I am indebted for the following account of the battle of Brownstown, to Major James Dalliba, who was in the action, and who has published it under the inspection of General James Miller, who commanded the American forces in said action.

A part of Major Dalliba's account is omitted here, because it more properly belongs to the historian to record.

THE PUBLISHER.

The object of publishing the following narrative, is, to relate a simple story of facts, which are not generally known; and which, I think, cannot but be interesting to those who take the trouble to read it.

I have often conversed with gentlemen of intelligence on the subject of the campaign of the North Western Army, under the command of General Hull, in 1812, who appeared to possess but very little correct information relative to the transactions of that army.

So little was said about it at the time, that the impression on the public mind, that such an event ever occurred, is nearly lost. The distance of the scene from the populous parts of the country, and the interruption to them, by the enemy, confined the intelligence of the engagement to the army, and to the few inhabitants of the territory of B

Michigan, until it was brought out by the parolled prisoners of war, after the fatal surrender of the army and of the territory, to the enemy, by general Hull.

The little spark of intelligence, though brilliant, was then so completely enveloped in the general darkness that pervaded the United States, that it shone but faintly, and the impressions it made on the minds of the people were superficial.

The communication with the state of Ohio (and the United States army at Detroit depended for provisions upon its being kept open,) was completely blocked up; the provisions for the supply of Hull's army, under a convoy of 200 men, commanded by Captain Brush of the Ohio Volunteers, were waiting at the River Raisin, 36 miles from Detroit; Major Van Horne had been dispatched a day or two before, with a small command, to the assistance of Captain Brush, but was defeated and driven back.

General Hull now saw it necessary to turn his serious attention to that point; and to send a force to open this communication, which was fully competent to the task, both to enable the supplies to pass unmolested, and to counteract the unfavorable impressions made on the minds of the troops by the defeat of Major Van Horne.

He accordingly detached from the army a part of the regular troops, the Michigan legion and some riflemen, and dragoons of the Ohio volunteers, making in the whole about 600 men, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James Miller, of the 4th regiment U. S. Infantry, for this object.

The 4th regiment, except one company left at Sandwich, to garrison a small fort, built by order of General Hull; a small detachment of the 1st Infantry, and a small number of Artillerists from Captain Dyson's company stationed in fort Detroit, formed the regular troops of the detachment, amounting to about 300 in number. The Michigan legion consisted of about 60 men, mostly native Frenchmen of that territory, commanded by Captain De Cant. The cavalry consisted of about 40 dragoons and mounted spies, commanded by Captain Sloan, of the corps of volunteer cavalry. The riflemen amounted to about

200, commanded by Major Morrison, of the Ohio volunteers, making the 600 men.

Colonel Miller obtained permission from General Hull to take two field pieces with the detachment, one 6 pounder and one 5 1-2 inch howitzer, with their appendages and ammunition. The first was manned by a squad of artillerists from Captain Dyson's company, detached from fort Detroit, and commanded by Lieutenant Jonathan Eastman; that corps and the second was manned by a squad picked from the first Infantry (the General refusing to detach from the 1st any more Artillerists) and was placed under the command of Lieutenant James Dalliba, of the regiment of Artillerists, then serving as master of ordnance to General Hull's army. Captain Brevoort, of the 2d U. S. Infantry, then commanding the transports on the lakes ; and Captain Abraham P. Hull, of the 13th Infantry, son and aid to the general, volunteered their services as aids de camp to Colonel Miller. Lieutenant John L. Eastman, adjutant of the 4th Infantry, served as brigade major. Captain Maxwell, of the Ohio volunteers, a revolutionary officer, and who had served in the Indian war under General Wayne and others, was chosen to lead the spies, to reconnoitre the country a-head of the detachment, and point out the rout of march: he was assisted by several volunteer citizens from Detroit, well acquainted with the country.

