Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-11-01
More Proof.

al possioie MEANS VI stripping uCH'
Cass of the credit due him for his course
with regard to Hulrs surrender. We
have already published the amplest testi-
'nony from unimpeachable witnesses, pro-
wing his disapproval Of Hull's cowardly
conduct. Gen. Harrison himself, in his
official reports, awarded to Gen. Cass the
greatest credit for skill and gallantry.-
The following correspondence speaks
plainly enough, and The word Of Gen
Jessup will got be disputed, save by the
yilest party hacks. e. Z
WAsHrseros, sept.t23, 1s4s.
Sir: A speech recently delivered by
the Hon: Thomas Butler King, of Geor-
gia, at Patterson, New Jersey, contains
the following: "Gen. Cass is the hero of
Hull's surrender. Ordered away by
Gen. Hull, before the attack upon Detroit
by the British, Gen. Cass received no in
telligence of the disaster till he was sum
moned by a single British officer fourteen
miles from Detroit, to yield, and he did
yield. With two or three regiments of
men, Gen. Cass surrendered to single
British officer, fourteen miles from any
other enemy. If Gen. Hull committed
treason, is not Gen. Cass traitor? Yes;
he is an ass and a villain. He should
haze been tried and hung; he should haze
been tried and shot at that very time"
Believing the above statements to be
direct perversions of historic truth, and
that they do great injustice not only to
Gen. Cass, but to the other officers and
men composing the detachment of troops
referred to, and learning that you We're
the adjutant general of the army under
the command of Gen. Hull, which posi-
tion gave you the best opportunity of
knowing all the facts and circumstances
connected with the sending out Of the de-
tachment and its surrender, take the lib
erty Of calling your attention to the sub
ject, and Of requesting information in re-
gard to the situation of the detachment at
the time of Hull's capitulatiop; whether it
was hot included therein. and, by the
laws of war, was not bound to surrender
with the rest of the troops: who COM
manded it; what was Gen. Cass's posi-
ton in connection with it; and whether
he was in any way guilty Of anything I'M
becoming brave and gallant otlicer?-
Though l name these specific points,
shonld be pleased to receive information
on any others you may consider it nee
essary to notice, in order to give correct
history of the matter. l make the request
as sincere inquirer after truth; and it is
proper to apprise you, that it is my in
tentiou, should you favor me with an an
swer, to have it published.
With respectful consideration,
T.. Your obedient servant,
........ . ~ ROBERT SMITH.
Major Gen. THos 8: JEssur,
Washington City,,D. c.
WAsuINGroN CRY, Sept. 25, 1913.
Sir: | have received your letter, dated
the 23l instant, calling my attention to
certain charges said to have been made
by the Hon. Thomas Butler King against
Gen. Cass in speech lately delivered BIZ
him at Patterson, New Jersey, in the fol-
lowing words, viz: "Gen. Cnss is the
hero Of HulFs surrender. Ordered away
by Gen. Hull before the attcck upon De-
troll By The British, Gen Cass received no
Intelligence Of he disaster till he ,cas sum
n'oned By a SINCE British officer, fourteen
miles from Detroit, 10 yield, and he did
yield. Win tro or three regiments of n,cn,
Gen. Cas- surrendered 10 a single British
officer, FOURTEEN miles .tro" any other enc
my" And in compliance with your re-
quest that l should give such information
as | possess in regard to the situation of
the detachment referred to by Mr.. King,
at the time of Huli's cap:tulaton, and the
position Of Gen. Cass in relation to it, and
whether the General was in any way
guilty of anything unbecoming brave
and gallant officer have the honor to
state, in reply, that the charges made by
Mr.. King relate TO the surrender of de-
tachment sent by order OF General Hull,
on the 18th Of August, 1912, to meet
convoy Of provisions, under the command
of Captain Henry Brush of Ohio, suppo-
sed then to be on the route from the river
Rasin to the army at Detroit.
As the acting adutant general of the
army, | detailed that detachment, and, by
the order Of Gen. Hull, placed Col. Nc
Arthur, { not Col. Cass) in command of it.
The Gen. directed that the detachment
should consist of one hundred and fifty
men from Col. McArthur's and the same
number from Col. Cass' regiment, and
few mounted men were directed to ac-
it. Before the detachment march
ed, number of volunteers joined it from
both reg ments, SO that the aggregate force
when it left the camp was about four hum
dred men. Col. Cass was not part of
the detail-he joined as a volunteer.-
When | understood he desired to go, OBJ
jected to two colonies going with so small
a detachment; but the service was con-
sidered by us all as extremely perious.
Colonel Cass claimed it as a right to share
the danger with his men, and he was per-
mitted by the General, not ordered, to ac-
them.
On the 10th Of August, Gen. Hull sur
rendered the fert and army, by capitula-
ton, to the British forces under the COM
mand of Maj. Gen. Brock, and included
Col. Macarthur detachment in the apt