Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-08-17
Cass and Taylor.
"REMINISCENCES OF 1872 AND 10.

of a volume of that staunch Democratic iournal OF
the period, Niles Register, embracing the months
between September, 1912, and March, 1913. The
name and exploits of Captain z. Taylor are fire.
quently mentioned in the highest terms of euiogy,
and is convincing evidence of the debt of gratitude
due by lis country for eminent services rendered
in the early days of his military career.
AT the period we allude to, we are not so fortu~
nate in finding the name of a superior officer 50 eu-
logistlcally portrayed We refer 10 that OF Colonel
Cass. In fact we perceive this officers name altu-
ded TO but once in terms of appreciation, and then
in connection with a surrender. This Instance was
in Hull official report Of his surrender Of Detroit,
in which he says, alIudipg to Cass and four others,
II have to express my obligations to them for the
prompt and judicIous manner tney have perform
ed their respective dpties.'
But itappears that Cass was not 50 unlucky as
to be at Detroit when il was shameful lily surrendered
t. Gen. Brock. 1t is evident that he had some pre-
vious knowledge that such would be the case, or
fearful of meeting the foe. dastardly loitered be-
hind at a moment 0feXtreme danger, when both his
counsel and his command were likely to be of snch
eminent service. The following, in Gen. Hulrs
report, will explain the foregoing:
1.-THE provisions being still az The river Elisin, on
the 18th | PERMITTED Coils Macarthur and Cass
to select from their regiment four hundred of their
most effective men, and proceed an upper route
through the woods.
He further says that at the time Ct detaehing
these officers, "the force of the enemy was contin-
ually increasing" Thus it seercs that two Colo
nels were -oermised," of course at their own re-
Quest, to absent themselves from the main body of
army at a most critical moment, take with them
''their moss effective men" and proceed 10 the RI
yer Raisin, for the alleged purpose of e~scorting
back a few provisions. Gen. Hull continues:
"On the 18th, in the evening, Gen. Brock arrig~
ed at Amherstbufg about the hour Coils McArthur
md Cass marched, of which at that time / had re-
no information. On the 18th | received a
summons from him to surrender Fort Detroit. At
this time | had received no information from COLI
Macarthur and Cass. An express was Immediately
sent, strongly escorted, with orders for them to re-
turn. On the 18th, as soon as Gen. Brock Eeceiv>
ed my letters, his batteries opened upon the town
and fort and continued until evening. At daylight
on the 10th Cat ,chich time I had recei1ed no intor-
nHiOn from co., Mc1TWuT dNH SuSS,) uEG Cd
nonade recommended"
Nor were they heard from till the British had
possession Of Detroit. After Hull had capituIated
md was a prisoner, Col. Cass, at the request of-his
Macarthur, writes a flaming letter 10 the
Secretary Of War, in his own happy style, depre-
Gates the conduct Of Hull, speaks of certain victo-
~ if he had fought, tells of the indignation preva.
among oil the officers, buthimself IN particular,
md conveys the idea, through his cunning intellect
md talented pen, ''thas had Col. Cass been in Gen.
Huips place, Detroit never woaid have surrender
3D." But we would call attention to this fact, that
the official report Of Hull, he says: son the 18Th
in the e~rening, Gen. Brock arriued at AmAcrstburg
tie hour Cells McArthur and Cass matched"
Col. Cass, in the report alluded 10, says:
About sunset on the 18th [instead of the 13th1
a detachmento of $50 men Instead of 400 from the
regiments commanded by Col. S Macarthur and N.Y.
self, was ordered [instead of permitted to march
to the river Raisin, to escort the provisions, which
had some time remained there, protected by a par
ty under the command of Captain Brush."
So, by Col. Cass's report, the detachment in
he commanded left the main body at that cri-
moment, and for the frivolous pretext for which
i was permitted, about t,oentyjfour hours later than
stated by Gen. Hall. Now wescan see no reason
the American commander would use subter-
fuge or make a false statement in a matter of this
But there was great inducement for Col.
.ass, if he regarded his reputation, to mislead the
for it was Of the utmost importance to that
reputation that 1t be believed that he was absent oil
he expedition, at such an important iuncture, only
hours, instead of siztyJfour, for he says
n the report:
"About dark on Saturday evening the detach-
nent sent to escort The provisions received orders
o return with as much expedition as possible
Abont 10 o'clock the next day 10th they arrived
n sightof Detroit"
When the detachment returned, Detroit had Ca
Now, Col Cass uses the broadest SUBJ
erfuge in his report to Mr.. Eustis, who was then
Secretary Of War. He speaks of a detachment
rom his regiment to escort provisions" " but he does
lot tell the Secretary who commanded that ode
achment," or intimate in the least in his whole let
er that HE was absent with this detachment from his
If a man finds it necessary to use sub
erfuge SO gross, he will not hesitate to state what is
falss-and he who would do both upon a
natter so grave, would not stop at the gull of sac
Ifcing his country for a touch of fbe anemv,e