Western Sun, Volume 4, Number 21, Vincennes, Knox County, 18 April 1812 — Page 2

. J .... Him nn lit i diuu i:i -

id in the Qiicharire t vour r-i.y o

of honor, they are n calira upon i Leve that you died as a fowl Aieth," lu

. , . . . a .

gltiveS from 5 out p-Ks,and under inc miiu race of the mo cowardly feart. -but wMe T have lift mv vo ce at left (lnll bt raifed ..ainfl eeery attempt 10 mfolt your allies .u' .u. rmi have ac qui red.

William H Harrison.

fhe feelings of our ciueens who loft dirndl iu the adion of the 7th of Nov. lift, it illnrtratfd by the following at.eennt' A former thit county had in the adion a brother and a brother-in-law toe brother was killed St the brother-io-law was one oi two militia men who broke through the rear line thmtly aftei the a&ion coin mCBCcd and made tUo belt ot their way to the bleckhoufe,which had been erefted on the WabaO As foon as the farmer heard of the ictton.he fet out with feveral otheri to meet ehe atmy to It-am the fate of his relations from the irltperlou he raw who couU inform him, he enquired for his hro tber-being informed that he had ocen hilled he eagerly aflced if he had behaved well ' 1 taw him fall' infwered his intorm er " bravely doing his duty." I am quite fjtisncd, replied the farmer, but where is my brother in-law, where is T d. k' He is under guard for having deferred during theicYioo" the farmer burfl into tears and Ixclaimed 4 would to God that he alfohad dud rather than have brought this dilgiate upon us." Vi-.cennes, Mruarj 9, 1812.

V.11V UJ OTBL

I - ..I.. tint SivTlrtQ and G iPtrs

v, y wh pim o companies behaved well, and if) that ot this date, you give the fame credit to Wilfons and Scotts. You alio fay that you were informed that Biggers and RoDbs companies had abandoned their pofU, and that you know nothing particularly cf the condud ot the other companies, in the U tter to the fccretaiy it is afieited that the

daftardly conduct ot tome whole militia comp nie s, led to expolure and i on lots of the lives of fome of the militia officers whole men dcfeiting the lines, were fern behind trees and under waggons where many were killed." The tenfurc contained in this paragragh mull then have

been intended by you to apply exciuiiveiy to Robbs and Biggers companies ; that Biggers company did abandon the pofition in which it had been placed before the action will not be denied, but in admitting this juftice rrcjuires that by a lingular rmttake of whofe L will not preteud to fay) that company was placed in a lituation where it was nor. only expofed to be taken in front oik and rear Oy the enemy but to be fired on alfo by our troops that a militia i ompany armed with rifles only without its captain mould break in fuch a fituation, is

not to be wondered at they are omy cenfurable for not falling back in better order St rallying bthind one of the other companies. Since the aftion 1 have been told that the greater pait of the company was rallytd by adjutant D. Floyed, and that they continuei in the line upon the left fork, until the ciofe of the aclion. Cap ain Kobb afirts that bit company was ordered to t ill back from its petition in the line by fome firld ofiuer but admitting that

this ws not the caie, every military man

inn ft allow that by its iubtequent concuct

it not onlv wined away the ttain oi a mo-

mentory indicifion, but is jufily entitled to great applauie. It was rallted by me and

..ir.ii t.x nmnt nt irrrat mioortance ano

v o rv i y O

Sir, In comntianre with your Excelleocy! reqitell, I hive the honor to oolerve that my idea of the (Utement rubmitted to the Honorable Secretary of War, on the tubieel of the affair on the morning of the 7th Nov. by Col BoyJ, was intended lole

ly to convey a knowledge oi ne - nent and ft lt prcfcrved i f he 4th Regiment without iny defigned iimu

r.-t-r-Mre. other than tnal rci.iv.vc

which necefftrily arifes to the merits and

WiiiimiT to interrupt the prepparations

- ------ i . for your voyage as little as pothble, I

have only now to requett that you woum

in opportunity, IhouM luture occanon e- , o ' . lQ infwcl the following n.iire it. in conlideration ot many cxparte , admitted that Sdcu-

publications which had pretouli appcarec n Wilfons and Scotts compa

for individual recurrence, mv uiun ; lnhed wdU-do you know or have

in the act-on. r''l,lRUW. 1 . you ever beard thjt Wamcks, iNorris, nar

perfonal knowledge of the corn veral corns during the engag

could I declare that any particular comna-

alfu liehave well

t - . i;ilUC dim i iir.ii' wi"

ic veral corps During "B-e 1

nd do every thing that ws required ot

v ju. . - - . inem ; iv uu kuit v - - -

ry abandoned their poll -out toarmany ny otHer companies but Biggers et the MiKtit were behino treej, m abondoncd itt poGtiooa in

know, and I Rneerely avow tnai . ao no, Biggtri did net form a part Derceive any infinUtion rellcaing upon Do vou know or did you ever

the conduft of the MilitlO, beyond wnat wg Wed

1 heard from themfeWes on the arrival or , Qr u(der g waggon 0r behind a tree, the army at this place. From l.apt. cott , was near the line Sc wheie

