Doherty, having been instructed to halt, until adequate supplies should be received at head quarters, had already manifested many symptoms of revolt, and was with much difficulty restrained from returning immediately home. Added to their own discontents, and unwillingness to remain in service, much pains had been taken by a personage high in authority, to scatter dissension amongst them, and to persuade them, that they had been improperly called out, and without sufficient authority;-that the draft was illegal, and that they were under no necessity to serve. Arguments like these, urged by a man of standing, were well calculated to answer the end desired; what the governing motive was, that gave rise to a course of conduct so strange, is difficult to be imagined; none was ever avowed, and certainly none can be given, that will account for it satisfactorily. On the morning that general Doherty was about to proceed to head quarters, he was astonished to find a beating up for volunteers, to abandon his camp and return home. Notwithstanding all his efforts to prevent it, one hundred and eighty deserted. His surprise was still greater, on learning, that a captain from Carter county, had been instructed by major general Cocke, that in the event of his marching back any number of the troops, he would take upon himself to discharge them, on their return to Knoxville. Before this, Cocke had been at the camp of Doherty, and had, by different means, attempted to excite mutiny and disaffection among the troops. As a reason for being unwilling to go with them in command, he stated, that they would be placed in a situation which he disliked to mention, and one which his feelings would not enable him to witness that they were going out to be placed under the command of general Jackson, who would impose on them the severest trials, and where they would have to encounter every privation and suffering. He represented, that at head quarters there was not a sufficiency of provisions on hand to last five days; nor was there a probability that there would be any change of circumstances for the better;-that should they once be placed in the power of Jackson, he would, with the regular force under his command, compel them to serve as long as he pleased. Expressions like these, to men who had never before been in the field, and coming from one who had already been employed in a respectable command, were well calculated to poduce serious impressions. Doherty, who was a brigadier in the first division, was at a loss to know how he should proceed with his own major general, who had obtruded himself into his camp, and was endeavoring to excite a revolt; he accordingly despatched an express to head quarters, to give information of what was passing. The messenger arrived, and, in return, received an order from general Jackson to Doherty, commanding him, peremptorily, to seize, and send under guard to Fort Strother, every officer, without regard to his rank, who should be found, in any manner, attempting to excite his army to mutiny. General Cocke, perhaps appre hending what was going on, had retired before this order arrived, and thus escaped the punishment due to so aggravated an offence." SIR, PROVINCE OF LOWER CANADA, Odell Town, March 31st, 1814: We have had an affair with the enemy, in which our troops have given him another test of firmness and valour. Pursuant to the designs communicated to you in my last, and to accomplish your views if in my power, I entered Canada yesterday morning, and was met by the enemy near this place, about eleven o'clock, whom we forced at every point of attack on the route to La Cole, distant from hence one league, and from St. John's six. We reached the former post about three o'clock, and found there a strong corps in possession of a spacious lofty stone mill, of which I had received some information. An eighteen pounder had been ordered forward to effect the destruction of this building, but it broke down, and after being repaired, the only road of approach through a deep forest was reported to be impracticable to a gun of such weight. An opinion prevailed at the same time with the chief engineer, major Totten, founded on intelligence previously received, and several of the best informed officers, that an iron twelve would suffice to make a breach; but after a fair and tedious experiment at 300 yards distance only, it was discovered our battery could make no impression. Brigadier generals Smith and Bissell, covered our guns, and brigadier general Macomb, with a select corps, formed the reserve. The enemy had been reported, from a source considered strictly confidential, to 2500 strong, and his first attack of my right favoured the report, from the use he made of congreve rockets and other indications of deliberate preparation; the corps, therefore, were held in high order to receive his combined attack. Yet believing in the efficacy of our battery, dispositions had been made to intercept the enemy, should he evacuate the post, and to give it the utmost effect, we were obliged to take ground near the margin of the field, which encompassed the mill. During the cannonade, which was returned with vivacity by the enemy's gallies (I presume) several sorties and desperate charges were made from the mill upon our battery, which were repulsed with incredible coolness by the covering corps, at the expense of some blood and some lives on both sides; it is reported to me, that in the last charge, a captain of grenadiers and fifteen men fell together, but I cannot vouch for the fact. Finding all our attempts to make a breach unsuccessful, I withdrew the battery, called in my detachments, and having removed our dead and wounded, and every thing else, fell back to this place about six 'clock. Where a military corps appears to be universally animated by the same sensibilities, where the only competition is for danger and glory, individual distinctions seem improper, except in extraordinary cases, such as the conduct of the officers who commanded our battery yesterday. Captain M'Pherson, of the light artillery, (my military secretary, impelled by the noble spirit which marks his whole character,) asked permission to take part in the operations of the day with his proper arm; he was indulged, and being first for command, took charge of the pieces which followed the advance and formed our battery, in which he was seconded by lieutenants Larrabee and Sheldon. On opening his fire he seemed inclined to the opinion he could make an impression on the work, but he soon received a wound under the chin, which he tied up with his handkerchief, and continued at his piece, until a second shot, which broke his thigh, brought him to the earth. Larrabee had kept his station, until shot through the