Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-04-05


lFrom the Free Press Of March 2stb.l
We Published an article ia the Free Press,
a week or two since, entitled, ''1Ae Anack and
Dsfiuse Of Piatisbhrgh in lsli," the initials
appended 10 which were doubtless recognized
by many OF our readers as those OF Gen. Syl-
yester Churchill, Of the U. S. Army. Il al
luded 10 statement furnished him by the Rev.
Eleazer Williams. That statement has since
been furnished US by Mr. Williams, and is print
ed at length below. It gives fuller details Of
the incidents mentioned by Gen. Churchill, and
will be found interesting.
WAsHisoTos, 10Th Feb, 1856.
SIR; AgTeeably 10 your request that should
communicate 'some Of the many interesting in
ciden,s which transpired within my own knowl-
edge and observation, while acting as confden-
iial agent Of the Government" in the war Of
lsl2. l now select one which perhaps may
norbe unworthy your attention
The sudden retreat Of IA 600 British troops
and 400 Indians from Platsbureh. and the State
of New York, on the Iih September 1914,
has been a subjec, of universal surprise and as
ionishmeni, not only TO Americans, but 10 those
of the British Army who have dispassionalely
considered the great dsproporiion of the strength
Of the two coniending armies, a, the time when
the removal Of the army under Gen. lizard,
from the Northern Frontier, had left The i'm
portant post Of Plaitsbureh TO the command Of
Gen. Macomb with 1900 combauanis, nearly
100 Of whom were on the invalid list.
To leave the Post of Plailsburgh, at this
juncture Of the war, in so feeble a state, !
have ever considered one Of the many errors
committed by the Government in the military
movements on the Canadian border, which al
most proved fatA 10 The little army and to the
Government property collected at the Post,
which cost not less than half million Of dol
lars; and perhaps the catastrophe which might
have occurred may have been averied by a lit
tie circumstance, which in its consequences was
important TO the Post OF Pla,tsburgh, to the ar
my, the Government Property, 10 the American
Flag, and the future invasion OF the enemy
When the invading army Of Sir George Pre-
yost entered into the State Of New York, and
we saw his gradual approach 10 Plaitsburgh,
we were, Of course, in a state Of alarm, and
sought every means in our power to impede its
progress and to defeat his designs Of conquest.
But for a time all resistance was Intellectual -
His formidable force enabled him TO overcome
every obstacle in his way, until he reached the
point of his destination, and drew up his forces
in frort OF our unfinished forts and batteries,
the grand object Of his invasion.
Knowing, as did, our comparative weak
ness and their numerical strength, there was, At
times, miseivings as 10 the success Of the en-
eagement, and this opinion was prevalent
among the officers with whom | had become ac-
quainled. However, this was bot Of momen-
tary remark. On reflection | considered that
my life was in my hands, to serve the Govern
meat. 10 sustain the honor Of our Flag. Amer
lea expects, nay, demands, of every man 10 do
his duty even unto death. Therefore would
not relax my efforts to perform the responsible
duty which had been assigned me. Thus far
had she expressed her approval and applause.
An incident had occurred on the OH Of Sep
iember in an interview with certain citizen,
who had for series Of years given much irou-
bic to the revenue department in the Champlain
District, by smuggling contraband goods from
and to the enemy. lpresume he was not aware
that ! was informed of his having been 10 the
enemy's camp 10 the las, "a hours.
He at first, in cnrsory manner, remarked
The detention Of the British feet, and that Sir
George Provost was very uneasy at this, as he
would not act without the cooperation Of the
Navy, and wiihal, that he was somewhat alarm
ed about the gathering of the Militia in his
front and elsewhere, and something more which
strongly indicated that the British General did
not feel himself secure to continue much longer
without action as, If delayed, his success
mgel be more doubtful in consequence Of the
increase of State troops in the American camp,
and from the very nature Of the surrounding
country, which was best calculated for them to
act against him. and most unfavorable to his
own lroops-pariieularly the dragons.
To increase the alarm las represented by The
citizen just referred to,) of the British general,
Sir George Provost, plan was matured, and
executed by The writer, and in which he was
somewhat assisted by Col Fassei, of Burling-
ton, VT, then commanding that Post. This
was to play coup de man upon Sir George.
Two letters were written, and by my request
were signed by the above colonel. Icannot 60
lnto details oil me purport OF tnese ielIersI nut
the following may suffice
THAT although His Excellency, Gov. Chit
tenden, had hitherto conslilutionally opposed
the war, and had contended that State troops
could not legally be called upon to invade The
enemy's territories, yet, on being invaded by
the enemy-in the United States, he was cap
tain-general Of The State troops. and could not
evade the FIRST law of Naiure-ssLf-defense. He
therefore is marching with force Of some
eight or ten thousand troops, to fall upon The
rear Of The enemy. He will probably cross at
Alhurgh and take position 10 the neighborng
woods, and upon the heights Of champain.--
He has boats with him which will enable him
to cross in hours. BY his orders all the Mil
iiia in the Northern part OF the State srs to