These would serve as an auxiliary force, adapted to meet those of
the enemy of a similar description.

I submit these ideas as it may be possible that officers and sea
men may arrive here in time to enable us to act with effect. But
if we are to wait till the ordnance demanded from England arrives,
the enemy will have the uncontrolled range of the lake for the
whole summer, and carry into effect the invasion of this Province



44

with the greatest ease. The 12-pounders coming up will make part
of the 20 required, as I propose detaining the 12-pounders here and
sending on the 18s to York, there being shot enough for that calibre
there for the present. When our junction is formed at York the
Prince Regent and the new ship will give us such a superiority
that we may act on the offensive. Till the proper ship ordnance
arrives we can put the 18s and such other ordnance as can be pro
cured on board the new vessel building at York, so that we may be
enabled to act immediately, which is the main object to be kept in
view.

The ordnance required at Kingston to enable us to carr\^ the
measure into effect are twenty 12-pounders with their carriages and
side arms, (including those on their way,) and a proportion of
ammunition.

I have the honor of transmitting requisitions for the hulls and
outfit of the new vessels, those for Arnherstburg having gone down
by Captain Hall. We have received iron sufficient to go on with
the hulls at present, but it is essential that the cordage for the rig
ging and sailcloth should be sent up as quick as possible, while the
roads are good, and that we may be enabled to get that part of the
operation ready as soon as the vessels are finished. This ship shall
be launched in April, and there can be no good reason for the other
vessel being longer on the stocks, as they have the full proportion
of means of every sort. I find some difficulties are raised at
York. I shall therefore set out for that port the moment I can get
away.

If the winter roads break up before we can forward all the
supplies required at York, which will probably be the case, (as we
cannot calculate upon more than a month s good travelling from
hence to York from this date,) they can be carried by water in the
ships of war when we form the junction. The first object is to get
everything wanted for the work sent up.

If it meets Your Excellency s approbation it would greatly
facilitate our operations if some sailmakers were sent along with
the sail-cloth, and the sails made here to be ready to bend the
moment the vessel is in a state to receive them. It may require
about 8 or 10 sail-makers, in addition to what we can pick out of
the ships companies, to make the sails in the time we may require
them. It would also be requisite to have a man capable of direct
ing and taking charge of them. A master-rigger would be wanted
at Kingston and another at York to superintend the outfitting of
the vessels. All these people may be engaged merely for this par
ticular service and then dismissed.

(Canadian Archives, C. 729, pp. 34-40. )



45
Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe to Hon. Wm. D. Powell.

FORT GEORGE, 20th January, 1818.

MY DEAR FRIEND :

I had hoped to be with you before this time but indisposition
has detained me here. I am to-day much better. I expect Colonel
Bruyeres soon and propose returning with him. I am aware my
presence is necessary in York on several accounts. I wish to con
sult with the Efxecutive] C[ouncil] on the time for calling the
parliament, &c., &c.

My last date from h[ea]d q[uarte]rs is 3rd Jan y, and from
Bruyeres, Montreal, 8th. Our recent communications had not
arrived.

Lt.-Col. M[yers] has a letter from Capt. Gfray] in which he
asserts that he only argued on the policy, or rather impolicy, of the
measure proposed by me, but never uttered anything personal of
me as I had never given him any reason for it. Too much pub
licity has been given to this matter. It is a pity that Lt.-Colonel
B[isshopp] did not keep my official letter to himself. It appears
that copies of it have multiplied. I do not approve of it myself.
I laboured too much to free them from responsibility if it were
decided to retreat. Knowing the character of those whose opinion
was to be taken, I took no risk of a retreat being resolved on indis
creetly.

I am told that late papers are in town. The Russians are
stated to be successful in cutting off Bonaparte s supplies of all
kinds. Alexander determined not to treat. Pfrince] Regent s speech
breathes determined spirit of resistance to the [pretensions ?] of the
United States. Indians under Tecumseh have cut off a party of
Americans by ambuscade. Evans or Glegg has probably seen the
papers and will give you a summary of their contents.

My letters from home are very satisfactory. I hope all at
yours is so.

Gratify the Chief Justice with the good news from Russia.
My best comp ts to him. I would write to him but I hope to have
the pleasure of seeing him so soon.

(From MS. of G. M. Jarvis, Esq., Ottawa.)



Militia General Orders.

