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HARRISON TO EUSTIS

(No. 19)

Head Quarters Delaware Novr.

9th. 1812

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 23 and 24th ultimo. I returned from Lake Erie to this place three or four days ago. I found a detachment of Eight Hundred Militia under Generals Wadsworth and Perkins encamped near the mouth of the river Huron, and another detachment of five hundred under General Bell, twelve miles north of Mansfield. I have ordered the latter to join general Wadsworth to be organized and the whole to proceed to lower Sandusky. This Brigade will be commanded by Genl. Perkins. The Pennsylvania Troops with the artillery are about this time at Mansfield. I have dir- ected them to move on to Upper Sandusky, there to form a junction with the Virginia Troops who arrived at this place on Thursday the 6th instant; but the rains which have fallen and which have inundated the whole country will prevent their moving further in advance for four or five days at least - This circumstance is to be regretted, on some accounts, but is nevertheless upon the whole highly benefitial -- as it will put beyond contingencies the success of the campaign, provided any orders to those to whom the duties of transporting provisions have been assigned. are faithfully executed. By the next mail I shall have the honor to lay before you a full view of the situation of the Army in every respect. You will see from the Kentucky papers the failure of the expedition under Genl Hopkins -- Although this result was entirely unexpected by me, and must be highly detrimental to our affairs generally, arrangements have been made to irevent, as far as possible, its injurious effects to the progress of the Army under my command.

By a letter just received from Colo. Anderson of the 24th Regiment, I learn with regret, that the contradictory of the orders from the adjutant Generals office and myself, had prevented his executing, the former and that he remains at Nashville waiting for further instructions. This de- lay however, affords me an opportunity most respectfully to request your attention to the reasons for producing an order for altering his des- tination in this Army: -- The reasons are, that the whole army is com- posed of Militia, a nd the terms of service of the greater part will ex- pire soon after they reach their place of destination - The Troops from this state, Pennsylvania and Virginia are most of them undisciplined and although the Kentucky Troops and a part of those from this state, from a sence of duty which they perfectly understand, and the personal influence I possess over them, will march wherever they are ordered, yet I am afraid that the Troops from the other state are strongly tinctured with that abominable principle which beging to prevail, that the militia under the constitution are not bound to act out of the precintes of the United States.

I have the Honor to be &c Wm Henry Harrison

Honble
William Eustis
Secy of War

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