FUNDAMENTAL
DOCUMENTS

ARCHIVES/
LIBRARY

ONLINE
RESEARCH
TOOLS

ONLINE
DOCUMENTS

ONLINE
SERVICES

OSL TUPPER TO MEIGS

Camp near McArthurs Block house
Novr. 9th. 1812

Sir/

Since writing you this morning a circumstance has occurred that makes another communication necessary.

I have for some time t ought a prisoner from near the Rapids would at this time be of much service, & highly acceptable to Gen Harrison. for this purpose I ordered Capt Hinkton[?] to the Rapids with his company of Spies, with orders to take a prisoner if possible - He has just re- turned & brought in with him Capt A Clark a British subject ¥:ho resides two Miles above Malden, & was out with a party of about 500 Indians. 50 British with two Gun Boats six Batteaus and one small schooner at the foot of the rapids to gather in & carry over to Walden the corn -- Capt Clark had but just arrived with the Van of tile detachment, the vessels & boats had not yet anchored when the spies surprised him as he advanced a few rods from the shore to reconnoitre, and brought him off undiscovered, & this from among a number of Indians who were killing hogs & beginning to gather corn, at the same time several of capt Hinktons spies lay concealed on the bank w ithin five rods of the place where sore of the first Boats were landing -- Capt Hinkton has conducted this business with great skill, & address -- Capt Clark was taken prison[er], on the 7th instant a little before sun setting; He informs me that the force now at the rapids, con- templated remaining there from 10 to 15 days in order to convey the whole of the corn in that neighbourhood to Malden -- I know not sir whether it will meet your approbation or that of our commander in chief, but I have ordered every man on the Brigade who does not feat the fatigues of a rapid march & is in a condition to perform it, to draw five days provisions & march with me for the rapids in the Morning, taking nothing with them but their provisions knapsacks & blankets - although the force will not ex- ceed 650, I am convinced it is sufficient to rout the force now at the Rapids & save the greater part of the corn which is all important to us -- a moment was not to be lost, we shall be at the rapids in three days. I have also sent an express to Gen Winchester advising him of the situation of the enemy, and of our March, but as we can reach the rapids one day sooner than Gen. W. waiting for my express, I could not think of losing one day & thereby suffer perhaps the enemy to escape with the forage -

Capt Clark informs me that there are but few Indians now at Malden, that they have principally been in & received their annuities & returned to their families -- The Browns town Indians are now at the Rapids with the foraging party, amounting to about 80[?] mounted Warriors. The other Indians now at the Rapids are Chipaways Tawas, & Potawatima, which came up in the Vessels & canoes -- Detroit is now Garrisoned with 50 men of the 31 Regiment under the command of Gen Proctor -- They have made no improve- ments on the Fort, the Battery opposite to detroit is demolished - 8 large peices of cannon taken at Detroit now be on the Wharf at Malden -- Capt Clark cannot say what number of cannon are mounted at Detroit, he thinks but few, & those small -- Malden is garrisoned with about 500 Regular Troops of the 41st Regt.and about 200 Militia. It mounts 4. heavy cannon in each Bastion consisting of 18, & long 9 pounders -- The greatest force of Militia they ha ve ever been able to raise was about 400, The Indian force at the Surrender of Detroit did not exceed 700 -- The British,