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HARRISON TO EUSTIS

Louisville Ky, 18th August 1812

Sir,

The Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers destined for Vincennes Rendez- voused at this place yesterday. The pressing Engagements of Gov Scott previously to his having his office which takes place in a few days, and the occupation of Genl Taylors Agent the Pay master of the District at the Rendezvous of the Detachment destined for Detroit, induced the Governor to put this Regiment entirely under my Controle and to leave to me the preparations necessary for the prosecution of their March. Amongst the most difficult of these is the procuring the means of making them an advance of two Months pay. The first has been gotten over by the offer of the Bank here to advance the necessary Sum. But as we have no correct information as to the precise amount of the two Months allowance of Clothing it has been determined to pay the men ten dollars a peice only. The Pay Master of the Regiment is now making the Estimates, which will be forwarded by this or the ensuing Mail and the Money will be procured by drafts drawn by him and Indorsed by rile. I have the Honor to enclose his Bond for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office. He is per- sonally a stranger to me but is highly spoken of and either of his three Securities are equal to the payment of the penalty of the Bond. I have the Honor to enclose you an original letter from Capt Taylor the Command- ant of Fort Harrison which was sent to me by Express. A Gentleman immediately from Vincennes informs that the Citizens there are under great alarm and that information received from every Quarter corroborates the account of the intended attack. I have sent off one Company from the Indiana Regiment of Militia adjacent to this place and have agreed to dismiss them in a month on condition of their furnishing themselves with Horses. When the Regiment now here reaches Vincennes it will be amply sufficient for the defence of that Settlement. But I feat that Col o Wilcox will not be able to leave Jeffersonville until the 20th. Inst. I have not been able to procure any Tents for the Troops the Country being entirely exhausted of materials for making them by furnish- ing the Regiments destined for Detroit. They are also entirely destitute of Canteens. All these articles are understood to be on the way from Pittsburg but they have not arrived at New Port on the 15th Inst. I have directed Lieut Bryson to forward a proper proportion of the Equipments and Camp Equipage as soon as he receives them and I shall have them es- corted to Vincennes by a Company of Militia to be left for that purpose. As there was not more Powder in the arsenal at New Port than the quantity necessary to supply Genl. Hulls order I have caused 1000 lb to be pur- chased here. In my letter of the 10th Inst I observed that it had been dete rmined in a consultation with the Friends of the administration that it would be better to suspend the marching of any more of the militia of the Kentucky Quota until your further instructions should be received or some further indications of Hostility upon the part of the Indians should make it necessary. Upon my return to Frankfort however & a further con- sultation with Gov Scott took place and upon a representation being made by one of the Colonels in writing stating that it would be utterly im- possible to collect the Troops time enough for any offensive operations this fall unless the orders for their assembling should be soon given we both united in opinion that it would be necessary even upon the uncertainty of their busi[illeg. wanted that a distant day should be appointed for their Rendezvous at three different points, the day fixed is the 1st of September and the places designated are Frankfort, Louisville, and Henderson (Red Banks) the former for the Cavalry and two Regiments of Infantry; and each of the others one Regiment of Infantry. If none or a part only of these Troops should be wanted they can be disbanded and the only consequence will be some disappointment in the Men, but if they had not been ordered to assemble and there should be occasion for their Service some time in September it would have been found almost impossible to get them to any distant scene of action until the Season for such operations would have been too far advanced. Should the hopes which have been formed of the favorable effects of the Council at Piqua not be real- ized the Government, at the moment which shall ascertain its failure will have at its disposal a formidable force ready to take the Field. And the points of Rendezvous have been so fixed as to give as great a Chain as was possible as to the direction in which it may be moved. These were my motives sir for calling upon Gov. Scott under the authority of your letter of the 9th Ultimo requesting him to call the remaining part of the militia Quota of this State to be in readiness to march and Rendez- vous as above mentioned.

Genl. Winchester has accepted of a Troop of twelve Months Volunteer Dragoons from this State, there are two others of that description that have tendered themselves to me under Captains Trimble and Quarles. Hav- ing no authority to accept them I have turned them over to Gov. Scott who will send on their Rolls and the names of the officers for Commiss- ions. I have assured these Gentlemen however that they will certainly be imployed. they will serve either as Dragoons or Mounted Rifle men.

I have the Honor to be &c Willm Henry Harrison

The Hon
W Eustis Esqr
Secy of War

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