Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-23
WABASH EXPEDITION.
Vild Goose Chase.
p.pIs (Xen,) Nov. 7,

PARIS, (Nen.) Nov. 7.
About the FIRST of October 1919,
ooG0 mounted riflemen. under the
command ofGea. Hopkins. marched
frem yinsesaes, towards Fort har-
risen, encamped at Bassaron. a shak-
eryillage, is or 20 miles fromVinsen-
mes, and lay there a week-tneh
moved on TO Fort Harrison. After
leaving Fort Harrison 5 or 4 mles,.
General Hopkins told the army that
he intended toIead them tothe klcka-
pso town on the Illinois. They them
being led by pilot. marched gu
nearly a north course. for days. q
arrived at a little Indiaa village, 100
miles distant, thence 10 miles to a
Sand Hill. Here the pilot said ne
had lost the track, which in fact he
had never been on. The army then
wheeled to the left. moved IL miles
to small grove and eacampea: That
night the Indians set the adjacent
Prairie on fire, which entirely sur
rounded the camp and aarighted the
army; but pond Of water being
near they fed to it for protection and
re .,ained there unhnrt. The next
morning finding provisions scarce
they determined 70 return home !;
and accordingly they arrived at fort
Harrison on Sunday the Gath nit.
They then zane on to Bussaron and
were dismissed by Gen Butler.
GEN. HOPKINS LETTER.
FRANKFORT, (ky.) Nov. 7, 1912.
Copy Of a letter from Maj. General
Hopkins. to his eScei!eacy gorer-
nor Shelby. dated
Foar HARRISON, 9th Oct. 1919.
My Dear Sir,
The expedition of the mount
ed rifemen has terminated. The
Wabash was re-crossed yesterday,
and the whole corps arc on their way
to Busseron, where the adjutant-ge-
neral will attend in order to have
them properly mastered and dis
charged; and where their horses
Nay get forage during the delay lie
cessary for this object.
Yes, sir. this army has returned
without hardly obtaining the sight
Of an enemy. A simple narrative OF
facts, as they occurred, will best ex-
plain the reasons that have led to
this state OF things.
The army having finished crossing
on tha ftth inst. mIreaua aDout )
miles and eneamped. There request
ed the attendance OF the general Held
officers and captains, SC whom l in,-
parted the objects vi The expedition
and the advantages that might result
rrom fulGllmeRt Of theM. Ihe
nearest kickapoo villages were from
so to 100 miles, and Peoria not mere
than 100. BY breaking up these,
or "a many as our resources would
permit, we would be rendering a
service to all tire tcrritoiIes-ihat
irom their numbers. this tribe was
more favorable than any ether near
us; and from their situation and
hostility, had il iaore in their power
10 10 us mischief: OF course 10 ehas-
tise aui. destroy these, would be reA-
dering real benefit to our country.
Ii was observed by some ohccrs,that
they wouii meet the next morning
consult together, and report to me
their opinions--de,irinS at the sa,se
time to 6e furnished with the person
on whom l had relied for inteili-
yenec Of the country.
This council was held, and all the
intelligence furnished that had been
requested, ami had report high
~ favorable 10 the enserpvize. This
20 NE, WAS moro svatif, ing: as l
had found as early as cur encamp-
ment at Nincenues. discontents aud
murr,erings, that portendsd no wish
10 proceed further. At Busseron. |
found an evident increase Of diseon-
tent, although no army was ever bet
ter or more amply supplied with "a
tons ard forage than at this p!a; :.
At Fort Harrison, where We encamp-
ed on the 1eth, and where We we're
we'll supplied with forage. &c. l
found on the 10th and 18th, many
breaking off and returning without
applying to me for a discharge, & as
Ear as l know. without any notiiica-
lion TO their officers: lndeed | have
every reason to suppose the officers
oferery grade, gave no countenance
20 such a procedure. Thinking my
self now secure in the confidence of
mv brother officers ard the army, we