lungs, and Sheldon kept up the fire until ordered to retire. The conduct of these gentlemen has, from the nature of their duties, been so conspicuously gallant, as to attract the admiration of their brethren in arms, and should (I humbly conceive) be distinguished by the executive. I have sent forward my wounded, who can bear the movement to Plattsburg or Burlington, and those who cannot, will be provided for at Champlain. I would hold this position until I received further orders, were it not for the difficulty of transporting our provisions, and the impossibility to cover the troops; but I shall not retire further than Champlain, which will place us twenty-five miles from St. John's, and forty-two from Montreal. I cannot close this letter without confessing my obligations to my general and field officers, and to my general staff of every grade, for the able and prompt support I received from them. So small an affair does not merit so tedious a detail, but it warrants the remark, that it will produce a degree of seif confidence, of reciprocal trust, of harmony and friendly attachments in this corps highly beneficial to this service. It is a lesson of command to the officers, and of obedience to the soldiers, worth a whole year's drill of empty parades. The returns of killed and wounded, have not yet been furnished, but they will not exceed 80 or 90, including a captain and four subalterns, and this shall be forwarded to-morrow or next day. For the information of their friends, you have at foot the names of the wounded officers. With great respect, &c. JAMES WILKINSON, Officers wounded: Captain McPherson, lieutenant Larrabee, light artillery; lieu, tenant Green, 11th infantry; leutenant Parker, 14th infantry; lieutenant Kerr, rifle regiment. SIR, RUTLEDGE, April 6th, 1814. The limited means I set out with to procure provisions for the troops under your command, and the transportation thereof, would in almost every other country have proved ineffectual. The contractors, the quarter master and the citizens concerned with me, have all done their duty, and it is with much pleasure that I now announce to you, that the waters have risen, and the boats are descending the rivers Holstein, Frenchbroad, and Tennessee, so that we shall be able to land from three to five thousand barrels of bread stuff, from thirty to fifty thousand weight of bacon and other necessary supplies at Fort Deposit, within eight or ten days, in addition to what you now have, which will more than realize your best expectations. It is a high gratification for me to assure you that the best exertions to aid me in all things necessary, have been cheerfully afforded by my fellow citizens in all parts of the state, as well as in the county of Madison, in the Mississippi territory. May glory and conquest still attend you. I have the honour to be, &c. Major general Andrew Jackson. WILLIAM COCKE. CAMP, AT THE JUNCTION OF THE COOSEE & TALAPOOSIE, SIR, April 18th, 1814. I am happy to inform you that the campaign is drawing to a prosperous close. We have scoured the Coosee and Talapoosie, and the intervening country. A part of the enemy on the latter river, made their escape across it just before our arrival, and are flying in consternation towards Pensacola. Many of those on the Coosee and the neighbouring country, have come in and surrendered unconditionally; and others are on their way, and hourly arriving, to submit in the same way. We will overtake those who have fled, and make them sensible there is no more safety in flight than in resistance. Many of the negroes who were taken at fort Mimms, have been delivered up, and one white woman (Polly Jones), with her two children. They will be properly taken care of. The Talapoosie king has been arrested, and is here in confinement. The Tostahatchee king of the Hickory ground tribe, has delivered himself up. Weatherford has been with me, and I did not confine him. He will be with me again in a few days. Peter M'Quin has been taken, but escaped; he must be taken again. Hillishagee, their great prophet, has also absconded; but he will be found. They were the instigators of the war, and such is their situation. The advance of the eastern division formed a junction with me at the Hallawellee, on the 15th, and accompanied me to fort Decatur, opposite Tuckabatchee, and the rest will arrive in a few days, except what will be left for the retention of the posts. Major general Pinckney will join the army at this place to-morrow or next day. The business of the campaign will not, I presume, require that I or my troops should remain here much longer. General Pinckney and colonel Hawkins, who is now with me, have been appointed to make the treaty. I am, sir, very respectfully, &c. ANDREW JACKSON, Maj. Gen. His excellency Willie Blount, SIR, UNITED STATES' SHIP GENERAL PIKE, Sackett's Harbour, April 27th, 1814. The night of the 25th instant, two of our guard boats fell in with three of the enemy's boats in this bay. Lieutenant Dudley, (the officer of the guard) hailed and was answered, "guard boats; this, however, not being satisfactory, he repeated the hail, but was not answered; finding that strange boats were endeavouring to cut him off from the shore, he fired upon them; the enemy, laying upon their oars for a short time, pulled in towards Bull Rock Point, without returning the fire. Lieutenant Dudley returned to the fleet, and got a reinforcement of boats; but nothing more was seen of the enemy that night. Yesterday morning, I directed both shores of Shermont Bay to be examined, to see whether the enemy had not secreted himself in some of the small Creeks. Nothing, however, was discovered, but six barrels of powder, found in the water near the shore, where our guard boats fired on the enemy; these barrels were all slung in such a manner, that one man could take two across his shoulders and carry them; each barrel had a hole bored in the head of about an inch diameter, with a wooden plug in it; these barrels of powder were evidently fitted for the purpose of blowing our large ship up, if the enemy could have got in undiscovered, by placing them under the ship's bottom, and putting a piece of slow match or port-fire in the hole in the head, which would burn a sufficient time to allow the parties to escape before the fire would communicate to the powder; this also accounts for the enemy not returning the fire of our boats, for, having so much powder in, he was apprehensive of accidents, which no doubt induced him to heave it overboard, to be prepared to return the fire if he was pursued. It would have been impossible for the enemy to have succeeded, even if he had eluded our guard boats (which there are two lines of;) for, independent of all the approaches by water being secured |