News of the US: November 1813

November 1:  From Geneva, NY — “The Hero of Erie, the gallant Com. PERRY, arrived in this village on Sunday afternoon on horseback, unattended by any person.  He was greeted on his arrival by a national salute from a 4 pounder of Capt. Rees’ artillery company.  On Monday morning he proceeded on his way to Newport, (R. I.) the residence of his family, where he will spend the winter.”–New York Spectator, November 13, 1813

November 2:  From the Boston Patriot — “There have been illuminations in most of the cities on the sea-board, for our victories on the lakes, and in Canada, excepting Boston.  In this once patriotic town, not a candle has been lit, a gun fired, or a bell rung for joy–all has been dark and cold as a cellar; and so it will remain unless we have another Te Deum and Cossack dinner.”–reprinted by the Columbian, November 2, 1813

November 3:  From New York — “The citizens of New-York have again resumed the subject of opening a grand canal between Albany and Lake Erie.  The scheme has been long in contemplation; but its advantages becoming daily more and more apparent, there seems to remain no doubt, but the plan will now be prosecuted with vigor.”– Raleigh Star, November 3, 1815

Potrait of John R. Coffee

November 4:  From Andrew Jackson to Governor Blount — “On the 2d I detached General Coffee with a part of his brigade of cavalry and mounted riflemen, to destroy Tallahotchee–where a considerable force of the hostile Creeks had concentrated.  The General executed this order in style.”–Scioto Supporter, November 24, 1813

November 4:  From Burlington — “When the steam boat, which arrived yesterday, left Plattsburg, the place was in great confusion.–They had received information that the British had landed in some force at Little Chazy . . .  and great fears were entertained for the safety of a large quantity of clothing and provisions for the army, which were deposited at Plattsburgh.”–New York Spectator, November 13, 1813

November 5:  From Worthington, Ohio — “Lieut. Col. Croghan arrived in town on Friday evening last, having in charge the prisoners taken by general Harrison.  They encamped for the night opposite this place, and proceeded on Saturday for Chillicothe; where it is believed, they will join those taken by commodore Perry; for whose convenience, during the severity of the winter months, houses are erecting on the bank of the Scioto River, about one mile above the town.  When concentrated, they will be about 900 in number.”–National Advocate, December 1, 1813

November 6:  From Lexington, Ky. — “Governor Shelby, and a number of his brave compatriots in arms, arrived in this place on Thursday last from their late brilliant campaign against the barbarians.  The arrival of the Governor was announced by a federal salute, and every countenance, beamed with joy for the safe return of the venerable chief to the bosom of his family.”–Raleigh Star, November 26, 1813

November 6:  From Albany — “Gen. Wilkinson passed the British fort at Presscott, on the night of the 6th instant, and without other loss than two privates killed and 3 wounded.”–Gettysburg Adams Centinel, November 24, 1813

November 7:  From Milledgeville, Georgia — “An Express to the Executive arrived this evening with the unpleasant intelligence, that the frontier of Morgan county has been attacked by the hostile Indians.  . . . Orders are now issuing from the Executive Department to call out the militia to repel the savages.”‘–New York Spectator, November 27, 1813

November 8:  Of General Wilkinson — “He was at Hambleton on the 8th, where the cavalry, &c. was crossed.  No molestation had been given by the Canadians.  . . .  This (Gen. Hampton’s) division of the army, is again in march for the St. Lawrence–A few days will settle the question whether we pass our Christmas before Quebec or not.”–Pittsburgh Mercury, December 2, 1813

November 9:  From Col William Carroll to his brother in Nashville — “You have no doubt heard of our battle fought on the morning of the 9th, in a few words I can say that 300 Indians were killed.  Our loss 15 killed and 85 wounded.  The hardest of the battle was sustained by four companies under my command that brought on the attack; we fought 15 minutes before the balance were engaged.  I had only 7 wounded and my horse shot down by an arrow.  Larkin Bradford was killed.”–National Advocate, December 7, 1813

