The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-09-24

teSt uvISnSc winch SltttinsltHccs tHu our
situation rendered practicable. But tasey
to surrender without fling gun--tameIy TO
submit without raising bayonet--disgraoe-
fully TO pass an review before al enemy as IN
tc,ior IN the qualify as III the number ot his
forces, were circumstances which excited
feelings of indignation mere easily felt than
described. To see The whole at our men
flushed with The hope OF victory, eagerly a.
waiting The approaching contest, 10 see them
afterwards ulspi,ned, hopeless and depond.
ing, az iesst five huhdre1 sheGding tears be.
cause tAey were nor allowed 10 meet their
coontrv', Toe, ana 10 fight their county's bat
ties, exci:ea sensations, which no American
las ever before bad cause 20 feel, aud which,
lrust in God, viii never again be left, while
cne man remains To de!snd the standard oil
the Inion
ON expressly authorized 10 state, ,ha,
Col. M'A.iaug and Col. Findey, and Lieut..
Col. Mi'c. viewed this trans.ctiou in the
same ilghs wh,oh do. They know and feel,
that no circumstance In our situation, none
in that of the enemy, can excuse capi,ula-
tion So dishonorabe and unjust.fable. 1hi.
too is the universal sentimcnt among the
troops aud ! shall be surprised 10 lcarn,that
there Is one man who thinks il Vas necessary
to sheath lis sword, or lay down his musket.
/ was informed by Gen. Hui the morning
after the capi,ulaton, chat the British forces
consisted OF 1900 regulars, md tha, he sur
rendered to prevent the eiiusion OF human
blood. That he magnifed their regular lorce
nearly five fold, there can be no doubt.
Whether the philanihropic reason assigned
by him is sufficient Justification f6r surren-
derlag fortified town, all army and terrific
ry. is for the government TO determine. Con-
fident am, that had the courage and conduct
OF the General been equal 10 the spirit and
zeal Of The troops. the event would have
been Brilliant and successful as it now is dis
astrous and dishonorable.
Very respectfully, Sir, | have the honor to
be, your most obedient servant,
LEWIS CASS, Col. Sd Rcgt. Ohio poi.
The Hon. VIM. EusTIs, SORRY u War.
o ~ c. ~ ~ <----
To the Editor Of The .Fanond InteiHgeneer.
HAVING seen MANY presentations in
iyculaiion IN The public prints in relation to
tie circumstances attending the late surren-
der OF The fort a, Detroit, have thought pro
per to state facts in relation to il as far as they
nave come to my knowledge, as follows -
Having been heretofore cnsagud in the lake
day of August, and rema ned there and in the
neig ghborhond until the surrender Of tho tort
Ia the BRITISH forces. The surrender oi the
for, at the tine i, took place was like ,hun-
derboit to evcy one in the place, being most
unexpected by ak Far the create" part OF
the men shod tears bitterly, and in the hes,
of their indignation many of them broke their
guns and swords 70 pieces, manifes,Ing by
a.; -. 49,
expert fenced a, icarning the news. They would
not at FIRST believe it and | verify Le!ieye
there was not man who expected the tort
would be surrendered, and not enc who
could be iound to justify L. AS all be-
leved there had been sufiicient torcc 10 have
taken MaldcA and overcome any force that
could be brought against the army, nothing
could exceed Tho modification and surprise
OF all ranks at the retreat from oondwich ahd
afterwards at the surrender. There was, a.
| believe, no want Of forces, of provision oi
ammunition.
The Ie,cc was at least double the number
Of the besieging army. had a good oppor-
tuni,y of seeing the British as they marched
into the fort, and made an attempt to count
them. made out twenty nine sections OF
twelve men each, Of the regulars, which, with
the detachments, nigh, have made up four
hundred Having been heretofore acquainted
with several OF The militia officers in Canada,
| was informed by some of them, tina, nearly
half of these men were militia in the clothing
ct ofrcgulars; there were, perhaps, TWO hundred
and fifty Indians, making force Of not more
than thousand men.
AS 10 provisions, they were plenty There
were at leat two or three hundred head oe cat
tie grazing about, and many hundreds Of Lord
Selkirk's sheep which had been driven in f ON
Csnada. My knowledge is not so accarate
of the qusn,'ty of flour but though associ-
ated with both officers aud men, ! heard no
complaint whatever Of scarcity Of provision.
There was no more appearance of want then
In any other plsce have ever seen, aud plenty
OF provisions were within reach of The army.