Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-06-09
Sketch Of the Life and Public Services of
Gen. LEWIS CASS.

Ao'HCl, U1dlOI JOHdtndH lass, was SO0le
OF The revolution. who enlisted as a private tn.
day after the battle of Lexington. He served
IN Inc army till the close OF the war, and was
IN all the important battles in the eastern anC
middle States, where he was distinguished fol
MS VaIor and good conduct. and attained the
rank OF captain. He was afterwards maiol
IN Wayne's army, and died at an advanced
age, after life of usefulness and honor, al
his residence, near Dresden. in MuskiEgun
county. Ohio. His son, Lewis Cass, the sub.
Ject OF this biography, emigrated, at the age
OF seventeen, to the then northwestern terrific.
ry, and settled first at Marietta, in the county
OF Washington. He was thus, as he was re.
Gently called by the convention of Ohio, one
OF the IS early pioneers" of that immense ives
tern region, which has already risen to such
magnitude in our own days, and is destined
TO attain one SO much greater hereafter. The
country north OF the Ohio then contained one
territory and about twenty thousand people
Mr.. Cass bore his full share in the tolls,
prlvatons, and dangers to which the defence
OF new country, and its conversion from a
primitive forest to the happy abodes of civili-
zed man, are necessarily exposed. He read
law at Marietta, and was admitted to the bar
before the close of the territorial government
He commenced the practice, and, as was the
custom then, visited the courts in large dis
trIct OF country, travelling on horseback, and
encounterlng many difficulties unknown to the
members of the bar at the present day
In 1906, he was elected member Of the le-
glsIature Of Ohio, and during the session he
took his part in the business of the day. He
draughted the law which arrested the traitor
Gus designs OF Burr, and introduced an address
to Mr.. Jefferson. which was unanimously a.
dopted, expressing the attachment of the PEG.
pie OF Ohlo.to the Constitution of the United
States, and their confidence in that illustrous
man. In March, 1907, he was appointed by
Mr.. Jefferson, Marshal of Ohio. In the exc
cutlon of the duties of that office, in the busi-
ness OF his profession, and in the occupation
OF farm in Muskingum county, where he re-
sided, be passed his time until 1912. Then
our difficulties with England assumed por.
tentous aspect. Her multiplied aggressons
LETT US no recourse but war; and the states
men OF the day prepared for it with frmness
AS one OF the preparatory arrangements, il
was determined to march a considerable force
to the northwestern frontier, to be ready for Of
tens!Ve or defensive measures, as circumstan-
ces might render it necessary. The command
was given to Gen'l Hull and regiment of
regular troops, which had fought with credit
at Tippecanoe, was assigned 10 him. To this
were to be added three regiments Of Ohio vol
uneers. AS soon as this demand upon their
patriotism was known, the citizens of that
State FASTENED to the call of their country, and
the force was raised without delay or Difficult
ty. Mr.. Cass was among the volunteers. and
was elected to the command of the third regi-
ment. He proceeded Immediately with his
regiment to Dayton, where the army was con-
centrated, and whence ii commenced its march
for Detroit. The country was a trackless for
est, and much of it was low and wet Great
difficulties were interposed to the advance OF
the troops by the streams and marshes, and
by the necessity of cutting road. But these
were overcome with the usual good will and
perseverance Of the American soldiers. The
army reached Detroit on the 4th Of July, 1912.
Official information that war would be de-
clared, overlook them in the wilderness but
the declaration itself was not received until
they reached Detroit. Col Cass was perhaps
more urgent for an invasion of Canada than
any officer in Hull's army. He was decidedly
in favor of making an early and decisive move
ment, before the British should be prepared
for the invasion. We conceive it to be no dis
paragement to any one to say that he was the
master-spirit of that army until the affair at
the Canards; after which, it is known, he
disapproved of every step taken by the COM
handing general. There can now be no doubt
that Hulrs army never would have entered
Canada but for the persuasions of Col. Cass.
So anxious was he to push forward and do
something to meet the ust expectations of the
administration and the country, that he COM
manded the advanced detachment, and acds
the first man to land in arms IN the ene'ays
country.
On the 18th of July he was ordered to at
tack a British detachment stationed at the riv-
er Aux Canards, about fifteen miles from De-
troit, and five miles from Fort Maiden, then
the British headquarters. He crossed the riv-
er some distance above the enemy's post, and
briskIy attacked them; when, after some loss,
they fled. Here was split the first blood du-
ring the last war. Col. Cass took possession
of the abandoned position, and Immediately
despatched messenger TO Gen. Hull, inform
ing him of his success, and advising him 10
march Immediately to Fort Malden-the road
TO which was opened. Had this been done
success must have crowned the operation, and
the war, in that quarter, would have been O.
yer. He was, however, sadly disappointed by
the indecision of Hull, who ordered himto re-
turn and Join the army. From this moment
bad counsels prevailed, the army lost all con-
fdence in Hull, and he proceeded in his own
course, regardless of the advice or remonstrance
of his officers. About three weeks after the
affair at the Canards, the whole army was or
dered across the river to Detroit; in which
time, had Col Cass's advice been taken, Nal
den might have been reduced, and secure
Judgment made in Upper Canada The order
of Hull to return was not less unexpected to
the army than was the disgraceful surrender
at Detroit, without shot being fired, over
.whelming to the country.
On entering Canada. Gen. Hull distributed
a proclamation among the inhabitants, which.
for the eIoquence and high spirit that it con-
tanned, cannot be surpassed, but it was sadly
in contrast with the fuflment OF its profes-
sions. Unfortunately for the country, the an-
thor of the proclamation, Col Cass, was not
the commander of the army. Had he been so,
the country would have been saved the morti-
ication of beholding the descent from the
promise to the fufiIment. AS it was, he used
every eyertion to arouse IN the commanding
general that spirit of patriotism which breathes
in every line of the admirable paper, but in
vain. A spirit of infatuation, OF something
worse. seized upon Hull. and led him on from
one false step to another, until the crownlne
act, the surrender of Detroit, without firing a
gun, completed his own ruin, and brought dis
grace unon the arms of his country. 1t is
we'll known to the country that Colonel Cass
and Colonel Macarthur were detached from
Detroit previous 10 the surrender, ostensibly
for provisions, but, in fact, because they were
unwelcome counsellors at headquarters. Stung
with modification on hearing of the surrender
~ ~ Il - o-dore6 IN dnI;vor I'm his