Newspaper Page Text
fine. This extract is from the tnf
raiive of the overthrow of the Brit
ish and Indian armies at the Mora
vian town in October last. Mi>
Brown was a volunteer in Gol. John
son,* corps of mounted riflemen, at
at the time the event he speaks of
took place. The greater part of the
work is the result of actual observa
tion.
On the left the contest was furious
—Col* Johnson who commanded on
the flank of his regiment, received
a terrible fire from the Indians, which
they kept up for some time. The
Col. most’ gallantly led the head of
his column into the hottest of’ the
enemy’s fire ais was personally op
posed to TecumseK. At this point
a condensed mass of savages had col
lected—Yet regardless of danger,
he rushed inta the midst of them.
So thick were the Indians at this
time, that several might have touch
ed him with their rifles. He rode a
white horse, and was known to be an
officer of rank—a shower of balls was
discharged at him'—some took effect
—His horse was shot under him—
J-lis clothes, .his saddle, his person
were all pierced with bullets. At
the moment his horse fell, Tceum
sfch rushed towards him with an up
lifted tomahawk, to give the fatal
6troke,; but his presence of npnd
did not forsake him in this perilous
predicament—he drew s pistol from
bis holsters,and laid his daring op
ponent dead at his feet, Ht was un
able to do more, the loss of blood
deprived him of strength to stand.
Fortunately at the moment of Tecum
*eh’s fall the enemy gave way which
secured him from the reach of their
tomahawks ;he w r as wounded in five
places, he received three shots in
the right thigh, and three in the left
arm, Six Americans and twenty
two left within twenty yards
of the b.pot where T-ecuraseh was
killed, and the trains of blood almost
covered the ground.
prom iki True American*
Pul adelfbi a, March 2.
WILKINSON'S ARREST.
There appears to be no doubt that
General Wilkinson is arrested. The
following extract from a review of
tjje campaign, in 7 he National Ad
vocate a paper which is understood
to he peculiarly patronised by the
Secretary of War perhaps explains
the grounds of the arrest.
On the 16th of October, when all
the < r fuir gtrcies Lad occurrred,
which forbade the attack on King
ston then ti was that General WiU
l.mson became eagor and ardent for
attacking that place—for taking a
province, and four thousand men!
Then it was that his instructions of
the sth of August, became both pos
itive and imperative, leaving him
no choice ; then it was he demand
ded from the Secretary a Presiden
tiai mandate forgoing to Montreal!
If the Secretary had not seen the
drift of alt this tkufting. he would
have been ill suited to manage this
tortuous manotuvre ; but he saw it in
a found the general was
seeking only a loup-hole for escape,
and wa* therefore wisely determined
to leave him none- The orders you
have received says he, leave you a
choice between going to Kjngsto;
©i Montreal; youi alone, are respon
sible for choosing rightly, and I will
not now alter the tenor of iheseorders.
and why ; because to do so >, i would
but be substituting my opinion for
yours*, Tne general found hi pash If
ensnared in his own net; and hence
forth* we here no more of his going
to Kingston, and no more of his
wanting the President's order to pro
ceed to Montreal His Retreat cut
off in this direction, what is his next
shift l He calls a council of war,
submits to it the state of his provi4
sion & wishes to terminate the cam
paign even, before he gets ro Pres
ooi. This-fact is stated in his letter
of the 6th of November, to general
Hampton—But here again his arti
fioe . tailed : his /‘general officers
unanimously agreed,-that it should,
pot prevent the progress of the expe- j
dition.** His delays were, however, !
such as to bring the enemy upon his j
buck—Sc aft<r some previous scratch- 1
ing they so beset him on the 11 *h of J
November, as to make a battle una- ]
voidable—But after all-so bad was
Bis health and so intent was he
upon.executing the orders of gow
eminent: that'after losing upwards
of three hundred men. he withdrew
from the attack.of 1600. and left the
epemy the field of battle, his wound
•4* and one piece of Artillery. . The J
reader will distinctly perceive fftat it
was mere anxiety to the
views of g eminent that prevent
ed him from swallowing up these
1600 men. Fortune was now about
to throw in hi* way the means of.
closing the campaign as he wished.
He invites Hampton to join him, but
leaves to his discretion?the choice of
the place ot This was hot
coaadence in Hampton; for be bad
no w— ml an artifice .to lead *hat of*.
