Western Sun, Volume 4, Number 29, Vincennes, Knox County, 23 June 1812 — Page 2

ordered- The maneuvers which were p;r formed were fuch as re peculiar to Indian warfare, a, d a pirt of the militia having been practiced in them by the governor they performed fo well that the colonel complimented them. The campaign thus com. in-nred with the moR fi ittr-ring durances of harmony and mutual confidence between the si'liti nd their immediate romimndcr. After the arrival of the 4th regt. it had in-j-p,! hem bussed about that the hie ftate of difcipline to which that corps hid ariv rd wis to be afcribed tn the It. colonel and CO the pi toon otficers. That te colonel was himfelt' perfectly iinarqu nntr d with military meters farther than what relate! to their drefl and equipage, that he had never attempted to mai cevcr his reginn-nt but twice, once at Bolton and once at Pittfbnrg and in both infonccs failed and was obliged to give it up. To hi: courtitr like manners before flrmgers,. covered the mod capricious violence Sc arbitrary tempef which fubiected his foldiers to the moll i'vete punilhments, and his non commilTiontd officers to have t'uir nots torn from their (boulders for the moll trivial faults, and infult and oppreffion to fuch of the officers as would

fubtutt to them I ht his mind was weak and frivolous, and that his military fervice in Itrlu was laughed at as a v:Gon even by his relation who had himfelf been in that country. Thefe ftoriea were, however, but partially circulated, and it was refervrd for the colonel himfelf to develope his character before the whole army, and upon the very fir It occifion that prefented itfclf. When the army arrived within a few miles of the place where fort Harrifon is built, the governor left it early in the morning with an efcort for the purpofe of rcronnoitering the country for a considerable dil nee in advance, in order to difcover the beft Gtution for the fort. Col. Boyd fucceeded to '.he command, and was directed to move three milrshigher up the river, and wait thf governors' return. When the troops Were parading the colonel directed ip Scott to IVize and ng a waggoner, Who had, 2s he faid,gtven him tome infolence. The captain not being accuftomed to fu h oromot punifhment refnf-d to obey. 1 I C mmx The colonel arretted him. '1 he captains company refented the difrace and the info! nee wuh which he had been treated, were for a mom-nt on the point of mutiny. The ex-rtioos of col. Bartholemew and the other officers foon brought them to a fence of their duty. C pt. Scott was the next day hr u'jt before a refpectab'e Court mar tial anj w s honorably acquitted, the court being of opinion that he h d difobeyed no Iea! order in refuting to :1 g a man on the arbitrary m irrt? ite of the Colonel. Captain Scott exhibited charges againft col. R yd. but the commmderm chief refuted to have him arretted. The conduct of the colonel in the above affair rauled great ddTatistacti on amongft the militia. They were com pofed of atlafs of people who required on the part of their Commanders an union of kddreis, moderation and fir mnefs, to tram them gr-tduuly to a mode ol lite io differettt to that to which they were accuftomed, and to a fuHmtflion and obedience which vi olated all their former hanits and opinijns. The colonel was the aggr lYr throughout. The ox diver had indeed been infolent to him, but it wis produced by the colonel's having full abut" d, and threatening to flog him. The conduct of the Colonel ws the m ire conloicuus as it formed a direct con tfaft to tht of eveiy other officer in his regt. Th ir d-oortment, peihaps without til exception, was gentlemanly, conciliuory and obliging towards the militia in the big he A degree, and meritted and ob: lined the attachment and rcfpc-c of both officers and privates of that corp?. Col. Boyd, indeed, brgan to pw more regard to their feelings, but bis treatment t bis own mm w is fuch as to obtain for him the hatred and chllike of all who witnefled it. The commander in chief bad dirked that the fi Id i ffi er of the day fliould practice the guaius for an hour and half every morning in performing the evolutions which wrr ia various fitoatsons to form tiie order of march anH battle. The officers bring rather awkward at that kind of m mouvering, the governor, after rrqu-lf.ng permifRon, always Btaoom vered the gUardi hiud-lf. The colonrl ac r-nded up i thofe orra(tontl Ul,r f,r fron, tffording any real ifiilUnce, he ftrouenth emhrrtTed the men by ti;r violence of his rondo el. For the molt trivial f u)-t OI fancied foilts, he would ri !r up to them W eh Ins fwoid drawn, frantic v ith pHion. and uttering the null horrible imprecations

