The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-09-22

victory sud IL IL psinfut confederation, that the
blood o. 80 gallant men eould snly open the co,nmo
hicstion far the points III their exten
lied. The necessary care OF the sick anil wounded,
epd very severe storm OF rain rendered their re-
turn 20 camp hdisperisa5iy necessary for their own
comfort. Capt. Brush, with his small sieta
& the Provisions being still 1t the River Rasin in
sitaauon To be DESTROYED by thesyages, the 18th
in the evening, permtted cells Ni'Arthur Il Cas-
TO collect from their lsegt. iJ0 Of their effective
men nj proceed an upper route through the woods.
which had sent express to capt Brush to take.
and had directed the militia OF the River Raisin to
accompany him rs "a Reinforcement The force of
the enemy continually encre.sng, and the necessity
OF opening the communication, and acting the de-
tensive, becoming more apparent, had, previous to
detaching coils. M'Arthur and Cass On the nth inst
evacuated aud destroyed the fort on the opposite
hank. On the 18th in the evening, gen. Brock arri-
vcd at Amherstburg about the hour coils. M'Afthur
and Cass marched, ct which at that time. Ihad re-
ceived NO information. On the 5th receisca SUM
mons from him to surrender fort Detroit, Of which
ed Is. At this time had reed no informal from
coils. M'Arthnr and Ca.,. An express was niriedi-
atey sent, strongly escorted with orders for them
to return. On the 18th. as Gen Brock recei-
we'd my letter, his batteries opened the town and
fort, and continued until evening. In the evening all
the British ships Of wa. nearly as far up the ri.
yer as Sandwich, three mile. below Detroit At day
night on the 10th Cat which time had received no
information from Coils. NJ Arthur and Cass, INV ex-
presses sent the evening before, and in the night
having been prevented from passing by numerous
bodies OF Indians) the cannonade Recommended, s.
in short time received information that the Bri-
tsh army, and Indians, landing below the
Spring ~e!'s,urder cover of their ships oi war; At
this time the whole effective force my disposal mt
Detroit did not exceed eight hundred men. Being
new troops and unacc ustomed 10 camp life having
performed laberioos march; havia. been engaged
in number OF battles aud skrniis,es, in which ma
ny had Fallen, and more had received wounds, in adj
dion to which large number being sick, ami unpro-
yded with medicine, and the comforts necessary tor
their situation are the general by which the
strength o: the army thus reduced. The fort ~
this time was flied with women, children; and the.
old and decrepid people of the town and country
they were unsafe in the town, it entirely open
and exposed to the enemy's batteries. Back Of the
FORT above or below it, there safety for them
OH account Of the Indians In the first instance the
enemy's fire was principally directed against cur bat
teries; towards the close, directed against the
fort aone and almost every shot and she'll had their
efft Ct.
1t now became necessary cither 70 fight the enc
my in the field; collect the whole force in the fort
or propose terms of capitulation. could not have
carried into the field more than six hundred men,
and LETT any adequate force in the fort. There were
landed at that time Of The enemy regular force of
much more than that NUMBER and twice the number
of Indians Considering this great inequality OF
force, did not think it expedient to adopt the first
measure. The second must have been attended
with great sacrifice OF blood, and no possible adj
vantage, because the contest could not have been
sustained more than a day for the want o. powder
and but very few days for the want of provisions
In addition to this, Coils MArthnr aud Cass would
have been in most hazardous situation. ! feared
nothing but the last alternative. l have dared to
adopt i'll well know the high responsibility ct the
measure, and take the whole of il on myscf 1t
was dictated by sense OF duty, and fdIl conviction
OF its expediency. The bands OF savages which had
then joined the British force we're numerous beyond
any former example Their numbers have s,nce in
creased, and the history of the bsrbarians OF the
north OF Europe does not furnish examples OF more
greedy violence than these sayages have exhibited
pal lanf Off .nh
men commanded would cheerfuly have contested
until the last cartridge had been expended, and the
h'yonets worn to the sockets. could not consent
TO the useless sacrifice OF such brave men, when
knew II impossible for Inc to sustain my SITUATE
on 1t was impossible in the nature of things that an
army could have been furnished with the necessary
supplies OF provision military stores, clothing and
comforts for the sick, pack horses, through
wilderness of two hundred miles, filed with hostile
savages. 1t was impossible, SIR that this little army
worn down by fatigue, by sickness, by wounds, aud
deaths, could have supported itself only against
the collected force Of all the northern nations of In
dansi but against the united strength of Upper Ca
nada' whose population consists of more than twenty
umes the number contained in the territory Of MI
en- gam aided by the principal part of the regular
forces ct the province, and the wealth and influence
OF the North West and other trading estabshn ents
among the Indians, which have in their employment
and uRer their entire control, more than two thou
SAND white men. Before close this dispatch It is
duty which owe my respectable associates in COM
Ihand, cooheis VI Arthur, Findley, Cass, and Lieu
nantCo'onei Miller, express my obligations TO
them Tor the prompt and judieiOYs manner they
nave performed their respective duties. If surht
has taken place during the campaign, which is no.
norable to the army. these officers are entitled to
large share OF It, IL the last act should be tisapprov
ed, no part of the eensure belongs to them have
likewise TO express my obligation to General TAYLOR
who has performed the duty of quarter.mast
neral, for his great exertions in procuring every
thing in his department which it was possible to fur
nish Tor the convenience of the army; likewise IN
brigade MAJOR Jessup for the correct and punct,,o
manner in which he has discharged his duty; and
to the army generally for their exertion and the
zeal they have manifested for the public interest
The death OF Dir. Foster soon after he arrived nj De-
troit was severe misfortune to the ARM : il was
increased by the capture of the Chachaga packet by
which the medicine and hospital stores were lost
He was commencing the best arrangements in tho
department of which he was the PRINCIPAL with ,be
very small means he possessed. / was likewise d..
pilved OF the necessary services of Capt PartrIpe
by sickness, the only officer of the corps of
attached to the army. All the officers and men have
gone to Their respective homes, excepting the 4,b
United States regiment, K small part Of the First
and captain Dyson's company of artillery. Cap,,in
Dyson's company was left at Amherstburg and tb-
others are with me prsoners-they amount tn abou,
three hundred and forty. have only to solicit an
investigation OF my conduct, as early as my situation
and tie state OF things will admit; and to add lie
further request, that the government viii not be nm
mindful of my associates in captivity and of 0,e
contest. N'O
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
most obedent servant.
w. HULL, Bare. GEV.
commanding the .H5yfh -Tpesfeyu
.GHtY of the United ,Yfo,,s