Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-06-08

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our otCn circumstances md 10 the situation Of The
enemy The reasons for this opinion it isevdent-
ly improper now TO give, but we hold ourselves
ready ut Il future period, and when other circum
stances slaal have intervened to satisfy every man
Of its correctness who is anxious to investigate
aud willing to receive the truth. And with n
ready ucquiesence, beyond the mere claims of
military duty, we nrc prepared 10 obey n General
whose measures meet our most deliberate nppro-
baton. and merit that Of his country.
T5-Lewis Cass, Brig. Cen u. S. A.
Samuel Wells, Col. 9Th 4. u. 81
Thomus ID. Owings, Col. 2Sih X. u. s. ].
George Paul, Col l7rh Il. u. s..
j. G.. Bartlett, Col. q. NJ. G.
James V. Ball, Lieut. Col.
Robert Morrison Lieut. Col.
George TODD, Mai. 10 Il. u. s. |.
" ilIIan Trigg, Maj. 2Sth Il. u. S. L.
James Smiley, Maj. 29lh Il. u. S. |.
Rd Graham, Maj. lNl K. U. s. l.
% George Croglan, Mn 18th K. u. y |.
J.. liukill, Mai. and ASS Iusp. Gen.
f. ID. Wood, Maj. Engineers.
LETTER OF MAJOR CROGllAN.
Lower SANDUsKY,
Aug. 81, 1873. {
81 have with much regret seen in some Of the
public prints, such misrepresentation respecting
my refusal TO evacuale this posi- as are calculated
not only to inllre me in the estimation of military
men, hut also TO excite uniayorube impressions as
To the proprely oil General Ilnlrsons conduct rel
alive to tins affair
His character rs military man is too well
tahlishrd 10 need my appreciation or support
But his public service entities him at cnS, to com.
mon Justice, This affair does mol furnish cause
of repronch. II pubhc opinion has been lately
mSled respecting his late conduct, it will require
but moments reflection, to convince them vi its
propriety. The measures recently adopted By HIN
so far from deserving ensure, are The dearest proqfs
oI his keen peneiration and able gemerdlship. Its
true that did not proceed Immediately to exc
cate his order To cvacuate this post; hut this dis
obedience was not, as some would wish TO believe,
the result Ola fixed determination maintain the
post contrary 10 his most positive orders, us will
appear from the following detail. which is given
to explain my conduct
"About 10 o'clock on the morning of the Both
Ill. letter from the Adjuiant Generals office, ia.
ted Seneca Town, July, 90, 1873 was hniided me
by MIR. Conner, ordering me to abandon this post,
burn il, and retreat that night 10 head quarters.
On the reception of the order ] called council
OF officers, in Which it was determined not 10 n
bnndon the place, ut least until the fur her peas
! IRE Of the General should be known, as it was
thought that an attempt 10 retreat in the open day,
i'll the face Of superior force of the enemy, would
be more hazardous thun 10 remain in the fort I'M.
der all disadvantages. | therefore wrote letter
to the General, couched IN such terms as thought
were calculated to deceive the enemy should ii fall
into their hands which thought more than prob
able, as well as to inform the General, should it
! he SO fortunate as to reach him, that would wait
to hear from him before should proceed to ex-
ecuc his order. This letter, contrary TO my ex-
pecations, was received by the General, who not
knowing what reason urged me to write in a tone
so decisive concluded very nationally Tint The man
ner OF il was denonstralive OF the most positive
discrimination to disObcy his order under any cir
cunlsiances. | was therefore suspended from The
command of the fort, and ordered TO eahq quarters
| D,,t. ,.t. Al,
not executing his orders, aud nay object in using
the style had done, he was so perfectly satisfied
with the explanation, that was immediately rein
stated in the command.
sit will be rccolected that the order above
alluded to, was written on the night previous 10
my receiving il - had il been delivered to me, as
was intended, that night, should hape obeyed il
ieah0m hesitation; lie not reaching me in time
was the only reason which induced me 10 con-
suit my officers on the propreiy Of waiting the
Generals further orders.
1t has been stated, also, that upon my repre-.
sentatlons ofmy ability 10 maintain the post, the
General altered lis determination to abandon it,
This is incorrect. No such representations were
ever made. Aud The last order received from
The General, was precisely The same us that first
given, viz: " That If discovered The approach of
large British farce by water, (presumi,g that they
ioouid BRING heary artHe,yJ lime enough 10 eject
retreat, Iwas TO do so; but If could mol retreat
iDh SlyetJ TO DEFEND THE POST TO THE LAST
| EXTREMITY"
"a day or two before TIE enemy appeared be-
FIRE Fort Meigs, the General had reconnoered
the surrounding ground, and being informed that
the hill Oh the opposite side OF Snndusky COM
p!etely commanded the FORT offered to under.
take with the troops under my command, to re-
move il to that side. The General, npon reilec-
lion, thought it best not 10 attempt It, as he be-
] lieved that ii the enemy again appeared on this
side OF the lake, it would be before the work could
he finished.
at is useless to disguise the fact TINT this iorr
is commanded 10y the points OF high ground around
it; siuglc stroke of the eye made this clear to
the first time had occasion to examine the neigh
borhood, with view Of discovering tlse relative
strength and weakness of the % ACE
! sit would be insincere TO say that am not fiat
tered hy The many handsome things which have
been said about the defence which made by
the troops under my command but desire
| plaudits which are bestowed upon the, at the eX-
pense of General Harrison.
81 have al all times enjoyed his confidence so
far as my rank in The army entitled me TO il. And
on proper occasions received his marked atien-
! iions. | have felt he warincst attachment tor
him as man, and my confidence in him as an able
commander remains mistaken. feel every
| surance that he will at Mi times do me Justice
aud nothing could give me more pain than 10 see
his enemies seize upon this occasion to deal out
their nnlriendly feelings aud acrimonious dislike
and ms long us he continues ns in my humble
opinion he lins hitherto done) to make the wsest
1 arrangements and most judicous dispositions,
which the forces under his command will justify,
shall not hesitate 10 unite with the army in he.
slowing upon him that confidence which he so
richly merits, aud which has on 10 occasion been
withheld.
Your friend,
GEORGE CROGHAN.
Maj. I'm In. Commanding Lo,Ver Sandusk
Hoip is his?-Thc Washington Correspond