Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-30
FRANKFORT, Nov. 7.

Cory Of letter from General Hohkins, to
his Ercelfency Governor Shelby, dated,
Fort Harrison, Oct. %, 1912.
My DEAR SIR,
The expedition of the mounted rieee-
men has terminated. The Wabash was
re crossed yesterday, and the whole corps
are on their way to Busseron, where the Ad-
jutant General will attend in order to have
them properly mustered and discharged
and where their horses may get forage du-
ring the delay necessary for this object.
Yes, sir, this army has returned, without
hardly obtaining the sight of an enemy. A
simple narrative of facts, as they occurred
will best explain the reason that have led to
this state of things
The army having finished crossing the
Wabash on the 14th inst. marched about
three miles and encamped. here request
ed the attendance of the general field Off
Gers and captains, to whom impaired the
| objects of the expedition and the advantages
| that might result from fuliilment of them.
The nearest Kickapoo villages were from 80
TO 100 miles distant, and Peoria not more
than 100. BY breaking up these, or as ma
ny as our resources would permit, we would
! be rendering = service to all the erritories
That from their numbers, this tribe was
more formidable than any other near us !;
| and from their situation and hostility, had it
mere in their power to do us mischief; of
| course to chastise and destroy these, would
! be rendering benefit to cur country. 1t was
observed by some officers, that they would
meet the next morning, consult together,
and report to me their opinions-desiring
| at the same time, to be furnished with the
person whom had relied for intelligence
of the country.
/ THIS council was held, and all theintelli-
! genCe furnished that had been requested,
| and had report highly favorable to the
| enterprise. This, to me was more crafty
| ing. as had found as early as our encamp-
ment at Vinccnnes, discontents and murmnr-
| ings that portended no wish to proceed fur
Their. At BusseroD, i foundevident increase
Of discomfort, although no army was even
| better or more aumply supplied wi h rations
and forage than at this place. AT Fort
| Harrison, where we encamped on the 10th,
and where we were we'll supplied with for
| age &c. found on the 18th and 9Th many
breaking off and returning without applying
| to me tor discharge, and as far as know,
| without any notification TO their ofiicers-In
| deed have every reason to suppose the Off
| GERS OF every grade, gave no countenance to
such procedure.-T Thinking myself now
secure in the confidence OF my brother Off
GERS and the army, we proceeded on our
| march early on the 18th, and continued it
four days our course nearnorth in the prai-
! rie until we came to an Indian house where
some corn &c. had been cultivated. The
last day of the march 20 this place, / had
been made acquainted with a return of that
spirit of discomfort that had, as had hoced,
subsidized, and when had ordered to halt
near sun set, (lor the first time that day) in
line piece OF grass in prairie, to aid our
horses, was addressed in the most rude
and dictatorial manner, requiring me iun-
mediately to resume my march, OF his bat
talon would break from the army and re-
turn This was a lHqj. Singleton. I men
ton him in justice to the other officers of
that grade But from every information, |
began TO fear the army waited bur for
prctcX; to return. This was afforded next
by our guides, who thought they bad dis
cerned an Indian village on the side Cf a
grove about ten miles from where we en-
campcd ON the fourth night Of our march,
and turned us about or 9 miles out Of
our way. An almost universal discomfort
seemed to prevail, and we tool; our course
IN such direction as we hoped would best
atone for the error in the morning.
About or after sun set, We came 90 thin
grove aifordlrg water here VIC took up our
camp-and about this time arose ono Of the
most violent gusts Of wind, 7 ever remember
TO have seen, not proceeding from clouds
Tic lndians had set fire to the prairie which
,!foye on us . furi0usly that We were com
PEELED to ire around our camp, to protect our
selves. This seems 20 have decided the army
10 return was informed Of it in so many
ways, that carly IN the nextmorning, October
2Oth) requested the attendance Of the gcner-
al and held officers, and stated to them my ap
prehensiOns, the expectations Of our country
the disgrace attending the measure, and the
appreciation Of our eonscieDces. Against this,