Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-08-27

river. zen. Harrison was at Upper Sandus
ky, having more Immediately under his pei
sonal command the troops concentrated there
or on their march from the middle or southern
part OF this State, and the troops from Penn
sylvania, having the artillery under thei
charge. Gen. Perkins was at Lower San
dusky, in command of the troops for the Re
serve. and the regiments commanded by Col
Andrews aud Col. Hindman from the coun
ties south of the Reserve. A part OF Gen
Perkins command was Ill Huron county,
Gen. Winchester moved forward to the Mau
NEE Rapids, without communicating with
Gen. Harrison. Gen. Perkins received a let
| ter from Gen. Winchester, on the 10th oil
January, 1914, advising him that his COM
mand arrived at the Maumee Rapids on the
10th; that he contemplated to advance with
part of it to the River Raisin; and that to
maintain sufficient force at the Rapids, a
cooperating battalion was necessary. Gen.
Perkins ordered Major Cotgreave to take
prompt measures to prepare his battalion for
that service and despatched messenger to
Gen. Harrison. He, with his staff, arrived
at Lower Sandusky on the evening of the
18th. About IL that night, an express brought
letter from Gen. Winchester to Gen. Per-
klns, dated miami Rapids, January 18th, 8
O'Clock, A. NJ, advising Gen. Perkins he had
information that large body of Indians and
troops from Maiden, were expected at the
river Raisin, with view to proceed and at
tack his camp that the day before, he had
sent detachment to attack the enemy, and
that battle would be fought before the letter
he was writing could be delivered. He re-
quested Gen. Perkins to send his disposable
force. When the letter was read, Gen. Har-
rison, among other things, remarked, he fear
az ba oa' L.. :,
was his duty and wish to sustain him, as far
as he could.
Major Cotgreaves' Battalion was the best
disciplined corps in that wing of the North
western army, and before sunrise it marched
out of the camp according to order, in gallant
style. Col. Andrews regiment, with the
whole disposable force, was ordered, on the
morning of the 10th, to prepare to march for
the same point, and it was pressed forward to
the Maumee with the least possible delay,
considering the state of the mud, for there
was not road with bottom to it. General
Harrison and Gen. Perkins, after attending
to the necessary preparations to hasten the
march of Col. Andrews regiment, proceeded
through the swamp with one attendant
They overlook Major Cotgreaves, and arri-
we'd first at the Rapids. The mud, snow and
water were not unfrequently middie-Ieg deep,
and partly CONCEALED with frost. The first
team that attempted to penetrate the swamp
In that direction, accompanied Major Cot
greayes' battalion; but, SO difficult was it to
pass 1t, that the team could not haul small
cannon; and the men, in addition TO their
baggage and provisions, carried the cannon
suspended between poles. When the troops
arrived at the Rapids, exhausted nature re-
CURED refreshment. AS little time was given
NC, al. IL
troops. Major Cotgreaves' battalion march
ed from the site of the old British fort be-
tween daylight and sunrise on the morning
Of the day that Winchester was defeated, and
our troops Were inhumanly murdered at the
river Rasn. The disposable force at the Ra-
pids, under the immediate command Of Gen
Harrison, took up the line of march in the
course of the day, and as soon as they could
be put in a state Of preparation. 1t was said
at the time, that Major Cotgreaves' battalion
was within hearing of the firing at the river
Raisin before they met the refugees from the
scene of slaughter. Hearing the issue of
that Inflated day, and learning from every
source capable Of imparting information,
that the victory was complete, and that the
force was superior to the number of troops
under Gen. Harrison, he returned to the
| camp, and in the evening consulted the off.
GERS as to the course TO be pursued. There
was not an entrenching tool in the camp, and
the axes furnished by the Uuited States
were ''made to sell, and not for USE
In official letters written before, by Gen. Per
kins, he had spoken of them as being worth
less /; and, if my recollection is not inaccu
rate, he had stated '.they Were no better thar
pewter" There were few good axes il
camp, the militia had taken with them to Gu
their fire wood, but not more than sufficient
for that purpose. The troops were encampeC
on the Northwestern side of the Maumee Ri
yer, which was then frozen over; but which
in the event of a thaw could not be recrossed
by Gen. Harrison, as he had not boat at hi:
command. There was only one company o
regular troops in camp, and that had been re
turned for several days unfit for duty, from
the want of clothing, blankets, &c. The
centre OF the army was on its march, by TIN
way of Upper Sandusky, and perhaps OIL
roads leading towards the Rapids, that lei
Upper Sandusky to the right or left.-Th
cannon had not arrived, but they were beint
moved forward as fast as they could be, un
der the circumstances. The Petersburg IVA.
volunteers. were combating the mud and fros
by the way of Hull's road. | met them tn
third or fourth day after Winchester defeat
and they had been from sunrise until dark
in marching 3 miles. The supplies for tn
winter campaign, with the exception Of
comparatively small quantity, were East an
South of the river. 1t was in considerable
of these prominent facts, and others whic
time will not permit me to enumerate, til;
conduced to the advice given by the officer
to Gen. Harrison, TO take position at til
crossings of the Portage river, about Ii mile
from the Rapids of the Maumee, where h
, could cover the cannon and provisions, an
concentrate the troops. | was not memb'
LIZ