The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-19
FROM THE ARMY
CxILIcorHE, Feb.

CEIL1CoTHE, Feb. ~
major Whittlesey ofGen. Perkins brigade,
arrived last Sunday sveaing on e.rfrcSs
TO Coz. NIeigs.
1T has become our duty to announce the
unpleasant news, of the total defeat of the
| advanced guard Of the northwestern army
under gen. Winchester, consisting of about
one thousand men. This detachment was
attacked on the morning of the 22d ult. at
the beating of the reveille, by about 1000
Indians and large detachment of British,
with pieces of artillery. The attack was
so sudden, the enemy so numerous, and our
troops so completely surprised, that nearly
all were killed or taken prisoners. The
brave General Winchester was killed,
scalped, and shockingly mangled. Colonel
Lewis and Col. Allen are supposed to have
fallen. General Harrison, at the Rapids,
on receiving this information, fell back a.
bout 18 miles, where his forces are concen-
trating.
1t is stated, that it was intimated to gen.
Winchester on the evening OF the 2lst,
that an attack would soon be made OIL his
troops by the Indians and British. 1t is
said, that he would give no credit to the
information. Col. Wells, however, OF the
18th United States regiment, is represented
to have been so fully impressed with the be-
lief that tie corps would be attacked, that,
of his own accord, and unknown to Gen.
Winche ster, he left the camp, and rode to
the rapids for reinforcements, where he ar
rived at 9 o'clock on the morning of the 229.
When the attack Was made, the troops
were CT the other side of the river--the
general quartercd- on this side, about three
fourths of mile from the camp. The Bril-
fish with their artillery were in the centre
1.-The Indians on each flank. OF about 600
men, not more than so had arrived at Har-
rison's camp on the Goth. Major M'Clel-
land is among the number which has come
in. OF the number slain, accounts are va
rious--some say 80o-some say 500. A
part, it is stated, fell back 20 this side of the
river--6ut were so closely pursued, and so
warmly attacked, that they could not main
tain their position. The Indians mount
ed, continued the pursuit some distance
Soon after the commencement OF the en-
gagement, capt. Hart was seen, with his
company, which then was formed: OF his
or their fate, we know nothing further. Ma
ny are supposed to have been taken prison
ers--and it is hoped that their lives were
preserved.
A small quantity of provisions, which
could not be brought from the Rapids, were
destroyed.
Whatever may have been the cause of
this melancholy event, which has deprived
Kentucky of many of her best men, we are
happy to say, thatno part OF the blame rests
on Gen. Harrison--that the confidence of
the troops in him is northumberland that
he has soldiers enough, yet left, to lead him
to victory, The advance of Winchester
was contrary to the views and wishes of
tlarrisOn-and, in letters, written after the
march OF the detachment from the rapids,
and before the engagement, he expressed
the utmost solicitude for their safety.
Gen. Topper has marched to join Gen.
Harrison. Gen. Perkins, with hIs brigade
and Gen. Leitwich and Gen. Crooks, with
their brigades, have also marched to join
Harrison. Two additional regiments of .
ho troops will join hun soon. The term of
service OF the two Ohio brigades win shortly
expire.
The legislature now in session, with a
cheerfulaess and zeal which does them ho-
nor, have appropriated FORTY THOUS-
AND DOLLARS, for the purpose of procu-
ring the men composing those brgades. to-
serve months longer. Each man is TO re-
ceive II dolls per month, i'll addition to the
pay allowed by law.
On the I'd inst, the bill was reported toi
the senate, * on the same day it passed both
houses, and was signed < deposited in the
Office of the secretary of state. Every pos
sble disposition is manifested to yield gen.
Harrison the necessary assIstance--and tOI
prosecute with vigor and effect, the pres
eht campaign. His honor and the charac-
ter Of the western people are involved in
the result--and, we trust, they have no dis
position to shrink from the contest. WEI
should be unworthy of freedom, if we would
not y" :, with alacrty rally round the ban
ners OF our country. Sci0to Gaz.
General Upper has marched from his
station in order to join Gen. Harrison -
Gene. Perkins, Leftwch and Crooks, with
their brigadcs, joined him some time ago :
We hope that the disaster which the inn
prudence Of Gen. Winchester has occasi-
oned, will not materially retard the opera
tons of the army. The present moment
is very favorable for an attack on Maiden,