The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-02-29

HAaausoN.s PURSUIT OF PROCTOR.

HARRISON'S PURSUIT OF PROCTOR.
The Baltimore Post has asserted, and the Globe
and other organs OF MIR. Van Boren have echoed
the charge, that at council Of war held at Sand
wch, just prior 10 the bat,leo The Thames, Gene
raj Harrison eppossd 10 pursuit Of Proetor's
army" Now, let US see how easily this stale and
base caunny may be refuiedb BY testimony both pure
and nnimpcachable The following letter from The
late venerable and hgh-minded Governor Shelby, Of
Kentucky meets the charge fully and fairly:
"FaAsKroRr, April Il, 1916
Dear Gensral-Your letter Of the 18th inst has
been duly received in which ysu stated that charge
has been made against you that you we're forced 70
pursue Proctor from my remonstraDces, and that had
said 10 you. upon that OCCASION that It was inmate
rial what direction yon took, that resolved 10 pur-
the enemy up the Thames - and you request me
give YOU statement Of facts in relation TO the coun-
Gil Of war held at Sandwich.
II will 10 the first place, freely declare thst such
language passed from you. aud that enter
tanned throughout the campaign too high opinion oil
your military talents TO doubt for moment your capa-
city 10 conduct the army TO the best advantage IL 10
we'll recoleeIed that the army arrived at Sandwich in
the Afternoon Of abe 29th Of September, and that the
day extremely wet. was at your quarters ia
the evening OF that day had conversation
lstse TO the pursuit OF the enemy, and you requested
me 10 yon carly the next morning waited on
you just after day breakfolnd you up apparently wait
ing for you led into small private room. and,
the way, observed. I" We must not be heard" You
anxious TO pursue Proctor as was but might
have been entirely satisfied as TO the route. You
observed that there two ways by which he might
be overtakenone down the lake. by water. to some
port or point, Of the name Of which am not posi-
tive, thence march by land twelve miles to the
road leading up the Thames. and intercept hun. The
other way. by land up the straits and up the Thames
felt satisfied, by pursui, land. that he could be
overloaded, and expressed that opinion, with The
sons which was founded, aud we readily agreed in
sentiment; but you observed. there were two routes
by which he might be oyersken, 10 determine the one
most proper measure Of great responsibility: that
you would take The opinion of the general officers as 10
the most practicable one, and requested me toco
lect them IN an hour at your quarters. assembled
them accordingly to whom you stated your determine
lion 10 pursue Proctor and your object IN calling them
together and after explaining the two routes BY which
he might be oyersken you observed that the Governor
thinks, and 50 do l. that the pursuit by land up the
Thames, will be most efiectual" The general officers
were IN favor Of pursu. by land, and In the Of
that day. Colonel Johnson, with his mounted regiment,
able from the Detroit side join in
the chase He might, however, have been ordered the
day before, during the RAIN with bis reg
ment; but Of this have not a distinct recollection
The army know, was its march by sunrise on The
morning VI the ID Of October aud continued the por
suit loftea in ron) until the evening Of the 9Th, when
the enemy was overtaken. During the whole OF this
long and arduous pursuit, could make greater
exer,lons vigilance than you did 10 over
take Proctor, whilst the skill and prompude with
which you arranged the troops for battle and the dis
nguished zeal and bravery evinced during its con-
tlnuaIce, nered and received my highest appreciation
In short, sir. from the time joined you to the mo-
Of our separation, believe that commander
did, could make greater exertions than you did
To effect the great objects oil the campaign admired
your plans, and thought them executed with great cner-
gy, particularly your order Of battle and arrangements
splre every officer and with confidence that we
could not be defeated BY any thing like own number
"Jnlil after had served the campaign Of 1918,
not aware Of the difficulties which you had TO en-
counter commander of the Northwestern army.
have since often said and still do believe, that the du
ties assigned 10 you that occasion ardu-
and difficult to accomplish than any had ever
known confded to any commander and, with respect
to the zeal and fidelity with which you executed that
high and important trust, there thousands in Ken
lucky well myself, who believe it could not have
been committed TO better hands
/" With sentiments Of the most sincere regard and
esteem, have the honor to be, with great respect,
" Your obedient servant,
ISAAC SHELBY"
Major General WILLIAM HESRy HARRISON.
Here we might safely res, the case, as Governor
Shelby is the person who is said by the organs of
Mr.. Van Buren,, to have compelled General Harri-
son TO make pursuit Of Proctor: but prefer to
meet the calumny with additional evidence.
Commodore o. H. Perry under date OF Newport,
August Is, 1877, suslains, in his letter 10 General
Harrison-a copy Of which is now before me-he
statements OF Governor Shelby, and afrms that Ge-
neral Harrison, neither in the council at Sandwich,
nor in private conversation with HIM, evinced any
thing like an indsposition TO pursue the British
my The Commodore concludes his letter BY say
ing
Although have little or no pretenons 10 mill
tary knowledge as relates TO an army, still may be
allowed to bear testimony TO your zeal and activity
in the pursuit Of the British army under General
Proctor; and, TO say, the prompt change made by
you in the order Of battle discovering The position
Of the epemy always has appeared 10 me to have
evnced a high degree OF military talent"
Governor Cass, late Secretary at War, and Mr..
Van Buren's Minister TO France, under date of De-
troii, August 81, 1917, in letter General Harri-
son, says
"Upon the subject OF the council which was held
at Sandwich, cannot speak with precision; l think
that for some cause, do not now recollect, was
not present at its deliberations. But do Tecolect
that at all the interviews had with you, yon were
ardent and jealous Tor the pursuit of Proctor; nor
did ever hear that doubt had been expressed by
you upon the subject till long afer the events them
selves had passed away. ln the letter from Govern
or Shelby 10 you, which has been published the
Governor has stated so correctly and distinctly
The propositions which made for the pur-
suit Of Proctor, that there is the less necessity
for me to enter into a detail of them. The
main body OF the enemys army had left Am
herslburg some days before we landed, and were
understood 10 be upon the river French. If con-
Quoted with common prudence, il was my opinion
then, and is my opinion yet, that they might have
moved with such celerily as to have rendered il i'm
practicable for us to have overaken them. deep
indentaion of the lake, some distance below MI
den, would have brought us within a few miles of
4 Ip mi N uhirh ID nd