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MCARTHUR TO WORTHINGTON

Camp on the Scioto June 19th 1812

Dear Sir

I this evening was favoured with the receipt of your kind letter of the 27th Ult, for your interference in behalf of my Regt. with the Secretary of War, and the infor- mation it contains; I beg you to accept my sincere thanks.

I have the pleasure to inform you that on my return to Dayton I soon procured an adjustment of all difficulties respecting my Regt. in my absence the Governor issued orders for detaching three companies from my Regt. and attaching them to Cass' which Regt. was incamped about three miles from mine one of my three companies aetually marched and encamped with Cass One of the others refused to leave my Regt and the third made an excuse that it was not ready to march. A knowledge which pervaded the whole camp of my election agreeably to the constitution of our state and of the appoint ment of Gano & Cass by the governor, was likely to destroy both Ganos & Cass' Regt. Many of the new and company officers boldly declared that they would not serve under officers appointed by the governor contrary to the laws and constitution of the state and persisting in their determination the company officers actually met and elected their field officers. Gano was sent home, and Genl. James Finley of Cincinnati was elected to the command of the Regt. Genl. Cass was also elected Col. Comdt. his 220 men. On the day that I returned to Dayton Genl. Hull took the command of the army and on application to him, the company which had been marched from my Regt. and joined to Cass' was suffered to return One of the other companies petitioned unanimously to be suffered to remain with my Regt. which was granted by Genl Hull, and no notice was taken of the orders given for detaching the third that all the troops which were raised in the 2nd Division continue together and the attempt to divide them has served to viciate them more fiercely: Notwithstanding Colonels Finley & Cass were elected over 14 days after I was the governor contended that we ought to draw for rank. I absolute- ly refused drawing, but stated that I would serve in any rank where I should be com- manded by a written order, but if I conceived myself wronged by such order I should appeal to higher authority for redress. After a week's pause and consultation, the Governor directed that my Regt. should be considered the first and we are now going on in harmony. But I find we are going too slow. My Regt left the main army at Urbana on the 11th Inst. and have cut a road through the wilderness to this place, where we have built two Blockhouses. At certain seasons of the year the scioto will be navi- gable to this place.

We are about 30 miles high -- upper Sandusky and about 65 or 70 from the rapids. The main army has joined us this evening. we shall all now, I hope, proceed on with- out much loss of time. The Indians who are about here and at Sandusky appear quite friendly, but the most of them have removed to Brown's Town opposite Maldin, where we are told they draw rations from the british. I thank you for your attention to my Patents, and hope you will be able to procure them all, before you leave the city. If commissioners could be appointed to run the line from the head of Scioto to the head of Miami it would be very gratifying to those conscerned. respectfully I am yours

Duncan McArthur

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