The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-02-27
WHOLE NO. 3l9

4
combined British and Indians, and gained
decisive.and most brilliant victory. Ii they
had then retired, il would have been well;
but flushed with triumph, they resolved to
maintain The position and Winchester pro-
ceeded TO Frenchtown to support them. liz,
then, he had adopted suitable precautions,
the error of making this detached movement,
without advice of the Communicating chief, or
means Of aid from him, nigh, have passed off
well (; but Winchester, for the first time du-
ring the whole campaign, neglected TO iortly
his position, or to guard against the approach
OF troops from the near post of Maiden, where
he knew the enemy were in great strength.
The consequences TO his command were most
disastrous. They were surprised on the
morning Of the 22d, by body of British and
Indians under Colonel Proctor, who earned
an eternity Of inlamy, himself and for
the country which rewarded his services on
this occasion with honor,-by leaving the
wounded prisoners TO be murdered by the
| Indians. Winchester himself and some few
others who were able 10 march, were conduct
ed to Maiden; but large portion of the
Americans were either tomahawked on the
| spot, or murdered in cold blood afterwards
and Frenchtown was committed to the flames.
II is idle and tolally impossible to relieve the
British arms from the Ignominy and infamy Of
the transaction; for much of the butchery
happened under the very eyes Of Proctor
and his whole conduct in the affair was alike
brutal and mean. He chose to feed the In
dams with blood in order to whet their appe-
ti,es for it, and thus make them the better
auxilaries of Britain But for these airoci-
ties, he was himself destined, ere long, 10 re-
ceive part of the retributon he meried, at
the hands of Harrison himself.
How different has been the conduct Of the
Americans AT near the same time, Colonel
Campbell had conducted successfully an ex-
petition against the Indians on the Mississin-
neway. In the orders issued on the return of
the expedition, General Harrison says:
/, is with the sinccrest pleasure that the General
has heard that the most puncual obedience was paid
10 his orders, in not only saving all the women and
Children but in sparng all the warriors who ceased 10
resist and that even when vigorously attacked by the
enemy, the claims of mercy prevailed every
Of their danger and this heroic band respected the
lives Of their prisoners. Let accoun, Of murdered
Innocence be opened in the records Of heaven, against
enemies alone The American soldier will follow
the example Of his Government and the sword Of the
one will not be raised against the fallen and helpless
the gold Of the other be paid for the scaps Of
mastered enemy"
How nobly do such conduct and such SEN
tments contrast with the miscreant acts of
Proctor
If the massacre of the river Rasin filled
the West with sorrow, il also awakened there
sense of indignation and outrage, Of which
the effects were afterwards seen. Its mme-
date influence was prejudicial to the objects
Of the campaign. Winchester's movement
had been, not only without the knowledge or
consent of Harrison, but contrary to his views
and plans for the conduct of the campagn.--
When he heard that the movement had been
made, he and those about him, felt that il was
TO the last degree imprudent, and looked for
nothing less from il than the certain and uev
table destruction!of the left wing Of the army,
which had thus thrown itself into the very Jaws |
of the enemy, and away Iomthe possibility
of succor. On the evening Of the 9Th, be-
ing at Upper Sandusky, he received from CO.
lionel Perkins, at Lower Sandusky, intelli-
gence for the first time, that Winchester, hav-
ing arrived at the Rapids. meditatcd some
unknown movement against the enemy
Alarmed at this, and ignorant what it implied
General Harrison gave orders for the advance
of troops and artillery, and FASTENED 10 Low
er Sandusky himself. Here he was met by
i'ipiH'uiIbh io'i tbC VI s1 hu' IA ~ /
Colonel Lewis to Frenchtown Fresh troops
marches for the Rapids to which point he
himself pushed with the utmost speed. All
the dsposable troops at the Rapids, and others,
as they came in, were ordered on with anx-
ious expedition; but they were met on the
road by the fueitives from the field of battle,
and nothing remained but TO protect them and
the houseless people of Frcnchtown. In short,
AL possible efforts were made to protect Win
chester from the apprehended consequences
of his own ill-advised acts.
After this in the expectation of an attack
on the position at the Rapids, the army fell
back to the Portage, to admit of an expected
reinforcement under General Leftwich on
the arrival of which, the position at the Rapids
on the east bank of the Miami, was resumed,
and strongly fortified, as the winter quarters
ii being called Camp Meigs, in honor Of the
Governor Of Ohio
This position being attacked by the British,
became tho scene Of n brilliant triumph to the
arms of the United States. So soon as il be-
came known that the attack was contem-
plated, General Harrison, having made ar
rangements for strong reinforcemen's to fol-
low him, rcpaircd'to Camp Meiss TO conduct
the defence Of il, in person. The enemy made
his appearance on the 26th April; consisting
Of numerous force, British and Indians,
commanded by General Proctor; who, hav-
ing assembled on the north side Of the Miami |
in boats, landed at old Fort Miami, and pro-
ceeded TO construct three powerful batteries,
directly opposite the American camp. Mean
while, our troops had thrown up brcastwork-
Of earth, twelve feet in height, traversing the |
camp in rear Of the tents, so that when the
batteries of the enemy we're completed and