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HARRISON TO EUSTIS

Piqua (on the Big Miami)

Septr 3rd. 1812

No. 16

Sir

Your letter of the 22nd Ultimo with the accompanying Documents reached me Yesterday by an Express from Lexington. I an honored and gratified by the appointment which the President has conferred upon me and I must re- quest you Sir, to present to him my Since:e acknowledgments for this re- newed Instance of his confidence in my Zeal and Patriotism. Under present Circumstances however I trust I shall be forgiven for postponing my de- cision as to the acceptance of the a p pointment for until I receive your further Instructions. My letters to you from Cincinnati will have explained my situation here and the information of the fall of Detroit will no doubt cause other arrangements than those which were in contem- plation when your letter was written. I have therefore thought it ad- visable not to vary the destination of that part of the Kentucky Troops which you were informed were coming on in aid of the Detachment which marched under Genl Payne which appears from a letter received from Genl Winchester to be consigned to him.

I arrived here on the 1st. Inst. I found the whole Country in dread- ful alarm on account of the fall of Detroit and Chicago and the suppose[d] investituing of Fort Wayne by the Indians. Seven hundred Mounted Volun- teers have been assembled for the purpose of relieving it and had advanced as far as the St. Marys twenty five Miles from this but they have after several ineffectual attempts by the Commissioners to get them to advance at length declined it until they could be reinforced. As soon as this was ascertained I dispatched an Express for Allens select Rifle Regt. one of Paynes Brigade and it has this moment arrived.

I have given Colo. Allen (one of the most distinguished Citizens of Kentucky) orders to take the Command of the Volunteers and Garrards Troops of Dragoons and endeavour to force his way to Fort Wayne. His force will amount to 1600 Men and I hope will be fully equal to the dis- persion of the Indians. It is however impossible to ascertain their forces every attempt which has been made to reach Fort Wayne by the Commissioners for some days past has been ineffectual even with the assistance of the friendly Indians at this place. I should have encreased Allens force with another Regiment at least but for the want of fixed ammunition. Upon my arrival at Cincinnati I found but 12000 Cartridges and the Troops had been in motion without any means being adopted to pro- cure a supply other than that of the Arsenal which yielded from 1000 to 1500 per diem only. On Sunday last however the Citizens offered me their Services to make Cartridges and I left them progressing rapidly. On Monday last I am informed 12000 set out as I had directed in a light waggon, they have not yet arrived. When they do arrive another Detach- ment will be sent after Colonel Allen and the remaining part of Paynes Brigade will follow on the same route as far as the St Mary's. I have ordered Allen to reconnitre to a considerable distance in his front with Mounted Men and should he discover that the Enemy are superior in number to his Troops to fortify a Camp and send back to apprise Genl. Payne or Winchester, who will be here Tomorrow, of his situation. Upon a reference to the Commissioners to ascertain the disposition of the Indians towards us I am informed that all but those which are here must be considered as Hostile excepting the Miamis who are still wavering. I have therefore determined to commence offensive operations against them, immediately and to make a sweeping blow at them begining with the Prophet at Tippacannoe and extending it up that river to the Villages of the Potawatimis upon it and the head waters of the Illinois. The lateness of the Season makes it necessagry that it should be done by Mounted Men unencumbered with any other Baggage than what they carry upon their own Horses. I calculated upon a sufficiency of Men being otained of that description that will serve for thirty days with no other reliance for pay than the bounty of the Government. I am unable at this moment to give you the particulars of my plan for the Expedition and my Arrangements for the other parts of the Frontiers. My Rendezvous is fixed at Dayton on the 15th Inst and my route such a one as the great hopes of effecting a complete surprise which could not be expected either down the Wabash from Fort Wayne or up it from Vincennes. With regard to my own situation Sir, I assure you the Rank of Brigadier is highly gratifying to me but is the object for which General Winchester was ordered to take Command of the detachment is now unattainable and as my Judgment points out the proprety of commencing my operations from this Quarter I wish to know haw far I am to be suordinate to him in the main design of regaining our lost Territory and taking of Malden. There is in my opinion a necessity of having one head in the Western Country to direct all the military Movements -- It perhaps be presumptuous in me to compare my military information with that of Genl. Winchester and his extreme solemness [?] of Character will insure him respect and esteem when he is Known, but that happens not to be the case either in this state or Kentucky. The back woodsmen are a singular people. They are susceptible of the most heroic atcheivements but they must be taken in their own way. From the affection and attachment every thing may be expected, but I will venture to say that they never did nor never will perform anything briliant under a stranger. I will venture to add another thing also no Gentleman can act in this Country without a personal knowledge of it. Beyond the Surveys there is no map that can be at all relied upon. I acknowledge that I have no other claim to the command beyond that of other Brigadiers but what may be supposed to arise from personal influence in the states which are to supply the Troops and knowledge of the Country in which I have risen from the youngest Ensign in the 1st. US. Regt. I wait your further orders. Those which the state of things so different from what was supposed when your last letter was written requires it. It is unnecessary to state to you Sir, that with General Hulls Army were captured all the heavy artillery and almost all the Ordinace Stores in the Western Country and that Arsenal at New Port is entirely dificient in many essential Equipments.

I ahve the Honer to be &c

Willam Henry Harrison

Honorable

W. Eustis Esqr

Secy of War

26, 27