Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-05-01

addressed 10 the people Of the United States.
No. 9.
F,Ilov C,tizens-Before ! proceed in
nv narrative. and produce the documents
and evidence in its support, will exhibit
70 your view q general outline oil the iscts,
which il will be my object TO prove and
which viii be contained in the following
numbers
In the 6rst place shall show, that ]
accepted a military appointment, and The
command of the forces in OHIO, in time OF
peace. for the purpose OF protecting the
inba bilants of the Territory OF which
was Governor, and those of the North
Western frontier against the saVages -
That considered the force entrusted 10
nv command in time OF peace With Great
Britain, when we had the tree comnunI-
cation of Lake Erie. 10 obtain the neces-
sary supplies sufficient for that object
Tba. these forces being ordered near Tour
months before the declaration OF war, and
there being strong indications rhas II would
take place. communicated to she govern
mpnt ny views, ~ an event ct that kind:
Tia. this was Gone in oticia! communica.
tiDns both before and alter | accepted
shjs commsnd; THAT in the even; have
mentioned, | stated in the most explicit
manner. that a naval force, sufficient 10
command Lake Erie, would be indIspeu-
SADLY necessary, and essential to success;
That without such force, an army could
not be supported at Detroit, and that
place, .Nichiii,mackia0ck q ChtcGgP, must
necessarily TALL into the hands OF the enc
nv. And if IL was the Intention OF the
government, that offensive operations
should he commenced from hatquarter a.
xaipst Upper Canada, u would be indis-
pensa oily necessary, besides The CO opera
lion of naval torce, TO provide an army
on the Niagara river 10 assist and TO CO..
operate with such operations. That these
communications having been received as
official communications, ] had every rea-
son 10 believe, before war was declared,
tina. such q navy, and such an army, would
have been proyided;-Tbat with these
Impressions [ proceeded to the state Of
Ohio, took the command OF these forces.
which consisted of 1900 militia and Po-
lunteers, and about three hundred regu-
lars;-That these militia were badly arm
ed, badly clothed. and entirely undiscl.
plined;-Tbat my orders were to march
To Detroit, ana make the best arrange.
1neuts in my power for the protection of
the inhabitants against the lndians:-1hat
the country from Urbansa in OHIO, to De-
troit was principally wilderness, and the
distance about txa &ndEaa.<ss 4ssNrcrS,-e
That on the Cd day OF July, near the foot
of the rapids OF the Miami, twenty miles
from Detroit, and more than fifty from
Maiden, | first received information of
war against Great Britain, fourteen days
after il bad been dec4ared;-That the
letter from the administration announcing
this event, wa. delivered 10 me by a
stranger, who informed ne that it " as
brought by the mail to the Post Office in
Clsave.and, state of Ohio, and the Post
Master. Of that place had employed him
to deliver it to me, wherever he found me
on my march TO Detroit;-Ihat the route
il was sent was very circuitous, and if il
had been sent by an express, it might have
reached me in four or FIVE days at the
fartbsst;--Tbat the enemy at Maiden, 50
miles more distant from Washington than
my army, received the information several
days before; tba, by this letter from the ad
ministraCiou, was not only informed that
war was declared against Great Britain,
but was positively ordered 10 march the
forces under my command t. Detroit, 10
miles 10 the rear Of the epemy's principal
fortress at Maiden; aud there wait for
further orders;--That on the frs: day OF
July. having received no information OF
the declaration OF war; and supposing The
navigation OF the Lake 10 be sale, vessel
was employed by the Quarter Master TO
transport The sick Of the army, and the
stores aud baggage, not necessary on the
march 10 Oetroit;-fbat this vessel was
taken by the enemy on her passage, and
that this first misfortune was cccasioned
by lne neglect OF the administration in not
giving Iae Information of the war eight
days sooner. which might easily have been
done;-That have the strongest posi-.
bic ground to declare, that this might
have been done, because | shall show,
that | received a letter from Washington
on lne goth OF June, by express, which
gave no Information of the declaration OF
war.
shall prove by the records of the 20,
vernWent that stated in the most expli.
cit terms TO the administration, that De-
troit, or some position on The waters OF
Lake Erie; would be suitable position
tor troops in time OF peace With Great
Britain, designed for the protection of
the Michigan Territory, and the North
frontier against he ssvages. But
in the event OF war with that nation, il /,
would be impossible to support an army !
IN that Country, without naval force,
sufficient 10 preserve the communication
oi The Like. and without powerful army ,
on the Niagara strait, to take possession
Of the enemy's posts on that strait. and !
Cooperate with such forces, as should
make an invasion from Detroit, and by the
OF such forces take possession
II the Province. Therefore, shall show,
hat this order of the administration, alter