The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-30

RAPID stream or Niagara with l20O men IN
presence IF the enemy, who had S or coo
Infantry, some Artillery, and some Indians,
became doubtful. The troops that first
passed over would have fought the battle ;
the loss would have fallen chiefly on the re
gular troops. Had the boats been sent
back. that would, allowing a man to each
oar, have reduced the party 800 men. The
state ofthe Army required that the passage
of the river should be Effected, if at all,
with little loss. The greater the opposition
to the landing, the greater would have been
the encouragement to those VolUnteers who
deemed themselves at liberty to cross or
decline it as they pleased
The general took the opinion of the prin-
cipal officers ON the sufiiciency cfthe force,
and the expectancy of then crossing over.
In SO doing he conformed to- the instructions
which he had received, as well rs to those
intended for him. (F.) Your force looms
large" said an officer = Suppose you
summon Fort Erie" The proposition
was seconded and a summons was sent by
captain Gibson. Captain Fitzgera!., of the
4lst brought an answer. Colonel Nicos the
commanding officer stated his recent arri-
val with reinforcements and artillery, and
that he could not consent. Captain Fitz
gerald also asked that Doctor Steele, made
a prisoner in the morning, could be sent
over to take care OF the wounded.
There are persons who are capable of
insinuating that this was reasonable COR
respondence.
On the 29th November an order issued
that all the troops should be at the Navy
Yard at 8o'clock OH the morning of the 30th.
This order was disobcyed by some compa-
mes of militia, and by the whole of Gene
raj Tannehill's Brigade they did not con-
ceivc themselves bound to cross the line.
This destroyed all reliance on those troops
and greatly diminished the hofe OF aid from
them. In the evening the General saw
some of the field officers of that Brigade
whom he urged to make an effort to bring
out part OF their men. They did so; but
the parties were not reported, or embark
ed.
On the same evening general Smyth had
a conversation with colonel Porter Of the
Artillery, the second in command, on the
expediency of crossing over. The colonel
was decidedly opposed to it. He said to
the General "Sir, you cannot bring 1000
regular troops into the field you Can re-
ly on no other; we have no forage /; no pro-
visions we have nothing, SIR
The boats were to have put of before day
light on the 1st December. Only 800 be-
ing embarked when day light appeared and
tile Brigade Major reporting that he could
not prevail on the irregular volunteers 10
r.,
Gers commanding corps of the regul II Ar
my, and by their advice the enterprise was
abandoned.
General Porter was not consulted. The
men of " New York" although not en-
barked, were displeased, General Porter
had assured them the Army was Power
Full and that their ala was not needed.
except for show or to that effect He di-
verified their anger from himself, by stirring
up sediton against the commanding Gene
raj who saw nothing Of it. 80 sedition or
muteny ever appeared in lis camp. lie
was indeed insuited on the highway by i
man who seemed to be one OF the Pcnnsyi-
vania volunteers, although not in the man
ner that has been stated. a.
80 General Smyth remained present with
the Army from the LIST 20 the 1Ith Decem-
Der, except one day lie vas at Grand T.
land. The array having gone into winter
quarters, he had leave OF absence.
The very extraordinary manner in which
the pubic prints nave treated the transac-
tions on the Niagara frontier, has rendere d
this statement, end the following docu-
ments.
The errors which were committed in re-
laiion to the Army CT Niagara, and which
ought be avoided in future, appear to have
been as S,llows
j. SeEding to the line large bodies of men
not bound to obey orders to cross over, who
only waste and destroy provision, forage 6.
military stores and whose iicentious ex-
ample is most peruicious TO the regular
troops Co.
O. Not sending On in due time, winter
clothing.
8. Not providing, in time to preserve
their health, barracks or quarters for the
troops. ti.
4. Not providing in due time, the means
OF transportation.
S. Not providing sufficient supplies of for
age and provisions.
g. Gen. Smyth erred in inviting to his aid
men who could not be subjected TO martial
law.
T. An&he erred in placing them under
the direction of Gen. Porter
NO officer could have been more care
fui than gen. Smyth of those under his con,
mand or more DESTROYS to have a suffi
Gent force to act against the enemy; or
moressolicitous to avert disgrace from the
arms of the u. S.
But knowing the reduced state of the
regular troops, the temper and disposition
OF 6 n Tannehili's brigade 90 e not lie
- --';.c ~ I'"Uetrk sUTHcIent force (6) H.
found 1t necessary to yield TO the opinion
expressed five weeks before by col. Par
ker, that successful tissue could hard
!ly BE- expected; and defeat might prove
highlys injurious to our country"
Gen. Smyth has declined with 1900 men
without forage, provisions, or money, to in