not a single proper opportunity occurred from the time of leaving the United States until our return. Mr. Newcomb, who will deliver you this, you will find an intelligent young man, capable of giving such further information as you may deem of any moment: he will at the same time deliver you a chart, shewing the track in which we cruised: annexed is a list of vessels captured, re-captured and burnt. The four vessels we chased and did not come up with were, the Belvidera, a small pilot-boat schooner, supposed to be an American privateer, the hermaphrodite privateer brig, Yankee, which we lost sight of in a fog, but whose character we afterwards learnt, and a frigate supposed to be British, that we chased on the 28th ultimo near the shoal of George's bank, and should certainly have come up with, had we have had the advantage of two hours more day-light. On board of the several vessels of the squadron there are between 80 and 100 prisoners taken from the vessels we captured during our late cruise: the government not having any agent for prisoners here, I shall send them to commodore Bainbridge, to be disposed of in such manner as best appears with the interest of the United States, and which I hope may meet your approbation. The Hon. Paul Hamilton, With the greatest respect, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. JOHN RODGERS. One ship, four brigs, and two schooners were captured during this cruise. VOLUNTEERS WANTED. FELLOW CITIZENS OF OHIO, At a moment like this, I appeal to your valor and patriotism. Major general Harrison will rendezvous a respectable force of Kentucky volunteers at Dayton on the 15th instant for a short expedition. General Harrison desires to add to his troops any number of volunteers from the state of Ohio, who will serve on the expedition thirty days. All those who will embrace this favourable opportunity of distinguishing themselves under an able commander, and of rendering to the state of Ohio a valuable service, will in their equipments and movements follow the directions of General Harrison, hereunto subjoined. Piqua, September 2, 1812.. R. J. MEIGS, Governor of Ohio. VOLUNTEERS TO ARMS! TO ARMS! Any number of volunteers, mounted and prepared for active service, to continue twenty-five or thirty days, will be accepted, to rendezvous at the town of Dayton, on the Great Miami, on the 15th instant. It is expected that the volunteers will provide themselves with salt provisions, and a proportion of biscuit; those who are unable to procure them will be furnished if possible. Those brave men who give their country their services on this occasion, may be assured that an opportunity of distinguishing themselves will be offered. I shall command the expedition in person; and the number of troops employed will be entirely adequate to the object proposed. I wish also to hire a number of substantial horses: fifty cents per day will be allowed for each horse which is provided with saddle and bridle. Those patriotic citizens who are unable to afford their personal assistance, will render essential service to their country by furnishing the horses, which must be delivered in Dayton on the 14th instant, to a person who will be authorized to receive and receipt for them. Head Quarters, Piqua, Sept. 2, 1812. W. H. HARRISON. S. W. Culbertson to Mr. Chambers, editor of the Zanesville Messenger, 1812. MR. CHAMBERS, I have just returned from Urbanna, where governor Meigs is at present with about 1000 soldiers. Brigadier general Harrison is at Piqua with 2000 Kentucky soldiers, and 2000 more in his rear. Harrison's presence appears to inspire every person with courage, and makes even cowards brave. His present conduct evinces a determination to retrieve the injured reputation of our country. He has made a most animated speech to the friendly natives at Piqua, who are numerous, and sueing for a continuance of peace. He has promised them protection, at the same time assuring them in terrific language, which struck terror to all hearts, that the name of an Indian foe should not long be known among us that the American army will no longer be commanded by an old woman. Governor Meigs's late patriotic conduct and exertions appear to be rewarded only with ingratitude. He has ordered the 2d detachment of militia, which marched from this place under the command of colonel M'Connell, to be dismissed, having been called out contrary to his instructions and intentions, which must have been misunderstood. S. W. CULBERTSON. Extract of a letter from Gov. Harrison to Gov. Shelby, dateđ HEAD QUARTERS, PIQUA, September 5th, 1812, 4 o'clock, A. M. "The British and Indians have laid siege to Fort Wayne, perhaps have taken it. It is their object to push on to Fort Harrison and Vincennes. You will, my dear sir, leave nothing undone, I am convinced, to relieve those places; but it must be done with mounted men, who will carry the greater part of their own provisions. Miller's regiment I hope have marched from the falls; it ought to be followed by a considerable force of mounted men. I have already detached colonel Allen, with 900 Kentucky infantry, (towards Fort Wayne) he is to be joined by 700 mounted men that are advanced of this; but I have been unable to move with the rest of the army for the want of two essential articles; a small supply will be up to day, and the troops will be ready to march in two hours. Great God! what an opportunity I may lose of avenging my country and saving the frontiers, for the want of a few triffing articles. However, we are amply supplied with bayonets, and our spirits are roused to the highest pitch. Indignation and resentment fire every breast." SIR, WASHINGTON, September 10th, 1812. Having been ordered on to this place by colonel M'Arthur, for the purpose of communicating to the government such particulars respecting the expedition lately commanded by brigadier general Hull and its disastrous result, as might enable them correctly to appreciate the conduct of the officers and men, and to develope the causes which produced so foul a stain upon the national character, I have the honour to submit to your consideration the following statement: When the forces landed in Canada, they landed with an ardent zeal, and stimulated with the hope of conquest. No enemy appeared within view of us, and had an immediate and vigorous attack been made upon Malden, it would doubtless have