■Ucr imo the v«jry* error t.-at he
decidedly a point ~*on
ought to bare been made, w , ave
any thing to Hampton's nen*.
He knew Hampton's personal aversion
to him, jf any thing was left
to himself, he wonld employ the'fati
tude conceded to him to avoid Wil
kinson's immediate command. His
calculations were not mistaken.
Hampton* uhforturtately seized the
occasion and obeyed the impulse of
personal feelings On the errors of
have already spoken.
He was completely the victim of
Wilkinson's artifices and his own
passions; and furnished Wilkinson
with a pretence for ending the cam
paign at St. Tegis. That there was
no solid reason for ending the cam
r-paign there is evident—Because the
500 men in garrison at Montreal
was all the effective force in front of
his corps ; because if the force in his
rear was “ capable of disturbing the
mtin action of the campaign, he
should have taken effectual means to
destroy it; and the garrison of King
ston and Prescot destroyed .[though
we failed of of getting to Montreal]
the upper province was won;*’
and because Hampton would not
have detained Prevost with his mot
ley forec 2,100 men on the South
side of the St. Lawrence—so that
there was no real insurmountable ob
stacle to the ultimate success of the
campaign. ‘ *.
FAILURE OF TOE CAMPAIGN.
The following, extracted from the
Documents communicated by the
president to congress, on the subject
of the last campaign, exhibit the dif
ferent opinions as to the proper point
of attack and particularly the opposi
tion 6f the commanding General to
the attack on Kingston.
Extract from the Journal of the acre •
Sary of war •
« 4th October, 181$. Geh. WiP
kinson arrived at Sacketts Harbor, on
this day from Fort George. He im
mediately visited the secretary of war,
in company with generals Lewis and
Drown, and in the presence of these
officers remonstrated freely and
warmly against making an attack on
Kingston—-urging the propriety of
passing that port and going directly
to Montreal.
“ The secretary of war differed
from Gen. WUkinson in opinion, but
thought his objections worthy of con
sideration, and proposed meeting op
the day following for that purpose.
“The meeting took place accord
ingly, whets vien. Wilkinson presen
ted the paper No. 1. That marked
No. 2. was presented by the secreta
ry, and tne opinion -with which it
closes was adopted as that which
should regulate the movements of the
‘Army.' 1
No. 1.
Reasons for attacking Kingston dn *
tenor to a descent upon Montreal:
Ist. We shall •; apture a garrison
of 800 or 1000 and demolish a strong
! hold of the enemy#*** .
2d. We shall destroy his naval de
pot and magazines of every species*
3d. We shall by this operation di
minish his force, destroy his resour
ces* and place the divisional the head
ot the lakes under De Rettenburg, in
great difficulty and distress* and
4th* We ‘shall destroy every natal
resource, and of consequence prevent,
the building,”€<juipping, and even re
pairing a single vessel.
Against this attack it may be urged*
Ist. 1 hat the reduction of the place
may cost ffiard time than we calcu
late on. r• * * ** - 4
It may encumber us with woun
ded and sick ; and ’
3d. It is possible the British
dron may as heretofore elude com-,
modore Chauncey, and find us before
Kingston* or overtake us on the St.
Lawrence.
In the first place, from the lateness
of the season, the loss of a few days
may expose us to the autumnal rains,
and jeopardize the .chief object of the
campaign. In the second place, our
own force will be diminished>and our
movements retarded; and
< i CMh the third place the chief
of the campaign, the/capture of Mon~
treat , will be ? utterly defeated, and
Our own army subjected, to. great
difficulties, fosses and perils. Sub- ;
mitted to the honorable secretary of
wur.
JAS. WILKINSON**
■ \
1 st. The Niagara division will pro
bably arrive herein a day ortwo.
2d The weather is yet goodVapd
4he lake navigable by scows and
boats.
3d. The* enemy’s main force is in
the ne-ghborhood of Fort George and
his fleet at the head of t|e lake.