November 9:  Of William Carroll in the above battle — “Major William Carroll, Inspector-General, led the van; who acted, during the whole action as brave as Julius Caesar.  The army is almost entirely without any thing to eat.”–Nashville Whig, November 21, 1813

November 10:  From Ogdensburg, from Judge Nathan Ford to General James Wilkinson — “In your passage down the St. Lawrence upon your expedition to Montreal, you landed your troops three miles above this village.   .  . . You declared it to be your wish’ that Ogdensburgh might be burnt, and as for Judge Ford you would hang him, and if the enemy did not burn his property, you would be God damned if you did not.’–Contemptible wretch!! That you are much better qualified for an incendiary, and a hangman, than you are for a General, has never been a question with me.”–Scioto Supporter,  December 29, 1813

November 10:  Proclamation by Martin Chittenden, Esq. “Governor, Captain-General, and Commander in chief, in and over the State of Vermont” recalling the Vermont militia currently serving in the state of New York.– Maryland Gazette, December 2, 1813

November 11:  From Raleigh — “Governor Hawkins has received a letter from general Thomas Pinckney, dated the 11th instant, containing an extract from a despatch from the secretary of war, directing general Pinckney to cause every possible preparation to be made to repel an expected attack by the British on our southern coasts.–Scioto Supporter, December 8, 1813

November 11:  Editorial — “It is rather singular that our army, which has been nearly a year in making preparations for an expedition to Kingston, should have delayed it until this inclement season. Gen. Dearborn was dismissed because he was unfortunately taken sick, and perhaps Wilkinson may yet be dismissed for the same reason.  Much was expected from him when he went to the frontiers, and little, very little, as far as we know any thing of his movements, has yet been done.”–Maryland Gazette, November 11, 1813

November 11:  From Burlington — “The long lost Wilkinson has at length found himself below Ogdensburg, with a force of 10,000 men, in boats–Gen. Harrison has joined him with a reinforcement.  They are pulling for Montreal with rapid speed–General Hampton and his army have returned to Chazy, and will force a junction by Odleton with the other army.  This you may depend on . . . .”–Massachusetts Spy, November 17, 1813

November 12:  From Nashville — “General Jackson’s army alone are capable of exterminating the Creek nation.  The prisoners taken at Tallushatches are on their way and expected in a few days.  With much anxiety we look for the express.  If General Jackson should have a general engagement before receiving the aid of the East Tennessee troops, it is feared he may be out numbered and have hard fighting.”–New York Spectator, December 4, 1813

November 13:  From the General Order of General Wilkinson — “He with lively regret, and the deepest mortification, suspends the destined attack upon Montreal.  But he assures the army that it is not abandoned.”–Democratic Press, November 29, 1813

November 13:  Editorial — “From this week’s Journal of the operations of the enemy’s squadron in the Potomac, which came to our hands yesterday, it appears that his majesty’s naval officers have recommenced the magnanimous warfare of stealing negroes, to make them still greater slaves than they were before, and burning barns, hovels and wood boats.  They might as well be employed in raking oysters or catching shrimps, for any service they do for their sovereign.”–National Intelligencer, November 13, 1813

November 14:  “This day, 14th Nov. Mr. Crawford, Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary from the United States of America, has had the honor of being admitted to an audience of the Emperor, and presented his credentials to his Majesty.”National Intelligencer, January 22, 1814

November 15:  From Burlington — “a battle was fought between Gen. Hampton and the British, on Monday the 15th instant, in which the latter lost 600 men, and the former 400 men–that Hampton retired, and that part of his army has found their way back to Plattsburg.  The same account states, that Wilkinson had encamped within forty miles of Montreal.”–Maryland Gazette,December 2, 1813

November 17:  Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office, Washington — “A General Court Martial for the trial of Brigadier General William Hull, will assemble at some suitable place in the city of Albany (state of New-York) on the 3d day of January next.”–Maryland Gazette, December 2, 1813

