Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-08-07

suV oJA VI tuo G'A5oio StsCS, ~ shO
east end Of Lake Erie. The enemy's
principal station was 1t Maiden, eigh.
teen miles below D4iroit. on the other
side Of the river. The number Of troops
liz contained, from The declaration of
war to the 10th of August, has been
stated, and the proof furnished, re
NAMED about four weeks at Sandwich.
on the British side Of the river, and du
ring that time | called two councils Of
war, to consider ADD determine who
thor it were expedient to attack the for,
at Maiden with the bsyonet alone. No
cannon were on the carriages suitable
to assist in the operation; and every
possible sxerlion had been made, and
was then making. to prepare them. IL
was the opinion Of the majority Of the
| FIRST cooncil, that it was not expedieut
to make the attack, without the assis.
lance Of cannon. at the second coun-
Gil, stated, that the heavy artillery was
not 10 readiness, bot would be in two or
three days. TIE question was then
submitted to the council whether il
were expedient to wait for the heavy
artillery, in ordsr to make breach in
the works, or Immediately to make the
attempt with the bayonet alone Be-
fore the question was taken, / observ-
ed to the me nbers, that if it should be
their opinions that it was best to make
the assault Immediately, and they would
answer for their men, would lead
them to the attack. Col Miller, who
commanded the regulars, replied he
would be answerabs for the men he
commanded. Colonies Me A rthur, Cass
and Findley, who commanded the mi
iitia, said they would not be answerable
for their men, but hoped they would
behave well, The council then deter.
mined that it was expedient to wait two
days longer Tor the heavy artillery. 10
the afternoon of the 9th of August, |
received letters from General Hall and
General Purter, who commanded on
the Niagara river, Informing NE that
the principal part of the troops in Erie
and other posts en- the east part of the
province, were advancing TO Maiden
and that large body Of troops had
passed over and iaRded 90 the west
side Of lake Ontario. and were likewise
marching against my army. These
letters further stated, that there was no
probability that any assistance would
be afforded from that quarter. Thus
it appeared, from the information sent
me, that the whole weight of the war
in Canada rested on the few troops un.
der my command, and certainly they
were not equal both 20 offensive and
defensive operations.
Michillimackanack had fallen, and
all the forces from that direction were
descending the lakes to operate against
me. The savages from lake Michigan
had arrived On the head waters of the
rivers Rsisin and Huron, 10 thousands,
las Col Anderson expressed himself in
his letter. and were marching TO Mall
den. The defeat Of Major Vanhorne
had taken place at BrowDstown, in his
attempt to open the communication to
the river Raisin; and indeed. every a.
venue TO my country, both by land and
water, was entirely closed. With this
Information before me, and under this
unexpected change Of circumstances,
and from the result Of the deliberations
of the council, considered that it was
my doty to aba ndon the enterprise. and
recross the river with tho principal part
of the army, which did on the nigh
and morning OF the 9Th of August
The 6reatresson which induced me to
adop, this measure, and which indeed
was decisive in my mind, was, that the
very existence of my army depended
on opening the communication to O.
hio-for thong b success .ng bt have At
tended my arms, in the attack on Nal.
den, | should yet have been left under
the same embarrassment, in having my
communication with Ohio still closed.
iu addition to these reasons, l had re.
ceived information that The British
troops had arrived in several vessels
from Fort Erie as disbursements, and
that the militia, which before had left
Maiden, had rsturKed to their duty, on
approximation of pardon from the COM
handing officer. On the 9Th of August,
the day recrossed the river, detaoh.
meHt was made Of six hundred of the
best of my troops, under the command
of Col. Miller, to open the communica.
ton to the river Raisn. This detseh.
ment was met, near Brownstown, by a
superior number Of the enemy, and
severe contest ensued, and terminated