Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-01-10
INTERPRETING CORRESPONDENCE.

L
ters, papers anc vouchers OF the greatest con.
sequence to intksiduals, without being of any
to the cause OF the cap,ors; L do myself the
hrnoy Of appyiirg to you in their behalf, ho-
ping that agreer tly to the custom of war, you
Will avail yourself Of this favorable opportunity
to alleviate prya l. feelings, by causing the said
property and rQcuments to be restored. 1
must also intrcat tlat every consideration in
your power be sbtwn for private families, not
Of the army tYust that with the same view
you will permit he bearer hereof to ascertain
the fate of individuals, and that YOU will faci
litate the retreat of any families that may un-
fortInately have been interrupted in the at.
tempt.
have the honas to be, &c.
Is gned)
HENRY PROCTOR. :
Major Gen. in II. d. MS Service,
Maj General Harrison, or Officer COM
mandirg the Army in the service of
the U. s. at Moray:an Towns.
From General Harrison to General Vincent.
s Head Quarters. Fort George,
SIR,
- Lieut.. Lie Breton, an officer in your service
arrived at Detroit on the 18th ult. bearing a
dag and letter to me from Gen. Proctor, re-
guessing humane treatment for the prisoners in
my possession and the restoration of private
property aud papers. This letter was directed
to me at the Morayian Towns; and as the sub
lect was not of the Importance to authorize Il e
Lieutenan,'s pursuing me 10 Detroit. was
somewhat surprized at his doing so. II did not
appear to me proper to permit him to return in
that way, and as / was upon the point of set
ting out for this frontier by water, conceived
that that node of conveyance would be full as
agreeable to him. anu would enable him to
meet Gen. Proctor as expcdjtieusly as by the
land route. regre that the badness of the
weather and oihcr. causes which he win explain.
have detained him until this time.
Understanding tina, you are The senior officer.
have determined to address my answer 10 you.
With respect to the subject of Cen Proctur's
letter, those which have the honor to enclose
you from the British officers, who We're taken
on the 9Th ult. to their friends, and tho report
OF Mr. lie Breton, will satisfy YOU that no I'm
diligence which humanity could claim i'm their
favor, or the usages OF war sanction, has been
withheld. The disposition of the property ia
Ken on the held OF action or near il, was left
to the commanding officer 1t Detroit The in
structions gwen 70 that gentleman aad the well
known generosity Of his charac ter, will insure
to the Claimants the utmost justice and ,:scr-
AMY IN his decisions. In making this state
ment, wish II however to be distinctly under
stood, that my conduct with regard to the pri-
soners and property taken, has been dictated
solely b. natives of humanity, and not by be-
iief That 1t could be claimed upon the score of
reciprocity OF treatment towards the American
prisoners who have fallen into the hands of Gen.
PROCTOR. The unhappy description of persons
who have escaped from the tomahawk of the
sayages IN The employment of the British go.
vernment, who fought under the Immediate or.
dcfs OF that officer, have suffer red all the indip
mites and deprivations which human nature is
capable OF supporting. There is no single in.
stance that have heard Of, in which the pro-
perry OF the officers has been respect d. But
am FAR from believing that the conduct of
Ten. Proctor has been thought nm examnle
worthy of imitation by the greater part of the
British officer and in the character Of Gen.
vmcent,i have pledge that he will unite his
exeroons with mine to soften rs much as DOS. |
sibie the tate OF those whom the fortune of war |
may reciprocaliy place in our power
Put, SIR, there Is another subject upon which |
, w1 an eHpneit declaration Will the Indians who
sti asberc 10 the cause OF his britannia Majesty
ne suffered to continue thai horrible spccies Of war
Iare winch they have heretofore prac,ised against
our troops aud those still more horrible depre,Iati
ons upon the pcaceable iehabitanis Of our fro,.- |
ters have sufficient evidence TO sbow thai :.
ven the later have not always been perDet,atssd |
ny small parties OF Ssgrnnt Indians acting ar dis
tango FROM the Britsh array. Some of the most I
troe,ons instances have occurred under the eyes of
Department. shall pass by the tragedy Of HE ri.
yer k"isin, and that equally well known which was
acted GA ue Miami River after the defeat of Col |
oudiey-anc sel0ot three other instances of savage
nri,y eon'nittef under The auspices OF General |;
i9stor In tic bssinaing of Juae, small, party
d Indians, conductedb by an Ottowa chief who he
ieVeis now with the British army II der YOUR com
maud, left Maiden in bark canoes. in which ,bex /
soss.eu LAKE Ere to the mouth of Portage River,
Lhe canoes were taken the Portage to the
sandusky Bay, over wlic thcpariy prosecuted IN |
he mouth OF Cold Greek, and from thence bv land