State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-07-19


was read at the 4t of July cel3bi1tTon III
Philadelphia -
CINcINNAri, June o. 1896.
GENTLEMEN:
! have had the honor TO receive your let
ter of the litlI of June, 1886, inviting me
to II celebration in your city OF the ap-
preaching anniversary of our National In
dependence. | regret that am prevented
by Official duties from attending on an
occasion which would combine so many
circumstances to render it highly interest
ing
] request the favor fyou gentlemen, to
offer in my behalf, to tho company which
may be assembled at your festival, toast
=. and sentiment: The latter, however, is
not original but will no doubt be accecta-
bic, as it came from body OF men belong
ing to Pennsylvania, whose conduct and
services have always considered as doing
honor, us well to their own state, as TO our
common country. / considerit, also, appro-
pirate to the times, as it may have some
influence in checking that current Of sell
fishnesa, engendered by the baIeftIl inliu-
encG Of party tactics, which is so rapidly
increasing in our country, and which seems
to inc, bids fair to eNtirpatc those principles
of patriotism and devotion to the common
good, which once so extensively prevail
cd.
| must trespass on your patience 10y Il
short narrative, that you may better under
stand the claims which advance in be-
half of portion of your fellow citizens,
to whom ! refer in the sentiment offer
you.
In the spring of the year 1913, the pc
Rod for which the brigade of volunteers
raised in Western Pennsylvania, and com
manded by Brigadier General Crooks, was
about to expire. About 500 Of them were
stationed at Fort Meigs, at which place had
been collected Il large portion Of the mn-
nitions of war, and all the artillery intend
ed for the projected campaign, for the re-
covery of Michigan Territory, and the con
quest of Upper Canada. Upon the safety Of
the post all our hopes of succeeding in
that enterprise, Of course depended. The
enemy aware of its Importance, aud in
formed also when Il greater part Of the
garrison would be discharged were pre-
pairing to attack it. Although all these
circumstances were well known 10 the
department Of war; the orders to supply
the places of militia which were about to
be discharged by fresh drafts, were so long
delayed that ii became necessary that |
should collect every disposable man for
the defence of this important post. Willie
engaged in this duty, addressed a letter to
General Crooks, which he was directed to
read to each company, appealing to their
patriotism, and urging them to remain in
service until the troops which had been or
dered from the frontier should arrive to
relieve them.
Six hundred of the eight hundred imme
diatey complied with this request. Upon
my arrival at Fort Meigs, some days after
wards, | found them embodied and under
the command of Majors Nelson, Ringand
and Orr. The troops which had before
been able to collect, and bring with me,
were however, entirely insufficient to sup
ply the place ofthc Pennsylvania volunteers,
aud the period of - days, which had fix
ed as the limit of their service, was about |
to expire. No effort was made by me to /
prevail upon them to attend it, having de-
iermjncd that their going or staying should /
depend upon their own unlntluenccd sense |
of duty. They were not long in deciding.
The private soldiers desired that they might /
heassembled,a and the day after my arrlyaLthe /
field officers waited upon me, with their
unanimous determination, embodied in the
following declaration, which they requested /
to be made to me. "Agreeaby 10 your re-
quest, General we have remained at our
posts. The 10 days which you assigned us .
the period of our stay will shortly expire
but we did not intend that that should he .
the limit of our service if farther time .
was required. We did not volunteer for Is .
days, nor ; weeks, nor ID months but for .
just ms long, us in your opinion, our ser
vices were necessary. 1t is true we are |
anxious to return home, as we are nearly /
all farmers, and unless we are soon dismiss
ed, we shall lose the chance of making Il .
summer crop. This, rs well Us all other
personal considerations, are of no mpOr- .
lance, when opposed to the duties we owe
to cur country. We therefore inform you .
that it is our determination to remain with .
you as long, as in your opinion, our services .
may be necessary
The arrival OF a battalion Of the Ken !
lucky militia, which had been mounted Oh
pack horses, to expedite their march, ena-
bed me, in Il few days afterwards, TO dis
charge these patriotic citizen soldiers. They
LEFT the Fort, bearing with them the strong
est evidence which could furnish OF their
claims upon the gratitude OF their country.
They would not, however, have accepted
their discharge, could they have supposed,
that the long threatened and repeatedly
postponed attack upon Fort Meigs, would
take place in less than 10 days after their
departure, PENNSYLVANIA was not however
unreprescnted in the arduous aud trying
scenes which followed. The Wesulore-
land troops Of light Dragons, under Col.
MarI;le; portion of that OF Fayette, I'M
der Captain McCleland the Pitsburgh
Light Infantry Blues commanded by Cap
tain Butler, and the Greensburg Volunteers,
under Lieutenant Drumm, forming with
the Petersburg, Va. Volunteers, Il battalion
under the command of Major Alexander,
nohly sustained the chivairous character
which had been acquired for the state by