FUNDAMENTAL
DOCUMENTS

ARCHIVES/
LIBRARY

ONLINE
RESEARCH
TOOLS

ONLINE
DOCUMENTS

ONLINE
SERVICES

OSL LANIER TO MEIGS

Camp at Greenville Sepr the 8. 1812

Sir

In pursuance to orders from Brigadier Genl. Munger I arrived at this pla ce to take the Command of the detachment Ordered to the frontiers of his Brigade. Permit me sir to say that I w as much chagrined to find the detachment with only a bout forty men of Powder not more than two or twelve pound or lead the men that came out with me not having three rounds of lead nor More than ten of powder on an averige. All the men much dis- contended at the scarcity of Amunition. Some were declaring they would not stay four days unless a supply came -- On Mustering the Men to Commence work I found the whole detachmt - could only raise 9 Axes (those in bad order) three Mattocks one drawing knife no spades pick axes nor shovels. The two (Team) which Came with the first two Companies were not able to haul out even the Officers baggage and I have Only one team fit for business (which is a reall good one) but the forage is out and I am oblidged to send the teams 20 iiiles for forage before I can commencing building If the Garrison is built where I am Ordered we must Hall Timber upwards of one mile and perhaps more. I think Greenville to be a post of importance pro- vided it is strongly Garrisoned but if Oblidged to detach the men Agree- ably to my present Orders from the genl. we can render no essintial ser- vice as we will not be 120 Strong at greenville the others detached as follows to wit 1/2 Company 1 miles 1/2 Compy 8 Miles Another 1/2 Company to be stationed by my Own discretion 1/2 Company Stationed 14 Miles which I think really Necessary (on White Water). two of the half Compys alluded to have not Arrived (and I am informed will not as Col Ewing of Miami has refused to Order a draft) which weakens my force by Oblidging me to order small detachments to the places in the genl. Orders -- Now Sir in My Opinion by building a strong garrison at Greenville Uniting my small force that on white water excipted and keeping Out a number of scouts who shall range as much as 20 Miles I can protect the frontiers and those people where detachments are ordered to be placed but dividing my force it pre- cludes me & then too from ranging to any distance and from receiving accurate information --Neither of the block houses would be strong enough to withstand any thing of a Numberous force which might come against them Ad to which Our Scarcity of the Munitions of war places me in a dilema out of which I can only extricate myself by receiving your Orders & advise & a supply of powder & lead with directions how to obtain teams and forage and other Necessary Articles to enable me to build a fort that shall bid defiance To any Savage force. Consider to yourself sir our Army sent to the frontiers of three small Company (for at this time there is no more) without flints and not more than twelve rounds Obnoxious to the wet weather which will necessarily cause a waste -- no camp equipage not one cent of publick Money to Obtain these things and sir you will see our situations precisely -- I will boldly say sir that I have as handsome a set of men And as willing to serve their Country as any now in the ser- vice of that Country but unless imediate Steps are taken to supply them with the wanted Articles they will think themselves abandoned to the Sava- ges and I fear the Consequences that may result therefrom -- but sir if the necessary steps are taken and a supply sent on the Battalion filled up with the proper quantity of Officers and men we will render the country