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HARRISON TO EUSTIS

Vincennes 3rd June 1812

Sir

I had the Honor this day to receive yr. favors of the 13th & 14th Inst. By the same conveyance I also heard from Colo. Russell who is gone to the Red banks on the Ohio to meet the Compy of Kentucky Rangers & March them across to that place -- The Colo in his letter to me says "My own opinion has always been to defend the frontier in the best manner for the safety of the inhabitants is always to carry the war into their own Country & should you sir be able to ascertain the forces [?] that are now friendly I should without being better informed deem it my duty [to] embody the Rangers & our Compy. of the troops & move against them & burn & distroy any such town."

If Colo. Russell has any instructions to commence offensive oper- ations I should be thankful to be informed how far it is expected that my opinion & advice are to govern or control his measures. I do not by any means wish to throw any responsibility that the Govt. should think proper to impose upon me but it appears to me that unless the Colo. posses instructions very different from these which I have had the honor to receive which [illeg.] I could not sanction or could permit such a decisive step as he talks of - Eut if any advice or assistance of [illeg.] be deemed of importance to the Colo or to any other person to whom may be committed of repelling or Chastising the Indians I beg leave to assure you sir that it shall be offered with frankness & cander I have etc.

[unsigned]
[To Eustis]

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