4th. The garrison of Kingston does
not exceed SOD or 1 boo mep4
Pherson's farm, on tile eastern side
of Kingston, a point may be seized
which will command the town,.the
forts, and harbour ; and within seven
hours after the landing is effected a
sufficient, battery may be erected and
‘SMJpviVdon*
< ;*v ‘* k *
v 6th Nine and twelve poundere will
be sufficient for burning block hous
es See. and may be dragged by the
mem ‘ . iU ’ *■ - ‘
7th The time necessary to reduce
the place will not exceed a single day,
and of course will not materially in
terfere, on that account* with our ob
ject below. ,
. flth -The loss we may sustain can
only be conjectured.—Judging from
that at Fort George, where the enemy
were more numerous it will be inc on
siderable..
9th. The :ja dvantages of taking
Kingston are two, you. sever the en
emy's line of communication, and
you expel him (him his only secure
harbor.
The premises assumed under the
Ist, 2d, Sd, 4th.’ and sth heads may
change and our conclusions with
them. The only safe decision there
fore is that if the British fleet shall
not escape Com. Chauncy and get in
to Kingston Harbor ; if the garrison
of that place be not largely reinfor
ced ; and if the weather be such as
to allow us to navigate the lake se
curely, Kingston, shall be our first
object, otherwise we shall go direct
ly to Montreal.
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Sackett's Harbor , s thOct. 1813.
•BURNING OF NEWARK.
The following is the order of'the
Secretary of War, in consequence of
which Newark was burnt.
War Department , sth October , 1813.
Sir— -Understanding that the de
fence of the post'committed to your
charge, may render it proper to desr
troy the town of Newark, you arc
hereby directed to apprise its inhab
itants of this circumstance, and to
invite them to remove themselves
and their effects to some place of
greater safety. J)?
I am,
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Brigadier General M Clure or officer
commanding at Fort Georg Cy
Upper Canada.
FOREIGN NEWS. #
J?ew-¥brk 9 March, 30
Frertch papers to the 2Qth-Janua
ry and London datts to the p ! $t Dec.
have .been received by a fate arrival
from Europe. . %
The French hinds had fallen frmh
Si to 50.
Mr. Shubrick, of the United States
Navy is the bearer of dispatches from
our Minister at Pari# to the Govern
ment. , .
In addition to our French papers,
a passenger has furnished us with
| the following heads of the news cur
rent at La Teste.
State of the ofTared
tuixr, McDonald it was reported, had
gone to Holland with 40 ojo men.
Duke of Ragusaj Marmont, at
I Dayence with 30,001).
i Marshal St; Cyr capitulated at
I Dresden with 45,000.
f Prince of Eckmul cut off by the
Swedes in the envirous of Hamburg,
with a forcOof J0 4 000 men.
Duke of Beiluao, Victor, at Stras
burg with 30’000 men.
Count Bertrand at Cassel, with
000 men.
The army of Reserve to- be
f forming under the Dukifrof Valmy,
at Metz, with 10,000. >
; General Rapp, at Dantzic, with
! 15,030 men. v
j Marshal DVAlbufer'a, Bucket; head
r quarters at Barcelona* 35 00J men.
Duke of Dalmatia, Boult, head
quarters at Bayonne, With 65,000
men, daily receiving rei afocemeius.
The Viceroy of Italy, Prinbe En*
gune, at Verona, with 50 006f
The King of Naples, said to* be
coming from Naples with 30,000
men. . ~
Thirty thousand Sedan.
Bieda [in liolland] was taken by
the Prussians and Dutch troops oh
the 10th of December. . p
Considerable apprehensions had *4
been entertained for the fate of
twerp, but 10,000 French trooops had
arrived there for its relief.
* Naples, December 28.
Yesterday, at 5 o'clock in the eve
ning, we have seen the cominence
ment of one of the most violent erup
tions of which the history of Vesu-d
vius gives any account. Happily
this phenomenon, which presented
a dreadful spectacle, has not done
any considerable damage.
Paßis t January 13.
After having themselves
basis of peace and after they had been
accepted by the Emperor, the albed ‘
powers have refused to sign them, a
circumstance unparalleled in the his* >
tory of nations.
January 14—-Different accounts
from Italy and which are believed to
be authentic, report that the Aus
trians, having attempted again to
dislodge the Princ.e Vicq Roy of It
aly from his position oiTthe Adige,
have beearepulsed with considerable
loss, Wr wait tor the detail* of this
, new success.: ‘ *
BoiMjy.Arx, January !?.
