Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-01-13
From, Gen. Harrison to Cen Vincent
Head Quarters, Fort George,

"a november, 1910.
SIR-Lieut lie Breton, an officer in your
service, arrived at Detroit on the 18th ult.
bearing 4 flag and letter to me from Gen.
Proctor requesting humane treatment for
the prisoners in my possession and the res
toration of private property and papers
This letter was directed to me at the Mora
Wan Towns ana as the subject was
not of the Importance 10 authorizes the Lieu
tenant pursuing me to Detroit, was some
what Surprlzed at his dong 50. 1t cid not
. ppesr 70 NE proper TO permit him to return
in that way, and as ! was upon he poiat of
setting out for this frontier by water, | con
ceived that MODE OF CONVEYANCE would be
full as agreeable TO aim, and would enable
him to meet Gea. Proctor as expsdiliously
as by the land roue regret that the bad.
ness Of the weather and o her causes which
he will explain, have detained him until
this time.
In erstanding that you are the senior of.
fcer. | have determined to address my an
swer to Won With respect to the subject
of Gen Proctor's letter, those which have
the honor to enclose you from the British
officers, who were taken OR the 5th ult. to
tieir friends, and tie report of Mr.. LIE Bfe-
ton, will satisfy you that no indulgence
which humanity could claim in their favor,
or the usages Of war sanction, has been
withheld The disposition of the property
taken on the field of action or near it, was
left to the commanding officer at Detroit
| Tie instructions given to that gentleman
and the we'll known generosity of his cha.
racter. will insure to the claimants the ut
most Justice, and liberality in his decisions
| In making this statement, | wish it how
ever to be distinctly understood that my
conduct with regard to the prisoners and
| property taken, has been dictated solely by
motives of humanity, and not by belief
that it could be claimed upon the score of
treatment towards the American prisoners
who have fallen into the hands Of General
Proctor. The unhappy description of per-
sons who have escaped from the tomahawk
| of the Savages in the employment of tbs
| British government, who fought under the
| immediate orders OF that officer, have suf-
fered all the indignities and deprivations
which human nature is capable of support
| ing There is 10 single instance that have
heard of in which the property of the off
GERS has been respected. Bat | am far
from believing that the conduct Of General
| Proctor has bean thought an example wor-
thy Of imitation by the greater part of the
British officers and in the character of
Gen. Vincent / have pledge that ne will
unite his exertions with mine to soften as
much as possible the fate of those whom
the fortune of war may reciprocaly place
in our power.
But, sir, there is another subject upon
which wish an explicit declaration. VIII
the Indians who still adhere to the cause OF
his Britsnnic Majesty, be suffered to cent?
nue. that horrible species of warfare which
they have heretofore practised against our
troops, and those still more horrible depre.
dations upon the peaceful inhabitants Of
our frontiers ] have sufficient evidence to
show that even the latter have not always
been perpetrated by small parties of va