FUNDAMENTAL
DOCUMENTS

ARCHIVES/
LIBRARY

ONLINE
RESEARCH
TOOLS

ONLINE
DOCUMENTS

ONLINE
SERVICES

HARRISON TO EUSTIS

Vincennes 14th. Jany. 1812.

Sir

When I found myself so violently & so illeberally attacked by a number of the Public spirits at the close of a successful expedition I began to fear that a long peace & miserable[?] habits had produced a kind of Cathagenian spirit in the Nation to which every unsuccessful General would fall a sacrifice Indeed reason to think that the dis- position I have mentioned prevailed amongst our Citizens a stronger degree than it was ever know[n] to do in that Ancient Republic --Nor their misfortune only was [illeg.] and success always rewarded. Re- flections of this kind almost had determined me never more to put on the military habit I find however that I had done my countrymen injustice and that the great Mass of them wish only for Correct infor- mation to induce them to do what was right. This Conviction & the testimonies of approbation which I have received from my fellow citizens of the adjacent states have revived all my ardour for the service and has determined me to resume the La gare if the Government should think me worthy of a commission in the new military establishment. I know too well my own deficiencies sir, to believe that I [have] all the qualifications which are necessary for a high military command. In the course of my service of seven years however I was not an inattentive observer nor neglectful in those studies which appertain to the Military Act. And my situation in the General Staff enabled me to apply to the test of experiment those Rules for the Construction of Subsistance the Recruiting & manoeuvreing of Armies which I had acquired from Books. My Attachment for military Studies was not relinquished with my commiss- ion in the army and I have omitted no opportunity of acquiring infor- mation pursuing my favorite study. With regard to the subordinate parts of military duty I should blush to think that there was a person in the whole army which I lately commanded who could manoeuvre a batt- alion with more exactness than I could do it myself -- these sir to- gether with an ardent zeal for the service of my Country are the grounds upon which I offer myself to the Government as a Candidate for a military appointment in the Army that it is contemplated to raise --

In filling up the appointments for the command of so large a body of men as that which it is in contemplation to raise it will no doubt be found necessary to translate some of the officers from the Old to the new Regiments & from them to higher grades, upon this impression I have thought it my duty to you [to tell you?] the merits of Lt. Col. Miller & Capt Snelling the Colo would in my opinion head a Regiment with the greatest propriety He is one of your last deliberate sedate men in whom if the flash of genius does not often discover itself it is amply Compensated by Correctness of Judgment & solidity of Character to him as is a knowledge by all the officers who have spoken with me upon the subject the 4th Regt is indebted for the Correctness of its discipline -- Capt. Snelling is a hero in the field & a gentleman in manners & in principle -- He deserves promotion for his Conduct in the late action in which he certainly distinguished himself more than any other plattoon officer -- I charged the position of his company four times in the action and there never was one conducted with more bravery & in better order

There are alsom some fine young fellows amongst the subalterns of the 4th Regt but there are vacancies for most of them & the others are so near promotion that I [illeg.] you they would not wish to be transferred.

If in the distribution of the appointments it should be conceived that this Teritory is entitled to two Companies I beg leave to recommend Wm Prince [illeg.] as Capts. but if one only should be considered suff- icient for us I beg leave to recommend Wm Prince as [illeg. two lines] Henry Dubois for Ensign without troubling you with a particular des- cription of each I will only observe sir that they are all men of Honour & Sobriety & I pledge myself for their Conduct. they all speak the french language (no bad qualification for Canada) Captn Prince & Mr Dubois particularly well - The latter is the son of a Gentleman of con- siderable property who was a native of Canada.

At a time like this when the Government is no doubt in Search of Military talents I think it my duty to mention to you Genl Wm. Clark of St, Louis. I have long Known this Gentleman having served with him in the army & I have never known one to whom the observation made by Genl C Lee in ration [relation] to Genl H,,Lee is more applicable ie that he came a soldier out of his mothers womb I do not know that he has the least idea of entering the Army but depend upon it he is worth se- curing -

I have the Honor to be with great Respect sir Your Hul Servt [unsigned ]

Honble Willm Eustis Esqr
Sey of War

3, 4