Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-08-02
POLITICAL.
FROM THE CUMBERLAND CIVILIAN.
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY

III. 81.
and by reference to recorded history to ascertain the
validity OF his preensons to military fame In do.
Ing This, we have no desire to detract from his real
merits: Our only wish is TO ascertain what they
are. Ills friends claim for him great military dis
junction. II cannot certainly be improper to try the
claim by application of the tests of historical truth
30 far as the candidate of the Wing party is con-
cerned, we challenge the scrutiny, invite the
same investigation.
Without further preface, therefore, we shall pro-
coed at once TO the examination.
In the year 1912, Gen. Cass was Colonel of
volunteers. and accompanied Gen. Hull on his
march to Detroit. This was the commencement of
his military career. In the ''Life of Gen. Cass -
myrIadS OF copies of which have been scattered
broadcast over the land, it is claimed that CHE WAS
THE FIRST MAN TO LAND IN ARMS IN THE ENEMY IS
COUNTRY" The orators of the party have caught
up the cry, and in every paper engaged in advoca
ting the claims Of "Cass and Butler" it is repeated
dd nauseam
Now the merit ef this achievement, upon which
history Is as silent as the tomb, depends more upon
''e uilicuines-the opposltion-encountered at the
Time OF landing, than upon anything else There
is nothing but vague report unattested by the name
OF solitary witness, to prove that Gen. Cass was
the FIRST man in Hull's unfortunate expedition to
plant his foot on the soil of Canada But taking it
Tor granted that he was the first to lump ashore
from the boats, did he in so doing expose his bosom
TO a hostile bayonet, or fight his way through the
thick ranks OF an opposing foe? Let the records
OF history decide the matter:
we are happy to announce" says Duane's .4u-
rora' (vol. 8, p 1922 of that day, "the glorious
news mat GENERAL Hull and his army had LANDED
SAFE In Canada, with little or no opposition. and
taken possession of the town of Sandwich"
ny the llth," says another account by an off
Ger Of the army, 1--WE had brought up our military
stores, and at break of day gave them display of
our little army in order of battle and just at sunrise
crossed, and made good our landing ON the Canada
shore In their sight, but, greatly to our surprise,
without experiencing any opposition, or the firing
81 a single shot at us."-3 Duaue's JFeskly aurora,
1857
Robert Wallace, jr, one of the aids OF General
Hull, wrote as follows: "The most of our army
landed on the British shore this morning, ,cithout
opposition. ~ Same, ll3.)
ne army" says another contemporary as
count, crossed Detroit river, above the town. on
inc l2th, without recciring any opposition. Sand
wien, beautiful and extensive village opposite
Detroit, was deserted and evacuated."-( Same.
1861 N''
A soldier, writing in the Chilicothe FREEDMAN
OF that day, gives still more graphic description
OF this gallant landing: 81 appeal to any American
In the army to say, if at that moment 10th of u-
ments of Maiden. OH what laurcls awaited us
there! have no more doubt that Fort Maiden, in
upper canada, would have surrendered tous then,
without our losing scarcely man, than have OF
ola General HuliS being coward. day or two
afterwards we crossed the river and that poor old
soul was heard to eXclaim when the boat that car
Ied INN was about To touch the shore the critical
moment draws near!' when we were met by an
awful iorce, 10 be sure-t,co old ,oomen ,cduing
'ch,te handkerchiefs "-(S Same, 1917
NOW Imagine the valiant Cass sword i'm hand
burning to avenge his country's wrongs. leaping
Columbus-lIke upon the shores of an untried land
ana instead OF the brsiling bayonet, the whising
bullet and the deathdealng cannon ball encounter
ing t'co on ,comen acaUing uvtite handkerchiefs!
30 much for being the first to land in arms in the
enemy's country
Bat 1t is said in the ''Life of Cass," and copied
IN the party papers, that, besides being the first to
land on the Canada shore, Gen. Cass ''spiH the
fnst blood during the toar." This blood. we sup.
pose, was split during the two skirmshes generally
knowr as those at the river .aotr Canals let Ms
see what share Gen. Cass had in these affairs
Inc following account of the .4ur Canards Skin
mishes is to be found in Duane's weekly Aurora
vol: ., p 10. 1t is from the lips of Capt Sutton
| and Lieut.. Van Horne of the American army:
! I'm Tie 10th utlmo, about 800 men under the
command OF Colonies Cass and Miller, were de
sPatched TO Teconnotre the British who were post
ed, oOO strong, at the bridge about five miles fror
Maiden, and twelve from Sandwich. After arrl
wing near the bridge, Colonies Cass and Miller de
tached capt. RoblnSOn's company to amuse the en-
envy while they marched up the river about sever
mics ana crossed at the ford for the purpose of sur
Prlslng them, and intercepng their retreat to Nal
| Gen. Hopes were entertained that the whole o
the British would have been taken but Captain
hooinson executed his orders so badly that Coils
lass and Miller were unable to gain their medita
Yea position before they were discovered by the
British. y
"a slight skirmish however took place bm III,
detachment Immediately charged ON The enemu
'cho retreatcd precipitdtely to The fort In the
skirInlsh the British lost eleven men in killed and
wounded. Alter taking possession of the ground
the enemy left, Colonies Cass and Miller ordered
captain Robinson TO occupy the bridge and GUARD
1t that night, the rest of the detachment occnpic(
the houses contiguous. During the night the,
were reinforced by the rest of the regiment. TN,
nert morning the detachment recoRnoitcred N,
country around. bm moi. finding dny of Tic cncmv
they evacuated The bridge and returned 10 The ram,
tcithout sustaining nny loss.
Immediately after the detachment evacuateC
the bridge, the British reposted Themselves Their,
with six pieces of artillery. On the l9h. Col
| M'Arthur was detached with Major Trimble's bat
talon as scouting party. They Immediately
marched for the bridge and spent most of the da,
sklrmishing, in which the British lost number in
killed and wounded Col. M'Arthur had only two
men slightly wounded. In the evening they wer,
reinforced by Col. Cass with one battalion from h
regiment and a field piece. The ncrt nlornins
they drcto the choie up in order of battle in front
The bridge, and fired a fer rounds, ,chen The enem,
commenced q hcary caanonad,ng on them. tn
detachment then filed eff and returned To the CAM
all sofc.."
But Col. M'Arthur has given an account Of tht
matter, which shows the exploit in its prope
! light:
''We fought about three hours" says the Col.
''at so great distance, and the river between US
that there could be but little injury done on eithe