Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1813-07-19
SECOND YEAR OF
a9r. Daot8ol. 8 GGldr,
FOR IBE
CONQUEST OF CANADA.
Fym the Anroya.
Extract of letter from a gentleman
WHITING the army-d dated

"The army in thi, neighborhood
lat Fort George coniilts of about
1000 effective men, and are intrench.
ed on the right of the fort, which i:
garrifoned pretty Grongly by artillery
: and other troops. Fort Niagara on
the oppolite fde of the river. is garri.
Toned by about 400 Some Indians
lay encamped near it, who rendered
their iervices to the Americans. |
am informed that our army expects
daily the arrival Of a or 500 lufcor-
oras and Simcoes. The general in
tends, underitand, TO accept of their
aid, which | think would be inpor-
tan: againit the enemy now, for they
are continually harrailing our piquet
guards and detachments ient out into
'he country by parties competed of
loyal militia, Indians and few Brit
ill regulars. Every night our piquets
have ikirmilhes with the marauders.
They are very trou5leiome. They
keep our troops under arms through
the nights. which exhaufS and wears
them fat away Our force has de-
created very much by many caufes.
Col. Bnriller furrendered few davs
ago, about 1 6 miles from fort George,
about 900 men and officers, lome
cavalry aud two pieces of light artil-
lery, to molly force of militia and
Indians and four companies Of Brit
ilh regulars. am not Informed of
the particulars OF this oifaiter-but
the lois on either Ide, | have been
told, in killed and wounded, was bur
trivial. Our men are in wre,ched
condition for cloathing-many bare
foot and half naked The fupplies
Of the army here from the quarter
matters department, are irrelular.
The enemy'S fleet plague our forces
very much Il has been making de
valuations for near two weeks eff
fort Niagara. There is no doubt
fome itratagem going on from its
movements. II is powerful in Gze of
venels, number Of guns and weight OF
metal. II the two fleets fhould meet,
the CONTEXT would be hard and critical.
L. is expected the army will remain a,
fort George until reinforced, or ill
tie fleets lettIe the queition between
them as to the empire of the lake.
! he weather is very wet. rains at
leaf one half the time. The atmoa-
pierre very changeab'e from very
warm to very cool days and nights
This produces fcknefs in the troops.
Let me tell you that TWO thirds of The
accounts given of the operations of
the army. are fooliih, fullome and
erroneous. have ieen palpable milf
tatements IN communications purpor
ting to be official. There is 100 much
pulling and gaiconadiug in the private
communications, which are publiihed
to the world. And The official ac-
counts notify FAY too liltle, and are
never efficiently ipeoific Good con-
du6 and deeds Of actual feryioe ard
magnanimity by modeit men and of
inferior rank, are icarcely ever partic-
ularly noticed. lis a certain few
who contriye TO have their names
mentioned for every duty. ] think a
folder ought to 90 beyond his duty,
before he can expect his name to be
received with public applaufe--haif
The noiic made in the gazettes about
this and tina, character, is fummery
and folly, and ioandalous in the high
eft degree.
UGon the whole. FIR, to the man Of
military feeling, military eye, and mil
itary knowledge, cur army and it's
movements and management, prefent
a defpicable afpett. The eAceili,e
vanity which prevails in the army,
ariiing from rank unlupporttd by
military qualifications and jult pretcn-
Gons. IS great and plentiful iource
OF i'll TO the American army. 1t is a
perional hauteur, fupercilious con-
tempt of inferior rank, howeye, much
merit it conceals aud not a noble
generous and open ambition, which
acfuate the elevated characters Of tht
army and unleis different motive
influence. them, fear, ere long, thu
COME ouences will be fuch as Will pro