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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
MS883EE |
Object Name |
Letter |
Date |
April 30, 1812 |
Scope & Content |
"Letter from L.t Allen/ April" "Rec.d May 29/ Public Service 25/ Massae/ May 2}/ Col.o Henry Burbeck/ U. States Artillery/ Washington City" [Paragraphs of text on the back, above and below the address, in different hand than the letter]"I wish you could furnish/ me with a new com.d officer/ or [illeg.] as an assistant/ for I am now [illeg.]/ [illeg.] and perplexed[?] with a/ young man who with/ difficulty can rule two parallel Lines -- So much/ for depriving me of young/ Andrews." "Fort Massae April 30, 1812 {On the Ohio/ [illeg.] Ferry}/ D.r Sir,/ Knowing you full a noble and generous pride[?]/ for the honor and well being of your Regiment, I take/ the liberty as one of its members of making a representation[?]/ of certain facts which cannot I am convinced/ but deeply interest you. The character of said information/ is contemptable to me, as it possibly can be told/ anyone - and hope you will not attribute this to a/ [illeg.] so deservedly despised. I am urged to this from/ a sense of duty - I feel for my Regiment, and any/ obliging that can be attached to it, does in a manner/ fall on every individual who compose it./ The Company of Artillerists at/ Belle Fontaine is perfectly ignorant of its activity./ It is a serious, [illeg.] and despicable fact/ that Caravan[?] National Salute [illeg.] be/ find [illeg.] endangering the lives of the men./ While I was there ten Salutes had been fired - the/ first line once more lost his life and at the second/ or third his [illeg.]. Such misfortunes[?] having so/ often occured that the men have a presentiment/ of danger - and I can assure you the are seldom/ if ever disappointed in their expectations./ The Commanding officer of/ Belle Fontaine will not suffer the men to [illeg.]/ to the use of these [illeg.]. [illeg.] but races that they be/ investigated[?] in the distress[?] of Infantry exclusively - after/ which he may possibly suffer these to know that/ they belong to a Regiment of Artillerists - but when/ that will be, God only knows - they understand much/ better the use of the Spade, Shovels, pick, or. the Ax than any implement applicating[?] to/ the purpose of Arms. Should the Company to/ which I am attached be ordered into external [illeg.]/ it would not only disgrace itself, but the Regiment./ I have been ordered to relieve/ Cap.t Price in the command of this post with seventeen/ [illeg.]/ Men. Capt. Cross is under an arrest and the Com/ =mand of his Company given to a Lieut of Infantry. However repugnant to my feelings it may be for an/ Infantry Officer to have Command of the company/ to which In belong - yet I prefer my present pitiful/ detachment to the nominal command of/ a company at Belle Fontaine./ The menacing [illeg.] the/ Indians have assured, renders a stronger force/ than I have necessary for the defence of this place/ two companies could not protect it well in the present situation of its buildings & artificial decay[?] of its present defence. Could the rest of the company/ be ordered here with a field price[?] from Belle Fontaine. I could at least instruct it on the [illeg.] of its duty,/ there, it will be kept continually on fatigue, and/ when drilled will be to the musket./ That a company I/ am sorry to say is generally favoured from the refuse/ of a detachment of Infantry, after the greater part of/ a company of that corps had been taken from it/ and as they were enlisted by Infantry officers, could/ you bt made them a present of this company, I can/ assure you the Regiment would loose[sic] but little./ This Fort or Stockade is a Square, and/ a Block House in each angle. Could I be permitted to/ take scarce[?] two of dine[?], I think I could place it in a/ much better state of defence by having only lead/ Houses, and apparent[?] angles diagonally face the every they will Stand/ not one will flank below others./ I am respectfully/ Sir, your most ob.t hum.l Serv.t/ C. Allen/ L.t Arty/ Col.o H. Burbeck/ Cmdg. U.S. Regt. Artill" |
Title |
Letters Received in April and May 1812 |
Collection |
Burbeck Collection |