threaten them with every fpecies of punifli i

ment i he major of his regimrnt mjor Floyd) at length declaied that he would no longer fuffer the men to be treated in that manner, and that the next time it was repeated when he was on duty, he would apply for the colonels arrtlh Thi by fome means came to the ears of the colonel, and be never after appeareci upon the parade. VVhilft the molt unfavorable imprtfli.ms were thus mace with refpet to the colonel's temper and difpoiition, he was certainly gaining nothing as a man of military tal

ents and information. Whenever circumstances obliged the governor to leave the army it was thrown into confufioh, and it was evident to every one that he did net undtrfland even the fift principles ot military taclics. On the day of our arrival at Batieile des Illinois the governor did not join ti e army until fome hours in the night. The colonel had encamped the wbole ot the infantry in a fingle line, with the cavalry in their rear Sc the flanks entirely expofrd, both of which relied on bad ground. The day that the army left that place in its advance towards the enemy, the governor was detained in council with fome Indian can fs

and to give fome neceff iry orders to the commander of the fort. Col. Boyd reached the place where he was directed to halt for the night, early in the evening. After many inetfrclual attempts to encamp the troops, and getting the feveral corps, cavai ry, infantry and mounted riflemen jumbled together the thing was found to be impracticable. The governor arrived, and in ten minutes the army was comfortably encamped, and every corps placed in its proper pofitiom Many other inftances could be adduced of the colonel's entire want of capacity to d'n eel the movements of troops, indeed in almoft every inftance in which he attempted it he committed tiie mod egregious blunders. His entire want of capacity was known to the whole army, and the moft melancholy forebodings were entertained if any event mould oblige them to come to a&ion under his command. That thefe fen timents were equally felt by his. own regiment is a circumftance that we know and can prove, and yet this is tbe man who has fct himfelf up as the hero of an action in which he never directed, adviffd or afliited to make a Bnsfle movement, and who luffered a militia officer (major Wells) to lead the moft important charge that was made during the action at the head of five companies of regular troops and militia, all beJrnging to the colonel's peculiar command, altho' the officer who aflumed the direction of them belonged to another corps. The colonel has fmce had the boldnef-- ( boldr. -is not the proper word) to i laim for himfelf, in confe quence of fome trifling refrmMance in their hoifcs, the merit winch the Indians have attributed to the offi er who led the charge, although it is well known that he was not near the Ipot. With r fpecl. to the conduct ot the iniK 'ia in the action, little is left tor us tu fy upon the fu'-ject. Their vindication by the governor and the documents accompanying it. which we will endeavor to have pu difh ed with thn addrefs, places the fubject in rs true light and as the teftimony is en tirelv derived from the officers of the 4th 4 U. S. regt. there can be no fufpicion of any improper bias. We think it hut juft, however, that the if atement of capt. Adams who aflfd as adjutant general of the army, would be confidered as conveying the moll (oirect iccount, as from his Oation he had an opportunity of obiervtnt: what pafted in every pm ol the armv, whereas the othei gentlemen were confined to particulai points. To diftinguifh them from ti e re gulars we have dehgnated as militia all the tioon which we re raifid in the territory for" the expedition, altho' much the greate ft par: if them were volunteer-?. There were lev erl whole companies of that difi ription, & i very gr t proportion ot Irvrr-d others indeed tlnre weie very tew drafted men. We mention this i ircumftance becaule fome of the newf papers have endeavored to ac count tor our fgppofed mifconduct by in potiug to us the defects of undisciplined mi i':t;a and contrafting oui conduct with that of the gallant volunteers of Kentucky who j ined tb. army um!er col. ( ier. We lie ignorant of the motives which could in ioce any ot our fellow citizens to depreci itr osircondoct or undervalue (ur (erviceSi and v-t we hae fumcient reaion to believe lit fuch is the fact Several of the newt pipers i1 publishing tbe commander in chiefs' official account of the action, omit ui tht p cfidcnt's meiTce, which beowed

