Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-07-13

enemy that can be dyGidcd. Tie orders
o, generals Hampton and Lewis, You viii
obey. ani, &c.
"J. ARNiSYRuNG.
Brig. Gen. .ino. r. BoyS.'
This order completely tied The hands of
cen. Boyd, ami confined him within the
cntrenclments of tie fort. That he did
not even there waste the summer IN IDLE
ness appears from the testimony of eene.
raj Mil:cr, Documents, D. M While
gen. Boyd comma,nie,l at Fort George, az
Ter tue departure of gen. Dearborn. me was
interchangeable in his attention to the Dis.
cipi'ne oi the troops, and police Of tie
camp"
'fbe last scene in which gen. Bovd was
actively cngaged was at Chrystlerss field.
Nov. III. 1873. confess il is an inyidi.
Gus task to defend any thing relating 10
the close of the campaign of 1915. Plan.
ned by the evil genius uf an , ap,,
executed by the iinbecilny of -, il
tended, as every man who knew those two
chaiacters supposed it would, in smoke
Inc events OF that campaign were darker
than tie storms which hang around the
scene of its operations. Amidst so much
disgrace, the people were loath to believe
that any one was entitled To hon0r; where
there was 50 much weakness, that there
could be any activity, where tue com
inandsr IN chief disregarded order, that
any OF his ofiieers would maintain d;scin-
lire. Ii The banks of the ST. Lawrence
prove the grave o. gen. Bcyd's military
regulation, sincerely believe it will arise
solely from his being found in bad GONNA
ny; from being linked with men ybnse
imbecllity ruined not only themselves, but
others. Gen. Boyd has given detailed
and rerspicuuus account of the battle nj
Chrystier's iield in his letter TO the seore-
taryof war, which has already been laid
before the public. BY an Inspection of
;hat communication. it will be seen at y
glance That gen. Boyd commenced The ac-
uun at Chrystler's field under every Dossj
bic disadvantage. He was 6 kept IL 'igno
rance OF the pending expedition, and the
mohe IN which 1T way to DC effected - for
his superiOroilicers did not cendescend 10
disclose any Ut the secrets of the cam
paignto their most active general. on whom
the command of the whole army often de-
volyed. in consequence Of their own in.
disposition. There was no precision or
regularity in the orders of the commander
in chief. The most important instructions
were entrusted to the vagueness of verbal.
communication; or scrubbed with a nm
CT, the traces of which the next gust of
the tempest might obliterate. Thus the
movements 90 which hung the reputation
and saletyof the whole army were treated
with less ceremony than an invitation Ia
dinner or card party. So great was The
confusion introduced by this irreeularity
anu IndecisIon in issuing ortiers, that on
one occasion general Boyd was obliged,
late at night, to pass from one major rem !
erals CABIN to another &c to ascertain 1el,e |
commanded" On the verv eve of battle. |
" impatient, says he, for some decis;re or |
discretionary orders, the troops having
been 43 hours under arms, exposed TO IN. |
cessain rams. | rode to the bank of the ri !
yer, requested and obtained a specific Or
der by pencil, that the Hotiila would nut i
Oil IN twenty minutes pieces of artiile- |
ry would be landed to reinforce the rear
guard, which would follow the boats: should
the enemy harass the rear, turn and heat
them back" The enemy did " harrass |
The rear" with more than 200G strong. and |
general Boyd did e;turn and beat Them
back" upwards OF a iaile, at the point of
the hayonet. with only 1900 troops. and
those too worn down with fatigue, dfencb.
Ell with incessant rains,n and benumbe,I I
with cold Il certainly required some
nrlnness, some gailantry in a general TO
lead on his little band against such e.fear-
Iul odds ;" to induce them by his words
and example TO continue the contest for
: more than three hGurs," and that ton
whenhe and his soldiers knew that the rest
d tie army were quietly lodged on board
The boats. without sharing or even think.
ne ct the dangers oil battle. The result
)i this battle shows that " no lady,s hard
was IN the fray" The field, SAYS The r2-
neral, was crimsOned with the blond of
$50 killed and wounded. When tbe o.
vents of this day shall be detailed by the
impartial pen of the historian, lam couf-1
lent that the battle of Chfystler's farm
viii no longer be considered :" disuracefnl
o the name and military reputation Of A.
neFIca. III the testimony of the enemy
we're needed, the letter Of major Glepg.
documents, page q, would abundabfly
cstity TO the gsilantry and good conduct
y general Boyd. aEtl his troops, on that
lay. But why should the authority Of the
enemy be qGofed, wien one Of the best
generals 10 the American army. (briOad,er
general Swift who was ia the battle. savs.
n letter to an officer in Wasiiington,l
documents, p. 23s) 81 think it proper to
Mention to you that, relative to the anajr
,,f November at Chryster's field, no one
ioubts general d yd's having fought with
us usual bravery on tl,at day in nv osin-
on, more Jealous and brave officer never
placed himself al the head Of column. y
On such aotlnns, supported by such wit