Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-10-24

riSos, 20 .he Secretary Of JYdr.
Head Quarters, Detroit
81, October, 1918.
SIR.
All MY letter fiofa Sandwich of the soth
oitimoTe, | did myself the honor to inform
you, that was Preparing 20 pursue The en-
envy the following day. From various caus-
ss, however, l vas unable to put the troops
III motion until t.c morning of the I'd instant
and then to take with NE only about enc
hundred and forty Of the Regular troops,
JOhrso'l'e Mounted Regiment and sach of
Governor Shelby's FeluDteers as we're fi5 for
rapid march, the Whole amounting 10 a.
bout three Thousand five hundred men. To
Gen. Mc.Arthur with about seven hundred
eHectives) the protecting or this place and
the sick was Committed. Gex. Cass's Brig
ade and the corps of Lieut. Col Ball were
lett II Sand wch, with orders To FOLLOW nc
as soon as the men received their knapaacks
aud blankets. which had been left On an Is
land ID Izne &c. &c.
The unavoidable delay at Sandwich WIS
attended with no disadvantage to us. Gen.
Proctor had posted hinsself at Dalson's on
the rishS bank al the Thames 1or Trench)
hitY six miles from this place, where WAS
Informed he in,ended TO fortitv aud wait TO
receive me. de must have believed, howe
YER, that had no disposition 10 follow him..
or that he had secured my continuance here,
by the reports that we're circulated that the
Indians would attack and destroy this place
upon the advance of the army as he ne
elected to commence the breaking up the
bridges untilth night of the second inst. On
that night our army reached the river, which
is twenty five miles from Sandwich and is
one OF four streams crossing cur route, over
all Of which are bridges, and being deep ard
Muddy. are uniordable for q considerable
distarce into The country the bridge here
was found entire, and in the morning pro-
seeded with JohnsoA's Regiment to save if
possible the others. At the second bridsB
over branch OF the river Thames, We were
fortunate enough 10 capture GLieut. Of ORA,
goons and eleven privates, who had been
sent by Gen. Proctor to destroy them. From
the prisoners learned that the third bridge
was broken up and that the enemy had no
Certain information of our advance, The
bridge having been imperfectly destroyed,
was soon repaired and the army encamped
at brakes farm, four miles below Dali
sons
The river Thames, along the banks of
which our route lay, is a fine deep stream,
mas igsble for vessels of considerable burthen,
after the passage of the bar at it's mouth o.
yer which, there is six and half feet wa.
tGr.
The baggage of the army was brought
IRE 81 Detroit in boats protected by three
Gutboats, which Commodore Perry badfu
nisBed for the purpose, as we'll as to cover
the pas age of the army over the Thames
hssif, or the mouths efits Tributary streams,
til banks being low and the country gene
rally open Prairiers) as high as Dalson's,
sheSe vessels were well calculated for that
purpose. Above Dslson's, however, the
character of the river and adjacent country
is considerably changed The former, tho
still deep, is very narrow and its banks
high and woody. The Commodore and my
self therefore agreed gpon the proprie,y of
leaving the boats under guard of one hun
drcd and fifty Infantry, and determined to
srust to fortune and the bravery Of my troops
60 effect The passage Of the river Below a
place called Chatham and four miles a.
boye DslsoR's is tie thiTd unfotdsble branch
ofthe Thames; the bridge over its mouth
had been taken up by the Indians as we'll
as that at McGregor's Mills, one mile above
several hundred Of tho Indians ajue 4
30 dispute our passage ard, upon the arrival