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OSL JOHN CAMPBELL TO MEIGS

Lower Sandusky 17th July 1812

His Excellency Gov Meigs.

Sir

Immediately on the receipt of your orders by express of the 16th, June with as nmch expedition as circumstances would permit, I made the necessary preparations to march my company to this place. The dificulty of Procuring the necessary camp equipage, tools, ammunitions, and pro- visions retarded my march longer than I expected. Blankets it was al- most impossible to procure some of the soldiers furnished their own I have talen considerable trouble and purchased a few -- have procured four tents some camp utintials provisions ammunition and tools for fortifying. My company rendezvous on the first day of July but we were detained untill the sixth in appraising of the arms and making the necessary prepara tions for the march. A schedule of the approaisal of the arms and accoutrements I have forvrarded to the officer of the Secretary of State. I purchased one baggage waggon and team and hired two others to transport our baggage to Cleveland where we arrived on the 9th. Here I dismissed the team which were hired, left [illeg. -- two words] was purchased, and hired water crafts to transport my men and baggage to Sandusky we a rrive here in the morning of the fourteenth my men much fatigued, and some of them sick.

The expences necessarily incurred have greatly exceded my expectat- ions the quarter where my company was raised being wholy destitute of those things which were requisite for a campaign it became necessary to furnish them from a distance -- but every thing has been conducted with the strictest economy -- On the receipt of your orders I went immediately to Cleveland in order to make arangements to proceed by water. but no water craft would be at the time procured and it was thought best to procede by land and the team I have left at Cleveland was purchased for the purpose transporting our baggage as it was impossible to dispense with on our march -- When I arived here found the fortification in con- siderable forwardness the stocade nearly finished -- I am not able to discover who is to be considered as the commandant of this Post -- A Major Butler (as he is called) has produced instructions from your Excellency relating to the fortifying of this place somewhat similar to those which I have received - but I cannot learn that he has any regular commission to take the command of troops either under the author- ity of this State or of the U. States: I continue therefore to command my own volunteers -- am assisting all in my power to forward the work and shall continue so to do untill I receive your directions, or those of the commander in Chief of the station. I should have sent an express immediately to you on m y arrival for an explanation on this subject, but have thought proper to defer it untill Capt. Curtiss returns from Detroit.

with due consideration I am Sir Your Obed Sert

John Campbell