Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1813-11-29
COMM ZIG ] o y
Brigalier General IR1sH.

the detachment of militia stationed at
" Fort Burrows" it is but common JUS.
tee to him to lay before the public
short history of this proceeding
1t is said to have been stated by a
certain Officer high in military com
mand, and believed by many, tina, the
mode of making the detachment was
illegal, and that Gen. Irish acted with
OUT orders, and that no soldier was
Obliged TO obey the call. As ex,raor-
binary 40 these assertions may appear,
coming from such an officer, we art
nevertheless compelled to believe that
they have been made, and repeatedly
100, to the prejudice Of Gen Irish.
In consequence of application to the
Commander in Chief by The oeleclmen
and Committee of General Safety OF the
town of Portland, in the early part of
April, "a order WAS issued 10 Geo Irish,
predicated on certain emergencies, 10
make detachment One of the con-
dltions of which was, that in case the
Selcctmen, Committee of Safety and
Magistrates of Portland, should be OF
opinion that the danger of an invasion
was such as to Justly the ordefisS out
, of the militia, then Gen. | was prompt
ly TO act under his order. 1t we mis-
take not, Maj. Gen. Merrill had an or.
der TO the same effect-at any rate he
was advised OF the order. Gen Irish,
when he WAS called upon, according 10
the meaning and intent of the order, act
ed with the utmost decision aud prompt.
nude, such as ;be crisis denandrd.--
! Tie did--aitho' he was not under the
hen existing emergencies, bound SO to
do-he did consult the Maj General,
who declined acting; or In other words,
i"left IT to The better judgment of the
Brigadier In this, perhaps the Maj
General acted wisely knowing that
the detachmen, called for did not re.
qure draft from the whole division,
and If made from the 2d brigade only,
that Gen Irish was T., only proper ex-
ecutise officer Blu, why the Mai Gen.
did not issue his written order to Gen
Irish is unaccountable'- why he
should complain OF the draft aher hay
ing left the sub ect to the " better ludg
ment" OF the Brigadler, is no less 50 -
The writer of this article is satisfied
that Gen. Irish treated the Mai Gen
with every mark OF respect, as due TO
his superior officer. But as The Nal.
Gen. declined scting, it became the ia.
dispenslble duty oil Gen Irish TO comply
with his own order--it being from an
o'i,cer, the supefior oil both Il. order
for turning out the militia lunder Ger
tain circumstsncesj was extended to
officers OF inferior grade TO Gen Irish !;
the Colonel OF the Portland regimen:
and Ma lor OF the battalion Of artillery,
had similar orders, N case OF threaten
ed attack.
! We are unwilling 10 believe an the
reports in circulation concerning the
opinions OF the Mai. Gen. expressed in
town. meeting, and his private advice to
the soldiers detached, because they
would do no credit to him as an officer
or good citizen, and would certainly
render him liable to be broken by the
Legislature of the state This was
constitutional call, and as such the Mai.
Gen ought 10 have afforded every faci.
iIy IN his power 10 get the detachment
out. He should not have censured the
Brigadler, nor should be have influenced
the men not TO obey the patriotic sum
mons. We are sensible that Gen Irish
had many difficulties TO encounter he
however surmounted them all, and has
by his Iudicious management merited
and received the appreciation of the
Commander in Chief, and the thanks OF
the citizens oi Portland, almost unani.
! mously.
! In times like these, our commanding
/ Generals ought 10 be men of hrmness
and decision, ready 20 plan and prompt
to execulet; unbiased by political dis.
tinctions, tor in the defence of the soil
we know no party. II is well known
that the committee OF safety is not COM
posed of men who are all of the sans
politics hey have unammoHsiy ex.
pressed themselves in terms very com.
plimentay to general Irish for his whole
proceedings in this business, and If we
have not been misinlorncd ne has re-
oeived a vote oil thanks from that body.
a meeting was held 90h April or lst
MAY, al winch were present, M @ n.
Merrill, Brig Gen, li,sh. the Selectmen and
Committee of Safety. AID number Of The
Magistrates Of the town-Gen. Merritt was
Chairman, srd h., with sil present, 20 ed u