy met with, was from the sick in the red barracks, and the guard at the south east block house before mentioned. The sick in the red barracks, as this deponent is informed, and from what he saw, he believes were nearly all slaughtered. The British force that took possession of tJie fort were in number about 400, commanded by colonel Murray, >>ho was wounded in the arm in entermg the gate, and was succeeded in command by co- lonel Hamilton." From the British order of congratulation that issued on the same morning, it appeared ihat the Ame- ricans had lost 65 killed and 15 wounded, which wounds were principally by the bayonet, as expressed in the order ; but the above order was issued very soon after they took posses- sion of the fort, and did not include a number that were after- wards found bayoneted in the cellars of the houses. This deponent thinks that our loss killed in the whole amounted at least to eighty. It was a m;.tter of frequent conversation and exultation among the British non-commissioned officers and jioldiers, while this deponent was under guard, that they bay- :?neted the Americans, uotwithstanding their crying out fe* 90 i^narterf. A subaltern officer and abont 20 privates mad., l:;pir escape Croni the fort bv gcaling the piok< :<. Cap'.aii JLtoa^f'i, the Araerican coiniDaiider, wiis. at the lime the lort na*^ '. ike:i, at his farm, abont two miles distant, ami hearing ihtr cii/ark, mad* lowards the fort, and at no great liisiauoe frura it, was made prisoner by the euemj. and »ras kepi in clos^ coi'fiMem^^Dtfor two days and a half, and how much lon- ger ihis deponent does not know. The American solr.iei-s wen kept t»«"o iiy^ in close and mi>er3b]e i' nrnt, uitl»- out the cv--..:v supply of wood and water ; at the expiralioii uf v. hich the citizens and «oKliers were crossed over the river ajid lodged iu a part of what had been the British majizine at fort George, the resi- j],.. ; . -.>^p plank and boaril hu's : in both situations it was im^ :e to liT down. The magazine was so filthy that many of the prisoners became infested with vermin, and in that !>iiuation remained seven day*. The citizens were then ' to a brick b; ' ' ' ^^ ' '>. where thty riMich crowdt . ; k.;..; <,. <- .... .v was to be la- ken ei'-her by day or . Tiie supply of provisions was nor ohIv scanty, but of the very won^t kind ; beef of the most 1 iVrior and repulsive quality ; and bread the qualiiy of which t 1 -f^t be described. The waier that they used, both there au'J At the magazine, they had to purchase. This deponejit l)€lieves that Ihroogh lh« influence of an individual in Tpper Canada, hirpsef.*. together with ten other Auoerican citizens wert pe: K on the 13th instant, to cross to the United Stales. i ii^ • -■■'"' of ihe citizen*;, to the amount of about seventy, were i; d, on the 12lh, under a slrong guard to Burlinglon heights ; and this deponent was informed, that from thence they would be sent to Kingston. The women and children taken at and near Lewiston, were suipped of their cbthing and laken across the liver. And lunhtr this deponent saiih not. (Jiigned) ROBERT LEE. Sworn to and subscribed this ICth day of January. 1811, before me, ^Signed) J. H.ARRISOX, Master io Chancery. jj^.roa: 11 Wl-? • «5 ^^ ^ » r ^ (3 f ^°-*. i • • /• * "■e-o* !5°x. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 011 899 656 2