OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Ohio in war of 1812 - Part 12
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374
September 15, 1999
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Historical Collections of Ohio
The Kelley Family Collections
Newspaper article, Plains Dealer
compiled by S.J. Kelley-- 1925
And Then They Went West
by Darlene E. Kelley  1998
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Ohio in war of 1812--  part 12

Letter from OSL Genl Simon Perkins to Maj Kratzer, Huron Sept 8th, 1812

Maj Kratzer,
Sir;

Since I wrote you yesterday, I have recieved information from Genl
Wadsworth, that Col Taylor late of Hulls Army, states no substance that
all the Indians inthe N.W. Territory are in motion toward our frontiers,
Fort Wayne is besieged, the British and Indians are fortifying a post at
the Miami Rapids, & we may soon expect a visit from them. Col Wells,
head on a pole at Chickago, which place hath been taken & the garrison
supposed slaughtered-- The above information will dictate a different
course of proceeding from that I instructed before. I wrote you
yesterday, I shall not send you a detachment to Sandusky this day but
attend to the building of blockhouses for our protection, that we may be
better prepared to contend with the enemy.  It would be highly
gratifying to me to be informed of the force that may be expected from
your detachment & the probable time of their arrival and as I suggested
to you in my letter of the 3rd, you could yourself come through this
place or send a confidential officer, who might with me determine on the
general plans of operations.
In hopes to hear from you by Mr. Cook, my express of yesterday, I am sir
most 
Respectfully yours,
Simon Perkins
Brigadier General & Commandant of the Detachment at Huron

NB The Maj Genl recommended opening [?] & securing a line of
communication & defense between Huron & Mansfield
If you should march on previous to my new arrangemnt, please come to the
mouth of the Huron--
Two boats from this place, went to the peninsula on Sunday & returned
yesterday. They had two men killed while there, but they burned a
British schooner which they found run aground on Cunningham's [Kelley's]
Island.
S. Perkins.
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OSL Genl Simon Perkins to Col Williams & Maj Kratzer, Sept 9, 1812.

Col Williams & Maj Kratzer

Gentlemen;

I wrote you yesterday, that no appearence of the enemy had been
discovered since our arrival at this station and thinking that
information may cause you to be less rapid in your march, than you would
oterwise been, I now send express to inform you that the spies sent out
yesterday from this camp have returned this morning, with information
that the Indians & British are in considerable numbers at Sandusky and
that they have burned the public store and blockhouse, which were on
fire, when the spies were in sight of them. I am making arraigments to
send a force to Sandusky, which will march early in the Morning and it
is possible the enemy may be more than equal to the whole of my
detachment. I must beg you to progress with your troops as fast as may
be done with safety to yourselves and provisions,but if you should think
proper to proceed without your wagons  either a part of the whole of
your men shall be supplied here with provisions until yours may arrive.
The bearer, Mr Cook, will give you such further information on the
subject as will be requird to enable you to adopt your movements to the
importance of the object.
I am Gentlemen Most Respectfully yours,
Simon Perkins
Brigadier Genl & Commandant of the 
Detachment at Huron.

Presuming you have some direct way of communicating with the Gov & not
knowing myself the chain of Communication  through your county. I must
[illeg] to you to give him such information as you receive from me &
[illeg] of importance to him
Please to furnish the bearer Rations for his return-- 
S. Perkins
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To be continued in more letters--