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MEMORIAL
OF THE
LEGISLATURE
OF
THE STAPE OF KENTUCKr
RELATIVL
TO CcAMPENSATION TO BE MADE,
FOR
HORSES
LOST IN TME SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATIS.
JANUARY 9, 1810.
Ordered to lie on the table.
WASHINGTON:
PRINTED BY WILLIAM A. DAVIS.
.............
isle.
This page in the original text is blank.
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A
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS,
Relative to Compensation for Horses lost by the
Citizens of this State, during the late War, while
in the Service of the United States.
To the honourable the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America, in Congress assem-
bled.
THE memorial of the legislature of the State
of Kentucky, would respectfully call the attention
of congress to a subject of considerable impor-
tance to many of their citizens, who unfortunately
lost their horses during the various campaigns car-
ried on from this State, in the late war with the
British and their savage allies; particularly on
the north-western frontier, where the losses slus-
tained were peculiarly severe, owing to many cir-
cumstances which we will detail, and which at the
time, demanded every sacrifice.
The extensive wilderness, bordering upon our
north-western frontiers, every part of which was
infested by a cruel and savage enemy, made it ne-
cessary that large bodies of mounted riflemen
should be employed, in order to meet the various
attack of an insidious foe, and to comply with
which, the people of the western country never
hesitated, or inquired what compensation Was to
be made them. They relied upon the Justice of
their country; which, they believed, wouldnever be
withheld from the soldier who had risked his life
in defence of his country's right,
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The legislature are aware of the provision made
by act of congress for the use and risk of horses
lost by mounted men, previous to the declaration
of war; and they have no doubt there are some
cases which have not as great claims upon the
government as others. Yet, when the situation of
the State of Kentucky is taken into consideration,
it will be found that the claims of her citizens to
compensation for horses lost during the war, will
be found not inferior to any other section of the
Union. Placed at a considerable distance from the
scene of military operations, the calls for men by
the government, were generally made at a time
when the greatest despatch and energy were re-
quired.
In the summer of 1812, the surrender of gene-
ral Hull, the fall of Detroit, Mackinaw and Chica-
go, and the consequent siege of forts Wayne and
Harrison, called aloud for all the patriotism of the
State of Kentucky.
The emergency could only be met by mounted
men, who, in a few days, were found filling up the
ranks of generals Harrison and Hopkins: the re-
maining forts were saved, the frontiers protected,
a savage enemy checked in his bloody career, and
destruction and retribution carried back into his
own country; and the various tribes of hostile
Indians, flushed with their recent success, were
driven to seek refuge under the cannon of their
British friends.
In aid of which important services, the regiment
Of drmgoons iunder the command of colonel Sim-
rall, the volunteer company of captain Smith, and
the twelve months volunteers- with captain Gar-
rard, contributed their full portion of zeal and pat-
riotisin at the battle of Mississiniwa in the midst
of winter, besides niany other important services
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which lost to them many horses, besides those
killed in battle; these are cases which richly de-
serve the notice of a grateful country.
Early in the year 1813, a regiment of mounted
riflemen, under the command of colonel Richard
M. Johnson, were hurried into service to relieve
fort Meigs and protect the frontiers of the State
of Ohio. This regiment was usefully employed,
and it is believed fully answered the expectation of
their country. Previous to the second investiture
of fort Meigs, they penetrated far into the enel-
my's country, and by forced marches reached that
important post at a critical period, and were em-
ployed by the commanding general to procure in-
telligence of the enemy's movements near Malden,
by which means general Harrison was enabled to
carry on his operations in security. These and
subsequent marches of unusual celerity, had a ten-
dency to break down and destroy many of the
best horses belonging to that corps.
Again, when it was found, late in the month of
July 1813, that the conteriplated force of regular
troops could not be collected, and the conmmanding
general of the north-western army was compelled
to call upon the governor of Kentucky for an ad-
ditional militia force.
The lateness of the season, the necessity of the
times, the importance of the service required, as
well as the critical period which had arrived, in
which the hopes of a desponding country were to
be realized or again blasted, all combined to point
out to the executive of this State, that mounted
men could alone meet the approachingo crisis, and
render that service so loudly called for by every
friend to his country. With these views it is well
known that between three and four thousand
mounted men, rallied round the standard of their
country, which had been erected by the venerable
Shelby, many of whom had to travel between two
and three hundred miles before they reached the
oint of rendezvous. With these troops, without
delavinr a single day unnecessarily the governor
of iKentucky moved on to the head-quarters of the
north-western army, where his arrival was as cri-
tical as it was important, and absolutely necessary
to meet the views of general Harrison. Forced
marches were required and performed: our citi-
zens did not linger on the road, or suffer their spi-
rits to be depressed; for many, after losing their
horses hy. fatigue, would keep up with the army
on foot, to the astonishment as well as pride of their
country and fellow-soldiers.
We cannot avoid further stating to your honourable
body, that in order to take advantage of commo-
dore Perry's success upon Lake Erie and carry the
war into the enemy's country, it was necessary to
leave the horses of the troops enclosed in the pe-
ninsula formed by the Sandusky bay and Portage
River. where thev subsisted in the forest upwards
of one mouth, which much reduced them, and con-
sequently produced many serious and unavoid-
able losses on the homeward march, as a sufficiencY
of forage could not be procured at that place.-
An imjportant victory was gained, and the most san-
guine anticipations of the government realized.-
And will the nation now, on the return of peace, re-
fuse to remunerate our citizens, manv of whom are
poor, and some of whom have lost their only horse
we trust not :-and therefore earnestly solicit the
attention of congoess to this subject, which though
of small moment to the nation at large, yet is im-
portant to individuals.
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We would also include the cases of horses lost
during the fall of 1814, under major P. Dudley,
who served with general M'Arthur, in Upper Can-
ada, who we. believe rendered important services
to our country in cutting off the supplies of the en-
emy, and which would have been most severely
felt by them in case another campaign had opened
in that quarter.
Nor can her citizens have less claim on the jus-
tice of their country to remunerate them for lost
property; who, during an inclement season, and
through a country peopled by savage enemies only,
encountered every danger and difficulty, in the
wagon department, transporting provisions, for-
age, and camp equipage, for the army and garri-
sons of the north-west; many of whom were in-
duced to embark in that dangerous employ, more
from a desire to serve their country than from the
prospect of gain. Nor was the services rendered
their country by the detachment of Kentucky
troops under the command of colonel Wm. Russell,
on the Wabash River, less meritorioys, nor the
losses sustained by them less just to remunerate.
We therefore most seriously request, that the
cases of lost horses alluded to in this memorial, be
attended to, and that our citizens be fully compen-
sated, as far as the justice of their several cases
may require: and for the purpose of bringing this
subject before congress, be it
Pesolved, By the general assembly of the Com-
monwealth of Kentucky, that the governor of this
State be requested to transmit a copy of the fore-
going memorial, to each of our senators and repre-
sentatives in congress, with a request that they im-
mediately lay the same before that body, and that
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they use their best influence to have the same com-
plied with, as soon as the nature of the case will ad-
mit
JOHN J. CRITTENDEN,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
R. HICKMAN,
Speaker of the Senate.
APPROVED-December 21st, 1815.
ISAAC SHELBY.
Secretary's Office, Frankfort, December 25th, 1815.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy
of the enrolled memorial and resolution filed in
this office.
M. D. HARDIN, Sec'ry.