Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1812-11-28


rendering a service TO oil the terrific.
ries,-That frsm their numbers, this
tribe was more formidable than any
other near US; and from .L.sir situa-
ton aud hostility, ha! it more in their
power to do US mischief; or course to
chastise and destroy these, would be
rendering real benefit to our country.
1t was observed by some officers, that
they would meet tho next morning,
consult together, and report to me
their opinions-desiring at the same
time, to BE furnished with the -person
on whom ] had relied FOR intsii-
gence of the country.
This council was held. and all the
intelligence furnished that had been
requested and had report hishly
favorable to the enterprize. This, 10
nae, was more gratifying, rs Lad
found, as early as our encampment at
Vincennes, diseontents end murmurinss
that portended no wish to proceed
further. At Busseron found an evil
dent increase of discomfort, although
no army was ever better or mere am
ply supplied with rations and forage
than at this place. At Fort Harrison
where we encamped on the 10th, and
where we were well supplied with for
age &c. found on the 18th and iath
many breaking off and returning with
out applying to me fer discharge, and
as fer as l knew, without any notiiiea-
ton to their officers-Indeed l have
every reason to suppose the officers Of
every grade, gave no eountenance to
such procedure. Thinking myself
now secure in the confidence Of INV
brother officers and the army, we pro-
sepded on our march carly on the 18th.
and continued it days; our courae
near north in the prairie until we came
TO an Indian house, where some corn.
&c. had been cultivated. The last
day of the march to this place, 1 had
been made acquainted with a return
OF that spirit of discomfort that had
as l had hoped, subsidized, and whea I
had ordered halt near sun set, (for
the first time that day. in fine piece
OF grass in the prairie, to aid oar
horses, L was addressed in the most
rude and dictatorial manner, requiring
me Immediately to resume my march,,
or his battalion would break from the
army and return.-This was a
Major SmSIston. i mention him in
justice to the other officers of tbat
grade. But from every informatiou
l began to fear the army waited bat
for pretext to return. This was
afforded next day by our guides, who
had thought they had diseeraed an
nd ~
about ten miles from where we Ell
camped on the 18th might of cur march
and turned us about 6 or miles out
of our way. An almost universal
discomfort seemed to prevail and we
took our course in such direction
as we hoped ,veuld best atone for the
errcr in the morning about or after
sun set we came to thin grove af-
fcrdins water /; here we took Up our
camp--and about this time arose one
of the most violent gusts of wind,
ceeding from clouds. The Indians
had set fire to the prairie, which drove
on rs so furiously, that we were COM
PEELED to fire around eur camp, to
protect ourselves This seems, to
have decided the army to return;I
was informed of it in SO many ways,
that early in the next morning (Octo-
Der 2oth) I requested the attendance
Of the general and field officers, and
stated to them my apprehensions, the
expectations OF our csuntry. the dis
grace attending the measure, and the
appreciation Of oar own conscience.
Against this, stated the weary situa-
ten OF or horse and the want of BRO
visions, (whish to me seemed only
partial, six days having only passed
since every part OF the army as was
believed was furnished with ten aavs
IN bacon. beef or bread stuG0 the rea-
sons given for returning. requested
command ants OF each regiment TO
convene the whole of the officers
belonging to it, and to take fully the
sense ofthe army en- this m assure, report
to the eoKmandants Of brigades, who
were requested to report to me in writ
ing i; adding that if 500 volunteers
would turn OFT would put myself at
their head, and proceed in quest of tho
towns and the balance Of the army
might retreat Under the conduct of tleiy
officers in safety to Fort Harrison. In
less than one hour the report was m ads
almost unanimously to return. then
requested that might decide the course
to be pursued that day onlv which