The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-03-16

snow i dictate this under much depression OF head
| AID stomach and sm, - h..
With great respect and estecn,
ia WILKINSON.
EHsraet or letter from General TILkinson to
ne Ssesetary Of liar, dated Fs-s George, SEPT.
10. 1915
have escaped from my pallet, and with gid
~ heso and trembling hand, will epteavor to scra~
you few lines, the first have written since my
| arrival here.
With respect to the advance squadrons. we are
still without one word of tic infor but
| We are entertained by daily rumors, wild aud ex-
travagant AS they are inconsistent aud
hope we may soon have end to this state OF
une rtainty, which damps exertions and retard,
our measures
| " The removal of the main bodv of the troop,
from this position is operation of great decacy
ard interest; aud it WAS therefore, your presence
here would have been more important than else
| where
81 am not authorised to abandon this useless oc
cupancy, therefore, il must be maintained against
the united British force in its vicinity to secure
the end, and nothing must be hazarded, will re.
qure a serious drain from our best troops, which
enieeoes our 100 feeble force for the m ain attack
the head OF the militia under Mcclure has not
etshown itself: when it does f in any re ssonabe
hne) and we have conferred, shall be better en-.
abied TO deveope The intricate path before me- fn,t
IN the mean time, siss sir, the season viii, fear
be lost.
The Indians enter into our views with great zeai
ana look tor corps Of 1T least five hundr--i men
IN eight days; whether to relieve De Rostenburp of
hve or six hundred of his effective meu, before I
'asn my bacS On him, will be determined by con.
s'deratons ot policy in relation to our red s!is. and
the nitII, a d the tate Of our squadrona, The en-
envy profess to-oay total ignorance of the occur.
| rence 4 An acton between the sauadrons
| In tl'e course OF sixteen days, The enemy have
'sse SKI live men by desertIoo, barely SIX We
count QUO Oh paper, ana could show 5, Zoo eomLs-
tHnis ne enemy, irOn the best information we have
"Sse rIout 3ooo =" en- on paper, OF whom 400
sex onaii make sweep OF tliem or net the ha-
Lsfd al our main object not unless that main object
De Jes psrdzsd BY the fate OF squsdroas-it would
require an operation OF three weeks but my views
are tarward, and l shall not abandon the prospect
While ray ut hope remains.
have received your letters to the 9Th from
oaekt;trs tiatbor, q thank you Tor them. For your
coma.Et, the men here are gaining health aud with
Their officers, tresthe ardent spirit ior COM
bst'
Exr.sa Of a h.:er from, MOI. Gen. wsy;rson 10
me D. Secretary Of Mar, ca.ed Fort Gso-ge,N Sstf
IS, 1915.
Dear Gseneral,
Accident detained the exprers las. evening,
ana siTss me an opportunity to drop you another
linz.
Nots word more of Chaunoey; what has bee ON.
OF iam pray you to decide, whether AN 10
move. With or without any u.ther know ledge Of the
squadron.
From the ipcosed No 9, it would appear that tho
enemy EXPECT ranqui; winer-uuarters in tis ueisb
rhood, tor the number OF barracks proposed 20 be
built, will not receive more thsa I4DO ur 1900 me
inciu ling guards, ordinary s. extrsoI binary SLOW
them as you oan but siSii have the enemy " thin
foar miles of this place, making a vide inyestture
OF IL, from Queenstown TO -Four tiiie Crsek,-
or shalt break hm up With our prospects, the
Decision Is embarrassing; change them TO the absp-
donment OF the chie design, and course il. direct
VIZ 10 take possession a, burlington Bay, * cot up
or capture the whole DIVISION in this quarter which
may oe estimated at 5000 regular troops. L pray
you to d Hibernate Cd these points, y give nae your
advice without delay.
have dispatched an express to for
general Mcclure, OF whom have heard noth;n.
since my last but 10 supply the defect oil his 81,
lence, tie enclosed copy of hi cation from
committee OF which 2. H. Porter is chief, Wi, full
W sliihse. hsve responded in tue most courteous
terms, making reference to yos for your detrrmi.
nation on Ire moms occasion, a. you will per
cetve from my answer. Now, let u,e Intreat YOU to
weigh thsse propositions to take into consideration
the possible faure OF the militia, aud tre sub,ttu
ton IN eueh case of these volunteers for, in the
presest crisis, we Should II possible render assur-
ance doubIy surg The letter of ID ,yid Rodman
stranger is also transmitted for considerable, IN
let me have your ,swer, and tell me how 10 ACT
rs speedily rs poss.be,I 1cb. The boats from
OsweBo have not yet a,nved.
lam feeble 10 childhood, but shall Ieox nj ~.
troops in bstssion Tuesday.
Truly yours,
JAMES WILKINSON.
The hon. John Armstrong,
Secretary of war.