The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-05-25

rentagcs OF the position are, private ground, pri-
waite wood, and its vicinity TO New Orleans But
It's advantages are, promised health, the best wa
ter OF the country, the accommodation and com.
fort of a market, the immediate protection OF the
| city, and the prompt defence of the river & lakes
against An invading force. Under such conside
| rations, and the rapid advance of the season. /
could pause no longer but shall proceed to take
the position, and make the necessary establish
! inen's tor the reception and safe keeping of the
stores and provisions, necessary 10 supply and
support the troops, and for the comfortable lody-
ment of the sick and we'll"
Letter from general Wilkinson to the Secretary Of
Var, dated Camp, 2tyre BGEf, f4ne 10.
1899.
g Your letter of the SOth April, and 4th ult.
did not reach New Orleans until the las, mail,
the 18th instant, though we received at the satne
Time the Presidents speech. am happy that
have so tar anticipated your wishes as TO have en-
camped the troops, though have not sought the
position YOU recommended nor should have
done SO while permitted to exercise my discreet.
on, and Tor the following reasons The move
ment TO Fort Adams to Watcher, must have
been made by water, the Spanards Will not
permit our Passage through West Florida the
toll, the lime an,i exposition to the sun in ascen
ding the river, one hundred leagues, with corps
OF two thousand, would probably have diseased
nine tenths of the men, many of whom were in
I a conyalescent state, and many sick" The ge-
that the position IS too remote for the scasonsbie
projections cf n Orleans against external attack
or internal csmmotlon that the upper country
might prove more sickly than the bank ot the
Mississippi; that the movement TO Terres
BG,if was made without Inconvenience II the
well, or injury to tie sick, and at no expence be-
cause the chalons Which transported them viii
be employed IN erecting the necessary temporary
buildings and for flooring the tents. The gene.
raj further states, that the position taken is
freshed by sea breezes, and that although more
than five hundred sick and convalescent were
brought TO the ground which had been previous
ly occupied by five hundred and sixty men, from
the 1st instant not more than thre men died, s.
one ofthese of an apoplexy: that the morning
ports of the 18th and 10Th viii exhibit frightfii
return OF the sick "yet says he, you are TO un.
derstand that nine tenths are strongly GONZALES
cent, and are returned sick to prevent their be-
ing detailed for the general fatigues to which we
are now, and shall be for some time to come, me-
cesssrily exposed" After mentioning that the
safety OF those who are intrusted t.. his charge
impress him with awful sense of responsible
ty, and will occupy ali his attentions, proceeds
to say: 6 1t is source of pleasurable reflection
| to me, that the aspects and accommodation of
the position have preposIessed every man and
| officer in its favor. We have good market of
vegetables, milk, eggs and fowls, from the set.
| Elements OF Terre au Bout" He then speaks OF
arrangements in the suttlng department wish
es to be advised whether 1t the intention OF go-
vernment to erect cantonment, one would DE
necessary either at Matches or Terre au Beeuf: if
the latter, e1pences of such establishment are
set forth He then says, I" submit these obser-
vations to you for your consideration is my du-
,y, to aid your judgment, and shall be ready to
execute the presidential will"
Tie Secretary ef Var TO gen. Games Wilkinson,
dafe@ Var Department, June u, 1909.
" Beng Unable to perceive any advantages in
the position winch you have selected for an en-
csmpment, AS stated IN your letter of the 18th of
May, which give 1T q preference over the high
ground IN the rear OF tort Adams, its vicinity,
TO which nay letter OF the 3oth of April directed,
condltIonsliy, the removal of the troops ! am
lett to presume either that my letter has not been
received, or that some Causes unknowI. TO me &
reconcTeable with the object stated IN that letter
have governed your decision. On receiving Tins
letter, you will be pleased immediately to embark
all the troops, leaving sufficient garrison of old
troops AT New Orleans and fort ST. Philip, and
proceed with them to the high ground IN the rear
ca fort Adams, and TO the hign ground in the
rear Of Natchez lthe public giound) aud form
encAmpments dividing them equally, IN sucA
proportions, between the two places, as your
own judgment shall direct. The iEclosed copy
of an order from the navy department will pre-
sent you the means OF transportation The move
ment OF the troops Will be committed entirely to
your direction"
by uate, lamp ere au DCeuf
5uly Odd, 1909, general Wilkinson acknowied-
ses that the preceding order had come to his
hand ne says, your duplicate of the I'D ult
reached New Orleans by last mail, on the 1911,
and came 10 my hands on the night of the 20lh,
at III o'clock I; the original has not yet arrived.
The peremptoiy tenor OF your order for the re-
Hovai OF The troops, has relieved me from OPP
presslye load OF responsibility, and l have not
iosl Z moment in cnlering on the execution" He
states the lmposslbhHy OF confronting the effects
OF the climate; that il will be vain TO seek re-
iuge from disease in that region with nBse asoned
srccFuits. He also states that when possession
was taken OF the present healtlful scite at Co
lumbar Springs, near fort Adams, 246 men were
do IN at time out of about 500. After men
tioning some things relating TO the movement OF
the detachment UP the river, he says, "yCu will
discover from my letter of the 18Th ultimo, the
causes which opposed our ascent of the river
the eIaploy of the gun boats removes the ex-
pense, and the labor OF tue sailors will save that
OF the troops, but the hardness of the movement
and the heat Of the sunin dog days, must endan-
ger our health"
After expressing his sense Of the necessity of
economy, and stating that the establishment lad
cost something, but that the cost will bear com
parison with antecedent expenses lie then men
tons that The public cost III future would not ex
coed six Or eight hundred doliar8 per month the
year round, Cor every incidental Expense, wood,
pasluTage and quarters included and concludes
thus, " under all circumstances, mast frankly
say, thai, was my discretion Permtted,I should