Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-02

'''Nii ""t y Ione I'D my knowledge, are Ill
point and worthy OF record. 1t IS thea a
tact uor state it on the best authority that.
either the national treasury is so miscrably
empty, or the proper department so deficient
~ duty, that the army under General Dear
porn which has so long been idling away
Their time near Albany was not only unpaid,
Out unprovided with the common necessa-
ries OF camp, and when, a few DAYS since,
part OF these troops were ordered toA the
frontiers. one whole regiment (Col. PNse's)
absolutely refused and deliberately stac&cd
their arms, declaring they would not mdve
uEtli paid. In this refusal they were justi
he'd by the colonel, an old soldier, who adj
united they ought not to march unless go-
vefnment would first pay the arrears due
them.
. i fortunately happened that Mr.. Secre-
tary Ga'iatin, was then at Albany, and on
learning the state OF affairs at the encamp-
mont, he borrowed twenty thousand liars
ifom Que OF the banks, on his private credit.
by winch means the troops were paid, and
citecrfuily followed their commander''
Ia contradiction to this statement, it will
DC snliicentto give the following facts That
the regimertal paymastcr bad in his hands,
FUNDS 10 pay the whole regiiaeat up to the
SIS. And within three days of the period
wnen the troops moved, that three co,npa-
| a.,
the balance 50 soon IS the regiment hailed,
sufficient Silae TO give the officers an OPP
pof'unity "a adjust the rolls and prepare tie
acCoGnts If the recrr its.
SccaaGly-1'hat hose funds were receiv-
| ed by the tegineptal paymbstcr, from the
district paymaster Mr. Eakins, who was sgIer.
a Albany, and not from Mr., Gallatiu, who
| O. is btlieyed) did MT arrive till after the
! regiment ed from Grtcnbush These
facts canbt c"rro5orated by eveiy.oficer of
| thN l5th Infantry, Who one AID aflSacemthe
! paragraph published in the Herald base
! calnmny, = direct attack on their honor as
I soldiers, and declare h It the author, whoe4
| yer nc may be, has asserted gross untrueis
| As for myssiE | have had the honor to ser" e.
~ the army from the rank If volunteer TO
| the station now hold, during the admins
ti'4tioA ii gen. Washington, Mr.. adams, Mr.
| Jefferson, and MIR. Madison, and can affirm,
! hatl nave known some troops underthe
| three FIRST 20 have been upw ,rds of q wear
| without payment-and under the latter for
eish' months. This was owing e. the dis
| perSed sale OF our troops on the western
ttrontier. hutnever did hear Of a corps shew-
ing disposition to refuse t. do their du,y,
| lccause they had net rece we'd their pav-.or
do believe the American armv has been
| dssraced by an instance of the kind. since
the revolutionary war; But ask any man of
consideration, what time 1t require to or
gaEizc an army, or corps of new recruits
Iii, owing 20 the want of q know ledge &c
Tic otccr te forms of ret,se4.s,lf-, 49, =
exc WI 1t not be some time before a new
/ corps can be az well equipt, or appear as
much IKE soldiers, as an Old one (? Every
soldier viii reply, that it will re1uire two
years at least 20 teach both officers and men
20 reap the same benefit from The same SIM
plies IS old soldicrs-and although at dis
! time, the 18th regiment has been as reeu
larry supplied as any other corps, with cloth
| ing, pay, arms and accoutrement, even to
watch ats to protect tie centiuei araiast
the winter stofms-yet were There m old
regiment, laying by their side, who had re-
ctlved the Scme SUPPLIES, they most indubi-
tahiy wouid be better equipped and make
themselves more comfortable having the sa-
wing OF two or more years, supplies on hand.
But whether III nr well supplied, the soldiers
and officers have too Just a sense of the duty
they owe their country and th,ir OWE honor.
ever TO refuse 70 march against thc enemy-
and The colonel begs leave to assure the au-
thor 81 the above paragraph that he hopes
he wisi forbear any future attempt to iniure,
his reputation By praising an action which,
iffrRc, musthave forever furnished the small
claim he now has to q military char or.
Z. M.PkE,
COI0gei I5tk u s. Ty,IyUtyi,