Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-04-16
Original Correspond ence.
WILLIAM II. HARRISON.
NuM mn FoUR.

! Gen. Harrison formed upon assuming the command
was as follows. The centre division of the army
consisting of Ohio troops, was placed under Gener-
al Topper at Fort Nc arhur; the left wing, includ-
! ing the Kentucky regiments, were stationed at Fort
Defiance under General Winchester, while the
right wing was commanded by Harrison in person,
and was assembled at upper Sandusky. This Por-
ton embraced The forces from Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania fit these several points depots of stores and
provisions were formed, al" from thence the dvls-
ions were to move and to concentrate at the rapids
OF the Maumee, which was TO be the starting point
of subsequent operations. This plan was most ju-
dcious, as, in the words of Colonel Wood, an &C
compshel and experienced Engineer, "by sending
the corps by different routes with view OF concen-
tralns somewhere in the neghborhood of the enemy,
the march of the army would not only be expedited,
but the frontier much more eIectually protected"
The General having arranged the plan, fastened TO
the rear to expedite the supplies essential to the
prosecution of the Campaign. While engaged in
this work, Harrison became convinced that the best
method of accomplishing the objects Of the cam
paign, was to buic fleet upon Lake Erie which
would secure to the americans its command, and
afford much more speedy and economical way of
transporting the army and stores than any land
route, His Letters to the war department pressed
this topic upon the attention Of the authorities but
it was until the next year that the suggestion
complied with, and feet was built. II only re-
NAMED, Therefore, to proceed with all possible
expedition, by means then at his command But so
miserable was he condition of the roads, and so
serious the labor of preparation, that it
certained to he impossible to equip an adequate
expedition against Detroit, and the General was re-
lucantly compelled to postpone the attempt to re-
take that place until the ice and snow should afford
him greater facilities for transportation and the pas
sage of the rivers that lay in the path.
| In December he again prepared to move, and de-
spatched ordersfor general Winchester TO leave his
station a; Fort Defiance and proceed to the Maumee
rapids, whittier twas designed that the whole army
should shortly march. Winchester set out on The 30th
of December, and reached the rapids January 10th
| lSl3 but took 40 means to inform the commander
in chief of his arrival who did not learn until the
10th, and then indirectly through General Perkins.
the commander Of body of troops at Lower San
dusky. At the same time he was informed by Per-
kins that Winchester was meditatng movement TO
Frenchtown on the river Rasin at the request of the
! inhabitants of thai place, who apprehended an at
tack from the British and Indians. Frenchtown
situated thin the boundaries of Michigan, about
thirty miles from tine rapids Of the Maumee, but on
ly eighteen from Maiden the head quarters of the
British troops who had an easy means oil access to
it, over the frozen lake. Winchester, on the 18th,
ordered Colonies Lewis and .den with about 100
men to march for Frenchtown, which they reached
the next day and after sharp contest with party of
:he enemy whom they found in the town, they drove
them out and obtained possession, Colonel Lew is
then determined to hold the town, and sent an Ex-
press to Winchester with this in tie Nigence. AT hear
ing it, Winchester resolved to march himself to his
assistance for it was unquestionable that he would
be attacked by the British from Maiden. Accord
incly, with about $40 men. all the dsposabe force
that his camp cou then furnish he started, and
rived at Frcnchtown on the night Of the goth. The
troops previously sent under Lewis encamped a.
mong garden picke.s which afford them some slight
protection against muskeiry, but the detachment
under Winchester took its station in an open field
without cover of any sort, and totally neglected to
fortify its camp. The general himself took up his
quarters nearly mile distant and the opposite
side of the river from his forces, and though warn
| ed by an individual from Maiden that strong de-
tachment was preparing to attack him, paid no at
tenton whatever to the admonton. The conse-
quences of this negligence most disastrous.
! Early on the morning of the 22d of January, the
Americans surprised by the British and Indians
commanded by Colonel Proctor. They had APP
preached the camp unobserved, and the first tokens
of their presence the of the artillery and
the war whoop. Yet Notwithstanding the suddenness
of the attack Lewlss men maintained their ground
with much spi,it; but those Of Winchester were
broken at once, and look to flight. The General
himself was made prisoner, while the fugitives were
pursued by the Enen,y's Indians and tomahawked
without mercy Meanwhile Lewis continued the
battle until his ammunition was exhausted, when
having no hopes of reinforcement, he surrendered
on the express condition that his should be pro-
tected from the fury Of the Indians. But the prom
ise was not kept The prisoners who were able to
march were sent to Maiden, but all the wounded
were abandoned to the Indians who massacred
them in cold blood. The Americans lost, in killed
and prisoners, upwards of 900 men.
Throughout the whole west this bloody affair pro-
duced the utmost grief and Indignation. There was
scarcely family of note in Kentucky which had no
tie mourn the loss of relative. and other States suf