indifcriuainatc approbation cn all the troops employed, and the tame papers feixed with apparent pleafure the evidence iifiorded by col. Boyd's calumnious letter to abate and traauce us. '1 lie circumftance of that lettei having been fent ty the colonel to his pulfcrr in Philadelphia, ami by him to the Aurora office, without ,oing through the medium of the fecretory of war, to whom it wrts addrtlTed ought to have i reated a iutptcion that it was dictated by fome toul motive. And why are we thus abided ? Is it fuppofed that tbe American citizens who emigrate to a territory lnve lefs murage 8c patriotifm than thofe winch remain in the ftates? If fuch fhould be the elancholy fact it is time that tbe territorial eftabhthments were broken up, and fome other government fubftttuted more congenial to the growth or prcfervation ot put he virtue. We dery, however, the exiftelice ot any fuch intluence, and we boluly ofirt that in no part ot the U- States have the wrongs offered to our country been more det ply telt, or an opportunity of avenging them more ardently de fired than in tins territory. When volunteers were called for lifter the affair of the Chtfapeak tbe territory off ied its full q iota, and this particular part ot it a larger number than any other feCtion ot the U. States in proportion to tbe population. And whatever may be thought of t' e fervices of the militia upon the late campaign by thole who were enjoying at tbnr cde all the comforts of hie, we mod liiuerrly

with that when it lb !l be their turn to march again ft the entmies of their country they may behave as well in action, and bear with as much fortitude t lie hardfliips and privations to which they may be fubjected, as the militia of Indiana did upon the late campaign, who were expofed, nearly the whole fill to the inclemencies of the weather, illy provided with blankets, in tlv.ir fummer cloths, without a tent to cover them and very often obliged to be without fire. We new come to account for that deep n.oted animofity whit h dictated col. Boyd's furious philipic againft the militia ot Indiana. As foon as the action of Tippicanoe had terminated, and the enemy were found to have been completely defeated, the fenfibilities of the whole army were aroufed to the higheft pitch. Their gratitude w is firil directed to Heaven for their lignal deliverance and glorious victory, and all acknowledged that the Cool und.'unted bravery, great pr fence of mind and military kill of the commander in chief, contributed more than even the courage of the trmy to defeat the ferocious and almoft defperate enemy that affiled us. A joy that was no lefs general than fmcere was manifefted by every one, to find that he had efcaped unhurt in the battle, in which he h d expofed himfelf in a manner to make all who law him fhudder for bis life, on which they juftly believed depended not only victory, but the very exigence of the army. Col. Boyd either felt, or affected to feel the general en thufiafm. In his attentions to the commander in chief he exceeded every officer of the army, he eagerly fohciteu St obtained from him a declaration that he was fatisfied with his conduct. An accident having happened to Ins own, the governor hdd borrowed fome days betore the action a IVord from the colonel. The fword was prefented to the governor with this handfome remark, " that the thing w.s a trifle in itfclf, but that it muff have acquired value in tbe tflimation of the governor from the cirrumftance of his having won the action with it." For fome days every one about himfelt the effects of lie colonel s Gngular change of temper. He bad been upon bad terms with every officer f the general HafT, & with m tj. Floyd w ho nmtnanded his regiment. His refentments termed entirely to have ful tided, and affV nility and politenefs to tike their place. V e cannot pretend to m n k the prei ife time when the fecond revoluti n took )lace in the mind of the colonel, whether it was" brfore or after Ins arrival at Vincennes. Wliatever might have been the tac. however with regard to this particular, be found at that place a fet ot men ready to aid him either in maturing or originating ?nv f heme to injure the commander in cl ief. They alone partook not ot the g-ner joy. A victory however important to the country which would crown with laurel, tbe man whole did ruction was the ot.jct of their inceffant exertions, pLnted a thotlfand daggers in heir hearts. It is not material to afcertain whether tin fe men employed the colonel as their inlstrumcnt. or whether they perform ed the humbler i thee in this toi (piracy agai::ft truth and jufUcc. They were all,

