To James Madison from William Eustis, [ca. 3 October] 1812
From William Eustis
[ca. 3 October 1812]
In making out the order, as the Militia were to rendezvous at Pittsburg, at which place they would of course wait for further orders, it was thought sufficient by this mail to direct detachments on the requisition of Captn. Piatt1 for the Cannon & Stores, without adding “you will wait further orders”—taking the chance (which is very small) of any part of them proceeding without orders.
I observe that in one of Harrison’s proclamations2 (not now before me) that he calls for men for one month: it appears safe to wait another mail.
WEustis
Nothing from Genl. D. or from any quarter by the mail of this day.
RC (DLC). Undated; dated 1812 in the Index to the James Madison Papers; date assigned here on the basis of evidence presented in n. 1, below.
1. Eustis wrote to William Piatt at Pittsburgh on 30 Sept. 1812 to inform him of his appointment to the office of deputy quartermaster general and to request that he forward mounted ordnance to the frontier immediately, while the roads remained passable. Piatt was also instructed to direct as much ordnance as possible to the rapids of the Maumee River while awaiting Harrison’s orders. On 3 Oct. 1812 Eustis wrote to the commanders of militia troops at Pittsburgh, requesting that they detach troops upon the requisition of Piatt for purposes of escorting ordnance and military stores to the Northwest Army (DNA: RG 107, LSMA).
2. In Cincinnati, Harrison issued a circular on 21 Sept. 1812 calling for mounted volunteers to serve from thirty to forty days (Esarey, Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison, Indiana Historical Collections, 2:147).