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A. EDWARDS TO WORTHINGTON

Dayton June 17th 1813

To the Honl
Thos. Worthington and Jerem Morrow

Gentlm,

Permit me to ask your joint influence with the Hon. Secretary at War in favour of my exchange I wish much for it to be brought about, that I may again take the field against our common foe. --

ince the Month of Decr.I have been on the recruiting service (except two months absent to Philadelphia as a witness in Genl Hulls trial) and with the assistance of a su altern Officer, have recruited nearly a company of Men, and at places the most unfriendly to this service of any in Ohio they are generally enlisted for during the war, and five years, and to Command these men is the height of my ambition as I entered tile army for the honour of serv- ing my country, not for the lucre of office, I cannot help looking forward with a hope of preferment and a desire of being actively employed. In the mean time permit me to observe to you Gentlemen that I witness with much wounded pride the promotion of several gentlemen Captains in the Establishment of 1812 who had not, heretofore, their appointments in this establishment belong to the Army, and being informed, that those who had served heretofore were first for promotion, I cannot account for the neglect if I may be per- mited so to term it towards Lie. -- If the Secretary at War is under the im- pression that I am incompetent on account of want of military information, or respectability of standing in Society, I presume it is only left for me to prove to the contrary. In short, all I aspire to is to be placed on a 'ooting with my brethren in Arms or rather those, who have honerably served in the old establishment of our army; if I am rightly iniormed that they are to have a prefference, as one, I conceive myself justly entitled to a place with them -- If the lineal rank of the officers were established, it would do away much jealousy, then each w ould knrow hat he had to depend on, and if he did not like the arrangement he could retire from the Army, for my part I have submit with cheerfulness to whatever may be the decision of the Hon. Sedretary of the Dept. of War --

By the last mail, I received a letter from the Accountant of the War Dept., informing me, that the Secretary had decided, that my claim for pay as Hospital Surgeon while performing this duty in Hulls Army was inadequate therefore I have to be looser by this unfortunate Campaign at least $500 monies expended in equipnment & by conforming to the orders of the Genl, he in the mean time giving assurances tha t he was authorised by secretary Eustis to appoint me Surgeon of the 4th U.S. Regt. Infty. However, I submit willingly to the mandates of iny Govt. but must have in mind, the old adage "bought wit is the best?"

Much good has resulted already in this quarter from the change of the head of the Dept, of War and the orgarization of the staff of our army -- I verily believe, tha t with the wise guidance of Genl Armstrong, for one month more, that the war will be at issue in the west. -- Colo. Richd M Johnston left Ft Wayne on tlie 9th Inst for Chicago with his Regt. of Mounted men, it is understood that a considerable number of Indians are collected at that place - those men were killed in sight of Ft. Wayne on the 7th Inst. by the Indians. -

Permit me to subscribe myself with much respect Gentlm. Your Obt. iumbl Sert

A. Edwards

Honl.T. Worthington
Hon. J. Morrow
Washington

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