ADJUTANT GENERAL S OFFICE,

FORT GEORGE, 20th Jan y, 1813.

Lieut. David Morgan and Ensign Peter Weaver of the 3d Regi
ment of Lincoln, Ensign Biggar and Adjutant Newton of the 5th



46

Kegiment of Lincoln, are superseded, having absented themselves
without leave. In not authorizing the full rigor of the law to be
exercised against those officers for the very serious offence which
they have committed, His Honor Major-General Sheaffe is desirous
of its being understood that he is influenced by the high opinion he
entertains of the militia officers In general, with respect to whom
the chief motive for an example of severity to deter others from the
commission of similar crimes does not exist, but to guard against
the possibility of this lenity being, in a solitary instance, converted
into an encouragement for the repetition of such an offence, Major-
General SheafFe is pleased to declare that if it again occur it shall
be proceeded against to the full extent of the penal provisions of
the law.

By order,

/ENEAS SHAW,

Ad jt.- General, Militia.



Militia General Orders.

FORT GEORGE, 20th Jan y, 1813.

Officers commanding corps are to send to the Adjutant-General
with all practicable expedition, returns of the arms, accoutrements
and ammunition in their possession or in store for their use, with
their state. Similar returns are to accompany the future quarterly
regimental returns.

By order,

/ENEAS SHAW,

Adjt. -General, Militia.



Militia General Orders.

ADJUTANT GENERAL S OFFICE,

FORT GEORGE, 23d Jan y, 1813.

The report of a Court of Enquiry, held at Amherstburg on the
28th of December last, the assembling of which, though ordered by
the late Major-General Brock, was, from various causes delayed to
that period, having been laid before His Honor Major-General
Sheaffe, and it appearing that Lieutenants Alexis Laporte, Antoine
Bonford, Ensign Windle Wagley, Ensign Peter Scratch and Ensign
James Stockwell, of the 1st Regiment of Essex, Captain Pierre
Labute, Lieutenant Alexis Parent, of the 2d Regiment of Essex
Militia, did, in July last, quit their several stations without leave,
they are therefore superseded : and it further appearing that Jacques
Parent, Polithe Janisse and William Shaw, who had been recom-



47

mended by their respective commanding officers, and had only acted
as ensigns, not having received their commissions or been appointed
as such, did also absent themselves without leave, and, having there
by proved themselves unworthy of the honorable situation to which
they had been recommended, they are consequently not confirmed
therein but are to return to that class from which they will be
liable to be drawn to serve in the ranks of the Militia.

By order,

^ENEAS SHAW,

Adjt.-General, Mili tia.

John Askin to Colonel William Claus, Deputy-Superintendent
General of Indian Affairs.

MICHILIMACKIXAC, 24th January, 1813.
DEAR SIR :

On the 9th Nov. last I stated that the time for sending couriers
from this to Lake Superior would be about the middle of this
month, but the season having been unfavourable, so much so as to
prevent the crossing from the island to the mainland impossible.
We have been surrounded by floating ice for a length of time past,
and it s only two days that the crossing has been strong enough,
therefore in a few days I will send to that quarter. As to the
different tribes about the borders of Lake Michigan and this, I
intend to retard sending to them before I hear from you, as well as
those of Green Bay, Milwaukee, Prairie du Chien and Sauk s village,
for should they be required at Amherstburg it s much nearer to
those places than making this circuit. Brisbois is the Waynebago
interpreter and De Perriri the Sank int[erprete]r. They ret[urne]d
from Detroit in November last with Langlade. As the former young
men are good walkers and born in that country, I intend to send
them to collect the tribes the} 7 belong to the moment I hear from
you. Those Indians along Lake Huron, from Matchedash to La
Cloche, will be desired to repair to such place as you may wish
them, thro Shawgayshe, who goes with the despatches. For that
purpose it will be necessary that you order some wampum to be
given him that he may make a speech and deliver the same to the
different chiefs as he passes on his return to this.

