The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-26
WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. 25, ls4s.

WASHINGTON CITY, Sept 25, ls4s
SIR; have received your letter, dated the 23d instant
made by the Hon. Thomas Butler King against General
Cass, in speech lately delivered by him at Paterson,
New Jersey in the following words viz "Gen. Cass IS
Hull before the attack upon Detroit By the British General
Cas- received no intelligence Of the disaster TILL he 'cds
a"g as B dS s TH,ees s,,o mates 9es
regiments of men, Gen. Cas- surrendered to stagte
British officer, fourteen miles from any other enemy"
ana IN compliance Tn your request mat H. should give
the detachment referred to by Mr. King, at the time Of
Hus capituation and the position of General Cass in
relation to it, and whether the General was in any way
guilty of anything unbecomng brave and gallant Off
cer, have the honor TO sate in reply, that the charges
made by Mr. King relate to the surrender of detachment
sent by order of General Hull, the 18th of August,
1872 to meet convoy of provisions, under the command
of Captain Henry Brush of Ohio, supposed then to be
the route from the river Rasn to the army at Detroit
AS the acting adutant general of the army, detailed
that detachment, and, by the order of General Hull,
placed Col Macarthur mot Col Cass) in command of it.
The General directed that the detachment should consist
of one hundred and fifty men from Col McArhurs, and
the number from Colonel Cass's regiment and a
few mounted men were directed to accompany it. Be-
fore the detachment marched, number of volunteers
Joined it from both regiments, so that the aggregate
force when it left the camp was about four hundred
men, Colonel Cass was not apart OF the deailhe joined
as a volunteer When | understood that he desired to
CO. objected to two colonies going with so small de-
tachment; but the service considered by all
extremely perous Colonel Cass claimed it right TO
share the dangers with his men, and he permitted
by the General, not ordered, to accompany them.
On the 10th of August General Hull surrendered the
fort and army by capulaon, to the British forces under
the command of Major General Brock and included Col
McArthurs detachment in the capitulaon The colonel
had been ordered by express to return to Detroit and he
within three four miles of the fort when he re-
ceived intelligence of the surrender He fell back about
three miles to the river Huron, where he received the
articles of capituatOn, with order from General
Hull to surrender The colonel was believe, bound in
good faith to surrender but whether he not he
compelled to submit, for he had not days subsst
ence, dozen rounds of ammunition for his com
mand He was as gallant soldier and as patriotic a
citizen, as the country could boast and he did ali that
surrender of the detachment was right or wrong, he
alone responsible for it. Colonel (now GENERALLY
Cass had to do with it than the honorable gem
tleman who makes the charges against him.
From the foregoing statement you perceive that there
not single regimento surrender, nor Col
Cass in command at the time and on the occasion re-
erred TO by Mr. King. That gentleman has been
fortunate the random statement of his facts not to
have stumbled upon single truth His charges know
nothing the history of the country, written unwrit-
en to justify any OF them in the smallest degree.
As to Cen Cass, served with him in two campaign
part OF the time under his orders, and attached to his
brigade. have him in situations and under cir
cumsances that would test the courage of any man. and
he never altered but always acted in accordance with
the dictates OF high courage and patriotism Whatsoever
the enemy, but is always found on the side of the
try
am, sir, with great respect, your obedent servant
THIS. JESUP.
Hon ROBERT SMITH,
Washington City.