The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-04-06

lett this place in order to proceed to Gin
cinnati. The organization of the different
corps destined to reinforce the north west
ern army is. we understand the object of
the Generals tour through this state.
The following letter from General HAR-
RIsoN to JOHN ARMSTRONG, Esq. in au-
swer to an address sent to him by the latter
as Chairman at a meeting of the Inhabitants
of Columbia. requesting the General to
accept the office of Major G eneral in the
army of the United States, should it be of
fered to him, strongly exhibits the delica-
Cy of the situation in which he was placed
on account of the jealousy with which some
of the general officers viewed his COM
mand:
Head Quarters, foe. of tie Miami RGhids,
FEB. 10th, 1918.
SIR---Your letter of the 10th ulti mo,
written by the directions of the citizens of
Hamilton and Clermont counties, was re-
ceived some time since-the situation in
which have been since placed, must form
my excuse for having delayed my answer
until this time.--lt is impossible for me
to express the gratitude l feel towards the
Western people for the multiplied proofs of
their confidence, which have almost daily
received-apd should think myself illy
deserving of their favor if | should relin-
quish the command of the army, because
the General Government have not thought
proper to give me the rank of Major- Gen.
eral instead of that of Brigadier.
1t was certainly never my intention to
leave the High and important trust which
has been reposed in me, as long as / could
retain it consistently with the laws of nv
country. Although there are some circum-
stances which. have oCcasiuncd the en-
barrassments with regard to my command
of the North Western Army, which are ra-
Their OF a delicate nature, have thought it
proper TO state them distinctly for the pur-
pose of convincing nay fellow citizens, to
whose partially am so much indebted.
that IN the Course have taken have been
governed by no motive Of improper ambitl
On, or personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Shortly
after was appointed Brigadier Tin Sept.
last and while ! was acting as a Major
General of the Kentucky quota, l received
an order from the Secretary of War, direc-
ting me to take the command OF the N. w.
Army, and of all the troops destined tor the
defence of the Western & N. Western from
tier.-The date of my appointment as Bri
gadier, made me the youngest of that grade
in the whole army Zone only excepted)
although the sphere Of my command en-
braced two Militia Major-Generals and a
Brigadier of the Regular Army, who by
the articles of war was entitled to command
me. To the rank of Brigadier, could GER
,ainly make no other OBJ lection than that il
could not give that authority which was
necessary TO effect the object of my com
mand (; / was obliged, therefore, to resort to
my Kentucky commission by which alone l
was enabled to command general Winche.
ter. 1t was not. however, sufficient to war
rant either General Hopkins or General
Wadsw orth to receive orders from me,
both OF their commissions being of older
date than mine. When my nomination as
Brigadier was laid before the Senate, was
informed by one of its members, that it
could not be confirmed until resigned the
appointment of Governor of the Indiana
Territory this refused to do for the rea
sons which have already heea made vu5-
lie. The nomination was hewever confirm
ed, but still the difficulty existed with re-
gard to my right to command The army un
der that commission as long as an older
Brgadier continued with it., on whom the
command must necessarily develve the mo-
rnent my Kentucky commission expired
1t appeared to me that from the Difficult
ties which had occurred as well as from
the importance of the Western Department
that the appointment of a Major. G. en-
eral was necessary to the officer who was
intrusted with il. That there might be no
obstacle to my obtaining it if the government
should think me worthy of that rank, I de-
termned 20 give up my civil appointment,
which situated as am with large family
and very unproductive property was a
great convenience to me, but did not pos
ltive'y decline the appointment of Briga-
der. On the contrary, informed the Pres
ident through "a friend, that as the partially
OF the western people and the Army had
given factitious value to my service much
beyond their reaal merit, would agree to
continue in the command in that or any o.
Their rank until the objects for which the
army was formed could be accomplished :;
and that although it appeared to me that
much embarrassment and difficulty would
arise from the superior rank of Gen. Win
chester, yet if the Government thought pro-
per to risk the consequences, / certainly
ought to do so. From this statement it will
appear, sir, that ] have never been so te-
nacious of rank as to suffer it to influence
me for moment in opposition to the pub
lie interest. My only aim has been to OBJ
tain that which appeared to me necessary
TO perform the duties assigned to me. The
fact is with regard to the Western part of
he Department my command was merely
nominal. Gen. Hopkins reported not to me
nor to the Secretary of War, but to the
Governor of Kentucky Whilst he was op-
Grating up the Wabash, detachment un-
der my immediate orders were preparing
for an expedition down that river without
either having any previous knowledge of
the plan or intentions Of the other. 1t was