condition of their being protected from the savages, and being allowed to retain their private property, and having their sidearms returned to them. It is impossible for me to ascertain, with certainty, the loss we have sustained in this action, from the impracticability of knowing the number who have made their

escape.

Thirty-five officers, and about 487 non-commissioned officers, and privates, are prisoners of war. A list of the names of officers is herewith enclosed to you. siderable.

Our loss in killed is con

However unfortunate may seem the affair of yesterday, I am flattered by the belief, that no material error is chargeable upon myself, and that still less censure deserved by the troops I had the honor of commanding.

With the exception of that portion of our force which was thrown into disorder, no troops have ever behaved with more determined intrepidity.

1 have the honor to be, with high respect,
Your obedient servant,

Hon. secretary at war.

JAMES WINCHESTER,
Brig.-gen. U. S. army.

Here follows a list of the officers taken:

General Winchester; colonel Lewis; major Madison; captains Overton, Hightower, Ballard, Cholier, James Kelly, Hamilton, Williams, Sabrie, and Bledfoe; lieutenants Gerrard, M'Cella; adjutant Keen; Q. M. Holden, Rule M'Guire, Ganard, Moore, and Higgins; ensigns Comstock, Butler, T. Chin, Flarron, Nash, Botts, Munday, Herson, Nash; Mooring, Fleet, and Caldwell; surgeon Todd. Total, 36.

The Indians have still a few prisoners in their possession; which I have reason to hope will be given up to colonel Proctor, at Sandwich.

No. 28.

From major-general Harrison, to governor Shelby. Camp on Carrying Rock, 15 miles from the Rapids, January 24, 1813.

MY DEAR SIR,

I send colonel Wells to you, to communicate the particulars (as far as we are acquainted with them) of an event that will overwhelm your mind with grief, and fill your whole state with mourning.

The greater part of colonel Wells's regiment, United States' infantry, and the 1st and 5th regiments Kentucky infantry, and Allen's rifle regiment, under the immediate orders of general Winchester have been cut to pieces by the enemy, or taken prisoners. Great as the calamity is, I still hope that, as far as it relates to the objects of the campaign, it is not irreparable. As soon as I was informed of the attack upon general Winchester, about 12 o'clock on the 22d instant, I set out, to overtake the detachment of Kentucky's troops, that I had sent that morning to reinforce him, and I directed the only regiment that I had with me to follow. I overtook major Robb's detachment at the distance of 6 miles; but before the troops in the rear could get up, certain information was received of general Winchester's total defeat.

A council of war was called, and it was the unanimous opinion of the generals Payne and Perkins, and all the field officers, that there was no motive that could authorize an advance but that of attacking the enemy, and that success was not to be expected after a forced march of 40 miles against an enemy superior in number, and well provided with artillery. Strong detachments of the most active men were, however, sent forward on all the roads, to assist and bring in such of our men as had escaped. The whole number that reached our camp

does not exceed 30, amongst whom were major M'Clannahan and captain Claves.

Having a large train of heavy artillery, and stores coming on this road from W. Sandusky, under an escort of four companies, it was thought advisable to fall back to this place, for the purpose of securing them. A part of it arrived last evening, and the rest is within 30 miles. As soon as it arrives, and a reinforcement of three regiments from the Virginia and Pennsylvania brigades, I shall again advance, and give the enemy an opportunity of measuring their strength with us once

more.

Colonel Wells will communicate some circumstances, which, while they afflict and surprise, will convince you that Kentucky has lost none of her reputation for valor, for which she is famed. The detachment to the river Raisin was made without my knowledge or consent, and in direct opposition to my plans. Having been made, however, I did every thing in my power to reinforce them, and a force exceeding by 300 men that which general Winchester deemed necessary, was on its way to join him, and a fine battalion within 14 miles of its destination.

After the success of colonel Lewis, I was in great hopes that the post could be maintained. Colonel Wells will communicate my future views to you, much better than I can do in writing at this time.

I am, dear Sir, &c.

W. H. HARRISON.

His excellency governor Shelby.

No. 29.

From brigadier-general Proctor to sir G. Prevost.

SIR,

Sandwich, May 14th, 1813.

From the circumstances of the war, I have judged it expedient to make a direct report to your excellency of the operations and present state in this district.

In the expectation of being able to reach the enemy, who had taken post near the foot of the Rapids of the Miami, before the reinforcements and supplies could arrive, for which only he waited to commence active operations against us, I determined to attack him without delay, and with every means in my power; but from the necessary preparations, and some untoward circumstances, it was not in my power to reach him within three weeks of the period I had proposed, and at which he might have been captured or destroyed. From the incessant and heavy rains we experienced, and during which our batteries were constructed, it was not until the morning of the 1st instant, the fifth day after our arrival at the mouth of the river, 12 miles from the enemy, that our batteries could be opened.

The enemy, who occupied several acres of commanding ground, strongly defended by block-houses, and the batteries. well furnished with ordnance, had, during our approach, so completely entrenched and covered himself, as to render unavailing every effort of our artillery, though well served, and in batteries most judiciously placed and constructed, under the able direction of captain Dixon, of the royal engineers, of whose ability and unwearied zeal, shewn particularly on this occasion, I cannot speak too highly.

Though the attack has not answered fully the purpose intended, I have the satisfaction to inform your excellency of the fortunate result of an attack of the enemy, aided by a sally of most of their garrison, made on the morning of the 5th instant, by a reinforcement, which descended the river a considerable distance in a very short time, consisting of two corps, Dudley's and Roswell's, amounting to 1300 men, under the command of brigadier-general Green Clay. The attack was very sudden, and on both sides of the river. The enemy were for a few minutes in the possession of our batteries, and took some prisoners. After a severe contest, though not of long continuance, the enemy gave way; and, except the body of those who sallied from the fort, must have been mostly killed or taken.

In this decisive affair, the officers and men of the 41st regiment, who charged and routed the enemy near the batteries, well maintained the long established reputation of the corps. Where all deserve praise, it is difficult to distinguish. Captain Muir, an old officer, who had seen much service, had the good fortune to be in the immediate command of these brave men. Besides my obligations to captain Chambers, for his unwearied exertions preparatory to, and on the expedition, as deputyassistant quartermaster-general, I have to notice his gallant conduct in attacking the enemy near the batteries, at the point of the bayonet; a service in which he was well supported by lieutenants Bullock and Clements of the 41st, and lieutenant Le Breton, of the Royal Newfoundland regiment. The courage and activity displayed through the whole scene of action by the Indian chiefs and warriors, contributed largely to our success. I have not been able to ascertain the amount of prisoners in the possession of the Indians. I have sent off, agreeable to agreement, nearly 500 prisoners to the river Huron, near Sandusky.

I have proposed an exchange, which is referred to the American government.

I could not ascertain the amount of the enemy's loss in killed, from the extent of the scene of action, and mostly in the woods. I conceive his loss in killed and prisoners to have been between 1000 and 1200 men. These unfortunate people were not volunteers, and complete Kentucky's quota. If the enemy had been permitted to receive his reinforcements and supplies undisturbed, I should have had, at this critical juncture, to contend with him for Detroit, or perhaps on this shore.

I had not the option of retaining my situation on the Miami. Half of the militia had left us. I received a deputation from the chiefs, counselling me to return, as they could not prevent their people, as was their custom after any battle of conse quence, returning to their villages with their wounded, their prisoners and plunder, of which they had taken a considerable quantity in the boats of the enemy.