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OSL ROBERT McCONNELL MEIGS

Zanesville 26th. August 1812

Hond Sir

The mournfull news of the surender of our army to his Majestys troops at Detroit haveing reached Zanesville a number of the officers of our Brigade met and after hearing & comparing the different reports we thought our country in emenent danger of an imediate invasion Colonel Bay was present & we advised him forthwith to order a detachment of one hundred and thirty men from each Regmt. in the Brigade the orders were issued accordingly & the detachments. from Tuppers Northopes & my Regiment rend- ezvous at Zanesville to day and I am ordered to take the command & march without unnecessary delay to Mount vernon. this corps are in addition to our quota of the five thousand We were destitute of ammunition but in two hours after the news reached us the citizens of Zanesville & Springfield raised one thousa nd dollars and dispatched messengers to such of the neighbouring Towns as they expected would be able to supply us should a tolerable supply be furnished I will proceed on the march on Fryday next the Military spirit of the detachment is roused and I candidly believe it would be gratifying to them to meet our enemy in the field under equal circumstances, the only thing that is regreted in that such heavy drafts have striped our country of the greatest part of our labouring citizens the inevitable consequence will be a want of fall grain next season" I have given you a brief statement of the measures adopted and our situation. I shall expect to hear from you shortly. I have the honour to be your Obt Humble Sevt

Robt. McConnell

P. S My orders are absolute from Colonel Commandant of Brigade but I could act with more decision if I had instructions from you who but knows the situation of our frontier I shall write you every oppertunity pleas instruct me where to direct

R.M.