story of their defeat by you, and subsequent abandonment by the British, communicated by themselves, would probably have a decided effect on their red brethren of the south, and save us the trouble and expense of beating them into a sense of their own interest. When I wrote to you from Wilna, it was doubtful whether our attack would be made directly upon Kingston or upon Montreal. Reasons exist for preferring the latter course, and have probably determined general Wilkinson to go down the St. Lawrence. In this case, the enemy will have at Kingston, besides his fleet, a garrison of 12 or 1400 men. Had we not a corps in the neighbourhood, these might do mischief, and even render insecure the winter station of our fleet. To prevent this it is deemed advisable to draw together at Sackett's Harbour a considerable military force. There are now at that post four or five hundred men of all descriptions-sick, convalescent, and effective. Colonel Scott's detachment (about 700) are on their march thither, and it is barely possible that colonel Randolph's (not arriving in time to move with the army) may be there also. This does not exceed three hundred and fifty. M'Arthur's brigade added to these will make a force entirely competent to our object. To bring this brigade down the lake you must have the aid of the fleet, which will be readily given by commodore Chauncey. On this point I shall write to him, and suggest a communication with you in relation to it. "This new disposition will render necessary the employment of so many of the militia and volunteers, now in service under general M'Clure, as you may deem competent to the safe keeping of forts George and Niagara, and their dependencies.' Sir, Head-Quarters, Newark, November 16, 1813. Commodore Chauncey with the fleet arrived here yesterday morning, and informed me that he was ready to receive the troops to convey them down the lake; and that the season was so far advanced, rendering the navigation dangerous to the smaller vessels, that it was desirable they should be embarked as expeditiously as possible. As a very small part of the militia and volunteers had arrived, and the situation of Sackett's Harbour appearing to me to require immediate reinforcement, I did not think proper to take upon myself the responsibility of postponing the departure of the troops for the lower part of the lake, conformably to the directions contained in your letter of the 3d instant. "The information I received yesterday from two respectable citizens that were taken near to fort Meigs in June last, and who made their escape in an open boat from Burlington, confirms me in the propriety of sending them off. These men state, the troops were hurrying to Kingston from York, as fast as possible. The regulars going down in boats and militia bringing the latter back. The troops are now all embarked and are under the command of colonel Smith, who is an officer in whose capacity and bravery the greatest reliance may be placed. I shall set out this evening for the seat of government. I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your humble servant, WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. Hon. John Armstrong, Esq. Secretary of War. Correspondence with Governor Shelby, in relation to the NorthWestern Campaign. Sir, Frankfort, August 1, 1813. A few days ago I was honoured with a letter from general Harrison, under date of the 20th ultimo, by his aid-de-camp, Trimble. In it he says, that " he had just received a letter from the secretary at war authorising him to call from the neighbouring states such numbers of militia as he might deem requisite for the ensuing operations against Upper Canada." In pursuance of that power, he has made a requisition on the government of Kentucky for reinforcements, and has referred me to major Trimble for information, &c. &c. and has in warm terms solicited my taking the field in person. Much delay would have been the inevitable consequence of ordering out the militia as infantry in the ordinary mode, by draft. As mounted volunteers, a competent force can, I feel confident, be easily raised. I have therefore appointed the 31st of this month, at Newport, in this state, for a general rendezvous of mounted volunteers. I have the honour of inclosing, for the information of the president, a copy of my address to the militia of this state on the occasion. The prospect of acting efficiently against Upper Canada will, I have no doubt, call forth a large force to our standard, and they will be immediately marched to the head-quarters of the north-western army, in such bodies as will best facilitate their movements; when there they can act as foot or mounted, as circumstances may require. I shall take great pleasure to hear from the president on this subject previous to my departure from this place, nd I request the favour of you to lay this letter immediately before him for his consideration, and that you will be pleased to apprise me of the result by the earliest conveyance. I have the honour to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant, The honourable the Secretary of War. Sir, ISAAC SHELBY. Red Hook, North River, August 21, 1813. I had the honour of receiving your excellency's letter of the 1st of August by the southern mail of yesterday, and of learning from the war office that a copy of it had been forwarded to the president for his consideration and orders. These will be communicated to your excellency as promptly as possible. