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HARRISON TO EUSTIS

Cincinnati 28th August 1812

IMPORTANT

Sir

Before this reaches you a dispatch from the Governor of Kentucky to yourself and another from the Honble Mr. Clay to the Secretary of State will have arrived at Washington communicating the circumstance which occasions my having the Honor to write you from this place. Being at Frankfort on the 24th Inst. making arrangements for the eventual march of the residue of the Kentucky Quota for the Indians and Michigan Terr- itories An Express arrived at that place with dispatches for Gov. Scott containing information of Gov. Hulls being shut up in Detroit and the probability of his being obliged to surrender unless immediately relieved. Upon a consultation with Gov. Scott it was thought advisable as he was the next day to go out of office to wait the arrival of his Successor Colo Shelby and to request the advice and assistance of all the public Characters in the State within reach and Expresses were sent to solicit their attendance on the next day. The Meeting accordingly took place consisting of Gov Shelby the former Gov Greenup the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the U States, & several other Members of Congress, the Judges of the U States and of the Supreme Court of the State, Genl Hopkins the Major General of the Kentucky Quota and it was unanimously recommended by Gov Scott to order another detachment of the State Quota to follow the one which had marched under Genl [illeg.] to request me to take the command of the whole and for the purpose of removing all differ- ences to give me the Commission of Major Genl. by Brevet of the Kentucky Militia. I could not permit myself to hesitate when urged by an author- ity so highly respectable especially when assured by the large Concourse of the Citizens from all parts of the state which had collected on account of the inauguration of the new Governor, that it was the Unanimous wish of the People of Kentucky that I should do so. Before I left Frankfort Gov. Shelby urged the propriety of sending one Regiment more to New Port than was at first intended, And hearing of the fall of Detroit a few miles from that place I sent back and recommended still another, My Command then consists of three Regiments of Kentucky Troops Colo Wells's Detachment and a Troop of twelve Months Volunteers making an aggregate of about 2100 at this place, and three Regiments of Infantry five Troops of Dragoons and 500 Mounted Volunteer Riflemen on their way to join me. Those that first arrive will not however be here before the 30th Inst and it will be impossible to get them from here for some days after.

Until this day I had some hope that the account of the fall of Detroit was not true, but a letter that was received a few Hours ago from Messrs Worthington and Meiggs to Colo Wells leaves no longer room for doubt, Three persons of the Quarter Master Department have returned to Piqua who were in Detroit when it was surrendered. The object of the letter from Messrs Worthington & Meiggs was to request Colo Wells to hasten his March and to take the route to Dayton and Piqua rather than the direct one to Urbana for the purpose of relieving Fort Wayne which was said to be in danger of an immediate attack. By a Gentleman who has this moment arrived from Piqua the taking of Chicago and the Massacre of the Garrison is also put beyond doubt. Poor Wells has also perished in endeavouring to save Capt Heald with his Company.

I shall march Tomorrow Morning with the Troops that I have here taking the route to Dayton and Piqua. The relief of Fort Wayne will be my first object and my after operations will be governed by circumstance until I receive your directions.

Considering my command as merely provisional I shall cheerfully con- form to any other arrangement Which the Government may think proper to make. The Troops which I have with me and those which are coming on from Kentucky are perhaps the best materials for forming an army that the world has produced. But no equal number of Men were ever collected who Knew so little of Military discipline, nor have I any assistance that can give me the least aid if ever there were time for it but Capt [illeg.] of the 4th Regiment who was left here sick and whom I have appointed Deputy Adjutant, General until the pleasure of the President can be known. He is well qualified and I hope the appointment will be confirmed. You may rely upon my utmost Exertions but the confusion which exists in every department connected with the Army is such as can only be expected from Men who are perfectly new to the business they are en- gaged in. No arms for Cavalry have yet arrived at New Port and I shall be forced to put Muskets in the hands of all the Dragoons. I have written to the Quarter Master at Pittsburg to request him to forward all the supplies of arms Equipment and Quarter Masters Stores as soon as possible. I have also requested him to send down a few peices of Artillery without waiting for your Order and wait your instructions as to a further numbers There is but one piece of Artillery an Iron four[?] pounder any where that I can hear of in this Country. If it [is] intended to retake the Posts we have lost and reduce Malden this Season, the Artillery must be sent on as soon as possible. There is no longer a possibility of getting money for Drafts in this Country the Pay Master Genl (Taylors Deputy) still continues to act, and I have been obliged to agree with the Bank here called the Miami Exporting Company that the U States shall be at the expence and risk of sending on the specie for the drafts that are now given for the pay of the Troops that are coming on and for the Quarter Masters Department. I think it proper however to state that until very lately Gen Taylor has made the Bank pay a premium of one and one and a half per Cent on all his Bills. I will obtain a particular statement from the Bank in order that he may be charged with it. Permit me to re- commend that the Monies received here by the Receiver of the land office be deposited in the Bank of the Miami Exporting Company. It is now sent to Lexington and the Bank here is quite as safe as that of Lexington. I herewith enclose a receipt of the Surgeon and another of the Quarter Mas- ter of the Regiment which is gone to Vincennes for supplies furnished them. The bonds given by the Pay Master and Quarter Master were found after they came into my possession not to have been Witnessed. They were send on to Vincennes to have the mistake rectified and will be forwarded to the War Office. I wrote this, Sir, under the inconvenience of con- siderable interruption, when I advance[d] a few days I will do myself the Honor to communicate all the information which I receive, My opinion of the state of Affairs and submit the result of my reflections as to the course to be pursued.

I have the Honor to be &c Willm Henry Harrison

The Honbl
W. Eustis Esqr
Secy of War

23, 24