The operations of the levy of SOD? 2
000 men continue with and
will shortly terminate. A consider
able part of the contingent is # on its
inarch, and every day sees new de
partures. The conscripts render
themselves with exactitude to the
calls matt* upon them, and depart
animated with the liveliest spirit.
London, ipeccmber 31.
The general opinion among mili
tary men is that Lord Wellington
cannot remain in tbe position which
he at present occupies without ex
periencing immense loss by the in
fections which are exhaled from the
marshes, and by the forces which are
continually crossing from Marshal
Soult. !
It is with sorrow we
tliat nearly 1200 men of our troops
have deserted. i
LETTER FROM MR. DEXTER ,
YOfHE ELECTORS OF MASS ACHUSBTTS
The delicate propriety established
by usage, in our country, forbids
that a man, standing as a candidate
foroffice, should address the electors.
If subscriber had consented to
being placed in that situation, this
rule would bind him to silence.
Though he answered while at home
that he was not a candidate for office,
republican newspapers in the vicin
ity of the seat where
he now is* have published an opposite
statement. This singular state of
things seems to require an explana- \
tion. In performing thisduty he may ]
dissent'from some favorite doctrines
and measures of men high ih influ
ence and respectability in both the
political parties that npw divide the
country. Candid men will not attri
bute this to any indirect or unwor
thy motive's ; the others, when their
intellectual optics are stimulated by
passions or darkened by prejudice Will
.sec some mischievous purpose in a
mere attempt to be understood in his
Own conduct and to explain his Objec
tions to th£Tt Os others.
Hopeless indeed Would fee arc effort
to acquire influence by pursuing di
course offensive to the leaders of both
the parties that convulse the nation.
Such active spirits have both powei*&
inclination who opposes he projects
of their airtbition, while the native
vis ine tia of real pariotism prevents
support from these quiet citizens
who agreed \vrth him in opinion.
The principal subjects, bn tfhich
politicians at present divide, are the
system of restriction on our Com-,
tnerce, and the War with Great
Britain. On the former, the writers
differs radically from the party cal
led republican, and be chose& they
should know it. At the same time
he is utterly unable to” reconcile
some of the leading measures of
Federalists as to the latter, with
the fundamental principles of civil
society, and the indispensable duty
of evt rv Citizen h» all countries
especially in the American Republic
to hbW sacred the Union of his coun
try. It is this opinion, probably that
has produced tbe singular fact of his
ffer the first office
in the Commonwealth by a political
party to whkh he does -not belong.
The objections against the restric
tive system which haVe governed
his decision it shall fee briefly
stated without Stopping to offer ar
guments to prove them. He be
lieves, i ■ ■■■’
Ist. That it overleaps the bounds
of constitutional power.
2dly. That it is impossible to exe
cute it. ; ' v
3dly. That* the attempt to db so
corrupts us by destroying the cor
rect habits of our merchants, and.
.rendering perjury fimiliar.
Cthly. That it Would be ifieflec- ;
tdal to coerce foreign nations, if ex-
if* \ * ‘
sthljv That it is unjust and* oppres
sive to the commercial part of the
as it destroys invaluable
interests which the government is
bound to protects v
6thly. That it completely sacrifi
ces our oqly Considerable source of
revenue, ami reduces us tb depend
on a meagre supply from internal
taxation or to accumulate; an enor
mous public debt by loans, procured
on hard terms, which government
has no adequate funds to reimburse.
7thly. That it aims a fatal blow
at our unexampled progress in wealth
and impovement.
If these objections be well founded,
none wj.l deny that they are suffi
cient.; Tue proofbf them would v bC
too elaborate for the present occasion.
A wise policy would not have resor
ted to an untried theory, so ruinous
and inadequate, for redress of the
sferious aggressions we have suffered
from the'belligerent powers of Eu
rope, in full view of the success
which had crowned more magnani
mous efforts. Washington, by
making Arm and temperate remon
strance against the first Unequivocal
important violation of our national
rights; induced Great lirirain to
make compensation ; and during the
administration of Aba* s the pride
Ic r France was humbled by an appeal
to arms.
