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

L
contrary 10 al military experience and the
principles which have been taught by the
best military writers;- That ] obeyed this
order because il was positive, and under
the full expectation, that naval force ana
an army would have been provided to have
assisted and CO operated with me, and
that had sufficient reason to expect suc6
assistance aud cooperation IN the eVeni OF
war, ADD 10 the invasion OF Canda;
10 compliance with these orders | passed
the enemy's post at Maiden, and proceed
ed to Detroit, eighteen miles in the rear
Of that post, and both situated on the same
river, where arrived on the 9Th OF July; |
That notwithstanding nay orders were
positive to remain there until should re-
ceive further orders, tine militia and Vo'
Iunteer officers nearly excited mutIny, |
because did not Immediately cross the |
river, and commence offensive operations
in violation OF ny orters;-Tbai on the
9Th of July. received an unqualified su-
tbority, which from the manner IN which
il was expressed, could have bad no other
construction, thsn a positive order TO cfoss
the river, aud ;nvace the enemies terrific.
~; and 10 issue proclamation to the III
| habitants, and to pledge the government
that they should be protected in TIER per-
, sons, property and rights; and 10 the same
| letter was only authorized to attack the
| fortress al Malden-proyided in my opin
| ion, 10y forces were adequate to the en-
terprise, and il could be done consistent
With the safety OF my other posts;--Thai
| | issued proclamation TO the inhabitants,
and on the morning OF the 9Th OF July,
crossed the river and took possession OF
the opposite bank, in the lace of the enc
mv;-Tha, was induced to adopt these
measures from the orders received from
the government, from the impotence OF
my army from the convenience. and even
necessity OF collecting supplies from the
enemies country, from the expectation oil
CO operation, and from the hope that
display OF the American flag on both sides
the river, would have favorable effect on
the savages and Militia of the province;-
That the authority received TO attack the
enemies fortress at Maiden, being discre.
tionary, I wrote to the Government the
same day received it, that my force was
no, adequate to the ealerprize, and stated
asa rs ason, thai the enemy commanded
the Lake and the savages.
That remained in the enemy's country
about a month, under expectation OF re.
csiving assistance and Coroeration from
the army under the command OF General
Dearborn, at Niagara; that during bis time
| received information that alichi!lnacG'
mack, on the same nayigable waters with
Detroit and Maiden, had fallen that the
forces, with the savages OF all that region,
were defending the waters OF the northern
lake against me; that likewise had re.
ceived certain information, that General
Brock, with all the regulars and militia OF
Upper Canada was proceeding to Maiden;
and that the road had opened tbro' the
wilderness, from Ohio, was filed with
hostile savsges. and that no supplies could
be obtained for the army through that com.
mun.ca.ion;-Tbat, under these circum'
stances, ] considered that il was ny duty
to recross the river, with the principal
part Of my iorces-aed ra ttAaffft h3T pos.
sibly have with my country;-Thst on
the 9th Of August, reCrossed the river
to Detroit, and on the same day made
detachment of all the regulars, andtpart of
the Ohio militia, amounting TO GOO, under
the command of Colonel Miller, with Or
ders 70 proceed to the river Rasio for the
purpose OF opening that communication;
that On bis way to that station. he was at
tackled, near Brownstown, by the regulars.
militia, and savsges, from Maiden, and
that, alter the loss Of between eighty and
ninety men OIL our part, the enemy was
compelled 10 retreat: that as il was The o.
pinion Of Colonel Miller, that this de.sch.
ment could not proceed TO The river Ra.
sin, without a. reinforcement OF 80 or
200 men, thought proper TO order him
back to Detroit, especially as the troops
had been out in violent storm, were
greatly Istigued. and it was necessary TO
remove, and provide TOR the wounded; that
on the l4th of August, not having received
information OF the arrival OF Gen. Brock,
and The necessity OF opening the conmu
nicatiOD, tor the purpose OF obtaining sup
plies, becom Ing mole apparent, | made a.
mother detachment of the effective men Of
Coionels Macarthur and Cass' regiments,
commanded by the two Colonies for the
purpose: that as soon as | received infor-
nation of The arrival OF Gen. Brock, with
the forces, from the eastern part Ct the
province, Immediately sent expresses,
with orders to Macarthur and Cass 10 IT,
turn TO Detroit. That when Gen Brock
landed at The Spring Wells, three miles
below Detroit, on the morning OF the 9Th
of August, bad received no information
from them, and must have supposed they
were at the river Rasin, about fifty miles
from Detroit, the route they were ordered
to march. And pledge myself, my tel.
low citizens, TO prove 10 The satisfaction
OF every unprejudiced mind, that on the
mornin-, Of the 10th, when General Brock
landed, the provisions were exhausted,
that there was do possibility ofobtsning
supply from any quarter whatever, and |
that his effective force was much more
than twice NY number; that my commu,