From James Madison to Henry Dearborn, 6 February 1813
To Henry Dearborn
Washington Feby. 6. 1813
Dear Sir
Your two favors of Decr 1 have lain long without acknowledgment. For some2 after they came to hand I delayed it in expectation of such further information as to Gen. Smith, as would enable me to judge better of his case; and latterly I considered it as probable that I might have an opportunity, not now expected, of making that as well as other matters, subjects of conversation with you here. I know not how Gl. S. will reconcile his appeal to your orders, with his previous language in a letter to you;3 or how he will explain the several unfavorable appearances in his military management. The call is growing strong for some public step towards him; & it is the louder since his omission to seek a regular investigation has been followed by his inclosed appeal to the public thro’ the press.4 I have not yet had any conversation with the new Secy. of War, on the subject.
We have been a little uneasy, lest the Enemy at Niagara, should beat up the Quarters of Col. Porter, which appear to be within reach of it; whilst they are too distant to support the troops at Black Rock &c. and save the vessels in preparation, in case these should be objects of enterprize. Another apprehension has been, that a part of the Enemy’s force in that quarter, might, be detached to oppose Harrison’s operations if they should reach Malden or Detroit. How far there may be occasion for any of these anxieties, can be so much better decided, by those possessing better information & nearer the scene that I take refuge in that consideration agst. disagreeable anticipations. The two last mails have brought nothing from Harrison. The cold weather had so far favored transportation, that he began to hope from a continua[n]ce of it, that he should still prevent an entire abortion of his undertaking.
We have been under some anxiety also for the safety of the stake at Sackets Harbour. The latest information strengthens our hope, that it is made proof agst. an enterprize from Kingston. We are even encouraged by the possibility of some handsome dash by Chauncy agst. the latter. We learn however as you will doub[t]less have done, that the Enemy are making transcendent exertions to equip a naval force that will command the Lakes. Whatever theirs may be, ours ought to go beyond them. Nothing ought to be left to hazard on this subject. If they build two ships, we should build four. If they build thirty or 40 gun ships, we should build them of 50 or 60 Guns. The command of those waters is the hinge on which the war will essentially turn, according to the probable course of it.
You have seen the arrangement for the recruiting service. The prospect of enlistments is said to be flattering; but much will depend on the attention & activity of the superintending officers to whom every spur should be applied, that can make them spur those under them.
It appears that Bonaparte has secured his retreat or escape, but not without unexampled sacrifices. On the other hand Wellington appears to be falling back to Lisbon, and probably under a pretty severe pressure from the United armies commanded by Soult.
We have no accounts from England subsequent to the arrival there of the communications thro’ Warren, or even of those made to Congs. Accept my best wishes
James Madison
RC (owned by Joseph Rubinfine, West Palm Beach, Fla., 2002).
1. Blank left in RC. Dearborn’s last two letters to JM were dated 13 and 16 Dec. 1812.
2. JM evidently omitted a word here.
3. In giving the command of the American forces on the Niagara peninsula to Brig. Gen. Alexander Smyth on 21 Oct. 1812, Dearborn had directed the general to prepare a force of “3000 men, with artillery,” before attempting an invasion of Canada (NHi: Dearborn Letterbooks). In a report he sent to Dearborn on 4 Dec. 1812, after his invasion had been called off, Smyth reported that he had assembled a force in the region of 3,000 men and that he therefore deemed himself “ready to ‘cross with 3000 men at once,’ according to your orders.” However, in the same letter Smyth also reported that when he assembled this force in boats on 1 Dec. before crossing the Niagara River, he found that, without the officers, it amounted to little more than 1,500 men. He asked his officers, “Shall we proceed?” and found that his officers were unanimously opposed to making the attempt (National Intelligencer, 24 Dec. 1812).
4. In a 28 Jan. 1813 letter to the editors of the Daily National Intelligencer (published on 8 Feb. 1813), Smyth provided a defense of his conduct during his unsuccessful attempt to invade Canada from Black Rock, New York, between 28 Nov. and 1 Dec. 1812. Smyth drafted this defense in response to claims made by Peter B. Porter that Smyth had “4500 effective men” under his command on 27 Nov. 1812. Smyth countered by arguing that he had only 3,500 such men, of whom not more than 1,500 could be ordered across the Niagara River. On 1 Dec. 1812, Smyth added, the number of men “armed with muskets, who were at the navy-yard, embarked or not embarked, did not exceed 2000.”