2d. The senior major general commanding the principal army is entitled to the services of a private secretary. Sd. The ordnance and other departments of supply within the district (No. 9.) are subject of course to your orders. 4th. The quarter master general of the army will supply the funds for secret service. 5th. All orders to subordinate officers pass from the war department to the adjutant general; to be communicated by him to the general commanding the district in which such subordinate officer may serve. 6th. No specific permission is necessary for removing factious or disorderly men. All such will properly become subjects of the confidential reports to be made by inspectors. To detach such men from one district to another, is only shifting the evil; the better way is to report them for dismission. 7th. If the corps at fort George be recalled, the works should be razed or occupied by a force competent to hold it against an assault. There is a corps of militia and volunteers (to whom the Six Nation Indians have associated themselves) at Black Rock, which may be kept in service. They are commanded by general Porter and Mr. Parrish. 8th. The secretary of war will decline and forbid all improper communications, and particularly such as may bear any colour of insubordination. 9th. Besides the ordinary mode of communication by mail, expresses may be employed in extraordinary cases. 10th. The dragoons and light artillery corps shall be made efficient. Horses may be bought for both. An officer from each corps should be directed to superintend the purchases. Price (average) not to exceed 120 dollars. I have the honour to be, &c. Maj. Gen. Wilkinson, comdg. the N. Army. SIR, SACKETT'S HARBOR, August 21st, 1813. I arrived here yesterday: my machinery is in motion, and I have strong hopes of giving the change to sir George which will lead directly to the object of first importance. Commodore Chauncey is in port here, and his antagonist, sir James Yeo, at Kingston. In the late interviews between these naval commanders, the first has zealously sought a combat, which the latter has cautiously avoided; the superiority on the lake therefore remains still to be settled; but I have Chauncey's assurance for it, and place much confidence in his word; it is obviously sir James's plan to decline a conflict; but on what ground I cannot determine. Our schooner here will be equipt and manned by Wednesday, and I shall sail with the squadron for fort George probably the day after; I am endeavoring to draw sir George after me; but whether I succeed in this attempt or not, should our men and means answer report, and Heaven favour me, I will be in possession of Kingston, or below that place, on the 26th proximo. Major general Hampton must not budge until every thing is matured in this quarter, and we have either got possession of Kingston or have cut its communication with Montreal, of which I shall give him seasonable advice, via Plattsburg, where I shall calculate on his arrival the 20th of the ensuing month, completely equipt for a forward movement. If he changes his position and shows his column west of the lake sooner, it may carry sir George to Montreal and produce precautions which might otherwise be neglected until too late for any salutary effect. The militia called forth by governor Tompkins, of which by the bye you gave me no information, should not be arrayed before he hears from me at fort George, because the assembly of such a body would increase the alarm, and put all Canada in countermotion, while incidents beyond the controul of man may intervene to procrastinate my movements and thus baffle the effects of the proposed co-operation on the side of Vermont: should a corps of militia be drawn from thence, no movement should be made by them, until general Hampton has crossed Champlain. It would be highly interesting to the public service and extremely acceptable to me to see you at Niagara, from whence, should I find it practicable, it is my intention to commence my movement down the lake, about the 15th of the next month; the best possible disposition for the safety of that frontier, and for the security of the vast mass of ordnance and stores which I must leave there, may render your advice and authority indispensably necessary to avert clamors and prevent any obstruction to my prompt movement. I am, sir, your obedient servant, &c. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. SIR, SACKETT'S HARBOR, August 26th, 1813. Chauncey will go out, he says, to-morrow or next day to seek sir James. I see the necessity of settling the point of naval superiority before we commit ourselves, and therefore, the decision cannot be had too soon. In the mean time the essential arrangements progress, and if the means can be mustered, they will ensure the end. I fear Yeo will avoid a contest to spin out the campaign, and gain time for reinforcements, and the organization of militia; but if he will not come out, we must blockade him. I go to Niagara the moment our arrangements are matured here. Sir George has actually gone for the head of the lake with a reinforcement. To prevent his playing tricks with Boyd, I have sent him (Boyd) the note of which you have a copy. On Saturday 21st, one hundred and sixty regular troops ascended by Ogdensburg to Kingston, and on the 23d and 24th, they were followed by five hundred Highlanders in their kilts, who conducted up one hundred boats. Thus we see that this quarter attracts chief attention. All my efforts will be made to induce sir George to draw after him a chief part of the garrison of Kingston, which must now be near five thousand strong. The situation of Proctor and the irruption of our Indians have gone far to excite these dispositions. Meet me at Niagara, if possible, and for God's sake press on the recruits from Albany and the southward, and send me Wadsworth, Swift, Fenwick, and Izard. All things