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At a farm house, near that place, they murdered the whole family, consisting of a man, his wife, son and daughter.

During the last attack upon Fort Meigs by general Proctor, a party headed by a Seneca, and intimate friend of Tecumseh's, was sent to endeavour to detach from our interest the Shawanese of Wapockanata. In their way hither they murdered several men and one woman, who was working in her cornfield.

I have selected, sir, the above from a long list of similar instances of barbarity, which the history of the last fifteen months could furnish; because they were perpetrated, if not in the view of the British commander, by parties who came immediately from his camp and returned to it; who even received their daily support from the king's stores, and who, in fact, (as the documents in my possession will show) form part of his army.

To retaliate then upon the subjects of the king would have been justifiable by the laws of war and the usages of the most civilized nations. To do so has been amply in my power. The tide of fortune has changed in our favour, and an extensive and flourishing province opened to our arms. Nor have instruments of vengeance been wanting. The savages who sued to us for mercy would gladly have shown their claims to it, by re-acting upon Thames the bloody scenes of Sandusky and Cold creek. A single sign of approbation would have been sufficient to pour upon the subjects of the king their whole fury. The future conduct of the British officers will determine the correctness of mine in withholding it. If the savages should be again let loose upon our settlements, I shall with justice be accused of having sacrificed the interests and honour of my country, and the lives of our fellowcitizens to feelings of false and mistaken humanity. You are a soldier, sir, and as I sincerely believe, possess all the honourable sentiments which ought always to be found in men who follow the profession of arms. Use then, I pray you, your authority and influence to stop that dreadful effusion of innocent blood, which proceeds from the employment of those savage monsters, whose aid (as must now be discovered) is so little to be depended upon when it is most wanted, and which can have so trifling an effect upon the issue of the war. The effect of their barbarities will not be confined to the present generation. Ages yet to come will feel the deep rooted hatred and enmity which they must produce between the two nations.

I deprecate most sincerely the dreadful alternative which will be offered to me should they be continued; but I solemnly declare, that if the Indians that remain under the influence of the British government, are suffered to commit any depredations upon the citi zens within the district that is committed to my protection, I will remove the restrictions which have hitherto been imposed upon those who have offered their services to the United States, and direct them to carry on the war in their own way. I have never heard a single excuse for the employment of the savages by your gov

ernment, unless we can credit the story of some British officer having dared to assert, that "as we employed the Kentuckians, you had a right to make use of the Indians." If such injurious sentiments have really prevailed, to the prejudice of a brave, well-informed, and virtuous people, it will be removed by the representations of your officers who were lately taken on the river Thames. They will inform you, sir, that so far from offering any violence to the persons of their prisoners, these savages would not permit a word to escape them which was calculated to wound or insult their feelings, and this too, with the sufferings of their friends and relatives, at the river Raisin and Miami, fresh upon their recollection. I pledge myself for the truth of the above statements in relation to the murders committed by the Indians.

Major general Vincent.

SIR,

I have the honour to be, &c.
WILLIAM H. HARRISON.

VICTORY OVER THE CREEKS.

CAMP AT TEN ISLANDS, November 4th, 1813.

I had the honour, yesterday, of transmitting you a short account of an engagement that took place between a detachment of about 900 men from my brigade, with the enemy at Tallushatches town; the particulars whereof, I beg herein to recite you. Pursuant to your order of the 2d, I detailed from my brigade of cavalry and mounted riflemen, 900 men and officers, and proceeding directly to the Tallushatches towns, crossed Coosy river at the Fish Dam ford, three or four miles above this place. I arrived within one and a half miles of the town (distant from this place south-east, eight miles) on the morning of the 3d, at which place I divided my detachment into two columns, the right composed of the cavalry commanded by colonel Allcorn, to cross over a large creek that lay between us and the towns: the left column was of the mounted riflemen, under the command of colonel Cannon, with whom I marched myself. Colonel Allcorn was ordered to march up on the right, and encircle one half of the town, and at the same time the left would form a half circle on the left, and unite the head of the columns in front of the town: all of which was performed as I could wish. When I arrived within half a mile of the town, the drums of the enemy began to beat, mingled with their savage yells, preparing for action. It was after sun-rise an hour, when the action was brought on by captain Hammond and lieutenant Patterson's companies, who had gone on within the circle of alignment, for the purpose of drawing out the enemy from their buildings, which had the most happy effect. As soon as captain Hammond exhibited his front in view of the tov n, (which stood in open woodland) and gave a few scattering shot, the enemy formed and made a violent charge on him; he

gave way as they advanced, until they met our right column, which gave them a general fire, and then charged; this changed the direction of the charge completely; the enemy retreated firing, until they got around, and in their buildings, where they made all the resistance that an overpowered soldier could do; they fought as long as one existed, but their destruction was very soon completed; our men rushed up to the doors of the houses, and in a few minutes killed the last warrior of them; the enemy fought with savage fury, and met death with all its horrors, without shrinking or complaining: not one asked to be spared, but fought as long as they could stand or sit. In consequence of their Alving to their houses and mixing with the families, our men, in killing the males, without intention killed and wounded a few of the squaws and children, which was regretted by every officer and soldier of the detachment, but which could not be avoided.

The number of the enemy killed, was 186 that were counted, and a number of others that were killed in the weeds not found. I think the calculation a reasonable one, to say 200 of them were killed, and 84 prisoners, of women and children, were taken; not one of the warriors escaped to carry the news, a circumstance unknown heretofore.

