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Letter from Thomas Jefferson
to James Madison
Editor's note: The letter below was written by Thomas Jefferson to
James Madison on Nov. 6, 1812, shortly after Brock's death. I'm not sure
if the "inclose" Jefferson speaks of is the second part of this letter, or a
separate enclosure. Either way, it's fascinating.
Monticello, Nov. 6, 12.
Dear Sir,--I inclose you a letter from Colo: Gibson Secretary under
Governor Harrison. I suppose he has addressed it to me on the footing
of a very old acquaintance. He is a very honest man, very old in public
service & much esteemed by all who know him. All this I believe however
is known to yourself & possibly he may be personally known to you.
The seeing whether our untried Generals will stand proof is a very dear
operation. Two of them have cost us a great many men. We can tell by
his plumage whether a cock is dunghill or game. But with us cowardice &
courage wear the same plume. Hull will of course be shot for cowardice
& treachery. And will not Van Renslaer be broke for cowardice and
incapacity? To advance such a body of men across a river without
securing boats to bring them off in case of disaster, has cost us 700
men: and to have taken no part himself in such an action & against such
a general would be nothing but cowardice. These are the reflections of a
solitary reader of his own letter. Dearborne & Harrison have both
courage & understanding, & having no longer a Brock to encounter, I
hope we shall hear something good from them. If we could but get
Canada to Trois rivieres in our hands we should have a set off against
spoliations to be treated of, & in the mean time separate the Indians
from them and set the friendly to attack the hostile part with our aid.
Ever affectionately yours.
to James Madison
Editor's note: The letter below was written by Thomas Jefferson to
James Madison on Nov. 6, 1812, shortly after Brock's death. I'm not sure
if the "inclose" Jefferson speaks of is the second part of this letter, or a
separate enclosure. Either way, it's fascinating.
Monticello, Nov. 6, 12.
Dear Sir,--I inclose you a letter from Colo: Gibson Secretary under
Governor Harrison. I suppose he has addressed it to me on the footing
of a very old acquaintance. He is a very honest man, very old in public
service & much esteemed by all who know him. All this I believe however
is known to yourself & possibly he may be personally known to you.
The seeing whether our untried Generals will stand proof is a very dear
operation. Two of them have cost us a great many men. We can tell by
his plumage whether a cock is dunghill or game. But with us cowardice &
courage wear the same plume. Hull will of course be shot for cowardice
& treachery. And will not Van Renslaer be broke for cowardice and
incapacity? To advance such a body of men across a river without
securing boats to bring them off in case of disaster, has cost us 700
men: and to have taken no part himself in such an action & against such
a general would be nothing but cowardice. These are the reflections of a
solitary reader of his own letter. Dearborne & Harrison have both
courage & understanding, & having no longer a Brock to encounter, I
hope we shall hear something good from them. If we could but get
Canada to Trois rivieres in our hands we should have a set off against
spoliations to be treated of, & in the mean time separate the Indians
from them and set the friendly to attack the hostile part with our aid.
Ever affectionately yours.