Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-05-06
S. Regiment, then at Post ST. Vim.

| hIteT tHOec ATEdu SoWSuso "S'S
tho Secretary Of war informed me. that
! it was the desire of the President. that |
would accept the appointment of q
Brigadisr General in the army, and
take the command of these forces, and
march them to Detroit, the place OF
their destination. | observed to the
Secretary that l was not desirous OF
any military appointment. and declined
in the most unqualified manner. A.
| mother officer was designated for this
command, and ordered to Washington
to receive his instructions. On his ar.
rival, he was prevented by sickness
The proposition was again made to me,
and the necessity of force in the coun.
try, for the purposes before mentioned,
being more Urgent, | informed the Sec
rotary, that was going to my govern
ment at Detroit, and | would accept
any military appointment. either the
rank of Lieut.. Colonel, Colonel, or Bril-
gadier General, which would give Inc
the command ofthose forces, and lead
them through the wilderness to their
place Of destination. ln consequence OF
this consent. | was Immediately Domi.
mated and appointed Brigadier Gsne-
raj. | accepted the appointment, with
great reluctance, and from DO other mo
tive and with no other view but to az
ford my aid in the protection OF the
frontier inba bitants, and those Of that
Territory. against the saVages.
Ass proof of the principal facts here
stated in relation to my appointment as
Brigadier General in the army, l will
state the testimony Of his excellency CO.
vernon Eustis. who was then Secretary
of the Department of Wharf.-The whole
of which may be seen in Lieut.. Colonel
Forbes's report of my trial, pages 5, 4,
and S, of the appendix.
The part relating to the facts refer
red to, is as folows:--
"The latter part Of February, 1919,
information had been received from Mr..
Atwater, then Secretary of the Terri
tory of Michigan, and acting as govern.
or, that here were strong appearances
of hostility among the Indians. and that
the Territory was in danger. That
Gen. Hull urged on him. as Secretary
of War, the expediency and necessity
of ordering force there for the protec.
ton of Detroit. the Territory, and the
northern Frontier That he declined
10 the first instance accepting the office
of Brigadier General. That Colonel
| Kingsbury was then ordered to WASH
ington, for the purpose of proceeding to
the state of Ohio to take the command
of this force, and on account of bodily
indisposi.iop, was not ordered 90 the
command-and afterwards, when he
was appointed, it was not solicited by
him-and that he manifested great anx.
iety for the safety Of the northern from
tier, and the Territory Of Michigan"
Ihave made this statement, and pro.
duced this evidence, for no other pur.
pose, than to satisfy YOU, that did not
accept this appointment from the mo-
tives which have been unjustly imputed
to me.
Having for seven years been Govern
or of the territory, and being then the
Gov. Of the Territory,it was impossible
for me to feel Indifferent to the safety
of its Inhabitants. | consented there's
fore to accept any military appoint
ment, which the government should
think proper to give me, for this pur.
pose. And it was distinctly understood,
that this appointment was not incom-
pstible with my office as Governor, and
that office was to be retained by me
AS evidence that this was the intention
of the administration, | received orders.
on my arrival in the Territory, to
perform my civil duties, in the same
manner, as if no such appointment had
been made--ss further evidence, that
this was the intention, ! never asked for,
or received a military commission, 10
consequence Of the appointment. And
further, it was my intention, when the
object Of safety to the inhabitants was
accomplished, and my military duties
in any degree interfared with my duties
as Governor, to have resigned the mi
litary appointment. have been thus
particular, to satisfy you, my fellow citi-
gems, what were my motives iD accepting
military ppo.ntment--spd to your
candid Judgment appeal, whether they
were laudable.
| believed it to be my duty, to make
use OF every exertion in my power, for
the protection of a people, with whom |
was so nearly connected, against the
dangers with which they were threat.
ened.
AS the differences, which existed be-
/ II ID l.. 1