The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-09-08

c Detroit, to which place he had retrea ted.
General Hults force consisted of 3 500
men. The British force under Cen Brock.
Who commanded in person, was l,4OO men,
lot including Indians.
"Generai Hull is now on board the Quee N
Charlotte.
The above was sent express to Gene
raj Dearborne, at Albany, by Major Nom.
who arrived in two days from Black Rock"
EItraet ofanofher letter from .di6any.
1t was reported at Niagara, a party OF
500 American Militia had been cut off near
Detroit. their supplies taken from them. &
tue men all killed by the Indians. This we
hope is not SO certain as the above disastrous
news"
From the National Infeiiigencer of the Sd.
The PRESIDENT of the United States
left this city yesterday morning on visit to
his seat in Orange county. Virginia, for
few days. lie had set out last week on a
similar journey, but returned Immediately
ON hearing the rumors respecting the North
Western army.
The Government is not as yet, that we
are informed, in possession Of any official
advices relating to the disaster which seems
tn have befallen our North Western army.
The rumor OF it has struck every one here.
as it must every where, with astonishment.
That at the moment the country was losk
ing with the best founded s most iustifiabfe
hopes for intelligence of the success of our
arms in that quarter, we should hear of the
defeat, OF the total surrender of an arnv of
$500 men without batlle-probably with
out fIrlng gun, TO force not greater, per-
haps much less than its own, is equally ex.
traordnary and mysterious. 1t might, per-
haps, be premature in us at such a moment
as this to hazard any opinion on an event
so vitality important to the character of the
commanding general but we share largely
in the public astonshment which manifests
itself upon the occasion. A very little time
must unravel the causes of this utterly I'M
expected reverse. We think we do not mis-
understand the character of that army when
we say 1t was abundantly strong under e.
very calculation of safety and prudence, &
in the previous estimation Of the gene
raj himself, for the contemplated objects
OF the expedition on which it set out that
it was also abundantly supplied with every
requisite OF ammunition, arms, stores, pro-
visions, to secure, under judicious and
prompt movements, all the advantages that
were looked to from its march. That it con-
tanned, in officers and men, as we'll volun-
teers as regulars and militia, as large a Dor
tion OF valor, patriotism and zeal as could
be found in the same numbers any where.
we are proudly and confidently sure. Tho
unused to battle, we find in all it's previous
and partial encounters with the enemy.
whether British or savage, or both, it's ca
gerness * its courage equally conspicuous Sc
successful. The time ofits march, if its own
conduct would Indicate any thing, was season.
able; it saw fit to enter Canada on the 18th
OF July-with no opposing foe that could then
misunderstanding no question, as would also
seem, respecting the sufficiency of its num-
bers and preparation by announcing both.
The lapse OF very few days and it was
thought every intermediate arrangement
would have completed to insure the attack
and reduction of Maiden. 1t is natural to
suppose, thatlt would push its advSntag
with every practicable CELEBRITY. And how
it should have happened, after all this. that
SO much time should have been suffered
TO pass IN inactivity, as it were almost un-
der the walls of Maiden, that the tide of
misfortune should have been in an instant
rolled back upon us that we should have
been SO suddenly shocked with the account
not SIMPLY OF check given to the career of
successful invasion, but of the almost instan-
taneous tall and surrender of whole army,
without battle, looks, we repeat, so ex-
traordlnary and even mysterious that we
know not how 70 explain it while our feel
!ngs are to the highest degree excited, the
Judgment is bewildered-we are lost in con-
Germ and establishment At this distance, it
would surely seem as if the same army
which, with arms i'll its hands, was upon the
eve OF storming fort, was at least ready
before its tall to try and sustain a gallant
or secure a safe retreat But wei
are not authorised to pre-judge the com
handing general some great and unfore-
seen difficulties. which it was not in sapaci
~ to discern, or in skill or bravery to avert.
may have Jed to the disaster. Imperious
and uncomfortable indeed, should have been
the causes which induced and will justify J
t, and most ardently do we hope. that, in |
these, somG mitigation of the shock, as well
as the excuse of the general. will be found. |
On every account we will not cease to hope |
80.
In the mean time, as becomes a nation of
reemen engaged in a just cause, we take |
new energy and new resolution from the e. |
vent. Measures are already in operation |
or renewing hostility with fresh activity * |
,igor and we trust that the rouSed indigna- |
ion OF the Country will now properly esti |
nate the conduct of AN enemy, who depar-
ing from Contrary example on our part, |
employs, audaciously and formally EMPLOYS |
n his ranks, the merciiess savage, who
Knows no rule of honorable warfare whose
,utcheries are iDdisCriminate, and who, Z
his moment, Under the whetting impulse |
If British instigation&.-with fierce revenge
n his heart and grim fury in his face
'oams through our frontier, and pursues his
Nightly yells with the scalping knife IN
lis hand.
BosToN, Aug. 29.-Ar. below, British |