The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-03-23
MESSAGE, SIC.
Correspondence between the Secretary Of War &
Major General Wilkinson.
Continued

Continued.
Sacket'. Rar6or, Sept. Is, 1918.
Dear General,
Our Information from the other side of the lake
amounts TO this Provost goes to Montreal. The
whole regular force in Kingston eon,is,s Of ten com
panies OF De Wsterviites regiment, that al Preseo'
of two companies OF the corps, and abou, forty
artillersta
DE Waterville's regiment vas made up in Spsin,
a composed Of Poles, Germans. Spsnisrds and Por-
tusuese, and completely dissfected. What q pre-.
eious moment my friend is this.
The commodore wasbrough, back to us yesterday
by adverse winds. He goes this morning-let not
the great objects OF the campaign be hazarded by
running after Yco: these aceomp iished, his is
run Kingston, or the point below SEIZED all above
perishes, because the tree is then girdled. y
In speaking of your artillery, you do not include
the guns taken at Fort George, and which will be
necessary for is defence small garrison will be
sufficient against assault: seee we need not dread.
10 already too late to live in trenches Porter of
the artillery would do well to command the place.
Tell him from me he is brgsaier by breyet
The means of transportation are with you,
hasten your march, and may God bless you in all
yonSSnterprizes.
Yours truly and always,
Genera, Wilkinson.
Extracts Of letter from major general UTlkir-
2oth. 1913.
i
have been during my sickness somewhat Of smell
f4,YS s. ,,s... ,o,,, :. s.. -, . ~.
IT Lawrence 1t Chauncey could keep sir James
o'ockaded above Kingston and command the river
below at tho same time, and preparations were
completely matured, but il 10 HercHlisn task To
extract order from Chaos. Ne time has or shall be
lost on my part; but cannot, when prepar ed at
all points, control the wnds-It was last night only
the transports from Oswego arrived; and If am n
hardly opposed BY weather, hope shall have 1000
men ahost by the 26th, and complete my embarks-
ton on the SOth, after which until we reach Grena
der Island, l must look to our squadron md the
Heavens for safety.
Chauneey tells me ne is liable to be blown off from
his station, and in such SIR James NAV slim out
BY him, but promises to follow him. 1t is material.
prevent tbs enemy from following and cutting our
rear, that some competent force should take post on
the St. Lawrence below Kingston, and pray OF you
To make this arrangement with Chauncey. Before
left Saekeus Harbor, ordered a dozen slip Ike el.d
boats, to carry SO men each, and to row so oars 70
be armed with light cannon in their bow.
fh" armament to sweep the st Lawrence OF
the enemys gnn boats, and to take post in advance
when and wherever it may be Advisable. l beg you.
necessary on your part, to give effect to this or
der.
We hsve just received advice con6rna,orv of a
naval combat on lake Erie, in which il is said Perry
has taken the whole British squadron on the 10Th
instant. and brought the vessels iEto Putney har
hor at the isands"-his own vessel, the Lawrence
barely capable of being losted. The action lasted
ak hours. This will cancel your news from our com
modore.
The essiosed letter from general 'Clure brea,hes
good spirit. hut he will not be w for several DAYS
In the mesa time shall prepare his orders to he
ready to give him the command.
boty of horse, small one at that point where
the nte OF the island is to be decided by combat (for
believe net that we shall get possession of Montre
without battle) will be Invaluable. Burn has been
ordered hence some time before nv arrival to re.
eruit his cavalry and prepare them fer action and
shall order him by express to- morrow to incline bv
ip1,re hes tow rda Hor H.,
to look for further orders, somewhere about Ant
werp or that quarter From Denmark or Champi
Oh he is to advise the commanding officer at Sa k.
ett's Harbor of his movements
De Rottenburg Is under the full belief that mean
TO attack him, and shall keep up the deusion az
long as possible.
The snaiPs pace Of the reiHforcements approacb.
ing this division, and pardon nae, cir direction and
route occasion me prise. OF what avail will be
the detachments under colonels Randolph & Coles
which are, learn from Washington, on their march
to this place, where they cannot, will not arrive
before the 18th proximo. If these detaehments had
been ordered on by all the available water commu.
neations from Annapolis to Albany they GOULD have
reached Sacketts Harbor in season. and a column
Of 500 men would have been found an important de.
s'deratum in our impending operations. Where also
are the 1000 mea reported to nae by colonel Duane
as being ready for march before reached Phiade,.
Fhia l must hope near Saeketfs Hsrbor. put
these questions to you thst spprize you of facts
that you, with whom it rests may apply the remedy
or find we possess little military aubordinston or
respect, ana tnat ehtet OF an army IS Obeyed
from courtesy then priaeipIe professional obiiga-
tons.
l send this by the privateer Fox to commodore
Chauncey, with request that he accelerate its pro
sre.s to you. This place neither stops a gap, ex-
tends possessions, or protects coun-
AIRY; IL is good for noughf, but to command the
srosnd it occupies, and therefore shall dYsn,anfe
and and abandon IL.
These eoyps arTl,sd in time.
Extract If lete, from the Secretary Of va, to
major general WilkiHson, dated SacSet.'. lar.
Dor, September 90, 1878.
Dear General,
Your letters Of the 10th, 18th and 18th instant
have been this moment received hasten to answer
them. This main object must be prosecuted |.
Chsancey is not broken down; he can and will
command the lake, and while he does so, our posi-.
ton at fort George may be maintsned. Ii the enc
my's sick list amounts to thousand four hundred
out Of three Thousand, the enemy undertake no.
thing with effect In this view of the subject Glare
with p. u. Poriey's PROPOSITION, made in the fol-
loving words, viz: "our proposition lin case of
your leaving this pace) is that be permitted to
raise, between this and the LIST of October a yoIun
teer force OF from thousand to one thousand two
hundred men, exclusive Of Indians; that we add IN
Il many Of the militia stationed on the lines 90
may be willing to join US; that be furnished with
small train (say four pieces of field artillery with