The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-24

march tErs.lA CA.ga...l ...r Fort George.
For this ex,.c.li.on tiie cc:.iractor was CAL
led On TO furnish rations tor $500 men tor
four DAYS when il was found he could fur
nish the ;5urS. but not the -four the deputy
quarter u,,ister called for sixty barrels, ana
got but thirty five.
The e:.jarkaiion commenced, but was
DELAYED hv circumsta AS not to be
Completed until after day light. when It was
found the regular infantry, oS8 men, the
artillery III men, Swiit's volunteers esti-
mated 1T $50. six companies OF federal No.
]unteers uh>cr capts. Colius. Phillips, Ali
son. Moore, Maher aud Marshall. amount
ing to - . men, commanded by lieut. col.
Mcclure, lCO men of col. Dobbin's militia,
and ie " men in {, boat with gen. =. Il. Por-
fer, had embark cd-the whole on board u
amounting, exclusive OF officers, to 1865 men,
or thcrrabouts & it was now two hours la
ter than hal been contemplated.
- There were some groups ct men not set
~embarkcA they were applied To, reQues-
ted, and ordered by the brigade major TO
get into the BEATS they did not. The num-
Der of these the brigade major estimated at
about $50. ls was probably greater
1t then becane question whether it was
expedient to invade Canada in open day
light, with 1900 nien, 1t a point where no
1einforCements could be expected for
some days. saw the number of the re-
gular troops was declining rapidly. knew
that On them chiefly was to depend.
I called together the otScers commanding
corps of the regular army. Col. Parker be-
ing sick those. present were, col Porter Of
fhe artillery, col Schuyler, COL WiDder, and
Lieut.. col. Coles.
put to them this question Shall rue fro
seed 2 They unanimously decided that we
Oughtsnot.
foresaw that the volunteers, who had
come out for few days would dispense
several of them had OH the evening of the
Goth, broke their muskets. l foresaw that
the number of the regular troops would de-
crease the measles, and other diseases, be-
ing among them; and they were now in
rents, IN the month OF December. inform
ed the Oihc that the attempt to invade
Canada would not be made until the army
was reinforced directed them to withdraw
their troops, and cover them with huts i'm
mediatcly. );
You say that on Saturday every obstruc-
ton was removed, and that a landing might
have been effected " without the loss of IA
single man." This proves you unacquaint-
ed with the occurrences of the day. Col.
Winder, in retiring from the enemy's shore
an the morning, lost tenth part of his force,
in killed and wounded. Ghe enemy show
ed no more than 5 or 600 men, as estimated
by Col. Parker. and one piece of artillery,
supposed nine FOUNDER. That force, we
no doubt might have overcome but not
without loss; and that, from the great adj
vantage the enemy would have had, might
have been considerable =: r.
To recapitulate. My orders were 10 pass
into Canada With 5000 men at once. On the
first day of embarkation not more than 400
men were embarked, of whom 400. that is
haif OF the regular infantry, were exhausted
with fatigue and want of rest On the Sc
-. M
barked, and these were To have put off i'm
mediately, and to have descended the river
TO point where reinforcements were not to
be expected. On both days, many Of the
regular troops were men in bad health who
could not have stood one days march who
although they were on the sick report, were
turned out by their ardent officers.
The affair at Queenstown, is a caution a.
'gainst relying on crowds who go to the bank
or Niagara to look battle as on n the
,atrical exhibition who if'they are disap-
pointed OF their sights. break their muskets !;
Or il they are without ratons for day, de-
sert.* - ,, u.v tc
Ihavc made tc you this frank disclosure,
without admitting your authority to require
II, under the impression thai you are patti =
tic and candid men :: and that you will not
censure me for following the cautious coun-
ellis OF experience nor join in the sense
less clamor excited against me by an into
rested maa., .'1
| have some reason to believe that the
cautious counsel given by the superior Off
GERS of my command, was good From de-
Serters, VIC learn. that 2344 rations are is
sued daily on the frontiers on the British
side. Captain King, prisoner at Fort
George writes TO ali officer thus" TeA
orr friends 10 take better care ofkhenseLoe s
hial il aIhear6 LhoVe done"
am! gentlemen, with great respect,
1our most obetljent,
ALEXANDER SMYTH.
--. - Brigadier General
To Messrs. Geo. M'Clure, lewis Burd-0
sail, John Griffin, & VIM. b. Roches /
ter, a committee from the patriotic
citizens Of the western counties of N /
York. ,r.t,-.
2. S. 1t will be observed that the force
ready could be 80 otherwise ascertainetI
than 10y an actual embarkation--it being
uncertain what portion Of the volunteer
force would embark.
Six hundred Of Gen. TannehilPs brigade deser
ted IN twenty hours. II court Martial of lids brig
zde have fined twelve and an half ceuts Tor
Che crime of desertion.
from the aurora
TIE PERPETUAL MOTION. e.
mr.. Duage--Tlic opinions of men OF all casses .
moDg us having varied very greatly upon I'll,
SUBJECT of Mr.. Charles Rcdheafel's elf-moyimg ma
chime aud having more than once witnessed hars,
ness ct treatment toward him, i'll requiring him fol
adscoyery nj least, OF great ingenuity if not of i'm
oil. 50