1 heard many pirticulars relating v. f ,or nrlemen to be r

Biggers and his company, and but trom in- cVfr hear that Robbs company bad formation which I conceived general and , J T hld lactd upon

.nquellionable, 1 IhouW not at tne cimc flank ? Your aniwers to theft K.Vnown that Cant. Hobbs company de- ; ... .s

feitcd the line. 1 never heart' any rcflcc- j tion upon the condua of Capt. Bigger- he milium. II. Harrison.

commanded one ot tne guards, - c G vv Prefcottl

mg ame xo Bi n u . 4;n c s R u

rncenne, iVc. 10, 1812.

or have you ever heard that any other companies than thole of B'rgrs and Robbs had abandoned their ftatior.s in the action f" I mult ttate that I neither know nor have 1 beard of any other companies who had deferted their polls, nor do 1 con ceive that thole companies can julily be con fide red to have abandoned their polls, as B ggers was ctrtainiy attacked in front, lank, and rer ; their captain on guard

and themfches oerpowered by rumoers. Kobbs company in common with the whole of that flank, may alio juftly be faid to Iuvp criven wav befoie luperior numbers;

Robbs company was rallied and taken tu

the right flank, where tney mamuny X attacks of the favaes,

until the dole of tbe adlion, and futierea l'everely a their lift of killed and wounded will Ihow, which aniwers alfo your excelbut) s fecond queftion, iz. M Do you not know or have you futneient reafoU to believe from what you have beard, that Robbs company w s rallied and removed to the right flank, where in a pell of great danger it lontinued to dif ha:ge its duty until the dole of theaclion?" In aniwer to the third quefhon 4 Do you know or have you ever heard that any militia ofl.cer or foldier was killed or wounded behind orun der waggons or behind trees, were on or near the line, and where of courfe it was proper for riflemen to be ?" I mull declare

I neither know, nor ever heard, tna; any ofTicer or foldier was wounded or killed behind trees or waggons. Moll of thole who were wounded, retired to the Center of the camp, which may have led thoie who fupeificially obferved things to fuppofe that they were there wounded fuch people alfo might have miiUkeu waggoners men in the contractors and quaiter msfters depart-

ment, who were not tew, whole duty canea them about the waggons, for thefe who had

fVd from their pods. It muft be indeed a lourceof regret to your excellency, to find people, who are perhaps not the moll de-

terving, Driving to rend in pieces tne lau

rel wreath which your little army lo gailantly won merely becaufe they cannot

be the exclufive owner?. tor trem mould he wore the wreath of difcord, Iab( lied with

dilutions, folly and madnefs, on its front.

That fuch may no more diiturb wtiere you command fir, is the with of you obedient

fervant.

Nathl F. Adam:,

Gapt. 4th Reg. Inf. Adj. of the

army on the expedition

ry, and julily merit tlic applaufe of their fellow citizens, and believe me fir, nothing gives me more pleafure than teftifying this

fa. I have tbe honor to be with much repec, fir, your obedient feivant, Geo, P, Peters, Lieut. 4:h Regt. Inf.intry commanding late Capt. Vintworth's company in the adVton. His Excellency William. Henry Harrison

Vincenncs, Feb, 23:h, 13 IS.

SIR.

Agreeable to your requeft I anfwer the three queftions as follow s : lit. 1 do not know, tioi have I ever heard of any other militia companies than Biggers and Robbs, that abandoned their f t 1 1 on s but 1 beleive the whole of the line crofs the left flank fell back in full attack. 2d, I am well fatisfied by what I have heaui, that Robbs company was rallied and removed to the right flank, where in a poll of great danger it continued toditcharge its duty until the clufe of the acYion. 2d. I do not know nor luve I heard, that any militia officers or toldiers, was killed or wounded behind or under waggons or behind trees, unlefs the trees were on or near the line. I am refpeclfully, fir, your obt. fervt. A, Hawkins, Lieut. 4th Reg. Inft. His Excellency William Henry Harrison,

VincenncS) March 1, 1812.

SIR

Sir,

Vine earns i February 15, 1312

4 th

,n T informed he took a mufoet j

and fell into the ranks with the men of j Capr. Scotts company, whofe company as

the company of Capt. WUlon, irverunoer- ( uenionsof this morn ,od and believe behaved with great bra- J impofliole tor me to give that con

vpiv I know nothing particularly oi inc . o . moment I had

- oil n k.101 i n k ui w - - - .

- ; never any pci tonal knowledge ot the L.p

condjd of otlur companies. I have the honor to be with great etteem rtfpeatutly your Ewllency,i obedient G. UK Prcscoil, Capt, His EnceMency Gov. Berrifon.