go well here, and thank God, the men are recovering rapidly. I hear not a word from Hampton. I hope he does not mean to take the stud; but if so, we can do without him, and he should be sent home. Secretary of War. Truly yours, JAMES WILKINSON. WAR DEPARTMENT, SACKETT'S HARBOR, DEAR GENERAL, The battle on the lake! Shall we have one? If Yeo fights and is beaten, all will be well. If he does not fight, the result may also be favourable. Yours cordially, ONG. General Wilkinson. DEAR SIR, HEAD QUARTERS, UPPER SANDUSKÝ, August 6th, 1813. Your excellency's of the 4th instant, was delivered to me yesterday morning, by colonel Brush. The exertions which you have made, and the promptitude with which your orders have been obeyed, to assemble the militia to repel the late invasion of the enemy, is truly astonishing, and reflects the highest honour on the state. Believing, that in a formal interview, I could best explain to you the intentions of the government and my own views, I determined to come on to this place to see you. I have now the honour to repeat to you in this way, the result of my determination upon the employment of the militia, and most of the facts upon which my determination is founded. It has been the intention of government to form the army destined for operation, upon the Take Erie, exclusively of regular troops, if they could be raised; the number was limited to 7000. The deficiency of the regulars was to be made up from the militia. From all the information I at present possess, I am convinced that there will be a great deficiency in the contemplated number of troops, after the militia now in service, and whose term of service will not expire immediately, have been added to the regulars. I have therefore called on the governor of Kentucky, for 2000 effectives: with these, there will still be a defect of perhaps 1200 troops. Your excellency has stated, the men who have turned out on this occasion, have done it with the expectation that they would be effectually employed, and that, should they be sent home, there is no prospect of getting them to turn out, should it be hereafter required. To employ them all, is impossible. With my utmost exertions, the embarkation cannot be effected in a less time than 15 or 18 days. Should I even determine to substitute them for the regular troops, which are expected, to keep so large a force in the field, even for a short period, would consume the means which are provided for the support of the campaign, and which are only calculated for the number of men above stated. I would recommend, under these circumstances, to your excellency, a middle course, viz: to dismiss all the militia but two regiments of 10 companies, of 100 men each, and an usual proportion of field and platoon non-commissioned officers and musicians. That this corps be encamped at or near this place, until it is ascertained whether their service will be wanted. A short time will determine this question. Permit me to request your excellency to give your countenance and support to the exertions which general M'Arthur will make to fill up the 26th regiment of 12 month's troops. It appears that the venerable governor of Kentucky, is about to take command of the troops of that state; could your excel lency think proper to follow his example, I need not tell you how highly gratifying it would be to, dear sir, your friend, Te his excellency Gov. Meigs. WILLIAM H. HARRISON. SIR, ON BOARD THE SHIP GENERAL PIKE, I arrived here this day with this ship, the Madison, Oneida, Governor Tompkins, Conquest, Ontario, Pert, and Lady of the Lake. The Fair American and Asp, I left at Niagara. Since I had the honour of addressing you last, I have been much distressed and mortified: distressed at a loss of a part of the force entrusted to my command, and mortified at not being able to bring the enemy to action. The following movements and transactions of the squadron, since the 6th instant, will give you the best ideas of the difficulties and mortifications that I have had to encounter. On the 7th, at day-light, the enemy's fleet, consisting of two ships, two brigs, and two large schooners, were discovered bearing west north-west, distant about five or six miles, wind at west. At 5, weighed with the fleet and manouvred to gain the wind. At 9, having passed to the leeward of the enemy's line, and abreast of his van ship, (the Wolfe) hoisted our colours and fired a few guns to ascertain whether we could reach him with our shot; finding they fell short, I wore and hauled upon a wind on the starboard tack; the rear of our schooners then about six miles astern. The enemy wore in succession and hauled upon a wind on the same tack, but soon finding that we should be able to weather him upon the next tack, he tacked and made all sail to the northward. As soon as our rear vessels could fetch his wake, tacked and made all sail in chase. In the afternoon the wind became very light, and towards night quite calm. The schooners used their sweeps all the afternoon, in order to close with the enemy, but without success. Late in the afternoon I made the signal of recal, and formed in close order; wind during the night from the westward, and after midnight squally; kept all hands at quarters, and beat to the windward, in hopes to gain the wind of the enemy. At 2 A. M. missed two of our schooners—at daylight discovered the missing schooners to be the Hamilton and Scourge. Soon after, spoke the Governor Tompkins, who informed me that the Hamilton and Scourge both overset and sunk in a heavy squall about 2 o'clock; and, distressing to relate, every soul perished, except 16. This fatal accident deprived me at once of the services of two valuable officers, lieutenant Winter and sailing master Osgood, and two of my best schooners, mount、 ing together 19 guns. This accident giving decidedly to the enemy the superiority, I thought he would take advantage of it, |