quarter also had been anticipated by a shipment of 5,000 stand for Halifax on the 11th of Sept. On the receipt of your letter of the 17th Octr in which you again complain of the want of Arms, another shipment of Arms to the amount of Ten Thousand stand was ordered & is now taking place. With respect to Articles of clothing I already have stated to you the grounds upon which that originally ordered for the Glengary Fencibles was subsequently withheld, & with respect to other articles, I think it will be most satisfactory to inclose you a Return of those which have been shipped or are now shipping for No. America. Hence you will have no difficulty in observing that every effort has been made to comply with all your requisitions & in many instances I have been fortunate enough to have even anticipated your wishes, I have only in conclusion to assure you that as every exertion has heretofore been made, so none shall be wanting to place such means at your disposal as may lessen the difficulties of your situation & ensure the security of the Provinces under your Command. Memorandum of Stores sent to North America, or ordered to be shipped for that destination. EXHIBIT 112. Joseph Wheaton to the Secretary of State. FRANKLINTON, April 26, 1813. EXCELLENT SIR (for yourself and the President): I took the liberty to write you from this place on the 20, and to detail such information relating to operations in this quarter as occurred at the time, also as to my own destination. Governor Meigs arrived at this place on the evening of the same day he has been exerting all his powers to bring forward such portions of his Militia as have been required of him—but the weather has been most unfavorable-the heavy rains have so swolen the rivers, as to render many impassable, and retard the movements to the Rapids very much-Last eving arrived here one Company of Ohio Militia to Governor Meigs in addition to parts of two companies that had reached this a few days before, and hourly is expected about three hundred, which are destined for upper and lower Sandusky, and to be within reach of General Harrison General Harrison reached the Rapids on the 12th inst. with three hundred men, his reinforcements will make his whole force about 1500 men this however is not sufficient to maintain his position at the Rapids, but it is hoped it will be considerable increased by a detachment of Kentucky militia of Gen'l. Clay Commander on the St. Mary's-The British have got added to their forces Tecumseh the prophet and all his Indians-It is believed from the report of some prisoners taken near the river Raisin that the British have promised to give to the Indians the whole Territory of Michigan as a reward for their Services to induce them to form a force on the rear of Fort Meigs while the British cannonade the works from the opposite Bank of the Miamiean attack made in such a manner, without a force sufficient to cross the river, and attack their works with the Bayonette of our Infantry our works would be subjected to considerable injury, if not risk of being surrendered-as the British have a vast superiority of Artillery. The provisions at Norton and at Upper Sandusky are to be conveyed to lower Sandusky by contract as the readiest way of conveyance to the Rapids-and it will be necessary to have some stout gunboats at the mouth of lower Sandusky and at that of the Miamie to secure it safely. Indeed so apprehensive the Gen'l. that he has proposed to the Contractor to send by way of Fort Findley a branch of Miamie forty five miles up-this would also render the conveyance of those provisions still uncertain as the dry season-which commences very soon will prevent the possibility of carriage by water, and any roads near the Miamie would be subjected to large Indian partiesthat therefore Lower Sandusky must be held, & supported as a place of deposit and delivery-pardon me: when I assure you Sir we want at this time great activity and exertion. Gen'l McArthur lodged here one night, he appears to be a vigilant officersays he is superintending the recruiting service in this Statethat it progresses considerable, but I have seen none of those new troops pass this rout or any other yet some may be expected soon1500 men are ordered to rendezvous at George Town K. J. on the 2d of May under Lt. Cols. Campbell & Cox and are to join the N. W. army with all possible expedition-this cannot be effected sooner than June-as troops will not git forward without extraordinary exertion-more than the average of 10 miles pr. day at this season, the distance is over 300 miles from G. T. to the Rapids. Our Quarter Master Department too is a little shaken by expectation & new appointments and some expressions of concern in this quarter-for myself I have scarcely had time to ask a question Col. Morrison tis believed is anxious to return homebut I have neither asked nor heard him say I think it is to be regretted that he does not continue how I am to be disposed of I shall learn in due time, and content myself to make every exertion to the last moment. I have the Honor to be faithfully Excellent Sir, Your obedient servant, THE HON'BLE. JAMES MONROE ESQ., JOSEPH WHEATON A. D. Q. M. 722946 A CORRESPONDENCE AND NEGOTIATIONS.1 EXHIBIT 113. The Secretary of State to the Plenipotentiaries of the United States. Dated January 1st, 1814. Among the advantages attending our success in upper Canada was the important one of making capture of Gen. Proctor's baggage, with all the public documents belonging to the British Government in his possession. It is probable that these documents will be laid before Congress, as they are of a nature highly interesting to the public. You will understand their true character by extracts of two letters from Governor Cass, which are enclosed to you. By these, it appears, that the British Government has exercised its influence over the Indian tribes within our limits as well as elsewhere in peace, for hostile purposes towards the United States; and that the Indian barbarities since the war were, in many instances, known to and sanctioned by the British Government. EXHIBIT 114. Lord Castlereagh to the British Commissioners.3 FOREIGN OFFICE, July 28, 1814. My Lord and Gentlemen-The Government of the United States of America having appointed Commissioners to treat directly for peace with Great Britain, the Prince Regent has thought fit to appoint Commissioners on the part of his Britannic Majesty for the like purpose, and I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that his Royal Highness has been pleased to entrust to you the service in question. It has been agreed that these discussions shall take place at Ghent, to which town you will repair with the least practicable delay. I enclose the necessary full powers; and am commanded by the Prince Regent to convey to you the following instructions for the direction of your conduct. * * * * 1For copies of certain official correspondence between the Foreign Office and the British Commissioners, received too late for insertion here, see Appendix, Vol. III, pp. 1176–1193. 2American State Papers, Foreign Relations, Vol. III, p. 701. Correspondence of Lord Castlereagh, 3rd Series, Vol. II, pp. 67, 70. |