Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-23

d;ntelu to RESUME MY MARCH
or His battalion 1co,lM breah; from
the army and RETURN !!-1h's
was G@ Mcj. srNeIEToN!! A;;
I meation him in justice to the other;
officers of that grade. But from e
very information, began to fear the
army waited but for prctext to re-
turn This was afforded next days
b, our guides, who had thought theyss
had diseerped Indian village on the
side ola grove about ten miles from
where we encamped on the 4th night,
of our march, and turned us about g
or s miles out of our way. AM
almost universal disconteHt seems
cd to prevail, and We took ours
course in such directionas We
hoped would best atone for Tux,
error in the morning. About or al
ter sunset we came to a thin grove
atfording water; here we took up!
our camp; and about this time a
rose one of the most violent gusts,
of wind, l ever remember to have
seen, not proceeding from clouds,
The Indians had set fire to the prai-j
rie, which drove on US so fnriously,l
that we were compelled to fire az
round our camp, to protect ourselves.
This seems to have decided the army!
10 return: was informed Of it 50
many ways, that early in the next,
morning (Oct. 2otL) l requested the
attendance of the general and field
officers, and stated TO them my APP
prehensions, the expectations OF our
country, the disgrace attending the
measure, and the appreciation of our
own Observation-Disclosures this, |
stated the weary situation Of our
horses and the want Of provisions,
(Which to me seemed only partial, 6
days having only passed since every
part of the army, as was believed,
was furnished with ten days in bacon,
beef or bread stuff she reasons Civ
en- for returning. l requested the
commandments OF each reSin,ent to
convene the wnnic OF tie officers be-
longing TO it, anu to take fully the
sense Of tie army or ta;s measure,
report 10 the commandments Of bri-
gades, WHO were requested to re-
pert to ne in writing; adding that if
500 volunteers would turn cut, [
would pat my.eif at their bead, and
proceed in quest Of the towns; and
the balance of the army might re-
treat uadei the conduct OF thcir Of
iiccrs in safa'y to Fort Ha'TiS0n.
n hess thaa one hour the report was:
made aImost unanimous. y 20 return.
fthcn requested that might dictate
the course to be- pursued t|,at day
only. which 'r'edsad myself should
net PIT ,ilem unle than six niles cnt
OF the way; my object being 10 CO.
ver;he racoanoiieringparties,i wish
Cd to seal GA. for the discovery Of
the Indian towns. About this tine
The irccps being paradsd, !put my
self in front, took a'y course and d.
recteG them 90 follow me the CO.
'ams moving od'quite contrary way,
sent captain Tay!or and major Lee
to apply to the officers leading the
columns. to turn them. They were
told it WAS not in their power. The
army had ;akea their course, and
would pursue it. Discovering great
confusion and disorder in the march,
l threw myself in the rear, fearing
an attack on those who were there
from necessity and continued in that
position the whole day. The ex-
haUsted state Of the horses, nor the
hunger OF the men, retarded this
days march; SO swiftly was it pro-
secuted that it was long before the
rear arrived ut the encampmcat.
The generals Ray, Ramsey and Al
len. lent all their aid and authority
i'll Restoring our march to order, and
so far succeeded. as to bring on the
whole will, mach less loss than had
learned; indeed / have no reason TO
think we were either followed or me-
nacedh by An enemy. ] think we march
ed at least so or 90 miles in the heart
OF the cneEy's country: had he pos
sessed q design to fight us, opportu-
mites in abundance presented. So
formidable was our appearancein the
prairie, and in the country Gas l am
todd never trod before by hostile
feet. must suppress the bordering
tribes with a sense Of their danger.
If iioperatcs benefciaiIy in this way,
our labor will not be altogether in
VAN.
hone the exDence ATTENDING this