Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-05-22

~ s"ssse yGTs TY
s;,es 81 tas. United Siatss, sn The .1sih 81.
March lest, instrueting them 10 enquire
into the cause - causes Of ne great NOR,
tally in the detachment efthe a,mysfht
United States ordered .for tie defence Of
Mew:orkdns, RESPECTFULLY sabhn the Jft-
lauing j
The com mittee perceived at the instant
their attention was directed to the subject
leferredto them, its importance, difficulty &
extent. The solicitude which was express.
ed for the acquisition Of accurate informa.
,ion, and the manner in which the enquiries
Of the committee were pointed to a specific
object, stimulated them to fulfil, to the ut
most of their power, the expectation and
desire ofthe house. In performing the du-
i.Seassigned TO them, they necessarily had
many difficulties to encounter /; these con-.
sisted in collecting, collatihg and arranging
a multitude Of facts and circumstances,
which had their origin in a distant te :ri,orv,
and the dissimilar aspects in which the same
object would be represented, according to
the medium through which it had been seen.
Not discouraged at the prospect of such la
bors, they proceeded " commence them
with every disposition and with all the pa
thence so ESSENTIAL to ensure a fair, candid
and impartial disclosure Of the state of the
detachment OF the army ordered to New
Orleans. To accomplish a purpose every
way so desirable and interesting, and like
wise to obvia,e objections, the committee
on mature elaboration and reflection, de-
terminrd to make a plain and succinct state
mrnt of facts, as the method best calculated
to impair, information and to guide the IN
Outstanding IN the formation Of a correct
Judgment.
IN pursuing this plan, which the commit
tes early laid down for their observance,
they are led to present to the house, in a
narrow compass, the correspondence which
passed between the department Of war and
the commanding Officer.
Next III order the number oil uoops sent
70 New Oasans, and the present effective
force. -. - -
The measures taken for paying the troops
and the precautions observed tor ensuri&g a
prompt supply Of sound * wholesome pro-
visions for their subsistence.
The instructions given 70 the military a.
! gent by the department. Of war, and the au-
lhoruy invested in the commanding officer
over the military agent, as gathered from
| the instructions. Under this head will be
included whatever relates to cloaIhing, and
medical and hospital stores.
The dsPosisions taken by the committee.
Lastly, the causes which, in the opinion
of the committee, produced the mortality
in thar detachment Of the army. :
(A) MOI.
A letter from the secretary Of war, dated
February "a, 1910, in answer TO one adj
dressed to him in obedience 70 the direction
Of the committee requesting information on
the subject submitted to them. -
The secretary says, " / have the honor
accordingly herewith to submit. to their in
spection a transcript of the original order,
! bearing date December g, 1908, designat-
ing the force destined for the defence of
, New Orleans, and of the subsequent orders
from this department., together with such
extracts from the letters Of the commanding
general as relate to the selection and occu-
pancy Of, and the removal Of the troops
from, the eneamPmsnt at Terre au Bout"
(A) No. 2. 81
| , On the I'd Of December Isos, the secre-
tary of war, (Gsn. Henry Dearborne) in a
letter to general James Wilkinson. says,
am DIRECTED by the president ofthe u.
States, TO have the Necessary measures Ia
ken. without delay, for assembling alargs
proportion of our regular troops at New
Orleans aud It's vicinity, as circumstances
viii permit" Immediately following this
extract, the regiments and companies DIES.
tined for New Orleans are designated, and
the previous preparatory arrangements con-
snertrd with the movements are directed to
be made. The letter then concludes :
|" You viii please totake measures for being
! m New Orleans In season 90 take command