Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-08-03
CHOLER A IN DETROIT-INDI.
AN WAR

SnOLER "A IN DEL ROl l-INDl.
AN WAR.
Extract Of Letter TO the Editor of the
Philadelphia Inquirer, dated De
TRoIT, July IL.
DEAR SIR.-The cholera continues to
prevail in this city. Between thirty and
forty cases, in all, have occurred; and of
these about eighteen have resulted in
death. Most of the others are GONZALES
cent; the remainder doubtful. Facts and
experience have fully demonstrated here,
that the disease is not contagious but cpl
demic, and that undue excitement and
fear exercise an active agency in produc-
ing the mortality among its subjects.
The town is almost deserted by its la
boring inhabitants; and the countenan-
ces ofthe remaining citizens, with some
few exceptions, exhibit marks of unusu-
al depression and melancholy. This
is greatly to be lamented. The effect is
unhappy. With every determination to
resist the mental contagion, occasional
ly find myselfjus in the act of yielding
to it. My family have, SO far, entirely
escaped. How long this exemption may
continue, | know not, but do not allow
the idea of dread to prevail among them,
and believe that, up to this moment,
they have not known what apprehension
on the subject was.
regret to add, that the intelligence
from the regular troops is disastrous. OF
the three Companies of artillery under
Col. TwIGGs, and two or three more
companies ofinfantry with them, fer re-
main. These troops, you will recollect,
landed from the Steamboat Henry Clay
below Fort Gratiot A great number of
them have been swept by the disease
Nearly all The others hare deserted. Of
the deserters, scattered all over the coun-
try, some have died in the woods, and
their bodies have been devoured by the
wolves. l use the language ola gallant
young officer. Others have taken their
! flight to the world of spirits, without a
companion to close their eyes, or console
the last moments of their existence.
Their Struggling survivors are occasion
ally seen marching, some of them know
not whittier, with their knapsacks OF
their backs, Stunned by the terrified il
habitants as the source of mortal peti
lence. Col. TwIoGs himself, and Sur
| geon EVERETT, have both been attacked,
and are very low. They are still wing
at the latest accouts from Fort Gratiot
and sanguine hopes were entertained of
their recovery. No other officers have
yet been assailed, except Lieutenant
CLAY, whose death was mentioned to you
in my previous letter.
You will remember that the troops
under Col. Cummings, several of whom
died here, embarked on board the Steam
boat William Penn, op Sunday last, for
Chicago. The sickness among them
increased as they proceeded to Fort Ora
tiot, and became so great by the time
they arrived there. that they were dis
embarked, and have returned to the vi
cinity of this city, and encamped at
Springwalls, about three miles below
town. Seventeen or eighteen Of them
have died, and some still remain sick,
probably never to recover. One half of
the command of Gen. Scott, ordered to
Chicago by the Lakes, will never reach
him; large portion of them dying;
still larger number of them deserving,
from an overwhelming dread ofthe dis.
ease, and the residue obliged to march
back.
The news from our north western army is
appalling. Letters from fort Gratiot, dated
July 10th, state that the detachment at that
place, which consisted Of 400, has diminish
ed TO $50 by pestilence and deSertion. Col
Twiggs had been attacked but was recover
ing. A lotter adds,
"The dead bodies Of tho deserters are lit
orally strewed along the road between here
and Detroit. No one dare give them relief,
not even cup of water. A person on his
way from Detroit here, passed six lying
grooming with the agonies of the cholera, un-
der one tree, and saw one corpse by the road
side, half eaten up by the hogs.
Ofthe officers with Gen. Scott at Chicago,
Capt. James Monroe had slight attack.
Gen. Scott intended, if the disease rendered
his forces ineffective, to proceed alone to Gen.
Atkinson's camp, which was 80 miles from
fort WinnebagO, and within II miles of the
enemy.
65-We are indebted for the following TO
Mr.. ]. S. HENDERSON, of Missouri Ed.
Spectator.
From the Western Monitor-EIrtr
Black HaDk on Missouri Frontier: Dis
affection ofthe Missouri Indians De-
fenceless situation of the Inhabitants.
FAYETTE, FRIDAY MoRNrNo, July -.
BY the arrival Of the mail from Palmy-