however, well Putted to each other. In a few das the whole country was filled with the 4 molt abominable calumnies againft the commander in chief, and it accidentally leakeil out il at tbe citizens of Vincennes and its or hboi hood h d prefented an addrefs to col. Boyi , in which the colonel was made the iiero of the late action, and very warmly thai ktd for having by his master h movements with his regt. faved the lives of the poor militia. The militia were in afionifhment ! It was a matter of ei quiry to difcover who were thefe ' citizens of Vincennes and its neighborhood," who had prefumed to utter furh abou.inable falfehooda in their n.'mes. Tins mutiny was found to have confided of 7 or 8 per Ions all of tbrm but one (who attended without knowing the object) the perlonal enemit s of the governor, and who were fecretly a He m bled in a private houfe. A meeting, of the militia w as c lh d, and fev n of the companies that were in the action attmdtd, or were rtprcfented. The refolutiors that were unanimoufly pidftd were nr t calculated or intended to w und the feelings ot col. Boyd. He was treated with deli my throughout. They afferted among ft other things that it was own g 4 to rne fktll r.nd vnlour of the comtnandei in chief, that the victory ofTippecauoe w;s obtained, that all the movements and changes ofpofition which wa? mare by tbe troops dutii.g tbe action and by which the victory was f cured were made by the directions of tbr commander in chief, and generally executed under his immediate fuperintendanre.' The truth rd tin fe affertions were undeniable thr fit Id officers, including m j. Floyd who commanded the 4th regt. had fig tied a fimilar declaration, and it was warmly affented to by the platoon officers of that regiment, with two or three exceptions, who had not however the hardihood to deny any ot the above facts. This then is the fole caufe for thofe ralumnus which col. Boyd has fo induftrioufly circulated againfl the Indiana thili ia, and whichhave induced the national legislature not oidy to with-hold from tin m their intendrd bounty but actually to occafion a denial juftice. A member of Cotlgrefs having declared in his place that he would not vote for certain provifion3 in their favor, becaufe it was. well ' known that in the action of the th of Novrmber they did nothing.' A mongft thofe provifions was one directing payment for the hoifes which were loft, by tbe finking out of whiih many of the men are deprived of a confiderable portion of tlvir property. To the greater part of the militia this ib an object of little moment when compared to the vile a fee r lions which have been caft upon them. If further evidence of their falhVhood Arnold be demanded than that of the regular officers whofe certifn ates accompany this it is afforded by the whole of the volunteers oi K'-ntuky who ferved with us. They have agreed with our ftatements in every particular, and with re fpect to the commander in thief (whole demerits are we underft r.d clofdy connected with ours in the north m flutes) thf-y have raifed his fame in Kentucky to fuch a bright that there is not perhaps a man in the U. States under whom its volunteers or militia would be fo willing to ferve. Our friends in the northern flates muff allow the people of the weftern country fome portion of common fence, and altho! wc njjy I)0t he able to tell as well as they can how a battle fhould be fought, nor defcribe with precifion the qualities which conftitute a great general, yet with the advantage of having hVen the two men in a fituation w here our lives den? n led upon theiKood or ill conduct, we are quite willing (if rhry choofe it to be fo) that they (hall fight under the command ol col B- .yd if they will allow os to retain govr. Hairifon. With refpect to the former of thefe, we h ve only to add, that if himfelf and a certain Sociate of his Ihould induce us again to come forward, they will find tht what we have now f.id is 1 lenity md companion.' Lukk Decker, L.t. Col. 4ti Ind. regt, W. Taylor, Mat. & aid de camp. Noah PurcbLL, Maj 4th Ind. re?t. Thomas Scott, Capt Ath ltd. regt. W. H a R c. h ov . ( a t. 4th Ind. rtgt. A. ii. kins, Cap 4th Ind. egt. J. Smith, Capt, 4th ind. regt. T. I)i bois, Capt. Spies. D. SULLIVAK, AJjt. 4 ri Ind. regt. V. PRIKCB. (To be concluded in our next.)

BLANK DEI DS. For talc at the office of the V. Sun.

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