Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-17
TRuRspAY, SEPTEMBER Y.
Letter Of Col. Cass, Of de array late gtnae e
sAe command Of Brig. Gen. Wnisef7u91' %
the Secretary Of War.
WAsHINGroNi sept. lotn' 1917

eating TO the government such particulars re-
specting the expedition htely commanded Oy
brig. gen. Hull and its disastrous result as
MIGHT enable them CORRECTLY to appreciate tue
conduct of the sfficers and men and to aeye-
lone the causes which Produced SO toui Slaih
upon the national characters, have the nohot
TO submit to your consideration the following
statements
When the forces landed IN Canada, they
landed with an ardent zeal aud stimulated with
the hope of conquest. No enemy appeared
within view of us, and had an immediate ana
vigorous attack been made upon Maiden, It
would doubtless have fallen an easy victory.
know Gen. Hull afterwards declared ne re-
GREETED this attack had not been made, and he
had every reason TO believe success would have
crowned his. efforts. The reason given Tor
DELAYING our operations, was to mount our
heavy cahAon and to afford to the Canadian
militia tune and opportunity TO quit an oonox-
ious service In the course OF two weeks,
the number of their militia who were enbo-
died bad decreased by desertlon from SIX nun
dredlto one hundred men and, In the course
of three weeks, the cannon were mounted,
the ammunition fixed, and every preparation
mtde for an immediate investment OF the loft'
At a council, at which were present all the
fed officers, and which was held TWO. DAYS DC
FIRE our preparations were completed, II was
unanimously agreed TO make an immediate at
tempt TO accomplish the object OF the expedl'
ton. If BY waiting two days we could nave
the service of our heavy artillery, 1t was a.
greed to wait if not, it was determined TO go
without it and to attempt the place by storm.
This opinion appeared to correspond vito the
views of the general, and the day was appoint
ed for commencing our march. Heedeclared
TO me, that he considered himself pledged 10.
lead the army TO Maiden. The ammuniuon
was placed in the Wagons; the can@on were
embarked on board the floating batteries, ana
every requisite article was prepared. Inc
spirit and zeal, the ardor and animation dis
PLAYED by the officers and men on lcarnlng'
the near accomplishment of their wishes, was
a sure and sacred pledge, that in the hour OF
trial they would not be found wanting IN their
duty to their country and themselves. But
change of measures, In opposition to the WISH
es and opinions Of all the officers, was adopt
ed by the general. The plan of attacking
Maiden was abandoned, and Instead OF acting
Extensively, we broke up our camp, evacuated
Canada. and re crossed the river In the night,
without even the shadow OF an enemy 70 ~
ure us. We left to the tender mercy Q! the
ienemy the miserable Canadians who had loi.i-
ed us, and the Protection we afforded lneh,
was but passport to vengeance. ms i"'Ai
and unaccouhtable step dispirited the troops'
and DESTROYED the little confidence which Sc
res of timid, irresolute and indeclsive mea-
.urcs had left in the commanding othcer'
About the tenth of August, the enemy re-
ceived reinforcement of four hundred men.
On tne twelfth, the commanding officers OF
three of the regiments (the fourth was absent)
were Informed through medium which adj
n,,tfed of 40 doubt that the general had stated,
tbst capitulation would be necessary. lhey
on The same day addressed to COY. Melss OF
Oa;o a letter, of which the following is an ex-
tract:
{. Relieve all the bearer will tell you. Be-
l;evs;t. however it may astonish you, as much
90 ;f told YOU by one of as. Even G.
is talked OF by the Inc bearer
will ill the vacancy
The doubtful fate of this letter rendered it
necessary to use circumspection In its details,
and therefore these blanks were lett, ne
word scapitulation' will Sill the first, and Scom-
.Inanding general the other. AS no enemy
was near us, and as the superiority oil our
force y.ls manifest, we could see no necessity
for capituIating, nor any pvopriety IN alludlng
TO il. Wetherefore determined IN the last re-
sort to incur the responsibility Of diNestlng the
general ofhis command This plan was even
tually prevented by TWO of the commanding
officers Of regiments being ordered upon de-
tachnents.
Oa the 18th, the British took position OPP
nosife 70 Detroit, and began to throw up works.
Daring that and the two following days, they
pursued their object without interruption and
established battery for two FOUNDERS and
an s.inch howilzer. About sun set on the e.
vening Of the 18th, a detachment OF $50 men
from he regiments commanded by col. Mar
thur aud myself vas ordered to march to the