We lost five men killed, and 41 wounded, none mortally, the greater part slightly, a number with arrows: this appears to form a very principal part of the enemy's arms for warfare, every man having a bow with a bundle of arrows, which is used after the first fire with the gun, until a leisure time for loading offers.

It is with pleasure I say, that our men acted with deliberation and firmness; notwithstanding our numbers were superior to that of the enemy, it was a circumstance to us unknown, and from the parade of the enemy, we had every reason to suppose them our equals in number: but there appeared no visible traces of alarm in any, but on the contrary, all appeared cool and determined, and no doubt when they face a foe of their own, or superior number, they will show the same courage as on this occasion. I have the honour to be, &c.

Major general Andrew Jackson.

JOHN COFFEE,
Brig. Gen. of Cavalry and riflemen.

SIR,

SACKETT'S HARBOR, November 6th, 1813.

As I have reason to believe that the Royal George, Prince Regent, and Duke of Gloucester, have gone up the lake, with troops to reinforce Fort George; and as I have to believe that other troops are waiting at Kingston for their return, destined for the same port, I have determined to proceed with the force I have ready, in quest of the enemy. My present intention is, to take a position on the Canada shore, near some small islands,

called the "False Ducks," where the enemy are obliged to pass, and where I will wait their return to Kingston. If I should succeed in my enterprise (which I have but little doubt of) I shall make an attack upon Kingston, for the purpose of destroying the guns and public stores at that station.

I shall proceed for my station this evening, or to-morrow morning, with the following vessels, to wit: brig Oneida, and schooners Hamilton, Governor Tompkins, Conquest, Growler, Julia and Pert; mounting altogether 40 guns, of different calibres, and 430 men, including marines.

With this force I hope to give a good account of the enemy, although he is more than double our force in guns and men. His consists of the following vessels, as nearly as I can ascertain, to wit: the ship Royal George, 26 guns, 260 men; ship Earl Moira, 18 guns, 200 men; Schooners Prince Regent, 18 guns, 150 men; Duke of Gloucester, 14 guns, 80) men; Governor Simcoe, 12 guns, 70 men; Seneca, 4 guns, 40 men; making a grand total of 108 guns, and 890 men.

The officers and men, under my command, are all extremely anxious to meet the enemy. We cannot command success, but we will endeavour to deserve it.

The Hon. Paul Hamilton, &c.

I have the honour to be, &c.
ISAAC CHAUNCEY.

PROCLAMATION.

The following proclamation to the inhabitants of Canada, was issued by general Wilkinson, on his passage down the St. Lawrence.

JAMES WILKINSON,

Major general, and commander in chief of an expedition against the Canadas, to the inhabitants thereof :

The army of the United States, which I have the honour to command, invades these provinces to conquer, not to destroy ; to subdue the forces of his Britannic majesty, not to war against his unoffending subjects;-those, therefore, among you, who remain quiet at home, should victory incline to the American standard, shall be protected in their persons and property. But those who are found in arms, must necessarily be treated as avowed enemies. To menace is unjust-to seduce dishonourable-yet it is just and humane to place these alternatives before you.

Done at the head quarters of the army of the United States, this 6th day of November, 1813, near Ogdens burg, on the river St. Lawrence.

By the general's command,

JAMES WILKINSON.

N. PINKNEY, Major and aid-de-camp.

HEAD QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, 7 MILES ABOVE OGDENSBURG, November 6th, 1813, (in the evening.)

SIR, I address you at the special instance of the Secretary of war, who, by bad roads, worse weather, and ill health, was diverted from meeting me near this place, and determined to tread back his steps to Washington from Antwerp on the 29th ultimo.

I am destined to, and determined on, the attack of Montreal, if not prevented by some act of God; and to give security to the enterprise, the division under your command must co-operate with the corps under my immediate orders. The point of rendezvous is the circumstance of greatest interest to the issue of this operation, and the distance which separates us, and my ignorance of the practicability of the direct or devious roads or routes by which you must march, makes it necessary that your own judgment should determine the point. To assist you in forming the soundest determination, and to take the most prompt and effectual measures, I can only inform you of my intentions and situation in one or two respects of first importance. I shall pass Prescott to night, because the stage of the season will not allow me three days to take it; shall cross the cavalry at Hamilton, which will not require a day; I shall then press forward and break down every obstruction to the confluence of this river with Grand river, there to cross to the Isle Perrot, and with my scows to bridge the narrow inner channel, and thus obtain foothold on Montreal Island, at about 20 miles from the city: after which our artillery, bayonets, and swords, must secure our triumph, or provide us honourable graves.

Inclosed you have a memorandum of field and battering train pretty well found in mixed ammunition, which may enable you to dismiss your own; but we are deficient in loose powder and musket cartridges, and therefore hope you may be abundantly found.

On the subject of provisions I wish I could give as favourable information; our whole stock of bread may be computed at about fifteen days, and our meat at twenty. In speaking on this subject to the Secretary of War, he informed me ample magazines were laid upon Lake Champlain, and therefore I must request of you to order forward two or three months' supply by the safest route in a direction to the proposed scene of action. I have submitted the state of our provisions to my general officers, who unanimously agree that it should not prevent the progress of the expedition; and they also agree in opinion, that if you are not in force to face the enemy, you should meet us at St. Regis or its vicinity.

I shall expect to hear from, if not see you, at that place on the, 9th or 10 instant.

Major General Hampton.

I have the honour to be, &c.

JAMES WILKINSON.

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