OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: The War of 1812 in Ohio [9] 
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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 05, 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 9

River Raisin Campaign--
Letter from John Richardson, 41st Regiment, to his Uncle, Capt Charles
Askin, dated 4 February 1813, from Amherstberg.

You have doubtless heard ere this of the engagement at the River Raisin
on Friday, the 22nd inst.; however, you may probably not have heard the
particulars of the business, which are simply these: On Monday, the
18th, we received information that the Americans, under the command of
Gen Winchester, after an obstinate resistance, had driven from the River
Raisn a detachment of Militia under Maj Reynolds [also a party of
Indians] which had been stationed there some time. That they had
sustained great loss from the fire of our Indians, and from a 3-pounder,
which was most ably served by Bombardier Kitson [since dead ], of the
R.A. On Tuesday, part of our men moved over the river to Brownstown,
consisting of a detachment of R.Artillery, with three 3 pounders and 3
small howitzers, Capt Tallon's Company [41st Regt.], a few Militia, and
the sailors attached to the guns. An alarm was given that the enemy were
at hand. The Guns were unlimbered and everything prepared for action,
when the alarm was found to be false. On Wednesday, the remainder of the
Army joined us at Brownstown, where [including regulars, militia,
artillery, sailors, and Indians], we mustered near 1000 men. We lay,
this night, at Rocky River, which you know is about 12 miles beyond
Brownstown and 6 on this side the River Raisin. About two hours before
daylight we resumed our march. On Friday at daybreak, we perceived the
enemy's fires very distinctly--all silent in their camp. The army drew
up and formed the line of battle in 2 adjoining fields, and moved down
towards the enemy, the guns advanced 20 or 30 paces in front and the
Indians on our flanks. We had got tolerably near their Camp when we
heard their Reveille drum beat [so completely lulled into security were
they that they had not the most distant idea of an enemy being near.],
and soon after we heard a shot or two from the sentinels, who had by
this time discovered us.  Their camp was immediately in motion. The guns
began to play away upon them at a fine rate, keeping up a constant fire.
The Americans drew up and formed behind a thick picketing, from whence
they kept up a most galling fire upon the men, who, from the darkness of
the morning, supposed the pickets to be Americans; however, as it grew
lighter, they discovered their mistake, and advanced within 70 or 80
paces of the pickets, but finding that scarce one of their shots took
effect, as almost all lodged in the fence. Being thus protected from the
fire of our men, they took a cool and deliberate aim at our troops, who
fell very fast,and the most of the men at the guns being either killed
or wounded, it was thought expedient to retire towards the enemy's left
under cover of some houses. I was a witness of a most barbarous act of
inhumanity on the part of the Americans, who fired upon our poor
wounded, helpless soldiers, who were endeavoring to crawl away on their
hands and feet from the scene of action, and thus tumbled over like so
many hogs. However, the deaths of those brave men were avenged by the
slaughter of 300 of the flower of Winchester's army, which had been
ordered to turn our flanks, but who, having divided into two parties,
were met, driven back, pursued, tomahawked and scalped by our Indians
[very few escaping] to carry news of their defeat. The General himself,
was taken prisoner by the Indians. and his son, aide, and several other
officers. He immediately dispatched a messenger to Col Procter, desiring
him to acquaint him with the circumstance of his being prisioner, and to
intimate that if the Col would send an officer to his camp to summons
the remainder of his army to surrender, he would send an order by him to
his officer then commanding to surrender the troops. Col Procter
objected to sending one of his own officers, but permitted the General
to send his aide [with a flag]. The firing instantly ceased on both
sides, and about 2 hours afterwards, the enemy [460 in number] laid down
their arms and surrendered themselves prisioners of war. A good many of
our officers were wounded in th engagement, but none of them were
killed. The following is a list of them; R.A., Lt Troughton [ slightly
]; Seamen atached to guns, Capt Rolette, Lt.Irvine, Midshipman
Richardson [severly]; 41st Regt., Capt Tallon, Lt Clemow [severly];
Militia, Inspecting F. Officer Lt Col St.George, Capt Mills, Lt
McCormack, Paymaster Gordon [severly]. Ensign Gouin [slightly],
R.N.F.Regt, Ensign Kerr [dangerously]; Indian Dept., Capt Caldwell, Mr
Wilson [severly]. This is my accurate an account as I can give you of
the engagement. I will now give you an account of my feelings on the
occasion. When we first drew up in the field, I was ready to fall down
with fatigue from marching and carrying heavy musket. Even when the
balls were flying about my ears, as thick as hail, I felt quite drowsy
and sleepy, and indeed , I was altogether in a very disagreeable
dilemma. The night before at Rocky River, some one or other of the men
took my firelock and left his own in the place of mine. It being quite
dark when we set out from that place, I could not distinguish one from
another. Inquiry was vain, so I was obliged to take the other [ without
thinking that anything was the matter with it]. When we came to the
firing part of the business, I could not get my gun off. It  flashed in
the pan, and I procured a wire and worked away at it with that. I tried
again, and again it flashed. I was never so vexed to think that I was
exposed to the torrent of fire from the enemy without having the power
to return a single shot, though if I had fired fifty rounds, not one of
them would have had any effect, except upon the pickets, which I was not
at all ambitious of assailing like another Don Quixote. Our men had
fired 4 or 5 rounds, when I was called to assist my brother Robert, who
was wounded, and who fell immediately, and which led me to suppose that
he was mortally wounded. However, when he was carried to the doctors, I
found the poor fellow had escaped with a broken leg, which torments him
very much, and it will be some time before he gets over it. I think it
is highly probable we shall have a brush with the Valiant Harrison, who
is said to be at the Rapids of the Miami River, or near them. If so, I
think we shall have tight work, as we have lost in killed and wounded in
the action of the 22nd, 180 men [ exclusive of the Indians]. Pray for me
and remember me to my cousins.
Your loving Nephew,
John Richardson.
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To Be continued in part 10--