November 17: From Knoxville, of a battle with the Creeks on the 17th — “Col. Morgan and his Cherokees acted with promptitude and bravery; and every man of the detachment was ardent on the march, and cool and intrepid in the conflict.  General White has since arrived at Fort Armstrong with all his force & prisoners.”–Alexandria Gazette, December 14, 1813

November 17:  Com. M’Donnough was at Plattsburg, Nov. 17, to sail next day with the sick of the army for Burlington, and then to proceed to Whitehall to lay  his vessels up for the winter.  The British squadron was at Isle au Noix, supposed to be frozen up, as there was considerable ice on the Lake.  There was much snow, and good sleighing in Vermont.” –New York Spectator,November 26, 1813

November 18:  From New York — “The vessel which was sent down to the Plantagenet, for the purpose of ransoming an organ belonging to St. John’s church in this city (the capture of which was mentioned in a former paper) returned on Saturday morning with the organ on board.”–Baltimore Patriot, December 15, 1813

November 19:  From Burlington — “The campaign for this season is said to be at an end.  Gen. Hampton’s army is at Plattsburg, where they are to take up winter quarters.  . .  . The army under Gen. Wilkinson has had a severe engagement with the enemy, which followed them from Kingston and Prescott–they were attacked in the rear, in or near Cornwell.  The enemy were three times repulsed at the point of the bayonet and finally retreated leaving the Americans on the field.”–Scioto Supporter, December 8, 1813

November 19:  From Provincetown, Maine — “On Friday the 19th inst. a Lieutenant from the Majestic went on shore with a flag and two boats, at Provincetown, Maine, to obtain the ransom of a vessel previously captured.  The men were left in charge of a small midshipman, and during the Lieutenant’s absence, being invited by the verdant shores and sweet air of the land of liberty, 6 of them, well armed, took to their heels and escaped.”–National Intelligencer, December 7, 1813

November 20:  From the Albany Gazette — “By several gentlemen from general Wilkinson’s army, who arrived in this city on Saturday last, by way of Plattsburg, we have the important information that the descent on Lower Canada is suspended –the campaign closed, and the armies gone into winter quarters.  . . . Wilkinson, in his general orders to his army, among other reasons for suspending active operations, mentions general Hampton’s having withdrawn his army from Chataguay, by which he was deprived of its assistance and cooperation.”–New York Spectator,November 27, 1813

November 20:  From St. Louis —  “This place has been much agitated for the last eight or ten days, by the evacuation of Fort Madison.  We have not heard the particulars of this extraordinary affair, more than that the contractor had failed in furnishing the post with provisions.”–New York Spectator, December 29, 1813

November 20:  From Charleston — “Major-General Pinckney, with his suit, left town yesterday morning for the Frontiers of Georgia, to assume the command of the army going against the Creek Indians.”–Pendleton (SC ) Messenger, December 11, 1813

November 21:  From Andrew Jackson at Ditto’s Landing — “I have the pleasing hope that future supplies will be regularly furnished, and that contentment will pervade my camp; my return to this place was expressly to ascertain the fact about future supplies.”–Commercial Advertiser, December 21, 1813

November 22:  From Washington — “Mr. Mix again.–This gentleman, who has devoted much of his time to the study of Torpedo Warfare, yesterday gave a convincing proof of the efficacy of his Torpedoes in destroying a vessel of war, by an experiment upon the hulk of an old ship of about 400 tons burthen, which lies stranded in two fathom water, on the Portsmouth shore.”–Pendleton (SC) Messenger, December 11, 1813

November 22:  Cotton manufacurers at Baltimore.– “There are now running in Baltimore, or rather in the city and its vicinity, about 9,000 spindles; 1500 or 2000 more go into operation before the first of January next and from the works already in great progress there will be about 20,000 in the whole, before the end of the ensuing year.  Three years ago we did not make a thread.””–American Watchman, November 27, 1813

