Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-05-11
AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM.
Extract ~ a lestcr.Jrom Gen. Vasinsonss
30 his friend in albany, Dated

Chamftain, .4f1rH g, 1914.
DEAR SIR,
9" You tell me am "charged with tho
countermarch of Major Gen. Brown to
Sackett's Harbor. after he had advanced
more than two hundred miles through mud
and mIre on an expedition against Niagara
and desire to know whether such be the
tact!' Ii is just as true, as that l conx
nanded Major Genera. Hampton last
campaign for single minute; or, that [
had turned coward and become drunkard
after thirty years serviCe or, that had
not favored the attack of Kingston until I
found it impracticabe and finally, that
shrunk from the attack of Montreal when
my means were competent to the enter,
prise. confess to you, that after four or
hve years OF remorseless persecution, du.
ring which painful period, my character has
been mangled and laCerated throughout the
nation, reluctantly obtrude myself on the
orblic, to refute those modern SANDERS
and al additional motive to silence, under
the loads of otioquy which have of late
been heaped on me, has been the continued
menaces vomited forth by certain public
prints, whose sympathies happen TO be in
opposition to my welfare, of courts of enqui>
ry x OF arrests. which have been long hang
ing over me for imputed offences, commits
ted six nonths since; subsequent to which,
i have been so far honored with the con-
hdence OF the executive, as to be continued
in the administration of the most arduous.
critical. and confidential military command
of the nation and have not at this day re-
ceired, from the war department, an init,
nation OF any complaint against me.
have bat one objection to indulge
your desire-It is the vanity of attempting
to check the current of prejudice For I
have experienced on former occasions, that
the refutaiion OF one calumny has produced
AL hundred others neve rthe. ess, as / may
do 1t without giving just cause Of offence to
any one. will remove your solcitudc, by
assuring you, that to this hour am an ut,
ter stranger, but by common report, to
Major General Browns march from
Sacketts Harbor, to Niagara, or of his eoun-
termarch to the former place nor have
any information concerning the specific OBJ
Jects OF either movement But, must ac-
knowledge that on hearing OF his march to
the westward, and having ascertained that
the enemy continued to strengthen his gar
risons. on Lake Ontario, with heavy rein.
force ments, as late as the 18th ultimo, ON
which day upwards of thousand men pas
sed up BY Hamilton on the St. Lawr nee
In combination with motives equally im2or-
tant, made the late iBcurson into Lo wer
canada, to put the enemy in fear nearer
home, and thus to effect diversion in favor
4 Major General Browns operations.
whether offensive or defensive !; and if
IN not deceived, by a concurrence OF infora
cation, the movement has had the effect to
iraw the whole of the enemy's force in
Lower Canada to the vicinity of st. Johns,
including corps of Glengarians who we're
,tationed on the st. Lawrence, at Cotsau de
Lac.
Before closing my letter, / will beg
leave to remark, that, although have not
nterfered with Major General Brown
since our separation at the French Mills, L
am certain that my legitimate right to con-
trol any m ovement within the district OF
my command made by subordinate officer
without my knowledge, will not be ques-
toned by that gentleman or any other nj 4.
litary man because should this right oe "a,
ken away, the bondsG Pordinat,on a.i