Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-05-09

closed:' on receiving this order,
proceeded to raise them. l ioaaG
me ranks immediately filled with vol
unteers, whose bosoms were Warm
with patriotism, which reflects honor
on them, and which l have the plea
sure to acknowledge, surpassed the
expecta MS of the officers OF the Iet.
eral troops.
From the communications which
passed between the com nandaue Of
Mobile and col. Sparks, 1t appeared
to the latter. that the assistance OF the
militia woild be necessary in getting
possession Of that place, and, tor the
advantage OF preparing them to acc
advaniageously with regular troops,
it was thought highly expedient TO as
semble them at fort Stoddert, and
there practice them in handling their
arms, and in those evolutions which
are called for in actual service. Ii
was thought that this step would in-
duce the citizens not only to act In
conjunction with the regular troops,
but also bring about gradual, that de-
gree OF subordination, the want of
which among the militia has SO fire.
queH1y destroyed their eflice cy, and
been SO justly subject of loud COM
plant. Our success in this latter at.
tempt was equally successful, and such
was the progress made by the militia
In acquiring knowledge of military
movements, aud their experiences In
executing them, as to astonish the of
hcers ofthe regular troops The con-
duct of the men, their subordination
and sobriety, were equally remarkable,
displaying patriotic zeal to second
Thy every means in their power the
wishes of their government, wor.
thy of freemen aud the American
name.
In this state Of things an order
arrived from col. Cushing, dated off
Petit Bots, on the coast, for dIschar.
glng the militia, who were dismis.
sed according to,col. Sparks' orders
to me herewith enclosed.t Notwith-
standing, they were not brought into
the field, it is with real satisfaction
feelSnyse self authorised, from their
con and ardor, to assure the com-
manCeF in chief, that our citizens in
case OF ne cessity would not be second
! to any militia in our country. They
have displayed high sense of the
proPriety and necessity of subordina.
tor N uncommon degree of sobrie.
ty attention, to acquire the knowl.
edge of the use of arms, and much
patience in the discharge of the n,ili.
tary duties, and disposition to sub.
nit to them, and patriotic attach
ment to the call of their country, with
firm determination to reprl any in
suits offered to it, and to defend their
country and their rights. In consc-
quence OF the law authorising the
acceptance of the service Of volun-
tee captain Smoot raised company
OF ght infantry or mounted rlaem-n,
VIII accepted, but they were nor
commissioned, as had no blank CON-
missions. Their subordination and
good conduct entities them to all the
praise to wEirh the other com panies
were entitled when arrived, I found
that some OF our citizens lad embar-
ked with col. Kemper, und the Flor
ida convention ; the injuries and in
suits which they had for series of
yesrs experienced at Mobile had filled
their bosoms with indignation. Is hich
nothing but a regard for the laws Of
their country could restrain. The mo.
ment l arrived. I forwarded procla-
nation OF the presidents to the Pas
cagoia, under the control of major
Dupree, who immediately on his arr
rival there hoisted the American CO.
iors, both at the old Spanish fort and
ms camp. | also sent one to col.
kempcr, who was in the neighborhood
OF Mobile, whose men Immediately
came up and joined our volunteers,
Notwithstanding the Spauiards were
commNting depredations against some
oil the citizens just below the line,
ournin8and destroying the property
'FoRT SroDDERT, Dec. 81, 1910.
You will order the FIVE companics