fallen an easy victory. I knew general Hull afterwards declared he regretted this attack had not been made, and he had every reason to believe success would have crowned his efforts. The reasons given for delaying our operations was to mount our heavy cannon, and to afford to the Canadian militia time and opportunity to quit an obnoxious service. In the course of two weeks the number of their militia who were embodied, had decreased by desertion, from six hundred to one hundred men; and, in the course of three weeks, the cannon were mounted, the ammunition fixed, and every preparation made for an immediate invest ment of the fort. At a council, at which were present all the field officers, and which was held two days before our preparations were completed, it was unanimously agreed to make an immediate attempt to accomplish the object of the expedition. If by waiting two days we could have the service of our heavy artillery, it was agreed to wait; if not, it was determined to go without it and attempt the place by storm. This opinion appeared to correspond with the views of the general, and the day was appointed for commencing our march. He declared to me that he considered himself pledged to lead the army to Malden. The ammunition was placed in the wagons; the cannon were embarked on board the floating batteries, and every requisite article was prepared. The spirit and zeal, the ardor and animation displayed by the officers and men on learning the near accomplishment of their wishes, were a sure and sacred pledge, that in the hour of trial they would not be found wanting in duty to their country and themselves. But a change of measures, in opposition to the wishes and opinions of all the officers, was adopted by the general. The plan of attacking Malden was abandoned, and instead of acting offensively, we broke up our camp, evacuated Canada, and re-crossed the river in the night, without even the shadow of an enemy to injure us. We left to the tender mercy of the enemy, the miserable Canadians who had joined us, and the protection we afforded them was but a passport of vengeance. This fatal and unaccountable step dispirited the troops, and destroyed the little confidence which a series of timid, irresolute and indecisive measures had left in the commanding officer. About the 10th of August, the enemy received a reinforcement of four hundred men. On the 12th, the commanding officers of three of the regiments (the fourth was absent) were informed through a medium which admitted of no doubt, that the general had stated, that a capitulation would be necessary. They on the same day addressed to governor Meigs, of Ohio, a letter, of which the following is an extract: "Believe all the bearer will tell you. Believe it, however it may astonish you, as much as if told by one of us. Even a is talked of by the The bearer will fill the vacancy." The doubtful fate of this letter rendered it necessary to use circumspection in its details, and therefore the blanks were left. The word 'capitulation' will fill the first, and 'commanding ge neral' the other. As no enemy was near us, and as the superiority of our force was manifest, we could see no necessity for capitulating, nor any propriety in alluding to it. We therefore determined in the last resort to incur the responsibility of divesting the general of his command. This plan was eventually prevented by two of the commanding officers of regiments being ordered upon detachments. On the 13th, the British took a position opposite to Detroit, and began to throw up works. During that and the two following days, they pursued their object without interruption, and established a battery for two 18 pounders and an 8 inch howitzer. About sun-set on the evening of the 14th, a detachment of 350 men, from the regiments commanded by colonel M'Arthur and myself, was ordered to march to the river Raisin, to escort the provisions, which had some time remained there protected by a party under the command of captain Brush. On Saturday, the 15th, about 1 o'clock, a flag of truce arrived from Sandwich, bearing a summons from general Brock, for the surrender of the town and fort of Detroit, stating he could no longer restrain the fury of the savages. To this an immediate and spirited refusal was returned. About 4 o'clock their batteries began to play upon the town. The fire was returned and continued without interruption and with little effect till darktheir shells were thrown till 11 o'clock. At day light the firing on both sides re-commenced; about the same time the enemy began to land troops at the Spring Wells, three miles below Detroit, protected by two of their armed vessels. Between 6 and 7 o'clock they had effected their landing, and immediately took up their line of march; they moved in a close column of platoons, twelve in front, upon the bank of the river. The 4th regiment was stationed in the fort; the Ohio volunteers and a part of the Michigan militia, behind some pickets, in a situation in which the whole flank of the enemy would have been exposed. The residue of the Michigan militia were in the upper part of the town to resist the incursions of the savages. Two 24 pounders loaded with grape shot were posted on a commanding eminence, ready to sweep the advancing column. In this situation, the superiority of our position was apparent, and our troops, in the eager expectation of victory, awaited the approach of the enemy. Not a sigh of discontent broke upon the ear; not a look of cowardice met the eye. Every man expected a proud day for his country, and each was anxious that his individual exertion should contribute to the general result. When the head of their column arrived within about five hundred yards of our line, orders were received from general Hull for the whole to retreat to the fort, and for the twenty-four pounders not to open upon the enemy. One universal burst of indignation was apparent upon the receipt of this order. Those, whose conviction was the deliberate result of a dispassionate examination of passing events, saw the folly and impropriety of crowding 1100 men into a little work, which 300 could fully man, and into which the shot and shells of the enemy were continually falling. The fort was in this manner filled; the men were directed to stack their arms, and scarcely was an opportunity afforded of moving. Shortly after a white flag was hung out upon |