T]*s is the only mode which the
experience of nations points oat to
fV-urd ngMnut ii*ju! y and ioauit ac.
cumulating by tho
palieM suffering country SL anaU
hiLicd or enslaved.
j On the other ham!, when the govw
eminent vvertr ‘Kicked into a War,*
the write'* die! not fee! himself dt lib*
erty to practice indhcnmii.ateoppoTi
< ticn, to paralMe the public energy
by degrading the resources and mag
nanimity of ou'r country, Sc exagger
ating: those of Britain, to justify the
public enemy in meuMiies that admit
of no excuse unci thus diminish tho
chance for a speedy and honorable
peace, and endanger the union of
the States. . It is a fandardental law
of every civil society , that vs he a a ques
tion is settled by the const tinted author-’
ity 9 every individual is bound to res
pect the decision. The iv.; we nt jus ques
tion whether war was just l? ircessayp
has been thus Settled. Pence can only
be restored by a treaty to which Great
Britain shall assent y and rtasdnuble
temts are riot to be obtained from iter w
i by proving ts the world that we are un
able or unwilling >to maintain oar
rights by the swore^ — The privilege*
of e'tery citizen to examine the con*
duel; of Rulers is unquestionable,
though in speaking to his country ho
may be overheard by her enemies*
But this right, like every other, may
be abused. What good is to be ex
pected from creating’ di vision when
engaged in war with a fit! nation
THAT HAS NQT YET FXFLU
CITLY SHOWN THAT SUE ISJ
WILLING TO AG REF TO RE A
SONABLE TERMS OF, PEACE $
Why make publications and speech*:}
to prove that we are absolved frofy
allegianceto the national government
and hint that an attempt to cbvid{
the empire might be justified. But
the writer goes further, HE IMS
never Doubted that this*
i BRITISH ORDERS IN COUN-
I Cl I;, WHEN ACTUALLY EN
FORCED, WERE A KLAGR AN V
VIOLATION OF OUR Rl(!.H*
& NATIONAL HONuR ft CON
SEQUENTLY A JUST causa
OF DECLARING WAR, As so
the best time of performing this pain*
fal duty, and, the best manner oi con
ducting the war, he differed from
the government, but surely they ure»
’'competent to decide on these points,
and private, opinion; though it may
be expressed, is boimcl to
submit; On such occasions, regi\ tr
for the refractory principle in o\ir ;
nature, which scatters through na*;
tipns the misery, criii. es and a'esolu*,
tion of war, will rend the bosom of
the benevolent rhan ; but if he bt also
magnanimous and just, this will not
tempt him to violate his dmy, or re*
pine at any arrangements of Heaven*
The history of civil society proves
. that it is u terrible necssity, and
man must submit to his destiny.
Still greater evils are produced by
pusillanimous shrinking froip con
formity to the mysterious law of his
present condition.
The ferocious contest that would
be the effect of attempting to skulk,
from a participation of the burthens
of war, by severing the Union would
net belike greatest calamity. Yet
fierce would be the conflict of enra
ged partizans, imbjtttred by personal
animosity and rivalry, organized un
der different governments, about e
q.ual in number, and viewing each 1
: other as traitors. ,
In Massachusetts; during re
volutionary war, an overwhelming
majority silenced opposition and
prevented mutual havoc* but in oth
er parts of the country, where par*
ties were more equal, neighbors of
ten shot each other in thefr houses,
or hanged their
Divided as New-Engird now is t
; such w T ould probablv be its warfare*
- Interminable hostility between neigh
boring rival nations would be the con
sequence accomplishing such'a severance.
Foreign faction, would convulse each
* of them? for a weak state can nomorfr
maintain its rights against powerful
nations without foreign support/than
a feeble man can defend himself a
mong giants without laws to protect
him, The question would ever be
which powerful nation shall be our
ally ? Great-Britain and Francjp?
would each have, a strong faction*
but patriotism would be unknown.-
The energy of the State would be
exhausted in chnsing its master.—
This slavery would be aggravated by
despotism at home, for constant wars
would require great armies and re~(
sisttess power in rulers, and
have ever been fatal to liberty. ?
If;the question be asked, what iir
to be done when we conscientiously
believe th&t a ruinous course of meas*
ures is pursued by our national ru
lers, and the dearest rights and inter
ests'of a great part of the Union*
disregarded and sacrificed, the ans-*’
wer is, examine the conduct and ex*i
pose the errors of government with*
out preaching sedition. Give liber r
at suoport- to their measures v. iien
right thiu yuu may ;je cred.ted whet*
.you s * ,v;heyare wiorig*