Grouse land, 9tb Fi'. 1BH.

sin

I hav- this moment received your letter

l t - . r

ot this date. It s not as lausiacior, . eould have wilbed it, and I am lorry to bo obliged again o trouble you upon the eve of your d,partme. Since 1 converted With you on the fttbiecl, the letter to the Secretary of War figned by col. Boyd

and youifelf, has appeared 10 tne papers. Whatever might have been the motrvci with Whith it Was wjater, i- t5 mon evident that a thorough iovtftigation tt their connd m the eel n of the fth ot Nov. w.-uld acquit the militia of that a'molt in-difv-riminate cenfure which that Lticr has call upon tl rm. Qf tbia difcripiiou of troops thert were

tains named in your firl quyi and do not know that they as well as then men " did not behave well, and do every thing that

f them." 1 know of no

other companies than Robbs and Biggers,

that abandoned their pofition in the line to which reference could have been had, as tinted in mv Note ot yeilerday. 1 have reoeatedly heard that more than

' one militia man 11 was killed behind trees j or waggons," wnere they could not att as

Riflemen, or in any other way to tne annoyance of the enemy 1 never beard that Robbs company behaved amifs after your Excellency had placed it on the right Hank lam Sir, re fpc& fully your Lxcciie. -cy's obiciicut fervant. G. UK Preston

1 have the honor to rcttrn you tbe fol

lowing aniwers to ti e ctuelions contained in vour Note of this morning, sddrelTed to ......

the Giptains ot the Kegiinent, aim tne Subalterns who commanded companies in the atfion of the 7:h November.

Vothe firit oueUion I aniwer : " I hat

I have been informed by good authority a

fmall comnanv Cor detbebment) under the

command of capt. Becks, whofe ftation was

immediately on the Ictt ot capt. oeifcer s company, abandoned tin ir poll on the firft

attack ot the Indians, without navmg on

charged a fingle piece at the enemy, and

were not again rallied to tneir uuvy When this circumllance took place 1 was in another part of the camp and confequently did not myfelf fee it but was foon af ter by vour order pUced in the vacancy oc

cafioned by their detc-rtion, witn tne com-

oany I had the honor to command.

Lo tbe lecond qurltion l man amwci . ThAt I know nothing of dpt. Robbs com-

.

oanv ourmg the ation; but your otucial

rrnm t is tutticent reaton ior me xo m nc vr

that they were rallied wnd placed on the

noht tiank to lurport tre brave captain

Spencer's compl y, and in that ftation did their duty of u.e danger of this puft 1 am well convinced. To vour third qurftion pleafe to ICCept the following anfwei s That fur.e of the milnia wee? in ti e icTton, behind and under waggOtit, and behind trees, " 1 bve not the leaU doubt, and 1 have the lifertiont of Brigade Major Claik and other rcfueCtatle officers, to confirm me yo that i n 1

In anfwer to your note addretTcd to the captains of the 4th Regiment Infantry, I reply that I have no perfonal knowledge of any militia company, or even an individual of the militia, having behaved amifs in the action of the 7th of Nov. but I have heard and believe the faSt that Robbs and Riggers companies and a fmall detachment which was placed on left of the Geigers, did absndon their pofition. I never did hear but from cel. Boyd, thit any of the militia were killed behind trees and under waggons. I was in col. Boyds room alter the return of the troops to this place, and the colonel read to me a letter from a bock,

whu h purported to be a copy ot a letter to the Secretery of War. 1 was r quelled by the colonel to fign the copy w hie h I did under the ida, that it contained nothing more to the prejudice of the militia, than that fome of the companies had given wrty of this fact: I had no reafon to doubt but, lince the publication of the letter figned by i ol. Boyd and capt. Prefect:. I find that the cenfure appears more genera lthn I had conceived, and lam free to derlaie, that I

know no'thiwg of the milconduct ot any one but from information derived from

others. I have the honor to be, fir, with fentiments of refpeft, yourobedt. fervt. Joel Cook, Capt. 4tU Reg. Inft. His Excellency William. Henry Harrison,

r, m ion I L i niai on.

wounded in thofe places is more than 1 can fay, as the 6tu ition of my poll wis f jc h as prevented me from known g wfut took o!jce i i the i en tre of the camp. My opinion of the conduct of the militia nearly and perhaps exactly accords with vour Excellency's That, hough fome of them were deficient in thrir duty, the greater pari behaved with diftiftguilM brare-

wr re

kill i

f tTtS Excellency WiUitm Henry H arson, Governor and Cemmander tn GhieJ j the Indian Ttttitoty Si k, In anfwer to the queftions which your Excellent) hit put to mc . 44 Do you know,

Vincennes, Feb. 15. 18 12. His Excellency William H. Harrison, SlRt . . . In anfwer to tbe ciuellions contained m your Note of the Uth inft. We the Surgeons who weie in the late battle on the Wabafli, ttate, that we i( know or have heard of no militia officer or foldier who was killed or wounded behind or under waggons or bebind any tree, unlefs that tree was on or near the line." On the contrary we have every reafon to believe, that all thofe whoweffj brought to the hotpital tent to be dretTed, receievcd their wounds at their proper polls and in ditcharge of their duty the wounded were geueralU brought in fupporied by one or two of thtir comrades, who (unlefs particularly reqneftod to remain) returned to the tines where fome of them were wounded and brought io oy others In but two inftances were we called from the Surgery

to drefs WOttodt. Mtj. iieis ardUtpt. Warrick, who were earned into tents a lew pates behind tbe bnrs. . Cummings. Iosea Blood. . Scull.