Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-04-17
From the Ne1U York Commercial
1duerLiSer.

From, the NetO York Commercial
1duertiSer.
THE BURNING OF NEwARK.-A
very singular debate has taken place
in the House of Assembly at Albany,
which may have the effect ofexposlng
some secrets worth knowing Whine
discussing the bill for the relief of the
Niagara sufferers, whose property was
destroyed in December 1913, by the
British, who burnt Buffalo and laid
waste the frontier in retaliation for the
burning of Newark. Gen. Mcclure,
who commanded the militia on the
American side, and the tcrchmen on
the British, went into full history of
the campaign. 1t may be remarked
that our government at first dlsavOwed
the burning of Newark, in commu-
| nication to Sir George Provost. But in
his speech, Gen. Mcclure produced an
order from Gen. Armstrong, dated
Oct a, 1918, under which he acted
when he applied the torch to the hou-
ses OF the nnoifending citizens, The
| order is as follows
WAE DEPARTMENT 4th Oct. 1918.
SIR-Understandingth that the defence
of the post committed to your charge
may render it proper to destroy the
town of n. A. you are hereby desired
to apprize its inhabitants of this clrcum-
stance, and to invite them to remove
themselves and their effects to some
place of greater safety. am sir, very
respectfully, your most obedent serv't'
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
The officer commanding at
Fort George, Upper Canada.
This order is not positive. and to us
looks rather equivocal. But Gen. NC.
states that he called council of war,
consisting Of 30ofiicers, and they were
unanimous. with one exception, as to
the course that must be pursued under
the order. Gen. Mcclure says ''some
one or two years after the war, had
occasion to visit. w ashlngton, and in
,, conversation with the acting Secretary
OF War, he told NE that no such order
had been put on record there, nor did
he know that any such order had been
issued, and stated that the other mem.
bers OF the executive cabinet were alike
| ignorant OF that important fact.
| | then asked MIR. Graham # the late
| Secretary, General Armstrong, had
not disavoWcd the act in correspon.
dcnce wiki Gov. Provost, OF ordering
Newark to be burnt. lie told me he
had, and turned to the copy OF his let
ter IN Il book wherein he declared 1t
was the unauthorized act OF the com,
mandjng officer, that it was contrary
10 the IuIes OF civilized warfare, ana
eXoneratcd the government from hav-
ing given any orders on the subject
Again the general says Why court
OF inquiry was uot Instituted at my So
iIcitaliup, is easily accounted for. |
should give a further expos ton Of facts
III relation TO this unpleasant business,
wcle it not that | 90 not wish to
wound the feelings OF some gentleman
In this house--but It the slightest retlec.
ton is thrown out against me, 1 Shall
most certainly CIV an unpleasant his
tory, Tor l ain III possession of incon
troNertiblc facts; and instead Of shun.
mug an investigation, invite ii, either
on this floor or elsewhere. Now we
say to the General, out with tile facts
by all means, Republics should have
| no secrets. let Us Know the worst OIL
tins business, strike where it may
Gen. NC. has been long laborlng IN
der load OF obloquy, ana since he has
the power, We Thank it high time for
him to shake II oil From the disclo
sures already made we anticipate some
thing from the ready pen OF the cx
secretary lie likes dearly to apply |
The cauSlc.