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HARRISON TO EUSTIS

(No 16)

Head Quarters Franklinton

15th Octr 1812

Sir,

I Am sorry to inform you that the Expedition I directed of mounted men towards the Rapids of Miami did not succeed. The greater part of the Men having as I understood refused to march under General Tupper after I left them. I have received no written account but what is contained in the Enclosed note from Govr. Meiggs. I cannot conceive how General Win- chester can be to blame on the occasion and I am fully persuaded that it will be found to attack elsewhere. I have lately seen an Article in the St Louis Paper complaining bitterly of the want of men in that Quarter. If they are wanted it is the fault of the governor. So early as the 7th Ultimo I wrote to the Governor of Tennessee and requested him to send any number of men that Governor Howard or Gov Edwards should call for and to prevent delay. I requested him to hold two Regiments in read- iness to march so soon as he should receive a requisition -- both the Governors were informed of this arrangement. A Regiment from the lower part of Kentucky was in the first instance ordered to Cahokia from Hen- derson but there march was very improperly directed to Vincennes by Gen- eral Gibson. I have now forwarded orders for it to proceed to its first destination without delay. I am still of opinion that the Volunteers in the NW Army from Kentucky are equaled to any that have ever turned out in the United States but I am not without fear that the hardships and diff- iculties of a Winter Campaign may shake their firmness and evaporate their zeal. It is therefore an Object of much importance to collect a body of Men who can be depended upon under any circumstances. I have accord- ingly ordered all the Recruits in Kentucky Ohio and Tennessee to be organized and brought on Lieut. Colo. Campbell will command those from this state and I have given to Colonel Anderson the option of coming with those from Tennessee or sending on another Field Officer. For the mere purpose of guarding the Frontiers Militia will answer as well or per- haps better than Regulars.

Conformably to the authority given in your letter of the 17th Ulti- mo I have appointed Capt Nathaniel G. S. Hart of the 5th Regiment of Kentucky Voluntiers Deputy Inspector. I am aware that the law directs that this officer shall be taken from "the line" but I could not think that it was intended that in an army composed almost exclusively of Militia and Volunteers the staff appointments should be taken altogether from the line of regular Troops. If I have been mistaken however in my construction of the law it can still be corrected. Capt Hart is as well qualified as any other amongst the Volunteers, a warm advocate for the present administration the Brother in law of Mr. H Clay and mainly con- nected with Gov Scott. I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 7th Inst. This letter is the 16th which I have written to you since my first arrival in Cincinnati in July. it is also numbered as each succeeding one will be with progressive Numbers. As I sometime[s] receive your letters in inverted order I shall be thankful to have the same course pursued with regard to them, it will at any rate save re- petition and will enable me to know when a letter comes to hand whether all those which were previously written have been received. It was a plan used by the Secretary of War and General Wayne and in one instance I recollect was productive of particular advantages. I expect the Vir- ginia Brigade will arrive at Chilicothe the day after Tomorrow. Major Denny had directed 500 barrels of Flour to be purchased in this Country in part of the 500,000 rations ordered by me. I have dir- ected him to forward 400,000 of flour exclusively of these 500 barrels and to send Whiskey and small parts to the amount of 300,000. Cattle and Hogs can certainly be procured here in abundance and of course none need be sent from Pittsburg.

With great Respect I have the Honor to be &c Willm Henry Harrison

Honble
W Eustis Esqr
Secy of War

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