James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-07-02-0509

To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 17 June 1814

From Henry Dearborn

Boston June 17th. 1814

Sir

By the request of Genl. Boyd I take the liberty of stating to you my opinion of his conduct at the landing of our Troops in uper Canada near Fort George.1 On that occasion I had an opportunity of observing the conduct of Genl. Boyd while landing at the head of his Brigade, under a very heavy and galling fire from a large body of British Troops, his conduct & that of Col Scott on that occasion was conspicuously firm animated & brave, under circumstancies that would have put the most veteran courage to the test, and I am fully persuaded that neither of those officers will ever be found wanting of personal bravery in the field of Battle. With sentiments of the highest respect I am Sir Your Humble Servant

H. Dearborn

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1Dearborn referred to the Battle of Fort George, 27 May 1813, in which Brig. Gen. John P. Boyd’s regiment had followed then Col. Winfield Scott’s regiment in landing near the fort. After the British abandoned it and retreated, Boyd caught up with Scott, still in the vanguard, and enforced Dearborn’s orders to break off the pursuit for fear of an Indian ambush (Quimby, U.S. Army in the War of 1812, 1:231–33).

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