November 23: From Potsdam, New York — “The troops are said to be very sickly–numbers die daily.  Gen. Wilkiinson is at the point of death, probably from fatigue, old age, and chagrin.”–Commercial Advertiser, December 11, 1813

November 24:  A letter from a gentleman in Albany, printed in the Boston Gazette — “Every hour is fraught with doleful tidings from the north:  humanity groans from the frontiers–Hampton’s army is reduced to about 2000–Wilkinson’s cut up and famishing–crimination and recrimination is the order of the day.  Democracy has rolled herself up in weeds, and lain down for her last wallowing in the slough of disgrace.  Armstrong [Secretary of War], the cold-blooded director of all this military anarchy, is still here, but chop-fallen.”–National Intelligencer,December 11, 1813

November 25:  Editorial opinion of Mr. Holt, of the Columbian — “Contrary to every honorable, manly, and rational expectation, the campaign [for Canada] has terminated in disaster and disgrace, and the end and object of the war is procrastinated for at least one year longer in its attainment.”–New York Gazette, November 26, 1813

November 26:  From Mobile, from Col. Bowyer, to Gen. Claiborne — “I have this moment received from Capt. Alexis, commanding the navy at Mobile Point, a letter stating positively a large British expedition has arrived at Pensacola, consisting of 7 sail of vessels, and two bomb vessels.  That some brigs have 200 men on board.”–Scioto Supporter, January  5, 1814

November 26:  From Geneva, New York — “On Friday the 26th ult. Gen. M’Clure, with all his effective troops consisting of 100 regular artillerists from Fort-Niagara, under Capt. Leonard, and the Militia and Volunteers from Fort-George, amounting in all, it is said to about 1500 men, marched with a view of attacking the British at Burlington Heights.  We since learn, that the expedition proceeded but twenty-two miles, when it faced the  ‘right about,‘ and them–‘marched back again.’–It reached the Fort on the Monday following.”–Commercial Advertiser, December 15, 1813

November 26:  From Burlington — “The famous Col. Clark is here, riding about armed with a rifle.  He was arrested at Plattsburg by the Sheriff of Clinton county, at the suit of some one he plundered; and after giving a promise to be forth coming when wanted, he posted off for this State; and the Sheriff has advertised a reward of 50 dollars for apprehending him.  He carries his rifle to prevent being arrested; and has the name of OLD RIFLE.”–New York Herald, December 4, 1813

November 28: “The State House in Frankfort, Ky. Was burnt to ashes on the 28th ult. and it is feared the public records have been all destroyed.”–Missouri Gazette, December 18, 1813

November 28:  From New York City — Gen. Harrison was a passenger in the steam boat, having left his army in winter quarters at Sackett’s Harbor.  . . .  Com Chauncey, with his fleet, having bro’t over Gen. Harrison’s army, will, it is said, lay up his vessels for the winter at Sackett’s Harbor.”--Scioto Supporter, December 15, 1813

November 29:  “The Battle of Autossee and Tallassee was fought on the 29th of Nov. by 950 Georgia militia and about 350 friendly Indians, under the command of Gen. John Floyd.  The hostile Indians were supposed about 1500 strong; of whom about 200 were slain on the field of battle, and the remainder put to flight.”–New York Spectator, December 25, 1813

November 29:  From Plattsburg — “Several days ago General Hampton left this place, and his army, very suddenly and unceremoniously; but at that time it was not known that he had been arrested by Gen. Wilkinson for disobedience of orders in the late campaign.”–American Watchman, December 15, 1813

About the Author

Mary Bowden is a researcher working at the Texas Collections Deposit Library at the University of Texas. A little-known but invaluable treasure of U.S. history and the history of American journalism is archived in the collection of bound United States’ Newspapers at the University of Texas at Austin. The collection began more than a century ago and has been stored in recent years in the Texas Collections Deposit Library on the campus of the University of Texas. The sizeable archive is currently in the early stages of being digitized before being moved to a more climate-controlled environment at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus of the University, on the north side of Austin.