The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-05-17
six horse1nen Immediately. Are that mum.
Der of Smyth's company there ?-if 50.
send them. indeed. send any there are.
WM. HULL, Brig. Gen.

/ WM. HULL, Brig. Gen.
"llIdiS yeyenon a mas battaiile"
But to return to the battle Of Mongua.
gon. The ferceness of that bloody flight,
and the glorv Of the victory, have been lit
tie known or appreciated in the history Of
our wars.
1t was fought Oh the Sth of August, 1912
There were no roads leading TO the States
only Indian trails and bride pa,hs--ex-
cept few rough passages cut by the army
Of Gen. Hull, and all these were beset with
hostile savages. SO that strong force was
required to pass III safety.
The first news Of the battle and victory
that reached the States was accompanied
by the astonishing fact Of the surrender of
the whole army and Countrywide glory of
the victory was swallowed up and lost in
the sad calamity that followed it,
, | think that no detailed report was ever
made by Gen. Hull.
Many Of our people bore distinguished
part in the battle some fell in the field,
and some are yet living among Us.
Major Van Horn, brave officer Of the
OHIO troops. had been surprised and defea-
ted a few days before, at Brownstown, with
some loss. and the communication with
Ohio was completely blocked up. Gen.
Hull saw the absolute necessity Of opening
the communication, and on the eth of Au-
gust ordered Col. James Miller (the late
Gen Miller) to march with the 4.h Regi-
ment Except one company, left under Ma
jor Denny, to garrison small stockade on
the Canada shore,) small detachment
from the LIST Infantry. and few men from
Capt. Dyson's Artillery, then stationed in
the fort-about three hundred regular
troops in all detachment from the Mich
igan Legion Of about sixty men, under
Captain Antoine Bequindre. a part of
Snyth's troop Of cavalry. The Michigan
troops were mostly volunteers from among
our French inhabitants, ard braver fellows
never entered battle field. There were
10 Ohio Dragons under Major Sloan, and
two hundaed Ohio rifemen under Major
Morrison The detachment had also six
FOUNDER under It. Eastman, and howitzsr
under Lit. Daliba. The whole force com.
posed six hundred men.
The late Commodore Breyoort, who was
a Captain in the Infantry, but commanded
| the government vessels on the lake, and
! Capt Abraham + Hull, son of the Gen
eral volunteered as aids to Col Miller.
/ Major Thompson Maxwell led the spies,
and was to reconnoitre and point out the
route He was accompanied by several
citizens Of Detroit.
The troops paraded on the north side o;
jefferson avenue, nearly opposite where
the Exchange now stands Col. Miller
rode to the front and centre, and said
Soldiers. We are now going to meet the
enemy, and to beat them the reverse Of
the 9th IVAN Horns defeat) must be repair
ed The blood of our brethren, split Ly the
savages must be avenged. ! shall lead you
You shall not disgrace yourselves nor me
Every man who shall leave the ranks, o.
fall back without orders, will be instantly
put to death. | charge the officers to exc
cute this order" Then, addressing tn,
4th Regiment he said: "My brave soldiers
you will add another victory to that o
Tippecanoe, another laurel to that gaiueI
on the Wabash last fall If there is nov
any man in the ranks of the detachmen
who fears to meet the enemy, let him fal
, out and stay behind A general "Hurrah'
followed the speech, and III not say II
not stay ran trough the ranks.
Many Of our citizens, and among then
, Thomas Palmer. ESD. were present, AIT
we'll remember all the circumstances.
The detachment then wheeled by sec
tons to the right into open column, an'
5 marched off in high spirits, through Spring
, wells to the River Rouge, which they reach
ed that night There being no bridge
and but two scows, il was about 10 o'cloc
before all were over, and they bivouacke
> till daylight, and then marched-MajO
q Maxwell in advance with the spies, tn
! vanguard under the chivalrous Smelling
consisting of forty men, in advance.
r The infantry marched in two columns
about two hundred yards apart; the cavalr
in columns Of double files, in the centr;
keeping the road, the artillery followed
:. flank guards of rifemen, and rear guarc
n marched to the proper distance. By th
D formation the troops were ready to forI
their line of battle on any front where the
should be attacked.
About . O'Clock, few scattering Indian
. were seen flying in the distance, and tn
!. spies rapidly advanced, but, not discover
ing any considerable force. they fell bac
, TO report.
). a few minutes afterwards old Mr. Viii;
who kept little store where Buffers e'
;. change office is, and who had gone with th
q troops. an amateur, and was ahead of til
. spies, was shot from his horse by some IL
o dians, who were concealed behind Waikiki
Q the.water's house He was scalped, an
4 the Indians fed on horseback, before tn
g vanguard could reach the place.
}. The horse Of poor White, with his sal
die and blanket stained with his life bloc,
was brought back to his young son.
The troops moved on in order; abo,
half nast three o'clock the columns arrive
a. the Oak Woods-in very few momeu
j a volley was heard from Snelling's advanc
guards and another returned-the trooE
=, were eager for the fight. Col Miller ROD
at full speed to the centre, and gave the o
Is der to form the line of the battle 70 tt
front which was PROMPTLY executed