Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-10-30
rWHOLE NMBER, Xxx.

emv. When Col. Dodge had obtained
all The information he could on this sub
iect. il was laid before gems Alexander
and Henry. at captain Plimpton's quar-
lers in fort Winnehago. AT that meeting,
it was determined by gems. Alexander and
Henry and col. Dodge to proceed on the
route, which was deemed practicable
from information which it was believed
could be relied upon.
On the =, while the troops were pre-
n.r;na to march. gen. Alexander lni6fmed
gen. Henry, that he should not proceed
AS contemplated, but return to the main
army, in the manner directed by gen. At
kinson's order. On being apprized ofthis
fact, gen. Henry sought col. Dodge, an
nounccd to him the state Of affairs, and
at the same time expressed his determi-
nation to proceed in his original design.
He also enqured Of col. Dodge the pro-
bablc number Of men he would be able
to take with him; who replied that he
supposed they would amount to $50. 1t
may be well here to state that number
of men belonging to col. Dodge's COM
mand, estimated by 1t. col. Stephenson,
at 60, had determined TO return to their
homes. Col. Dodge's corps, consisting
Of about 81 men, including officers, were
soon ready TO move forward. Col. Dodge
then asked for the order Of the march, to
Which gen. Henry replied, that as col.
Dodge's troops were then in advance, he
nigh! proceed in that manner until night,
when the order of march for the future,
should be announced and from that hour,
mill the troops arriped al The Blue Mounds,
through the 7chole of The march, and through
the battle Of the Wisconsin, col. Dodge neper
advdnced one foot, or changed his position IN
The slightest manner, 7oithoat cypress orders
fom gen. Henry. These facts cannot be-
Idi-proved; and clearly show who COM
manded in the expedition.
Col. Dodge, in the whole course Of the
expedition, was never considered as out
ranking any one Of the colonies in gen.
Henry's brigade. He had never beenre-
cognized or reported 10 the army as hav-
ing any particular rank or command.&-
| His whole force, as itlefl fort Winneba-
@, as has been previously stated, amount
ed to only 1877 men, including officers
/ Thc four regiments Of which Henry's
brigade was Composed, averaged about
the same number Of men each. Audit
cannot be shown that col, Dodge, or his
command was entitled to more credit fer
good conduct in the expedition, than the
colonels and regiments referred TO. They
all did their duty, ard all rejoiced in the
triumph gained by common exertion and
common valor.
Col Dodge, in thus acting subordirs
ate part, was strictly in The line of his du-
Ity. He knew well that the responsibility
Of the expedition rested on gen. Henry,
and by no act Of his did he assume any
cou,rol that would have taken from gen.
Henry that responsibility.
After this detail, it would seem useless
10 reply TO the suggestion in the sixth par
agraph Of the article which we have now
under notice; yet as those suggestions, in
the view Of the writer, appear to have an
important benring upon the subject, ne
will briefly reply to them.
Ii is said that 'tgenerqI Dodge was the
senior of gen, Henry by many years." &c.
Whether the writer in the seniority here
referred TO, designs TO be understood that
col. Dog was the senior in gears or in
rank, we are not informed. If is meant
that lie was the senioFin years, and there
fore could not be commanded by gen.
Henry, we would say that the writer in
question possesses a very limited knowi-
edge of military regulations. 1.-The would
be understood that col. Dodge was Sc
Inior in rank, because he was acting under
an older commission Of the same grade Of
gen. Hcnry's, we would say that it is a
most 1agrant attempt at deception. Col.
Dodge acted under no such commission.
We are Informed that col. Dodge made
a S, parate report of the battle to gen.
? Atkinson, and that sit would have been
:, prasnmptunus in him. to do this ifhe had
, been under the command af gen. Henry.
!, There can be no doubt, that under the
i. circumstances, it was 'presumptuous' and
| unsoldierlike in him to make such report.
II was The same want of courtesy, the
, same departure from all those nice and
r delicate feelings which ought to charac-
,1terize the soldier, which was exhibited in
The letters which were scattered about
The country, and the publications which
were made, placing "gen. Dodge" at the
head Of the enterprise.
; The writersay that 'sthere are many
/, inaccuracies in the publication of vol
= unteer," which he passes over with the
. exception of what he terms one of them.
a The public are generally aware Of the at
= iempts that have been made to deprive