Robert McAfee's Company Memorandum Book, 1813-1814

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October 1st. At Sunrise I crossed the Detroit River into Cannada with Leut Cardwill & Sharp & several of my men the sun rose with Splendor and I immediately rode down to Sandwich and despatched boats back for my company this place is equal of Detroit & is as handsome a place as ever the Sun Shined upon I met Maj Arnold & Col Crockett was with me in my tent last evening with many more of my Kentucky friends -- I encamped my company in a lott above the church a large frame house with a cupulo coverd with tin where we got oats & Hay for our horses, a council was held by Gnl Harrison of the Govenor in which it was decided to pursue Proctor up Lake St Clair & the River Thames & marching orders wre issued in the night for to start at five oClock in the morning, the foot & horse incampment included the greater part of the town of Sandwich and Sentries were placed round so as to permit any person to pass in to Camp but none to go out -- so as they could carry information to the enemy which was certainly a very salutary regulation --- --- ---

October 2d The foot troops with Govenor Shelby at their Head marchd at Sun rise, we were orderd to take the front the Govenor observing that if we wishd to overtake our enemy we must march at the dawn of day

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and always do more than he did,) about one hour by sun we marchd & fell in the rear of the [foot] about 8 miles thru a thick settled country of fine farms & Houses on the bank of Detroit River [?] lake St. Clair the foot then Halted & we took the front and after marching about twenty miles up the border of Lake St. Clair over a fine level sandy road, we were met by six deserters who informed us that Genl Proctor and his army with Gnl Tecumsseh & twelve hundred Indians were about 15 miles above the mouth of the River Trench or Thames that they had left him about one oClock onyesterday. it was near sunset when we got this information but it infused new life into our Regiment and we marchd on four miles farther & [illegible] in a skirt of Woods between the Lake of [Prararie?] below the mouth of a large Creek with five or six good Houses and farms in sight 24 miles above Sandwich the foot troops encampt immediately in our rear in two long lines on the borders of teh Lake -- Great exertions were made by the whole army to overtake the British and Indians, three schooners loaded with provisions & about fifty boats accompanied us with a fine breeze in their rear two of our large ships had passed us the day before & had anchord at the mouth of the River Thames so that Providence seems to aid

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88 us in all our movements. I had a remarkable Dream last night which I communicated to my [Mrs?] in the morning assuring them that I had a firm confidence in taking either Tecumseh or Proctor but I believd that we would only get one of them it was as follows that I was annoyed by a Rattlesnake that had been considerd as an old offender in a certain place, that after a considerable struggle we caught and killed him and cut off his head, this little circum: :stance impressed itself so strong upon my mind that I felt a complete confidence in having a battle I thot we would have a victory which would [illegible] in the destruction of one of our old enemies, Id frequently assured my men not to dispair that I fully believed that we would overtake & conquer them - - - - October 3d. we marchd at day Light having first sent back 100 men to guard and bring up our artillery consisting of two six pounders drawn oncarriages we marchd very Rapidly 12 miles to the mouth of the River Thames around which is an open [prairie?] for several mils. Just above which there is two bad craeks [illegible[ over which is placed two bridges [here?] our Spies with Genl Harrison & Col Johnson with

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[Them] caught a British Lieutenant & seventeen soldiers who had been sent back to spy out our movements & if we were pursuing them to destroy and tare up the Bridges so as to retard our movements the whole was done in presins of the Rgt the whole squad was taken which was very fortunate as their was not one man left to cary back the news which is another mark of Divine favor and blessing. they had Just began to tare down one bridge which we repaired in the course of one hour and the food passed over in front and went on about five miles in front tho our spies were still before them information was brought Col. Johnson that a party of British dragoons on the opposite bank of the River and some Indians on the south side & our Spies had exchan: ged fires at one another and that the enemy had retreated we were immediately orderd on in front to bring on the attack and in Passing Genl. Harrison, he observed that we must be careful not to pursue too far or we would be led into an [amburcade} we pressed on and formd a line of Battle and in about two miles farther which was about nine miles above the mouth of the river we campt in a large farm and had plenty for ourselves and horses. We were

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now confident in overtaking the British so that my (sp) war made for a flight October 4th we march'd very early and in about sin miles our spies and teh British and Indian find up = = on one another. The enemy weve hid behind lames of finrer and some on the opposite side of the Pines we formed the line of Battle and while formed a woman who appeard to have been sent as our guard = ian Angel came to us in the woods and informed us that about sin miles above the River forked, that there was a larger bridge a crop the mouth of the Right hand fork and a mill and bridge about a mile and a half up the fork where the Indians were encampt and she enprichd that they would make a stand and fight us at that place, this information put us on our guard, and this day we march'd in front and on the extreme right of the foot troops over the worst logs swamps of Brush I ever saw, and very rapidly sometimes in a gallop about twelve of back of firing command on our left and our caravan opend at the bridge at

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