The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-07-22
[ NUMBER 43.

! approved by all Inc superior officers who
wore with him. Certain am that it met
the appreciation of Col. Croghan, after he
was called to Seneca to account for tb.
letter which he wrote to the commenting
General, and which he most satisfactory;
explained by the circumstances of his pc
Silon and BY his wish to deceive the enc.
ny, should the letter fall into their hands.
Ii ,ras letter, NOT designed for The Amer
can, but for The British General Gen.
Harrison always thought Col. Croghan
did right to remain, because q retreat, IN
der his circumstances, was more danger
GUS than defence. | am well aware, too
well aware, that Col. Croghan has not a..
WAYS felt satisfied at the course adopted hv
Gen. Harrison towards himself. But he
WIS in error. | was the common friend
Of both, and knew their sentiments to.
wards each other. Gen. Harrison vas
strongly attached to Col. Croehap, and
was proud OF him, looking upon him as bis
military e}oce. And indeed he was a no
bic young nan, with high qualities, and
well he proved it, in his repuse Of the en-
envy from his post. Gen. Harrison was IT.
capable Of jealousy, and he rojoiced with
i" preceding great Jog" (ior saw IL at
the success which his young friend had
obtajuel.
A few remarks upon the council which
was held at Sandwich may not be deemed
inappropriate. do not believe Gen. Har-
rison ever doubted the propriety Of follow
. ing and Of cndeavoring TO destroy the re-
treating enemy. Bat unfortunately Ne
could not put ourselves promptly in move.
mcnt. Our means Of transportation were
50 limited, that our supplies were upol
tie lowest scale, and we found ourselves in
an exhausted country, incapable Of admin
isterng to our wants. We landed upon
the Canadian shore, without horse or a
tenf, and with very slender stock of pro-
visions. One fact will illustrate our con-
dtion better than the most abored descrip-
ton. The baggage, and even the blank
cts Of the brigade which | commanded,
were left upon little island in Lake Erie,
called the Middle Sister, and officers and
men, without distinction, found themselves,
in the beginning of October, at the COM
mo1cement Of active operations in Upper
Canada, without any other protection from
the weather, during the night or day, than
the clothes upon their backs. Under these
circumstances, we were compelled to await
the arrival Of our supplies, as well as of
our horses, and the mounted regiment
commanded By Col johnson. which had
necessarily taken the routaby land around
the head Of the Lake. This delay gave
tho R,tYr-', f1ay,,,4,l he ca
" to escape, and if he had 16l been utter.
~ incompetent 10 his task, he would have
placed himself beyond our reach. He was
several days in advance of us, and was
moving through friendly country. Bot
instead Of diyesting himself of his super.
iuous baggage, and leaving his inyalids
aud non-combaiants TO our mercy, and thGs
gaining by rapid march the head Of Lake
Ontario, where he would have been Ill.,
safety, he moved slowly, encumbered with
IN immense train Of baggage, public and
private, and by large number of women
md children. While awaiting at Sand.
yich the arrival Of our supplies, the pro.
labihty OF overtakIng the retiring enemy
vas frequently the subject of conversation,
nd it may be that Gen. Harrison may
ave expressed an opinion or a fear that
'roctor would escape US. | do not recol-
act ever to have heard him do SO, but such
circumstance would explain the other
wise neNpicable assertion, often repeated,
hat he was opposed to the movement he
dopted. For myself, | am free 10 say,
hat while | never heststed, respecting an
pursuit, was not at all san
uine as to its result. believed the Bril-
SD General was sufficiently master of his
TT 10 eluAe our attack, and could not sup.
ose that, with five DAYS advance of us, and
fter destroying and abandoning the only
NO fortified positions he held in the coun.
", he would suffer himself to be overtaken
iihin seventy miles of his point of depar-
Ire, and stake his existence on the chance
t battle. | know this was the SENT
lent, or rather the apprehension of others.
nd | well reeoIect, when we had COM
enced our march, was riding along the
etroit River, with the late Gen. Adair,
it'll whose native powers of mind | was
impressed, when the success of
II expedition became the subject Of con.
rsatiou. He dwelt with great force up
the proper course of the British Gener.
, and expressed his apprehension that he
ouId escape US. am not certain, but
n under the impression that Mr.. Critten.
n, now the Attorney General, then an
d.de.camp of Gov. Shelby, was present,
d took part in the conversation. But
stice requires | should state that such
IS not the opinion of the venerable Gov.
nor of Kentucky. He was full Of cor.
ence, appearing 20 have an innate con.
ston that we should overtake the enemy.
&c emphatic declaration he made in coun.
$powcrlully impressed me at the time,
d has remained craven upon my memo
ever since. believe | can repeat it,
'rd for word, " Let us pursue the enc
!" said the veteran, with the experience
age and the fire of youth" let us pur.
) the enemy, feel that the lord has de.