Per this opportunity I transmit to Assistant] Superintendent]
Cameron the requisition for stores and stationery for 1814. It is
unnecessary, I presume, to state the reason of its being augmented.
The supplies required in time of war must be greater than those of
the peace establishment. The quantity of guns required (tho great)
appears to me insufficient to meet the demand. It is well known



48

that the Indians inhabiting the interior of the country always have
the trims of their deceased relations deposited in their graves, which
deprives the rising generation from benefiting by them, and Indians
do not by any means take that care of firearms which whites do to
preserve"them. None of the guns which were forwarded for this
by your order last spring came to hand. They were all retained
at Amherstburg and issued to the Indians of that district. The
guns arid rifles sent from the general store at La Chine last autumn
amounts to 133, which isn t sufficient to arm those who are destitute
of weapons, and unless a supply is sent in the spring every old
shattered fusee that can be found will be put into requisition again.
At the capture of this place we found 43 Spanish fusees in the
Indian store, which were issued to the Indians, and the quality so
bad that I firmly believe, there isn t ten now in their possession, the
rest having burst, and numbers of them have been wounded in
consequence thereof.

Previous to Mr. R. Dickson s leaving this for Lower Canada
he applied for a supply of goods and ammunition to be sent to the
Sauk and Ay an way Indians, under some person he wished to name,
and that person to make the distribution in the two villages. The
amount of the expenses and goods to be sent, estimated by him,
were from 800 to 1000 H[alifa]x Curr[enc]y, but the command
ing officer being apprehensive that he wasn t authorized to depart
from the established rules, declined to acquiesce in Mr. D s proposal,
and for my part I could not interfere as the commandfing] officer
was the person who Mr. D. had applied to, and who had martial
law proclaimed some time previous to that period. It appears to
me that Mr. Dickson was much displeased as his wishes were not
complied with. We haven t had any news or intelligence from
Green Bay or any place else, and have been shut up from every
communication since November last.

(Canadian Archives, M. G., XI.)



Militia General Orders.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL S OFFICE,
FORT GEORGE, 25th January, 1813.

His Honor Major-General Sheaffe is pleased to appoint Adju
tant John Clark of the 1st Regiment of Lincoln to be Deputy -
Adjutant General to the Militia in this District.

By order,

SHAW,

Adjt.-General Militia,
U. C.



49
Militia General Orders.

ADJUTANT GENERAL S OFFICE,
FORT GEORGE, 25th January, 1813.

His Honor Major-General Sheaffe has been pleased to make
the following promotions and appointments, viz. :

3RD REGT., LINCOLN.

Captain John Warren to be Major, vice Warren

resigned 25th Jan y, 1813

Lieut. John Baxter to be Captain

Lieut. William Powell to be do "

Lieut. James Curmnings to be do "

Lieut. John J. Latferty to be do "

Adjutant Henry Trout to be Lieut "

Ensign Benjamin Hardison to be do " "

Ensign William D. Miller to be do "

Ensign Jolm Putinan to be do "

Ensign Augustus Angor to be do "

Hugh Alexander, gent., to be do "

Osias Boughner, gent., to be do " "

Henry Weishuhn, gent., to be Ensign "

Jacob Gonder, gent., to be do

John Miller, gent., to be do "

John Bonner, gent,, to be do "

George \Vhitehead, gent., to be do "

John Harcourt, gent., to be do., vice Morgan

superseded "

James Thompson, gent., to be do., vice Weaver

superseded "

James Robinson, gent., to be Quartermaster "

/ENEAS SHAW,

Adjutant-General Militia.



John Askin to Hon. Wm. D. Powell.

January 25th, 1813.

DEAR SIR, I had the pleasure of receiving your kind letter of
6th inst. last night, covering papers to which the utmost attention
will be given so soon as the present bustle is over, or (illegible) by
the victory we obtained at the River Raisin on Friday last. The
official account of the number of the killed, wounded and taken
prisoners of the enemy, as well as our loss, will be more correct
than what I could give ; I therefore refer you to it. It s most



