The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-02-25

stance that have heard of, in which the pro
I perry of the officers has been respected. But
am lar from believing that the conduct of Gen
Proctor has been thought an example worthy O
imitation ny the greater phrt of the British off
GERS and in the character of Gen. Vincent,
have pledge that he will unite his exertions
with NINE to soften as much as possible the
late oi those whom the fortune of war may re
ciprorally place in our power.
B'it, sir, there is another subject upon which
wi'h an explicit declaration. Will the Indians
VINO siill adhere to the cause of his Britannia
| Majesty, he suffered TO continue that horrible
species OF warfare which they have hitherto
practised against Our troops and those still more
horrible depredations upon the peaceable inhab.
'!an's of our frontiers ? ] have sufficient evi.
dehce 10 show, that even the latter have not al.
ways been perpetrated by small parties of va.
grant Indians, acting at a distance from the Bri.
tlsh army. Some of the most alrocious instan.
ces have occurred under the eyes of The British,
commander and the head of the Indian depart.
mcnt. shall 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. DudIey-and select three other instances OF
savage harbarity committed under the auspices
of Gen. Proctor. In the beginning OF June, Il
small pnrty ofIndians, conducted by an Ottawa
chief, who believe is now in the British army
under your command, left Maiden in bark ca.
noes, in which they coasteG Lake Erie to the
en- across the Portage to the Sandusky Bay, ov.
err which the party proceeded to the mouth OF
Cold Creek, and from thence by land to the set
Elements upon that river, where they captured
three families consisting of one man and IL
women and children. After taking the prison
crs some distance, one OF the women was dis,
covered to he unable to keep up with thcn in
consequence of her advanced state of pregnan.
cy. She was Immediately ,omahawked, strip.
ped naked, her womb ripped open, and tho
child taken out. Three or four children were
successfully bulchered as they discovered their
inability TO keep mp with the party. Upon the
arrival of the Indians ut Maiden, TWO three
of the prisoners were ranso,ned 10y Col Elliot,
mud the others by the citizens of Detroit, where
they remained until they were taken off by
their friends upon The recovery of that place by
our army. have been informed that the saw.
age chief received from Col. Elliot reprtmand
for his cruelty.
On the Goth or 30h of the same month, a
large party of Indians were sent from Maiden
on a war expedition to Lower Sandusky. Al n
farm house near that place, they murdered n
whole family, consisting ofu man, his wife, son
and daughter.
During the last attack upon Fort Meigs by
General Proctor parry headed by Seneca IAN
intimate friend Of Tecunsch's, was sent to en-
deavor to detach from our interests the Shawa-
nese Of Wapock antu In their way hitler they
murdered several men and one woman, who
was working in her cornfied.
l have selected sir the above, from long list
of similar instances OF barbarty, whichphe his
tory Of the last fifteen months could furnish =
because they were perpetrnied, il not in the
view of the British commander, by parties, who
came Immediately from his camp and returned
to it--and even received their daily support
from the kings stores, and who, in fact, las the
documents in my possession will show form
part of his army.
,l,,,n tl,nt, VI "
would have been justfable by the laws of war Il
usoges of the most civilized nations. 10 do so
has been amply in my power. The tide OK for
tune has changed in our favor, ami an extensive
and fourishing province opened 10 our arms
Nor have the instrument OF vengeance been
wanting. The savages who sned to us for ner.
cy would gladly have shown their claim TO il by
re- acting upon The Thames the bloody scenes OF
and Cold Creek. A single sign of
appreciation would have been sufficient to pour
upon the subjects of the king their whole fury
the future conduc, OF the British officers will
determine the correctness OF mine in withhold
ing it. If the savages should again be let loose
upon our settlements, shall with justice he &c.
cused OF having sacrificed the interest and honor
OF my country, and the lives of our fellow cIti-
zens to feelings OF false and mistaken human.
~. You, are soldier sir, and, as sincerely
believe, possess all the honorable sentiments
which ought always to be found in men who
follow Inc profession Ot arms. OS6, poJ
you your authority and influence 10 stop that
dreadful effusion of innocent blood which pro.
ceeds from the employment Of those savage
monsters, whose aid (as must be dscovered) Is
so little 10 he depended on when it is most want
ed, and which can have so trihing an effect up
on the issue Of the war. The effect OF their
hnrbarities will not be confined to the present
generation. Ages yet TO come will feel the
deep rooted hatred and enmity which they must
produce between the two nations
deprecate most sincerely the dreadful al,
tentative which will he offered TO me should
they be continued but solmnly declare, that
if the Indians that remain under the influence
Of the British government, are suffered to com
nit any depredations upon the citizens within
,he district that is committed to my protection,
/ will remove the restrictions which have biiher.
10 been imposed upon those who have offered
their services to the United States, and direct
Them to carry on the war in their own way. L
have never heard a single excuse for the EN-.
ployment of savnges by yonr government unless
can credit the story Of some British oif1 &c,