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. &c. JOHN ARMSTRONG. His Excellency the Governor of Kentucky. Note. It is understood that it was not till the receipt of the above at the war office, for transmission to Kentucky, that governor Shelby's letter was sent to the president. Sir, War Office, September 27, 1813. In the absence of the secretary of war, I have the honour to inform your excellency, that the president has been pleased to approve your arrangements, in substituting volunteers for the detached militia required by general Harrison. The term of service for the detachment under your excellency, must depend on the arrangements of the commanding general, to whom you are referred for the necessary information relative to their duty, and the points where your troops will be expected to operate. It will be proper for your excellency to keep up a correspondence with general Harrison. This is rendered the more necessary, as the several requisitions which have been made by him for volunteers and militia have not been accurately reported to the war office; and it is possible he may find it adviseable to discharge a part of your force before they reach the frontier. In the present critical period of the campaign, it seems adviseable to submit all further arrangements to general Harrison, under the instructions he has received from the president through the secretary of war. With perfect respect, I have the honour to be, your excellency's most obedient humble servant, DANL. PARKER, C. C. War Department. His Excellency Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. Correspondence between the Secretary of War and Major-General Hampton. Dear Sir, September 1, 1813. Prevost has gone up to the head of the lake; Yeo has followed him. The object is either to attack Boyd, or to draw Wilkinson to the west, and spin out the campaign, without either giving or receiving blows of decided character. In either case, his [Prevost's] rear is manifestly neglected, and we must not lose the advantage he presents for attacking it. Wilkinson has gone on to fort George to baffle Prevost (if the former be his object), and to bring off the army, should the other be manifestly his intention. If Chauncey beat Yeo, sir George's case will be desperate. This is the pivot on which the issue of the campaign turns. I am, dear sir, yours, &c. Sir, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Camp, near Burlington, Sept. 7, 1813. Your letter of the 1st instant came to hand, by express, the last evening. My dispositions for a movement had been shaped to meet the arrangement communicated in my letter of the 31st ultimo; but I called together the heads of departments this morning to know how far it would be practicable to anticipate that which you had indicated in your despatch of the 29th, and it was found impracticable. Learned's regiment has not arrived. The ordnance and fixed ammunition belonging to the artillery were only to leave Albany on the 5th, and the latter for the infantry is not yet on its way, notwithstanding my order to major Bumford, as early as the 12th or 15th of August; and without it I shall be fifty rounds a man short, having now less than fifty, including those in the cartridge boxes. But what is worse than all, the quarter-master-general's arrangements, for the land transportation, is shaped to the 20th, and cannot be met at an earlier day. A descent by water, and direct attack on the Isle aux Noix, is out of the question. It is a place of immense strength, and cannot be approached, but by a decided superiority of naval strength. This commodore M'Donough does not pre tend to assume in the narrow waters. He has this morning been explicitly consulted upon that point. Our approach must be by the Plains of Acadia. I have directed a monthly return to be inclosed. Our strength will be less than 4000 effectives. Lane and Leonard's regiments have come on, with mumps and measles upon them, and totally destitute of the least instruction. Too much must not be expected from us. All accounts concur in representing the force of the enemy at more than 5000, exclusive of three battalions of incorporated militia (twelve months men) stationed at the Cedars and Cascades, some distance up the St. Lawrence. If any have gone to Kingston, they have been detached from these points. These battalions consist of 400 men each. I shall expect information from you respecting the state of things above, but shall not wait a moment for it, after I am ready. I have the honour to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, W. HAMPTON. Hon. John Armstrong Secretary at War.. Sir, Sackett's Harbour, September 13, 1813. Your letter of the 7th instant has been received. Chauncey probably fought a battle on the 11th instant. A heavy cannonade was distinctly heard at this place for several hours, and a boat from Great Sodus states, that an engagement between the fleets took place off Presque Isle on the northern shore of the lake. (Presque Isle is nearly opposite to Great Sodus.) We are anxiously looking for the result. Had Chauncey been beaten, or so crippled as to make it necessary for him to go into port, we should have seen him here before to-day. His absence and his silence give us, therefore, an assurance that whatever may have been the issue of the battle, it has not disabled him from covering the intended movement of the troops. Our information differs widely from yours as to the strength of the enemy at Montreal and its dependencies. A deserter from a British detachment of 300 men, moving from Montreal to Kingston, and who left them near the head of the Rapids, came to this post the day before yesterday. He states that the whole regular force near Montreal does not exceed one thousand effectives, and that but three hundred invalids have been left at Quebec. This agrees with information received through other channels less direct, and perhaps less correct, than yours. |