50

astonishing that so good marksmen as the Americans are from
behind a stockade or other cover, in the course of an engagement
which continued six hours, firing on our people who were exposed,
killed and wounded so few and we so many. Surely the hand of
the Almighty must have been lifted up for us. Of our small force
there must have been 500 men not in the action. The whole of the
River Thames militia got no further than Maiden, and several of
the new settlements therefore not in the action. Our Canadians
who were could not be restrained by Col. St. George from pushing
forward, and Col. Procter with our regular forces began the attack
at so little distance that our cannon was of little use, being so near
that our men from the first were within musket shot of the enemy.
Of the militia there are only four killed, and I dare say not more
of the Indians, who behaved with the utmost bravery. It was
them who took the General, and is said to have killed some hun
dred who took to flight ; indeed very few escaped. You may rely
on it that without the Indians we never could keep this country,
and that with them the Americans never will take the upper posts,
for let them send forward as many men as they will, if we employ
the foreign Indians we can have equal numbers, which is more than
is wanted, for in the woods where the Americans must pass one
Indian is equal to three white men, let the nation be what it will.
Lieut.-Col. Baby was ordered to take charge of Maiden, and my son
James and his flank company Detroit, in which there was not a
single regular or artilleryman left, Captain Muir excepted, who was
not cured of his sickness. None of our family suffered except Dr.
Richardson s second son, Robert, (14 years old) shot through the
leg. I have no less than seventeen of my family now in the ser
vice : sons, grandsons, including three sons-in-law. McCormick,
Gordon and Garvin were wounded. The latter lost his father a
few days ago.

I m very sorry indeed for the cause of your family grief. Such
men were lost on 13th October as cannot be easily replaced. A
seeming hard, untimely fate, yet what Providence permits must be
for the best, and I doubt not the brave men who fell on that day
are happy.

Mr. Francis Baby as a volunteer bravely assisted during the
action. Mr. James Baby, I understand, waited at Maiden for the
arrival of his Kent militia, and therefore was not in the action.
My grandson from Mich[ilimackinac], (now in the commissary line,)
deserted or went without leave and joined the Indians in the action.

Your friendship, my good Sir, makes you overrate my forti
tude. Yet, as long as God gives Mrs. Askin, myself and family
health, I think her spirits and mine never will fail us, and although



51

when the lives of our children are at risk we feel anxiety, yet we
would suffer much more did any of them shrink from doing their
duty. But, thank God, I never discovered any other fear in them
but that of doing wrong. Alexander is only recovered so as to be
able to do duty some days ago since he volunteered, (illegible) and
several others have died of a disease they caught on that expedi
tion. I doubt if ever Captain McKee will recover; he has not yet
been able to iret out of his house.

o

We fear more that the posts may be given up when a peace
takes place than anything else ; for if they are you may rely on it
we lose the Indians interest and trade of this quarter, and I m per
suaded they will become hostile to the British, even should the
Americans not join them. The country about this and Mich[ili-
mackinac], which we have got possession of, the Indians consider
as their hunting ground, acquired by their assistance, therefore that
we have no right to part with them without their connivance.

Did I know of any public employment in the gift of His Hon
our the President, the duties of which I could perform at my own
house, I would request your friendly interest to procure it for me.
My handwriting is as clear as it has been for twenty years past. I
can read and write without spectacles, even by candlelight. How
ever, though my means of living were small before the war broke
out and since has become less for want of hands to repair my mill
and others to work my distillery, yet I don t want to be a burthen
to our Government or require pay for doing nothing.

Mrs. Askin joins me in respectful compliments to Mrs. Powell,
the young ladies and your family connections.

(From MS. in possession of G. M. Jarvis, Esq., Ottawa.)



Militia General Order.

ADJUTANT GENERAL S OFFICE,
FORT GEORGE, 25th January, 1818.

As often as it may become necessary to make an application
for the pension authorized by an act of the Legislature of this
Province to the widows or children of such of the Militia as may be
killed, or to such men as may be disabled in the service during the
present war, the application, when made in behalf of a widow, must
be accompanied by an affidavit of the officer who commanded the
company to which the husband belonged at the time of his death,
and when that cannot be had by that of some other commissioned
officer who was present, which affidavit may be in the following

words : "I, A - B , do swear that B - C- (sergeant or

private, as the case may be,) in the Regiment of Militia was



52

killed or died of wounds received in service against the enemy, and

in the execution of his duty on the day of 181 , and that

to the best of my knowledge and belief C D is his widow."
This affidavit being transmitted to the office of the Lieutenant-
Governor or person administering the Government of this Province
will place the widow on the pension list. After which her own
affidavit that she remains the widow of the said B - C- ,
being transmitted to the office of the Receiver General on the 24th
of June and 24th of December in each year, will authorize her to
draw on him at the expiration of each of those periods for one-half
of her pension. When application is made on behalf of the children,
there being no widow, the affidavit of the officer must substantiate
the death of the father as in the case of the widow, and that to the
best of his knowledge and belief the applicants are his children.
After which a half-yearly affidavit, either of one of themselves
being of age or of their guardian, that they are the children of
and that the youngest has not attained the age of sixteen years,
must accompany the draughts on the Receiver General.

