Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-08-27

through ell the active years OF the war. /,
OF course my duty required my anxious
attention to every thing connected with
military affairs. The citizens OF this &C.
neration are, historically, informed oil the
frequent distresses and privations 10
which our armies were subjected. And
it was then, and is now, supposed, that
supplies could not be obtained. In some
instances this was partially true. But
can confidently declare that the Distress
es and privations our troops experienced,
were principally ewing to the imprach-
cabiliIy Of conveying provisions and stores
to our encampmenls. This aver from
perfect knowledge OF the subject. AT
one time lin i779) when our main army
subsisted during ten or Twelve days on
Indian corn alone, there was sufficient
quantity of provisions, both meat and
-four, not only to prevent want, but TO al
ford plenty and every comfort. We
could not, with unremtting efforts, trans
port the supplies from distant magazines
wherein they were collected. This is not
solitary instance; for | have known 1t
to occur in many others. l have known
brieades of wagons sent to distant maya
zines, SO long delayed by impracticable
roads, impossible streams, and other i'm
pcdiments, that the attendants and horses
consumed the greater part OF full ladlngs,
before they could reach our camp. What
would we have given then, tor the taclli-
ties already in operation? But how much
more would il have conduced to our safe
ty, had the contemplated measures Tor
establishing roads and canals been even
partially executed? say /" TO our safe
ty;" for our cause was not unirequently
leopardizcd, by the appalling difficulties
we experienced in keeping our troops
embodied and in condition 10 assall or
repel our enemy.
The preparations for the capture oil
CORVALLIS, Tell to my lot; as was then
alone in the active business OF the De-
partment. After the arrival OF the
French. fleet, a great proportion OF the
provisions and heavy articles necessary
for that campaign, were conveyed from
the eastward, by seven French ships OF
war, commanded by an Admiral, who
had been stationed a, Rhode Island,
waiting for the arrival of DE GRAssE,
who unexpectedly declined gong INTO
New.York bay; and obliged cur Chief
to change the plan oil The campaigo, and
suddenly to 'revc southwark. | telt the
benefit of this partial relief: as did most
pressiyeiy The opening OF the Delaware
= Ia hnu hu lba 4 4
The French feet. The canal across the
Isthmns, now most laudably progress |
sing, would have been, in all stages of
our war, of incompatible importance. |,
After l left the War Department and .
went into Congress, | had occasion to
access TO the War Office papers, as
then had, l could show the difficulties
we experienced, and the dangers to which |
we were exposed, by the want of facilities
of transportation, both in relation to the !
supplies and the movements OF our ar
mics. A recital OF them would animate
every friend to our country, to join in
measures calculated to prevent their re-
currence. And when such measures
are insepsrable from our prosperity in
heace; there is a double motive for ex-
er,ion.
1t is said that past labors afford plea
SAINT recollec,ions. But my recoilec
tons of my notifications and anxlclics,
when knew that we had the means Of
allevating the dis'resses Of our suffering
troops, without the capacity to apply
them, yet fill me with retrospec,iyely
UNPLEASANT sensations. am rewarded |
for all my lsbors and anxielies, by the
prosperity of our singularly happy coun-
try; which possesses more than four
times the population, and an overflow
Of wealth to which we were not only |
strangers; but could not anticipate, even
in our most fascinating dreams; when
we INDUCED the fond and now realized
hope, Gall we had at some gloomy peri
DDS, to cheer US, whilst we were risking,
laboring, and suffering,) that our pos,e-
rty would reap the harvest whereof we
had sown the seeds.
delight in the anticipations and firm
persuasions, that such anxleties will ne
yer be repeated. And have mentioned
to you the true state OF Thugs, in our
bold and arduous struggle for what we
now ENJOY; that, if you deem the infor-
nation Of importance in our present ST.
tua,ion, you may use j, at your pleasure.
With very sincere esteem, yours,
most truly,
RICHARD PETERS.
JOHN SERGEANT, Esq.