The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-05-02
MIR. SAMMONS'S LETTER.
To ihe Editors Of the National InteHgencer.

SIRS,
SOME person, either from mistake or from an
over zeal Tor the cause have espoused having n'ade
some mstatements which were inserted in the Wing
of Baltimore a preface, from which the Albany
Register had Incorporated few words supposed 10
be part OF the observations made On the passage of
MIR. Giies's resolution, I'm Obliged To request YOU to
publish those remarks they were taken down by
your reporter, together with some retic cuons winch
forced from W the iiiiberal comments that
have been upon assertions that hive been false
ly .asciibca " me. l AIN plan man, Sir, INA not
very Well versed IN tins kinu OF controversy but AS
have sts,eo notlang but what l knew, and never
vsntured To reason bu, from my own experience OF
what believed to be- tac,s, ihaVe coniiuen,e IN
the truth ot my argument As for my poiilicai Prn.
cipes got them III the time which tired mems souis
IL Is possible III may be out ot fashion now, bul
am sure that they are always right, ana cannot II
would change them.
You know That never made the boastir & assertions
which >. charged 10 ne of having sned ny blood IN
the Revolutionary war; IL is true and The reflection
affords sincere pleasure &, that haa never shun
ned any blu. he contrary have colrtcd several stu.
ations ~ which was exposedto make this sacrifice !,
but as never underwent the suffering Of wourdb
is no, just that should reap any of the credit
which such u Circumstance would give. have, tia
true, been made prisoner, not III the udcrous manner
that has been published, but which was attcnd-
cd Win circumstances that deserve to be mentioned
because tins remembrance strongly implanted IN my
mind may account for and excuse warmth on GER
tam subjects which ms to have given offence.
When WAS very young my father removed from us
ter county, were was born, to the Mohawk river,
where he purchased farm nearly adjoining the estate
of Sir William Johnson. On this estate settled
several hundred tenants warmly attached to their
landlord and the royal cause, which the breaking
cut of the war they cspoused My father took part
viii, his country and was member Of the committee
Of the district. Hence arose considerable degree
of personal animosty directed towards my family
~,.,l nf 81 vnh ppryer tho gaxu-
yes was unbounded. On his death il transferred
to his son, and this influence exerted in pursua-
ding them tax. up the hstchet ;,ainst the unpro-
tected inhabitants of the frontiers Placed, as have
said, in the frontier adjoining the estate of Johnson,
where there were several hundred tenants warmly
attached To the cause Of Britain, and aided by her
savage allies, situation difficult, and though
it may excite the stupid ests of unprnciped prines
now, it then afforded no matter OF nirth. From tie
time WAS first enrolled in the militia in the year
1873 until the end OF the war, were frequently a.
larmed with ineursions from the enemy, and detach
men,s OF militia were sent to oppose them. On
those occasions did my duty and never have prete,.
cd that did more. II every could say the same
we should have more action and fewer words. In
the year 1760, formidable excursion was made BY
Sir John Johnson, with his regiment and large body
of Indians, marching through the wilderness, aided
by some wictches from whose ninds british gold
aud British influence had banished all honour and
love of country rs well as humanity. In the dead
ot night they surprised the inhabitants OF the frontier
wheu lived. Fortunately for my family the party
was not accompanied by any Indians. Our lives
therefore were spared, but the men wcrc bound
with cords.-My Father TO mortify him the more, e,was
amidst the cots Of brutal enemies tied to ne.
gro slave, and in this manner VIC were forced to
march with them and be witness to their farther bar.
bsr,ties butwc did not go before wc saw every
thing in flames that the rapacisy of the soldiers had
spaled-and wish had words here TO express the
anguish my heart felt at that moment when my moth
cr and sisters were left wshou, shelter, without =
protection, exposed To the u,soience Of the solicr
and the savage bsrba~tics cf the Indians who were
known to be- in the ncghbourhood Fortunately they'
escaped. We lived by the blessing Of God to meet
again, but the remembrance Of those moments can
never be erased from my nind--.and f I had the
genius Of those who amuse thcMselves in turning
scenes like those into ridicuk, should excite other
sentiment than those of mirh. I will relate another
circumstance which occurred at this period, and let
them laugh at it if they car Driven along IKE cat.
tic, we were, as said, tsrccd tn accompany the
march Of the enemy. 1t was marked BY blood. plum
der and ccnhagrston. As approached the
house ct Mr.. Fonda, most respectable man, we
heard the dreadful vel, Of se savags and presently
saw alarge party Of them running towards us, bring
ing the blovdy scalp Of o1r venerable neighbour In