When the application is made in behalf of a man who has been
disabled in the service, the affidavit of the officer substantiating the
fact must be accompanied by the certificate of some competent
surgeon that the person is actually unable to earn his livelihood.
After which a half-yearly affidavit by himself, that he is the person
so disabled, must accompany his draughts on the Receiver General.

By order,

^ENEAS SHAW,

Adjt.-General Militia.

(From the Buffalo Gazette, 26th January, 1813.)

MOKE ABSENTEES FROM CANADA.

On Saturday last two soldiers and three subjects came across
Lake Erie on the ice from Canada. They state that sickness and
famine continue to ravage Upper Canada : that the most rigid iron
despotism reigns. No person can speak his sentiments with freedom
in relation to the Government ; that the 41st Regiment is very
much reduced by desertion, sickness, &c. That on the memorable
28th of November Fort Erie was abandoned, and that Major Henry
Warren quitted the battery when our brave tars attacked and did
not return under 3 or 4 days afterwards, when he resigned. It is
reported he will be tried. John Warren, junior, is said to succeed
him. Our readers may estimate the above as they please, we give
the source from whence it came.

(File in Buffalo Public Library.)



53
I/ieut. -Colonel Bruyeres, R. 1$., to Sir George Prevost.

FORT GEORGE, 28th January, 1813.

(Extract.)

I am grieved to say that Major-General Sheaffe has been so
dangerously ill that it is not possible to communicate much with
him on public business ; he is rather better but very weak, and will
require time to recover.

(Canadian Archives, C. 729, p. 71.)



I/ieut. -Colonel Myers to Sir George Prevost.

FORT GEORGE, 30th January, 1813.

SIR, A severe attack of illness, under which Major-General
SheatFe at present labors, prevents him from writing to you, and
therefore he has directed me to transmit to Your Excellency a letter
(No. 1.) received by him last night from Colonel Procter, together
with its enclosures marked Xos. 2, 3 and 4. The Major-General
has at the same time commanded me to convey to Your Excellency
his sincere congratulations upon the success which has attended His
Majesty s arms, and to add his tribute of praise to the promptitude
and decision of Colonel Procter on this occasion, and to the gallant
conduct of the troops under his command.

Upon the arrival of the prisoners of war at this place, they
will be disposed of agreeably to the treaty entered into by Your
Excellency with General Dearborn on the 21st of November.

The light infantry company of the 41st Regiment will be forth
with pushed on to Amherstburg.

Major-General Sheaffe has directed me to inform Your Excel
lency that as Brigade-Major Evans was to proceed to his regiment
on his promotion and which is daily looked for, he has judged it
expedient to commit this despatch to his care to be by him delivered
to Your Excellency, and as he has had full communication with
Lieut. McLean, A. D. C. to Colonel Procter, he will be able to give
Your Excellency every further information relating to the Colonel s
command.

Captain Glegg will be ordered to perform the duty of Major of
Brigade vice Evans, as is understood to be Your Excellency s desire.

(Canadian Archives, C. 678.)



54
(From the Buffalo Gazette, 3d February, 1813.)

Several deserters have crossed the lake since our last. We
understand that they know nothing of the victory obtained over
Winchester, but that on the contrary several companies have
recently left Fort Erie for Maiden. But little dependence can be
placed on the stories of deserters, when, however, they all tell the
same in substance, whatever they tell wears the semblance of truth.
Care should be taken the gentlemen deserters should not retrace
their steps.

On Wednesday last orders came on this place to march the U.
S. Volunteers, under Capt. Moore and Lieuts. Doyle and Marshall,
to Utica. Arrangements were accordingly made to march the
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Lieut. Marshall: and Albany Greens,
Lieut. Doyle, on Sunday last, and the Baltimore Volunteers on
Monday. But in consequence of the flag on Saturday [giving an
account of General Winchester s defeat at the River Raisin,] the
orders were countermanded. The men are again ordered to march,
to-morrow morning.

(File in Buffalo Pxiblic Library.)

Memorandum of a Council held with the Chiefs of the Six Nations

at Buffalo, February 2d, 1813, by Irastus Granger,