The detachment having drawn two day's provisions, being organized, and every thing prepared for the march, was paraded in line in order of march, as to the station of corps, in the main street in the town of Detroit, on the 8th of August, 1812, at 5 o'clock P. M. Colonel Miller then rode to the centre, and in front of the line, addressed the troops in the following words: "Soldiers, we are going to meet the enemy, and to beat them! The reverses of the 5th must be repaired!. The blood of your brethren, spilt by savage hands, on that day, must be avenged by their chastisement and by the chastisement of the enemy who employs them, more savage than they! I shall lead you-I trust that no man will disgrace himself or meevery man who is seen to leave the ranks, to give way or

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fall back, without orders, shall instantly be put to death. The officers are hereby charged with the execution of this order. My brave soldiers! you have once faced the enemy in a hard conflict, and beaten them, and gained glory to yourselves and honor to your country! Let this portunity be improved to add another victory to that of Tippacanoe, and new glory to that which you gained on the Wabash. Soldiers, if there are any now in the ranks of this detachment, who are afraid to meet the enemy, they are now permitted to fall out and stay behind-❞ At which the words " I'll not stay," ran through the ranks, with a "huzza."

After which the line was wheeled by sections to the right into open column, when Colonel Miller took his position at the head, and ordered the detachment to march. The whole moved off in order and in high spirits, and discovered those ardent feelings to meet the conflict, which inspired a full confidence in the remaining army and anxious citizens, that they would be successful.

The head of the column arrived at the river Rouge, six miles from Detroit, about sun set. There being no bridge, and the water very deep, the detachments were conveyed over in scows; there being but two provided, which would not carry more than 50 men each; it was 10 o'clock at night before the troops, artillery, horses and waggons, were all crossed over. The weather being somewhat rainy and very dark, it was determined to encamp there for the night. The guards and piquets having been stationed, and every arrangement completed for the security of the camp; the men were permitted to lie down upon their arms and rest till day light. The tents and all other dispensable baggage, was left at Detroit. The troops had no other covering than some rails which they took from the fences, to screen them from the weather. Cooks of messes were directed to cook the provisions during the night so as to be ready to march at day break. Accordingly the troops were paraded, and every thing prepared to move in that order, which appeared the best calculated to receive or make an attack, when and wherever the enemy might be met. The following is the order in which

the troops marched : Captain Maxwell, with his mounted spies went a-head, as a van guard, at such a distance as he judged prudent. An advance guard, under Captain Snelling, of the fourth Infantry, of 40 men of his company, marched in line of single rank, 200 yards in advance of, and covering the heads of the columns. The musquetry was formed in two columns of single files, the regulars in front, and marched by files by the right of columns. One column on each side of the road, at 200 yards distance from each other. One commanded by Major Morrison and the other by Major Van Horne, of the Ohio volunteers. The Cavalry under Captain Sloan, marched in the road, in column of double files by the right of column. The head of this column kept in line with the heads of the columns of musquetry on the right and left. Flank guards were formed of riflemen, and marched by single files, headed by the officer commanding each, parallel with the column of musquetry and at the distance of 80 yards from them. A rear guard marched at the distance of 50 yards in the rear of the foot of, and covering the columns of musquetry. The artillery moved in the road, in rear of the cavalry, and opposite the centre of the columns of musquetry, followed by the ammunition waggons, the waggons containing entrenching tools, hospital stores, medicine chests, &c. followed in succession. Colonel Miller marched at the head of the column of cavalry, accompanied by his aids, in the road and in a line with the heads of the columns of musquetry.

The method of forming the line of battle from the order of march, was as follows:

In case an attack was made in front, the advance guard was to stand till the columns of infantry and riflemen formed in lines and marched upon it. The two columns of infantry were to form two lines to the front; the front division of each column were to form the first line, and the rear divisions the second line, which brought the regular troops into the first line. The two lines were to be formed respectively on the centres of the divisions of columns which were to compose them. If the first line should require extending, the right and left devisions of