The Madisonian., 1840-01-23


the life Of Gen. HAeRlsoS Such father lives IN
our land. - Eastern Arg9s-Reaeed
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.
From Gea, Proctor 10 Gea Harrison
OcroBER is, 1873
Sir-The fortune Of war having placed the private
property Of the officers aud several families OF tie right
dvIs.on Of The British army IN Upper Canads, in your
power as also letters papers and vouchers OF the
greatest consequence TO individuals, without being Of
Any the capiors | do yself the honor OF applying
you ia their behalf hoping that. agreeaby the
tom OF you wl avail yourself VI this favorable op
poruny to alleviate private feelings by causing the
said property and documents 10 be restored. i must
also inreat that every consideration IN your power be
shown Tor private families not oi the army. trust that
with the view you will permit the bearer hereof To
ascertain the fate Of individuals aud that you will Ia
citse the retreat OF any family that may unfortunately
have been interrupted IN the attempt have the honor
HENRY PROCTOR.
MAJ Gen. IN H. d. MS snriee.
Major General Hanison. or officer commanding lie
army IN the serpiee Of the ~ S. al Moravian Toieas
From Gsa. Harrison 10 Gen. Vincent
Head QoARTERs, FoRr GEORGE, 81 Nov. 1899
SIR-Leut lie Breton, an officer in your
service, arrived at Detroit on the 9th ut.,
bearing flag and letter TO me from Gen.
Proctor, requesting humane treatment for the
prisoners in my possession and the restora-
ton Of private property and papers. This
letter was directed to me at the Moravan
towns; and US the subject was not of the inn
portance to authorize the leu,enant's pursu-
ing me TO Detroit, was somewhat surprised
a, MS doing so.
1t did not appear to ME propes to permit
him TO return in that way, and as was upon
the point OF setting out for this frontier by wa
ter, conceived that that mode of conveyance
would be full as agreeable to him, and would
enable him to meet Gen. Proctor rs exped-
tiousy as by the land route. regret that the
badness OF the weather and other causes
which he will explain, have detained him until
this time.
Understanding TINT you are the senior Of
fcer, | have determined 10 address my an
swer to you. With respect to the subject OF
Gen. Proctor's letter, those which have the
honor to enclose you from the British officers
who were taken on the 5th ult. to their irlend-,
and the report Of Mr.. lie Breton, will satisfy
you that no indulgence which humanity could
claim III their favor, or the usagcs of war sane
ton, has beon withheld. The disposition Of
the property taken on the field of action or
near II, was LEFT to The commanding officer at
Detroit The instructions given to that gen
ueman and the well known generosity OF his
character will insure to the claimants the ut
most justice and libcrality in his DECISIONS
In making this statement, wish il, however,
to be distinctly understood, that my conduct
with regard TO the prisoners and property
taken, has been dictated solely by motives of
humanity, and not by belief that 1t could be
claimed upon the score OF reciprocity OF treat
ment towards the American prisoners who
have fallen into the hands Of Gen. Proctor
The unhappy description of persons who have
escaped from the tomahawk of the savages in
the employment OF the British government,
who fought under the immediate orders oil
that officer, have suffered all the indignites
and deprivations which human nature is ca.
pable Of supporting There is no single in
stance that have heard OF, in which the pro-
perty Of the officers has been respected Blu,
am far from believing that the conduct of
Gen. Proctor has been thought an example
worthy of Imitation by the greater part Of the
British officers; and in the character OF Gen.
Vincent, have a pledge that he will unite his
exertions with nine to soften as much as
possible the fate OF those whom the fortune of
war may reciprocally place in our power.
But, sir, there is another subject upon
which wish an explicit declaration Will
the Indians who sill adhere to the cause of
his Britannia Majesty, be suffered to continue
that horrible species OF warfare which they
have hitherto practised against our troops,
and those still more horrible depreda,ions upon
the peaceabie Inhabi,ans OF our frontiers |
have sufficient evidence to show that even
the latter have not always been perpetraied
by small parties OF vagrant Indians, acting at
a distance from The British army. Some of
the most a,rocious instances have occurred
under the eyes OF the British commander and
the head of the Indian department, shalt
pass by the tragedy of the River Raisin, and
that equally well known which was acted on
the Miami River, after the defeat OF Col.
Dudley--and select three other instances Of
savage barbarity committed under the auspi-
ces of Gen. Proctor. In the beginning OF
June small party of Indians, conducted by
an Ottawa chief, who believe is now in the
British army under your command left NAL
den in bark canoes, in which they coasled
Lake Erie to the mouth of Portage River
the canoes were taken across the Portage to
the Sandusky Bay, over which the party pro-
ceeded to the mouth of Cold Creek, and from
thence by land to the settlements upon that
river, where they captured three families.
consisting Of one man and y women and
children. After taking the prisoners some
distance, one of the women was discovered 10
be unable to keepup with themin consequence
of her advanced state Of pregnancy. She was