James Madison Papers
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To James Madison from James Taylor, 10 September 1812

From James Taylor

Cleveland Ohio Sept 10th 1812

Dear sir

Permit me to introduce to your acquaintance Genl. James Findlay a particular friend of mine.

The Genl. Commanded one of the Regiments from this state who were unfortunately Compeled to surrender prisoners of War at Detroit on the 16t. August.

The Genl. has been induced to take Niagara and Genl. Dearborns head Quarter in his way to the City of Washington.

I refer you to Genl. F for any additional Circumstances that may have transpired during our stay at Detroit & Ft Molden which was at least two weeks after Colos. McArthur & Cass le[f]t that quarter.

And I assure you, you may rely implicitly on any information he may give you. I had some Idea of Coming on to Washington my self, but it is thought best that I should go on to the head Quarters of the N. Western Army, you may rest assured that every exertion shall be made in our Power to aid the views of the Government. I refer you to The Genl for the Manner in which Genl Hull endeavored to embarrass me by drawing orders on me for upwards of Four thousand pounds in favor of two Men in Canada1 and if I had drawn in their favor for that amount there would have been demands for Ten times the amount, but I positively refused to draw for one Cent, and I was threatend with detention both by Military & then Civil detention. Excuse hast[e]. I have the honor to be with great respect & Esteem your Obed. sert.

James Taylor

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1In a 15 Sept. 1812 letter to Eustis, Taylor explained this incident in more detail. Hull had drawn orders on Taylor, the quartermaster general of the Northwest Army, “in favor of two men on account of damage done and property taken while we were in Cannada to the amou[n]t of upwards of Forty five hundred pounds N.Y. currency.” Taylor refused, arguing that Hull no longer commanded him, that the enemy would probably not honor his bills, and that the British had wrongfully confiscated military equipment in violation of the terms of the capitulation (Michigan Historical Collections 40 [1929]: 485–87).

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